Destiny Line – Ai no Matador –

Koda Kumi’s 2nd BEST album, entitled BEST ~second session,~ was released on 03.08.06. This album is a collection of the 12 Singles Project in which Kumi released a single every week for 12 consecutive weeks. The album also includes a new track, Love goes like…

This album’s introductory track is a part of Get It On, a digital release during the 12 Singles Project. The song is title Introduction to the second session. Opening the song is Kumi singing in all English with line such as “gotta gotta let you know” acapella before the song’s true sound arrives. The song features an Arabian beat that makes it so addictive. The song only features one set of lyrics that repeats throughout the duration of the song but it doesn’t feel repetitive at all. The song ends with some great vocalizing from Kumi and finally “gotta gotta let you know.” Introduction to the second session is a great interlude that introduces the album nicely and makes a good transition into D.D.D.

Kumi and SOULHEAD join forces for the addictive dance track. D.D.D. A hot beat with great music opens up the song before a repetiton of “turn it up” segues into the first verse. Kumi delivers her lyrics during the first verse with such attitude that it really stands out to the listener from the first line. The hook really stands out because of all the English phrases such as “naked body” and “we don’t need no spotlight.” The chorus is even more catchy as the vocals stand out with the music and the ending line “I just do what I wanna do, I do what I wanna do.” The second verse is memorable thanks to SOULHEAD’s ending section with the various sounds that are very addicting. The third verse features a rap of Jewels of SOULHEAD and once again, attitude makes it pop as well as the various use of English such as “you’re gonna miss me” and “you’ll be addicted.” D.D.D. is an excellent dance song and it fits perfectly on BEST ~second session.~ 

The beautiful winter ballad, you, is the next song on the album. The song starts off with a sorrowful instrumentation so that the song’s atmosphere is displayed right from the beginning. During the verses, her vocals are somewhat deep but they capture the sorrow of the lyrics perfectly. The chorus features some smoother vocals that are a perfect fit on the song. The small pure instrumental section does a nice job of maintaining the sorrow of the song and putting it to the very forefront. The following final chorus really blows the listener away as Kumi sings with her heart and the emotional presence comes to the forefront strongly. you is a great ballad with the sounds of winter to make the sorrow stand out to the listener.

Mr. Blistah joins Kumi for the traditional Arabian song, Candy. The song starts off with a looming arabian before the song’s true sound comes in. The chorus features some great vocals from Kumi and she holds her notes nicely, keeping with the music. During the verses, her vocals are somewhat deep but they match with the instrumentation perfectly. The hook features English lines such as “no, no, I’m not easy” and they really pop standing next to Japanese lyrics. After the chorus, Mr. Blistah comes in for a mini-rap and his voice actually sounds pretty nice here. Mr. Blistah’s full rap sequence is a nice part of the song and a nice change of pace and Kumi comes in again to deliver the chorus. Kumi and Mr. Blistah do a little segment at the end to bring the song to a nice close. Candy is an excellent song and is a great Arabian song.

Shake It Up is a great energetic dance song with Carribean influences. The song starts off nicely with the chorus, which is very catchy and features some great vocals. The “oi-oi-oi” that begins every line of the chorus really pops, catching the listener’s ear. A small section of pure instrumentation connects the chorus to the verses and they really do sound great. The verses are still catchy as the music steps to the background to focus on Kumi’s vocals. The lines are sung somewhat deeply but still sound great with the music. The complete section of pure instrumentation that follows the third chorus is fantastic as the Carribean influences are really spotlighted and the fun and carefree element of the song comes out beaming. Shake It Up ends with the echoing of “oi-oi-oi” to bring this memorable song to a great finish. Shake It Up is a wonderful part of BEST ~second session~ that should not be missed.

feel is the most intimate and relaxing song on the album, one of Kumi’s strongest songs in her discography. The song starts off with a gorgeous relaxing instrumental before the first verse. Kumi’s smooth vocals during the verses along with the music really help create a dreamy and intimate feeling. As the verse ends, Kumi sings “why, tell me why?” and it really pops. The chorus is sung in all English and although it might be somewhat hard to decipher, the lyrics are really sweet and move perfectly with the song’s atmosphere. The third verse features some great vocals before moving back into the sweet chorus. Pure instrumentation then brings the song to an excellent close. feel is the album’s strongest song for its intimate atmosphere that takes the listener into the story of the song

WIND, the upbeat and inspiring song, is the following song. The song starts off with the chorus, which is sung nicely with some great vocals that aren’t sung in a cute voice but have a certain kawaii element to it. The verses are very strong and there is a more mellow sound while Kumi sounds perfectly at home. As the verse comes to  a close, the instrumentation becomes slightly more energetic and it is these sections that really catch the listener’s ear for their fun nature. The pure instrumental section sounds great as a spotlight is put on the carefree atmosphere set forth by the music before the final chorus. WIND is a nice song with an inspiring lyrical theme and a fun sound that makes it a true part of the album.

