^a right, but still on Spotify -> outside of Japan

I've just randomly passed by this PV on YouTube. oh it's soo good! it just feels like it's 00s again and Kuu looks the same (and maybe even more beautiful)! I absolutely like this song and PV!

Was someone able to see the JAPONESQUE re live? Was it a short version ?
It is weird if they shot a full PV for SHUTOUT and not for STRIP.
Same goes for GET NAKED... it would be waste of opportunity.

In parallel to my addiction to Again, I start really liking SHUTOUT also. I can’t wait to have the song! Someone is able to make a rip of the stream?

THANK YOU SO MUCH

STRIP was the full version in the actual concert. It ends with the same shot of her standing nude.

LLVL wasn’t a single, it’s just a MV release.

But it’s not sold outside of japan.

Thanks for the confirmation. The end make more sense with that song :P
Now I hope she shot a full PV for GET NAKED.

Again PV has 58K views since Wednesday.
I guess it’s good for her standards.

Funny how JIJIPRESS re(live) coverage video is already 106K. It was update one day earlier than Again PV.

It's one week before the re(CUT) performances happen!
The final is sold out, and for the other 3 dates there are only 19 tickets left altogether.
They sell over Yahoo tickets this time and you can chose your seat even without registration.
COOL Japan hall in Osaka has a capacity of 1138 seats, so she plays for 4552 people all in all.
Come on, you can do those few 19 tickets as well!
Even though they're all on a weekday!

Kuu presented a new re(CUT) shirt on Instagram some days ago:
https://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/6...921/h9QMnv.jpghttps://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/6...923/a1V73o.jpg

There's going to be size S as well.
I wonder if it will only be up for sale at the venue or also online?


The modelpress upload of the PV also has 40k views.
Would be about the same then.


Yes, that's true, but to be up on Spotify worldwide (it is here in Germany e.g.), they probably had to pay rights for it as well (tho looks like they only did for Spotify).
In the end it comes down to the same problem.

I’ve got a similar rights problem with a cover I’ve done with one of my projects.
We’ve covered Bold & Delicious. I had a phone conversation with Roberto ‘GEO‘ Rosan from Sweetbox. We can do a release on Spotify, but we can’t sell our version of it. On the other hand live performances and also a free download is accepted.

I did, but the quality is not that good. Here: https://drive.google.com/open?id=1Z0...RmXgNjVqogB7Jz

Bless you for the second time! Thanks a lot!

Apparently Merry Go Round is used for the promotion of Loveil’s lenses.

You can hear the preview of the song here.
It sounds nice so far! A bit raggae.

Gonna help you here.
You're using the youtube tags wrongly - you only need the video number.
You're using the whole link, so that's why it doesn't work.

Here you go:

Haha yeah not used to that! Thanks

Anyway I’m quite hyped by the album.
It really reminds me the golden years (2004-2008)

You're welcome. ♥

Love the preview, and she looks stunning in this shoot.

And now, the only song we didn't hear anything from re(CORD) is Rich & Famous. Not sure if these digital singles were the best release strategy, since we won't have anything completely new when the album comes out, except for 'k music video.

It worked with Second Session. I don't think her Japanese audience cares if there are more new songs in the album, since now they'll finally have the release physically.

^you can't compare that. She could have sold a brick during these days.

Yes, it was another time and the project was a lot more solid, I can't even compare. This one felt like a huge mess for me.

But I do hope the japanese fans don't care about it, since someone said they didn't care about the single covers.

lol so true :D


I think the project release was not bad. Most of the songs are not even audience friendly so i guess for people still interested in her releases, it's a good way to be used to the sound of the album.

I don't really care if i know almost everything of the album (the release date is not that far).
My fav albums use to be the one with not much new songs (secret / Black Cherry / ~second session~) and in contrary, didn't really care about WALK OF MY LIFE & AND/DNA which were full of new stuff.

I repeat myself but it's been age since i got as excited by a release (as my activity here can show, it's been a decade since i got that active)

I'm not comparing the situation, but how the release worked without new material. How the album was still a good release. I'm not insane in comparing thinking it's going to sell well. Haha

I send an message to CDJapan and they told me that they don't knew about the situation with the release. Anyway, they will sell any of the three versions without problem, the preorders will continue.

Yay!

The difference with Best Second Session as well was the singles album was combined with a best album, which do crazy in Japan for some reason. Namie's fame was sky rocketed again after her BEST FICTION album (among other things of course, like her new image), and Ayu's highest selling album to date (I believe) is A BEST. So I kinda hope that Kuu will do the same format as Best Second Session next year, for her 20th by combining a new album with a best album. I think it would be a good chance to bring back fans who perhaps lost interest the past few years. :)

I love the preview of Merry Go Round, it sounds so chill and uplifting!

