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

[Tom Punks]

Originally Posted by Corvina

The new album isn`t even out yet, just saying.
And I personally don`t see the new stuff as boring.
I do understand why people maybe don`t like the singles. She did take a step closer to western influences again. Less JPop like. That might be a reason for some older fans. Or maybe you`re just tired of her.
Also do have artists always to progress? I don`t see it bad to stay with something they like and do good.

Progression doesn't necessarily mean she has to change her style, though. It's just, to me, her music still sounds like it's stuck in 2008 or 2009. SHOW ME YOUR HOLLA especially sounds like it was meant for TRICK imo. She could progress but still stay in her niche which works for her, and that's what I felt she did with JAPONESQUE, but everything from this era so far feels like a regression to me. Music DOES change with time; she can't keep making the same songs now as she did several years ago because pop trends change so fast. And like Darkifrit pointed out, we're not talking about the album as a whole yet, just the era and how its songs are shaping up so far.

Actually, to be honest, I find this era waaay less westernized than JAPONESQUE was. LALALALALALALALALALA is basically late 90s American pop but I'm not going to count that lol. Everything else is incredibly jpop.

[marty]

I can't deny she's keeping it quite safe (if you don't count TOUCHDOWN -which a lot of people disliked anyway- and SHOW ME YOUR HOLLA).
I think what she's doing is standard Kumi stuff, and, you know, somebody's bound to like it, somebody's not. People like me, since I'm not overly concerned with sound evolution and I'm not really picky either, have more chances to enjoy it. I guess.
Apart from finding everything well made, I'm just into the songs. And, after JAPONESQUE, which I found AMAZINGLY GOOD, Bon Voyage till now feels simplier and fresher.

[Zeke.]

Originally Posted by Corvina

Also do have artists always to progress? I don`t see it bad to stay with something they like and do good.

Certainly not. Actually, I hate when people complain about an artist not "moving on" from a sound that has garnered then success and still works for them. However, if you're going to rehash material, you better make damn sure that if it's not BETTER than what you've done with it in the past, it's at least AS GOOD AS. Anything less than will just sound like a watered down version of your past material that actually sounded good.

[Gubsi]

it's always the same...
if there's something "new" -> oh no i want old Kuu back, those were the gold days...
if there's the same style -> oh no why can't she do new things, she's boring...

and seriously i can't at people saying a song is "dated"...
i mean then Namie's FEEL is a boring and dated EDM mess, Justin Timberlakes 20/20 thing is beyond old RnB meets Timbaland crap and even Daft Punks Random Access Memories would be a hella dated 70s&80s disco/funk/soul/electronics disaster...

music is like fashion!
everything is coming back at some point and becoming trendy again, even with new things out sometimes (most of them are just old things in a new design/modern sound)

like Björk once said:
“ either you do a good song or a bad song , and that's it . formats are just illusions , and it's about the relationship between the person that makes music and the person that listens to music . ”

i wish people would just enjoy music, BUT nowadays it's just about selling, Records, is it a copy from another artist and the list goes on...
they don't care about the music anymore or looking whats behind it.
for someone "Dejavu" is a crappy album, cause it's so full of ballads and cute songs...
for me it's sure not her best one!
BUT for an Alice in Wonderland/Fairy Tale themed album i think she did a great job with this kinda dreamy&sweet sound.

i can't wait for Bon Voyage, cause everything has pleased me so far!

[Minttulatte]

Why can't I find anything bad to say about this era? Why am I always loving everything Kuu releases? I seriously see everything flawless so far. It's also very funny that people are calling Bon Voyage rubbish judging by the singles she has released. It's just stupid. Everyone should just calm down and just wait the album, listen to it and then say what you think. And if this one sucks, I wait for the praise for Dejavu and Japonesque to begin. ;3

[ILoveGeniuses]

Originally Posted by drdolce

Why can't I find anything bad to say about this era? Why am I always loving everything Kuu releases? I seriously see everything flawless so far. It's also very funny that people are calling Bon Voyage rubbish judging by the singles she has released. It's just stupid. Everyone should just calm down and just wait the album, listen to it and then say what you think. And if this one sucks, I wait for the praise for Dejavu and Japonesque to begin. ;3

I LOVED DEJAVU & ADORE JAPONESQUE. I cant say much for Bon Voyage since I havent listened to much of the album track previews but what I have heard I've greatly enjoyed. Only wish GTTT PV hadnt been animated but considering the circumstances at the time it released it's completely understandable.

[emi♡]

I dont think SMYH is forgettable.

I don't remember the singles though hahaha

I haven't really heard anything else yet either.

[Darkifrit]

Originally Posted by emi♡

I dont think SMYH is forgettable.

SHOW ME YOUR HOLLA is definitely the best thing she released from this era (so far)!
The live TV was damn fine!

