Koda Kumi
10th Anniversary Year Start!
“I was able to get to this point thanks to everyone’s help ♥”
This is said by Kuu-chan, who talks with us about her new album
and private life in a personal interview! She tells us her feelings
about her 10 year long journey! And...this time Kuu-chan also
has a surprise present for ViVi!
The new single ‘Can We Go Back’, released on the 20th of January, is filled with Kuu-chan’s current feelings.
I once had a period where I was at a standstill, and though that time has passed, I feel that inside me there are still several things that have kept standing still. When something happens I often immediately compare it to my past experiences. In the lyrics of ‘Can We Go Back’ I wrote, “We held no fear when we were children”, because children just cheer and start running without wondering whether they’ll fall, right? And they only cry that falling hurts
after they have fallen (laughs). But, when you grow up you start over-analyzing and start to think about ways not to fall
before you’ve even started running. When you were a child you simply said, “I want to be number one!” and “I want to win first prize!” and gave it your all. Lately I’ve been thinking about how such reckless feelings fade away. But, I think I carry less feelings of regret now than I did in the past. . . . ..
That’s why, during my 10th anniversary, I want run like the wind while genuinely feeling things like, “I’m disappointed”, “I’m sad” and “I’m happy” one by one.
The PV was accidently similar to Michael Jackson’s movie!
I went to see Michael Jackson’s movie ‘THIS IS IT’ about three days before the filming of the ‘Can We Go Back’ PV. Because the theme was Jeanne d’Arc I wanted to include a scene with about a hundred soldiers, but because we couldn’t gather a hundred people we had scheduled to multiply the number of people with CG. But when I saw the film...Michael had done a completely similar performance! I was totally shocked by the coincidence! And because I adore and respect Michael I was very moved by that coincidence. I wondered for a while whether I could imitate him, but because I felt this coincidence must have been fate I decided to do it!
Because this was the first time for me to release both a best-album and a original album together, it was quite the challenge! The new original album is called ‘UNIVERSE’ and has mostly a positive theme. Even so there is still plenty of variation among these supportive and encouraging songs.
‘Work It Out!’ is a rock and powerful song. For example, there are people who hate going to work and feel that their colleagues only show their exterior and not their interior. But because it’s their job, these people have to keep working persistently even if they feel irritated. I wrote the lyrics of this song for the sake of these kind of people. Don’t give up, even if you hate your job and feel angry. Look forward! This song has such a message included in it. ‘You’re So Beautiful’ is a song that conveys the message, “Your tear-stained face is also beautiful”. And ‘No way’ is a song for adult women who are arguing with their boyfriends. When she angrily says, “Look me in the eye when you talk to me!” and he responds, “Ah~ I get it, I get it. I should be more patient, right?” “That’s not what I meant!” That kind of song (laughs).
Selecting songs for the best-album...but I like all of them, I can’t choose!
It has been four years since my last best-album. In order to choose songs for it, I listened to my songs again....It’s kind of weird to say this myself (laughs), but there are only good songs! I would prefer having lots of songs and PV’s on it if I were a buyer myself so let’s include lots of them! When I requested this to my staff they answered, “You can’t add that many!” (laughs). Anyway, I think I’ve created a varied best-album! I’m thinking about doing a huge single medley during this year’s live. Please look forward to it!
Since my debut I’ve hold on to the concept, “I’m not portraying a sexiness that’s to fawn on men, but a sexiness that can be seen as cool to women”.
A considerable amount of skin is exposed on my debut jacket photo’s! Around ‘Cutie Honey’ people came to say ‘Koda Kumi=ero kakkoi’. There were also times where that was all that people would think of me. But that changed with the release of the first single of my 12 single project ‘you’. I felt that with this ballad I was recognized as a singer and I remember how very happy this made me feel.
During the 12 single project I challenged various types of music such as R&B, ballads, dance and pop. I think this allowed me to a grow as an artist. And when I look back like this, I feel that the 12 single project was a turning point for me!
I remember every single ViVi photo shoot! ViVi and I are of the same age and have grown up together ♥
(She’s looking through the photo shoots she’s been in since ViVi’s debut.) This is a great history~! ViVi and I have grown up together ♥ When I look back I realize I change my hairdo a lot. “I want to propose a style different from models!” Due to such feelings, I have had blond and black hair etc. and hairstyles different from other people. Furthermore, I am also determined to change my clothes, hair, nails and everything with each photo shoot or PV.
