[Koda Kumi] ♪♪ The 93rd Official Koda Kumi Thread ♪♪

[tokyoxjapanxfan]

holy moly :O the sales are so much lower than i thought....... >_<

[Corvina]

This Ai no Uta performance was great!
I especially love the high note at the end.
Thanks Tsubasa for all thos infos and pics.
She looks so cute at the Oh My Radio pics.^^

[tenshi no hane]

I was bored and Ayu hasn't released any new interviews so I decided to translate Kuu's Vivi interview ^-^

(I'm still learning Japanese, so it might not be 100% flawless.)

Vivi 2009

“For the song of the movie "Kamui Gaiden", it was the first time for me to write lyrics with ‘an hopeless loneliness’.”

For「Alive」I got the order from the director to write lyrics to accompany a sound originally from an opera piece. When I first listened to that new melody, I couldn’t imagine my husky voice in such a beautiful song. I doubted whether I could do it. But, in order to discover a new me, I thought it was important for me to fight that feeling. So I answered that I would do it, but felt very nervous about it.

In the movie “Kamui Gaiden”, the protagonist Kamui is considered to be a traitor when he leaves his shinobi clan in search for freedom. It becomes his fate to fight against the pursuing shinobi. Because he is continuously chased, he brings troubles to everyone who gets close to him. Therefore, he chooses a way of life where he doesn’t come into contact with anyone else. I thought that was a truly lonely story. Personally, when my heart gets broken, I may feel like I want to die, but the next day I’ll want to live a long life again. I’m the type who only drinks healthy drinks (laugh). To create such world view where there is only loneliness without hope, was the most difficult for me. Until now, I’ve only written lots of songs where in midst of the sadness there are still positive feelings present.

After I had first read the script, I started to write the lyrics for it. From the movie’s point of view I felt there was still a brightness left in that world. After understanding and appreciating the movie, I wanted to write the lyrics. While receiving and giving feedback I worked everything out. I also sang and recorded the song while watching the movie at the same time. It was quite difficult but, when「Alive」was finished and I heard it playing during one of the scenes, it fitted very well with the movie and…I was really happy, I was really moved ♥

This song which Koda Kumi couldn’t even imagine up till now, please check it out!

“Edgy, effective dance-tunes are my origin; I want to portray a steady and sexy woman.”

When I read fan letters, there a lot of people who tell me that they like my ballads and cute songs. But when I sing my cool, sexy songs live everyone gets exited. When I sang Ecstasy, a song from my previous single, I thought things like “…somehow, this feels like Koda Kumi ♥”. 「Physicial Thing」has nuanced meanings like ‘feel it with your body’ and ‘follow your instincts’. That’s why, the PV is set in a club with me dancing intensely, pouring expensive alcohol on myself etc…it creates a sexy adult feeling ♥

It’s the opposite extreme compared to the classical 「Alive」. But actually, these two songs are connected via their mutual theme of loneliness. No matter how many times you embrace, no matter how many times you pretend to be strong; when you’re together you can still feel total loneliness. I’m singing about that female weakness and loneliness. And, when people who feel such a loneliness realize: “I’m lonely”, in a sense, that is a positive thing isn’t it? I wish to convey such a message.

10 years; there was no time to look back over my shoulder (laugh). The journey from my debut to now…wasn’t smooth. But, the strength from everyone around me was large. Even while wearing high heels, I could walk on that bumpy road, without stumbling, because of everyone who supported me. When I enter my tenth year, I want to release a BEST album and a book similar to the previously released Koda Shiki. And I want to try to write down several of my real opinions, which have changed since I’ve been nearing the thirty (laugh).


*translated by tenshi no hane @AHS

I like how she created a mutual theme for to completely different songs. And it seems she doesn't mind the sexy image ;D

(feel free to post elsewhere, just credit me)

[Gubsi]

Originally Posted by tenshi no hane

I was bored and Ayu hasn't released any new interviews so I decided to translate Kuu's Vivi interview ^-^

(I'm still learning Japanese, so it might not be 100% flawless.)

I like how she created a mutual theme for to completely different songs. And it seems she doesn't mind the sexy image ;D

(feel free to post elsewhere, just credit me)

Oh wow!
A big thank you, tenshi no hane!
You should translate more interviews of her!

It makes me love this single more than i loved before!
and i agree with you, tenshi!

I cannot wait to her 10th, BUT know let's wait for the next single and her 8th album!

[Corvina]

Thanks tenshi, I appreciate your work!
So Kuu changed her mind about the sexy image. That's human and it her last statement about that topic was some time ago.
I really like Kuu's plans for next year, I'd love a second photobook as well (like Maroc).

[*-_Ayu-fan_-*]

YaY she want to release a Best Album !!

[maze]

thanks a lot tenshi *-* I can't wait for her 10th aniversary
I'm sure she will prepare many surprises for us

[Corvina]

I put it in the first post.^^

[do it again]

thanks so much for the translation, tenshi no hane! i like that even though there is an immense difference between the two songs, they're connnected by the same theme.

And I want to try to write down several of my real opinions, which have changed since I’ve been nearing the thirty (laugh).

maybe this is being referring to being more comfortable with the sexy image? maybe she's a lot more secure than she was when she was in her early twenties. after being called fat, she was taking off her clothes. i'm sure her self-confidence wasn't sky high.

[waterballoon]

Wow, I never Alive & Physical thing could be connected in such a way... omg Kuu ilu!

And the last paragraph about her journey really moved me... it really wasn't easy for her in these years, especially her beginning years. But I'm so glad she's this sexy, confident woman now... Kuu~!

[daybreak123]

Thanks so much for the translation, tenshi! That interview was really interesting in my opinion. When I read her interviews I feel like I understand the meaning behind her songs and music videos better.

[Lee^ChaN]

sankuu tenshi for your awesome translation!

[freedreamer]

Now i appreciate the two songs more. esp on the theme of Loneliness...CAN SOMEONE TRANSLATE! (or issit somewhere already...oops)
i wonder how loneliness is positive though...solitude is..but loneliness has that sadness

[love in music]

lol no offense, but this line sounds REALLY stupid

"Even while wearing high heels, I could walk on that bumpy road, without stumbling, because of everyone who supported me."

[RikkuChii]

Ah! Thanks so much, tenshi!!

Could you translate more Kuu interviews in the future?

I think you did a fantastic job translating.

[ren'ai]

Originally Posted by identity

lol no offense, but this line sounds REALLY stupid

"Even while wearing high heels, I could walk on that bumpy road, without stumbling, because of everyone who supported me."

It's metaphoric.

Thanks a lot tenshi, I hope you can do more of her interviews

[waterballoon]

I think if we could read it in Japanese, what Kuu said about the high heels would make more sense... it's kinda like... -yeah- like that in English; even sounds really funny, but I guess some things are lost in translations, inevitably.

And oh I forgot to say this but

Thank you tenshi!

[tenshi no hane]

^ well, the high heel-part looks pretty random in Japanese too xD

and you're welcome everyone <3 I'll try to translate new interviews as they come out (if I have the time).

edit: @freedreamer, I think she means that by realizing that you're lonely, it gives you the opportunity to actually try and change it. Or at least accept it and try to walk on proudly anyway.

[waterballoon]

^ lol she loves her heels too much, but I thought it was a really cute metaphor

[freedreamer]

^hmmm ok. Well, i experience that sometimes so I kinda understand. Thx