Can't Wait 'Til Christmas

"Can't Wait 'Til Christmas" is a song by Japanese singer-songwriter Hikaru Utada. It was released on Utada's second Japanese compilation album, Utada Hikaru Single Collection Vol. 2, on November 24, 2010.[1]

"Can't Wait 'Til Christmas"
Song by Hikaru Utada
from the album Utada Hikaru Single Collection Vol. 2
LanguageJapanese
ReleasedNovember 24, 2010 (2010-11-24)
GenrePop, Christmas
Length3:44
LabelEMI Music Japan
Songwriter(s)Hikaru Utada
Producer(s)Hikaru Utada

Composition and inspiration

The song was written by Hikaru Utada, and is the first Christmas song she has written.[2] The song is a piano backed slow-paced ballad, sung in a higher register to the majority of Utada's songs. Other than piano, subtle background sounds are occasionally added into the instrument backing, such as occasional cymbal sounds. The lyrics describe a person in winter on Christmas Eve, who cannot wait for Christmas Day, however, asks why people want to chase after tomorrows instead of cherishing what they have now. The protagonist of the song has days filled with nothing to do at Christmas time, and feels that she wants to be close to her lover. She chides her lover for trying to act cool in front of her, but feels the distance between them growing less. She wants her lover to not promise her things for the future, and instead to listen to what she feels right in that moment.[3]

The song was written for fans who expressed an interest in a Hikaru Utada-written Christmas song.[4] Utada felt the shiest about this song being released out of the new songs written for Utada Hikaru Single Collection Vol. 2, as she had been trying to write a Christmas song for 1–2 years, but could not find the proper inspiration.[5] Utada believed that the writing style used in "Can't Wait 'Til Christmas" is different to that of the rest of the new songs.[6]

Promotion
Hikaru Utada in the commercial for Pepsi Nex

The song was used in an advertising commercial campaign for Pepsi Nex, her second successive Pepsi Nex commercial, after "Hymne à l'amour (Ai no Anthem)" in October.[2][7] This is the first time Pepsi has used an original song in its recent advertisement campaign in Japan, as all of the other songs have been covers of Western songs.[4] The commercials began airing from December 4 onwards.[2] The commercials feature Utada singing the song in an outdoor wintery landscape, lying against an oversized Pepsi Nex bottle.[4]

The song was performed during Utada's two date concert series Wild Life in December 2010.[8]

Charts
Chart performance for "Can't Wait 'Til Christmas"
Chart Peak
position
Japan (Japan Hot 100)[9] 2
Japan Adult Contemporary (Billboard)[10] 3
Japan Digital Track (RIAJ)[11] 1

Certifications
Certifications for "Can't Wait 'Til Christmas"
Chart Amount
RIAJ full-length cellphone downloads[12] Gold (100,000)
RIAJ PC downloads[13] Gold (100,000)

References
  1. "New Release" (in Japanese). EMI. Archived from the original on October 29, 2010. Retrieved November 26, 2010.
  2. "宇多田ヒカル、「ペプシネックス」新TV-CMの「クリスマス」篇に出演!" (in Japanese). CDJournal. November 30, 2010. Retrieved December 17, 2010.
  3. "Can't Wait 'Til Christmas – 宇多田ヒカル 歌詞情報 – goo 音楽" (in Japanese). Goo Ongaku. Archived from the original on January 1, 2011. Retrieved December 17, 2010.
  4. "宇多田ヒカル、自身初のXmasソングをCMで披露" (in Japanese). Oricon Style. November 30, 2010. Retrieved December 17, 2010.
  5. 宇多田ヒカル、"人間活動"で運転免許取得へ 老後は「日本にいたい」 (in Japanese). Oricon Style. November 28, 2010. Retrieved December 17, 2010.
  6. 宇多田ヒカル『自分の音楽を愛してくれた人たちへの感謝の気持ちが詰まったベスト盤』 (in Japanese). Oricon Style. November 17, 2010. Retrieved November 18, 2010.
  7. "宇多田ヒカル、5年ぶりにCM出演！ "人間活動専念"控え 「最初で最後の飲みカットかも」" (in Japanese). Oricon. September 28, 2010. Retrieved October 15, 2010.
  8. "宇多田ヒカル一時休止前ラスト公演で感涙＆Ust新記録樹立" (in Japanese). Natalie. December 13, 2010. Retrieved December 17, 2010.
  9. "Japan Billboard Hot 100". Billboard Japan. December 29, 2010. Archived from the original on November 23, 2010. Retrieved December 29, 2010.
  10. "Adult Contemporary Airplay". Billboard (in Japanese). December 29, 2010. Archived from the original on September 29, 2010. Retrieved December 29, 2010.
  11. "レコード協会調べ 2010年12月15日～2010年12月21日＜略称：レコ協チャート（「着うたフル(R)」）＞" (in Japanese). Recording Industry Association of Japan. December 24, 2010. Archived from the original on August 27, 2014. Retrieved December 24, 2010.
  12. レコード協会調べ 12月度有料音楽配信認定 ＜略称：12月度認定＞. RIAJ (in Japanese). January 20, 2011. Retrieved January 20, 2011.
  13. レコード協会調べ 3月度有料音楽配信認定＜略称：3月度認定＞ [Record Association report: March digital music download certifications (Abbreviation: March Certifications)]. RIAJ (in Japanese). April 20, 2011. Retrieved April 20, 2011.
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