[Koda Kumi] 134th Thread ~Live Tour 2011 Dejavu~

[Corvina]

EDIT:

Tenshi made it clear, thanks!^^


DHs 3 pics:

Spoiler:

Source:
http://tieba.baidu.com/f?kz=1065863115
Thanks to ilovekuu.

I need a leak! @_@

[tenshi no hane]

^ What she means in that quote isn't that the 'ero-kakkoii Koda Kumi' wasn't her true self, but she means that it felt like all those things were happening to someone else. She spent so much time being a 'nobody' that she couldn't grasp that she was a star now.

I've already read the 2007-2010 interviews and she makes no mention that avex forced her or anything. She loves the 'ero-kakkoii' part of her image, but she just wants to show people that she can also sing and touch people's hearts.

EDIT: Actually, I translated that part too quickly. I've changed it and it's less ambiguous now.

[Kingdom]

thank you again Tenshi!

I'm excited to see what she says about 2008 the most.

[RikkuChii]

Thanks so much! I'm loving the translations.

[ahtka-chan]

Thank you so much for the translation Tenshi!

[Asura21]

Oh thanks TENSHI, this is the point I want to know about the book, if avex forced her or not!! ^^

[happiholic★]

Originally Posted by Kingdom

yeah.. she said herself, that was the type of artist she wanted to become. sexy, strong, confident... maybe a lil ****ty

Some people seem to think that when someone is sexy they are automatically a bimbo who only thinks about themselves and getting laid. I think that's what most Kuu haters think she is.

[tenshi no hane]

^ Yeah, most haters leave out the 'kakkoii' in 'ero-kakkoii'. It supposed to mean sexy-cool, not '****ty' >.>;

More translations~

2007+2008

Spoiler:

2007年

I don’t want to fade when the “ero-kakkoii” boom ends.
I want to fight by showing my true talent as an artist!!

At the same time when I felt really happy about getting attention, the thought “I want to be recognized as the artist Koda Kumi” grew stronger.

I’ve said it countless times before but… I worry easily and I’m a coward (laughs). At the time my friends often asked me: “Kuu, there’s nothing to worry about, yet you always say ‘what should I do, what should I do’, why do you do that?” I was fine when I was busy and had lots of stuff to do, but when I was home and had nothing to do, I unconsciously started saying ‘what should I do?’… That was how I was in 2007.

Behind that was the fear:
“Won’t people get sick of me?”
“I have to do something!!”

Ever since I decided that I wanted to be a singer, be it when I was getting sales or not, the thought “I want to sing songs that move people’s hearts” was inside me. “Am I really doing that?” I often felt anxious about whether or not I really was.

As if in reaction to that anxiety, the thought “I want to reach people not just by being ‘ero-kakkoii’, but as the artist, as the entertainer Koda Kumi” grew stronger. That’s why I sang backed by an orchestra for the first time during my Premium Limited Live In Hall performance. I performed at the rock festival Summer Sonic ’07. Overruling my staff’s resistance, I performed dangerous stunts at my 2007 Black Cherry Tour… I challenged one new thing after another.

Those experiences allowed me to grow as an artist. Starting with ‘ai no uta’, I could ‘leave behind’ many good songs and performances. Because of this, the 2007 Black Cherry Tour is my favourite tour. My following tours couldn’t really surpass it… It was really vexing (laughs). The first time that I felt “I’ve surpassed it!!” was during my 2010 UNIVERSE Tour.

Because we waver and worry,
We are able to grow.

I feel that 2007 was a year in which I strongly felt that.

Spoiler:

2008年

I mustn’t forget it.
I mustn’t pretend like it never happened.
The fact that I hurt so many people
Still pierces my heart even now.

Life isn’t always nice.

Everyone experiences ups and downs in their lifetime. And… I’m no different. I recklessly kept running as I realized my dream of becoming a singer. The moment I thought “My dream has finally come true!!”, I destroyed everything with my own words.

Remembering that time is, to be honest, still hard. I’m the one who hurt others, but when I’m try to talk about it… my… my tears start to flow. I shed those tears not because my suspension was hard, but because it pains me that I hurt so many women with my words, even though I didn’t mean to. What was I doing? I was supposed to be working while thinking “I want to send out courage and dreams with my singing”. I was pathetic. How could I do that to the people who had trusted me and supported me…

That time I realized how immature and unprofessional I was. I stand and speak in front of so many people. I hadn’t thought about the responsibility and power that came with my position. But at the same time I was frightened by that responsibility and power. Is it okay for this young me to stand in front of everyone again in the future? Won’t I just make the same mistake again? I felt scared, so scared…… I kept thinking “I want to throw everything away and run away”.

