Performances from last night's Utacon live broadcast which was also the last Utacon broadcast for the year

100 no Kodoku Tachi e

https://www.bilibili.com/video/BV1sF411z7YL

Kudo Shizuka's Doukoku with Kudo Shizuka herself

https://www.bilibili.com/video/BV12341147C3

My FC best came today and it’s so so nice :love

The font looks pretty small on the name plate, but maybe that’s because I only had my first name engraved.

Mine has been shipped today, at last. I hope these late shipment at least makes it chart a little better this week.

Kuu was the studio guest on yesterday / this week's VS Damashii

https://www.bilibili.com/video/BV1t34y1X7aj

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/FGEgy4CV...jpg&name=small

https://twitter.com/kantele/status/1468777424963862535

I need a rip so bad

My FC best arrived a few days ago but I shipped it to my parent's house by accident lol finally got it today though and the packaging is great! Gonna start listening now. Haven't heard a lot of these songs in a while so it's gonna be nice to take a journey through Kumi's career up till this point.

I would like to see the Limited edition photobook. My regular edition is coming to my country from cdjapan and the booklet says "photo book", I can't wait.

I don’t have a working computer right now but I can take bad photos of the book with my tablet.

https://imgur.com/a/J5m0M9n

Wow thank you!! I love it!

Also something I've noticed about the earlier tracks is that they used the single versions of the songs (most apparent for me are COLOR OF SOUL and So Into You, can't tell the difference in the others though). Felt that was a nice touch since BEST ~first things~ used to album versions.

EDIT: I'm making my way through the second session tracks and WIND and No Regret have their single (?) versions on here too. The difference in No Regret is a sax solo in the middle. I heard this version years ago when it had just came out, I downloaded it from a file sharing site. After second session came out, it was hard for me to find this version and as years went on I thought I just dreamed it up. I guess I just didn't look hard enough haha, but that was a nice surprise too.

Tbh, I hate this version of D.D.D.
The original version shows how kinky it can be.
The new version is like MILF version - the music lacks of energy

Does anyone know what's the vinyl record on display in the background of two of the pics? It's a woman in front of blue backdrop. Title looks something like "Song About You"?

Can anyone share a real rip of the FC edition, please?...

I second that! :)

^I don't think will aver see it, it's not even on jpopsuki, I mean it's a lot of money xD maybe someday xD (and even if it was on jpopsuki, can't download from there I owe them GBs xD)

^I will get it and a lot of people on here did too. but I dont have a CD slot anymore

^Same, I'd love to rip it even for myself, but my Mac doesn't have a CD slot. :-\ I listened to the CDs via my PS3 lolol. Even my PS4 doesn't read CDs.

I may be able to get a rip for us towards the end of the month. When I visit my parents home soon I can borrow their external CD drive. Hopefully we get a rip before then, but if not, I'll see what I can do.

Also, they forgot the "STRIP" music video for the BLU-RAY. The music video was only included in the BLACK CHERRY / JAPONESQUE tour. IDK why they forgot to include it in the 3BD.

usually the bonus music videos never get released outside the live dvd's/ blu-ray's. (also Lady Go!'s wannabe video and Lucky Star weren't included as well on the BD)

The Limited FC edition is up at Jpopsuki.

Oh, I see. Thank you.

Oh finally! So lucky that you have the account for Jpopsuki. Can you upload it in AHS so we can download it if possible?

Here the gdrive files

https://drive.google.com/folderview?...esLvPslLRzNVV7

thank you so much!!

I know her discography is very solid overall but the singles run from DISC 1 to 4 is simply PERFECT, no skips, only JPop at its best! <3

Anyone who’s into audio settings and stuff knows if they actually remastered some tracks?

Regular edition 3CD+DVD received today.

