[Koda Kumi] The 207th Thread - Take a Walk in the Summer of '21

[minkAYuko]

^ ma’am could you at least sing the songs included in your ‘best’ album about to be released so we don’t have to cry over the songs not included? Thanks.

WOML is art in full!! So good !!!

[kaled kalil]

Why is it so hard to understand why singers have signature song? They often perform their main hits on TV or special events because that's the song the general public knows and they want people to still remember them. You will always see Mariah Carey singing Vision of Love and We Belong Together, Celine singing My Heart Will Go On, Britney singing Toxic, just like Kumi has Ai no Uta and Butterfly. TV appearances where they often perform their signature songs are not made for the fans only, the fans knows their other tracks and will be interested in, but for the general public it's usually the songs that they know that they care only.

And it's not like Kumi isn't performing other songs on her tours? She didn't perform Ai no Uta for the reLIVE Tour, AND Tour neither, and guess what, even for her 20th Anniversary Tour she didn't perform Ai no Uta for the main video release, so she does sing other stuff where it matters to the fans.

As for angel+monster quality, the mastering of the tracks is not great honestly, even a lossless rip from the CD sounds a bit low quality for some tracks listening with a good headphone. No One's chorus is a mess with all the different layers mashed together without proper care, which is a bummer because the song is not bad, but some tracks like RUN still sounds nice (I don't know if it was recorded before COVID, but knowing she had this song for years it might have been recorded before she had to record at home).

The Nissin mini concert was fun, but I wish she performed a bit of her newest tracks too. To be free as used for the teaser, you could at least performed this one....

[gustavismo]

I'm really surprised we're only getting 5 re-recorded songs, since this project has been in the making for quite a long time now and she basically never leaves the studio! I'm also surprised she didn't pick TAKE BACK, as much as I love the song, an update would do wonders to it. (I was also expecting another version of walk, I feel like the ~to the future~ one has been overplayed way too much, even though I can't even remember if she keeps singing with this arrangement at her tours ^^')

[Darkifrit]

Woow I’m quite impressed by the preview of the new ballad. This sounds quite unique in her discography. The lyrics are really beautiful and we can feel her emotion in her voice.
I wanna hear more!

4 MORE sound good as well!
I already like both songs more than the 3 songs from SUMMER OF 21.

[Gustavopc]

Originally Posted by Darkifrit

4 MORE sound good as well!
I already like both songs more than the 3 songs from SUMMER OF 21.

Same lol The ballad is really unique to her, I am hoping we will have a touching video to match. Could even be a simple one like NEVER ENOUGH plus city landscape shots.

Everything from these last weeks about Kumi has me so hyped, it's being a great way to end her 20th anniversary celebrations.

[KarenPang]

4 MORE PV will be aired on YouTube next Mon night 9pm Japan time

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O8EynS4boVU

[KarenPang]

a very happy birthday to Kuu



https://twitter.com/KODAKUMINET/stat...74602467201030

[KarenPang]

Was hoping Kuu would perform at this coming Wed's Best Artist 2021 but alas no :s

Oh well here's hoping she would perform at the year end 2021 FNS Kayousai

[KarenPang]

4 MORE PV preview

https://twitter.com/KODAKUMINET/stat...98919484223488

[KarenPang]

Kuu & other artistes will perform at Osaka MUSIC LOVER ~Road to 2025~



Osaka MUSIC LOVER ~Road to 2025~ will take place on 17th & 18th Dec at Osaka Jo Hall and this event is to commemorate 2025 Osaka / Kansai Expo

For Kuu , she will perform on 18th Dec alongside with AI , BEGIN & Shimizu Shota

https://www.barks.jp/news/?id=1000211072
https://twitter.com/FM802_PR/status/1460837613531987969

[KarenPang]

Kuu will perform at the year end 2021 FNS Kayousai

2021 FNS Kayousai will take place on 1st & 8th Dec . For Kuu , she will perform on 1st Dec



https://twitter.com/fns_kayousai/sta...46481079656448



https://twitter.com/KODAKUMINET/stat...64359342272514

Nice & another Aoi Shota duet again ? :p

[KarenPang]

Kuu will be featured on KinKi Kids no Bunbuboon

The KinKi Kids no Bunbuboon episode featuring her as guest will be aired on 4th Dec

https://twitter.com/KODAKUMINET/stat...03628659159044

Oh this will be funny xD . The show's format is that whoever is featured on KinKi Kids no Bunbuboon as guest , they will decide what they want to do with KinKi Kids

Wonder what Kuu wants to do with them , xD

[KarenPang]

4 MORE -Dance Ver.-



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0b1Om7P8UrM

[Corvina]

blank paper is going the mysterious promo route, but they do get overseas distribution:

https://jpurecords.com/blogs/news/bl...-japanese-band

Mysterious new band blank paper have joined JPU Records for the release of debut single ‘enemy’, despite having no artist pic or any kind of information about the band / project / artist or its members.