^no thats not quite true. The momentum must be right. Kumi's third universe did not do well, so didn't Namies Love Enhanced. Moreover, second session wasn't combined - it was just a collection of the 12 singles + 2 (3) more songs.

On a side note: Sam Smith released a cover of I Feel Love and it made me wish sooooo bad Kuu had release a studio version of hers :( Also wish the same for We Will Rock You (and since both were released on live DVDs, I guess they do own the rights already?)

I just watched the japonesque re live performance and I enjoyed it a lot. Loved the MC, she talks A LOT and speaks so damn fast lol She’s funny. Now excited to see the black cherry one

Kuu will be performing a medley of hits on NHK Uta-con on November 12!

https://www4.nhk.or.jp/utacon/x/2019...1/983/1850389/

Glad she's doing some TV promo for this release.

I'm so happy she's being quite active on TV. Can't wait for the next two performances (Utacon and Melodix). I still hope she's doing NHK Songs and Music Fair soon as well. Sukkiri might happen as well.

@Gustavopc Covers during live performances are a totally different thing when it comes to rights, I think. I guess at some point they thought about releasing We Will Rock You, since she has a studio recording of the song anyway and it had a pretty huge tie-in with Kirin. Maybe it was scrapped after the 2008 scandal, since her campaign for Kirin was also shut down.

I would love to see Kuu be featured on NHK SONGS , that should happen

ARASHI appeared on NHK SONGS for the 1st time this year to celebrate their 20th anniversary & most recently GLAY did so for their 25th anniversary and also LUNA SEA for their 30th anniversary this year

Kuu also should be featured on Love music and also NHK The Covers . I love the stage setups going on for The Covers and CDTV should invite her back on the show too

Is that Studio Version of We Will Rock You available? I’d love to hear that!

It was used as a opening for her a-nation performance back in 2007 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vlxIvYX5ag4

Also the Kirin CM
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=obsvpRsn66U

You guys saw Kuu posting about having a fun day at Disney Sea on the weekend?
Only posting it at the end of the day for obvious reasons.

Somebody did recognize her and her family tho:

https://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/8...922/ssx6XY.png

And wonders why nobody else did. :laugh

omg her son has grown up so muuuuch :heart I'm soft ahahah

In a pair of years he will be as tall as her :P

Kuu will make a cameo appearance on tonight's episode of the Rika drama

No word what Kuu will play , probably she will appear as herself ?

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EIk-cBoV...jpg&name=small

https://twitter.com/KODAKUMINET/stat...52245336170496

^Damn, she looks stunning. Literally shining with beauty. I swear, this woman only gets prettier with age.:luv2

Freaking love again both song & MV! Merry Go Round sounds awesome too. re(CORD) is shaping up like it could make it to my top 5 favourite albums from the Kuueen.

Koda Kumi Mega Hit Medley sounds like Ai no Uta ~ Butterfly ~ BUT Maybe also Eh Yo? I'm not expecting much more. I really hope she will perform again somewhere, I think this song might be an album seller for people in Japan.

She posted on ig she’s recording again :luv2

The full MV for k, is up for FC members. Couldn't play on my mobile phone tho :/

"k," is quite cute! I like it a lot. Also liked the preview of "Merry-Go-Round" too!

k, is up on YouTube.


Love the song and the MV!

k is cute.

I still haven't heard anything about a refund for the cancelled date and I obviously can't attend the new date sin February. This is kinda annoying.

The new JAPONESQUE shirt is limited, but will be sold online as well, starting November 7!

https://rhythmzone.net/koda/news/detail.php?id=1078206

Looking forward to the album, no song I dislike so far.
And the day after Mamamoo's 2nd album as well, yay.

Guess she just dropped her first anniversary item:

https://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/6...924/vQaMuf.png

Probably for her anniversary event in December.
Fans suspect the new recording from today being for it as well.
She says it's going to be announced soon.

Info about refund is up on her site for some time already:
https://rhythmzone.net/koda/news/detail.php?id=1077907

Don't know about the global FC tho.

I like the design, but there is a small part of me that wished the first "K" was backwards to make it completely symmetrical :laugh

EDIT: Looks like k, PV is on YouTube. I love it all :laugh

ah thanks but i can't read that. I bought my tickets via livepocket.

edit: if I got this right, they will contact my via e-mail - but so far they did not tho.

k, is a nice song, I like how she went back to happy-cute songs in this album with Put your hands up and k, but they're not over-the-top cute. They're both really uplifting and fresh.
About the video, the background kinda bothered me, somehow it looked cheap. But the dancing was A+ :heart

I took a screen cap to show a friend and I noticed that the pink background is uneven in one scene :laugh

I like k, as a song, but the PV is not that great. Good idea, but not so good execution. The separated panels and uneven floor, with the powerpoint style for the balloon scenes are just... A choice. The Dance version is probably gonna be better.

