The 201st Thread - 20th Anniversary Countdown -
 

https://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/6...922/a6JyCF.png

Upcoming schedule

9 digital singles and new original album re(CORD)

KODA KUMI LIVE TOUR 2019 re(LIVE)

Profile

Discography

Links

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

There are a lot of halls in and around Tokyo in different sizes (Chiba and Saitama would haven been ok, too, I'm sure).

Good thing is that she's doing another arena tour next year, so everyone who wants to go actually can.
Unless they limit the dates again or something like that like with re(LIVE).
Considering she hasn't really anything planned till the end of the year and the start of 2020, they probably limited re(LIVE) because of Kuu doing 2 lives a day for it.
But in the long run it's probably not good when fans are frustrated with not getting tickets.

FAKY's NEW AGE , lyrics written by Kuu

https://www.sendspace.com/file/z7pa4w

Source

Kuu is going to perform two times at FNS:

Hiromi Go x Koda Kumi - GOLDFINGER '99
Koda Kumi x Aoi Shouta - Ai no Uta

https://imagizer.imageshack.com/img921/6842/iHnDj2.jpg

https://imagizer.imageshack.com/img921/7055/UwnerR.jpg

Both part of the "dream collaboration" segment of the show.
According to the tweet FNS made, it's a dream collab, Aoi Shouta wished for.
He's apparently a fan of her.

Haha, he's known for his high-pitched voice for a guy, being called "archangel" - I wonder how this is going to play out.

He's happy:
https://twitter.com/shouta0811aoi/st...06732413427713

And looking at his official site, he's using cords and light bulbs for his last releases, just like Kuu... xD

I saw the title of the thread and thought she announced a CDL for 2020 rofl

No surprise she's performing GOLDFINGER, can't wait to see it :heart Also happy there'll another collab, the more the better :D

Same about thinking there was a countdown lol

Kuu will perform at the year end MUSIC STATION ULTRA SUPER LIVE 2019 on 27th Dec

https://img.barks.jp/image/review/1000175327/001.jpg

AI
aiko
E-girls
Ikimonogakari
EXILE
AKB48
m-flo
Oginome YOko
Official HIGE DANdism
Kimura Kaela
Kyary Pamyu Pamyu
King Gnu
Kuraki Mai
KREVA
CHEMISTRY
Keyakizaka46
Koda Kumi
Golden Bomber
The Gospellers
Kobukuro
Sandaime J SOUL BROTHERS from EXILE TRIBE
THE RAMPAGE from EXILE TRIBE
Shiina Ringo
Jaejoong
GENERATIONS from EXILE TRIBE
Superfly
SEKAI NO OWARI
DA PUMP
DEAN FUJIOKA
Nogizaka46
Perfume
HIKAKIN&SEIKIN
Hitoto Yo
Hinatazaka46
Hirai Ken
Foorin
BLUE ENCOUNT
BABYMETAL
MAN WITH A MISSION
Miura Daichi
Miura Yutaro
Miyamoto Hiroji
milet
Moriyama Naotaro
Yuzu
LiSA
Little Glee Monster
LUNA SEA
WANIMA

https://www.barks.jp/news/?id=1000175327

This year's MUSIC STATION ULTRA SUPER LIVE 2019 will be 11 hours long and artistes will perform at TV Asahi or at Chiba's Makuhari Messe

For now there's no word if Kuu will perform at TV Asahi or at Makuhari Messe

Lol, guys, it's the word countdown, not countdown live I used. Then I'd understand the confusion.

Great to see Kuu is invited to those special music shows again!

I'm so happy to see her do something associated with Music Station again! I think it's been around 6 years since she last performed on Music Station. It has been so nice seeing her get invited to major events again.

Given her 20th anniversary celebration, I wonder if she'll sing one of her ballad classics. Please let it be Moon Crying or Suki de.

Last time must have been 4 years ago, Ai no Uta at Music Station Ultra Fes in September 2015. :)

^Seriously? I honestly don't even remember that one haha.

Great to see her among so many other great names on Music Station. I really want her to perform again, even if it's with ai no uta, but I'm pretty it'll be just ai no uta or goldfinger :P

So happy she's performing at the MUSIC STATION SUPER LIVE! This is her first Super Live since 2012 when she performed Koishikute. Also looking forward to her FNS performances.

Hope they use this exposure to announce the arena tour at the fanclub live and also an A COMPLETE style all time best.

It’s because I was reading fast and also probably because I had ayu’s CDL on the brain :laugh

Video comment of Kuu uploaded via FNS Kayousai's Twitter

https://twitter.com/fns_kayousai/sta...18075210403840

And 1 person will be able to win an autograph board signed by Kuu

https://pbs.twimg.com/ad_img/1200325...jpg&name=small

https://twitter.com/fns_kayousai/sta...50001698471936

Kuu performing Bring It On at the home game of Sagan Tosu today (good fancam):
https://twitter.com/saaaaaa92/status...41260849004544

She also performed GOLDFINGER 2019.

