Hikaru Utada is a joyous tax driver in the music video for “Pappa Paradise”. And then I cried.

I have to say. I really am digging this staggered release shit that Hikaru Utada is on. The song releases one day. The music video releases on another day. And then a physical release comes later. YES BITCH. Drag the release out.

So, it turns out that the new promo shot we got with the announcement of “Pappa Paradise” which featured Hikaru Utada in a car, was shot on the set of the music video. Very similar to how when we got a new promo shot for “One Last Kiss”, it was also a shot from one of the locations in the music video.

Whilst the promo shoot was pretty broody, that is not the vibe of the music video whatsoever — which sees Hikaru Utada as a joyous taxi driver.

The music video for “Pappa Paradise” was directed by Tomokazu Yamada, who also directed the videos for “Gold -Mata au hi Made-”, “Nani iro Demo nai Hana (A Flower of No Color)” and “Mine or Yours” and you can see / feel it.

Hikaru Utada and Tomokazu Yamada can go to hell. Making me cry at a damn music video. [Sniffles]

Maybe I’m going through some shit. Maybe this video touched something. Maybe it’s just the unfettered joy shown in this video. But when Hikaru and that little girl were being silly and laughing in the car, I laughed and then started crying. It just struck me and I don’t know why. I’m a pretty emotional person. It honestly doesn’t take much for me to cry.

There is so much horrid shit happening in the world right now. A racist and xenophobic party winning votes by a landslide around the UK in local elections has had me in a state of despair over the past couple of days. This country really saw everything happening in the U.S. and everything falling to shit as a result of it, and said ‘YES. WE’LL HAVE SOME OF THAT PLEASE.’ As though Brexit wasn’t bad enough. So, I really did need the dose of joy that the video for “Pappa Paradise” provided.

Hikaru Utada - Pappa Paradise | Sony Music Labels Inc.

It was really cool to see Hikaru Utada dancing again. The way she was bussin’ moves in the driver seat, made me think ‘Oh, it’s a shame we don’t get to see Hikaru fully dance’. And then right at the end, they did.

The choreographer for this video was Fukiko Takase, who also choreographed the last video Hikaru danced in — “Forevermore”. And she also appeared on the Laughter in the Dark tour during performances of “Tomodachi” and “Too Proud”. So it’s really cool to see her work with Hikaru Utada again. Hikaru Utada’s team is like Disney. Once they run you a cheque for some work, they gon’ keep running you a cheque for future work. Just ask Hikaru Utada’s band.

This was such a cool music video which really captures the joy of the song and also that sense of whimsy which has always been present in Hikaru’s music and music videos.

Hikaru seems to be in a completely different place to where they were with Bad Mode. So I’m really intrigued as to how the inevitable upcoming album is going to sound.

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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