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First Love (Hikaru Utada song)

{{Short description|1999 single by Utada Hikaru}}

{{use mdy dates|date=June 2022}}

{{Infobox song

| name = First Love

| cover = Utada Hikaru - First Love.jpg

| alt =

| caption = 12cm single cover

| type = single

| artist = Hikaru Utada

| album = First Love

| released = {{start date|1999|04|28}}

| recorded = 1998

| studio =

| venue =

| language = Japanese, English

| genre = {{hlist|J-pop|R&B}}

| length = 4:18

| label = Toshiba-EMI

| writer = Hikaru Utada

| producer = Akira Miyake{{flatlist}}Utada Sking Teruzane{{endflatlist}}

| prev_title = Movin' on Without You

| prev_year = 1999

| next_title = Addicted to You

| next_year = 1999

| misc = {{External music video|{{YouTube|o1sUaVJUeB0|"First Love"}}

}}

}}

"First Love" is a song by the Japanese-American singer-songwriter Hikaru Utada. It was released on April 28, 1999, as the third Japanese language single from her second studio album, First Love, which was issued a month previously. It was certified double platinum for 800,000 copies shipped to stores in Japan.{{cite journal |title=Gold Album 他認定作品 1999年5月度 |trans-title=Gold Albums, and other certified works. May 1999 Edition |url=http://www.riaj.or.jp/issue/record/1999/199907.pdf | journal=The Record |type=Bulletin |language=ja |location=Chūō, Tokyo |publisher=Recording Industry Association of Japan |publication-date=July 10, 1999 |volume=476 |page=9 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140109020835/http://www.riaj.or.jp/issue/record/1999/199907.pdf |archive-date=January 9, 2014 |access-date=January 22, 2014}}

In a 2009 survey by Oricon, asking respondents what song they wanted to hear with a broken heart, "First Love" was voted in the top 10.{{cite web | script-title=ja:失恋した時に聴きたい曲、男性はミスチル 女性はプリプリ | url=http://www.oricon.co.jp/news/ranking/63970/full/ | work=Oricon |language=ja | date=2009-03-11 | access-date=2010-09-24}} "First Love" was performed during Utada's 2010 tour, Utada: In the Flesh 2010. It was also performed during Utada's two-date concert series Wild Life in December 2010.{{cite web | url=http://natalie.mu/music/news/41982 | title=宇多田ヒカル一時休止前ラスト公演で感涙＆Ust新記録樹立 |publisher=Natalie | language=ja | date=December 13, 2010 | access-date=December 17, 2010}} The song and "Hatsukoi" from her 2018 studio album of the same name inspired the 2022 Netflix series First Love.{{cite web |url=https://www.oricon.co.jp/news/2213307/full/ |title=満島ひかり×佐藤健の"10代の頃"を八木莉可子×木戸大聖が演じる『First Love 初恋』 |publisher=Oricon News |date=2022-11-10 |accessdate=2022-11-19 |language=ja}} In December 9, 2022, "First Love" was remixed alongside "Hatsukoi" in Dolby Atmos.{{Cite web |title=宇多田ヒカル、デビュー記念日に「First Love」「初恋」のドルビーアトモス版＆7inchアナログリリース |trans-title=Hikaru Utada to Release Dolby Atmos & Vinyl Version of "First Love" and "Hatsukoi" on Debut Anniversary |url=https://natalie.mu/music/news/494809 |access-date=2022-12-09 |website=音楽ナタリー |language=ja}}

Promotion

The song was used as the theme song for the Japanese drama Majo no Jōken, starring Hideaki Takizawa and Nanako Matsushima.{{cite web |url=https://www.chunichi.co.jp/article/881555 |title=「凄い巡り合わせ…」『魔女の条件』第1話から25年後に"ある奇跡" |publisher=Chunichi Shimbun |date=2024-04-09 |lang=ja |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240602045732/https://www.chunichi.co.jp/article/881555 |archive-date=2024-06-02 |quote=宇多田は１９９９年にリリースした「Ｆｉｒｓｔ　Ｌｏｖｅ」を歌唱。松嶋菜々子と滝沢秀明が主演した同局系ドラマ「魔女の条件」（同年４月８日～６月１７日放送）の主題歌だった。|url-status=live}} "First Love" is featured in the PlayStation 2 rhythm game Unison, released in 2001.

