"Can You Keep a Secret?" is the seventh single by Japanese recording artist Hikaru Utada. It was released on February 16, 2001, by Toshiba EMI and serves as the last single from her sophomore album Distance (2001). The song was written and composed entirely by Utada herself. It was the ending theme song for the dorama called Hero (2001), in which Utada had her acting debut, appearing in a cameo as a waitress, and starring Takuya Kimura.
| "Can You Keep a Secret?" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Single by Hikaru Utada | ||||
| from the album Distance | ||||
| Released | February 16, 2001 | |||
| Recorded | 2000 | |||
| Studio | ||||
| Genre | ||||
| Length | 5:08 | |||
| Label | EMI Music Japan | |||
| Songwriter(s) | Hikaru Utada | |||
| Producer(s) | Hikaru Utada | |||
| Hikaru Utada singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
| Music video | ||||
| "Can You Keep a Secret?" on YouTube | ||||
Musically, "Can You Keep A Secret?" is an upbeat R&B and dance-pop song that takes on the cross fusion of pop and R&B which was popular in the United States around the time of its release. Lyrically, the song talks about a woman expressing her love and asking her partner if they can keep it a secret. The song was warmly received by music critics, praising its production and Utada's vocals and songwriting; some of them going as far to describe it as a highlight in her discography.
Commercially, "Can You Keep A Secret" was a massive success at home. The song ascended to number one on the Oricon Singles Chart and became Japan's best-performing single of 2001. In all, it sold over 1.48 million units nationwide and was ultimately Utada's last single to sell over a million copies. A music video was made for the song, which features a robot called Pino. Some of the filming took place on Utada's birthday.The song has since been played live on several occasions including her 2006 concert tour Utada United 2006.
Commercial performance
edit"Can You Keep a Secret?" debuted at number one on the Oricon chart, selling 783,620 in its first week, and was her third single to be number one for two consecutive weeks. 1.31 million copies were shipped to stores in a single day.[1] The single stayed in the charts for eleven weeks.[2] "Can You Keep a Secret?" has sold 1,485,000 to date and became the number one single of 2001 in Japan.[3][4] In the World Charts, "Can You Keep a Secret?" reached number 37 for single airplay and number 9 for sales. The single sold 1,484,940 units as of May 2006.
Music video and live performances
editThe music video for this song includes a robot whom Utada appears to be in a relationship with. In the end, it has been revealed that Utada, too, is a robot during the relationship. It also shows Hikaru singing in a futuristic room full of pink lights. The robot used in the video was the robot "Pino" created by Hisashi Taniguchi.[5] Utada performed "Can You Keep a Secret?" on her 2010 tour, Utada: In the Flesh 2010.
Track listing
editAll tracks are written by Hikaru Utada
| No. | Title | Arranger | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Can You Keep a Secret?" | Akira Nishihira | 5:08 |
| 2. | "Kettobase! (蹴っ飛ばせ!)" | Akira Nishihira, Hikaru Utada | 4:31 |
| 3. | "Can You Keep a Secret?" (Original Karaoke) | 5:08 |
Charts
editCertifications
edit| Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
|---|---|---|
| Japan (RIAJ)[8] Physical sales |
Million | 1,484,940[7] |
| Japan (RIAJ)[9] Digital single |
Platinum | 250,000* |
| Streaming | ||
| Japan (RIAJ)[10] | Gold | 50,000,000† |
|
* Sales figures based on certification alone. | ||
References
edit- ^ "宇多田新曲１日で131万枚". Sponichi Annex (in Japanese). February 17, 2001. Archived from the original on February 19, 2001. Retrieved August 19, 2021.
- ^ a b "宇多田ヒカル Can You Keep a Secret?". Oricon. Retrieved September 26, 2024.
- ^ a b "2001年 邦楽ヒット曲 ランキング". 年代流行 (in Japanese). Retrieved August 19, 2021.
- ^ McClure, Steve (December 29, 2001). "Pop Queen Utada Reigns In Japan". Billboard. Vol. 113, no. 52. p. 51. Retrieved August 20, 2021.
- ^ Kölling, Martin (August 29, 2020). ""Ich möchte Roboter bauen, die niedlich und beliebt sind"". Neue Zürcher Zeitung (in German). Retrieved August 19, 2021.
- ^ "台灣年度百大歌曲". HitFM. Retrieved September 8, 2024.
- ^ "オリコンランキング情報サービス「you大樹」" [Oricon Ranking Information Service 'You Big Tree']. Oricon. Retrieved August 26, 2014.
- ^ "Japanese certifications – Hikaru Utada – Can You Keep a Secret" (in Japanese). Recording Industry Association of Japan. Select 2001年2月 on the drop-down menu
- ^ "Japanese digital single certifications – Hikaru Utada – Can You Keep a Secret" (in Japanese). Recording Industry Association of Japan. Select 2015年9月 on the drop-down menu
- ^ "Japanese single streaming certifications – Hikaru Utada – Can You Keep a Secret" (in Japanese). Recording Industry Association of Japan. Retrieved December 26, 2023. Select 2023年11月 on the drop-down menu