「deny」 by Utaha
A potent, heartfelt mini-movie that speaks to teenage loneliness and empowerment.
For those familiar with J-Pop, Utaha / 詩羽 needs no introduction. She has been the singer for Wednesday Campanella / 水曜日のカンパネラ since September 2021 when she won the title of Amazing Miss ID and the opportunity to audition for the group. Her rise to stardom has been meteoric ever since. She’s been in constant demand as a model, becoming the face of Coca-Cola Japan, and as an actress with several guest roles and cameos on the big and small screen. After a string of hit singles with Wednesday Campanella, she’s decided to release her first self-penned solo album, showcasing a different vocal approach in a more singer-songwriter format. Her precocious talent, flamboyant Harajuku fashion-sense, big personality, and dazzling smile have won over a legion of fans so, the album is bound to be a hit — at least in Japan where she is now a household name.
Deny is the third song and music video for Utaha’s debut album, Singing Cheerfully / うたうように、ほがらかに. It has the familiar feel of the first episodes of the wonderful Kimi ni Todoke: From Me to You / 君に届け (2023) — the live action adaptation of the popular manga and anime. I’m recalling the section of the series when protagonist Sawako (Sara Minami) has low self-esteem before being befriended by Yano (Rinka Kumada), Chizu…
