"First Love", "Distance", and the Origins of a Legend | POP 101: A Guide to Hikaru Utada (Part 1)
In Part 1 of our POP 101 series on Hikaru Utada (宇多田ヒカル), Chris and Chantel Nicole explore the early career of one of J-pop’s most influential artists - tracing their rise from Cubic U to the record-breaking success of "First Love" and the sonic expansion of "Distance".We discuss how Utada’s unique background, artistry, and lyrical perspective reshaped the Japanese music landscape, set new industry standards, and laid the foundation for a career that would span decades.From underground beginnings to instant icon status, this episode unpacks the origins of a legend.Join us on Patreon!: https://www.patreon.com/CCTVPOPSFollow us on social media: https://linktr.ee/cctvpops0:00 - Intro1:56 - A Brief History of J-Pop4:52 - The Beginnings, Cubic U and "Precious"6:11 - "Close To You"12:58 - "Automatic" / "Time Will Tell"20:45 - "Movin' On Without You"25:41 - "First Love" album and single33:13 - "Addicted To You"37:50 - "Wait and See -Risk-", "For You" / "Time Limit" and "Can You Keep A Secret?"39:28 - POP QUIZ! Give us your answers in the comments for a shout-out!46:07 - "Distance" albumReferences:“Close To You” (Cubic U) MV https://youtu.be/w3pOdc6i224?si=EwbsM7eDmV13-8Qe“Automatic” MV https://youtu.be/-9DxpPiE458?si=8aBT8yqGPUM_qVbw “Automatic” Live 1999 https://youtu.be/OTGTqh1w8kg?si=whRESvduf5HOMe9G “Movin’ On Without You” MV https://youtu.be/9qU-JVtvXKw?si=5rVv1tpS_7ZI36xt “First Love” MV https://youtu.be/o1sUaVJUeB0?si=TD3m8sustCmkkDA3 “Addicted To You” MV https://youtu.be/h6EqqOiTiwk?si=2PvmPLJQTaalfuhX “Wait & See ～リスク～” MV https://youtu.be/zIEf-xJ8VE4?si=MiSTN2uT4VQt0fxs “For You” MV https://youtu.be/iJoNSuGpjNc?si=xRcKdcVGTK9AqbB9“タイム・リミット” MV https://youtu.be/evvXqGJk1T8?si=3e0pLl-yBJSqTdrh “Can You Keep A Secret?” MV https://youtu.be/SRQbQ_nd4fc?si=xU2xWILIUKS_m2Qw
--------
52:53
--------
52:53
Kylie Minogue "Fever" - Pop Perfection?
In this episode, Chris and Chantel Nicole go track by track through "Fever", the iconic 2001 album that redefined Kylie Minogue’s global pop legacy. Featuring massive hits like “Can’t Get You Out of My Head,” “Love at First Sight,” and “In Your Eyes,” this sleek electro-pop era became one of Kylie’s most beloved and most successful projects to date.We break down the production, vocals, lyrics, and visuals, and ask: is "Fever" truly pop perfection? Or is it carried by just a few standout singles?Whether you're a longtime Kylie fan or discovering this era for the first time, we’ve got all the thoughts.Join us on Patreon!: https://www.patreon.com/CCTVPOPSFollow us on social media: https://linktr.ee/cctvpops0:00 - Intro1:20 - "Fever" Album Info2:50 - Album Cover4:49 - "More More More"8:16 - "Love At First Sight"19:43 - "Can't Get You Out Of My Head"29:11 - "Fever"33:52 - "Give It To Me"37:29 - "Fragile"40:13 - "Come Into My World"48:25 - "In Your Eyes"54:55 - "Dancefloor"58:06 - "Love Affair"1:01:33 - "Your Love"1:06:19 - "Burning Up"1:11:04 - Cut or Keep1:13:03 - Overall Thoughts & Final RatingReferences:“Love At First Sight” MV https://youtu.be/wf421JsG004?si=Ma6MMvm4GQ6HkwUE“Love At First Sight” Live at MTV 2002 https://youtu.be/icd-Io0H-mI?si=ky9rPO8tfPkKzkI- “Can’t Get You Out Of My Head” MV https://youtu.be/c18441Eh_WE?si=CCk7xRRYa63Ze4m8“Can’t Get You Out Of My Head” Live at the Brit Awards 2002 https://youtu.be/Ysn_Lad-zsg?si=gU9Ao1L8666f837S “Can’t Get You Out Of My Head” Live at On A Night Like This Tour