Another Bring It On fancam from another part of the stadium:
https://twitter.com/SagaTosu9/status...49700262981633

Fancam of GOLDFINGER 2019:
https://twitter.com/555_gogogo/statu...42596370239488

https://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/6...923/a1Rh9A.jpg

https://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/6...924/9yYzZB.jpghttps://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/6...923/M8Z1Ux.jpg

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

https://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/6...924/bUBN9z.png

Thanks to @mannendes on Twitter, rainbowlotus2216 and t_naka.daichi on Insta

Based on her previous tours, does anyone have any idea what months she may do her 20th anniversary arena tour?

I will be in Japan in March next year.
Would love to assist to her 20th anniversary arena tour!

Last time I had the opportunity to see her live was for Bon Voyage!


Glad she is performing in Music Station. I just wonder why she is not performing in standard music station episode anymore.
I guess she will sing either Ai no Uta or Goldfinger.
I saw many people request her to perform again. Would love it!

No idea but Fri's MUSIC STATION was the last standard episode of 2019

Better for Kuu to perform on MUSIC STATION ULTRA SUPER LIVE 2019 than never

And yes I would love to see Kuu perform again but I don't think that will happen :s

It seems like a second collaboration between Kumi and Inkbox Japan has been announced.

Yes, here it is, starting to be sold today, including restock of the 1st designs, cause they were popular.

https://inkbox.jp/collections/koda-kumi-x-inkbox

News
https://rhythmzone.net/koda/news/detail.php?id=1078950

http://imagizer.imageshack.us/v2/640...924/aCKD2C.png

In the past she often started tours in late March, early April.
If that was the case we got the announcement in mid till late December, FC lotteries were in January.
But we don't have any clue yet when the tour will be, might be later in the year.
In the last 2 years we had tours in autumn.

^I like the new designs much better, I'd love to get them all too bad they aren't available through the FC store.

I'm puzzled, why she keeps performing GOLDFINGER 2019 only? It's not even in the top 3 most popular tracks on iTunes Store Japan last time I checked. She must just really love the song herself or maybe hopes to get more attention from the general public.

Is there an updated sales number for re(CORD)'s total sales?

Kuu's full performance from yesterday:

Because the song went #1 on LINE, just like Megumi no Hito.

Just stumbled across this funny tweet.

https://twitter.com/seasae0101/statu...41760056573955

So the kid asked for cola gummis, but this woman understood Koda Kumi (both sounds really similar in Japanese), so she asked the kid if he/she wants to eat Koda Kumi and he/she said yes. :laugh
When she went into the sweets corner to search for cola gummis, she asked if they have Koda Kumi and she indeed got cola gummis! :roflmao
She comments how awesome this was.

(she seems to be quite a popular family blogger?)

I seriously hope Kuu and her team get to see this tweet, cause I can see them making great fun out of it for encores and MC of her tours or could even be used for actual promo, CMs or as a tour good - Kuu and cola flavoured gummis! :laugh

Shouta is so cute x3 and one of my all time favorite seiyuu's so I'll be looking forward to it..

Didn't G2019 got to the #1 'cause of that campaign where they wanted everyone to listen to it for a chance to win a piece of merchandise with their name on it? I'd love for her to perform again or anything else from re(CORD) but at this point, I'm just happy that she's finally performing at MS again even if it's not again.

@kaled kalil I like your DO ME single cover. It fits well with the sound of the song. I'm also using your S/WOL covers in my iTunes library for my custom SUMMER/WINTER OF LOVE Ω playlists which include every single summer vibes track / ballad.

I really like WON'T BE LONG -2019- but I still prefer the original version. It has this awesome old school / nostalgic feel to it.

In line with Kuu's impending 19th debut anniversary , HMV Narita had this done up inside their store

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EKs7T1NU...jpg&name=small

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EKs7T1OU...jpg&name=small

https://twitter.com/HMV_Narita/statu...18986106048512

So nice

Taken yesterday

https://img.barks.jp/image/review/1000175438/1.jpg

https://img.barks.jp/image/review/1000175438/2.jpg

https://img.barks.jp/image/review/1000175438/3.jpg

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https://www.barks.jp/news/?id=1000175438

Kuu & other artistes will perform at LIVE EMPOWER CHILDREN 2020

LIVE EMPOWER CHILDREN 2020 is a childhood cancer charity live concert and it will take place on 15th Feb 2020 at Tokyo Kokusai Forum Hall A

Ticket balloting for the concert has opened today & will close on 11th Dec night

https://twitter.com/KODAKUMINET/stat...84330298236929
https://rhythmzone.net/koda/news/detail.php?id=1079008

===

KODA KUMI 19TH→20TH ANNIVERSARY EVENT goods

https://rhythmzone.net/koda/news/detail.php?id=1078908
https://shop.mu-mo.net/avx/sv/list1/?categ_id=201703085

The anniversary event goods were announced!