^ MTE. Pretty weak effort for a potentially good PV :( I feel like this PV was probably rushed for the album release or something. A lot of things could've been fixed in post at least but I think they had to churn out 2 PVs from this shoot and was probably facing a deadline.

I really enjoy the song though and the choreography was really impressive. Especially when she sang this live and did the exercise ball dance. Damn gurl. It's definitely a better experience live.

And also, MAN, her body is bangin'. I'm jealous.

I noticed the uneven bg as well but I guess what gets me is that the green bg is a chroma key bg WITHOUT a chroma key effect so it feels incomplete, missing something, like I'm watching the making off where the bg effect was not applied yet ahahahah If it were a neon green it might have looked better, I guess.

I’m tired of this sound. Next.

She looks great though.

Ok, you guys surprise me, I don't think the PV is bad, but nevermind.

Kuu revelead that the title k, is actually coming from her friend Malia Tencarat, who's always typing k, instead of okay in her mails to Kuu.
She also shared that the coming re(CUT) performances are not going to have the encore part, but she's going to add an old song.
Some fans are speculating it's another old song from the JAPONESQUE album, maybe even Love Technique.

^ Love Technique would be nice! :luv2

@Gustavo I don't mind the green background, as long as it's well done. Even the editing of the video feels a little off, it's very stiff since the camera doesn't move at all, only for like 5 different angles, idk. Whatever, or as the song says: k.

--

Rich & Famous credits are basically the same from CHANCES ALL, so there it goes any hope I had that the song could be different.

録音：Studio
歌: 倖田來未 、 Sean Paul
作詞: Sean Paul 、 Ty Dolla $ign 、 Lady G 、 倖田來未
作曲: Toby Gad 、 Ty Dolla $ign

--

Interesting that avex's youtube channel is calling k, an "exercise music video"

Update on re(CORD) shipping overseas - CDJapan has my order in shopping process.

New round for Kloop game center goods.
This time birthday themed, available starting November 13.

https://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/6...923/aCdxq8.png

https://rhythmzone.net/koda/news/detail.php?id=1078260

Japanese fans are talking about another possibility for the new recorded track.
They think there might be a repackage of the album coming with new material added, cause it fits the theme.

On playroom started a survey about fan's favourite song off re(CORD) and you also have to add a reason why.
But it's only on playroom and they don't state what it's for.

Waka is dancing for Kuu today at re(CUT). :)

Some re(CUT) pics from fans

https://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/6...924/R3NX6W.png

https://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/6...922/FVTBMt.png

This big screen with falling sakura petals is outside the hall, above the goods stand!

This is apparently in the hall after the show:

https://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/6...922/IhMxse.png

This fan says this time there was tape, paper petals, flitter and bills used to rain down.
As well as signed balls like for re(LIVE).

https://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/6...923/ucRSnh.png

I don't like the contents of the DVD but I will get it anyway. My order is in shipping process too at cdjapan. I hope customs don't charge me this time D:

Any comments on the setlist for reCUT? Took a look at twitter and didn't find much

May I ask what is the difference between re live and re cut performances?

- Shorter performance , 1 1/2 hours each
- No encore
- re(CUT) performances held as part of Osaka Cultural Arts Festival 2019
- Different performance venue as compared to re(LIVE) performances in Osaka

They've released the info for the anniversary event on her debut day this year.

Price is only 930 Yen per ticket, which basically means it's just a symbolic price ( 93 - Kumi).
Two events, 5 pm and 9 pm, so for about 4900 fans altogether.
FC lottery is open now and I don't think tickets will be available outside of her FC.

Wish I could attend, but in 2020 I shall be there around that date :D I'm feeling excited about her 20th anniv already!

It's only for the japanese FC or also for the international one? I was trying to apply but I didn't find anything in the global FC

Rich & Famous feat. Sean Paul preview: https://www.facebook.com/KodaKumiGlo...9249096625575/
Source: Koda Kumi Global Fans @ Facebook

CHANCES ALL???

All previews are up on Tower records:
https://tower.jp/item/4962386/re(COR...EF%BC%8BDVD%5d

Rich & Famous is rephrasing the lyrics of Chances All indeed, so it's both.

Setlist for re(CUT) was the same, she just cut 4 songs from the main setlist and added Ai no Uta as last song (16 overall).
Here's a morning news report:
https://twitter.com/93BM007/status/1192963063063797766

And lots of articles about it with a bunch of new photos are out as well.

https://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/8...922/HYyaeN.jpg

https://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/8...922/BeDI8S.jpg




Japanese FCs only.

