Utada Hikaru - - Automatic

: Unlike many idols of the era, Utada wrote and co-produced the track themselves, establishing their reputation as a musical "genius" and a hands-on artist from day one. Legacy & Rebirth

: Decades later, Utada continues to celebrate the track, most recently performing it on the main stage at Coachella 2022 and including a re-recorded "2024 Mix" on their best-of album, SCIENCE FICTION . UTADA HIKARU - Automatic

: Before "Automatic," J-pop was dominated by high-energy Eurobeat and rave-inspired pop. Utada’s debut single brought a sophisticated R&B sensibility to the Oricon charts, signaling a new century of music for Japan. : Unlike many idols of the era, Utada

Automatic: How a Hit Single Keeps Being Reborn | by Charles in San Francisco | The Riff | Medium Utada continues to celebrate the track

: The song explores the vulnerability of a teenager unsure how to express serious feelings to a lover, wrapped in a pop melody with a wistful undercurrent .

: The song's influence reached beyond Japan, being covered by international artists like the Swedish band Dirty Loops and Mandarin singers like Kelly Chen .