Penlight
https://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/6...921/hfhhzC.jpghttps://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/6...922/pho6QR.jpg

Jacket
https://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/6...923/ZhMITr.jpghttps://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/6...924/mOGgRN.jpg

Pullover hoodie
https://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/6...922/iShv8l.jpg

Shirt
https://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/6...924/8vljtK.jpg

Sports towel
https://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/6...922/4fJZJ1.jpg

Totebag
https://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/6...923/ClABbT.jpg

Socks
https://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/6...923/6vwGMJ.jpg

Beanie
https://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/6...924/4EfeWE.jpg

Bracelet (6 random colours)
https://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/6...922/XkTzKM.jpghttps://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/6...921/fDZK8e.jpg

Mirror pouch
https://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/6...922/KX6gIb.jpghttps://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/6...924/Dw1MtF.jpg
https://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/6...924/kzgEwW.jpg

Coin case
https://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/6...923/F3myir.jpghttps://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/6...924/ulVAF0.jpg

This is the official logo design they use:

https://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/6...923/7gGl1w.png

Whatever that means.
A dessert? Far mountains?

Even tho it's just black & white, I love the design of the goods.
Except the shirt.
Would have preferred the picture collage one.

Good thing is with having a penlight we can probably expect her to perform, not only talk!

The logo looks like those logos they put in front of some cars lol Seems like mountains being reflected on a car in the road

I love the goods! Minimalist and pretty, and I love black clothing sooooo... :P

2019 FNS Kayousai Day 1 will be taking place later on tonight

Performers schedule Kuu wise

19:00頃～

嵐「BRAVE」
アリス × デーモン閣下 × Takamiy「エスピオナージ」
KinKi Kids「光の気配」
郷ひろみ × 倖田來未「GOLDFINGER '99」
ゴスペラーズ × Little Glee Monster「永遠（とわ）に」
三代目 J SOUL BROTHERS from EXILE TRIBE
「Welcome to TOKYO」
乃木坂46「夜明けまで強がらなくてもいい」
秦 基博 × 安田章大（関ジャニ∞）「Raspberry Lover」
Foorin「パプリカ」
槇原敬之 × 井上芳雄 × 山崎育三郎 × 城田 優「世界に一つだけの花」
槇原敬之 × 宮野真守「冬がはじまるよ」
薬師丸ひろ子「時代」
LA DIVA（森山良子 × 平原綾香 × 新妻聖子 × サラ・オレイン）
「Bohemian Rhapsody」

映画『アナと雪の女王２』公開特別企画

生田絵梨花「生まれてはじめて」
中元みずき
「イントゥ・ジ・アンノウン～心のままに（エンドソング）」
May J.「レット・イット・ゴー～ありのままで～」

20:00頃〜

EXILE「愛のために ～for love, for a child～」
久保田利伸 × JUJU × 三浦大知「LA・LA・LA LOVE SONG」
倖田來未 × 蒼井翔太「愛のうた」
郷ひろみ × 三浦春馬「言えないよ」
鈴木雅之 × 白石麻衣「Necessary」
中山美穂「色・ホワイトブレンド」
BTS「FAKE LOVE -Japanese ver.-」
平井 堅 × 東京スカパラダイスオーケストラ「POP STAR」
Hey! Say! JUMP「ファンファーレ！」
森高千里 × CHEMISTRY「SNOW AGAIN」
薬師丸ひろ子「メイン・テーマ」
Little Glee Monster「ECHO」

映画公開30周年記念『リトル・マーメイド』特別企画

大原櫻子「Part of Your World」
劇団四季「アンダー・ザ・シー」

https://www.fujitv.co.jp/FNS/time_day1.html
https://twitter.com/fns_kayousai/sta...54256200196096

re(CORD) 3rd week position/sales - #118 ; 560

Total 3 week sales - 15,033

http://tieba.baidu.com/p/6372446047

Kuu's 1st outfit she wore in today's 2019 FNS Kayousai Day 1

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EK71FsLV...jpg&name=small

https://twitter.com/fns_kayousai/sta...68391936528384

2nd outfit with Aoi Shouta

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EK8C3L0U...jpg&name=small

https://twitter.com/fns_kayousai/sta...82808086540288

Couldn't watch it live this time cause of work.
But Aoi Shouta and Kuu sounded absolutely great singing in a duet, didn't expect that.
He first outsang her in his solo parts, cause Kuu sounded nervous at the start, but her solo parts at the end were great. And they hugged each other, aw!
Great for Kuu anyway that he's such a big fan as he's apparently one of Japan's most popular voice actors.
A lot of his fans are thanking FNS for the collabo and making his dream come true on Twitter (he's a trending topic on Twitter with both his full name and his nickname and Kuu was, too, just not as high!).
Feedback is very positive, "two beautiful voices singing together" and the like.
Ai no Uta re-entered the real-time-ranking for digital charts at #3!
And here's 180° video of both FNS shared through their app:
https://twitter.com/kinotrumpet/stat...01475541168128
Thanks to Kinot!

