Bad Mode
{{Use mdy dates|date=September 2022}}
{{Infobox album
| name = Bad Mode
| type = studio
| artist = Hikaru Utada
| cover = Utada Hikaru - Bad Mode.jpeg
| border = yes
| alt =
| caption = Digital and standard cover
| released = January 19, 2022
| recorded = 2018–2021
| studio =
| genre = {{hlist|Pop|R&B|dance-pop|electronica{{cite web |url=https://www.mtv.com/news/3183667/hikaru-utada-interview-bad-mode/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220119214326/http://www.mtv.com/news/3183667/hikaru-utada-interview-bad-mode/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=January 19, 2022 |title=Hikaru Utada Looks Into The Mirror |last=Russell |first=Erica |date=January 19, 2022 |website=MTV |access-date=March 29, 2022 }}}}
| length = 73:36
| language = {{hlist|Japanese|English{{cite web |url=https://www.cyzo.com/2022/02/post_303670_entry.html |author=TOMC |author-link=:ja:TOMC |date=February 23, 2022 |website=Nikkan Cyzo |language=ja |script-title=ja:宇多田ヒカル『BADモード』 "越境"するベッドルーム・ソウルを読み解く |trans-title=Hikaru Utada "Bad Mode": [I will] read the bedroom soul that "crosses the border." |access-date=March 29, 2022 }}}}
| label = * Epic Japan
| producer = * Hikaru Utada
| prev_title = One Last Kiss
| prev_year = 2021
| next_title = Hikaru Utada Live Sessions from Air Studios
| next_year = 2022
| misc = {{Singles
| name = Bad Mode
| type = studio
| single1 = Face My Fears
| single1date = January 18, 2019
| single2 = Time
| single2date = May 8, 2020
| single3 = Dare ni mo Iwa Nai
| single3date = May 22, 2020
| single4 = One Last Kiss
| single4date = March 9, 2021
| single5 = Pink Blood
| single5date = June 8, 2021
| single6 = Kimi ni Muchū
| single6date = November 26, 2021
| single7 = Bad Mode
| single7date = January 19, 2022
}}
}}
{{nihongo|Bad Mode|BADモード|Baddo Mōdo|lead=yes}} is the eighth Japanese-language studio album (eleventh overall) by Japanese-American singer-songwriter Hikaru Utada. It is the singer-songwriter's first bilingual album release, with songs recorded in both Japanese and English. The album was released on the Sony Music Japan sublabel Epic Records Japan digitally on January 19, 2022, the day of Utada's 39th birthday, and was released physically on CD and limited CD-DVD-BD format bundle on February 23. It marked her first album release in four years since Hatsukoi (2018).
Six previously released songs were confirmed for the album, including title track "Bad Mode", the Shiseido commercial theme song "Find Love", the Evangelion: 3.0+1.0 Thrice Upon a Time theme song "One Last Kiss" and the Kingdom Hearts III theme song "Face My Fears".{{cite web |title=8th Studio Album BAD MODE Available Digitally on January 19 and CD Releasing February 23 |url=https://www.utadahikaru.jp/en/news/detail.html?id=535925 |date=December 9, 2021 |website=Hikaru Utada Official Website |publisher=Sony Music Labels Inc. |access-date=December 8, 2021}} The album includes collaborations with a variety of producers, including Skrillex and Poo Bear, A. G. Cook, and Sam Shepherd.{{cite web |title=Hikaru Utada Will Release 8th Studio Album Bad Mode Wednesday, January 19 From Milan Records |url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/press-release/2022-01-11/hikaru-utada-will-release-8th-studio-album-bad-mode-wednesday-january-19-from-milan-records/.181425 |date=January 11, 2022 |website=Anime News Network |access-date=January 13, 2022}} Describing the record's themes, MTV wrote that Bad Mode is largely about growing up, self-love, self-partnering, and acceptance". It utilizes various musical styles including pop, jazz, electronica and R&B.
Bad Mode received critical acclaim from music critics, with The Japan Times calling it a career highlight. It was named one of the best albums of the year by various music publications including Pitchfork and Slant Magazine, while "Somewhere Near Marseilles" was ranked within the top 10 on both publication's lists of Best Songs of 2022. Commercially, the album received a gold certification from the Recording Industry Association of Japan (RIAJ) within a month of its release with over 100,000 copies sold.