Ever since my debut my staff continued telling me, “It’s alright not to sell great, please just make good music.”....Now I have come to understand the meaning of those words.
What does ‘it’s alright not to sell great’ mean? In the past I didn’t understand this at all. But, I did as I was told. And now I am able to look back and see lots of good songs. That’s why I am glad I carried those words in my heart. Because the results are better that way rather than if you only think ‘I want to sell’. If everyone tries their hardest with warm feelings, the result will follow! I feel I became able to think like that since those times.
How I’ve grow these ten years....I might not have changed a lot myself (laughs).
For example when I am making songs, I should use technical terms like ‘reverberation’, or ‘use more kick’, but currently I say things like ‘a sky blue kind of feeling’ or ‘a more soft, flower-like and romantic feeling’. I sometimes think nobody might be able to understand me but.....Everyone understands me perfectly. I am thankful my staff has given me their love and has understood me during these ten years ♥
Koda Kumi looks back at her last ten years....
She has released 46 single in ten years! She told us many things about the time of her debut. And she disclosed up until now unknown stories!
2000: Debut as a senior high school student!
My hair was pitch black because I was a high school student. School regulations forbade it to colour your hair. When I think back to those times, it felt like toddling down a path my staff had laid out for me since I didn’t understand the music world myself. Though there were things I wanted to do, I couldn’t voice them since I had no confidence in myself....
2005: Due to ‘Cutie Honey’ people started calling her ‘ero-kakkoi’. And she won the 47th Japan Record Awards with ‘Butterfly’!
From those times on, my staff started focussing more on fashion and an image closer to my style was created. I also started to appear frequently on TV performances. It was also a time where I started putting out my own ideas as I started growing confidence.
The start of the 12 single project!
When I was first told, “let’s do 12 consecutive singles!”, I objected, “I don’t want to!!” (laughs). I doubted whether 12 proper songs could be made and I was afraid people might say, “I’m sick of Koda Kumi,” if I released them at such a pace. But good songs were collected and I wanted to face new challenges. When my staff got the 12 singles ready and encouraged me, I thought “Well, let’s do it!”.
Trying hard to make every single song into a quality work, recording with care and recording PV’s without sleep for 24 hours was really hard. Come to think of it, there was a rumour there was ghost in the hotel where I was shooting. I was very, very scared. Though I was told that it was alright to take a nap, I couldn’t sleep at all out of fear (laughs).
2006: She collaborated with EXILE for a special project!
(She’s talking about ‘koi no tsubomi’) Earlier I had already had thoughts like, “I want to make a playful, cute song!”. But until I got confidence as an artist, I felt that ‘playful=looking like a total idiot’ and didn’t make one (laughs). This song was the first time I sang in Kansai dialect and it was also the theme song for a drama series. I have strong memories of this song!
2007: She was nominated for the Japan Record Awards for three consecutive years.
I collaborated with Tohoshinki! We also performed together at the Dome Live.
(She’s talking about ‘ai no uta’.) Love, anything really, is not only black and white. This song sings about the grey zone and the ambiguity in love. I’m only saying this now, but actually, it’s about my own experiences of love. Sorry that I didn’t admit it at that time but instead lied that it was the experiences of a friend of mine (laughs).
2008: Her big hit album KINGDOM.
The song ‘That Ain’t Cool’ was a dream collaboration with Fergie! We also filmed the PV together! The following year she also performed it with me ♥
(She’s talking about ‘anytime’) I wore hardly any make-up on the jacket photo nor during performances! I was afraid of everyone’s reaction to my nearly make-up-less face (laughs). In order to show that a face with no make-up can still be cute, I spend one entire week without any make-up before the shooting!
2009: A sister collaboration!
I made a song together with my sister misono!
Has Kuu-chan’s private life changed in these ten years....!?
The transition from your teens to your twenties; the time where a woman changes the most! Has Kuu-chan’s private life and love life changed?...We asked her!