Hiromi Go and Kuu danced a bit together, cute, cute, cute! :heart
And they also showed LiSA in between singing Goldfinger with them sitting at her place.
LiSA also came visiting Kuu backstage and gave her her last two singles as present, Kuu showed it in her stories.

I think I didn't mention it before, but Kuu said in interviews and on Insta that she personally wrote a mail to Hiromi Go to ask for permission to cover his version.
And when he answered positive she couldn't believe it first, cause apparently he didn't allow a cover up to now.

Damn, Kuu, just make that collaboration album with all those artists happen!! :laugh

Social media response is absolutely positive.

Just like her collaboration with Daichi, this went down very well.

Just saw that Ai no Uta is also at #3 for the real-time-ranking on LINE Music!
Ienai yo is at #33.

Go Hiromi Staff's Twitter

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EK830wPU...jpg&name=small

https://twitter.com/hiromigostaff/st...41019548356608

My sister is into voice actors & actresses and she said the Ai no Uta duet Aoi Shouta did with Kuu during 2019 FNS Kayousai Day 1 was really good

====

2019 FNS Kayousai Day 1 performances of Kuu

GOLDFINGER '99 with Go Hiromi

https://www.bilibili.com/video/av78048771

Ai no Uta with Aoi Shouta

https://www.bilibili.com/video/av78050503

===

Kuu's Instagram

https://instagram.fsin9-2.fna.fbcdn....42&oe=5E82716E

https://www.instagram.com/p/B5qA380ADwa/

https://instagram.fsin9-2.fna.fbcdn....ce&oe=5E734638

https://www.instagram.com/p/B5qBxHQAC-X/

Queen!!!!!!!!! T_T

that Aoi Shouta very handsome but sounds like ku from the early years! xD

Idk if its just me but Kuu sounded really good in Ai No Uta this time. She wasn't over stretching the notes like she has in her recent Ai No Uta TV lives. Hope she sounds this good at Music Station.

From Aoi Shouta's Twitter

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EK9NzE2U...jpg&name=small

https://twitter.com/shouta0811aoi/st...65170598227970

He's a voice actor & the fact that he can make his voice sound like a female pitch wise , that's not something that can be easily done

It takes years of experience for a voice actor to be able to do female voices

^oh I wasn't making fun of him! just the he reminded me of ku's voice somehow! they look very lovely!

I really enjoyed both performances. Kuu looked and sounded great in both, and it's amazing how different her voice can be, her lower register in GOLDFINGER was everything. And it's always great to see a positive reaction from the public, so happy for her.

Happy 19th debut anniversary , Kuu :spazzed

I wasn't offended by what you wrote about Aoi Shouta's voice , don't worry about it

@ALfromHELLSING #1 is a #1 to them, I guess. lol And thanks! I need to get back in doing more covers, maybe do something for re(CORD) or even finish the rest of the singles.

----

Time for a new Spotify Update

01. Ai no Uta - 4.972.945
02. Guess Who Is Back - 4.325.524
03. you - 1.347.206

04. Cutie Honey - 1.332.239
05. Moon Crying - 1.233.785
06. Butterfly - 1.138.427
07. Megumi no Hito - 916.781
08. real Emotion - 837.055
09. Suki de Suki de Suki de - 634,147
10. Ienai yo - 626.178

11. Chiisana Koi no Uta - 579.342
12. Koi no Tsubomi - 577.495
13. TABOO - 557.771
14. Yume no Uta - 534.416
15. Anata dake ga - 424-186
16. anytime - 361.756
17. Ai wo tomenaide - 355.262
18. I'll be there - 352.286
19. hands - 346.292
20. Ultraviolet - 325.073

Her 5 most recent albums:

re(CORD) - 764.442 (+Eh Yo single version)
DNA - 5.754.018
AND - 1.138.865 (+LIT single version)
W FACE ~inside~ - 1.352.653
W FACE ~outside~ - 1.278.987

Last update:

I'm counting Eh Yo and LIT single versions, since they are part of the albums but the "new version" are there for the album tracklist.

It's a matter of time to GWIB to surpass Ai no Uta there, the Black Clover fandom did that.

Ah, absolutely no chance to buy any of the goods, just like I feared.
Jacket, pullover, lightstick, totebag, socks, mirror pouch are all sold out.
mu-mo started to sell in the middle of the night here, but I know from Japanese fans that e.g. the jacket and the totebag sold out within a minute, so I wouldn't have had a chance either way.
Why don't they produce more in the first place - waiting for restock.

