[Koda Kumi] The 166th Thread – 11th Album 「Bon Voyage」 (02/26) + LIVE TOUR 2014

[ILoveGeniuses]

Originally Posted by Bigtop

Well, that is something that I did not hear about...

Usually Avex opens up PVs all around the world, so why was Kuu's PV Japan-only (like what Sony does)?

Beats me but theyre starting to do it now. Kuus not only one either.

[Possessionless]

Avex has taken the PV off YT?

[Ayu_Love]

^Yeah, exactly! I'm really glad Namie and her team are putting in so much effort to reach her music out internationally, because her music is great, and it's awesome as an international fan that you can feel included by reading the updates in English what have you. I also really liked the Email Newsletter thing Kuu did in English. It's an awesome idea for international fans, although they've only sent 2 out so far, I think?

Originally Posted by ILoveGeniuses

@Possessionless No it wasnt removed from YT. Avex just limited it so you can only view it if you're in Japan. -_-

It's like they're scared of publicity.

[ILoveGeniuses]

^Ive gotten 3 since I signed up for the newsleter but I agree. As for em limiting everything heres the hard truth. Doing that just encourages piracy and reduces sales. People either wont discover the music OR go to the for sure FREE DLing methods to find it. Plus these days its almost impossible to avoid. However plenty of people will take interest and even pay for something related to the artist if the label willingly puts it out there. YT & iTunes are always a great start. Btw i found an awesome compilation video of EVERY PV KUUS EVER DONE, both her own and others she was featured in. I never knew Black Candy & WONT BE LONG (x EXILE) had PVs.

[Zeke.]

I have to admit this album for me will probably be rubbish. The singles were some of her worst in an era. Honestly... I don't see what's so exciting about this era, product wise, that everyone keeps throwing that out there. Other than the fact it's her first original album in a while, the material itself is just so forgettable.

[Surreal17]

Originally Posted by Zeke.

I have to admit this album for me will probably be rubbish. The singles were some of her worst in an era. Honestly... I don't see what's so exciting about this era, product wise, that everyone keeps throwing that out there. Other than the fact it's her first original album in a while, the material itself is just so forgettable.

I agree. I only enjoyed Touch Down very much ..............I love Darling! (too bad she didn't included it in Bon Voyage..I'm sure it wouldn't have fitted at all..but still )
SHOW ME YOUR HOLLA sounds very good (at first I didn't like it) and the pv is great. So I still have hope with the album tracks. .

[Tom Punks]

Originally Posted by Zeke.

I have to admit this album for me will probably be rubbish. The singles were some of her worst in an era. Honestly... I don't see what's so exciting about this era, product wise, that everyone keeps throwing that out there. Other than the fact it's her first original album in a while, the material itself is just so forgettable.

Agreed. This album feels like a rehash of TRICK, and while I liked TRICK back in 2009, music has moved on. Everything I've heard from this era is so dated it hurts. I love Kuu but this is the first time I've been genuinely disappointed in her, she can do better

[Darkifrit]

Originally Posted by Tom Punks

Agreed. This album feels like a rehash of TRICK, and while I liked TRICK back in 2009, music has moved on. Everything I've heard from this era is so dated it hurts. I love Kuu but this is the first time I've been genuinely disappointed in her, she can do better

I just share the same opinion. It's been 10 years i'm a (huge) fan of Kumi.
I always love her but her music since her comeback is a disappoitment.
Of course she released some nice songs (is this TRAP?, SHOW ME YOUR HOLLA) but everything about her is just boring lately... I have noticed that for the first time in 10 years, she is not the artist i listen the most (point on my last.fm account).

I have the opportunity to be in Japan while she is touring, while i always wanted to see her live, i'm not so excited to come so far...
But anyway, i think to see her live might be the thing which will make me into her music again.

She is still my diva with some many hits. Her career from 2004 to beginning of 2007 is still the most perfect thing ever to me (+ TABOO) :-)

[pimenta]

Originally Posted by Zeke.

I have to admit this album for me will probably be rubbish. The singles were some of her worst in an era. Honestly... I don't see what's so exciting about this era, product wise, that everyone keeps throwing that out there. Other than the fact it's her first original album in a while, the material itself is just so forgettable.