Love goes like… is the only new song on the album but it definitely holds its own. The song begins with Kumi repeating “throw your hands up” over a hot R&B dance beat. When the first verse starts, Kumi’s vocals are somewhat low-pitched but they work with the music perfectly. As the verses come to an end, a slightly different feel is established. Kumi’s vocals sound slightly different and there are some vocalizing in the background that is a nice touch. The chorus is highly catchy as the English phrases such as “call me” and “show me” really pop. During a segment of Kumi singing “throw your hands up” in the background, Kumi speaks in English and the slight distortions in the instrumentation combine to make this part stand out. As the new song, Love goes like… is a perfect addition to BEST ~second session~ for its addictive chorus and hot beat.

No Regret, one of the album’s dance songs, appears as the ninth track. The song opens up with part of the booming chorus, in which Kumi shows off her vocals before a great beat and interesting instrumentation cmoes in with English being spoken in the background. During the verses, there is a certain attitude that Kumi delivers her vocals with and it really works in the song’s favorite. More of the beginning energy comes back in the chorus, the most addictive part of the song. It’s the ending line of the chorus that really stands out as it is sung lower than the rest of the verse, thus making the chorus really pop at the end. The pure instrumental section spotlights just how interesting and cool the music of the song is before the chorus comes back in. No Regret is one of the catchiest singles of the 12 Singles Project and it finds its home perfectly on the collection of songs.  

Kawaii Kumi comes onto the scene with the sugary and sweet, Birthday Eve. A twinkling and happy instrumental begins the song before the first verse starts. Kumi’s cute voice works perfectly during the verses and the phrase “happy birthday” really stands out as it is sung in English. The hook features a slight distortion of Kumi’s vocals to put an emphasis on the sweetness of the music and it serves as a nice segue into the chorus. The chorus is the most addictive part of the song as Kumi shows off a little more vocal power and the instrumentation continues to maintain its peppiness. The pure instrumental section is wonderful as the spotlight is put on the guitar before a cool sound before the sugariness of the chorus comes back in. Birthday Eve is the album’s cute song and Kumi does a great job of bringing the song’s spirit to life.

Lies is a catchy R&B song that really does take the listener on a listen through the story. After nice and catchy instrumentation, the chorus comes in. The chorus features some great vocals from Kumi and sung with such emotion that it catches the listener’s ear. The English phrases such as “you’re my special, you’re my bad boy” pop next to other Japanese lyrics. During the verses, Kumi’s vocals are strong at capturing the song’s overall atmosphere. The hook serves as a bridge as the instrumentation becomes slightly more varied and Kumi’s vocals pick up. The ending note in particular is held very well and makes a perfect transition into the chorus. The third verse takes the sound in a slightly different direction with a great instrumental and the final note of the third verse sounds great. The song ends with instrumentation as well as Kumi repeating “I just want you bad boy” to bring the song to an excellent finish. For its catchiness and attitude, Lies is certainly a track not to be missed.

One of Kumi’s dirtiest songs, lyrically, is next with 今すぐ欲しい.  The song begins with a smooth and sensual instrumentation that displays the atmosphere of the song perfectly. The vocals during the verses are nice as they very well capture the sexual energy of her words and the ending note is particularly strong. The chorus stands out as the instrumentation comes forward more and Kumi’s vocals are a little more smooth. The rap is a nice addition to the song as Kumi delivers her lines with a nice level of rapidity and althoug a little more attitude could helped the rap segment come alive, it still sounds. The English allows the listener to really realize the sexual atmosphere with words such as “lick me” and “climax.” The slow and smooth,  今すぐ欲しい, is a nice song to listen to if the listener doesn’t mind the dirtiness of the song.

Ishii Tatsuya and Kumi soar on the beautiful adult ballad, KAMEN. The song begins with a beautiful instrumentation that really shows off a romantic atmosphere. After a little vocalizing from the two, the first verse arrives. During the verses, Kumi and Tatsuya alternate singing their respective parts so that it really does feel like a duet. Tatsuya definitely has an excellent voice, letting him sing deep or powerfully and he holds his note fantastically. Kumi also does a wonderful job on the song, showing off her vocal power as well as holding her notes just as well as Tatsuya. The chorus features both singing at the time and appears twice during the duration of the song. It is mostly comprised of English so that the Japanese phrases really pop. KAMEN is an excellent ballad as both Tatsuya and Kumi sing their hearts out with such emotion that the listener is taken to the world of the song.