It’s scary to talk in front of people.
It’s scary to stand on stage.
I want to quit being Koda Kumi.

But I decided to move forward thanks to the people who waited for me without returning their tour tickets, thanks to the warm words of my fans and thanks to the support of the people around me. Many people left because of my actions, but there were people who still believed in me and hadn’t let go of my hand. If I would let those people down, I would hurt them again. I have to bear it and keep going for the sake of the people waiting for me. That’s what I felt.

After my suspension, I immediately started preparing for my 2008 Kingdom Tour. Although I had decided to move forward… It was really scary to stand on stage.

There were countless times where I couldn’t sing
And had to cancel the rehearsals.
I dreamed countless times that there would only be a few people
In that big arena…
I couldn’t stop shaking even right until the first performance.

The first day I stood on stage, I was filled with anxiety. I still remember the voices of the audience from that day.

It’s still quite scary for me
To openly discuss my feelings
In front of others.

When I was asked “will you talk about the period surrounding your suspension?”, to be honest, I wavered a little. But I thought “I mustn’t pretend like it never happened”, “I have to talk about it”.

I mustn’t forget it.
I mustn’t pretend like it never happened.
I have to walk without running away
While facing it head on.

I hurt many people. I have to carry that responsibility.


T/N: For new fans: In 2008 Kumi caused a 'scandal' by remarking on radio that, "When women turn 35, their amniotic fluid goes rotten, so I'd like them to have a child by 35". Because of the controversy instigated by her comment, promotions and endorsements were stopped. And after issuing an apology Kumi secluded herself from the media for two months. (In Japan the low birth rate and advanced maternal age are very sensitive topics.)

I never realized just how much that 'scandal' affected her ;__;

[Corvina]

Thank you so much, tenshi!
I'm really happy she was able to overcome that hard time.

DHs 3 leaked!
I've uploaded it in the donwload section:
http://www.ahsforum.com/forum/showth...29#post2679529

[Daggi_X]

Thanks for the 2008 translation tenshi! I was really curious about that.

After listening to the first two songs on Driving Hit's 3 I can easily say that it's far better than 1+2...
The previews didn't do justice to the amazing full versions!

[Corvina]

The whole DHs 3 is amazing!
Far better than the DHs1 and on the same level or even a bit better than the second one.
My faves are FREAKY, Moon Crying, Anata dake ga, This is not a love song and Physical thing. But the rest is good as well!
Just a bit disappointed with Driving and the FEM bonus track.

[milky_way]

Kumiiiiii

[krauterol]

Originally Posted by Corvina

Thank you so much, tenshi!
I'm really happy she was able to overcome that hard time.

DHs 3 leaked!
I've uploaded it in the donwload section:
http://www.ahsforum.com/forum/showth...29#post2679529

Ohhh thanksss!

*downloading*

[pride123]

Originally Posted by Corvina

The whole DHs 3 is amazing!
Far better than the DHs1 and on the same level or even a bit better than the second one.
My faves are FREAKY, Moon Crying, Anata dake ga, This is not a love song and Physical thing. But the rest is good as well!
Just a bit disappointed with Driving and the FEM bonus track.

I really agreed it's better than DH1 and 2.
My favourites are POP DIVA and FREAKY, very very upbeat mix!

[tenshi no hane]

And the last two~

2009+2010:

Spoiler:

2009年

Two long years passed
Before I could make my cowardly self
Start running forward again.

It’s rude towards my works and my fans to forever drag out my negative feelings.
“Think positively.”
“Pull yourself together and move forward.”
In my mind, I thought “I have to give it my all”
But my actions lagged behind. That’s how I was in 2009.

Whenever I tried to do something, I thought:
“Won’t I be scolded if I hold a flashy performance?”
“Won’t I fail?”
“No one will accept me, will they?”
Those kind of worries filled my head and I went on the defensive.
I just watched my surroundings.

Performing on live broadcasts was especially scary……
“If there are a 100 people who hate me, there will also be a 100 people who like me.”
Even though I repeated those words to myself… I was worried about people’s reactions.

