Oku Hanako’s 15th anniversary album, “Oku Hanako ALL TIME BEST“, is out! It was released last week on November 13.
奥華子「奥華子 ALL TIME BEST」ダイジェスト映像 by ponycanyon [YouTube]
(I find it interesting that more recent promotional images are used for the older songs without a music video instead of ones from the time they were released.)
There are three editions available: 3CD (PCCA-04828), 3CD+BD (PCCA-04827), and the 15h Anniversary 875BOX (PCCA-04864), which includes some extra goodies.
Regular edition (3CD) cover art
Special edition (3CD+BD) cover art
875BOX cover art
Each edition comes with three CDs. Much like on her previous best collection, “Oku Hanako BEST -My Letters-“, the songs on each of the CDs are grouped by theme. This time around, the CDs are labelled “花 – HANA” (“Flower”), “空 – SORA” (“Sky”) and “月 – TSUKI” (“Moon”).
Oku Hanako gives this note (translation is mine):
It’s approaching 15 years since my debut. I’m really happy to have lots of grateful memories. Thank you!
I think the work to make the 15-year compilation best album that I wanted is complete. To those who are always helping me out, to those whom I will meet after this, I hope even one of you will want to collect my music.
It was really difficult choosing from my many songs, but I’ve managed to divide them into 3 categories:
- Flower: Things that are lovely because they are fleeting
- Sky: Things that are always there
- Moon: Things you can see only because there is darkness
I am delighted to give you what’s almost like three new albums to listen to.
Of course, I still treasure all the songs I didn’t put in this release. I hope from here on in, my music will reach even more people.
Oku Hanako
花 – HANA
The unifying theme of the HANA (“Flower”) disc is “things that are lovely because they are fleeting”. Interestingly, around half of these songs reference flowers in their titles, and it may very well be that the lyrics of all of them have something to do with a flower.
- Hanabira (new song) / はなびら(新曲)
- Propose / プロポーズ
- Hatsukoi / 初恋
- 365 Nichi no Hanataba / 365日の花束
- Toshiue no Kare / 年上の彼
- Fuyu Hanabi / 冬花火
- Sakura Namiki / 桜並木
- Statice / スターチス
- Koi Tsubomi / 恋つぼみ
- Futari Kinenbi / 二人記念日
- Garasu no Hana / ガラスの花
- Koi / 恋
- Lost Time / ロスタイム
- Yasashii Hana / やさしい花
This disc includes Oku Hanako’s new song, Hanabira / はなびら, which was the theme song of the movie, Korosanai Kare to Shinanai Kanojo / 殺さない彼と死なない彼女.
空 – SORA
The unifying theme of the SORA (“Sky”) disc is “things that are always there”. Many of the songs included appear to have a theme of longevity and distance.
- Cinderella / シンデレラ
- Garnet / ガーネット
- Ai to Iu Takaramono / 愛という宝物
- Waratte Waratte / 笑って笑って
- 10 Nen / 10年
- Michi / 道
- Mahou no Hito / 魔法の人
- Ichibanboshi / 一番星
- Aitai Toki ni Aenai / 逢いたいときに逢えない
- Tomoshibi / 灯-ともしび-
- Kaette Oide / 帰っておいで
- Happydays
- Haruka Tooku ni / 遥か遠くに
- Ashiato / 足跡
- Jiyuu no Kame (new recording) / 自由のカメ(新録)
Of special note is the new recording of Jiyuu no Kame. This song is an indies song included on her indies compilation album vol.best. The digest video gives a preview at 2:53. It appears to include an arrangement with drums, guitar, brass, and of course her piano. It reminds me a bit of the album version of Kimo no Egao, except I have less of a problem with the arrangement at first glance.
月 – TSUKI
The unifying theme of the TSUKI (“Moon”) disc is “things that you can see only because there is darkness”. Many of these songs have a sad or otherwise dark undertone in their lyrics.
- Anata ni Suki to Iwaretai / あなたに好きと言われたい
- Toumei Kasa / 透明傘
- Utakata / 泡沫
- Rainyday
- Kawaranai Mono / 変わらないもの
- Madobe / 窓辺
- Period / ピリオド
- Aishiteta / 愛してた
- Kusabi / 楔-くさび-
- Aoi Heya / 青い部屋
- Trump / トランプ
- Shiroi Ashiato / 白い足跡
- Aimai na Kuchibiru / 曖昧な唇
- Koi no Hate / 恋の果て
- Meiro / 迷路
“Rainy Day” is probably the new 2017 recording.
MV Collection Disc
This disc is a collection of all her music videos and is only available in the 3CD+BD and 875BOX editions.
- Mahou no Hito / 魔法の人
- Chiisana Hoshi / 小さな星
- Garnet / ガーネット
- Tegami / 手紙
- Hatsukoi / 初恋
- Cinderella / シンデレラ
- Fuyu Hanabi / 冬花火
- Kusabi / 楔-くさび-
- Hanabi / 花火
- Kimi ga Kureta Natsu / 君がくれた夏
- Kimi no Hana / キミの花
- Saigo no Kiss / 最後のキス
- Omoide ni Nare / 思い出になれ
- Kaban no Naka no Yakimochi / 鞄の中のやきもち
- Hanabira / はなびら
- Off Shot Movie
I think “off shot” in this case means “backstage”. That is, the “off shot movie” is likely a compilation of clips or interviews taken while the staff were filming the music videos. A “making of” video, if you will.
On another note, they never make mention of the Music On! TV music video for Anata ni Suki to Iwaretai. I wonder if it’s because they don’t have the rights to it.
875BOX Goods
In addition to the discs, the 875BOX comes with extra goods: a special photo book, an “original multi-stand” (I think “multi” here means “multipurpose”; it looks like a phone stand), and a 15th anniversary Oku Hanako bandana.
An original multi stand, available only in the 875BOX.
15th anniversary bandana, only available in the 875BOX.
Additionally, if you bought the release at the Pony Canyon Shopping Club, you also received a special acrylic keychain featuring a Chiro Oku Hanako (Chiro is Oku Hanako’s white cat).
Chiro Oku Hanako keychan, exclusive to Pony Canyon Club shoppers.
Released at the same time as the ALL TIME BEST is the soundtrack for the movie, “Korosanai Kare to Shinanai Kanojo” (PCCR-00689). It contains Hanabira as well as 23 other tracks.
Korosanai Kare to Shinanai Kanojo soundtrack album cover art
Thoughts on Oku Hanako 