The single debuted at #1 on the Oricon charts with 437,903 copies sold in its first week, and became her fifth single to remain in the #1 slot for two consecutive weeks. The single reached #1 on Oricon charts and charted for 45 weeks, making it her longest charting single ever. COLORS would become the #3 single of 2003 in Japan, #27 on the World Charts for single airplay, and #6 for sales. The most recent figures (May 25, 2006) show that the single sold 893,790 units in total.
COLORS had an extremely long performance season, which included 11 performances spanning over two months (not including the special final performance). The song featured heavy ethereal and experimental tones for the first time in Utada's discography.
COLORS
宇多田ヒカル Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
いつの間にか速度上げてるのさ
どこへ行ってもいいと言われると
半端な願望には標識も全部灰色だ
炎の揺らめき 今宵も夢を描く
あなたの筆先 渇いていませんか
青い空が見えぬなら青い傘広げて
いいじゃないか キャンバスは君のもの
白い旗はあきらめた時にだけかざすの
今は真っ赤に 誘う闘牛士のように
カラーも色褪せる蛍光灯の下
白黒のチェスボードの上で君に出会った
僕らは一時 迷いながら寄り添って
あれから一月 憶えていますか
オレンジ色の夕日を隣で見てるだけで
よかったのにな 口は災いの元
黒い服は死者に祈る時にだけ着るの
わざと真っ赤に残したルージュの痕
もう自分には夢の無い絵しか描けないと言うなら
塗り潰してよ キャンバスを何度でも
白い旗はあきらめた時にだけかざすの
今の私はあなたの知らない色
The song COLORS by 宇多田ヒカル is a deeply introspective piece in which the singer reflects on the transience of life and the need to embrace the moment, without worrying too much about the unknown or the uncertain. The opening lines suggest that the character is almost pushing herself forward, with a sense of urgency, as she drives faster and faster, spooked by the illusions in the rearview mirror. This mirrors the way in which we often live our lives, always forward-looking, afraid of looking back, and trying to run from our fears.
The middle section of the song speaks to the need for purpose and direction, even when the future looks uncertain. The singer wonders whether she is chasing a half-hearted dream, given the signposts ahead are all grey. Here, she implies that she needs some kind of external validation or support to give her the courage to continue on her journey. She asks whether the person sitting next to her, who witnessed the orange sunset, is merely a figment of her imagination or can be trusted to guide her forward.
The final section of the song wraps up this introspective journey with a sense of hope and possibility. The singer celebrates the diversity and richness of life, the many colors that make up our world, and the way in which we can find beauty and meaning in small moments. She concludes by saying that, no matter what happens, she will always try to be true to herself, painting her canvas with bold and vibrant colors.
Line by Line Meaning
ミラーが映し出す幻を気にしながら
Driving fast while being worried about the hallucinations reflected on the mirrors
いつの間にか速度上げてるのさ
Unknowingly speeding up
どこへ行ってもいいと言われると
When they say you can go anywhere
半端な願望には標識も全部灰色だ
For a halfway wish, all signs are just grey
炎の揺らめき 今宵も夢を描く
The flicker of the flames, tonight I dream again
あなたの筆先 渇いていませんか
Isn't your pen dried out?
青い空が見えぬなら青い傘広げて
When you can't see the blue sky, open a blue umbrella
いいじゃないか キャンバスは君のもの
It's alright, the canvas belongs to you
白い旗はあきらめた時にだけかざすの
You only raise the white flag when you give up
今は真っ赤に 誘う闘牛士のように
Now you're like the matador who invites with red
カラーも色褪せる蛍光灯の下
Under fluorescent lamps, colors also fade
白黒のチェスボードの上で君に出会った
I met you on a black and white chessboard
僕らは一時 迷いながら寄り添って
We got close to each other while lost for a moment
あれから一月 憶えていますか
Do you remember since that month?
オレンジ色の夕日を隣で見てるだけで
Just watching the orange sunset next to you
よかったのにな 口は災いの元
It could've been great, but the mouth is the source of calamity
黒い服は死者に祈る時にだけ着るの
You only wear black clothes when praying for the dead
わざと真っ赤に残したルージュの痕
The deliberately left red lipstick mark
もう自分には夢の無い絵しか描けないと言うなら
If you say you can't draw anything but a dreamless painting anymore
塗り潰してよ キャンバスを何度でも
Paint it over, the canvas as many times as you want
白い旗はあきらめた時にだけかざすの
You only raise the white flag when you give up
今の私はあなたの知らない色
The current me is a color you don't know
Contributed by Jason T. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@yuuji.73y
作詞:宇多田ヒカル
作曲:宇多田ヒカル
ミラーが映し出す幻を気にしながら
いつの間にか速度上げてるのさ
どこへ行ってもいいと言われると
半端な願望には標識も全部灰色だ
炎の揺らめき 今宵も夢を描く
あなたの筆先 渇いていませんか
青い空が見えぬなら青い傘広げて
いいじゃないか キャンバスは君のもの
白い旗はあきらめた時にだけかざすの
今は真っ赤に 誘う闘牛士のように
カラーも色褪せる蛍光灯の下
白黒のチェスボードの上で君に出会った
僕らは一時 迷いながら寄り添って
あれから一月 憶えていますか
オレンジ色の夕日を隣で見てるだけで
よかったのにな 口は災いの元
黒い服は死者に祈る時にだけ着るの
わざと真っ赤に残したルージュの痕
もう自分には夢の無い絵しか描けないと言うなら
塗り潰してよ キャンバスを何度でも
白い旗はあきらめた時にだけかざすの
今の私はあなたの知らない色🍀🎧
@lishu3973
この曲が一番好きな人も多いはず
@kankan3565
私です😊
@chahon11
じゃあ俺も✋
@teppeaverage2011
この曲「も」1番好き。
@minc4108
お呼びですか♪👋
@SY1281981
Goodbye Happiness、One Last Kissも捨てがたい。
@yosu1533
毎日みんなと一緒にヒッキーのMV鑑賞できるのありがたすぎる
@sabotenash2
素晴らしい
@user-lg2wl1hb2n
めっちゃ同感です。ありがたすぎる
@user-ws5hu6sl5o
その通りです。
曲の思い出、宇多田氏への想いなど、いろいろエピソード聞けるのも楽しいです😊