Comments on: Utada United 2006

By: Zander

Zander — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 06:05:48 +0000

I am also glad that I watched the videos before reading this review. I have to say, despite what happened on some of the songs that Hikaru preformed, her performance was still amazing. When I first heard her songs “Kremlin Dusk” and “You Make Me Want to Be a Man” on “Exodus”, I thought there wasn’t anyway I could possible like them because of how the music was presented. But how she performed the song live made me retract my opinion on that song. The deliverance and performance stood out because of instruments that were used during the song. It made me admire as a artist even more because she “rocked out” and how gifted she was vocally.

Therefore, mediocre isn’t the word I would use for her those songs. I believe it was one of her best performances and despite whether her voice was strained. She sounded exceptionally well to me and her concert was one of the bests I have ever seen.

By: Skylight

Skylight — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 13:39:25 +0000

She damaged her vocals during this tour. That’s why her vocals weren’t the best. I don’t care though, I still love her.

By: Destiny

Destiny — Thu, 16 Apr 2009 03:42:33 +0000

Are u kiddin me!!! The concert was amazing, better than any concert i had ever seen!!

By: blob

blob — Thu, 09 Apr 2009 12:54:39 +0000

“Nothing special about “You Make Me Want To Be A Man”. Mediocre performance for a mediocre song”

By: Jessica

Jessica — Sat, 04 Apr 2009 00:12:35 +0000

Wow, am I glad that I watched the whole show before reading this review. IMO, I thought the whole concert was consistent throughout, and that Utada had really outdone herself. Although, I do agree that her album Exodus wasn’t the finest piece of work, but I’m really glad that she chose to sing two really good tracks from that album; Devil Inside and Kremlin Dusk. All in all, I really enjoyed it as a whole. (:

I hope that you would put more of the positive points to balance out your reviews. I honestly don’t think the concert was not as mediocre as you deemed it to be. Rather than JUST noting all of those flaws, why not add comments that highlights her performance that does Utada justice? Anyways, that’s just my two cents.

Oh, and I’m glad you added a clip, so people would at least give this a chance because that song really showcased the concert well, in a way.

By: Raul

Raul — Sun, 08 Feb 2009 19:02:09 +0000

Yow! I guess the reviewer is correct in many ways…

I have to admit, I’m a big Hikki fan, really, she’s the best for me… be it songs or live…

However, Utada United is the “least favorite” of mine… The reviewer mentioned “Be My Last” and “Colors” not bein’ performed well and I have to agree…..

What grew into me are the pop songs… During Bohemian and Budokan perfs, i really liked the ballads… now it’s reversed with Utada United… pop comes first and then the ballads…

my opinion ^_^

By: Hikki Fan

Hikki Fan — Sat, 17 Jan 2009 12:34:45 +0000

You dont really sound like a Hikki fan, you complain about the concert much more than compliment it. Utada Hikaru is a really good singer and she always sounds good. “FORGET ABOUT THE BAD STUFF!” I loved the concert (every part of it)

By: Michelle

Michelle — Fri, 16 Jan 2009 06:36:43 +0000

I read that Utada is allergic to the wood that was used for the stage, and so she had to strain her voice. Doctors told her to stop singing, but she continued anyway because she didn’t want to disappoint her fans. When she sang Dareka no Negai ga Kanau Koro, her voice was already starting to crack. It also sounded to me like she was trying to endure the pain she felt from her allergic reaction to the stage. I don’t think anyone would go that extra mile to please their fans.

By: Tyler

Tyler — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 03:59:13 +0000

All I have to say is I would love to see anyone sing 21 songs with as much passion in such a short period of time and still sound audible. I think Utada Hikaru is a wonderful singer and I think she does amazing for the circumstances. Yeah I think she just wanted to push herself and give her all and in the end her voice couldn’t keep up but I still didn’t mind it that much when her voice did creak and stuff. Still better than anything I could do.

By: iJam

iJam — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 11:13:10 +0000

This was a fantastic concert, and all you do is drag it down. Hikaru was amazing and her performances and songs were nothing short of perfect.

You seriously need to get over yourself. Some of the songs you complained about were some of the better performed ones.
Yes, she may not be the bet live singer, but she writes/ composes songs that are difficult to perform live.

And you’ve got to remember that she had an allergic reaction to the wood in the stadium that partly damaged her vocal chords, so she couldn’t sing as well.

And anyway, people who are saying that the concert wasn’t good at the end, you’ve got to remember that she sung for almost 2 hours straight! Wouldn’t that tire even the best singer out?

By: tiggles

tiggles — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 09:56:11 +0000

Her live performance of the Exodus songs were great I thought. Although I don’t particularly like the originals I thought her vocals and the deep bass in the background did it for me.

By: InRi

InRi — Sun, 29 Jun 2008 03:19:32 +0000

I’m super curious as to why there hasn’t been anything on Utada since this article. She’s released a number of singles and even a full blown NUMBER 1 Selling Japanese Album (Actually the highest selling Female Album of the Year so far and the NUMBER 4 Best Selling Album of the Year so far), not to mention an upcoming English Album.

Very frustrating, and being that this was the last Article on Utada, this was the only place for me to post this off topic message. (-_- )

By: RC

RC — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 06:39:40 +0000

T_T
Utada Hikaru, is AMAZING in EVERY aspect when it comes to music.