Background and packaging
The CD + DVD + Blu-ray release comes with the regular audio CD, five music videos ("Time", "One Last Kiss", "Pink Blood", "Kimi ni Muchū" and "Bad Mode") and the full recorded concert "Hikaru Utada Live Sessions from Air Studios".{{cite web |title=Utada Hikaru Releases Information on Their New Album |date=December 8, 2021 |url=https://aramajapan.com/news/newrelease/utada-hikaru-releases-information-on-their-new-album/116258/ |access-date=December 8, 2021}} The concert was recorded at London's Air Studios, with bassist Jodi Milliner as the bandmaster. Sound engineer Steve Fitzmaurice worked in sound recording and mixing, and David Barnard in the video direction. Hikaru Utada's son, who is six years old at the moment of the album's release, participated in the album, having violin credits in "Bad Mode" and vocal credits in "Not in the Mood" under the name The Artist's Son. He also appears on the album cover.{{Cite magazine |last=Stern |first=Bradley |date=January 19, 2022 |title=Hikaru Utada Returns, With 'Bad Mode' & A Better Sense of Self |url=https://www.billboard.com/music/pop/hikaru-utada-interview-bad-mode-feature-1235020381/ |access-date=January 19, 2022 |magazine=Billboard |language=en-US}}
Composition
In contrast to her past albums, Bad Mode revolves around Utada's relationship with herself.{{cite web |title=Utada Hikaru Twitter Account|url=https://twitter.com/utadahikaru/status/1389868977296379907 |date=May 5, 2021 |website=Twitter |access-date=June 16, 2022}} She states that most of the songs were written during the COVID-19 pandemic and containing reflections on being a mother, surviving through difficult times, and working to improve her own state of being and relationships with other people.{{Cite web|last=Russel|first=Erica|date=January 19, 2022|title=Hikaru Utada Looks Into The Mirror |url=https://www.mtv.com/news/3183667/hikaru-utada-interview-bad-mode/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220119214326/http://www.mtv.com/news/3183667/hikaru-utada-interview-bad-mode/|url-status=dead|archive-date=January 19, 2022|access-date=June 16, 2022|website=MTV|language=en-US}}
Promotion
Despite having no tour to promote the album, Utada performed for the first time in the famous Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival on April 17, 2022, being a part of the 88rising label block, singing some old hits and "Face My Fears" from Bad Mode, and a new song called "T", released after the concert ended for streaming, in the 88rising's EP Head in the Clouds Forever.{{Cite magazine |date=April 26, 2022 |title=Hikaru Utada Makes Festival Debut at Coachella With 88rising: Interview & Recap |url=https://www.billboard.com/music/music-news/hikaru-utada-coachella-interview-1235063847// |access-date=June 16, 2022 |magazine=Billboard |language=en-US}} Due to fans request, the concert Hikaru Utada Live Sessions from Air Studios was released on June 9, 2022, for streaming in Netflix and as Utada's first ever digital live album.{{Cite magazine |date=June 10, 2022 |title="Hikaru Utada Live Sessions from Air Studios" Coming to Netflix on June 9" |url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/press-release/2022-06-10/hikaru-utada-live-sessions-from-air-studios-coming-to-netflix-on-june-9/.186523 |access-date=June 16, 2022 |magazine=Billboard |language=en-US}}
In September 2022, Utada performed "Somewhere Near Marseilles" live at the Yokohama Hakkeijima Sea Paradise zoo. An accompanying video of the performance was released exclusively to Spotify in part of their five-year anniversary celebration of the service launching in Japan.{{Cite web |date=September 16, 2022 |title="「Somewhere Near Marseilles ―マルセイユ辺りー -LIVE at Sea Paradise」 Spotify 「Go Stream」パフォーマンスビデオ として自身初の縦型映像作品本日公開"|url=https://www.utadahikaru.jp/news/detail.html?id=545162 |access-date=October 13, 2022 |website=Hikaru Utada Official Website |language=JA}}
{{Music ratings
| rev1 = The Japan Times
| rev1score = {{Rating|5|5}}{{cite web|url=https://www.japantimes.co.jp/culture/2022/01/29/music/bad-mode-hikaru-utada/|title='Bad Mode' delivers some of the best songs of Hikaru Utada's career|website=The Japan Times|last=St. Michel|first=Patrick|date=January 29, 2022|access-date=March 2, 2022|archive-date=February 13, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220213221829/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/culture/2022/01/29/music/bad-mode-hikaru-utada/|url-status=dead}}
| rev2 = Pitchfork
| rev2score = 8.0/10{{cite web|url=https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/hikaru-utada-bad/|title=Hikaru Utada: BADモード Album Review|website=Pitchfork|last=Kim|first=Joshua Minsoo|date=February 15, 2022|access-date=February 15, 2022}}
| rev3 = PopMatters
| rev3score = 8/10{{cite web|url=https://www.popmatters.com/hikaru-utada-bad-mode-review|title=Hikaru Utada's 'Bad Mode' Is an Energetic Homage to Millennium Disco-Pop|last=Piatkowski|first=Peter|website=PopMatters|date=January 27, 2022|access-date=March 2, 2022}}
| rev4 = Sputnikmusic
| rev4score = {{Rating|3.5|5}}{{cite web|url=https://www.sputnikmusic.com/review/84316/Utada-Hikaru-Bad-Mode/|title=Utada Hikaru: Bad Mode|website=Sputnikmusic|date=January 19, 2022|access-date=February 18, 2022}}
| noprose = yes
}}
Accolades
Track listing
{{Track listing
| headline = Bad Mode {{nobold|– Standard edition}}
| extra_column = Producer(s)
| all_writing = Hikaru Utada except where noted.
