Hikaru Utada performs “Traveling”, “Hikari” and “Electricity” from Science Fiction, on their NHK TV special

Teruzane ain’t about leaving shit exclusively to YouTube and rolling dice on some algorthim. So he stayed on his old school shit and booked his child on TV. So Hikaru Utada had a whole music special on NHK, Utada Hikaru ~Oshiete! Hikaru-san~. Hikaru sat and talked about their career with an audience consisting of selected fans, who also got to ask Hikaru questions and then proceed to try not to pass out from breathing the same air as their fave who was sat mere feet away. The whole special was basically this talk show type format, which was broken up with three performances of songs from Hikaru’s Best album, Science Fiction—the re-recorded versions of “Traveling” and “Hikari” and “Electricity”.

Each of the performances came with some great set design and some outfit choices that Perfume’s style team would approve of. Hikaru Utada has never really been noted for their fashion, which on one hand, I get. But on the other, I also feel that Hikaru Utada’s fashion is a defining part of who they are as an artist. When I think of Hikaru Utada in some of their music videos and especially during their live performances, their fashion is one of the first things I think of. It’s a very prominent and notable thing.

⚠️ Quick note. The videos below play in the most raggedy quality possible by default. So once you hit play, click the gear and select 720p.

Hikaru Utada performing “Traveling (Re-recording)” on Utada Hikaru ~Oshiete! Hikaru-san~

Hikaru Utada performing “Hikari (Re-recording)” on Utada Hikaru ~Oshiete! Hikaru-san~

Hikaru Utada performing “Electricity” on Utada Hikaru ~Oshiete! Hikaru-san~

It’s always cool seeing Hikaru Utada dance, as it’s not something they regularly do.

The dancer in the “Electricity” performance is Aoi Yamada. And if you have watched the Netflix series First Love, then you will recognise her as the mysterious dancing girl that the main character’s son is infatuated with. She has a really cool way in which she moves. And I guess Hikaru thought so too after watching First Love, because not only did Hikaru bring Aoi Yamada on board to perform with them, but she was also the choreographer for “Nani Iro Demo Nai Hana”. I wonder if she will tour with Hikaru Utada on their Science Fiction tour and come out for the performances of “Nani Iro Demo Nai Hana” and “Electricity”.

Much like the case was with the live performance of “Tomodachi” back in 2016, this live version of “Electricity” shits on the album version, because Hikaru sounds so much better vocally. When Fantôme finally released after THE live performance of “Tomodachi”, I listened to the song once, maybe twice. And then that was it. Every time after that, I stayed playing the live version. And it’s gonna be the same with “Electricity”. I can’t listen to the album version now.