Track listing

{{Track listing

| extra_column = Arrangement

| headline = 8cm version

| total_length = 17:09

| title1 = First Love

| extra1 = Kei Kawano

| length1 = 4:18

| title2 = First Love

| note2 = Strings Mix

| extra2 = Kawano

| length2 = 4:22

| title3 = First Love

| note3 = Original Karaoke

| extra3 = Kawano

| length3 = 4:21

| title4 = First Love

| note4 = John Luongo Mix

| extra4 = John Luongo

| length4 = 4:08

}}

{{Track listing

| extra_column = Arrangement

| headline = 12cm version

| total_length = 17:13

| title1 = First Love

| extra1 = Kawano

| length1 = 4:18

| title2 = First Love

| note2 = featuring David Sanborn

| extra2 = Kawano

| length2 = 4:17

| title3 = First Love

| note3 = Strings Mix

| extra3 = Kawano

| length3 = 4:20

| title4 = First Love

| note4 = John Luongo Mix

| extra4 = Luongo

| length4 = 4:08

}}

Personnel

  • Hironori Akiyama – guitar
  • Yuichiro Goto – strings
  • Takahiro Iida – synthesizer programming
  • Kei Kawano – arrangement, string arrangement, keyboards, programming
  • Masayuki Momo – synthesizer programming
  • Hikaru Utada – lyrics, music, vocals
  • Goh Hotoda - mixing engineer

Charts

{{col begin}}

{{col 2}}

=Weekly charts=

class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"

|+ 1999 chart performance for "First Love"

! scope="col"| Chart (1999)

! scope="col"| Peak
position

scope="row"| Japan (Oricon) {{small|(12cm)}}{{cite web|url=http://ranking.oricon.co.jp/free_contents/search/detail.asp?itemcd=267379&samecd=1|title=First Love - 宇多田ヒカル／ オリコンランキング情報サービス「you大樹」|publisher=Oricon|access-date=2010-09-24 |language=ja}}

| 2

scope="row"| Japan (Oricon) {{small|(8cm)}}{{cite web|url=http://ranking.oricon.co.jp/free_contents/search/detail.asp?itemcd=272380&samecd=1|title=First Love - 宇多田ヒカル／ オリコンランキング情報サービス「you大樹」|publisher=Oricon|access-date=2010-09-24 |language=ja}}

| 6

scope="row"|Taiwan (IFPI Taiwan){{cite web |title=Taiwan Top 10 Singles |url=http://ifpi.org.tw/chart/1999/single19.htm |publisher=IFPI Taiwan |access-date=2024-09-01 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/19991224220739/http://ifpi.org.tw/chart/1999/single26.htm |archive-date=December 24, 1999 |language=zh |date=July 11, 1999}}

| 1

class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"

|+ 2009 chart performance for "First Love"

! scope="col"| Chart (2009)

! scope="col"| Peak
position

scope="row"| Japan (RIAJ Digital Track Chart){{cite web |url=http://satsuki.musicdb.gr.jp/all_info/ranking_weekly/WeeklyRankingAction.do?term=2009s&weeklyCd=20090908&rankKbn=100 |title=レコード協会調べ 2009年09月02日～2009年09月08日 ＜略称：レコ協チャート（「着うたフル(R)」）＞ |date=2009-09-11 |publisher=RIAJ |access-date=2010-09-24 |language=ja |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120422145918/http://satsuki.musicdb.gr.jp/all_info/ranking_weekly/WeeklyRankingAction.do?term=2009s&weeklyCd=20090908&rankKbn=100 |archive-date=2012-04-22 }}

| 89

class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"

|+ 2014 chart performance for "First Love"

