[Koda Kumi] The 200th thread for 20 years in her career

[Gustavopc]

Wish I could attend, but in 2020 I shall be there around that date I'm feeling excited about her 20th anniv already!

[yabieru]

It's only for the japanese FC or also for the international one? I was trying to apply but I didn't find anything in the global FC

[jiarongisme]

Rich & Famous feat. Sean Paul preview: https://www.facebook.com/KodaKumiGlo...9249096625575/
Source: Koda Kumi Global Fans @ Facebook

[freedreamer]

Originally Posted by jiarongisme

Rich & Famous feat. Sean Paul preview: https://www.facebook.com/KodaKumiGlo...9249096625575/
Source: Koda Kumi Global Fans @ Facebook

CHANCES ALL???

[Corvina]

All previews are up on Tower records:
https://tower.jp/item/4962386/re(COR...EF%BC%8BDVD%5d

Rich & Famous is rephrasing the lyrics of Chances All indeed, so it's both.

Setlist for re(CUT) was the same, she just cut 4 songs from the main setlist and added Ai no Uta as last song (16 overall).
Here's a morning news report:
https://twitter.com/93BM007/status/1192963063063797766

And lots of articles about it with a bunch of new photos are out as well.

Spoiler:

Originally Posted by yabieru

It's only for the japanese FC or also for the international one? I was trying to apply but I didn't find anything in the global FC

Japanese FCs only.

Kuu is currently asking her fans what they want for the event as she wants to celebrate like we want it.
And not surprising with her Japanese fans, talking is leading with 56%.
So chances are very, very high the event is going to be like international fans don't want it to be.
She also said it's going to be about 1,5 hours each.

[Corvina]

Kuu was featured in the live broadcast of the Muv-Luv anime anniversary talkshow in October and there even was an English version of the show available.
Go to the top was the opening for one of the adaptions.

English:


Kuu's part starts around 1:30:00.

Japanese original:


Nice to know that the author of the series asked her personally to do the opening and that the fans of the anime loved her PV alter ego so much.
That PV is awesome altogether.

[jiarongisme]

Originally Posted by Corvina

Setlist for re(CUT) was the same, she just cut 4 songs from the main setlist and added Ai no Uta as last song (16 overall).
Here's a morning news report:
https://twitter.com/93BM007/status/1192963063063797766

And lots of articles about it with a bunch of new photos are out as well.

Spoiler:

The new photos are amazing. Love it.

I'm assuming the songs that were cut were from the ballad section.

[ALfromHELLSING]

^She did perform さよならの向こう側 and they projected Osaka's scenery on to her dress, I wish I could attend re(CUT). While I loved both BC & JAPONESQUE if I had to pick just one I'd go with JAPONESQUE. Too bad re(CUT) wasn't recorded, would've been a nice addition to the next FC Bonus DVD.

I freaking love k, MV. I watched it like 20+ times already. While it's simple it's so much fun and goes perfectly with the song. again MV is also amazing, those you & 愛のうた scenes bring back so many memories and the song itself is so beautiful.

Originally Posted by Corvina

Ok, you guys surprise me, I don't think the PV is bad, but nevermind.

The vast majority of the international fanbase has been b***hing about everything this year since re(LIVE) was announced, then about the single covers, now about MV budgets. While in Japan out of curiosity I asked Japanese fans about the latest digital single covers and the answer was "they are ok" and the conversation continued about the actual music, while international fans still can't let those go. One of my Japanese friends told me he used to think international fans are cool but not anymore as all they do is complain and have unrealistic expectations from Kuu.

My general perception of fans in Japan was that they just appreciate Koda Kumi for who she is, what she does and look forward to what she does next, while her international fanbase is stuck somewhere in 2005-2008 era and wants her to do what they want rather than what she wants to do herself as an artist. Meanwhile, the vast majority of her international fanbase won't spend as much as $1 on her song to support her but expect her to do what they want

[thinkingoutloud89]

^well...you are on a forum. Japanese fans who don't like them would also bitch about it online, yet if you ask me in person I would also just tell you "I don't care" or "they ugly" and move on. kinda what a conversation does.

I think the Cover idea is terrible - yet it doesn't let me think less of her. That however does not mean that I can't complain if I want to. I think the way you phrased it is kinda, and I'm sorry if this attacks you, overdramatic.

I say it again, this is an online forum. People tend to complain and they are allowed to if they want if they phrase it right. Most people just said "the covers are lame (and they are. It's kind lazy and mostly killed by the fonts) and that the k, PV looks cheap - yet they never said "that stupid bitch should go to hell and her whole music video looks so ugly". I think most of us in here listen to all the new songs and I see them generally being favored with some expressing that one or the other weren't their kind of music. I for once enjoy them, but Eh Yo! got kinda annoying fast and PYHU!! as well as DO ME don't had the replay value I hoped them they'd have - but all in all I think this project is very nice as whole.

[kaled kalil]

^
^ Sayonara no mukougawa is not part of the ballad section.

