The 162nd Thread - 55th Single "Summer Trip" 7.31 On Sale!
 

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Stage Name: Koda Kumi / 倖田來未
Real Name: Kouda Kumiko / 神田來未子
Birthdate: 13 November 1982 (Showa 57)
Blood Type: A
Hometown: Kyoto

Hobbies: Shopping, Goods.
Favorite Sport: Squash
Favorite Type of Music: Hip Hop
Favorite Dish to Cook: Niku Jaga (Beef and Potatoes)
Favorite Saying: Ikkai ichi e (Once in a lifetime chance)
Favorite Colors: Purple and green
Favorite Season: Summer
Favorite DVD: Haneru no tobira
Favorite Brands: D&G and H・A・K
Favorite Food: Okonomiyaki, 100% Fruit Juice, Perrier
Favorite Japanese Artists: Toshinori Yonekura, Sukima Switch
Favorite Western Artists: Christina Aguilera, Nelly, Pink, Pharrell Williams
Something She Can't Be Without: Love
Favorite Part of Her Own Body: The "kori kori" of her waist.
Something Often Unexpected: 'No smoking & no alcohol'
Something Unacceptable: Lies and deception
Special Ability: To be able to talk until her voice goes hoarse.


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Credits: FinalFayth, Kingdom, Corvina, do it again, Cherrim, George, maze.

Hey, the old thread still had... 11 posts to go :laugh

haha I know, post there till it reaches the 500 posts :b

Yeah, I bet it's gonna reach those 500 posts in the next few hours. :D

Really really really gorgeous thread.

Its full. :laugh

I wonder, if Kuu's debut had been a few years earlier, would that have upped her sales? Or, perhaps if she had started strong in her career, instead of later on.

What a beautiful thread!

what happens when koda fans think a song sounds like someone else's song?

http://i.imgbox.com/aczQ7LsD.gif

they bring the love :heart You guys rock.

^ Only Kuu fans would! I can't even imagine Ayu fans being as positive and pleasant.

I know we're on a forum for ayu fans, but honestly, it's annoying going into that Kumi shoutbox and seeing "trolls" who are fans of ayu. Perhaps they are envious of Kuu having more success than ayu?

I've always thought that Kuu's fans are more easily satisfied than Ayu fans. Kuu puts out a ***** poppin' song and fans are happy. She puts out a ballad, people are alright with it, because they know she's a sap and love her for it.

I vaguely remember someone complaining that Kuu fans were too happy in an older Kuu thread. But, I'm pretty sure it was just a hurt Ayu stan.

GUYS
what does kuu say before singing All for you at Premium Night?

Why does ITT? sound like a Namie song?
Because it's electronic and western sounding?
Namie just started to do that with her last album last year.
It's just everything edm.

mmmm it's not a summer without her so glad we're getting this great single

And kuu stans won't stop trolling ayu in last.fm and Tumblr, no fandom is perfect lol :shrug

Loving the new single~

Unfortunately I don't really like any of those 3 songs, which is devastating because Kuu is usually brilliant when it comes to summer singles ! Too bad, hoping for next year !

I see myself (Gaga avatar) yey♥ And I agree. I always feel surprised when this happens lol. That's one of the reasons why I love being a Kuu fan, this fandom is so much more happier compared to Ayu's fandom. Of course, there are happy people in Ayu fandom, but there's so much hate and criticism that it makes the atmosphere so much more depressing. :< These Kuu threads are like their own little place in the middle of all that. Here happiness just overflows every day♥

And those trolls there are so much fun at times. I've gotten into those damn arguments few times too, but I eventually back off because it's stupid. Most of the time I laugh at them though. :D

Touchdown & IS THIS TRAP? are also my favourites of the single, but I honestly love all 3 songs. LAx5 is such an energetic and happy song, it's lovely to listen to! Perfect Summer jam. I really love the mixture of rock, electronic dance, and hip-hip/R'n'B on this single, such a good variety to have together, it makes the single interesting going from one genre to the next.

One of her best Summer singles for me so far, I look forward to hearing the whole single in full quality. <3

Does someone know the name of the font for Summer Trip? I wanna use it so bad :D

I can't help but to agree with this. :yes

In retrospect, the Kumi fanbase is the most pleasant group of fans I've ever come across. Period. I definitely can't say the same about the others but keep in mind I'm basing this off my own personal experience obviously. When Kuu is criticized or praised, everyone (for the most part) is kind and respectful regardless. The other fandoms are overly hypocritical and delusional for my taste (I'm aware that the Kuu fandom is no exception to this but I've always found the atmosphere to be the most bearable).

