Download of the Day 3/30: "Come Back To Me" by Utada

It's not very often that Asian singers make an impact in the United States. In fact, its one of those "once in a blue moon" things.

Well, Japanese artist Utada is trying to change that with her new single "Come Back To Me".

Hikaru Utada may be new here in the States, but in her home country, she is quite the pop icon. Her first album in Japan, First Love, is the best-selling album in Japanese history, attaining sales of 10 million worldwide. She has had 12 number-one singles on the Oricon Singles Charts (the Japanese equivalent to Billboard). She's essentially a national treasure.

She's tried at US success before, with her English album Exodus, but it went nowhere (it peaked at #160 on the album charts). Undeterred, she's back with a very important tool in her arsenal that should guarantee her success: Stargate.

The Norwegian pop producers, responsible for some of the biggest hits of the decade, helped the Japanese pop star make the most US radio-friendly single possible, while maintaining some kind of personality. The song has the Stargate trademarks: the repeating piano chords, the light drum machine, even those hand claps. What's different about the song is Utada herself. Clearly, English is her second language, which makes her phrasing truly interesting. Her vocals are really expressive; she can easily switch tones, from firm in the chorus, pleading in the bridge, and even a bit sexy in the spoken interlude. It's a fresh lyrical interpretation, which is definitely needed on today's radiowaves.

As you would expect from the song title, its about someone wanting their lover back. There's been a lot of that around, but some of the lines are quite interesting in their modernity, such as this lyric: "I wish that I could Photoshop on our bad memories because the flashbacks, oh the flashbacks won't leave me alone". It's also a bit unexpected to hear a song that clearly is about cheating and the effect has. Again, Utada plays the role well, while still coming off sympathetic.

While it's easy to lay the song's goodness on the producers, Utada is more than some studio magic with a face. She has her own style than comes through even through the thick cloud of US radio conformity, If she could maintain that individuality, than it shouldn't be hard for her to conquer the States like she did Japan.

Rating: 7.5/10