Kuu is currently asking her fans what they want for the event as she wants to celebrate like we want it.
And not surprising with her Japanese fans, talking is leading with 56%.
So chances are very, very high the event is going to be like international fans don't want it to be.
She also said it's going to be about 1,5 hours each.

https://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/6...923/Ora2sf.png

Kuu was featured in the live broadcast of the Muv-Luv anime anniversary talkshow in October and there even was an English version of the show available.
Go to the top was the opening for one of the adaptions.

English:


Kuu's part starts around 1:30:00.

Japanese original:


Nice to know that the author of the series asked her personally to do the opening and that the fans of the anime loved her PV alter ego so much.
That PV is awesome altogether.

The new photos are amazing. Love it.

I'm assuming the songs that were cut were from the ballad section.

^She did perform さよならの向こう側 and they projected Osaka's scenery on to her dress, I wish I could attend re(CUT). While I loved both BC & JAPONESQUE if I had to pick just one I'd go with JAPONESQUE. Too bad re(CUT) wasn't recorded, would've been a nice addition to the next FC Bonus DVD.

I freaking love k, MV. I watched it like 20+ times already. While it's simple it's so much fun and goes perfectly with the song. again MV is also amazing, those you & 愛のうた scenes bring back so many memories and the song itself is so beautiful.:luv2

The vast majority of the international fanbase has been b***hing about everything this year since re(LIVE) was announced, then about the single covers, now about MV budgets. While in Japan out of curiosity I asked Japanese fans about the latest digital single covers and the answer was "they are ok" and the conversation continued about the actual music, while international fans still can't let those go. One of my Japanese friends told me he used to think international fans are cool but not anymore as all they do is complain and have unrealistic expectations from Kuu.

My general perception of fans in Japan was that they just appreciate Koda Kumi for who she is, what she does and look forward to what she does next, while her international fanbase is stuck somewhere in 2005-2008 era and wants her to do what they want rather than what she wants to do herself as an artist. Meanwhile, the vast majority of her international fanbase won't spend as much as $1 on her song to support her but expect her to do what they want

^well...you are on a forum. Japanese fans who don't like them would also bitch about it online, yet if you ask me in person I would also just tell you "I don't care" or "they ugly" and move on. kinda what a conversation does.

I think the Cover idea is terrible - yet it doesn't let me think less of her. That however does not mean that I can't complain if I want to. I think the way you phrased it is kinda, and I'm sorry if this attacks you, overdramatic.

I say it again, this is an online forum. People tend to complain and they are allowed to if they want if they phrase it right. Most people just said "the covers are lame (and they are. It's kind lazy and mostly killed by the fonts) and that the k, PV looks cheap - yet they never said "that stupid bitch should go to hell and her whole music video looks so ugly". I think most of us in here listen to all the new songs and I see them generally being favored with some expressing that one or the other weren't their kind of music. I for once enjoy them, but Eh Yo! got kinda annoying fast and PYHU!! as well as DO ME don't had the replay value I hoped them they'd have - but all in all I think this project is very nice as whole.

^
^ Sayonara no mukougawa is not part of the ballad section.

I don't know what was surprising to Corvina, to begin with. People have opinions and sometimes it might not match with yours. Not everybody has to be an "yes queen" type of fan, or even like everything that she does. I'm not saying that it's the case for you all, but I never understand complain about people complaining.

The thing about "japanese fans enjoy her for what she is" is such a nonsense. You can choose to read good comments, but there are also bad ones as well from them, and there is nothing wrong with that. No one is a better fan just because they might seem to enjoy everything.

Also, the international fans can only enjoy what she releases, but the japanese ones can be to all the shows, all special events and everything, they get it all (as it should be, since it's her main market), so you can see why they might appreciate her more.

It was simply surprising for me that a lot of fans here were complaining, cause I didn't expect it with the k, PV when I watched it.
But as I said nevermind, it doesn't really matter.

They confirmed most of the setlist in the articles about it - she apparently cut Get Naked and DO ME and two of the old songs, but Idk which ones.

Meh... :\

I'm not trying to fuel the fire or attack anyone, just my two cents on the fandom thing: I don't think that its unfair to say that there is a difference in the attitudes of the Japanese fan base versus the international fan base. There are different "expectations" of a celebrity in the cultures. As such, if she is catering to a specific one, the other would feel more alienated and perhaps resentful, though I would not say that it would always be intentional or malicious. Also not saying that this applies to everyone, just in more of a general sense.

So we should love everything she does?

I love her, she's one my role models, but I think that everyone deserves to have their own opinion about her and her works.

I don't think less of anyone even if they don't have the same opinion as me. I think that everyone that's here is a big fan of Koda Kumi, just we don't like everything about this release and it's ok. Please don't make big deal. You can be more tolerant

I love Kuu even when she doesn't release something I don't like. That's the reason I'm still buying her material and the membership even if I don't get super beneffits.

