[Koda Kumi] The 155th Thread – New Single 「恋しくて」 (12.26)

[Bad Wolf]

Originally Posted by chocopockymaster

You speak so much truth, it brings tears to my eyes. ;~; THIS, THIS, THIS

I will say that, as a concert on the whole, I was fairly underwhelmed with Premium Night, and I will be a very sad panda if I don't get back to see her JAPONESQUE arena tour. As much as the album has its flaws, I have a feeling it's going to be an amazing concert!!!


ETA: I demolished my town in Animal Crossing and built a new one a few days ago...and named my character Kuu. xD

Kuu's biggest strength as an artist are her live shows. They're just so ridiculously awesome, it's almost impossible lol. I don't doubt that the JAPONESQUE tour will be really freakin' awesome. I can see her creating a sort of modernised, sexualised take on classic Japanese fashions and settings, much like what she did for the covers.

DUDE IF SHE DOES A SEXY VERSION OF THE TALE OF GENJI I WILL BE A HAPPY PERSON

[emi♡]

Originally Posted by Delicious n Bold

to be honest, i have never liked a koda kumi album from beginning to end. it's almost always just a complete mess. as messy as ASB covers.

Me neither. But I don't consider them a mess.

I'm with the others. I prefer different genres. I may hate all of her generic ballads, but I know other people like them.

All of these genres, also just, remind me of her, and her personality. I said it once, it's a reflection of her multi-faceted persona, and I very VERY much prefer that, because I connect to it.


I also can not STAND albums like Ayu's Love Songs. Honestly, for me, that album (which I consider more of a concept album) needed to only be like 8-10 tracks to get the point across.

For kuu, her albums to me are less about the actual music, and more about the whole feel. That includes things like PVs, packaging, etc. But I actually liked a lot of the songs on Japonesque. Way more than usual. I usually only like half of her albums.

[ayu_ready?]

she's just blooming, omg
but a need a CM for this fragnance

[maze]

JAPONESQUE was the best thing to happen in 2012 imo and Whatchu Waitin' On? was fun! I still enjoy the Beach Mix DVD (some of her hottest performances there) and I truly love the two singles released so far for the next album (koishikute being one of my favorite ballads by her).

oh, I have yet to buy dejavu tour...
I'm also looking forward to the release of Premium Night at Budokan, would be nice if it comes with the cover album in a CD+DVD edition or CD+2DVD (with music videos)

[Minttulatte]

2012 was a awesome year for the Queen♥ I loved everything like always. I was sad that she wasn't on a-nation and JAPONESQUE TOUR was cancelled but otherwise this year was really good for her. I'm pretty sure 2013 will be even more awesome for Kuu♥

Originally Posted by Gustavopc

Totally agree with you. It feels like she was there the whole time, just not so much on TV. Too bad there was not an a-nation' perfomance

Yes, I can honestly say that Kuu's performances are the only ones why I even remember when a-nation is held every year. This year I was like, "Oh, it began already?" when the preview vids and all came out lol. It was so weird because Kuu wasn't there rockin' the stage like a boss♥

Originally Posted by emi♡

When the world is falling around about those other people, this thread is one big party

You guys are nice. This thread makes me see pink.

Kuu fans are always so hyper here♥

Originally Posted by happiholic★

Sure! Kumi party in Toronto, hosted by the Toronto Kuu fans~! Kuu fans are the ****.

Okay, I need to go to Canada then. Never been there so it must be interesting! 8D

There's so many "♥" in this post but whatever, it's cute little heart so I don't mind.

[Zeke.]

JAPONESQUE has everything there to make a great album, but failed. The title was perfect. The image and covers were fantastic. The instrumentation/arrangements were really great, but the compositions were really dull. Songs like ESCALATE and Lay Down had a lot of potential, but are just boring to listen to. The melodies are lacking. Almost everything on that album was just short of being something great due to weak melody / composition. The only songs that really hit the nail on the head for the sound they were going for is LOVE TECHNIQUE, No Man's Land (even this could have been a little better), and of course the flawless IN THE AIR. But honestly, JAPONESQUE is really dull overall. You can hear the potential in almost all of those songs, but that's what makes listening to it so darn frustrating.

I loved Beach Mix. It gets a little muddy and dull half way through but it succeeded in taking some of the songs I really hate by Kumi and making them not only listenable, but insanely enjoyable. She always does that with her remix works which is really refreshing for me. I still love listening to this and DH4 while doing weight-lifting workouts! And Whatchu' Waitin' On was just PERFECT!!

[Delicious n Bold]

Originally Posted by Zeke.

JAPONESQUE has everything there to make a great album, but failed. The title was perfect. The image and covers were fantastic. The instrumentation/arrangements were really great, but the compositions were really dull. Songs like ESCALATE and Lay Down had a lot of potential, but are just boring to listen to. The melodies are lacking. Almost everything on that album was just short of being something great due to weak melody / composition. The only songs that really hit the nail on the head for the sound they were going for is LOVE TECHNIQUE, No Man's Land (even this could have been a little better), and of course the flawless IN THE AIR. But honestly, JAPONESQUE is really dull overall. You can hear the potential in almost all of those songs, but that's what makes listening to it so darn frustrating.

I loved Beach Mix. It gets a little muddy and dull half way through but it succeeded in taking some of the songs I really hate by Kumi and making them not only listenable, but insanely enjoyable. She always does that with her remix works which is really refreshing for me. I still love listening to this and DH4 while doing weight-lifting workouts! And Whatchu' Waitin' On was just PERFECT!!

