[Koda Kumi] The 176th Thread - 15th Anniversary

[Isicio]

We need a tracklist ASAP >.<

[jean-baptiste]

Originally Posted by happiholic★

I just respect that Kuu writes the vast majority of her lyrics, or, at the very least, will re write her demos to make them hers. Added to the fact that she self produces and is an amazing dancer/performer, I would say Kuu is a very well rounded artist. I have so much respect for her, her passion is really evident. And I think that's why fans are quick to jump on anyone who tries to discredit her, even if they are a fan themselves. People are always putting Kuu down as a lesser artist, for her sexier image, singing skills, etc. Its frustrating, because there are plenty of other singers who don't participate nearly as much as Kuu does in her music, and they are hailed as being superior, usually because their overall sales are better, have a less controversial image, or they simply like the songs better. So, yeah, its just frustrating to see people acting like she's some third rate pop star, when her passion clearly says otherwise, and I think that's why fans jump down anyone's throat, even when it's an innocent comment by another fan.

I absolutely love this post. Very insightful. I agree.

[Gustavopc]

Does someone has a scan or pic of handwritten lyrics by Kuu? I wanted to make an edit, but realized I've never seen one before...

Originally Posted by happiholic★

I just respect that Kuu writes the vast majority of her lyrics, or, at the very least, will re write her demos to make them hers. Added to the fact that she self produces and is an amazing dancer/performer, I would say Kuu is a very well rounded artist. I have so much respect for her, her passion is really evident. And I think that's why fans are quick to jump on anyone who tries to discredit her, even if they are a fan themselves. People are always putting Kuu down as a lesser artist, for her sexier image, singing skills, etc. Its frustrating, because there are plenty of other singers who don't participate nearly as much as Kuu does in her music, and they are hailed as being superior, usually because their overall sales are better, have a less controversial image, or they simply like the songs better. So, yeah, its just frustrating to see people acting like she's some third rate pop star, when her passion clearly says otherwise, and I think that's why fans jump down anyone's throat, even when it's an innocent comment by another fan.

PREACH.IT.
That's totally what I think about Kuu but you managed to put it in words in the best way I could not, thank you! hahahah

[sitara]

Originally Posted by orangeakira

I mean, someone actually uploaded a fake fan album of a bunch of the demos that kumi used like Lollipop and So nice. I think it's pretty cool that we get to hear that.

Where can I find that fake fan album?


slightly off topic, but it suits the discussion: I wonder if ayu also buys demos with a random singer singing; and ayu is simply writing different lyrics?? For some reason I always thought her demos are only instrumentals (because there are never demo versions like with kumi). What do you think?

[thinkingoutloud89]

^Well, yes. When Ayu isn't involved in the composition process she most likely buys a song demo. Like every artist does.

As far as I got it, she is offered songs (most likely she is most of the time the first one to get the offer) or she requestq a song with a certain feel. Then she starts writing lyrics towards the melody and the whole thing comes together.

She has reported several cases of when she first wrote the lyrics and was "searching" for the right melody, or simply requested a composer to do a melody.

Another case would be buying a demo with lyrics, and singing it or rewriting it (what Kuu does most of the time and what ayu did with songs like B&D or Ladies Night). This case often also sees changes in melody and songs structure.

One more case would be getting a song with lyrics, or just picking a demo song and asking someone to write lyrics (Thats what Namie does most of the time. Like Nomyte wrote songs specially for her, but her last few albums saw her picking demo tracks and asking writers like michico to write cool lyrics)

[sitara]

^ thank you for your answer <3

I feel like ayu mostly only takes instrumentals without lyrics she is interchanging later (except for the (miss)understood album) which I think is great and more creative. I always wondered how the instrumental demos sound before ayu starts working on them.

I always find it quite disappointing when singers just re-sing the demo version and hardly anything seems to have changed (maybe just translated into another language). Which is the case with many Kumi demos I find online

[ren'ai]

^ actually Kumi's lyrics are almost never translations of the demos (if that is what you mean?)

She uses a couple of lines from the english version of the demo, but most of the time the japanese lyrics are about something entirely different

Like AT THE WEEKEND was about having a break from work and having fun but Kumi made it about a guy who just wants to have fun with you for a short time then doesn't wanna know (on monday lol) or Can we go back was about lovers, Kumi made it more about a state of place she was in herself etc. Even piece in the puzzle is different, though for the life of me I dont understand what "illest" is lol

[thinkingoutloud89]

^You got that wrong I think. The English parts in Kumis songs often remain the same, yes, but with her own lyrics she often changes the meaning.
Moreover, we only get those demos for some songs (I think PhraseDifferently is one of the few we always get the demos from, since they have some sort of online catalouge)

But many of Kumis songs are written for her / with her.
I would even say that many of the demos Kumi uses are offered to her specifically /written with her in mind. And well, lets face it. She is an alrounder as someone said earlier. She is capable of wirting, composing, singing and performing, yet I feel that she isn't the best in writing and composing and therefore it is okay for her to take some help. It does not take away her artistry in any way - at least for me. She still has a vision, she still made the concept and she is the one to carry it out in the end.