My unboxing video on youtube:

https://youtu.be/bg-PjSFdrkM

they did. It'ss quite notable to me. Everything sounds cleaner (not A BEST level tho). I found the biggest differences on TABOO and IT's all love so far (the latter especially)

Very nice!! I need mine soon T_T

:O Thank youuuu

Thank you, I hope you will receive your copy soon.

Photos of Kuu taken today at Osaka MUSIC LOVER ~Road to 2025~

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/FG5NI05a...jpg&name=small

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/FG5NL5La...jpg&name=small

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/FG5NM3aa...jpg&name=small

https://twitter.com/osakagenkipark/s...99063466823688

More photos

https://twitter.com/KODAKUMINET/stat...15248048631810

https://twitter.com/osakagenkipark/s...QcQIQiMEmjveyg

Badass

Setlist

01. UNIVERSE
02. Eh Yo
03. Ai no Uta
04. you
05. 100 no Kodoku Tachi e
06. You're so beautiful
07. BE MY BABY with AI
08. I Wanna Know with AI

https://twitter.com/kkxx__93/status/1472162300237066242
https://twitter.com/meow_n_purple/st...92932229029895

Oh wow , you ;__;

Kuu visted Osaka's Umeda Ice Rink Tsuruntsurun yesterday

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/FG7jvJ9a...jpg&name=small

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/FG7jvKAa...jpg&name=small

https://twitter.com/UMEDAtsurun2/sta...64532299612161

Thank you Diane :)

I couldn’t agree more!
Disc 2 is my top favorite. I use to listen secret’s singles inside the album as SHAKE IT & 24 were forgotten from BEST ~first thing~ but listening to the whole 2004-05 singles that way make the experience even greater and more nostalgic! What an era!
Disc 4 is also very strong! Always loved Black Cherry / Kingdom singles era.

My least fav is Disc 7. It’s not bad but Dance In The Rain is my only favorite from this CD.
Disc 6 would have been even more enjoyable without the full Gossip Candy’s songs. Only Lollipop was good from that single.

Thank you so much! :)

Do we have any information about an overseas version from the best?

Many Facebook users wrote Mandarin messages on avex Taiwan's page requesting them to make the 8 CDs + Blu-ray mu-mo fanclub version but so far no updates if it might happen

But since all the audio tracks from BEST were released digitally on the same day in Taiwan as in Japan , that doesn't look promising

Then again I thought avex Taiwan wasn't able to make angeL & monsteR but they did made the 2 CDs + DVD version

" 1+2 be scandalous, 3 come together be end-da-less "
>> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bGyC7uYi9Q0

glad that she revisit DDD from japon tour!
everything from japon tour is on fire!
im on repeat mode since its up on youtube music!

I'm sorry if I missed it, but does anyone know what the song "100 no Kodoku Tachi e"
is about?

about not being enough? and not being loved?, watch the video on youtube it has the official lyrics in english. :D

BEST ~2000-2020~ Sales Update:

This week the album sold 973 copies bringing the total for both editions combined to: 12,535

EXILE's new album just debuted with 16k and Mika's 2.3k this week so the sales are pretty decent tbh

Early happy new year everybody

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/FH7Iha0a...jpg&name=small

https://twitter.com/KODAKUMINET/stat...31155672723460

My copy of Best 2000 - 2020 and Best Singles Collection arrived the other day! Looking forward to listening/watching em!

mine arrived too! but i'm not in my city. I just have some days to comeback and pick it up or else they will send it back! haha T_T

Hope you make it back in time!!

anyone have bd rip of "SO FEVER" and "NEVER GIVE IT UP" pv from her latest best? the rip i have from years ago is very bad in quality.

