I think when it came time for her to do another English album she probably sighed deep down and thought "Here we go again, guess I'm gonna have to dumb things down a bit". I know not all J-pop ladies write the most profound lyrics, but that's kind of been Hikki's MO, right?

Most of what she's written has hit me right between the eyes and what I didn't get at the time I suddenly remembered the song later when I experienced it for myself. People in America don't want that in their pop/r&b (the closest demographic Hikki has here). They want something they can shake their rear to all night without thinking about their lives or even what they're feeling. God forbid, if it came down to thinking or feeling they'd probably be curled up and crying in the bathroom all night. From my experience with my friends and acquaintances that's just the way it is and I haven't a clue why. I can honestly say out of my social network that listens to lighter stuff I'm probably the only one who likes an album I can take from a party to a lone night of introspection.

I'm not downing TITO. I'm not saying her newer songs aren't hitting home because some of them most certainly are. Apple and Cinnamon? Been there and hung out a minute. Come Back to Me? Reminded me how regretful I felt about this one time. This One? Made that little bit of shame come creeping back because I've been there. Taking My Money Back? I just got through living that with my ex-fiance.

What I am saying is this. In a country fueled by the likes of Lady Gaga, Taylor Swift, and Rihanna, I think Hikki probably feels limited by her English-speaking audience and what they deem acceptable for certain genres of music. It's funny Iron and Wine was mentioned because the only way she could write as she normally would in an English setting, she'd have to switch over to that format. That would be a meaningless effort, though, because then it wouldn't be her sound.

I know I've rambled, but have I made sense?

(EDIT)

Y'know, I thought on it some more and remembered, Hikki just flat out seems to enjoy experiencing life. If she feels sexy, naughty, frisky, whatever, why wouldn't she write about it? One can't be demure all the time even if it's awesome when she is.