Talking about live TV, I really wonder why Music Station don't invite her anymore. Remember few years back, during a show which points the most promoted artists on MS, she was one of the artists who appeared the most (ranking #5 or #6) while she started to be invited 5 years after her debuts...

[ALfromHELLSING]

It's all matter of taste. I loved all her singles during this era and consider them all very strong, maybe with exception of Dreaming Now! which has grown on me pretty fast. However, I'm not really understanding why people who liked like 3 new Kumi's song since JUICY or TABOO still trying to force her music on themselves. That's quite a mystery to me. I stopped listening to Namie after PLAY, cause I don't like her music anymore.
I love Kumi for what she's doing and for her own unique style. She hasn't disappointed me with any of her albums since 2003.

[ilovekodaa]

:O
;____; !

[ayu_ready?]

I think the album will be good, I like everything very much, so far

[tenshi no hane]

Btw, is anyone interested in a translation of SHOW ME YOUR HOLLA's lyrics?

It's 80% English anyway

[ayumisrael]

Originally Posted by tenshi no hane

Btw, is anyone interested in a translation of SHOW ME YOUR HOLLA's lyrics?

It's 80% English anyway

Yes please. (and sent a PM)

[tenshi no hane]

Originally Posted by ayumisrael

Yes please. (and sent a PM)

Here you go~

SHOW ME YOUR HOLLA (translation)

Spoiler:

Are you ready for this?

What I want is a sensational drama
Do you want a beat?
Hands up if you like it, yeah
Hot, now, here, give it
One, strong, aw, hit it

I'll rock your heart all night
Shut up if you're gonna complain about a headache
Hot, now, here, give it
One, strong, aw, hit it

Wait. Thinking with your simple brain
Is wasting time

*I'll show you the way, all right, let it go
Boody shake, shake your boody all night
Boody shake, shake it baby all right
I'll take you there, all right, for universe
Boody shake, shake your boody all night
Boody shake, shake it baby all right
Show me your holla
Show me your holla

Flower shower on the red carpet
Pin spot, it's like a parade
Hot, now, here, give it
One, strong, aw, hit it

Wha-wha-what. Take the helm
You say wha-wha-what
I don't think you can handle it

*repeat

Now, don't stop this heartrending beat
Plow through the waves to a special spot
Countdown, yeah

Wha-wha-what. Show me your holla, show me your holla
Wha-wha-what. Show me your holla, show me your holla
I don't think you can handle it

*repeat

[ayumisrael]

Originally Posted by tenshi no hane

Here you go~

SHOW ME YOUR HOLLA (translation)

Spoiler:

Are you ready for this?

What I want is a sensational drama
Do you want a beat?
Hands up if you like it, yeah
Hot, now, here, give it
One, strong, aw, hit it

I'll rock your heart all night
Shut up if you're gonna complain about a headache
Hot, now, here, give it
One, strong, aw, hit it

Wait. Thinking with your simple brain
Is wasting time

*I'll show you the way, all right, let it go
Boody shake, shake your boody all night
Boody shake, shake it baby all right
I'll take you there, all right, for universe
Boody shake, shake your boody all night
Boody shake, shake it baby all right
Show me your holla
Show me your holla

Flower shower on the red carpet
Pin spot, it's like a parade
Hot, now, here, give it
One, strong, aw, hit it

Wha-wha-what. Take the helm
You say wha-wha-what
I don't think you can handle it

*repeat

Now, don't stop this heartrending beat
Plow through the waves to a special spot
Countdown, yeah

Wha-wha-what. Show me your holla, show me your holla
Wha-wha-what. Show me your holla, show me your holla
I don't think you can handle it

*repeat

Thank you so much!!

lol kuu's kinda cheap on her dancers, why not the blu-ray edition? j/k

[Corvina]

Originally Posted by ayumisrael

Thank you so much!!

lol kuu's kinda cheap on her dancers, why not the blu-ray edition? j/k

Cause most japanese still just use DVD players.
Blu-Rays are just a small part of sales.^^

And thanks tenshi!
I wanna have it as well!

[SKYia]

let he who has heard the whole album cast the first stone

[tsumekaze_]

If it's of any interest, I've never liked kuu before DEJAVU. Then I kind of appreciated some songs. then I liked her even more with JAPONESQUE but still couldn't grow to like her. The singles for bon voyage did the job, I'm now officially a fan. So yeah, I liked it.

[Minttulatte]

^that's a very similar way to become a Kuu fan. My path to Kuu obsessed stan went just like yours but Black Cherry was the one that did the trick for me. Kingdom made me even harder fan lol.

Thanks for the translation, tenshi! It's always awesome to get translations of Kuu's flawless songs <3

[Corvina]

Some more pics of the CD+DVD (FP with slipcase) version:



Her dancers got signed copies today.
Seems the album is ready to be sold.

Blenda scans are out as well.
She`s featured with 3 pages.