Announced a few hours ago on her fanclub but now officially made public

18th album heart will be released on 2nd March

heart will be the 1st new release of 2022 from Kuu

4 versions

Not yet finalised tracklist for both non fanclub & fanclub versions

CD

・ We’ll Be OK
・ Doo-Bee-Doo-Bop
・ to be free
・ 4 MORE
・ 100 no Kodoku Tachi e

& new album tracks

CD + DVD

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

CD + Blu-ray

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

DVD & Blu-ray content - same for both

・ We’ll Be OK -Music Video-
・ Doo-Bee-Doo-Bop -Music Video-
・ to be free -Music Video-
・ 4 MORE -Music Video-
・ 100 no Kodoku Tachi e -Music Video-
・ Title tbc -Music Video-

※ More details to be announced

Cost for both - 6,600 Yen

Fanclub

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/FIaVo2cV...jpg&name=small

- CD + 3 DVDs
- CD + 2 Blu-ray

Cost for both - 18,150 Yen

DVD & Blu-ray content - same for both

・ We’ll Be OK -Music Video-
・ Doo-Bee-Doo-Bop -Music Video-
・ to be free -Music Video-
・ 4 MORE -Music Video-
・ 100 no Kodoku Tachi e -Music Video-
・ Title tbc -Music Video-
・ Nissin Raoh Presents KODA KUMI SPECIAL ONLINE LIVE 2021
・ KODA KUMI 20TH→21ST ANNIVERSARY EVENT @ Zepp Tokyo
・ KODA KUMI 20TH→21ST ANNIVERSARY EVENT @ Toyosu PIT

※ For Zepp Tokyo's , video footages are recorded & combined from both dates
※ More details to be announced

Bonus items

Fanclub

Non fanclub version - sticker (pattern A)
Fanclub version - compact mirror

Non fanclub

HMV / Loppi - sticker (pattern B)
Others not listed - postcard

https://rhythmzone.net/koda/discogra...?c=&id=1018794
https://rhythmzone.net/koda/news/detail.php?id=1096879

Yay

And considering Love & Songs 2022 will begin 3 days before heart release , it's not so surprising

No standalone CD only version for the 2nd time , just like what happened to BEST ~2000 to 2020~ :O

And Kuu look great in all the covers :love

10 songs in total are planned for the album right now, it's stated in the FC and mu-mo shops:
https://shop.mu-mo.net/avx/sv/item1?...2453&categ_id=

I absolutely ADORE the covers and the title. Cant wait to see what she's been preparing for us!

Already preordered the CD/2 Bluray FC edition!! Absolutely can't wait!! Love the covers too!! They're GORGEOUS!! :luv2 :luv2 :heart :heart

Are we dead ? Did we die those covers OMG!!!! My BEST just got here this year and she’s coming with new material !!! Hopefully I’ll have this album before 2023 haha

I want the FC Version but I don't have the Monet after the best T T
So, I will buy it digitally :c

I wonder if the CD case will be fat or thin.

The covers are sooo good! I just got done listening to her entire discography but this makes me want to do this again. Since there are only 10 songs plans, I am glad I haven’t listened to any of the digital releases so more will seem fresh.

I wonder if later this year she will release another album called “soul” if she continues her double album trend.

I will be getting the fanclub edition but I wonder why they made the regular version so expensive? 6,600 yen for a 10 song album seems really expensive. The CD+2DVD ver of JAPONESQUE was cheaper than that....

I have noticed that the past few years the cost of physical media has gone up, even here in Canada. It's insane as most of her albums nowadays don't even have as elaborate of lyrics booklets with as many pictures.

I believe avex in general is taking a higher price approach. The latest EXILE album has a similar price in regards to the CD/DVD or Blu-ray editions. The Japanese music industry has collapsed for the most part and avex is most likely trying to nickel and dime anyway possible.

Really loving the covers and can't wait to see if the upcoming PV relates to album artwork in some way. It's great to see her still very active and not slowing down after 21 years in the fickle music business.

If you compare it to the insane packages you get with Korean albums, which only cost half the money, these prices are a joke. I know Japan is a much more expensive country, and salary probably meets these native prices a bit more, but OMG.

On the other hand you get Nintendo stuff for like 3/4 of what it cost in Germany...