Anime and music fans from around the world, as well as Japanese media, have been speculating about blank paper since ‘enemy’ appeared as the opening theme song to brand new giant robot anime Amaim Warrior at the Borderline (released as Kyoukai Senki in Japan) from Nippon Sunrise Inc., the studio behind iconic series such as Cowboy Bebop, Gundam and Escaflowne. Despite this blank paper has yet to answer any interviews and has stayed completely silent, beyond an Instagram account that posts blank pictures and a Twitter account with no tweets.

“I have to admit, I was a bit alarmed when blank paper sent me their artist pic and it was completely blank,” explains JPU Records founder and CEO Tom Smith. “but when I heard their music, the combination of soarin male and female vocals, rap sections in English and Japanese, plus the crushing guitars that bounce between heavy metal and pop riffs that are joined by super sweet violin sections, I knew I wanted more and immediately asked them to license their music to JPU for overseas. They are definitely one to watch.”

‘enemy’ will be available to officially download and stream from 17 November 2021.

It could be Back-On and Kuu simply want to make music together and that's why they're not actively doing anything for promotion.
Or even saying who they are.

[minkAYuko]

^ WOW

Ku going back to her roots? I,could,not,believe,it !

[Gustavopc]

Talking on going back to her roots, her cover of SPEED's "I Remember" is out! It sounds so good, such a smooth rnb tune, some 90s/early 2000s vibes to it, and her voice is also great.

Even if she doesnt feel like making a whole cover album, I really think she should make a covers best with those tribute songs plus covers throughout her career... Saigo no ame, Cutie Honey, BE MY BABY, Megumi no hito, and all those classic ones we have plus ENGAGED, So Close, IT'S SO DELICIOUS, Wanderin' Destiny, and now I Remember! All amazing tracks, would love to have them all on an album! She could even extend it and have an English covers disc as well, with Venus, Got To Be real, We Will Rock You, Livin La Vida Loca, maybe I Feel Love or Hot Stuff (from Donna Summer, which she also covered live). These days I also discovered she used to cover xtina's "Reflection" in the first years of her career, would die for a chance to hear it.

[ILoveGeniuses]

OMG, I love the radio rips and this SPEED cover of the song "I Remember" too!! She sounds awesome!!

Also, I'd LOVE to hear her cover of "Reflection" as well. I've never been a big Aguilera fan, but I've adored that song ever since I saw the original animated Disney's Mulan in theaters when I was a kid.

[Darkifrit]

What is the situation with Blank Paper group and the song enemy ?
Wasn’t it supposed to be release in October ?
I thought the anime start broadcasting already.

[Gustavopc]

iirc the ending song is already out on Spotify but nothing from avex yet... The only thing I have seen about the band project is this insta account but then it could even be a fake one

https://www.instagram.com/blank_paper_jp/

One of the posts has a video as the second pic but nothing interesting just a logo and a bit of the song we already know

Since BACK-ON just released an album, and Kuu will probably do the same in the beginning of 2022, I guess they will announce the band after that. My guess is they made this song as a small test, to see if people would find out about them or even how they would react to the song without knowing who is behind it. It's weird af tbh lol

Avex has really lost their hand at marketing at this point imo, they drop things here and there digitally and hope it becomes a hit. It's also like what they're doing with Kalen Anzai (no shading her at all), she had one type of sound and imagery at her debut and then she just switched to another one and keeps on releasing random digital singles. She should have had an EP at least when the dorama about ayu debuted, and a full album by now... But seems like they want to keep trying on a lottery until a big hit comes up by pure luck. I hope blank paper doesnt have the same faith...

[Darkifrit]

Thanks for your answer

I’m really digging enemy. I hope we can have a full version soon even if the band is promoted later on. I agree it’s a weird marketing decision.
Do we know if the anime is well received so far?
It would definitely help promoted Blank Paper!