Here's the goods line some hours ago at the venue.
And the first live is just starting in 3 three hours.
Though they stressed the fact everybody can come and buy goods without a ticket (it's always like that), probably cause they wanted less people to buy from mu-mo.

https://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/6...923/4S5zJZ.png

Kuu posted on Insta that they already restocked the jacket at least!
She apparently got messages from fans about it - I follow one who happily posted about Kuu reacting so quick to one of the messages she sent.
So the jacket is available again on mu-mo!

Kuu also got a small surpise already:
https://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/8...921/9Q4CO6.png

The woman on the far right is Takana, her manager (yeah, the one she made that amnotic fluid joke to).
Very rare to see her before a camera.

Stage with chairs:
https://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/8...922/tAIYOY.png

https://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/8...923/QSFWBW.png
Thanks to takasaru1121.93 on Insta

They've started another gift campaign, presenting signed anniversary goods to 20 people through lottery.
You have to post a photo with one anniversary good you like on Instagram with the hashtags #倖田來未 #倖田組 #20年目記念プレゼント.
Then you have to apply with the link to your Instagram account and the item you want to win on the (Japanese) Koda Gumi.
Runs till January 10.

Contents of the first live today:

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

The 2nd will be different.

Big thanks to Kota. on Twitter!

First part of the live was apparently just talking.
The best concert voted by her fans is LOVE & SONGS.
The best concert voted by her staff is UNIVERSE.

Nice pick of songs, even if they went for a simple performance. Hope the second live event is just as good.

First photo shared by Kuu herself.

https://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/8...921/UFZgyd.png

Just noticed - I think the fan means the Budokan live Love & Songs from 2012, cause the Billboard live was fully called Eternity ~Love & Songs~ like the cover album.
And if you look at the medley:
Step Into My World ~ Got To Be Real ~ECSTASY ~ 走れ!~ You're So Beautiful are all songs from the UNIVERSE Tour setlist, while 愛のことば~Rain ~POP DIVA were performed at the Budokan Love & Songs live.
UNIVERSE and Comes Up were performed at both.

Those must be results from the FC voting, cause the only question they didn't publish the results for in the last FC magazine was the one about the favourite live.

They've just announced additional dates for re(LIVE) tour in Osaka and Nagoya in February 2020!
Now it makes sense Kuu posted in her stories she wants to go see her Nagoya fans again cause she hasn't in a while in her stories this morning.

FC lottery starts December 12.

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

They've started to upload her full PVs on her official youtube account in celebration of entering her 20th anniversary year.

運命


TAKE BACK


Cherry Girl


NEVER ENOUGH


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

Contents of the 2nd live:

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

Big thanks again to Kota. on Twitter.

Best concert voted by her fans is TRICK.
Best concert voted by her staff is WALK OF MY LIFE.

Her husband and her dancers were surprise guests.

I was surprised to see the videos in kus forgotten channel. I was thinking that is she should release a Besto it wouldn’t be such a bad idea being 2020.

Ooh, I hope they recorded it and release it, wanna see this so bad :heart Thanks for the info, Corvina!!

You're welcome. Would really like to have it, too, but as most of it was talk, chances are probably not very high.
According to fan reports they also showed old footage in between.

I do hope with Love & Songs being popular among her fans, that she's inspired to add underperformed and old songs to her setlist next year.
Or making a poll again for her fan's most favourite songs like for Love & Songs.
Which is probably the reason it is so popular in the first place. :laugh

Yaaas for trick. Would love to see the show as well

I can't believe she sang TRICK again! I always wanted to know about TRICK lyrics and a studio version fot ir!

Love & Songs was always a unique concert series, and I'm happy it is being appreciated.

Kenji making an appearance is sweet. Did all her dancers appear, like her old ones? That's wonderful if they did.

The fans I follow on Twitter that went all seemed to thoroughly enjoy the event. It would be nice to see some footage at some point as some here have said.

Glad to also see her make up that cancelled concert in Osaka, but wasn't expecting those in Nagoya. I wonder if demand is high that it will lead to more additional dates there.

Only her current dancers it seems.

The alternate date for the cancelled Osaka concert is February 1st.
So we have 3 dates and 6 concerts in February now.

February 1st - Osaka Orix Theater - replacement
Noon - Black Cherry
Evening - JAPONESQUE
February 2nd - Osaka Orix Theater - additional date
Noon - JAPONESQUE
Evening - Black Cherry
February 29th - Aichi Prefectural Art Theater in Nagoya - additional date
Noon - Black Cherry
Evening - JAPONESQUE

Love & Songs was an one-night-only concert at Budokan.
Or what do you mean by series?

http://imagizer.imageshack.us/v2/800...921/70rxgp.png

Love & Songs was an arena concert series. I'm pretty sure sure it was more than just one date.

