Pappa Paradise (パッパパラダイス) - Hikaru Utada
pop • 2026
6.5
Utada seems to be enjoying a fun and lighthearted exposure in a short peppy song intended for a child’s anime. i’m not one to thrash someone for taking a step away from their intense-soul-searching art journey, to make something less dramatic. especially when the result is an enjoyable bop meant to be a fun excursion. who am i to tell Utada NOT to have fun with their abilities and NOT to make whatever makes them happy? with that said, i find the song both eternally loop-able and slightly grating. so its an earworm.
there are points that make me want to switch it off immediately. somewhere around the “shoobie-doobie”s and the 60’s Grease crooning doowop style. it’s not exactly what i like Utada for, and i don’t particularly feel like sticking around for it.
on the flip side, why do i keep pressing replay? is it because i need to immerse into the song for this review? or is it because the song has begun to sink its way into my brain? i do kind of dig the opening electronic slide and i i’ll admit i also can vibe with Utada clearly having fun with the job.
somewhere in there i’m intended to take a step back from serious work and just enjoy a simple earworm for what it is. i won’t say i’ll remember it a year from now, and i’m not saying i won’t replay it a few more times when i rediscover it a year from now.
it’s like a bowl of overly decorated sundae ice cream, and i don’t particularly enjoy desserts… but i’ll have a couple bites if you give me a spoon.
written by Marcus Landeros