He’s number one, I’m number two. That’s why if it was like in the movie Titanic then I would die first! (laughs)
In the movie Titanic there’s a scene where she lets go of their joined hands and her lover sinks into the sea. But, if it was me, I would never let go! I think I would die together with him! (laughs) In the past I thought love was give & take, but now it’s give & give. People who give without expecting compensation are great!
The looks of the people I liked have been very different...I can’t find any regularity in them.
I don’t have one type of face that I especially like. Besides, if you pick people only for their looks the relationship usually won’t last very long. Though I think like that, there are times where I go ‘kya~’ about someone cool (laughs). Only the nice type of personality I like won’t change, “a kind person of high calibre who’s pure-hearted like a child ♥” Also, it would be great if he’s a person who will wrap me in his arms when I get shaken by various things!
Lately I’ve been starting to believe that it’s no good to search for a perfect partner. Instead, you should find a person who’s faults you can accept. For example, if it’s an untidy person, then I can just clean stuff myself ♥ You can think like that.
During unrequited love I start thinking “I want to do my best ♥” and “I want to support him ♥”
I’ll immediately start thinking, “He can only be supported by me, right?” (laughs) This probably won’t change... ‘Can We Go Back’s coupling song ‘Good☆day’ sings about such feelings. It’s a happy song about unrequited love. I think the part of me that will immediately devote herself to someone came out in the song (laughs).
In the past I would wear a T-shirt, but now I wear neat pajama’s when I go to sleep.
Previously I wore a T-shirt, but lately I’ve started wearing pajama’s. When I put on my pajama’s my mood changes completely. My favorites are Victoria Secret and mercy.
A special 10th anniversary present!
As a surprise present Kuu-chan invited ViVi readers to the PV shooting! She also answered lots of questions from the readers!
Kumi (K): “Thanks for coming even though it’s raining ♥” (It was pouring on the day of the shoot.)
Terumi (T) & Saeka (S): Waa~ ♥ (It’s their first meeting and they were too moved to speak.)
K: Today I’m filming the PV for SUPERSTAR. It’s a song with the content “I want to be your superstar”, but the PV’s theme is a super girl that can teleport. Using teleportation, she wakes up her boyfriend on the day of their date...but he’s doesn’t notice anything...that’s the story we made this morning. That’s why there are a lot of scenes with CG and I have to act before a green screen.”
T: “It’s green, isn’t it? It looks difficult to act while imagining the scene if there’s nothing there.”
K: “Yes, it is! I had a difficult scene with rainclouds, but surprisingly, it went OK in one shot.”
S: “Great~♥ ...You have a really small face (mutters).”
K: “Huh??”
S: “Kuu-chan, your face is a lot smaller than it looks on TV! You’re really cute ♥!
T: “You really do ♥ You look much younger than 27 and your skin is really great! I was really surprised since it looks as good as in magazines and on TV. I am convinced you haven’t now I’ve met you but... You haven’t had any cosmetic surgery, right?”
K: “Thank you ♥ And no, though some people may say so, I have
not had any cosmetic surgery.”
S: “Actually, I really wonder what kind of love’s Kuu-chan has had up until now!”
K: “....I have already had different kinds of love’s~ ♥”
T: “Kya~ ♥ Have you also had a painful love?”
K: “I have. There was also a time where I realized he only was after my money.”
Y&S: “Eeeeh!!”
K: “It wasn’t like that at first, but he would for example buy a vacuum cleaner with a receipt on my name and ask me to pay the bill. Things like that occurred (laughs). A man who’s untrustworthy with money is no good. Because he’s surely untrustworthy in other things as well.”
T: “Is there anyone you like right now?”
K: “I am always in love ♥”
S: “Actually, I have something to ask, but...”
K: “Eh? ♥ What? What? I want to hear!”
S: “When I like a person that twists me around his finger but I feel secure with him, it’s no good.”
K: “This is exactly what a friend of mine had! It’s the type you always want to chase, right? You easily tire of kind people.”
S: “Yes, just like that! Put being twisted around is painful, isn’t it?”
K: “Saeka-chan~ try to find happiness~♥”
T&S: “Ahaha (loud laughter).”
K: “But when you meet that person everything will change suddenly, I think so. I think we just haven’t met out fated partners yet!”