Love the covers and the title! Didn't find the Summer of 21 single that memorable but Angel and Monster was such a step up from Re(cord) so I'm hoping this album is the same!

Idk if I'd say the market has collapsed, but it is taking a change to higher physical prices for artists not being at the absolute top right now for sure.
Other labels do the same, tho not that steep (e.g. Ken Hirai's or AI's new album also is at 5,500 Yen for the video versions, even milet's new album is at 5,000 Yen for the BR version). Ai Ostuka's new album takes the cake with 8,470 Yen.

Taking the same price for DVD and Blu-Ray also is a new general approach. I guess besides making more money, the labels also want people to encourage buying the BR version maybe?

Concert releases are stable for now at least.

Covers are gorgeous, thank you queen !

As a full album, the last one I really loved as a whole was WALK OF MY LIFE...
Yes, I do enjoy some gems from the recent ones (RUN, puff, Hush, PARTY...) but I tend to skip the rest easily lol, when that wasn't the case for WOML or JAPONESQUE (top 2 albums).

Hoping she can deliver a quality baby !!
(I already love 100 no Kodoku Tachi e out of the listed tracks)

Selling the DVD & Blu-ray versions the same price is not a new thing , Johnnys' releases (be it single , album or their concert video releases) have been like that for quite sometime now

But for Kuu yes this's the 1st time for her to partake in this

AND , DNA & re(CORD) DVD & Blu-ray prices were 4,290 Yen & 5,060 Yen respectively while the 2 CDs + DVD for angeL / monsteR was priced at 6,600 Yen

Not very sure if avex will revert back to the fat CD casing for heart , at most they should make the booklet a bit thicker with the inclusion of more photos ? :c

With the way is written , I will not be surprised if Kuu release 2 albums this year again

Maybe the next album will be called head ? xD

So don’t know if anyone posted this, but a full PV for enemy was uploaded 11 days ago. Really hope there is more with this project!!

https://youtu.be/NS6j_cBvCY8

Kuu & other artistes will perform at a special MUSIC FAIR concert to celebrate the show's 2,900th episode

Concert will be held on 18th Feb

https://www.fujitv.co.jp/MUSICFAIR/v...recording.html

Osaka's Namba station

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

https://twitter.com/XXKK_Maa/status/...pyAA5-3RjQi3Jw

thank you :luv2

These soft B&W covers symbolize how we feel 2020-too - Sad yet holding our positive vibes to the future.

thank you for sharing :heart

LIVE EMPOWER CHILDREN 2022 supported by Dai ichi Life Insurance will take place on 15th Feb and Kuu will be performing alongside with other artistes

Concert will be streamed online on 15th Feb

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/FJRt7QVV...jpg&name=small

https://twitter.com/KODAKUMINET/stat...31057317978112
https://twitter.com/Em_Children/stat...10577475596292

Video digest of last month's Osaka MUSIC LOVER -Road to 2025-

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hc7jP5IxXz0

Footages will stay online until 17th Feb

Guys I have a question probably not the right place to ask but i know you will understand.

I recently bought my first alexa and sometimes it's a PAIN to ask for music in japanese she
doesn't understand me. for instance with Koda Kumi directs me to the rapper Kodak... or hits in spanish (I'm from méxico).

I've tried asking in spanish and english and it's 5050, sometimes she understands me better in english, maybe I have bad diction in both languages... haha

is there any way around this? does this happens to you?

BEST ~2000-2020~ will be released next Fri in Taiwan

The postcard set will be included as a bonus item giveaway

http://www.5music.com.tw/CDList-C.asp?cdno=443385678740

https://www.facebook.com/avextw/posts/10166141877685710

Theres a preview of a new song from heart on her Instagram stories. I really wish she would ditch the autotune. It's really not needed.

^not too sure if there is much autotune. I think the effect comes from the recording on the phone.