I stopped running completely
Because I was afraid to fall.

When I line up my CD jackets of that time, I can clearly see those feelings of mine. The colours are faded and there’s no power. The way I was back then is subconsciously showing through… Products are really honest. But when my 10th anniversary year was about to start, I decided: “Staying like this is no good!! I have to start running again, without being afraid to fall!!” The song in which I decided to do so was Can We Go Back.

I was fixated on Koda Kumi’s unique “aggressive” sound and performance. I often write lyrics with a positive message, but using dreams and courage as the theme, I sang “I have to become stronger” and wrote about my own weakness for the first time in my lyrics… I feel like I was able to reclaim my confidence and style by singing this song.

Spoiler:

2010年

Koda Kumi’s 10 year journey had its ups and downs. When I finally thought “I’m living my dream!!”, everything slipped through my fingers… That’s how reality continued.

When I was recklessly rushing towards my dream, I believed without hesitation that “as long as I don’t give up, my dream will come true!!” When I felt depressed, I repeated positive words to myself and was able to move forward again. I had been running frantically without ever taking a break.

A lot of people have the image of Koda Kumi being a strong woman that never gives up, right?

But I also have lots of weak and pathetic sides.

To me, ‘entertainment’ means ‘to give people dreams’. That’s why Koda Kumi’s entertainment should never show her weak and pathetic sides. I still feel that way. I hesitated to talk about my own weakness, worries and struggles in this book because I wondered, “Won’t I destroy everyone’s dreams?”

But, you know, by revealing my true self…
“Koda Kumi gives it her all even though she’s scared, doesn’t she?”
“This cowardly person is still giving it her all, isn’t she?”
By revealing the path I’ve walked on, I can still give people dreams and courage, can’t I?
I’ve started to think like this:
This current me who’s faced many setbacks and who’s failed many times in the last 10 years, can send everyone a new “positive message about dreams”, right?

In the last few years, I became a coward and it felt like I was in a place that was separated from everyone. “I want to get close to everyone again by fearlessly sharing my true feelings. I want to sing more closely to everyone.” That feeling is locked into this book.

When I look back at these 10 years, I was only able to say “this was a good year!!” in 2006 and 2007. I’ve had more tough than good times, but now I think that was for the better.

Making your dream come true takes a long time. And it takes a lot of effort to not lose your dream again after you’ve made it come true… What I didn’t knew when I was 18 years old was: “Life isn’t always fun, but you’ve made it this far, you know. So please be confident.” That thought encourages me now as a 28 year old.

Life with its ups and downs has taught me the brilliance of singing once again.

Laughing with me during fun times, crying with me during difficult times… Whenever happiness and sadness piled up, songs echoed even deeper inside me. There were times where I was hit so hard that I couldn’t get back up, but by singing my songs which were made with the thought “I want to send everyone courage”, I was saved.

My songs also changed slowly but surely as I experienced more things. Even I don’t know what kind of songs Koda Kumi will sing in the future.

But I know one thing:
“I want to continue to sing songs that are linked to the “happiness” and “sadness” that is ever-present in our lives.” That is my unchanging dream.

I believe that my tears and smiles of the future will definitely become the bridge to my dream!!

Hopefully the 2010 one is understandable XD; she used really long sentences that were a pain to translate.

There's still some other stuff in the book, a talk between Kumi and misono for example, so expect more (but laaaaater XD)

[Minttulatte]

THank you for the translation, tenshi.

It was so painful to read how depressed she was in 2009. That scandal she faced in 2008 had so much deeper affect on her than I ever thought it would be. Seriously. Poor Kuu. :/

[freedreamer]

I only heard a few so far. I think ayu-mix-4 set me off in a remix fever...I find myself liking remixes a lot more. CWGB and POP DIVA are AWESOMEEEEE..and Moon Crying's totaly got a new feel...it's so chill and happy? LOL! Will listen to the past Driving Hit's more intently tmr

[Zeke.]

**** I'm at work I wish I could listen to Driving Hit's 3!

[happiholic★]

Gonna re-watch UNIVERSE Tour with my momma <3.

[ren'ai]

^ Snap, I watched it again with mine two days ago! XD

Thanks for the translatons tenshi <3 poor kuuchie ;_; she's so strong!

And omg I don't really care about remixes but there's a lot on DH3 that I am loooving! POP DIVA (both), Bounce, This is not a love song, Good day and Physical thing