Can You Keep a Secret? (song)

"Can You Keep a Secret?" is the seventh single by Japanese recording artist Hikaru Utada. It was released on February 16, 2001, by Toshiba EMI and serves as the last single from her sophomore album Distance (2001). The song was written and composed entirely by Utada herself. It was the ending theme song for the dorama called Hero (2001), in which Utada had her acting debut, appearing in a cameo as a waitress, and starring Takuya Kimura.

"Can You Keep a Secret?"
Single by Hikaru Utada
from the album Distance
Released	February 16, 2001 (2001-02-16)
Recorded	2000
Studio	The Hit Factory Bunkamura Studio
Genre	J-pop dance-pop
Length	5:08
Label	EMI Music Japan
Songwriter(s)	Hikaru Utada
Producer(s)	Hikaru Utada
Hikaru Utada singles chronology
"For You" (2000) "Can You Keep a Secret?" (2001) "Final Distance" (2001)
Music video
"Can You Keep a Secret?" on YouTube

Musically, "Can You Keep A Secret?" is an upbeat R&B and dance-pop song that takes on the cross fusion of pop and R&B which was popular in the United States around the time of its release. Lyrically, the song talks about a woman expressing her love and asking her partner if they can keep it a secret. The song was warmly received by music critics, praising its production and Utada's vocals and songwriting; some of them going as far to describe it as a highlight in her discography.

Commercially, "Can You Keep A Secret" was a massive success at home. The song ascended to number one on the Oricon Singles Chart and became Japan's best-performing single of 2001. In all, it sold over 1.48 million units nationwide and was ultimately Utada's last single to sell over a million copies. A music video was made for the song, which features a robot called Pino. Some of the filming took place on Utada's birthday.The song has since been played live on several occasions including her 2006 concert tour Utada United 2006.

Commercial performance

"Can You Keep a Secret?" debuted at number one on the Oricon chart, selling 783,620 in its first week, and was her third single to be number one for two consecutive weeks. 1.31 million copies were shipped to stores in a single day.^[1] The single stayed in the charts for eleven weeks.^[2] "Can You Keep a Secret?" has sold 1,485,000 to date and became the number one single of 2001 in Japan.^[3][4] In the World Charts, "Can You Keep a Secret?" reached number 37 for single airplay and number 9 for sales. The single sold 1,484,940 units as of May 2006.

Music video and live performances

The music video for this song includes a robot whom Utada appears to be in a relationship with. In the end, it has been revealed that Utada, too, is a robot during the relationship. It also shows Hikaru singing in a futuristic room full of pink lights. The robot used in the video was the robot "Pino" created by Hisashi Taniguchi.^[5] Utada performed "Can You Keep a Secret?" on her 2010 tour, Utada: In the Flesh 2010.

Track listing

No.	Title	Arranger	Length
1.	"Can You Keep a Secret?"	Akira Nishihira	5:08
2.	"Kettobase! (蹴っ飛ばせ!)"	Akira Nishihira, Hikaru Utada	4:31
3.	"Can You Keep a Secret?" (Original Karaoke)		5:08

All tracks are written by Hikaru Utada

Charts

Weekly charts Chart (2001) Peak position Japan Singles (Oricon)[2] 1

Year-end charts Chart (2001) Position Japan Singles (Oricon)[3] 1 Taiwan (Yearly Singles Top 100)[6] 14

Certifications

Certifications for "Can You Keep a Secret"

Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
Japan (RIAJ)[7] Physical sales	Million	1,484,940[8]
Japan (RIAJ)[9] Digital single	Platinum	250,000*
Streaming
Japan (RIAJ)[10]	Gold	50,000,000†
* Sales figures based on certification alone. † Streaming-only figures based on certification alone.

References

1. "宇多田新曲１日で131万枚". Sponichi Annex (in Japanese). February 17, 2001. Archived from the original on February 19, 2001. Retrieved August 19, 2021.
2. "宇多田ヒカル Can You Keep a Secret?". Oricon. Retrieved September 26, 2024.
3. "2001年 邦楽ヒット曲 ランキング". 年代流行 (in Japanese). Retrieved August 19, 2021.
4. McClure, Steve (December 29, 2001). "Pop Queen Utada Reigns In Japan". Billboard. Vol. 113, no. 52. p. 51. Retrieved August 20, 2021.
5. Kölling, Martin (August 29, 2020). ""Ich möchte Roboter bauen, die niedlich und beliebt sind"". Neue Zürcher Zeitung (in German). Retrieved August 19, 2021.
6. "台灣年度百大歌曲". HitFM. Retrieved September 8, 2024.
7. "Japanese certifications – Hikaru Utada – Can You Keep a Secret" (in Japanese). Recording Industry Association of Japan. Select 2001年2月 on the drop-down menu
8. "オリコンランキング情報サービス「you大樹」" [Oricon Ranking Information Service 'You Big Tree']. Oricon. Retrieved August 26, 2014.
9. "Japanese digital single certifications – Hikaru Utada – Can You Keep a Secret" (in Japanese). Recording Industry Association of Japan. Select 2015年9月 on the drop-down menu
10. "Japanese single streaming certifications – Hikaru Utada – Can You Keep a Secret" (in Japanese). Recording Industry Association of Japan. Retrieved December 26, 2023. Select 2023年11月 on the drop-down menu