Deep Dive: Utada Hikaru Part Eight (Utada Hikaru Single Collection Vol. 2)

    I'm still stumped over 13 years later what the significance of this album's cover art is. I'm not sure if that's a picture of a constellation, and my Google searches have not been helpful. Anyways, we're going to have an interlude here and talk about the songs exclusive this best-of album! Look to the sky and deep dive!

    

    So! Single Collection Vol. 2  was Utada's last release before a lengthy hiatus. She released this compilation after two albums, Ultra Blue and Heart Station. She released a lot of singles and hits during this time, so this doesn't feel like quite a stretch, but Vol. 1 came after three albums and felt like it covered more ground. A couple of tracks acknowledged from her English albums would have been nice, but I can see why she didn't include any as they differ so greatly from what's featured here and would mess with the consistency.

     We've already discussed most of the songs on this album! Which seems kinda crazy in hindsight. Collectively, the past singles featured here are all heavyweights. Putting them out of order makes them seem like their own album and helps show them off in ways we weren't used to before. Each of these songs are very-well beloved by fans everywhere. The differences between Vol. 1 and Vol. 2 are rivers wide. Where the first felt like Utada discovering herself, the second is a confident Utada that has made art that only she can make. 

    The first new offering we come to is actually a remix. It's "Beautiful World (Planitb Acoustica Mix)" which I shouted out before while reviewing Heart Station. It's a beautiful take on the song. It's almost like the original meeting "Be My Last" from Ultra Blue. Which is a good take that blends the colors of both albums together. The PlanitB remixes never miss the mark.

    

    Then we have the first completely new track of the second disc, "Arashi no Megami." A song Utada wrote about her mother. It's saddening to see that she began her hiatus with a song about her mother, and her comeback release from the hiatus, Fantôme, was also inspired by her mother's tragic passing. So much of the new material from this album feels like Utada doing things she didn't get to do but wanted to do. So she took risks here that wouldn't normally happen on a regular album and got to flex her artistry. "Arashi no Megami" is no exception.

    "Show Me Love (Not A Dream)" is a thrilling rock ballad with choruses that take off like a jet from a runway. It's an absolute standout, and we've not really seen this side of Utada before. It features her best vocal performance from the album as her voice pops like fireworks. 

    "Goodbye Happiness" is a continuation of the sound she created during Heart Station. It feels like a direction progression from it and features the best angles from that album. It's like Heart Station through a 2010, more dance lens. It is a perfect song. Absolutely splendid. The vocal production is godly. 

    "Hymne à L'amour (Ai no Anthem)" features Utada flexing her French skills (she's trilingual, after all), and it is the song that takes the most risks of the album. It's a cover of the Édith Piaf song of the same name though it is translated into Japanese about halfway into the song. It's throwback sound is just a joy. It tickles your senses with its playful sound. You can tell Utada is so excited about everything that deals with this song. 

    The last track is an Utada Christmas song called "Can't Wait 'Til Christmas." How appropriate sincde we are coming up on Christmas ourselves! It's a ballad. A good way to end the album as we're not used to Utada ending albums with such blatant ballads. It captures the essence of Christmas, and she sounds fantastic here.

    Overall, I think Vol. 2 was a good way to get fans ready for a hiatus and left us with material that covers new ground and yet feels right. Utada took risks and yet still managed to fulfill the entire meaning of her being an artist. They experiment in the right places and yet are super likeable. They show off a maturity, personality, and are downright classy.

Rank: S Rank. Now I Can't Wait 'Til Christmas!

Recommendation: if you enjoyed Heart Station, you will enjoy this as well!

Standouts:

    Goodbye Happiness

    Show Me Love (Not A Dream)