The album closes with the hopeful and upbeat finale, Someday. It begins with part of the chorus as Kumi holds her notes well and sings with enough power to keep the song going. After a great section of pure instrumentation, the first verse starts. Kumi’s vocals are very nice here and they really move with the music to show off the song’s atmosphere. The chorus is very upbeat and somewhat poppy. Kumi’s vocals sound great and it resonates with the listener strongly. The pure instrumental section is a nice fit with Kumi’s vocals pushed more to the background to spotlight the instrumentation. Someday is a great album closer and a nice song itself.

Album Ranking: A +

Koda Kumi’s 3rd studio album, entitled feel my mind, was released on 02.18.04. The album features more dance numbers than her previous albums and her ero-kakkoi image began to emerge with the release of Crazy 4 U. The singles released before the album were Gentle Words, COME WITH ME and Crazy 4 U.

Break it down is the opening song on the album and a very strong track. The song begins with Kumi checking her messages as a woman speaks and once the message plays and the man says “K.K., it’s time to bounce again,” the song’s true sound begins. An more mellow dance instrumental begins the song with some vocalizing from Kumi that sounds great. The verses feature some rather soft vocals that work with the twinkling instrumentation. The chorus stands out as Kumi shows off a little more vocal power and the repetition of “I just wanna break it down” really stands out. The third verse features an unidentified man rapping in English and honestly, his presence is definitely not needed. The song begins much like it began with Kumi doing some vocalizing and makes for an excellent finish. Break it down is a bit simplistic but a song to look for and a great opening song.

The album’s strongest song, Crazy 4 U, is the second track. The song begins with a great R&B dance beat with Kumi doing a little vocalizing before the real beat comes in. During the verses, Kumi’s vocals are a little deep but the lines are sung with a certain attitude that really stands out. The chorus is the most addictive part of the song as Kumi’s vocals are strengthened and the little English phrases “crazy for you” and “only for you” really stand out. The pure instrumental section is a perfect breakdown as the coolness and slickness of the song is spotlighted. Crazy 4 U is a hot dance track that is the album’s best offering and definitely a song to look out for.

Rock Your Body is an uptempo dance number that is very catchy. The English used in the song in the background “rock your body, move your body, on the dance floor, don’t hurt nobody” is a very nice touch and appears along with the opening instrumentation. The verses feature some slightly deeper vocals that work well with the music. The hook begins the song’s addictiveness with the English phrase “boy if you wanna down with me.” The chorus stands out as Kumi shows more vocal power and the English makes the song pop nicely. The unidentified man from Break it down returns on the song and his presence does get annoying after a while but Kumi keeps the energy up. Rock Your Body is a very nice dance song with some pretty interesting lyrics and if nothing else, the chorus is very catchy.

Rain is the album’s most beautiful and emotional ballad. The song starts out with beautiful instrumentation before the first verse starts. Her vocals during the verses are somewhat deep and they capture the sorrow of the song perfectly. It’s the chorus that really stands out as Kumi sings her heart out. She sings with power and she hits the higher notes flawlessly, enhancing the song’s sorrowful atmosphere. The pure instrumental section sounds great as it really puts a spotlight on how key the music is in maintaing the song’s sorrowful magic. The final line is said with such emotion and fragility and segues perfectly into the ending instrumentation. Rain is a beautiful song that can bring the listener to tears, truly one of the album’s best songs.

Without Your Love is a great dance song that is very catchy. The song opens up with the sound of a car being started up and then a siren is set on before the song’s catchy instrumentation begins. After a few moments of vocalizing from Kumi, the first verse starts. Her vocals are a little deep and the English words such as “sorry” and “magic” really pop and make the listener pay attention to her voice. The hook, which consists of both English and Japanese begins to introduce a more varied instrumental. She finishes it nicely with good vocals as she “my love is on the way” and the echoing of “my way” is a nice touch. The chorus is especially as Kumi shows off more vocal strength and the beat remains addictive, finishing with Kumi singing “baby boy come and knock on my door.” The third verse breaks things down a little as the music goes softly and Kumi’s vocals go with them in a softer tone and after Kumi delivers a little rap in English as she repeats “I’ll bee going crazy without your love my baby.” This same rap sequence brings the hot song to a close with the sound of helicopters overhead. Without Your Love is a very nice dance track and one of the standouts on feel my mind.