That said, autotune is not only there to "conceal" a voice but can very well be and is often an artistic choice. Therefore you can't really say "it's not needed". If Kumi decides she wants the song to sound like that, it's her choice to do so. In that case it rather comes down to your personal taste in it.

Happens a lot with Ayu and even French singers (French is my 1st language but I live in the UK) - I don't even try to ask her for songs that aren't in English anymore

I dont have an Alexa but my google voice assitant also never understand "Koda", sometimes he getd "kumi taboo" but it fails way more than it succeds. Would also love tips on how to make it work lol

I know that problem from my ex, but you can probably only avoid this problem if the language setting of your Alexa or other gadget is Japanese.

avex Taiwan's Facebook

https://i.postimg.cc/GtydB0jt/272279...27542614-n.jpg

https://www.facebook.com/avextw/posts/10166158983670710

Here's hoping they will make heart

I see thank you guys! it is a pain in the (You know you love yourself) But(t) :(:(:(

heart finalised tracklist & new promo picture

https://i.postimg.cc/CKFs6VPq/fc0429...0fd782fc66.jpg

CD

01.Bow Wow
02.Sure shot
03.Atlas
04.GOOD TIME feat.AI
05.Outta my control feat.ØZI
06.Anemone
07.100 no Kodoku Tachi e
08.to be free
09.RED
10.4 MORE
11.Doo-Bee-Doo-Bop
12.We'll Be OK

DVD / Blu-ray

01.Sure shot
02.100 no Kodoku Tachi e
03.to be free
04.4 MORE
05.Doo-Bee-Doo-Bop
06.We'll Be OK
07.4 MORE -Dance Ver.-

Behind The Scenes -Sure shot [Music Video]-

Fanclub

DVD

1st DVD

01.Sure shot
02.100 no Kodoku Tachi e
03.to be free
04.4 MORE
05.Doo-Bee-Doo-Bop
06.We'll Be OK
07.4 MORE -Dance Ver.-

Behind The Scenes -heart-

2nd DVD

KODA KUMI 20TH→21ST ANNIVERSARY EVENT 2021.12.6＠Toyosu PIT

Behind The Scenes -KODA KUMI 20TH→21ST ANNIVERSARY EVENT-

3rd DVD

KODA KUMI 20TH→21ST ANNIVERSARY EVENT 2021.12.3＠Zepp Tokyo
KODA KUMI 20TH→21ST ANNIVERSARY EVENT 2021.12.4＠Zepp Tokyo
Nissin RAOH Presents KODA KUMI SPECIAL ONLINE LIVE 2021

Blu-ray

1st Blu-ray

01.Sure shot
02.100 no Kodoku Tachi e
03.to be free
04.4 MORE
05.Doo-Bee-Doo-Bop
06.We'll Be OK
07.4 MORE -Dance Ver.-

Behind The Scenes -heart-

KODA KUMI 20TH→21ST ANNIVERSARY EVENT 2021.12.6＠Toyosu PIT

Behind The Scenes -KODA KUMI 20TH→21ST ANNIVERSARY EVENT-

2nd Blu-ray

KODA KUMI 20TH→21ST ANNIVERSARY EVENT 2021.12.3＠Zepp Tokyo
KODA KUMI 20TH→21ST ANNIVERSARY EVENT 2021.12.4＠Zepp Tokyo
Nissin RAOH Presents KODA KUMI SPECIAL ONLINE LIVE 2021

Entire album will be available for streaming/digital purchase from next Wed onwards , a month before the physical album is released on 2nd March

- Lead album track Sure short is described as a fight song
- ØZI ; Taiwanese artiste
- Behind The Scenes -Sure shot [Music Video]- & Behind The Scenes -heart- ; contents same for both

https://rhythmzone.net/koda/news/detail.php?id=1097354

thank you!, The tracklist looks super hot!!

is the anniversary event going to be full?

So glad we'll be getting 12 songs in total instead of 10!! Can't wait for the new songs, the titles are very interesting this time!