*hugs all around* :grouphug

You guys are so cute! :grouphug

Here you go:
From RicH @ JPC

My friend just preordered me a copy of Summer Trip from CDJ as a birthday gift :D :heart

Btw are there any large HQ pics out yet of the covers?

there you go ;)

http://i.imgur.com/tTKUq1us.jpg http://i.imgur.com/DBkfbPIs.jpg http://i.imgur.com/ixiCFsxs.jpg

Thanks!! :D

is it possible to get the CD only cover without the text though?

I love that kuu's fake tan always looks golden and/or natural, not obviously fake. Even on some of the covers where she was like, deep brown tanned. Shes had so many different shades of tan throughout her career, and also been pale. But yet she suits them all!

@dr dolce: yes it's you :heart


The covers make her seem sooo tall and lithe. Photography win.

Of course when you notice her proximity to the table and the ground, you can see it. But damn. And that bathing suit makes it seem like her torso extends forever.

I like the weave on her, but I have to say, on the CD only one, it looks like it's way softer than her hair lol


I am totally in love with her lipstick shade.

Thank you!!

I agree this tan looks amazing on her. I think Kuu looks best when she's tan. Well, I think everyone looks better tan, but it really suits her, she looks beautiful. Tanning in Japan seems to have picked up again, not just with gyaru.

Also, was there any info on the final tracklist for Summer Trip's DVD? I'm hoping for something like Love Me Back's DVD.

I think IS THIS TRAP? sounds similar to the style Namie has been trying to emulate for quite some time now but Ku delivers in one blow.

ITT is still the only song on the single i havent heard LOL

If anyone is interested, I created a "set" for Summer Trip on my SoundCloud. It contains the songs, but they play back one after the other, without you having to stop to change the song.

https://soundcloud.com/lovelikecrazy/sets/summertrip

Download links for all songs are available.

EDIT: Also, when the full single is released I plan on removing all the songs. Just a heads up.

Lalalala sounds WAY too much like her old songs. This doesn't sound new at all. Not a bad song, but I feel like I've heard this before.

Touch Down is a nice b-side. Hot, but not too ****ty.

Is This Trap? is a nice alternative to Touch Down, a little more upbeat and poppy.

Overall, a nice summer single for sure, but Lalalala sounds too familiar, that would be my only criticism. Good job Kumi (and you look amazing).

I somehow feel that Lalalalala and TOUCH DOWN are the b-sides and IS THIS TRAP is the one that finds its way on the album. Of course, if this single is similar to 4 hot wave and 4 TIMES, all songs will be on her next album (which I don't mind at all, of course). :3

I wonder if she'll release a winter ballad single next since there is Koishikute that's already out. :D

^THIS

IS THIS TRAP? is probably the main A-Side!
it's great, maisntream-ish, japan friendly, etc
I think this will turn out like Gossip Candy when they announced Outside/Inside Fishbowl at first and everyone was like "Who Dis!?" lol
and then Boom Lollipop Main A-Side, etc

first that PV shoot months ago and now another shooting after some concerts...
would be a surprise if there's no PV!

her FC Tour starts end of october when i expect her 56th Single & JAPONESQUE LIVE TOUR DVD/BD to promote it and ends end of november, so Album in december...
like they promoted Gttt & 恋しくて at the start/end of Premium Night.

wait.. there's a FC tour? how can i miss that?!
Corvina&Gubsi: schatzieee... can i borrow your account?!! XD

Love Me Back's DVD was perfect, I'm up for something like that again :D

Part of me wants all the songs on her next album because I love them all, but part of me doesn't because that leaves room for more potential masterpieces :P
Praying she doesn't release another winter ballad before her next album. Koishikute was one of my favourite ballad singles from her but overall I prefer her album ballads, and one single ballad is enough for her albums I think :yes

Hopefully we'll have a one or two a-sided single around October and the album in December. It'd be the perfect time to release a new album, cause there are all those special lives and everything...

Buuuuut... We have the FC Tour on the next semester... It is much simpler than her usual concerts, but it may be a reason for the album to come out later...

oh my God thank you so much my summer is complete.

