Automatic (Hikaru Utada song)

"Automatic"
A body shot of a Japanese–American woman (Hikaru Utada) standing in front of a blue room, surrounded by led-lights. She is wearing white clothing and has her name and the song's title superimposed.
The 12cm CD artwork that commercializes both "Automatic" and "Time Will Tell".
Single by Hikaru Utada
from the album First Love
A-side"Time Will Tell"
ReleasedDecember 9, 1998
RecordedAugust 1998
StudioStudio Z'd, Wonder Station Yoyogi Studio, Studio Terra, Tokyo, Japan
GenreR&B
Length5:28
Label
Songwriter(s)Utada
Producer(s)
Hikaru Utada singles chronology
"Automatic" / "Time Will Tell"
(1998) 		"Movin' On Without You"
(1999)
Alternative cover
The mini CD that commercializes "Automatic".
Music video
"Automatic" on YouTube

"Automatic" is a song recorded by Japanese–American singer Hikaru Utada, taken as the lead single from her debut album First Love (1999). It was released on December 9, 1998, through Toshiba-EMI in three physical formats: mini CD single, standard-size CD single and 12" vinyl. Additionally, the single included the A-side "Time Will Tell", which originally served as the B-side for these versions. The song was written and co-produced by Utada, while Akira Miyake and the singer's father Teruzane Utada served as producers. Despite recording in English under the name Cubic U, "Automatic" is Utada's first Japanese recording, and was released after she enrolled into high school in Japan.

Musically, "Automatic" is an R&B song that incorporates elements of pop, dance and soul music. Lyrically, it delves into themes of love, and focuses on a previous relationship by the singer. Although an English version was recorded, executives at Toshiba-EMI insisted to promote herself in the Japanese market, so she wrote it the region's respective language. Upon its release, "Automatic" received positive reviews from music critics, who commended Utada's vocal abilities and production style. It won numerous accolades in Japan, and has subsequently been listed as one of her best releases.

Commercially, "Automatic" and "Time Will Tell" experienced success in Japan. The 8 cm CD single edition reached number four on the Oricon Singles Chart and sold over 772,000 units there. Meanwhile, the 12 cm CD single edition peaked at number two and sold 1.291 million units, tallying over two million copies in Japan; it was certified Million by the Recording Industry Association of Japan (RIAJ) for physical shipments. Since its release, Oricon has ranked it amongst many best-selling singles in the country, and has earned other distinctions for its commercial success.

An accompanying music video was directed and produced by Tomu Izawa, where it feature the singer in two rooms; a small with a yellow sofa, and a blue room that is lit by LED lights. In order to promote the single, Utada had included it on all her concert tours, such as her Bohemian Summer 2000, Budokan 2004 concert shows, Utada United, In the Flesh, and Wild Life. Additionally, the recording appeared on compilation albums conducted by the artist, and has made appearances on various commercials in Japan.