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Originally Posted by shadow*puppet
i think it's definitely a big deal given the following things:
1. koda kumi is the hottest jpop artist right now (arguably)
2. the single is a quadruple a-side single. that's the equivalent of mr. children's four dimensions single and every little thing's untitled 4 ballads. almost all 4 a-side singles by reasonably very popular artists in the past have reached the weekly number one. plus, koda kumi's single has bonus intro, interlude, and outro tracks.
3. her main competition was a single with 2 b-sides (i think) from artists who aren't as big as she is now (especially with the success of second session)
4. the single was heavily promoted and marketed, almost to the point of insanity
in theory, koda kumi should have taken the top spot.
i can understand koi no tsubomi not taking the top spot (it had only one a-side and three tracks in total)... but not 4 hot wave's performance.
again I am not criticizing koda kumi. i am just trying to express why i'm surprised and why i think this is not a good thing for her career...
andre2907 - given all the above, i think the positions are more important especially since sales this year seem lower than previous years  but we have to see how the single performs in the long run... if it sells as well as glamorous sky, then all is well... |
1. Koda Kumi is definitely not the hottest artist in the Jpop scene. My senses tell me it's strongly KAT-TUN this year.
2. Yes, but these artists didn't have competition that Kuu had. Also, they were already well established in the industry, and labels already know that they have to avoid them.
3. No, her main commpetitor was not 'a single with 2 b-sides from artists who arn't as big as she is'. Her main competitor was a group that has been out at least 8-9 years, and all their singles have placed #1 since 1997. And not to mention, the word 'Johnny's'; that word alone boosts sales. I think you are really underestimating the power of a) fangirls, housewives b) KinKi Kids themselves and c) Johnny's Entertainment as a whole. There is a reason why Johnny's is by far the largest talent agency in Japan and a reason why Johnny Kitagawa is one of the most powerful men in the entertainment industry.
4. Regardless of the promotion that '4 hot wave' had, KinKi (and other well established Johnny's like SMAP) fans still overpower anything and anyone when it comes down to singles. Plus, they perform in their own TV shows which are high rated itself.
Kuu was never the favourite to win. KinKi was always the favourite. So in theory, KinKi is supposed to win and they have.
I don't understand how her not getting #1 is not good for your career. Hikki has singles that haven't hit #1 and her career is doing just fine. BoA has only 1 #1 single and her career is doing well, Otuska Ai only has 2 and her popularity is growing basically with each single release.
Ranks arn't really all that important. STEP you/is this LOVE? placed 19th on the yearly charts, ranking lower than INSPIRE and ranked the same as CAROLS yet STEP you/is this LOVE? sold more than INSPIRE and CAROLS.
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About the Otsuka Ai thing, I think her sales are growing by each release. So far she's matched/outsold Ayu twice. Sakuranbo>No way to say and Planetarium = fairyland.