So LALALALALA is still my favorite... I'm a sucker for these feel-good, run along the beach and smiling to the sky kinda summer songs haha

I love Touch Down too... it's so ghetto in a funny way but really cool with nice beats.

IS THIS TRAP? surprised me cos I thought it's gonna be a ****ty-cool song ala V.I.P but it turns out to be a song that sound like it came from One Direction. so sugary, so pop, so hyper, I LOVE IT

I like all of the songs a lot ;)

I will admit that I like IS THIS TRAP?, but only for inside joke reasons XD

nvm >_<

omgggggg. I wish they would hurry and release the contents of what's going to be on the DVD. It better be good. I have something else that I wanna order with it, but that item is limited edition. I don't want it to sell out.

oh did the 3rd song leak? *runs to check* the other two really aren't that great...

https://soundcloud.com/lovelikecrazy/isthistrap

In case you didn't find it.

thanks for that~!

Of course, secret actually has two winter ballads that were released (Kiseki and hands) so I don't know. When it comes to Kuu, it's sometimes so hard to tell what she's up to. XD

Thanks! Couldn't find it either. I like it. And Touch Down is growing on me (had a feeling it would). The other one I still don't like.

IS THIS TRAP? is awesome :D
this single feels so western lol. I can totally see Kesha singing IS THIS TRAP..

Perhaps that's why its named Summer Trip. The single is taking a vacation to LA just by listening to it.

All of Kuu's studio albums thus far have been released between December and March. I'd like to see her break the trend and release an album in, say, October and have it Halloween themed. :blove

^I love dark Kuu. Another Under would be cool. I would also like something... surreal from her. Like Ayu's Voyage. I would like to see how she would go about it. Those Love Romance pictures would make a great PV.

^I definitely agree. Kuu pulls off the 'dark' look really well (imo she pulls off nearly every style well). I'd like something in the vein of Outside Fishbowl. I think something a la Voyage would be really cool but I worry that Kuu would cheese it up, you know what I'm saying?

I agree she has the distinct possiblity of hamming it up like Suki de x 3's PV. But, I would love for her to be really emotional, deep and serious. Like Ashita e..., though I've never read the translated lyrics, I think its supposed to be a deep song. I think she could do something like that again, but with more fantasy~

TOUCH DOWN is just so ugh so amazing like I bet that's the song Kanye and Kim made their baby to it's that good

from lovethatkuu @ jpc :

DVD portion of Summer Trip appears to be:

LALALALALA
TOUCH DOWN
Making of Footage

Oh, poo. I was hoping for a little extra. Guess I'm just buying Miyavi's album...

I've never seen that music video, I'll have to check it out. I would really like that. I think she could do it; it'd definitely be unexpected (in a good way).

I really wish Rhythm Zone and Avex would at least try to promote this single...

right

I was really holding out for a PV for IS THIS TRAP? but nevermind...I'm still buying the single anyway haha

Thanks for the info!
Actually, even if I hoped for a video of IS THIS TRAP?, I'm happy this way. If it was like 4 TIMES I wouldn't have buy it, since everything was going to be included in the next album anyway, but like this, I found this single worth buying, and I'm really pleased, since I love the style and the songs so much! <3

WOWOW will premiere LIVE TOUR 2013 ~JAPONESQUE~ In September from the show on June 30 2013 at Kanagawa Yokohama Arena. This will be a television version meaning not all songs and tour interludes will be seen in full or at all.
http://www.barks.jp/sp/news/?id=1000091780

OMGGGGGGG SO SOON!

awesome news:innocent

i just watched the short version of the "LALALALALA" PV & it's awesome! :D kuu looks so pretty in the PV! i also like the pink highlights in her hair too. :heart the song is awesome & i can't wait to watch the full PV! :)

They finally updated the official website
The songs sound even better in HQ <3

http://rhythmzone.net/koda/music2/si...ummertrip.html

yeah, is this trap is my favorite...even though the title is so engrish

I like Namie Amuro but I'm really not understanding how IS THIS TRAP? is the least bit comparable to anything Namie has done. Someone fill me in please

omgg IS THIS TRAP! preview in HQ = total eargasm!!!

I do hope there'll be a PV for this song on the next album :cry

I wonder why the Making Video is only one track? Is it some sort of mini-movie?

^ Probably, since both PVs were shot in LA and had the same director... It'll probably show a bit more, not only the making of PVs themselves, but also a bit of everything that happened in LA

seems like the LALALALALA PV is the kumi equivalent to ayu's Sunrise PV.