I agree with that, I couldn't care less for Go to the top, koishikute and Summer Trip (except TOUCH DOWN that I really liked), so I really wasn't happy with this era... But I did like Dreaming Now! and I am really liking the album tracks I've heard so far, so I actually have high hopes for the album. Let's see, I'm hoping the album tracks compensate the weak single ones

[kaled kalil]

Black Candy isn't a real PV, its just a backdrop movie of Dejavu Tour, and also AT THE WEEKEND.

@tobey001 the tattoo is really nice!

[Ayu_Love]

So, we were just talking about making Jpop more internationally available, like on Itunes...I just saw a comment from someone on Youtube on the Bon Voyage trailer saying they're really glad they can finally buy Kuu's music through Itunes....So I just looked and I can find her on my UK itunes with British pound pricing, although I haven't bought anything yet. Do other people know this/tried it yet? If this is true then it's awesome. I also looked on Ayu's profile and her songs were also available in pound pricing. Their names are english translated too.

New Bon Voyage trailer!


Also the info on the trailer says:

【LIVE DVD】
1. Lay Down
2. UNIVERSE
3. ECSTASY
4. Candy
5. Hot Stuff
6. 最後の雨
7. you
8. Rain
9. You're so Beautiful
10. ONE
11. Medley (Can We Go Back／POP DIVA／Hey baby!／ Whatchu Waitin' On?)
12. Dreaming Now！
13. Good☆day
14. BRING IT ON

Which live is this?

[tsumekaze_]

11. Medley (Can We Go Back／POP DIVA／Hey baby!／ Whatchu Waitin' On?)
12. Dreaming Now！

I'm so watching this.

[ALfromHELLSING]

Originally Posted by Ayu_Love

New Bon Voyage trailer!

Interesting how they are promoting it with just one song. There should be at least two new ballads on the album, I mean that's what her Japanese fan-base likes and wants. I myself love her ballads. Koishikute took some time to grow on me, but man I love it so much now.

Ayu's Canadian iTunes is really up to date with her two latest singles and even all her music vids, as well as some live performances. Already downloaded Pray & Rule MV. Kuu's page on other hand is very outdated. Latest release is It's all Love! which is almost 5 years old. Wish avex put her MVs there as well.

[kumis]

Originally Posted by ALfromHELLSING

Interesting how they are promoting it with just one song. There should be at least two new ballads on the album, I mean that's what her Japanese fan-base likes and wants. I myself love her ballads. Koishikute took some time to grow on me, but man I love it so much now.

Ayu's Canadian iTunes is really up to date with her two latest singles and even all her music vids, as well as some live performances. Already downloaded Pray & Rule MV. Kuu's page on other hand is very outdated. Latest release is It's all Love! which is almost 5 years old. Wish avex put her MVs there as well.

Canadian and US iTunes update every Tuesday so that's when you might see new Kuu/Namie/Ayu stuff

[SKYia]

^Fan club concert

[mi|kshake]

So I just looked and I can find her on my UK itunes with British pound pricing, although I haven't bought anything yet. Do other people know this/tried it yet?

I've only recently discovered that you don't have to own an ipod in order to use iTunes (bit slow on the uptake!) so was chuffed to see all the Jpop on there.

I noticed Ayumi-wise that Pray was up on the day of release.

I haven't bought any Kumi stuff yet. I was eyeing up Trick but as the albums are kinda pricey considering they're digital, I might get the OS CD instead.

I've downloaded a few Ayumi remixes and the odd song I had downloaded illegally of hers previously. It was nice to buy odd songs like Part of Me which I couldn't justify buying A Best 2 for when I own all her albums.

[happiholic★]

Part of Me was such a good song. That really hit me in the nostalgia.

[Ayu_Love]

Part of Me is excellent. I agree with the nostalgia kicking.

It's so nice to finally be able to buy Jpop on Itunes worldwide! I concur with mi|kshake, I would probably prefer to buy the CD of albums even though its more expensive than the itunes price....But I like having the CD for the CD quality. I'm not actually sure if .m4a matches CD quality? I always assumed that CD quality straight from CD was always the best quality. (Plus you can rip from the CD to other formats). But its so nice to finally have the ability to support Kuu through Itunes.

The only DVD they have up for Kuu at the moment is the DVD version of premium love & songs, but I really hope they'll upload her blu-rays/HD lives, too.

[inthezone]

Avex removed my TABOO video from YT

[Corvina]

Imagine preview:
http://www.tudou.com/programs/view/R...eId=0_06_02_99

PW: 140226