Automatic

“Automatic” is a song recorded by Japanese recording artist Hikaru Utada, released as the first single along with A-side “Time Will Tell” from her debut studio album First Love (1999). The song was written and composed by Utada herself while the production was handled by her father Teruzane Utada and Miyake Akira. “Automatic” and “Time Will Tell” were written and composed while Utada was attending college in Tokyo, Japan during 1997. Utada, who received an record contract by Toshiba-EMI, had written English-language versions of the songs, but both songs remain unreleased; the English version of “Time Will Tell” was released in March 2014 in part of the First Love: 15th Anniversary. Musically, Automatic is an R&B song that utilizes soul, dance music and hip hop music. Like the parent album, the song is majorly an R&B track. The lyrical content deals with an relationship, with the protagonist worrying about changes but accepting the change. “Automatic” received favorable reviews from most music critics, who praised the musical arrangement and praised Utada’s vocals and songwriting. Some have even dubbed the song as an “J-Pop classic” and view it as a memorable song in Japanese music. An accompanying music video was shot by Tomu Izawa, which features Utada in both a darkened room and a square blue room, similar to the cover art off the compact disc. Commercially, the singles were a huge success. Both released as a 8cm and normal compact disc, the songs peaked at number four and two on the Oricon Singles Chart respectively, with the latter format selling over 1.2 million units and the first selling just under one million units. To date, the songs remain as Utada’s best selling single, selling over 2 million units. “Automatic” has been played live on several occasions including international tours Utada United 2006, Utada: In the Flesh 2010 and Wild Life (concert).