Overview
ONE PIECE FILM RED was built around a single, audacious premise: what if a character within the ONE PIECE universe was the greatest singer in the world? That character was Uta, and the voice behind her was Ado — the masked, anonymous J-Pop phenomenon already known for her breakout hit Usseewa.
The result was an original soundtrack album titled "Uta's Songs ONE PIECE FILM RED", featuring songs written by some of Japan's biggest names in music and performed entirely by Ado voicing Uta. It's an extraordinary creative experiment, and by most measures, it worked.
The Concept
Rather than a traditional film score, the album is a collection of pop songs that exist within the film's diegetic universe — Uta's in-world concert setlist. This means the songs have to work both as emotional plot beats and as standalone pop tracks. It's a demanding brief, and the roster of songwriters brought in — including Vaundy, Eve, Hiroyuki Sawano, and Yasutaka Nakata — were clearly chosen with intention.
Track Highlights
"新時代" (New Era) — Written by Vaundy
The lead single and arguably the most purely joyful track on the record. Vaundy's composition is a euphoric, festival-ready anthem with a driving beat and one of Ado's most controlled and soaring vocal deliveries. It became one of the best-selling singles of 2022 in Japan and for good reason — it's nearly impossible not to sing along.
"逃げ上手の若君" wait — "風のゆくえ" — Written by Hiroyuki Sawano
Sawano's contribution leans into his orchestral cinematic strengths. The result is one of the album's most emotionally complex tracks — layered, dramatic, and built for a big screen. Ado handles the shifting dynamics with impressive range.
"Tot Musica" — Written by Kohta Yamamoto & Hiroyuki Sawano
The album's darkest moment. A gothic, operatic piece that showcases the full extremity of Ado's voice — guttural lows, shrieking highs, theatrical intensity. It's the track that most clearly captures why Ado was uniquely suited to this role.
"私は最強" (I Am the Strongest) — Written by Ado herself
One of the few tracks with Ado as a co-writer, and it shows. Raw, aggressive, and electrifying, it feels deeply personal beneath the in-world narrative. It was also performed at live events and stands up as one of her best recordings to date.
Ado's Vocal Performance
The album lives or dies on Ado's voice, and she delivers. What's remarkable is the range of styles demanded across the tracklist — from bubblegum pop to heavy rock to operatic drama — and Ado navigates all of them with conviction. She was 20 years old when the film released. The maturity of the performances is genuinely striking.
Weaknesses
The album is not without unevenness. A few mid-tempo tracks in the middle section don't distinguish themselves as strongly, and as a listening experience separate from the film, some tracks lack the narrative context that gives them their full impact. It's best heard having seen the film.
Verdict
| Aspect | Assessment |
|---|---|
| Vocal Performance | Exceptional throughout |
| Songwriting Variety | Strong — diverse styles, cohesive vision |
| Standalone Listenability | Good, better with film context |
| Replay Value | High for standout tracks |
Uta's Songs ONE PIECE FILM RED is a rare case of an anime soundtrack that functions as a genuine pop album event. It established Ado as not just an internet phenomenon but a generational talent capable of carrying a major cinematic project on her voice alone.