! scope="col"| Chart (2014)

! scope="col"| Peak
position

scope="row"| Japan (Japan Hot 100){{cite web|url=https://billboard-japan.com/charts/detail?a=hot100&year=2014&month=03&day=24|title=Billboard Japan Hot 100 – Week of March 24, 2014|website=Billboard Japan|language=ja|access-date=February 29, 2024}}

| 56

class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"

|+ 2022 chart performance for "First Love"

! scope="col"| Chart (2022)

! scope="col"| Peak
position

{{single chart|Billboardglobal200|147|artist=Hikaru Utada|rowheader=true|access-date=December 20, 2022}}
scope="row"| Hong Kong (Billboard){{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/hikaru-utada/chart-history/i45/|title=Hikaru Utada Chart History (Hong Kong Songs)|magazine=Billboard|access-date=December 20, 2022}}

| 2

scope="row"| Japan (Japan Hot 100){{cite web|url=https://billboard-japan.com/charts/detail?a=hot100&year=2022&month=12&day=26|title=Billboard Japan Hot 100 – Week of December 21, 2022|website=Billboard Japan|language=ja|access-date=December 21, 2022}}

| 5

{{single chart|Oricon2|6|artistid=193854|songid=1460216|song=First Love/初恋|rowheader=true|access-date=December 14, 2022|note=with "Hatsukoi"}}
scope="row"| Japan Combined Singles (Oricon){{cite web |title=Oricon Top 50 Combined Singles: 2022-12-19 |url=https://www.oricon.co.jp/rank/cos/w/2022-12-19/p/2/ |publisher=Oricon |access-date=December 16, 2022 |language=ja}}

| 11

scope="row"| Japan Combined Singles (Oricon){{cite web |title=Oricon Top 50 Combined Singles: 2022-12-19 |url=https://www.oricon.co.jp/rank/cos/w/2022-12-19/p/3/ |publisher=Oricon |access-date=December 16, 2022 |language=ja}}
{{small|with "Hatsukoi"}}

| 27

scope="row"| Singapore Regional (RIAS){{cite web|url=https://www.rias.org.sg/rias-top-charts/#1562208279199-5ec9aa23-80dc|title=RIAS Top Charts Week 50 (9 - 15 Dec 2022)|publisher=RIAS|access-date=December 20, 2022|archive-date=December 20, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221220083058/https://www.rias.org.sg/rias-top-charts/#1562208279199-5ec9aa23-80dc}}

| 17

scope="row"| Taiwan (Billboard){{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/hikaru-utada/chart-history/i44/|title=Hikaru Utada Chart History (Taiwan Songs)|magazine=Billboard|access-date=December 13, 2022}}

| 1

{{col 2}}

=Year-end charts=

class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;"

|+ 2023 year-end chart performance for "First Love"

! scope="col" | Chart (2023)

! scope="col" | Position

scope="row" | Japan (Japan Hot 100){{Cite web|title=Billboard Japan Hot 100 – 2023 Year-End|url=https://www.billboard-japan.com/charts/detail?a=hot100_year&year=2023|website=Billboard Japan|accessdate=December 28, 2023}}

| 45

class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"

|+ 2024 year-end chart performance for "First Love"

! scope="col"| Chart (2024)

! scope="col"| Position

scope="row"| Japan (Japan Hot 100){{cite web|url=https://www.billboard-japan.com/charts/detail?a=hot100_year&year=2024|title=Billboard Japan Hot 100 – 2024 Year-End|website=Billboard Japan|language=ja|access-date=December 6, 2024}}

