Summary
Hikaru Utada recently recorded a new version of the legendaryKingdom Heartstheme song “Hikari” as part of her latest album. While she was already a prolific pop singer, songwriter, and producer in Japan, Utada is likely most well-known around the world for her work on theKingdom Heartsseries, in which she wrote and performed the theme songs for the main three entries.
It all started with her 2002 single “Hikari,” which was used as the official Japanese theme for the originalKingdom Heartsgame. To help promote the game in other territories, Hikaru Utada also recorded an English version called “Simple and Clean,” and this was the song that many fans first heard in the commercials forKingdom Hearts. Different versions of “Hikari/Simple and Clean” would be featured inlaterKingdom Heartsgames, either retaining the slower and melancholy feel of the original or taking on a more upbeat, techno-dance flavor. No matter the version, “Hikari” has become as synonymous with theKingdom Heartsseries as main character Sora and his signature Keyblade weapon.
Earlier this week, Hikaru Utada released her latest album, titled Science Fiction. Included in its track list of Utada’s past hits is a rerecorded version of “Hikari” that retains the slower feel of the original song that famously played when Sora found himself separated from his friends in a new world at the very end ofthe originalKingdom Hearts. Hikaru Utada also posted 4K remasters of some of her old music videos to YouTube a few weeks ago, including the one for the original “Hikari.”
Hikaru Utada’s Latest Kingdom Hearts Remix Is Sure To Drum Up Nostalgia
While someKingdom Heartsfans are reliving their favorite memories from the seminalFinal Fantasy/Disney crossover JRPG series by listening to Hikaru Utada’s latest album, Square Enix is developing the next chapter in the form ofthe much-anticipatedKingdom Hearts 4. Sora’s next dimension-hopping adventure was first announced back in 2022, but official information has been scarce since. OriginalKingdom Heartscomposer Yoko Shimomura recently hinted that she might be working on music for the new game last month, and there is speculation that Disney properties like Marvel andStar Warscould be featured as worlds for Sora and his friends to explore.
It isn’t clear yet if Hikaru Utada will record a new theme song forKingdom Hearts 4, or if she will release new versions ofher otherKingdom HeartstrackslikeKingdom Hearts 2’s “Passion/Sanctuary” orKH 3’s “Don’t Think Twice” and “Face My Fears.” In the meantime, her new version of “Hikari” retains the tender and somewhat nostalgic feeling of the original, which is beloved by many gamers as the anthem of the long-runningKingdom Heartsseries.