Cuteness emerges on the next track, Talk to you. The track starts off with a cute and interesting instrumental before Kumi’s vocals really bring out the cuteness as she sings the title of the song. During the verses, Kumi sings her cute voice and it fits perfectly with the song’s overall atmosphere. The chorus stands out with the English phrases that pop as well as ker kawaii voice. Following is the hook, which is what opens the song. The pure instrumental section is really interesting as more elements than just the kawaii comes out. Talk to you is the album’s cute track and Kumi does a great job of bringing the kawaii atmosphere that makes the listener follow her throughout the song.

華 is one of the album’s true ballads. Beautiful instrumentation opens the song up along with some soft vocalizing from Kumi. Kumi’s vocals after this begin deep and soon they gain a little more power in order to capture the sorrow and emotion set forth by the beautiful lyrics. The song has a relative structure that is created mostly by the vocals as the chorus features stronger and more emotional carrying vocals and the verses are deeper. The moments of pure instrumentation are wonderful as Kumi’s soft vocalizing mixes perfectly with the music to capture the song’s atmosphere. The final line of the song is a perfect finish and is a very beautiful way of bringing the song to a close. 華 is one of the strongest album tracks and is a track worth listening to.

Get Out The Way is one of the album’s catchiest dance tracks. The song opens up with a cool and fun instrumental before Kumi sings the first verse. Her vocals have enough power to make the listener pay attention to her voice but soft enough to not clash with the music. The hook is somewhat of a bridge as the instrumentation stands out a little more, as an introduction for the chorus. The chorus really stands out as Kumi’s vocals are slightly stronger and the beat becomes even more key and retains its addictive quality. The pure instrumental section is accompanied by a man speaking in the background in English as well Kumi doing a little vocalizing. It’s a nice breakdown before the hook comes in again. Get Out The Way is one of the more memorable tracks on feel my mind and is definitely a track that should not be missed.

Sweet love… is one of the blandest songs on the album. It’s a nice upbeat track with some very nice vocals however it doesn’t really stand out from the rest of the album. It has a nice atmosphere but nothing particularly noteworthy and it doesn’t fit very well with the overall sound of the album.

Gentle Words is a sweet love ballad that stands out on the album so strongly. The song begins with a mellow and peaceful instrumental, which comes before the first verse. During the verses, Kumi’s vocals are somewhat soft and the phrase “Hello, hello” really stands out. As the verse progresses the instrumentation begins to build and become more varied in time for the chorus. The chorus is strong as Kumi’s vocals are slightly more powerful and capture the song’s atmosphere perfectly. The pure instrumental section is very pretty as it spotlights the softness and fragility of the song with a few great adlibs from Kumi to make it pop. The same instrumentation which opened up the song also brings it to a fantastic close. Gentle Words is a pretty and sweet song, which Kumi’s vocals really bring to life.

magic, the semifinal track, is the album’s weakest song. The song starts off with nice instrumentation before the first verse. Her vocals are very low-pitched here and they seem a bit dry. The chorus features some nice vocals but it’s not memorable at all. magic is the album’s dryest number and what sounds like a choir backing Kumi up is not enjoyable. magic definitely should have been left off the album because it’s not a very good fit with the rest of the album’s sound.

COME WITH ME, the song that perfectly captures the sounds of summer, is the album’s closer. A fun and exciting instrumentation opens up the song before the first verse. The verses feature English phrases such as “hear me vent my best friend” as well as some nice vocals. The chorus is very memorable with Kumi’s stronger vocals and the way she holds her notes as she sings “come with me to the sun” is brilliant. The pure instrumental section puts an emphasis on how fun and exciting the music really is. COME WITH ME is a wonderful album closer and certainly a track not to be skipped.

Album Ranking: A –

feel my mind features more dance tracks than her previous album and on these songs, Kumi sounds perfectly comfortable. Tracks such as Crazy 4 U, Break it down and Rock Your Body show off Kumi’s flare over hot beats. Kumi does bring the emotions on the ballads such as Rain and Gentle Words. The album has its flaws, such as magic, but overall it’s worth the listen.

Koda Kumi’s 5th studio album, entitled Black Cherry, was released on 12.20.06. Her best selling studio album to date, Black Cherry is a great collection of songs. The album was loaded with singles released before the single: 恋のつぼみ, 夢のうた (ふたりで… was left off the album), 4 Hot Wave and Cherry Girl / 運命.