| 81

{{col end}}

Certifications and sales

{{Certification Table Top|caption=Certifications and sales for "First Love"}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Japan|type=single|title=First Love|artist=Hikaru Utada|award=Platinum|number=2|relyear=2004|certyear=2018|certmonth=6|salesamount=|salesref=|access-date=December 26, 2023|note=12 cm version|refname=12cm}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Japan|type=single|title=First Love|artist=Hikaru Utada|nocert=true|relyear=2020|certyear=|certmonth=|salesamount=303,000|salesref={{cite web|url=http://ranking.oricon.co.jp|url-access=subscription|script-title=ja:オリコンランキング情報サービス「you大樹」|publisher=Oricon|language=ja|access-date=September 24, 2010}}|access-date=May 26, 2023|note=8 cm version}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Japan|type=ringtone|title=First Love|artist=Hikaru Utada|award=Platinum|relyear=2020|certyear=2009|certmonth=8|access-date=December 26, 2023|note=Full-length Ringtone}}

{{Certification Table Separator|title=Streaming}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Japan|type=single|title=First Love|artist=Hikaru Utada|award=Platinum|number=2|streamsonly=true|certyear=2024|certmonth=2|access-date=March 28, 2024}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Japan|type=single|title=First Love (2014 Remaster)|artist=Hikaru Utada|award=Gold|streamsonly=true|certyear=2023|certmonth=2|access-date=February 29, 2024|note=2014 Remaster}}

{{Certification Table Bottom|streamsonly=true}}

Release history

class="wikitable plainrowheaders"

|+Release history and formats for "First Love"

! scope="col" |Region

! scope="col" |Date

! scope="col" |Format(s)

! scope="col" |Version

! scope="col" |Label

! scope="col" |{{abbr|Ref.|Reference}}

scope="row" |Japan

|April 28, 1999

| rowspan="2" |{{hlist|CD

}

| rowspan="3" |Original

|{{hlist|Toshiba-EMI}}

| align="center" |

|-

! scope="row" |Taiwan

|August 2000

|{{hlist|EMI}}

| align="center" |{{cite web |title=First Love (Overseas Ver.) |url=http://www.yesasia.com/global/first-love-overseas-ver/1000026497-0-0-0-en/info.html |access-date=2010-09-24 |work=Yesasia}}

|-

! scope="row" |Japan

|November 19, 2004

|{{hlist|Digital download}}

|{{hlist|Toshiba-EMI}}

| align="center" |{{cite web | script-title=ja:レコード協会調べ 8月度有料音楽配信認定 ＜略称：8月度認定＞ | url=http://www.riaj.or.jp/data/others/chart/w090920.html | work=RIAJ |language=ja | date=2009-09-20 | access-date=2010-09-24}}

|-

! scope="row" |Various

| rowspan="2" |December 9, 2022

|{{hlist|Digital download|streaming}}

|2022 Mix

|{{hlist|USM Japan}}

| align="center" |{{Cite web |title=宇多田ヒカルのアナログ盤「First Love / 初恋」発売記念ポップアップ企画開催、DJイベントあり |trans-title=DJ Event to Commemorative Hikaru Utada's Vinyl Release of "First Love / Hatsukoi" |url=https://natalie.mu/music/news/502515 |access-date=2022-12-09 |website=音楽ナタリー |language=ja}}

|-

! scope="row" |Japan

|{{hlist|Vinyl}}

|"First Love / Hatsukoi" 2022 Remastered

|{{hlist|USM Japan|Epic}}

| align="center" |

|}

Juju version

{{Infobox song

| name = First Love

| cover =

| alt =

| type = promo

| artist = Juju

| album = Request

| released = {{start date|2010|09|15}}

| recorded =

| studio =

| venue =

| genre = J-pop, R&B

| length = 4:27

| label = Sony

| writer = Hikaru Utada

| producer = Akihisa Matsuura

}}

"First Love" was covered by the Japanese R&B singer Juju in 2010, on her cover album Request. It was the main promotional single, and was released as a digital download to cellphones on September 15, 2010.{{cite web|url=http://www.sonymusic.co.jp/Music/Arch/AI/JUJU/ |title=Juju インフォメーション |publisher=Sony |language=ja |access-date=September 24, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110429083411/http://www.sonymusic.co.jp/Music/Arch/AI/JUJU/ |archive-date=April 29, 2011 |url-status=dead}} Juju performed the song at Hey! Hey! Hey! on September 20.{{cite web |url=http://blog.fujitv.co.jp/HEY/E20100920001.html |title=今聴きたい！名曲Hey！Hey！Hey！伝説的アイドルの祭典！史上最多30人大集結スペシャル！！ |publisher=Fuji TV |language=ja |date=September 20, 2010 |access-date=September 24, 2010}}

