#Post-Utada

[wkbk33]

can you give me one last kiss?

something we don't want to forget

[yrdnzz]

BAROU SHOEI, king of the field AND karaoke

reference image cred to horikoshi kohei

[lilyginnyblackv2]

I don't think I've ever seen anyone talk about this Utada Hikaru quote in regards to both Hikari and Passion before:

In an interview, Utada said, "It's like... as if 'Hikari' was the dawn, and 'Passion' has a concluding or 'dusk' feeling to it. The lyrics of 'Passion' show how phases of the past, present and future of the character in my song relate to each other."

This came from the KH Fandom Wiki, which I'll link below in the comments. I've seen the Nomura quote mentioned all the time about how Passion is about Sora and Riku's reunion, but I think a part of Nomura's quote that often gets overlooked is when he states:

I wrote stuff like "An image of a reunion, a happy moment in a way" and "Like a Hikari 2" in there.

Italicized part by me for emphasis and the main thing I want to talk about here. The quote from Nomura can be found over at Kingdom Hearts Insider (which I will also link below in the comments).

We have Utada mentioning how Hikari is like the dawn and Passion is like the concluding dusk, thus connecting the two songs to each other in a sequel like way, just like Nomura mentions in his interview when he states that Passion is "Like a Hikari 2." So, in my mind, since Nomura states that "Passion is about Sora and Riku's reunion" and Utada uses the phrasing of dawn, as well as how the song highlights how past, present, and future relate to each other for the character in the song...I think it's pretty safe to say that Hikari is about Sora and Riku as well.

That seems to be what both Nomura and Utada are implying with their answers here. Now, I know that some people really like to say that Simple & Clean and Sanctuary are their own songs, which they are. The lyrics are different. But the thematic elements are still the same and there are still similar through lines (like the backward lyrics being the same in both Passion and Sanctuary for instance).

The lyrics of Hikari really fit Riku's views on Sora and the bond they have/had - the desire for it to remain unchanged. The person they are singing about being their light (Sora being Riku's light, something we know Riku views Sora as via things like the DDD Novel Side Riku). Simple & Clean's lyrics definitely fit Sora as a character and his voice more.

With Passion and Sanctuary it almost seems like this is reversed though. The English version, Sanctuary, has more lyrics that fit Riku and his perspective on Sora and their reunion. Meanwhile, Passion's lyrics fit Sora a lot more. The line: "I heard my old crush is having a baby in the wintertime" is quite interesting in various ways. The whole last set of lyrics in Passion aren't really directly related to KH, but more to general ideas of things that denote changes and passages of time (people having children, getting New Years cards, etc.).

It's also so interesting that Hikari is mentioned as being the Dawn (the time of day associated with Riku) and Passion the Dusk (the time of day that is often associated with Kairi). In KH2 is when we start to see a shift in Sora's feelings and interactions with Kairi (distance, drifting apart, change) and a reconnection happen with Sora and Riku (reunion, airing out feelings, better communication, reinforcing their friendship and bonds to each other, etc.).

We get games that focus more on Sora and Riku's bonds (Re-coded, BBB when they are little kids, and DDD) and Kairi is sadly neglected by the narrative and both Sora and Riku in a way. Something that we see her taking note of in KH3, more obviously through the novelization.

I don't know. To me these quotes just make me think it is very obvious that both Hikari/Simple & Clean and Passion/Sanctuary are all songs about Sora and Riku and their bond with each other. Of course, since KH3 is meant to be a conclusion to the Dark Seeker Saga, of which KH1 and KH2 are both a part of, it would make sense that Oath and Don't Think Twice are about them too.

Sadly, we don't really have anything remotely official to really solidify that interpretation though, not that official recognition of things like this are necessary - they aren't - but they do add more validity to interpretations and theories. Maybe some day we'll get a comment about Oath / Don't Think Twice from either Nomura or Utada. But until then...I'm still going to think that those songs are about Sora and Riku.

Anyway, these are just rambling thoughts on a topic I've talked about before (the KH themes like Oath / Don't Think Twice and their connection to Sora and Riku). But I was thinking about this all again with the new Hikari re-recording by Utada that came out recently. It's a beautiful re-recording that I definitely suggest every KH fan check out. I'll link that in the comments as well, lol. Also, feel free to add this via reblogs or in the comments! I might not respond right away, but I'll read everything that gets commented, added, etc.

[gaystation4]

utada hikaru promo spotted over vietnam 🌈

[thequantumranger]

Happy Belated 40th Birthday, Utada Hikaru!

Born on January 19, 1983.

[lucky-teo-dreamer]

silly posting

i am putting another one under readmore cause it has a spoiler but its silly

[uwanosorade]

A dress, asleep in the closet; A pair of high heels waiting to be worn; It's been quite some time Since I became a secondary character in the story. It's precisely because we're so busy That we have to spread our wings once in a while-- All the more boldly. For us, who work so hard morning, noon and night-- Here is an escape. There's no time like the present-- Take me away from here right now. A vacation of only two hours-- A rendezvous right by the shore. "Not quite enough" is just right. Pleasure should be taken In small doses.