| title1 = Bad Mode
| note1 = {{lang|ja|BADモード}}) (written by Utada, Jodi Milliner
| extra1 = {{hlist|Utada|Sam Shepherd}}
| length1 = 5:03
| title2 = Kimi ni Muchū
| note2 = {{lang|ja|君に夢中}}
| extra2 = {{hlist|Utada|A. G. Cook}}
| length2 = 4:18
| title3 = One Last Kiss
| extra3 = {{hlist|Utada|Cook}}
| length3 = 4:10
| title4 = Pink Blood
| extra4 = {{hlist|Utada|Nariaki Obukuro}}
| length4 = 3:17
| title5 = Time
| extra5 = {{hlist|Utada|Obukuro}}
| length5 = 4:58
| title6 = Not in the Mood
| note6 = {{lang|ja|気分じゃないの}}
| extra6 = {{hlist|Utada|Shepherd}}
| length6 = 7:28
| title7 = Darenimo Iwanai
| note7 = {{lang|ja|誰にも言わない}}
| extra7 = {{hlist|Utada|Obukuro}}
| length7 = 4:40
| title8 = Find Love
| extra8 = {{hlist|Utada|Obukuro}}
| length8 = 4:38
| title9 = Face My Fears
| note9 = Japanese version) (written by Utada, Skrillex, Jason "Poo Bear" Boyd
| extra9 = {{hlist|Utada|Skrillex|Poo Bear}}
| length9 = 3:38
| title10 = Somewhere Near Marseilles
| note10 = {{lang|ja|Somewhere Near Marseilles -マルセイユ辺り-}}
| extra10 = {{hlist|Utada|Shepherd}}
| length10 = 11:55
| total_length = 54:05
}}
{{Track listing
| headline = Bad Mode {{nobold|– bonus tracks}}
| extra_column = Producer(s)
| title11 = Beautiful World (Da Capo Version)
| note1 =
| extra11 = {{hlist|Utada|Nariaki Obukuro}}
| length11 = 5:58
| title12 = Kireina Hito (Find Love)
| note12 = {{lang|ja|キレイな人}}
| extra12 = {{hlist|Utada|Obukuro}}
| length12 = 4:38
| title13 = Face My Fears (English Version)
| extra13 = {{hlist|Utada|Skrillex}}
| length13 = 3:39
| title14 = Face My Fears (A. G. Cook Remix)
| extra14 = {{hlist|Utada|Cook}}
| length14 = 5:22
| total_length = 73:42
}}
Personnel
Musicians
{{div col}}
- Hikaru Utada – production (1–13), writing (all tracks), vocals (all tracks), keyboards, programming (1–5, 7, 8, 10, 12); piano (1), additional drum programming (9, 13), additional keyboards and programming (11), shaker (10), Korean WaveDrum (10), vocals recording (1–3, 6–8, 10, 12)
- Nariaki Obukuro – production, keyboards (5, 7, 8, 11, 12); programming (5, 7, 8, 11, 12), vocals recording (11)
- Sam Shepherd – production, keyboards, programming (1, 6, 10); Rhodes piano (1), piano (6)
- A. G. Cook – production (2, 3, 14), keyboards (3), programming (2, 3), remix (14)
- Skrillex – production, programming (9, 13); writing (9, 13, 14), mixing (9, 13)
- Poo Bear – production (9, 13), writing (9, 13, 14)
- Jodi Milliner – writing (1), bass (1, 4, 6, 11, 13), synth bass (2, 3, 9), Moog bass & Juno pad (5)
- Ben Parker – guitar (1, 6, 7), acoustic guitar (11)
- Reuben James – Wurlitzer piano (4), acoustic piano (9, 13), piano (11)
- Will Fry – percussion (1, 7, 10)
- Leo Taylor – drums (1)
- Ash Soan – percussion (6)
- Freddie Gavita – trumpet (1)
- Soweto Kinch – saxophone
- Chris Dave – percussion (9, 13)
- Yuta Bandoh – string arrangement, conducting (11)
- Ensemble FOVE – strings (11)
- Darren Heelis – additional drum programming (5)
- Tom Norris – additional drum programming (9, 13), mixing (9, 13)
- Nobuaki Tanaka – additional programming (11)
- The Artist's Son – violin (1), vocals (6)
{{div col end}}
Technical
- Steve Fitzmaurice – recording (1, 3, 4, 6, 7, 11), mixing (1–8, 10–12), additional instrumental recording (9)
- Masahito Komori – vocals recording (4, 5, 9), strings recording (11), vocal tracks editing (4)
- Yuya Saito – vocal tracks editing (1–8, 10–12)
- Darren Heelis – additional recording (5), vocal recording assistance, additional engineering (7)
- Marek Deml – recording, additional vocals recording (4)
- Matt Jones – additional engineering assistance (7)
- Randy Merrill – mastering
Charts
{{col-begin}}
{{col 2}}
=Weekly charts=
| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
|+ Weekly chart performance for Bad Mode ! scope="col"| Chart (2022) ! scope="col"| Peak |