=Charts=

class="wikitable"

!Chart

!Peak
position

RIAJ Digital Track Chart Top 100{{cite web |url=http://satsuki.musicdb.gr.jp/all_info/ranking_weekly/WeeklyRankingAction.do?term=2010s&weeklyCd=20100921&rankKbn=50 |title=レコード協会調べ 2010年09月15日～2010年09月21日 ＜略称：レコ協チャート（「着うたフル(R)」）＞ |date=2009-09-24 |publisher=RIAJ |access-date=2010-09-24 |language=ja |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141228000807/http://satsuki.musicdb.gr.jp/all_info/ranking_weekly/WeeklyRankingAction.do?term=2010s&weeklyCd=20100921&rankKbn=50 |archive-date=2014-12-28 }}

|align="center"|5

=Release history=

class="wikitable"

! Region

! Date

! Format

rowspan="2"|Japan

|{{Start date|2010|09|08}}

|Ringtone

{{Start date|2010|09|15}}

|Cellphone download

Other cover versions

  • {{ill|Naoko Terai|ja|寺井尚子}} (1999, violin, album Pure Moment)
  • {{ill|Sotte Bosse|ja}} (2007, on the album Innocent View){{cite web |url=https://www.oricon.co.jp/prof/385928/rank/album/ |title=Sotte Bosseのランキング情報 |website=Oricon |lang=ja |access-date=2 April 2025 |quote=Innocent View 発売日 2007年03月07日 最高順位 21位 登場回数 62週}}
  • Scott Murphy (2008, on the album Guilty Pleasures 3)
  • {{ill|Ryō Nagano|ja|永野亮}} (Apogee) (2008, digital single)
  • {{ill|Yasushi Nakanishi|ja|中西保志}} (2008, on the album Standards 3){{cite web |url=https://www.oricon.co.jp/prof/235421/rank/album/ |title=中西保志のランキング情報 |website=Oricon |lang=ja |access-date=2 April 2025 |quote=Standards3 発売日 2008年11月05日 最高順位 37位 登場回数 6週}}
  • Jake Shimabukuro (2008, ukulele solo, DVD Ichigo Ichie)
  • {{ill|Makoto Hirahara|ja|平原まこと}} (2009, saxophone, on the album Vocalese)
  • {{ill|Sing-O|ja}} (2009, digital single)
  • {{ill|Starving Trancer|ja}} feat. Maki (2009, on the album Exit Trance Presents Dramatic Trance Memorial Daiichiwa)
  • Hideaki Tokunaga (2010, on the album Vocalist 4)
  • Eric Martin (2010, on the album Mr. Vocalist 3)
  • Boyz II Men (2010 on the album Covered: Winter)
  • May J. (2013, on the album Summer Ballad Covers){{cite web |url=https://www.oricon.co.jp/prof/393028/rank/album/ |title=May J.のランキング情報 |website=Oricon |lang=ja |access-date=2 April 2025 |quote=Summer Ballad Covers 発売日 2013年06月19日 最高順位 4位 登場回数 58週}}

References

{{Reflist}}

{{Hikaru Utada songs}}

{{authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:First Love (Hikaru Utada Song)}}

Category:1999 singles

Category:Hikaru Utada songs

Category:Songs written by Hikaru Utada

Category:Contemporary R&B ballads

Category:Japanese television drama theme songs

Category:1999 songs

Category:Songs about heartache

Category:1990s ballads