Nobody wants to hear The sequel to a fairy tale. I love the gentle everyday But the thrills seek me out. For you, who works so hard for your family-- I'm stealing you for a drive. You can blame it all on me So indulge me in my selfishness. A vacation of only two hours-- It always ends just when things are getting good. Get too greedy and it will destroy you So tell me-- when can I see you again? C'mon, start the car Because we only live once. On the sand, give me a kiss that turns the inside of my head numb. Today, let's skip class And walk through the park together And maybe you'll give me A smile I won't be able to forget until the day I die. For us, who work so hard morning, noon and night-- Here is an escape There's no time like the present-- I'm on my way to you right now. A vacation of only two hours-- A rendezvous right by the shore "Not quite enough" is just right Pleasure should be taken In small doses.

[tenitchyfingers]

So I just remembered this song

[violetganache42]

The QWERTY Keyblade is back! Time to break out the tunes!

[paw--on--heart]

Breaking: female vocalist lowers her voice in song, local lesbian impressed

[kairithemang0]

A Flower of No Color by Utada Hikaru is so curtwen I can’t tell if it’s actually curtwen or if I’m delusional and everything is curtwen to me 💀

English lyrics:

What you gave me is A flower of no color In the not so distant future We will no longer be here But for always

I’m in love with you In it with you In it with you In love with you In it with you In it with you

The sun rises because It promised someone it would According to renowned scholars We are just illusions But today, as always

I’m in love with you In it with you In it with you In love with you In it with you In it with you

But if I can’t believe in myself I can’t believe in anything That’s synonymous with not existing Only the facts that can’t be proven Are called truths

No one can take away what’s inside our hearts There’s no need to protect it so much But if we can’t believe in ourselves We can’t believe in anything

I’m in love with you In it with you In it with you In love with you In it with you In it with you

[lilyginnyblackv2]

I feel like this has probably already been pointed out, but, let's talk about the difference in the re-recording of Simple & Clean:

I specifically want to talk about the Outro of each song and how they differ. I've gotten the lyrics for both versions from a lyrics website called Genius and will provide links in the comments below.

Here is the Outro for the original Simple & Clean:

Text:

[Outro]

Hold me, whatever lies beyond this morning

Is a little later on

Regardless of warnings, the future doesn't scare me at all

Nothing's like before

Hold me, whatever lies beyond this morning

Is a little later on

Regardless of warnings, the future doesn't scare me at all

Nothing's like before

Oh

Oh, oh, oh

Oh yeah

I

I

Here is the Outro for the Simple & Clean Re-recording:

Text:

[Outro]

Hold me, whatever lies beyond this morning

Is a little later on

Regardless of warnings, the future doesn't scare me at all

Nothing's like before

Oh, baby

Hold on, hold on, hold on, oh yeah

真夜中に (mayonaka ni) In the middle of the night

Ooh, aah, ooh, aah

So, looking at this outro verse we can see some differences between the original Simple & Clean and this new re-recording. Rather than repeating "hold me [...] nothing's like before" twice like the original, the re-recording only does this once. Then instead of just saying "oh, oh" and "I, I" like in the original, the re-recording states:

"hold on, hold on, hold on, oh yeah" then includes the Japanese phrase 真夜中に (mayonaka ni or In the middle of the night). The "hold on" phrase never appears in the original Simple & Clean the "In the middle of the night" Japanese phrase comes directly from Hikari, the Japanese version of the song. In Hikari, that phrase is used when directly talking about the light:

"And suddenly, I awaken in a stream of light

In the middle of the night

The light that is you, finds me

In the middle of the night

The light that is you, finds me

In the middle of the night"

(All of the above lyrics come from the Genius website as well and will be linked below in the comments).

In the original version of Simple & Clean we have the POV character ending the song by saying "I...I..." but we don't know what it is that they will actually be doing going forward. That character likely doesn't even know yet, since the whole song is about wanting to keep things as they were, to make things simple and clean, and not make things complicated.

Now, here we are in 2024 with a re-recording for a series that has now spawned a bunch of games and has a very convoluted and messy storyline. We also have Sora essentially lost and needing to be found. A year passes without any luck in Remind (with only a breakthrough really happening in MoM), and we see the talk of characters being lights to each other in games like DDD and KH3.

So the phrase "hold on, hold on, hold, oh yeah" definitely feels like it is meant to be directed at Sora (hold on, we'll find you - that sort of sentiment) and the "in the middle of the night" of course can connect Hikari and Simple & Clean to each other as songs, connect to the whole concept of characters being each other's lights, while also building off of the older version of Simple & Clean to fit the newer stage and situation of the series. That line also fits in with the whole concept behind Yozora (Night Sky) and Sora (Sky) meeting "in the middle of the night."

Edit: This also ties back to the return of the KH1 opening words of "I've been having these weird thoughts lately. Like is any of this for real...or not." in regards to the Yozora and Sora connection and the re-recording of Simple & Clean.

[greetings-inferiors]

Simple and clean is honestly such a banger of a song. I understand why it’s used in practically ever kingdom hearts game, because it’s JUST SO GOOD

Hikuru Utuda my beloved <3

[sangurasu]