Was there any explanation why CHANCES ALL chorus is reused in Rich & Famous? I'm assuming they are lyrically connected. The low quality of the preview doesn't give the best impression of the track, I'll just wait for the HQ version.

I wasn't talking directly to anyone here for that reason I didn't quote any of you but was rather talking about the general feel the international fan base has been giving me lately. This is the only music forum I'm on and the majority of people in this thread are cool & non-dramatic, which is why I'm still here. I don't know if there are Japanese boards & what people are talking about there, my Japanese friend was talking specifically about Twitter. And it's only normal not to like everything, this year there's just been mostly negativity about anything she does where most of it comes from unrealistic expectations.

Some of the comments I read on insta are: if she can't produce better MVs she should just retire / should use her own money to make better MVs or I can't listen to the new songs cause the covers are so bad, etc. Complete BS. And those are the actual fans I've known for a few years who can't seem to grasp that she's not in her prime anymore and not on Namie level. Many Japanese people I spoke with were surprised to hear that she's still active despite the new songs playing from every single Jankara in Osaka and there are a LOT of Jankaras in Osaka. I spoke to a few people about the rugby world cup too and not a single person knew that Koda Kumi did a theme song for it.

I don't bother to read what other people writes online , be it positive or negative cos once you start doing that , it's not good mentally

And then you find yourself in verbal online fights which at this day & age , it's so easy to start at a drop of a hat

When I was younger , I would fight back online but now I realised it's so pointless to do so cos changing people's opinions on things no matter how much I tried it will not work

Perhaps that's why I never like Instagram in the 1st place . At least on Twitter if you don't like something other users are tweeting about , you can mute or block them

Everyone who post in this thread to some extent is a big loyal fan of Kuu , it's just that whether or not what you like or don't like about her

For re(CORD) , for me I don't like all the songs that have been released digitally , same thing with the PVs even though I thought they weren't as terrible as what others might say as so

Does that make me a bad fan of Kuu ? No . In other fandoms you probably be expected to like every single thing the artiste do be it if it's good or bad but I'm not a yes person

End of the day I'm still happy & glad that Kuu is musically active for so long now . She's approaching her 20th anniversary next year & it takes a lot of guts and willpower to sustain herself in the fickle minded music business

^ You can mute and block people on IG as well ;)

Oh no, what's happening with the Kuu thread? It's been drama free! :laugh

However, it's almost an objective truth that the covers are lame :laugh It's just a matter of how people are reacting to it and from what I've seen everyone has kinda just shrugging it off or doing a quick eye roll and focused on the music. I don't think people have been constantly putting the covers on blast. If anything, it's just like a fun little inside joke to everyone. Whether they like the music or not, it's a different matter but I haven't seen any meltdowns! Am I seeing things differently from everyone? To me I just like to joke about it but it doesn't affect how I view the music for what it is. Also, my only gripe with k,'s PV could have been crafted and produced better - also something that everyone is mentioning, but I don't think people here have been shutting her down about it. I think at least just for AHS we are quite rational and clear that it's usually avex marketing's fault :laugh Bummer about what you've seen on social media, though, ALfromHELLSING :( And again, the PV doesn't affect my view on the music, I still really enjoy the song. It's fun, it's cutesy but not overly sweet, I love the urban sound to it which is rare for a cutesy Japanese song. And also, I LOVE the choreography.

Well, I'm still super excited for re(CORD) because I LOVE or have grew to love the digital singles that have been released. At the end of the day, it's the music that matters to me and so far they've been great!

Ah gotcha ;)

I guess I've already mentioned it once, but yeah, her international and Japanese fans are different.
Her Japanese fans are more like Kuu herself - concentrating on the things they like and just accept the things they can't change anyway.
Doesn't mean they like everything or anything like that, only that they're more communicating the positive, mentioning bad things only if really bothering or simply don't care that much about the things they dislike.
With some international fans I sometimes have the feeling they're like personally offended if she does something bad. :laugh
In the end it's just music, just a PV, just an artist.
That's why I like her Japanese fanbase so much. And I guess also because I'm similar in thinking.

And if people mention things like budget, I'm always a bit baffled, cause budget doesn't really affect if a song or artist gets a hit.
Two of the biggest hits last year had low-budget PVs.
Heck, Kuu's Megumi no Hito (and Be My Baby) have low-budget PVs as well and back then she was still much more popular and had more of it.
We also got really good ones in recent years like Lit or Haircut or Goldfinger - Kuu just wants to make so much out of what she has compared to other artists, that's why it seems to some she has less budget like artists being in the same situation right now.