The album’s introduction is INTRODUCTION, a flawless introductory track with a hot dance beat. It begins with Kumi speaking in English over a mysterious sound echoing in the background. A few English phrases that come up are “one nation” and “one unity” and once a guy in the background counts down to one “let’s go!” opens up the song’s true sound. The dance beat is absolutely addictive and the English fits perfectly as she sings “rock the party, work your body” and after that sequence is repeated a few times, another part comes in. She continues to sing in English and the final line she sings is “I know really you want, tell me how you’re like…” followed by her breath. INTRODUCTION is a perfect introduction for Black Cherry and makes a perfect transition into the next song.

Get Up & Move!! is a hot dance song that makes a flawless transition from INTRODUCTION. It opens up with the addictive hook with the English line “booty shakin’ like what!” and the chorus is one of the catchiest part of the song. The hook features all English lyrics and ends with “this is for the party people” before going into the first verse. Each verse begins with an English line and the one in the first verse shows off a certain sexiness element “everytime I look into your eyes…you’ve got me really horny.” Her vocals during the verses are fun and carry the perfect amount of power to really make the listener pay attention to. The pre-chorus features some smooth and slick vocals as she holds her notes well. The chorus features both English and Japanese lyrics and is one of the most catchiest parts of the song as Kumi’s vocals demand focus. The song ends just like it began with the hook going until the very end. Get Up & Move!! is an excellent dance track and the perfect first full track.

Kumi comes strongly with the aggressive rock track, 人魚姫. A more aggressive rock instrumentation opens the song up before the first verse starts. There is a certain element of roughness to Kumi’s voice that works perfectly with the sound to create a full atmosphere. The chorus stands out strongly as Kumi has that flare in her voice that makes the listener really pay attention to her voice. The final phrase of the chorus, as she sings the title of the song followed by “tired,” really pops and brings the section to a great finish. The pure instrumental section is absolutely worth checking out as the coolness is spotlighted as the guitar is showed off powerfully. The song is a great aggressive rock song and although it’s not as strong as previous rock song, Selfish, it’s definitely a standout song on Black Cherry.  

夢のうた, the winter ballad, is the album’s fourth track. The emotional presence in this song is incredible and it really does stand out. Piano instrumentation opens the song and soon the first verse starts. Kumi sings with smooth and soft vocals that express emotions perfectly and move with the music to capture a perfect atmosphere. The chorus really stands out as Kumi shows off more vocally and the instrumentation becomes more varied and stands out. It’s the third verse in particularly where all the emotions reach a climax as Kumi sings her heart out with powerful and effective vocals. Kumi adlibs her way very nicely to the end of the song with the sounds of winter bringing the song to its finish. The song is the album’s standout ballad for capturing the emotions so strongly and effectively.

月と太陽 is the cute midtempo song on Black Cherry. A twinkling sound and some strings start off the song before elements of the chorus, English lines such as “love me” and “every day, every night” are sung by Kumi. The first verse starts and her vocals are sung somewhat in her cute voice but they carry a certain emotion that stands out to the listener. The chorus features mostly English phrases along with a couple Japanese phrases and although simplistic, it is catchy. The third verse has a dreamy-like atmosphere set by the instrumentation and Kumi’s smooth vocals only add to this atmosphere. Her adlibbing on the final chorus is a nice effect that shows off the emotion and the string instrumentation finishes the song just as beautifully as the song began. 月と太陽 is a cute track that is a strong addition to the album.

Puppy is an amazing and catchy kawaii song that finds its home on Black Cherry. The song begins with a cool and slick instrumentation and Kumi singing “I just love you.” The first verse features some nice vocals that aren’t sung with Kumi’s cute voice but still have that element of kawaii. The hook features the repeating “I just love you cause I feel so good,” which really stands out and catches the listener’s ear. Kumi brings more vocal power on the chorus and the ending of the chorus is sung with such spunk that it really does pop. The pure instrumental section spotlights just how both cool and cute the music of the song is before the chorus arrives for one more spin. The repetition of Kumi singing “I just love so good” is adorable and a perfect way to bring the song to a close. Puppy is one of the best new songs on the album for its fun atmosphere and cool approach.