| {{album chart|Oricon|1|date=2022–03-07|rowheader=true|access-date=March 2, 2022}} |
| scope="row"| Japanese Hot Albums (Billboard Japan){{cite web|url=https://www.billboard-japan.com/charts/detail?a=hot_albums&year=2022&month=03&day=07|title=Billboard Japan Hot Albums {{!}} Chart |date=March 2, 2022 |website=Billboard Japan|language=ja|access-date=March 30, 2022}}
| 1 |
|---|
| {{album chart|UKDigital|83|date=20220121|rowheader=true|access-date=February 1, 2022}} |
{{col 2}}
=Monthly charts=
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
|+ Monthly chart performance for Bad Mode ! scope="col"| Chart (2022) ! scope="col"| Peak |
| scope="row"| Japanese Albums (Oricon){{cite web |title=Oricon Top 50 Albums: 2022-02 |url=https://www.oricon.co.jp/rank/ja/m/2022-02/ |publisher=Oricon |access-date=December 9, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220309043717/https://www.oricon.co.jp/rank/ja/m/2022-02/ |archive-date=March 9, 2022}}
| 1 |
|---|
=Year-end charts=
| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
|+ Year-end chart performance for Bad Mode ! scope="col"| Chart (2022) ! scope="col"| Position |
| scope="row"| Japanese Albums (Oricon){{cite web |title=Oricon Top 100 Albums: 2022 |url=https://www.oricon.co.jp/rank/ja/y/2022/p/3/ |publisher=Oricon |access-date=December 22, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221222005734/https://www.oricon.co.jp/rank/ja/y/2022/p/3/ |archive-date=December 22, 2022}}
| 26 |
|---|
| scope="row"| Japanese Hot Albums (Billboard Japan){{cite web |title=Billboard Japan Hot Albums Year-End 2022 |url=https://www.billboard-japan.com/charts/detail?a=hot_albums_year&year=2022 |website=Billboard Japan |access-date=December 9, 2022}}
| 16 |
{{col-end}}
Sales and certifications
{{Certification Table Top}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Japan|type=album|award=Gold|artist=宇多田 ヒカル|title=Bada Mode|relyear=2022|certyear=2022|certmonth=2|note=|salesamount=166,698|salesref={{cite web|url=https://www.oricon.co.jp/rank/ja/w/2022-03-07/|script-title=ja:オリコン週間 アルバムランキング 2022年02月21日～2022年02月27日|trans-title=Oricon Weekly Album Ranking February 21, 2022 – February 27, 2022|publisher=Oricon|language=ja|access-date=March 2, 2022|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220302022441/https://www.oricon.co.jp/rank/ja/w/2022-03-07/|archive-date=March 2, 2022}}}}
{{End}}
Release history
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders"
|+ Release dates and formats for Bad Mode ! scope="col"| Region ! scope="col"| Date ! scope="col"| Format ! scope="col"| Label ! scope="col"| {{abbr|Ref.|Reference}} |
| scope="row" rowspan="3"| Various
| January 19, 2022 | {{hlist|Digital download|streaming}} | rowspan="3" | {{hlist|Epic|Sony Music Japan}} | style="text-align:center;" rowspan="3" | {{cite web |title=BADモード |url=https://www.utadahikaru.jp/music/album/title_21.html |website=Hikaru Utada Official Website |publisher=Sony Music Labels Inc. |access-date=December 12, 2021 |language=ja |archive-date=January 12, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220112050857/https://www.utadahikaru.jp/music/album/title_21.html |url-status=dead }} |
|---|
| February 23, 2022
| CD |
| April 27, 2022
| LP |
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- [https://www.utadahikaru.jp/music/album/title_21.html Bad Mode] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220112050857/https://www.utadahikaru.jp/music/album/title_21.html |date=January 12, 2022 }} on Hikaru Utada's official website
{{Hikaru Utada}}
{{Hikaru Utada songs}}
{{Authority control}}
Category:Albums recorded at RAK Studios
Category:2020s Japanese-language albums
Category:Sony Music Entertainment Japan albums
Category:Albums produced by A. G. Cook