Same with music - the amount of music she puts out hasn't really changed. We got double albums, but with less tracks whereas back in the day we got one with an excessive tracklist + singles with b-sides.
So if I see people saying things like she has to slow down, she has to evolve,or also her music changed so much and stuff I'm surprised. Do you even know who Kuu is? Who you're following? What she's talking about?
All of her releases in the last 5 years dealt with her identity. And from what she puts out and talked about it's obvious she was trying herself out and looking for a way for herself to go on. And she obviously got to the result, that doing different genres and following (Western) trends musically is just who she is and that hasn't changed to her peak.

Sorry, now I wrote more than intended, it's just what I had in mind recently regarsing her fanbase altogether. :laugh

Kuu is nominated for the Modelpress Best Artist Award 2019.

https://twitter.com/modelpress/statu...68339848273920

You can vote for her through the app (tho not available everywhere) or use the google form linked on their site (you don't have to fill out everything):
https://mdpr.jp/other/detail/1886562

You can vote till November 17, every artist with a release from October 2018 till October 2019 is eligible.
This award exists since 2015 and last year DA PUMP won with around 56,500 votes.

-----------------------------------------------------

Kuu's team put up a nice tho short behind-the-scenes video from re(CUT) on Twitter:
https://twitter.com/KODAKUMINET/stat...80991857242113

---------------------------------------------------------------

The HMV in Narita hung up a timeline of Kuu's career and also a box where people can leave messages for Kuu. They will present those messages to Kuu next time at one of the upcoming events.

https://twitter.com/HMV_Narita/statu...20975817265152

https://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/6...924/GY5XvR.jpg

My mum & her older sister both work in Japanese banks so they knows how each of their Japanese colleagues are like behaviour wise .

They're rarely confrontational and if things in my mum & aunt's workplaces are bad , the Japanese have a way of talking around the bush and only if things are really bad then they response to things differently

It's unrealistic for Kuu to please every single person

If that happens then she will have a laundry never ending list of things that the fans want her to do but yet for some things she might not want to or could not do due to variety of reasons

People expect different things from Kuu and nobody likes to be forced to do things they don't like to do

Kuu will perform a 3 songs medley of Cutie Honey , Butterfly & GOLDFINGER 2019 in tomorrow's live broadcast of Utacon

https://mdpr.jp/music/detail/1893891

^she is still trying to promote the album using mainly GOLDFINGER 2019, I wish she'd perform again instead. I believe that Kuu or avex thought that G2019 could become a big hit, like め組のひと but it just didn't catch on but then again it had no tie-ins and her music isn't played on the radio either.

Can someone translate what does it say under the album name on the poster?


To re(PEAT) myself what I said wasn't directed at anyone in this thread but if you chose to take it personally and get offended, I can't stop you.

I can see why some might not enjoy k, MV. The editing is a bit sloppy and could have been more professional. I'm not a blind follower, I see these things but I choose to focus on the positive rather than negative - I'm glad we got a fun MV, which makes me enjoy the song more. Kuu is the main and only artist I support nowadays so I'm just grateful she's still making music. As not too long ago I tried to get back into other artists such as Namie, Ayu & Kana but their latest music didn't click with me.

It's only normal not to like everything. My point was how nowadays people get nasty while expressing their discontent, then mask it with "my opinion". When you trash talk an artist using offensive language, then say I'm still a fan - that's BS cause you are just a rude a**hole. There a few examples in K-Pop industry where artists were bullied online to the point of suicide, people say that's so sad and carry on with their hate speech. I muted some people on my Insta as people turned out to be unreasonable and life's too short for me to waste my time and try to reason with them. It just baffled me how some "fans" can go from supporters to haters overnight but ah well, you learn something new every day and really shouldn't have surprised me in the first place.

On a bright side, me posting that on my insta helped to start a conversation with more reasonable & mature fans I didn't talk to much before.

^ I totally feel on you on clicking with other artists' songs. Even if I'm upset with some decisions Kuu/her team made in the recent years, I still love her releases music-wise, even if it takes a bit I fall in love with them. I don't know if that's charisma, astral alingments or just a matter of taste, but in late 2000s every jpop song I listened to was an instant catch, whereas nowadays it's basically Kuu. I'm having a hard time even with Hikki, who I stanned before knowing Kumi.

Plus, seing her live videos alwaaaaayyyyyssss amazes me, she puts so much energy and ideas into performing, and if she wants you to feel a certain feeling during a song, she'll do everything for you to feel it.

In fact, I guess that's what works in her songs for me. Some pop music, especially western music, does sounds good to my ears but at the end of the song I'm like "well, was that a sexy song? sad? happy?". With Kuu, if the song is up-lifting, I'll end the song lipsync-ing with a smile in my face, but if it's sad I'll be missing someone I never even knew lol This is something I always felt with her songs, like listening to Cherry Girl and feeling the sassy-sexy vibe all over me, or COME WITH ME and feel like in a beach party with some friends. She always has something to tell in her songs, and it doesn't need to be a tragic personal story, it can be just a mood she wants to portrait, and she always does so.