I don't know what was surprising to Corvina, to begin with. People have opinions and sometimes it might not match with yours. Not everybody has to be an "yes queen" type of fan, or even like everything that she does. I'm not saying that it's the case for you all, but I never understand complain about people complaining.

The thing about "japanese fans enjoy her for what she is" is such a nonsense. You can choose to read good comments, but there are also bad ones as well from them, and there is nothing wrong with that. No one is a better fan just because they might seem to enjoy everything.

Also, the international fans can only enjoy what she releases, but the japanese ones can be to all the shows, all special events and everything, they get it all (as it should be, since it's her main market), so you can see why they might appreciate her more.

[Corvina]

It was simply surprising for me that a lot of fans here were complaining, cause I didn't expect it with the k, PV when I watched it.
But as I said nevermind, it doesn't really matter.

Originally Posted by jiarongisme

I'm assuming the songs that were cut were from the ballad section.

They confirmed most of the setlist in the articles about it - she apparently cut Get Naked and DO ME and two of the old songs, but Idk which ones.

Spoiler:

01 So Nice feat. Mr.Blistah
02 D.D.D.
03 情熱
04 愛を止めないで
05 さよならの向う側
第二幕
06 KO-SO-KO-SO
07 V.I.P. feat. T-Pain
08 ピンク スパイダー
09 ESCALATE
10 Slow feat. Omarion
11 恋しくて
12 Brave
13 IN THE AIR
第三幕
14.GET NAKED
15.DO ME
~Dance Part~
16 k,
17 Eh Yo
18 Livin' La Vida Loca~GOLDFINGER 2019
19 OMG

+Ai no Uta

[Party_King]

Originally Posted by jiarongisme

Rich & Famous feat. Sean Paul preview: https://www.facebook.com/KodaKumiGlo...9249096625575/
Source: Koda Kumi Global Fans @ Facebook

Meh... :\

[wednesday]

I'm not trying to fuel the fire or attack anyone, just my two cents on the fandom thing: I don't think that its unfair to say that there is a difference in the attitudes of the Japanese fan base versus the international fan base. There are different "expectations" of a celebrity in the cultures. As such, if she is catering to a specific one, the other would feel more alienated and perhaps resentful, though I would not say that it would always be intentional or malicious. Also not saying that this applies to everyone, just in more of a general sense.

[Diva_br]

So we should love everything she does?

I love her, she's one my role models, but I think that everyone deserves to have their own opinion about her and her works.

I don't think less of anyone even if they don't have the same opinion as me. I think that everyone that's here is a big fan of Koda Kumi, just we don't like everything about this release and it's ok. Please don't make big deal. You can be more tolerant

I love Kuu even when she doesn't release something I don't like. That's the reason I'm still buying her material and the membership even if I don't get super beneffits.

[ALfromHELLSING]

Was there any explanation why CHANCES ALL chorus is reused in Rich & Famous? I'm assuming they are lyrically connected. The low quality of the preview doesn't give the best impression of the track, I'll just wait for the HQ version.

I wasn't talking directly to anyone here for that reason I didn't quote any of you but was rather talking about the general feel the international fan base has been giving me lately. This is the only music forum I'm on and the majority of people in this thread are cool & non-dramatic, which is why I'm still here. I don't know if there are Japanese boards & what people are talking about there, my Japanese friend was talking specifically about Twitter. And it's only normal not to like everything, this year there's just been mostly negativity about anything she does where most of it comes from unrealistic expectations.

Some of the comments I read on insta are: if she can't produce better MVs she should just retire / should use her own money to make better MVs or I can't listen to the new songs cause the covers are so bad, etc. Complete BS. And those are the actual fans I've known for a few years who can't seem to grasp that she's not in her prime anymore and not on Namie level. Many Japanese people I spoke with were surprised to hear that she's still active despite the new songs playing from every single Jankara in Osaka and there are a LOT of Jankaras in Osaka. I spoke to a few people about the rugby world cup too and not a single person knew that Koda Kumi did a theme song for it.

[KarenPang]

I don't bother to read what other people writes online , be it positive or negative cos once you start doing that , it's not good mentally

And then you find yourself in verbal online fights which at this day & age , it's so easy to start at a drop of a hat

When I was younger , I would fight back online but now I realised it's so pointless to do so cos changing people's opinions on things no matter how much I tried it will not work

Perhaps that's why I never like Instagram in the 1st place . At least on Twitter if you don't like something other users are tweeting about , you can mute or block them

Everyone who post in this thread to some extent is a big loyal fan of Kuu , it's just that whether or not what you like or don't like about her

For re(CORD) , for me I don't like all the songs that have been released digitally , same thing with the PVs even though I thought they weren't as terrible as what others might say as so

Does that make me a bad fan of Kuu ? No . In other fandoms you probably be expected to like every single thing the artiste do be it if it's good or bad but I'm not a yes person

End of the day I'm still happy & glad that Kuu is musically active for so long now . She's approaching her 20th anniversary next year & it takes a lot of guts and willpower to sustain herself in the fickle minded music business

[jiarongisme]

^ You can mute and block people on IG as well

Oh no, what's happening with the Kuu thread? It's been drama free!