Kawaii Kumi comes out for 恋のつぼみ. The song starts out with part of the chorus, which automatically hooks the listener from first listen. The verses feature Kumi singing her cute voice and make the perfect atmosphere. The hook has a slightly different instrumentation that evokes the feeling of stars before the chorus starts. Kumi’s vocals during the hook are nicely shown off as she reaches a little higher. The chorus is extremely catchy as Kumi sings with even more sparkle and cuteness that makes the listener fall in love. The pure instrumental section is a nice breakdown on the sugariness of the song before the final chorus goes in and pure instrumental finishes the song nicely. 恋のつぼみ is a happy song that is a wonderful addition to the album.

The solo version of Kumi’s collaboration with EXILE appears as WON’T BE LONG ~Black Cherry Version.~ It begins with a member of EXILE saying a few English phrases before Kumi comes in with the catchy hook. The English in the hook “the uptown Tokyo slammin’ night” pops nicely and segues nicely into the first verse. The first verse features some nice vocals from Kumi that works with the instrumentation well. The chorus features the repetition of the title in a return to the song’s true catchiness. The song’s close features a cool sound from Kumi before the hook closes the song. Although the song is somewhat repetitive, it’s a nice listen.

JUICY is the song’s sexiest and hottest dance number. The song opens up with a hot instrumentation with little looming bits of Arabian influences that make the song really pop. The verses are sung with a slickness that keeps the listener interested and with a deepness that sounds great with the instrumentation. The English used throughout the song are nice additions and really stand out on the hook with phrases such as “kill me now” and “love me tonight.” Her vocals during the hook are wonderful and she holds her notes with a sexiness that only adds to the song’s overall atmosphere. The chorus is addictive as Kumi maintains that slickness strongly and the little lines that are rapped really do the song justice. The third verse consists of her singing English phrases that keep the sexiness oozing such as “you make me hot…and wet.” Kumi’s breaths end the song over the hot instrumentation as well as her saying “I’m juicy.” JUICY is the album’s strongest track and is one of her most memorable ero-kakkoi songs.

Candle Light is a sweet and soft piano ballad that holds a lot of emotion. The beautiful sounds of the piano open the song before the first verse starts. Kumi’s delicate and fragile vocals fit the music perfectly by capturing the emotions of the song. The chorus stands out as Kumi sings a little higher and you can really hear the emotion in her voice. At some points, it sounds as if she has to take a breath as she is crying. The second verse allows her to show off a little more vocally before the final chorus starts. Her vocals on the last note of the verse make the transition perfect. The emotions come to a climax on this chorus as she sounds like she is on the brink of tears while she is singing it. Piano instrumentation brings the song to a close, making Candle Light a very pretty and soft ballad that carries emotion well.

Cherry Girl is one of the uptempo tracks that keeps the listener hooked from the opening instrumentation. Following is the chorus, which is catchy and Kumi shows off some nice vocal flare and attitude in her singing. The lyrics of the verses are delivered with a certain rapidity that make them stand out and a deeper voice that draws attention to her words. The third verse is a nice change of pace and the way she holds out her notes makes a certain sex appeal and the ending vocal is very strong. Following the chorus is a section consisting of complete English adlibs with phrases such as “juicy for my life” in powerful vocals that make them stand out very nicely. Cherry Girl is a fun uptempo track that keeps the listener interested throughout the entire song.

I’ll be there is a sweet relaxing midtempo number. The song begins with Kumi singing the chorus alongside the strumming of the guitar. The ending line, which is sung in English “I’ll be there for you,” really makes a nice impact and pops very well. The verses are the most enjoyable part of the song as they really capture the song’s atmosphere and Kumi’s vocals are beautiful. The hook features Kumi singing “I’ll be there for you, only for you” in the background, which is a very nice touch. The pure instrumental section is one of the song’s strongest points as the atmosphere is really shown off. I’ll be there is a nice and mellow midtempo song that definitely belongs on Black Cherry.

運命 is a beautiful ballad that the listener can really enjoy. Piano instrumentation along with the sound of a few string instruments open the song up before the first verse starts. Kumi’s soft vocals project emotion well and the beauty of the instrumentation really is enjoyed. The chorus is very pretty and Kumi shows off a little more vocal power that stands out strongly. The first word, the title of the song, opens the second verse and the way she sings it really does stand out. The third verse stands out particularly as the instrumentation takes more of a presence in the song as it becomes louder and Kumi’s vocals are shown off strongly. 運命 is a very pretty ballad with emotions coming through strongly.

