Hikki’s “Beautiful World” Tops the Charts in Japan

The Anime News Service reports that Utada Hikaru’s “Beautiful World,” the ending song to the first Evangelion Rebuild film, is now #1 on the Japanese radio charts. The brief article also notes that Hikaru is also a “huge Evangelion fan.”

Mike’s Take: This is admittedly a different kind of song than we were used to hearing in the old Eva TV series and movie, a much more ordinary kind of pop song, though not unusual for the kind of songs that usually close movies–as this one does, I’m told. I also find it interesting that Hikki, as her fans call her, who is actually American-educated (she was at Columbia University) and speaks English very fluently, is also an Eva-tard just like me! Did she get to meet Anno? Did she bow down at his feet and call him anime-god? 🙂

I used this song as the BGM for my last audio column, btw–plug plug! By any chance, does anyone have a translation of the lyrics?

Author: gendomike

Michael lives in the Los Angeles area, and has been into anime since he saw Neon Genesis Evangelion in 1999. Some of his favorite shows include Full Metal Alchemist, Honey and Clover, and Welcome to the NHK!. Since 2003 he has gone to at least one anime convention every year. A public radio junkie, which naturally led to podcasting, he now holds a seminary degree and is looking to become Dr. Rev. Otaku Bible Man any day now. Michael can be reached at mike.huang@animediet.net. You can also find his Twitter account at @gendomike.

2 thoughts on “Hikki’s “Beautiful World” Tops the Charts in Japan

  1. I’m sorry but I need to call this shot: I do not find this song to be of exceptional quality. It is good, but I won’t even say very good. Still, earning a good mark from me means being within top 20% of the songs I heard, so it may be adequate.

  2. Actually, I agree with you. It’s not very catchy or striking, which is why it made good background music. 🙂 As my article sort of implied it’s a very “ordinary” pop song.

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