Extra songs is a pleasant surprise! I agree the song titles sound interesting - looking forward to the credits!

It should be the full concerts for all 3

But if you managed to download the footages when Hulu Japan streamed them then at least you have something to fall back on in case avex did not make that happen

===

Kuu & other artistes will be taking part in Kishidan's tribute album that will be released on 30th March

No word for now which Kishidan song Kuu will cover

https://twitter.com/kishidan_staff/s...34512691462144

^ They're all gonna be One Night Carnival.

I wonder what's the strategy with the early release.

Interesting!

I think releasing all the songs from heart digitally a month before the album's physical release would further impact CD sales

Kuu should have done what KAT-TUN did last year when they released Roar which was marketed to celebrate their 15th anniversary

1 of the songs Flashback was not made available in any of the 8 versions of Roar , you only can get it digitally

And that indirectly led to their best 1st week sales for a single since 2010

That said I do not know if such a marketing tactic would work for Kuu

^ Sorry, but I think I didnt get it? How could a song only available for streaming boost physical sales? To me sounds like the sales were boosted by eight versions of a CD rather than that but I dont really know them nor their numbers

Kumi did something similar to Hikki's BAD MODE btw, the album is up for streaming since last week but it won't come out physically in a month. I guess that at this point in Kumi's career, people who buy her albums will buy them regardless of digital releases. Then, probably, their strategy might be:
- Hardcore fans will buy it regardless of the early streaming release
- Casual fans will have a month to have a moment of"oh Kuu released something new and it's nice, I think I'll buy it" and then proceed to pre-ordering it
- People who are not fans but still will listen to her wouldnt buy it either way so it makes no difference to sales

tldr; I think they wanna use the digital release as an early promotion strategy focused on casual fans to boost pre-orders

Sorry I should not have used KAT-TUN as an example

Out of 8 versions of Roar , only 6 of them were counted towards Oricon

Instead I feel that instead of releasing the entire heart album digitally a month before its physical release , avex should hold back in not releasing everything digitally , maybe leave out a song or 2 ?

If not I wouldn't have any incentive to buy the physical album , other than for the DVD/Blu-ray footages & the CD booklet

Then again I don't know , others would see this differently from me

^ That's probably why we didnt get a CD Only version this time btw. Probably it already didnt sell as much as other versions, and nowadays with streaming services it's completely pointless unless for collectors which are probably very few and not profittable enough. I don't think it'll be that bad for Kuu at this point, but we will have to wait a bit to find out if they did it right lol

^ Like you said let's see how things will go regarding this strategy avex utilised this time to promote heart

I know buying music let alone video footages online is here to stay & the norm but it's not the same as having a physical copy of a release

I wonder if Kuu would ever go back to release proper CD singles cos it has been so long since HOTEL was released

Even if she chose to do that , she should have stop at like 60th single or something instead of 57th ?

I noticed this digital early release thing they're starting to do with other artists too. Daichi Miura has released several of his most recent singles over the past year or 2 digitally a few weeks before the physical copies were out. Same with many of HYDE's singles as well even though I know he'sunder a different label. If it's becoming a thing in Japan then I can definitely see this happening more and more with all of Kuu's future releases as well.
Also, while I know I'm in the extremely small minority these days I still always buy physical releases and use them at home and in the car only saving digital listenings for the music I add to my phone for when I'm not in either place. I just really enjoy using physical copies. It feels far more personal to me and I just love having something physical in front of me.

I hope they never do that “there is one song only on physical” thing ever. I hate that. That’s a song I will never ever listen to since I don’t have a CD slot on my Mac and can’t rip that (more over, it does not count to streams). Urgh. So frustrating. Step up your packaging/ bonus game like Korea does.

it's coming!!!!

Really like the colours from the thumb, seems like it'll be done way better than Wicked Girls at least in the CG part. Cant wait for Wednesday!

Made a new thread. Will update the first post later today.