Yeah, I'm confused about the fuss. Online, people don't have to deal with the sudden reaction of saying something that doesn't land well with others. And when they do, it's often a dog pile. So, I don't know why people act like a post on a forum is the equivalent of saying that to someone's face, because no one psychologically approaches those two spaces the same way.

I'm interested in re(CORD). I just get the feeling so far that it's pretty much like DNA, like AND, like W FACE, like WOML... Kuu really hasn't had an album that felt like a complete concept in and of itself since JAPONESQUE/BV. There are always a few good songs, but they don't deliver the kind of punch that they would have if they were being released 10 years ago.

Whatever works for her. She's at the point in her career where she doesn't have to GAF. The fact that she's put out some 5 studio albums in the last 3-4 years is impressive enough. Would just love to see her reinvent the approach she used to have around having a strong visual and thematic concept to each album.

NINKI for re(cord)

01 70.00 Ringo Shiina - Newton no Ringo ~Hajimete no Best-ban~
02 37.50 Ozawa Kenji - So kakkoii Uchuu
03 37.36 GANG PARADE - LOVE PARADE
04 26.90 Koda Kumi - re(CORD)
05 22.24 GFRIEND - Fallin' Light

GFRIEND are doing some handshake events for their album so they will probably debut above Kuu. Hope the album makes the Top 10 weekly.

「一過去へリスペクト そして未来への記録」
"Respect for the past and recording for the future."

Wow that's 10k more than DNA did on its first week, it'd be so cool if that happens indeed

Also I had totally forgotten that ninki existed lol gave me some nostalgia

It's a shame that there's no MUSIC STATION this week , if not I'm sure there's a high chance for Kuu to perform something other than Eh Yo & GOLDFINGER 2019 to promote re(CORD)

Same thing goes for this week's CDTV , it's a pity she's not featured on the show

I would have like to see Kuu perform other songs to promote re(CORD) . A TV performance of again would have been great cos she already performed GOLDFINGER 2019 during MUSIC FAIR

Also I know what you mean , ALfromHELLSING . At this day & age , it can be very frustrating to see negative comments from users on anything everything

Let alone twisting others' words and spinning it into a different thing altogether , it's even more worst

Some take such remarks to heart but if you know how to tune things out properly , then it makes things easier

For me I get real offended extremely easily . I used to fight back online but now I can't be bothered cos I know I'll be wasting my time & effort cos changing others' opinions on things is downright impossible

On a side note , today is Flying Get day for re(CORD) , whee

HMV Narita already put up promo re(CORD) boards inside their store & wish Kuu an early happy birthday

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EJJM1f_X...jpg&name=small

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EJJM1flU...jpg&name=small

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EJJM1fmU...jpg&name=small

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EJJM1fmU...jpg&name=small

https://twitter.com/HMV_Narita/statu...01353645297664

Oh, her music is played on the radio, that's not the problem.
Tho I agree with GOLDFINGER... wish it'd be Eh Yo instead, as she did promote that as well.
But guess since the rugby world cup is over and GOLDFINGER was released, it's sadly her main choice.
Hiromi Go actually performs it every year on Kohaku for years now... might be they wanted to establish something with that, being such a big hit and relatively fresh on people's minds.

Btw. radio - she's going to be on J-Wave as well as グノシーＱ tomorrow.
グノシーＱ is actually a live quiz show with an app (Japan only).

They've finally released her fashion design.
It's a collab with the brand Pony Stone!

https://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/6...921/5pJ5Hb.pnghttps://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/6...921/4dC6nf.png



Denim top
・サイズ展開・サイズ詳細：FREE（着丈:770mm　身幅：520mm　肩幅：550mm　袖丈：56 0mm）
・素材：コットン100%
・原産国：タイ
・価格：￥44,000（税抜） / ￥48,400（税込）

Denim pants
・サイズ展開・サイズ詳細：
（M）ウエスト横幅：320mm 着丈：1000mm
（L）ウエスト横幅：330mm 着丈：1100mm
・素材：コットン100%
・原産国：タイ
・価格：￥44,000（税抜） / ￥48,400（税込）

Expensive, but that was to be expected.
Pony Stone is a designer brand.
It's also going to be available through mu-mo.

@Karen
Her fans overall don't have a problem with saying negative things (Japanese unlike), I've actually meant they're, well, pretty chill.
I guess Kuu just generally draws in like-minded people as her fans or is influencing like that.