One of Kumi’s best kawaii songs to date is With your smile, which is cute but also has a fun dance beat. The song opens with part of the chorus, which features some fun English lyrics “I just want kiss you, smile me, touch me.” The first verse has a certain relaxed summer feeling that really stands out to the listener and is something that is so addictive. The hook serves as a bridge as elements of the uptempo and fun instrumentation begin to be introduced in time for the exciting chorus. Her vocals during the chorus carry the energy and excitement to make the song just so loveable. The pure instrumental section spotlights the summery atmosphere of the song before the hook comes in nicely. The same words that began the song are what end it, making With your smile an awesome semifinal track and one of Kumi’s best cute songs ever.

ミルクティー, a cute song that Kumi composed herself, closes the album. The song begins with Kumi singing in her cute voice over a pretty simplistic instrumentation so that her words and vocals are in the forefront. Soon, a beat comes in more strongly and Kumi shows off a little more vocal strength. The following sequence stands out mostly for the “la la la” and the “oohs” that capture that kawaii atmosphere perfectly. Kumi sings her way wonderfully out, making ミルクティー a somewhat short song but a nice and relaxing finish track.

Album Ranking: A +

Koda Kumi’s 5th album Black Cherry features a variety of songs that show off her sexy side to her emotional side to her cute side. The dance songs such as Get Up & Move!! and JUICY are really her forte and she sounds completely natural singing them. She really connects with the emotional songs like 夢のうた and 運命. The cute element really does stand out with songs such as With your smile and Puppy. Black Cherry is a great collection of songs from Kumi and is an album no Kumi fan should miss.

Koda Kumi’s 4th studio album, entitled secret, was released on 02.09.05. Considered to be Kumi’s breakthrough album, secret features a number of catchy upbeat tracks as well as some beautiful ballads. Her ero-kakkoi image came full through with this album and is one of her best efforts to date. The singles released before the album are as follows: LOVE & HONEY, Chase, 奇跡 and hands. Hot Stuff was also released as a single after the album.

This album’s introductory track is Intro ~Get Down.~ The song begins somewhat strangely before the cool instrumentation comes in with Kumi singing “get down” repeatedly. Next some guy raps in English with Kumi making gapsing noises before the song returns to Kumi singing “get down” repeatedly. The intro is pretty simple but it makes a nice transition into the next track.

The album’s first full-length song is the catchy and popular キューティーハニー. The song opens up with a cool and sleek instrumental with a heavy bass before the pop elements come crashing in with extreme catchiness. The first verse sounds great as Kumi brings the cute and flirtatious attitude of the song with her voice perfectly. Opening the chorus are Kumi’s nice vocals that continue throughout the section and the whole poppy feel really makes the listener addicted. She makes the chorus pop at the end as she sings the final phrase strongly. The pure instrumental section is a nice breakdown with a cool instrumentation as well as some mens’ voices heard as they talk in English such as “all the big producers coming, it’s a big hit!” and “taking the whole route for some very narrow interpretation.” The song finishes with the chorus and a big pop flash to bring the song to an excellent close. The song is a highly addictive pop song that shows off a cute flare mixed with a certain sexiness element.

KM-MARKIT joins Kumi for the hip-hop influenced dance track Hot Stuff. KM-MARKIT opens the song over the beat as he speaks a couple lines in English before Kumi comes in on the first verse. The attitude and slickness in Kumi’s voice really work with the song’s atmosphere and blends with the instrumentation very well. Before the chorus, KM-MARKIT delivers his rap and it’s nothing particularly special but it works with the song’s atmosphere. The chorus allows Kumi to show off vocally and although there is some intersting English such as “cause I got a hot stuff,” the chorus does its job of being catchy. The third verse is somewhat of a conversation between KM-MARKIT and Kumi as Kumi sings a line and then KM-MARKIT raps one after her. Dance instrumentation brings the song to a close and Kumi completely closes it with her singing “cause I got a hot stuff, come and get it.” Hot Stuff may not be the strongest song on the album but it’s nice and is enjoyable every now and then.

The rock-influenced promotional track, Selfish, is the next song on secret. The song opens up with a mysterious sound before the song’s catchy rock-influenced instrumentation begins. The first verse features some nice vocals that blend with the music in capturing the song’s overall sound. The explosive chorus is easily the most addictive part of the song as Kumi shows off her vocal strength powerfully. The pure instrumental section is a very nice breakdown of the hot dance beat followed by some very powerful adlibs from Kumi. The chorus followed by pure instrumentation brings the song to a perfect close. Kumi’s vocals and the hot instrumentation make Selfish a definite memorable track from this album.

hands opens up with the part of the chorus and from the very beginning of the piano-driven instrumentation and her vocals, the sorrow of the song is established. Common with some of Kuu’s ballads, the verses feature deeper vocals and once the chorus, her vocals show their power and emotion strongly. The song is pretty simplistic as it follows this pattern for the rest of the song. It’s a nice song and although it’s not the strongest ballad on this album, it’s a song that should be given a chance.