^LALALALALA's PV makes Sunrise's PV look relatively tame. :P

Watching touch down PV now...making me enjoy the song, but it's so random with the black dude, and I hate her in that black bob wig.

A Taiwan live is coming up!

http://rhythmzone.net/koda/news2/2013/06/2013.html

Sunrise is nothing like Lalalalala, imo. Isn't it just Ayu and some fans/dancers on that famous Japanese beach structure? She didn't go to LA for that :S

^ I dont get the comparison either. Sunrise PV is pretty boring compared to Lalalalala's

yay for another Taiwan live this year!!

tour report from jewelian @ jpc on the final show:
http://goldtransam29.tumblr.com/post...eport-yokohama

and some pictures thanks to kaled:

boring or not? opinion. the similarities? I just mean the scenes where she's singing with a mic under a sunny summer sky.

But, that's like... every summer video ever. And even some videos in the winter. :laugh

Sunrise is cute, but Lalalalala has more going on, which makes me like it better.

Not an Asia Tour, but still awesome! :D The first Taiwan live was pretty good, even with the recycled sections... The dance part with that neon outfit was amazing and even the "cute" section :)

She's got a budy agenda for the next semester... Usually she just release some singles and has some a-nation' concerts... Now she's got her FC Tour and the Taiwan live... Makes me wonder when we'll really get the next album

TOUCH DOWN, I'm obsessed! Are there any screen shots from the P/V anywhere?

I haven't listened to LAx5 fully but... I was sad to see photos and she shot it in Venice Beach... UGH I missed her. The preview doesn't sound too appealing, but I'll check it out.. eventually. For now TOUCH DOWN is perfect <3 Makes me want to dance.

I :heart THIS CTC DESIGNED THING!! :D :D :D :D :blove :blove :blove :blove

http://imageshack.us/a/img842/452/44qd.jpg

Reminds me of my lego/kinnex collection from my childhood :P :D

^ thanks for those! can anyone translate what she's saying in the second one?

omg this tour slays so much
damn great vocals

I wanna see it T__T

AND SHE'S CRYING
SOMEONE TRANSLATES PLS

She said she briefly thought about retiring after getting married and pregnant, but in the end she chose to continue singing.

she can't retire for at least 5 more years
I can't live without her T___T

Judged by those JAPONESQUE TOUR previews, this tour has already slayed others. Even with those it looks like the best thing of 2013. XD ♥

Me neither. Hell, I can't even express how horrified I felt when I read she had been thinking of retiring. I just can't imagine a life without Kuu. ;_;

Im so happy she didn't retire <3

I'd be completely devastated if she retired

Is this an official instagram account or it just repost playroom pics?

^doesnt look like an official account to me. you can find those playroom pics on facebook fan pages.

ice sculpture of Summer Trip cover:

http://i.imgur.com/mzfgl42.png

Amazing o_o

^ Even that ice sculpture is hot as hell :lech

Haha she's so cute.

Ayu's Sunrise/Sunset PVs are nowhere near LALALALALA MV. I've watched both once and it was enough. Not like they are awful they are just boring, I like both songs tho. Anyway. Loving' IS THIS TRAP? shame it has no PV. I hope she'll make up with the performance for it. Single is epic above and beyond.

In the last years i can't found another japanese singer like Kuu, if she left this industry it'll be so sad. Maybe Maki Goto but she is now on hiatus and her sales are bad.

You are so right, and your statement is crazy ironic.

Wow I defenitely love that sculpture*-*

Kuu is the only artist that can pull every style and that many music genres imo, I agree that I would be sad for life if she will be leaving the music industry...

EPIC

^Oh dear, acoustic versions of Ai no Uta and darling... I :heart it! 8D They also had a new arrangement for D.D.D I see. Sounded nice. I'm not a fan of the original at all, but this new one made me want to hear it in full now. :3 Definitely an epic concert♥

Kuu is probably the only artist that keeps me interested in J-Pop. If I didn't follow her as much as I do, I would have switched to K-Pop a long time ago and that is a fact. :D

Ooo!! i like how they made the new D.D.D. arrangement to fit into the segment! and that bridge is so cool :D

the acoustic version of Ai no Uta is pretty.

hope someone could translate what Kuu said

Okay. I'm buying this concert and making my mom watch it with me.