Bad Mode

Bad Mode
Digital and standard cover
Studio album by
Hikaru Utada
ReleasedJanuary 19, 2022
Recorded2018–2021
Genre
Length73:36
Language
Label
Producer
Hikaru Utada chronology
One Last Kiss
(2021) 		Bad Mode
(2022) 		Hikaru Utada Live Sessions from Air Studios
(2022)
Singles from Bad Mode
  1. "Face My Fears"
    Released: January 18, 2019
  2. "Time"
    Released: May 8, 2020
  3. "Dare ni mo Iwa Nai"
    Released: May 22, 2020
  4. "One Last Kiss"
    Released: March 9, 2021
  5. "Pink Blood"
    Released: June 8, 2021
  6. "Kimi ni Muchū"
    Released: November 26, 2021
  7. "Bad Mode"
    Released: January 19, 2022

Bad Mode (Japanese: BADモード, Hepburn: Baddo Mōdo) 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".[7] The album includes collaborations with a variety of producers, including Skrillex and Poo Bear, A. G. Cook, and Sam Shepherd.[8] 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.[6] 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.

  1. ^ a b c TOMC [in Japanese] (February 23, 2022). 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 [Hikaru Utada "Bad Mode": [I will] read the bedroom soul that "crosses the border."]. Nikkan Cyzo (in Japanese). Retrieved March 29, 2022.
  2. ^ a b c Cite error: The named reference Pitchfork was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  3. ^ Cite error: The named reference Billboard was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  4. ^ Cite error: The named reference PopMatters was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  5. ^ a b Russell, Erica (January 19, 2022). "Hikaru Utada Looks Into The Mirror". MTV. Archived from the original on January 19, 2022. Retrieved March 29, 2022.
  6. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference St. Michel was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  7. ^ "8th Studio Album BAD MODE Available Digitally on January 19 and CD Releasing February 23". Hikaru Utada Official Website. Sony Music Labels Inc. December 9, 2021. Retrieved December 8, 2021.
  8. ^ "Hikaru Utada Will Release 8th Studio Album Bad Mode Wednesday, January 19 From Milan Records". Anime News Network. January 11, 2022. Retrieved January 13, 2022.