According to kumiloves there were seven dates for Premium live ~Love & Songs~
And they shot for the DVD the date on her birthday

I was there, i tried only the 13th, but there was also Other days, i can remember

https://www.tokyohive.com/article/20...30th-birthday/

Ok, I only remember the fan voting for the setlist and that it was her live comeback after her pregnancy, didn't look it up. :laugh

She finally has 47k subscribers! she was in 46 for forever! haha

It's worth noticing that the new uploads are in fullHD.

The upload of again was updated with a 4K version, so this is her first 4K video. The quality is insane. Interesting to see this is the only 4K upload on avex's youtube channel.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Twz6IbavAA

I guess they are experimenting with her PVs. TAKE BACK looks really good in fullHD, even the flaws in her skin are showing. But in NEVER ENOUGH's case, the original avex upload is better. So who knows.

I was hoping we'd maybe get arena tour dates and an ALL TIME BEST announcement. Oh well. Surprised she's bringing re(live) into 2020.

Info and pics are up at news sites.
Like here on avex:
https://avexnet.jp/news/detail.php?id=1003818
Or modelpress and Spice and so on.

So, the 930 Yen were a Kumi-thank-you-price and they mention the best live selection by fans and staff was done by questionnaire (tho not which one) and them showing footage from those lives.
Kuu was talking e.g. about backstories and hardships she had in her career.
She said she wants to continue to sing for 10-20 years.

Throughout the whole 20th anniversary year they're going to upload more than 150 full scaled PVs on her youtube account, according to their release date (yesterday all songs released on December 6 were uploaded).

https://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/6...922/Hz327N.jpg

https://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/6...923/yVu9aC.jpg

https://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/6...924/fl8PSU.jpg

Kota., the fan who shared the setlist and info yesterday, also shared further and detailed notes about the contents of the event. Going through all of that in a bit.
He did make a mistake with the setlist tho - she didn't perform Fake Tongue, that was only in video.

Here's the report what she talked about in both lives from Kota. on Twitter.

https://twitter.com/kt_fsnst/status/1202968388131115009

https://twitter.com/kt_fsnst/status/1202980611834576896

1st stage

About Love & Songs
- the voice of the baby before show girl was that of her child
- at the rehearsals of one of the performances she had an accident with the lifter opening the rose petals
- there were songs in the top 10 she actually didn't want to sing
- she disliked the center stage
- she didn't want the fans to see the protrusion of her waist from behind
- 360° view+ moving stage+ tech-driven movements = Kuu disliking the center stage
- the compatibility between the lifter of act 3 and her costume with the knee high boots was really bad and therefore difficult to fly

About UNIVERSE
-the floor of the main stage was unusual due to all the use of mire wesh
- the effect of the fountain was weakened at the place Kuu was sitting due to her staff's thoughtfulness
- the lifter under the Lick Me ♥ seat was compsoed of 4 pieces and was directed by moving 2 pieces at the same time
- the initial size of the mirror ball was too small and the acrylic plate on top of it was also bad, which made her angry
- so it couldn't be helped that Kuu bend her body forward/to the sides being on the plate
- when she was spinning her ponytail her stylist shouted about rehearsals and schedule and in the end she only was spinning it for the last two turns for 走れ！

2nd stage

About TRICK
- it was one of the candidates for re(LIVE)
- it all started with the dancers watching past arena tours and telling Kuu what they wanted to dance the most
- expressing the arena in a hall = re(LIVE)
- the early clown design was an okame (a moon-faced clown, a thin or shallow face without much profile)
- but they told her it wouldn't be wide enough so they added cement for the end result (talking about the stage design)
- Kuu wanted to get out of the mouth of the clown and after they did it several times they had the right width
- she also wanted the opening curtain to be sucked into the mouth of the clown
- But her staff said it would be impossible, so it was sucked in under the chin instead (all reasons for the big chin of the clown, I guess)
- the opening costume was already decided one year ago cause they already used it for the KINGDOM ending movie
- the reason why she put the BUT remix after show girl without singing it is that she wanted to do a pole dance show with the show girl concept
-Hurry Up! was first planned with a car instead of a motorcycle
- there was initially no technology to lift a car+the car had to be in a mini size, smaller than expected = idea abandoned, bike used
- Kuu said she wanted to do more tricks for the show
- the reason she made TRICK, the first song, only into a full version live was cause she wanted to create a sound source fitting simultaneously to the intro of the live

About WALK OF MY LIFE
- as revenge for Hurry Up! the Benz was lifted in the air this time
- as cars are usually not lifted into the air, the car body bends slightly forward + no lifeline = steep and scary
- she wondered about, if piano+drums+guitar wouldn't a bit too much at once
- every day when coming home after rehearsal she would still touch the instruments
- big sponsors+15th anniversary live+ her believe she couldn't go on for 15 years = a lot of pressure for successful performances and her being sensitive at rehearsals.
- Which is why she's crying in the making of: She just understood later that the picks she was frustrated about in the making were actually three new ones and she wanted to apologise for shouting at her staff after that.

