Hikaru Utada sings the new theme song for the anime series, Chibi Maruko-chan

One thing about Teruzane, he’s gonna get Hikaru some theme song bags. And I really dig that there is a certain corner that Hikaru occupies when it comes to theme songs. When their songs are for dramas, they’re usually for particular sorts of dramas — First Love, Hana Yori Dango 2, Last Friends, Saiai — heavy and depressing. And when it’s for games and animation, it’s always for things with an extremely broad appeal — Kingdom Hearts, Evangelion and now Chibi Maruko-chan.

So little of what Hikaru and their team does feels like it’s on whims and without purpose. The brand of Hikaru Utada is CONSISTENT.

The best way I can describe Chibi Maruko-chan is that it’s Crayon Shin-chan, but where the main character is a girl. The premises of both manga and their anime adaptations are similar. The main characters live at home with a slightly off-beat family. They get involved in some mess. And then they and their friends try to work their way out of it.

When it was announced that Hikaru Utada would be singing the theme song for Chibi Maruko-chan, I had no expectations, because the song could go in any direction. But even so, I still didn’t expect the song to turn out how it did.

“Pappa Paradise” is so different from anything we’ve heard from Hikaru before. It feels like it sits in the same realm as a song like “Bad Mode”. Sorta-kinda. I like it. It grows on me the more that I listen to it. The production is really cool and Hikaru sounds free.

“Pappa Paradise” will release digitally on 6th May, but will get a limited 7-inch vinyl release on 24th June. I really am digging how all in Hikaru’s team and Sony are on vinyl releases.

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💿 Albumkaru Reviewtada: Precious | First Love | Distance | Deep River | Exodus | Ultra Blue | Heart Station | This is the One | Fantôme | Hatsukoi | Bad Mode | Science Fiction

🎧 Spotifykaru Playlistada: Slaykaru Queentada | Hikaru Utada: R&B | Hikaru Utada: Ballads | Hikaru Utada: Bops | Hikaru Utada: Remixes