Automatic (Hikaru Utada song)

"Automatic"
The 12cm CD artwork that commercializes both "Automatic" and "Time Will Tell".
Single by Utada Hikaru
from the album First Love
A-side	"Time Will Tell"
Released	December 8, 1998
Format	mini CD CD 12" vinyl
Recorded	August 1998 (Studio Z'd, Wonder Station Yoyogi Studio, Studio Terra, Tokyo, Japan)
Genre	R&B
Length	5:28
Label	Toshiba EMI Eastworld
Writer(s)	Utada
Producer(s)	Utada Akira Miyake Teruzane Utada
Utada Hikaru singles chronology
"Automatic/Time Will Tell" (1998) "Movin' On Without You" (1998)
Alternative cover The mini CD that commercializes "Automatic".

"Automatic" is a song recorded by Japanese–American singer Utada Hikaru, taken as the lead single from her debut album First Love (1999). It was released on December 8, 1998 through Toshiba-EMI in two physical formats: mini CD single and 12" vinyl. Additionally, the single included the A-side "Time Will Tell", which originally served as the B-side for these versions. The song was written and co-produced by Utada herself, while Akira Miyake and the singer's father Teruzane Utada served as producers. Despite working previously in English language under the name Cubic C, "Automatic" is Utada's first Japanese recording, and premiered after finishing high school in Japan.

Musically, "Automatic" is an R&B song that incorporates elements of pop, dance and soul music. Lyrically, it delves into themes of love, and focuses on a previous relationship by the singer. Although an English version was recorded, executives at Toshiba-EMI insisted to promote herself in the Japanese market, so she wrote it the regions respective language. Upon its release, "Automatic" received positive reviews from music critics, who commended Utada's vocal abilities and production style. It won numerous accolades in Japan, and has subsequently been listed as one of her best releases.

Commercially, "Automatic" and "Time Will Tell" experienced success in Japan, reaching number four on the Oricon Singles Chart and sold over 772,000 units there. After it was re-released as a 12cm CD single, the track peaked at number two and sold 1.291 million units, tallying over two million copies in Japan; it was certified million by the Recording Industry Association of Japan (RIAJ) for physical shipments. Since its release, Oricon has ranked it amongst many best-selling singles in the country, and has earned other distinctions for its commercial success.