This is such a cool idea. I like it! Here it is the line up for December then:

12.10 Gentle Words
12.11 m·a·z·e
12.14 Birthday Eve
12.20 Black Cherry (some album track, maybe? It could be TWINKLE)
12.21 D.D.D. feat. SOULHEAD
12.24 stay with me
12.26 Koishikute
12.28 Shake It Up

I was also not a fan of the center stage, the idea of paying to see the concert and end up watching her from behind for a good portion bothers me a little. To be honest I'm not a huge fan of Premium Night ~Love & Songs~ anyway, maybe it's the weird filter they have in the footage, I don't know.

I like both medleys, maybe it will be release just like the XV Special Live, for next album.

Really love the insight into the past arena tours. The behind the scenes facts about TRICK are really interesting.

I had a feeling she wasn't quite feeling the center stage approach. The dynamics of a center stage are quite different than a traditional endstage format.

No lifeline on the car during the Mercedes performance!? Yikes!

Kumi posted edited live footage from the event yesterday. Makes me wonder if they did indeed quietly film at least parts of it. I wouldn't mind a special digest turning up later on.

On Twitter the tags say it's to give the fans who couldn't come something of the atmosphere of the event, even tho if it's just short. Made by her manager.

Akihiro and Showko made the talk part with Kuu.
The oher dancers and Kenji were only there for the 2nd live.
And Kuu jokes that this wasn't a live, but a new kind of event, about 1 hour talking and 30 minutes singing, lol.

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

https://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/8...924/oOTUbp.jpg

https://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/8...923/poZP3E.jpg

Thank you for posting about the MC! I wonder which songs from LOVE & SONGS she didn’t want to sing :O

And I can’t get over what nice pictures we’ve been getting from the event!

New television appearance!

Kumi will be participating in the Premium Melodix year-end special on the 28th!

https://news.dwango.jp/tv/44063-1912
https://rhythmzone.net/koda/schedule...php?id=1080044

It's really interesting to read her insights on those tours, and know what difficulties she went through. I couldn't imagine half of this, and it adds so much to a person I already adore. Gosh, I love this woman.

Also really happy for the videos being up on YT, just hope they don't take them down after the 20th anniv is gone lol Can't wait for JAPONESQUE's anniversary :D

I thought she might start touring in March/April but with these new/delayed reLIVE dates I'm not expecting that anymore. Wonder what will be the first release for this anniversary, especially since she started both her 10th and 15th anniversaries with new albums, but we already have gotten reCORD.

Do you think the olympics could late the arena tour? I've been seriously thinking of go to see her in a concert again... Probably we gonna have another FANTASIA/THE ARTIST, but its hard to anticipating flight tickets for this...
I hope the flight prices down after the olympics...

Love this retrospective video:

2020 Summer Olympics will be held between 24th July to 9th Aug

Since Kuu already said she will do an Arena tour next year , now probably it might be after the Olympics conclude

L'Arc-en-Ciel will be doing their 1st Japan domestic Arena tour in 8 years & news on ARENA TOUR MMXX was announced 3 months ago with the tour starting on 9th Jan

Doing a tour during Summer in Japan ain't really a good thing cos Summer in Japan is really terrible

Not just the heat you have to deal with but the humidity can really get to you :dead2

So, Kuu was at avex' headquarters for a meeting today.
And she shared a glimpse of it in her stories.
Looking closely one of the sheets is labeled with "Single Collection" (and the other sheets visible were the lyrics for the digital singles we got this year).
After the tour 2016 we might now get a release like that?
As an All Time Best?

https://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/8...923/OqAaDJ.png



Possible.
As I already mentioned we got tours in Autumn the last two years.
I kind of expect the same next year as we already have re(LIVE) in February and we probably get another USJ live in Spring/Summer (plus summer festivals).
Maybe they gonna add more dates to re(LIVE) still.

I saw that sheet and thought this might be a release for the first half of the year. I can see two different releases, like A BEST 2, but tbh I don't know how I'd divide them cause the happy/sad songs rate for Kuu isn't as balanced as ayu's lol Maybe something à lá W FACE with a bold/upbeat edition and another one with the balads and cute/happy songs. It could be too similar but maybe she wants that.
It could even be paired with the reLIVE DVD, one edition has the Black Cherriy concert and the other having the JAPONESQUE one.

But who knows :P Maybe she's done with the paired releases, since reCORD already broke that pattern.

Forgot to post.
She recorded for a TV show yesterday.
Wonder what for?

https://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/6...921/wnN4co.jpg
https://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/6...923/VV6moY.jpg

Yay for the all time best! Hope she posts some info soon and bundles it with the re(live) DVDs. Only thing I’m wondering is why they would release her PVs on YouTube before the single collection. I would’ve waited until after the collection had been released but oh well.