One of her signiture songs is a cover, yet it feels very very much like her own.


edit: as for ayu. the case is special. I sometimes doubted she is writing her own lyrics - but she maybe is just special here. She wants to control everything - and I think she does not want to take help cause what she sells is her - and if it goes wrong she wants it to be her fault. She is a very interesting human being in some way.
That, however, does not change that her lyrics got kind of flat/repetive in recent years. The explenation here is easy - she is in a state where she has nearly written everything and her life doesn't seem to be that struggeling anymore. A ONE saw a little comeback in terms of lyrics - but overall she may has to move on to some more uiversal problems. But that is another story (and nothing that really bothers me. so I hope no one gets upset now)

[chocopockymaster]

Originally Posted by thinkingoutloud89

^You got that wrong I think. The English parts in Kumis songs often remain the same, yes, but with her own lyrics she often changes the meaning.

That is literally what they said. How are they wrong if you're agreeing with them?

Originally Posted by ren'ai

actually Kumi's lyrics are almost never translations of the demos (if that is what you mean?)

She uses a couple of lines from the english version of the demo, but most of the time the japanese lyrics are about something entirely different

as for ayu. the case is special. I sometimes doubted she is writing her own lyrics - but she maybe is just special here.

What even is this comment? I can't tell if you're trolling for the sake of it or trying to start shit.

[thinkingoutloud89]

^whoa hold your horses are you crazy?

1) I did not see the post inbetween since it was probaly posted when I typed. sorry for that.
2) trolling? trolling for an artist I love and admire? whats your problem? I just staed my thoughts and as she is a high-shool drop-out (and lets face it, if you miss certain things you just don't know them and thats includes the use of complex language) I just said that it seems uncommon for someone to write that amount of lyrics - ghostwriting is not uncommon. Yet I clearified that she seems very special in terms of artistry.
I don't even know why I have to justify myself to you, because obviously you are the one who is seeking trouble. I love Ayumi to death, so thats all i have to say about that.
Moreover, this is the Kumi thread and I was just trying to get a picture of the songwriting-process of artist since this whole "it was a demo.song, how-ame" thing is bothering for a while now and kinda gets old.

[Diva_br]

Originally Posted by maze

Just fuc*ing give me Make It Bump feat. FAR EAST MOVEMENT and my life will be complete e__e

THIS

[happiholic★]

I think an epic misunderstanding just happened. Thinking, I would suggest you edit your post so people know you are correcting sitara, and not ren'ai.

[Zahara]

I think we need a new thread without miscommunication.

[kaled kalil]

@gustavopc: The only time that I saw her writing a lyric it was for a documentary during the First Things tour, she was writing a song called Sweet Candy, or something like that. I'll try to find the image.

I'm still waiting for the Dirty Ballroom Vol. 2, the first one was soooo good, even that shitty remix of Candy sounds cool with live collaboration.

[orangeakira]

Originally Posted by sitara

Where can I find that fake fan album?

I've been searching all over ahs but I can't find it. I only have a few of the demos. i think it was called "Best ~Westernesque~" or something like that. I'll keep looking for it, although even if I do find it, I doubt the link still works.

[Zahara]

Originally Posted by kaled kalil

@gustavopc: The only time that I saw her writing a lyric it was for a documentary during the First Things tour, she was writing a song called Sweet Candy, or something like that. I'll try to find the image.

I'm still waiting for the Dirty Ballroom Vol. 2, that concert is soooo good, even that shitty remix of Candy sounds cool with live collaboration.

there's another Dirty Ballroom?? When?

[Gustavopc]

^ No, there's not I think he meant he is waiting for Kuu to hold another live like that

[Diva_br]

Not only he *^*

[orangeakira]

Dirty Ballroom is my favorite concert by her. I definitely need another like it. Although this time around they need to stop with the annoying camera effects.

[happiholic★]

Originally Posted by orangeakira

Dirty Ballroom is my favorite concert by her. I definitely need another like it. Although this time around they need to stop with the annoying camera effects.

Agreed. That's the one thing that stops me from enjoying it