https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HxyZC89p3bE&pp=ygUna3lsaWUgY2FuJ3QgZ2V0IHlvdSBvdXQgb2YgbXkgaGVhZCAyMDAx “Fever” Live at An Audience With… https://youtu.be/KgS5TrPuFPs?si=TlOGwEiU15gXDy_g “Come Into My World” MV https://youtu.be/63vqob-MljQ?si=BzEQlws5oGpYe83t“Come Into My World” Live at Fever Tour https://youtu.be/g90scy9SPfI?si=3LgxOje0wZvCkIMk “Come Into My World” Live at Showgirl Tour https://youtu.be/-4M5e_jTctk?si=RstOijGRKrGK_KLH “In Your Eyes” MV https://youtu.be/OjETibEMbJY?si=J7mbbSs5rhebcyxw “In Your Eyes” Live at An Audience With… https://youtu.be/uoQz6u9dfFw?si=tLqiRCwcWvINl72P “Burning Up” Live on Fever Tour https://youtu.be/KuLswptP6K8?si=e6frmMB7848ktXVN
--------
1:18:14
--------
1:18:14
One Direction "Take Me Home" - First Time Listen & Honest Review
We’re back with our second-ever One Direction album - and this time, we’re diving into "Take Me Home" for the very first time. In this episode, Chris and Chantel Nicole go track by track through 1D’s 2012 follow-up to "Up All Night", sharing brutally honest first impressions of the songs, lyrics, vocals, and production.Is this the moment One Direction leveled up? Or does it feel like more of the same? From massive hits like "Live While We're Young" to fan-favorite deep cuts, we’re talking about what works, what surprised us, and what we definitely didn’t expect. Directioners… let’s talk.Join us on Patreon!: https://www.patreon.com/CCTVPOPSFollow us on social media: https://linktr.ee/cctvpops0:00 - Intro1:49 - "Take Me Home" Album Info2:39 - Album Cover4:14 - "Live While We're Young"10:44 - "Kiss You"17:21 - "Little Things"23:56 - "C'mon C'mon"28:24 - "Last First Kiss"32:40 - "Heart Attack"35:44 - "Rock Me"39:23 - "Change My Mind"44:31 - "I Would"48:57 - "Over Again"52:00 - "Back For You"55:42 - "They Don't Know About Us"59:45 - "Summer Love"1:04:00 - Cut or Keep1:06:45 - Final Rating & Overall ThoughtsReferences:“Live While We’re Young” MV https://youtu.be/AbPED9bisSc?si=9PUXMwEZ6LgP_Zgj“Live While We’re Young” Live at Children in Need 2025 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_LSRHEimv1Y&pp=ygUkb25lIGRpcmVjdGlvbiBsaXZlIHdoaWxlIHdlJ3JlIHlvdW5n“Kiss You” MV https://youtu.be/T4cdfRohhcg?si=V0rSeSCPC6s-gr0-“Kiss You” Live at X Factor USA https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kLrYRHRfpPo&pp=ygUWb25lIGRpcmVjdGlvbiBraXNzIHlvdQ%3D%3D “Little Things” MV https://youtu.be/xGPeNN9S0Fg?si=WdJIUopU_Dyo2I37“Little Things” Live at Royal Variety 2012 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ln8pTuz7Brg&pp=ygUbb25lIGRpcmVjdGlvbiBsaXR0bGUgdGhpbmdz “C’mon C’mon” from This Is Us https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D1wr8sZOVuQ&pp=ygUXb25lIGRpcmVjdGlvbiBjbW9uIGNtb24%3D“Last First Kiss” Live at iHeartRadio Album Release Party https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C47DtFCD01w&pp=ygUdb25lIGRpcmVjdGlvbiBsYXN0IGZpcnN0IGtpc3M%3D “Heart Attack” from This Is Us https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OFy08pmO7vg&pp=ygUab25lIGRpcmVjdGlvbiBoZWFydCBhdHRhY2s%3D“Change My Mind” from This Is Us https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CytV8mQ6qHg&pp=ygUcb25lIGRpcmVjdGlvbiBjaGFuZ2UgbXkgbWluZA%3D%3D“I Would” from This Is Us https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g3o2TfrULck&pp=ygUVb25lIGRpcmVjdGlvbiBpIHdvdWxk“Back For You” from This Is Us https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ncj4IzansBU&pp=ygUab25lIGRpcmVjdGlvbiBiYWNrIGZvciB5b3U%3D
--------
1:11:04
--------
1:11:04
KATSEYE "Beautiful Chaos" - Does the Music Match the Vision?
