Can You Keep a Secret? (song)
| "Can You Keep a Secret?" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Single by Hikaru Utada | ||||
| from the album Distance | ||||
| Released | February 16, 2001 | |||
| Recorded | 2000 | |||
| 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 | ||||
"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 second 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 Japanese television drama called Hero (2001), in which Utada had her acting debut, appearing in a cameo as a waitress, and starring Takuya Kimura.
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. The music video features a robot called PINO. Some of the filming took place on Utada's birthday.
Commercially, the song was a massive success. "Can You Keep A Secret" ascended to number one on the Oricon Singles Chart and became Japan's best-performing single of 2001. In total it sold over 1,485,000 units nationwide and was Utada's last million-selling single. 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 has sold 1,485,000 to date and became the number one single of 2001 in Japan.[2][3] 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[edit]
The music video for this song includes a robot whom Hikaru appears to be in a relationship with. In the end, it has been revealed that Hiraku, too, is a robot during the relationship. It also shows Hiraku singing in a futuristic room full of pink lights. The robot used in the video was the robot "Pino" created by Hisashi Taniguchi.[4] Utada performed "Can You Keep a Secret?" on her 2010 tour, Utada: In the Flesh 2010.
Track listing[edit]
All 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[edit]
Weekly charts[edit]
| Chart (2001) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Japan Singles (Oricon)[5] | 1 |
Year-end charts[edit]
| Chart (2001) | Position |
|---|---|
| Japan Singles (Oricon) | 1 |
Certifications[edit]
| Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
|---|---|---|
| Japan (RIAJ)[7] Physical sales |
Million | 1,485,000[6] |
| Japan (RIAJ)[8] Digital single |
Platinum | 250,000* |
| Streaming | ||
| Japan (RIAJ)[9] | Gold | 50,000,000† |
|
† Streaming-only 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.
- ^ "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.
- ^ "宇多田ヒカルのリリース一覧" [List of Hikaru Utada's releases]. Oricon. Retrieved August 14, 2014.
- ^ "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