Because Kuu and her team know, that in this point of her career this is basically only going to be a collection for fans anyway?
Uploading them for free online will more likely help her with the general public/casual listeners or at least won't hurt. Like a form of promotion for the release and her.
I'd even say they understand how the market works nowadays.

Yeah, I agree with Corvina. Also this could give space for the PVs DVD to be changed by a live DVD or something else. Like namie's Finally not having PVs for old tracks but all new tracks had videos.

m・a・z・e is up! ♥ Am I the only one who never understood the plot of this MV?

I'm assuming the visit to avex was about finalizing certain details.

A COMPLETE wasn't bundled with PVs and it worked out just fine. Given the scope of Kumi's discography, I'd prefer the BEST project to be spread out in 2 separate releases. One dedicated to uptempos and the other to ballads. They could also release a limited fanclub version with a disc of fan favorites as the bonus.

I also wouldn't be upset if they attached the re(live) concerts to the project.

Looking forward to hearing more about the Best album!

I don't follow Kuu much but it feels like her 20th anniversary will be much bigger than ayu's

^ Tell me about it. Kuu's 20th anniversary started while the 19h was ending! :laugh

Would love an all time best from Kuu. I'm a sucker for those.

I kinda hope for a best + cover album bundle lol But isn't realistic T T

Kuu is in the studio today!

https://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/6...921/FdmkJ3.png

In the story after it when she's refreshing herself you can hear her apparently watching/working on some concert recordings.

4th week sales of re(CORD):
#164 - 335
Total so far: 15,358

She confirmed with a post that she recorded comments for radio going to be aired through the whole country.
The last sheet you could see in her story yesterday was one with a schedule and the (one?) radio show she made comments for is called Orange Time.

I still hope for another collaboration album!
Made more than one comment on her Insta about it. :laugh

A new "Out Works & Collaboration" would be great too ♡♡♡ Please, Kuu, make it happen!!

We have:
Make it Bump (Far East Movement)
Stands Up (Clench&Blistah)
ENGAGED (TRF Cover)
IT'S SO DELICIOUS (Dreams Come True Cover)
Wanderin' Destiny (globe Cover)
LLVL
Soba ni Itte (from that Disney tribute)
Kimi Omoi (Maybe?)
SO FEVER and NEVER GIVE IT UP.
Everybody (SMAP)

And collaborations:

Poppin' Love Cocktail
Crank the Bass feat. OVDS
Slow feat. Tomaron
Passing by feat. B. Howard
LOADED / Rich & Famous feat. Sean Paul
So Nice feat. Mr. Blistah

:love

YES.

I really wish the "re(CODE)" cover project doesn't get shelved after all, and tbh it even makes me sad a bit we didn't get it cause the "re" from reCODE as a cover album would match the "re" in "reLIVE" much more than "reCORD", cause in record she's not re-doing the whole thing. She did cover songs and sampled herself, but as a whole it was a wasted concept imo

omg Make It Bump... totally forgot about that one lol. I was actually listening to that Far East Movement album a few days ago. does anyone happen to have their collab?

Oh a new Outworks & Collabo Best would be awesome!
And finally I would get IT‘S SO DELICIOUS and Make it Bump in HQ ��

Atsushi’s Okinawa live where Kuu was a guest performer is gonna be broadcast on WOWOW February 2nd.

Birthday Eve is up!



This one is literally just upscaled, the quality isn't good as you, TAKE BACK and Gentle Words.

@junniorkopke They are all just upscaled, probably with the same source material (DVDs). Gentle Words looks way worse, but it might look better to you since it had a lot of closeup shots. In no way this is a good "hd" upscale.



Sadly the first 1080p PV was Koishikute.

I wish those uploads could be as good as the 80s MVs companies are uploading on YouTube right now:



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bwNV7TAWN3M

Kuu will make an appearance at The 3rd Annual Momo Iro Uta Gassen which's Momoiro Clover Z's version of Kouhaku

Momo Iro Uta Gassen will take place on the last day of 2019 at Yokohama Arena and it will be the 1st time for Kuu and other artistes to take part in it

AbemaTV & BS NTV will livestream it and Momo Iro Uta Gassen will go on until the new year

https://natalie.mu/music/news/359761
https://twitter.com/KODAKUMINET/stat...86182575910912

This should be interesting as it reminds me of how also Golden Bomber organised their own version of Kouhaku after NHK stopped inviting them

I'm sure Momo Iro Uta Gassen will be less X rated unlike Golden Bomber's , lmao

Thanks for the information, Karen.

It's about time that legitimate alternatives to Kouhaku start gaining momentum. I understand that Kouhaku is a respected event, but certain dynamics about it are quite problematic in many ways.

Glad we have 3 TV lives to look forward to so far. Hope she also does the CDTV 2019->2020 live.

This made me laugh