In this episode, Chris and Chantel Nicole go track by track through "Beautiful Chaos", the second EP from global girl group KATSEYE. With members handpicked through Dream Academy and trained under K-pop standards, expectations are high. The talent? Undeniable. The music? Well…We break down the production, vocals, lyrics, and group identity, and ask: is this project doing justice to the girls’ potential? Or does it feel like a missed opportunity for something truly fresh?Join us on Patreon!: https://www.patreon.com/CCTVPOPSFollow us on social media: https://linktr.ee/cctvpops0:00 - Intro1:10 - "Beautiful Chaos" Info1:38 - EP Cover3:36 - "Gnarly" 7:11 - "Gabriela"16:35 - "Gameboy"26:13 - "Mean Girls"32:47 - "M.I.A"37:48 - Cut or Keep38:35 - Overall Thoughts & Final RatingReferences:“Gnarly” MV https://youtu.be/R2-yomhYAj4?si=deWX86Eimtzu6AQ- “Gabriela” MV https://youtu.be/CjnB56tSCQI?si=95SVsaP-hDNIkodY “Gabriela” Live at Lollapalooza 2025 https://youtu.be/CINpzyWIGoQ?si=C41v4SflV3XYFkEv“Gameboy” MV https://youtu.be/-bC4iak3kxg?si=5wImHDg2EC5cUOFp “Gameboy” Live at Lollapalooza 2025 https://youtu.be/l0ILpRPVn3Y?si=Kxi8X2ivL9kon4Du“Mean Girls” Live at Lollapalooza 2025 https://youtu.be/EGsXGDdrAXM?si=7xk3G9T8h8q0-UT6“M.I.A” Live at Lollapalooza 2025 https://youtu.be/QB5FOa0a7cI?si=VPHB6vyAU0JwG4xl
--------
45:05
--------
45:05
KPop Demon Hunters Soundtrack - Worth the Hype?
The Netflix animated film "KPop Demon Hunters" has gone viral, and the soundtrack has taken over the charts and breaking K-Pop records around the world. With songs performed by the fictional girl group HUNTR/X and their rivals, the SAJA BOYS, is the OST one of the best K-Pop projects ever?In this episode, Chris and Chantel Nicole go track by track through the "KPop Demon Hunters" soundtrack, featuring hits like “Golden,” “How It’s Done,” “Your Idol,” “SODA POP,” “Free,” and more. We dive into the vocals, production, concept, and cultural impact of the soundtrack - how will this affect the K-Pop industry moving forward?Join us on Patreon!: https://www.patreon.com/CCTVPOPSFollow us on social media: https://linktr.ee/cctvpops0:00 - Intro1:01 - "KPop Demon Hunters" Soundtrack Info1:39 - "How It's Done"6:22 - "Soda Pop"12:07 - "Golden"18:38 - "Takedown"21:38 - "Your Idol"26:42 - "Free"29:51 - "What It Sounds Like"35:40 - Cut or Keep36:13 - Final Rating and Overall ThoughtsReferences:Kevin Woo interview on CCTV https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DljiH8eytPA&t=1207s&pp=ygUpa2V2aW4gd29vIGNjdHYgbm9uc3RvcCBwb3Agc2hvdyBpbnRlcnZpZXc%3D “How It’s Done” Lyric Video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QGsevnbItdU&pp=ygUYa3BvcCBkZW1vbiBob3cgaXQncyBkb25l“Soda Pop” Lyric Video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=983bBbJx0Mk&pp=ygUTa3BvcCBkZW1vbiBzb2RhIHBvcA%3D%3D“Golden” Lyric Video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yebNIHKAC4A&pp=ygURa3BvcCBkZW1vbiBnb2xkZW4%3D“Takedown” Lyric Video (TWICE) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l8Dr7vzMSVE “Takedown” HUNTR/X Audio https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ve_a9CXjlQc “Your Idol” Song Clip https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cWppAbqm9I8“Free” Lyric Video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fjOeJssZX_Q “What It Sounds Like” Song Clip https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ug_pv5-r1js&pp=ygUea3BvcCBkZW1vbiB3aGF0IGl0IHNvdW5kcyBsaWtl
Join music industry specialists and pop music fans Chris and Chantel Nicole as they deep-dive and reveal all of their unfiltered thoughts on the best pop acts, songs, albums and concerts from around the world, from legends to current K-Pop groups. Viewer discretion is advised, your fave will be criticized… Join us on Patreon and follow us on socials: https://linktr.ee/cctvpops https://cctvpops.com/
Ireland