However, it's almost an objective truth that the covers are lame It's just a matter of how people are reacting to it and from what I've seen everyone has kinda just shrugging it off or doing a quick eye roll and focused on the music. I don't think people have been constantly putting the covers on blast. If anything, it's just like a fun little inside joke to everyone. Whether they like the music or not, it's a different matter but I haven't seen any meltdowns! Am I seeing things differently from everyone? To me I just like to joke about it but it doesn't affect how I view the music for what it is. Also, my only gripe with k,'s PV could have been crafted and produced better - also something that everyone is mentioning, but I don't think people here have been shutting her down about it. I think at least just for AHS we are quite rational and clear that it's usually avex marketing's fault Bummer about what you've seen on social media, though, ALfromHELLSING And again, the PV doesn't affect my view on the music, I still really enjoy the song. It's fun, it's cutesy but not overly sweet, I love the urban sound to it which is rare for a cutesy Japanese song. And also, I LOVE the choreography.

Well, I'm still super excited for re(CORD) because I LOVE or have grew to love the digital singles that have been released. At the end of the day, it's the music that matters to me and so far they've been great!

Originally Posted by Corvina

They confirmed most of the setlist in the articles about it - she apparently cut Get Naked and DO ME and two of the old songs, but Idk which ones.

Spoiler:

01 So Nice feat. Mr.Blistah
02 D.D.D.
03 情熱
04 愛を止めないで
05 さよならの向う側
第二幕
06 KO-SO-KO-SO
07 V.I.P. feat. T-Pain
08 ピンク スパイダー
09 ESCALATE
10 Slow feat. Omarion
11 恋しくて
12 Brave
13 IN THE AIR
第三幕
14.GET NAKED
15.DO ME
~Dance Part~
16 k,
17 Eh Yo
18 Livin' La Vida Loca~GOLDFINGER 2019
19 OMG

+Ai no Uta

Ah gotcha

[Corvina]

I guess I've already mentioned it once, but yeah, her international and Japanese fans are different.
Her Japanese fans are more like Kuu herself - concentrating on the things they like and just accept the things they can't change anyway.
Doesn't mean they like everything or anything like that, only that they're more communicating the positive, mentioning bad things only if really bothering or simply don't care that much about the things they dislike.
With some international fans I sometimes have the feeling they're like personally offended if she does something bad.
In the end it's just music, just a PV, just an artist.
That's why I like her Japanese fanbase so much. And I guess also because I'm similar in thinking.

And if people mention things like budget, I'm always a bit baffled, cause budget doesn't really affect if a song or artist gets a hit.
Two of the biggest hits last year had low-budget PVs.
Heck, Kuu's Megumi no Hito (and Be My Baby) have low-budget PVs as well and back then she was still much more popular and had more of it.
We also got really good ones in recent years like Lit or Haircut or Goldfinger - Kuu just wants to make so much out of what she has compared to other artists, that's why it seems to some she has less budget like artists being in the same situation right now.

Same with music - the amount of music she puts out hasn't really changed. We got double albums, but with less tracks whereas back in the day we got one with an excessive tracklist + singles with b-sides.
So if I see people saying things like she has to slow down, she has to evolve,or also her music changed so much and stuff I'm surprised. Do you even know who Kuu is? Who you're following? What she's talking about?
All of her releases in the last 5 years dealt with her identity. And from what she puts out and talked about it's obvious she was trying herself out and looking for a way for herself to go on. And she obviously got to the result, that doing different genres and following (Western) trends musically is just who she is and that hasn't changed to her peak.

Sorry, now I wrote more than intended, it's just what I had in mind recently regarsing her fanbase altogether.

[Corvina]

Kuu is nominated for the Modelpress Best Artist Award 2019.

https://twitter.com/modelpress/statu...68339848273920

You can vote for her through the app (tho not available everywhere) or use the google form linked on their site (you don't have to fill out everything):
https://mdpr.jp/other/detail/1886562

You can vote till November 17, every artist with a release from October 2018 till October 2019 is eligible.
This award exists since 2015 and last year DA PUMP won with around 56,500 votes.

-----------------------------------------------------

Kuu's team put up a nice tho short behind-the-scenes video from re(CUT) on Twitter:
https://twitter.com/KODAKUMINET/stat...80991857242113

---------------------------------------------------------------

The HMV in Narita hung up a timeline of Kuu's career and also a box where people can leave messages for Kuu. They will present those messages to Kuu next time at one of the upcoming events.

https://twitter.com/HMV_Narita/statu...20975817265152

[KarenPang]

My mum & her older sister both work in Japanese banks so they knows how each of their Japanese colleagues are like behaviour wise .

They're rarely confrontational and if things in my mum & aunt's workplaces are bad , the Japanese have a way of talking around the bush and only if things are really bad then they response to things differently

It's unrealistic for Kuu to please every single person

If that happens then she will have a laundry never ending list of things that the fans want her to do but yet for some things she might not want to or could not do due to variety of reasons

People expect different things from Kuu and nobody likes to be forced to do things they don't like to do