The Kuugrish killed it.
It was great then we got to No Mans Rand. Ugh
still not as flawless as "oh just a fart"

[Polyrhythm]

Originally Posted by Delicious n Bold

The Kuugrish killed it.
It was great then we got to No Mans Rand. Ugh
still not as flawless as "oh just a fart"

Okay good, so I'm not the only person that hears that every single time. Dunno why I keep listening to that song still.

[baseboom]

I always felt that the reason why Kuu's albums seem like a mess when you first listen to them. However, I noticed lately that's not really the case. She tends to place songs based on the content (lyrics) or tone and feeling of that particular song more so than genre. Oh, by the way I joined this forum because I did see how friendly this particular thread seemed. I did have an entry posted here about a particular topic, but I deleted it because it was resolved quickly which I like.

[kaled kalil]

It took me a while to really like JAPONESQUE, and now it's definitely one of my favorites albums of hers. I hope there's almost all the JAPONESQUE songs + Say Her Name + newest songs on her new Tour, that would be pretty epic.

Originally Posted by happiholic★

Some members were talking about how Kuu's albums are a mish-mash of different genres, and that's something that I love about her.

Me too, I can't stand albuns like Ayumi's Love Songs (with one simple theme and a lot of songs that sounds alike...). My mood changes a lot to only hear an album with one style of song. Even something like Femme Fatale from Britney Spears is not my cup of tea... I need a little bit of everything to be completely happy XD

And I'm not saying that Kumi's albuns are just a bunch of random songs together, but it always seems to fit everything on the right direction (with some exceptions, of course).

[Bad Wolf]

^Kuu albums are like a buffet of all different sorts. Ayu's Love songs is one of my favorite album of hers because it's a cohesive, complete 'set.' Much like DIR EN GREY albums, there's a style and a theme that carries throughout. I'm really biased since I'm such a bibliophile and I'm quite used to that cohesiveness thanks to how many novels I've read, so Kuu's albums are a lovely challenge for me. XD ESPECIALLY Universe...

[Bad Wolf]

This is kinda random but it just occurred to me that we can all finally put kaled's fanmade Eternity II cover to use once this new cover album comes out XD ngl I use his covers for Kuu's stuff more often than the official art.

[setsuka]

on the ~her albums are messy but enjoyable train~

tbh I like one sounding albums from time to time, like BENI's Loveboxl or Ayu's Love Song, which stick to one genre ......I wish Kuu tried this like making a whole RnB album, her most ~flowing~ sounding albums were her debut one and her cover album imo

only when the whole artist sonically too one toned like a Lana Del Rey's whole career then I get bored and frustrated, seriously her and singers like Kana Nishino/JUJU annoy me because it feels like I am listening to one LONG song instead of an album

besides that, 2012 was a great Kumi year since Japonesque blew me away , I didn't care for the Beach Mix but I like how she is going into different fields this year

anyway so excited for 2013, a new Mika album, a Kuu cover album and MAA coming back

I am gonna spazz like crazy in the next upcoming months <3

[Zahara]

That album is still fresh to me. I'm not even going to lie, I blast that on the subway and people look at me like I'm crazy.

I don't care. Imma go boom boom boys on that subway.

[koumori]

JAPONESQUE is one of my favourite albums from her. A lot of gems on there. I still enjoy listening to it.

[emi♡]

@Zeke: I'm pretty sure I've told you this before, cause I remember your views about the songs...but I actually liked...how...the songs like, didn't really go anywhere? They kinda remind me of Ayu's BRILLANTE. How it's just sort of mellow? And it keeps that same, steady pace and volume...you know? Almost, kind of ambient.

That's what kosokoso, escalate, and lay down are like for me. They're like mellow heavy dance songs. They relax me lol I thought they were interesting that way. They're more about the feel and the atmosphere the songs create for me.


But. Love Technique is my favorite off the album...and actually might be my favorite off of her ever. That song is cute melodic gold.


omg you just reminded me about beach mix.... #badfan I never finished it...

[Zeke.]

Originally Posted by emi♡

@Zeke: I'm pretty sure I've told you this before, cause I remember your views about the songs...but I actually liked...how...the songs like, didn't really go anywhere? They kinda remind me of Ayu's BRILLANTE. How it's just sort of mellow? And it keeps that same, steady pace and volume...you know? Almost, kind of ambient.

That's what kosokoso, escalate, and lay down are like for me. They're like mellow heavy dance songs. They relax me lol I thought they were interesting that way. They're more about the feel and the atmosphere the songs create for me.


But. Love Technique is my favorite off the album...and actually might be my favorite off of her ever. That song is cute melodic gold.


omg you just reminded me about beach mix.... #badfan I never finished it...

I think Ayu's BRILLANTE is supposed to be that way though; it's very calming and melancholic. It feels like that's how it's supposed to be, along with BALLAD. It changes just enough, but the JAPONESQUE songs I mentioned (well really the whole album) gave off the essence like it was supposed to kick it up a notch and it just never did.

Originally Posted by Delicious n Bold

The Kuugrish killed it.
It was great then we got to No Mans Rand. Ugh
still not as flawless as "oh just a fart"

Totally agree about the "Kuugrish". That was my problem; I thought, "it would be so much better if she just continued to sing in Japanese..."

[Bad Wolf]

omg what song is that in? i've got JAPONESQUE on now, so i wanna make sure i don't miss it.

[Polyrhythm]

^It's

Spoiler:

love across the ocean

if you want the song to be ruined for you...forever.

[Bad Wolf]

LMAO that's okay, i never really liked that song anyway. now i gotta go put it on and enjoy