By: chihikari

chihikari — Sun, 01 Jun 2008 12:13:52 +0000

this concert was what got me starting to like her!

By: lucky_c

lucky_c — Wed, 07 May 2008 20:48:15 +0000

I find it a little funny that people are complaining about your review. Everyone’s entitled to their own opinion, right?

However, I read somewhere that Utada was allergic to the type of wood that they made the stage with or something? Which will most likely explain her voice during some of the songs. Also, there were a few costume changes, which might’ve made her tired? Idk.

This concert made me fall in love with a few of her songs, though. [This is Love, Moving on Without You, FINAL DISTANCE, and the original version of Be My Last. :D]

By: IR

IR — Mon, 21 Apr 2008 04:33:52 +0000

I’m rather surprised that nowhere on this site is anything typed up about Utada’s Brand New Album “HEART STATION”.

By: koji

koji — Sun, 20 Apr 2008 19:20:10 +0000

Geez, the author of this review sure does complain a lot… Ambiguity, no?

By: vince

vince — Tue, 01 Apr 2008 07:57:31 +0000

Ah? for me Be my last is artistic only the cielo is the musical accompaniment and a solid vocal mezzo sopranist and amazing vibrato and melisma or hikki is a perfect match.

You make me want to be a man also surprises me. The sudden shift from kremlin dusk to you make me want to be a man enjoys me. specially the belt at the end of the song “you make me… you make… you make me want to be ah ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!” the principle of music is there. it lifts my mood depending on the song.

oh i said to much! ehe cheers!

By: Jie

Jie — Tue, 11 Mar 2008 18:32:18 +0000

I have watched all of her performance on youtube… All in all, the performances are great. I would give it a 4.5/5.

The main highlight of this concert would be the excellent stage and the magnificent stage lighting. The band was way too cool. Another highlight of the concert would be the unique music arrangement of some of her songs.

I do enjoy this review… However, I have to say that the reviewer is too harsh on certain aspects of the show, particularly on Hikki’s voice and the Exodus songs… The reviewers review on the Exodus songs sound a little bias… But I do like the review though as it doesn’t sound fanboyish…

It is true that Hikki’s vocals are not consistent here. There are some songs which she did very well, and some songs which she fared poorly, like Be my last.

I do feel that this concert could do better with an opening with more “oomph”.. The way she makes her appearance lacks the “oomph” which artistes like Madonna and Ayumi do… Nevertheless, Passion was a wonderful performance with its mixture of both the ballad and the original version.

Her follow up performances (This is Love up to First Love) are strong, especially after “remixing” the some of the songs… It gives them a different and fresh feeling…

In contrast to the review, I find the Exodus songs the best part of the show… Devil Inside sounded so cool, especially how it transits from a gothic feel to an energetic dance song. Kremlin Dusk (her best song from the album) was very good. I really love the lighting and the screen… It was cool… However, Hikki sounded like shouting into the microphone towards the end that the tune was kinda lost, so the performance could have been better. It was magnificent nevertheless due to the amount of energy exuded.

While I never really like YMMWTBAM, this concert made me liked it even more. I was surprised at how they can make such a mediocre song with an irritating beat into such a magnificent song that exudes so much energy. In fact, this is the best performance in the concert.

Be My Last wasn’t that great though, partly because it is stripped of all its instrument until all thats left is a cello… I think Hikki wants to show her bare emotions via this song… It would have been better if the original version were to be performed. Towards the end, she looked soooo weak and vulnerable, though I think it is intended.

Her vocals for Dareka aren’t really the best, but the performance was great due to the slideshow at the back. Colors shocked me…. I prefer the original, but this version ain’t too shabby either… It feels fresh, so I like it.. :)

CYKAS… while I never liked this song, I love it in the concert.. Maybe because it is placed after the ballads, so it lightens up the atmosphere…

Addicted to You up to Letters are quite good actually, but she does sound a little strained singing them… I wouldn’t call the keep tryin’ performance like an 8 year old girl… That would be better to describe an Ai Otsuka concert, but definitely not Hikki… She just sound extremely tired…

By: Haruka Tenou

Haruka Tenou — Wed, 23 Jan 2008 14:30:25 +0000

all i have to say, is that it doesnt matter what the japanese press says much, as we think over here in the states or in the western world (Australia included lol). Its obvious no matter how many people try to defend it that the begining of the tour was DA BOMB! but towards the end, with “be my last” I was actually disappointed. Simply beacuse her voice was cracking in some notes and i noticed she couldnt hit the notes she does in the album. BUT i also admit that if your singing for an x amount of HOURS your voice would get a little tired ALSO….BUT ALSO to suport my opinion, is that RIGHT AFTER be my last, she sung letters PERFECTLY! and once again the very song after that she sucked BADLY at ‘keep tryin’, why? Beacuse she simply put in too much into Letters, so one song she nails perfectly, the next suffers a little beacuse of it. Thats just what i noticed, id like to see if other plp think the same way as i do……Oooo!! wat about that new stuff wit ne-yo? hehe, kiss & cry +beautiful world single was real nice, so i hope her new material is even better! GO HIKKI!!!