Display in the Tsutaya in Shibuya

https://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/6...923/I8nqE6.png

https://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/6...923/2hyFcY.png

https://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/6...924/zu8JxT.png

https://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/6...921/Mw49rl.png

https://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/6...921/buvknu.png

The discs of re(CORD) are shaped as records!
And they're in different colours, but forgot to make a screencap, haha.

https://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/6...924/RtARNJ.png

Kinot (or a Japanese fan with him) shared the lyrics of Rich & Famous - they made a (Japanese) wordplay out of chances all - chances are.

https://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/6...922/Ougk01.png

I'm glad kinot got so active on Instagram, he's a nice guy to chat with. :)

Nice idea they had for the discs, looks really cool! Can't wait to see the pics on the booklet and the FC photobook :)

Plus, I always love looking pics of those displays at discs shops, I wish those were made here in Brazil too lol

Two more

https://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/6...924/Y2Bqef.jpg
https://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/6...923/TkTxzY.jpg

FC edition

https://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/6...921/hZmtho.jpg

https://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/6...923/5eB0Hj.jpg

Uta Con starts now.

You can watch it here:
https://mov3.co/en/nhk/

https://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/6...922/Vl5RJB.jpg

A bunch of loud fans there, for Kuu and some other artists. :)

The FC version looks so good! Love seeing all the discs together.

She performed a collaboration with all the guests, and the Kouhaku special medley (Cutie Honey and Butterfly) so far. Looking gorgeous as always and her voice sounded good.

EDIT

She's so extra haha, she changed the outfit for GOLDFINGER 19. The red outfit was good as well. They messed up the end a little bit, but it wasn't as messy as the reLIVE BC performance.

She got the last performance of the show, the final, how nice!
Too bad they had that small hiccup in the dance, but Kuu is always really nervous when she's not performing before fans only and it was just a small one in the beginning.

During a live TV performance things might still go haywire you never know what might happen

Other than MUSIC STATION , CDTV , I would have loved to see Kuu perform in tomorrow's live broadcast of Best Hits Kayousai 2019 . It would have been great to see her celebrate her birthday with fans at Osaka Jo Hall tomorrow

But alas no :s

Interview and self-liner notes for every song are out on mu-mo:
https://shop.mu-mo.net/st/special/ko.../?jsiteid=mumo

She explains e.g. why she covered both versions of Livin' La Vida Loca and also says that without those covers and Rich & Famous feat. Sean Paul, the album probably wouldn't even exist. She initially wanted to make a cover album out of re(cord).
Also, that she first made GET NAKED 3 years ago for W FACE, but only provisional; she then completed it this year, cause she felt it fits now. It's related to her debut song TAKE BACK lyrically.
And more.

Happy birthday Kuu :spazzed

Early birthday surprise at Utacon backstage

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EJLlD7lU...jpg&name=small

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EJLlD7lU...jpg&name=small

https://twitter.com/KODAKUMINET/stat...68712418738179

Ok, looks like I have some time, so I try to summarize what she says about every song.

01. DO ME


02. GET NAKED


03. STRIP


04. k,


05. Rich & Famous feat. Sean Paul


06. again


07. Merry Go Round


08. Eh Yo


09. GOLDFINGER 2019


10. プチョヘンザッ!!!


11. Summer Time


12. OMG


13. SHUTOUT


14. Livin' La Vida Loca


@Karen
Yeah, her dancers are cute, some of them (like Achi and Marina) also posted messages on their Insta, aw.
Kuu is also thanking everybody for all the messages she already received in her Insta stories.

^ I was a bit shocked by the depth of the lyrics in "again", because it immediately struck me as Kuu sharing a lot of fans' wish to go back and do those glory years all over again. Haven't heard such a well-written ballad since possibly Ayu's "Curtain call"...? I think "again" really deserves to be the big takeaway from re(CORD).

Also surprised she originally intended to do a cover album. I figured Eternal and Color The Cover were just side projects, but she clearly likes reinventing old songs if she wants to keep making cover albums.

I'm also glad she threw one or two cute songs on this album. These used to be a staple on her albums, and she always did a fun and entertaining PV for them for the DVD/BD.

I'd love to know if there's a Kumi Koda no Uta album in the works. It'd be awesome to see people like Ayu and Hikki contribute a cover of a Kuu song. (Personally, I want to hear Hikki do "Ai no Uta" and Ayu do "you")

Anyway, looking forward to tomorrow! Was just listening to WOML this morning and remembered how much I loved the title track. Here's hoping we have great things to say about these songs after release!

i listened to the album (its out on OTOTOY since 3.5 hours) and im surprised how good it is overall.

Rich & Famous, Merry Go Round & SHUTOUT are probably the best songs for me on this record. I have so much fun listening to this. weakest songs are still Eh Yo and Put your hands up!!! for me, still nice tho. Covers are still awful and I wish she would've done alternate covers with the light tubes but it fits the theme I guess. Especially with this record being the start to her new chapter in her career sound wise, i'm really excited about her 20th anniversary and her releases in 2020.