Somewhere Near Marseilles

"Somewhere Near Marseilles"
Sci-Fi Edit cover
Single by Hikaru Utada
from the album Bad Mode and Science Fiction
ReleasedApril 3, 2024
StudioABS Studios (Japan)
Genre
Length
  • 11:55 (album version)
  • 4:13 (Sci-Fi edit)
LabelEpic Japan
Songwriter(s)Hikaru Utada
Producer(s)
Hikaru Utada singles chronology
"Naniiro de mo Nai Hana"
(2024)
"Somewhere Near Marseilles"
(2024)
Music video
"Somewhere Near Marseilles (Sci-Fi Edit)" on YouTube

"Somewhere Near Marseilles" (Somewhere Near Marseilles -マルセイユ辺り-, Somewhere Near Marseilles -Maruseiyu Atari-) is a song by Japanese-American singer Hikaru Utada. It appeared as the closing song to the standard version of Utada's eleventh studio album Bad Mode (2022), and a live recording of the song was released as a single on September 16, 2022. On April 3, 2024, Epic Records Japan released the "Sci-Fi Edit" version as the third single from Utada's first greatest hits album, Science Fiction (2024). The song was written entirely by Utada and arranged and produced by Utada and Sam Shepherd.

"Somewhere Near Marseilles" is a 12-minute house track that incorporates elements of acid house, disco, and Balearic house, as well as ambient noises, synthesisers, and electronic instruments. The Sci-Fi edit is approximately four minutes long and retains many of the original composition elements. Lyrically, the song discusses a long-distance relationship and travelling from London and Paris to Marseille for a rendezvous. The original version was chosen as the commercial theme song for the Japanese distribution of jewellery company Cartier.

"Somewhere Near Marseilles" received critical acclaim from music critics, with many citing it as a standout from the parent album. Furthermore, many critics praised the song's composition, production quality, Utada's vocals, and length, with some publications including the track on their year-end lists. Yuichi Kodama directed two music videos for the song, the live recorded version and the Sci-Fi edit, both of which were shot at the Yokohama Hakkeijima Sea Paradise, with the latter featuring re-edited footage from the original.