Hearty… is one of the cutest songs on the album. The song opens up wonderfully with the first verse that features Kumi’s cute voice along with a happy poppy instrumentation that is addictive from the very beginning. The chorus keeps up the happy atmosphere of the song as Kumi shows off a little more vocal strength. The small sections of pure instrumentation create a dreamy-like feel. The third verse continues the song’s magic before the final chorus. A sequence of pure instrumentation finishes the song off wondefully like the end of a dream. Hearty… is a very cute track and is a nice change of pace from the other songs on the album, making it one to look out for.

SHAKE IT is one of Kumi’s sexier sounding songs and features a hot Indian sound. The song opens up with the hook, spoken all in English as Kumi asks “don’t you know, don’t you know what I mean?” and soon the first verse comes. Kumi delivers her lyrics with a certain slickness and sexiness that perfectly fits the song’s atmosphere and the final phrase makes a nice interlude into the chorus as she sings “ding-dong baby.” There are a few English phrases littered throught out the song such as in the second chorus when she sings “wanna be in your control,” which really make the chorus pop. The chorus features some stronger vocals that make the chorus stand out very strongly. The breakdown after the second chorus and hook is a rap section which may seem a little out of place to the listener at first but it definitely warms up after listening a few times. The rap section features an unidentified male rapper who raps a line and then Kumi raps a line after him and the entire section is in English. Although it may stick out as a little strange, it fits the song nicely. Much like the song began, the hook takes the listener out to make a nice finish for this sexy song. SHAKE IT is very memorable and one of secret’s jewels.

奇跡, one of the album’s true ballads, comes next. The album opens up with a twinkling and beautiful instrumental before the first verse starts. Kumi’s vocals on the verses are generally deeper but there is a certain emphasis that is drawn to the lyrics and her voice. The hook features the repeating English line “ust like paradise” as well as stronger vocals from Kumi and the English lines really do help it stand out. The chorus continues her vocal strength from the verses as she wonderfully delivers her lyrics and captures the emotional presence perfectly. The third verse really allows Kumi to reach high inside and hit the notes very well and at the end she hits a high octave absolutely beautifully. 奇跡 is a very pretty ballad that particularly shows off Kumi’s vocal prowess.

Trust you is a hot dance track that is one of the best the album has to offer. The song opens up with a great beat and Kumi saying “baby don’t go” followed by a little instrumentation that features some elements of traditional Japanese instruments. The first verse features some good vocals that go with the beat to make the listener intrigued for what’s to come next. The hook allows Kumi to reach a little higher as she sings the “precious night” and makes a segue into the chorus. The chorus is very catchy and Kumi shows a little more vocal power and the hotness of the beat is retained strongly. The song ends much like it began with Kumi saying “baby don’t go” over the dance beat. Trust you is one of the coolest songs on the album and definitely worth the listen.

The jazzy pop track, Chase, appears as the album’s tenth track. The album opens up with a jazz-tinted instrumentation over a few adlibs from Kumi before the first verse starts. Her vocals sound great and the English phrases such as “start me up” really pop. The hook begins to build up the variety of the music before the chorus comes and is very catchy. Her vocals during the chorus stand out even more, making the chorus a very addictive part of this song. The pure instrumental section spotlights just how fun and interesting the music of Chase really is before the chorus and a little more instrumentation brings the song to a close. Chase is an excellent song that finds its home on the album and is one of the most addictive songs on the album.

More kawaii-Kumi emerges on the pop track with slight rock-influences, LOVE HOLIC. The song opens up with the highly addictive and catchy chorus that features Kumi singing more in her cute voice but still showing off some nice flare. The energy of the chorus is what really makes it stand out and makes the listener interested in the rest of the song. Kumi’s vocals during the verses are nice as well and still capture the happiness and the poppiness that makes the song so fun. The sections of pure instrumentation that follow the second chorus is really fun and even features an English line “yeah when you do that to me…” followed by a cute giggle, which segues into the more pop-rockish elements of instrumentation. The same sort of sound finishes the song off as the last line is “yeah baby, that’s so good…” which shows that there are still elements of sexy to the cute song. LOVE HOLIC is a fun and exciting song that makes the listener take notice.

24 is the sweet ballad with a strong emotional presence. The song opens up with a sweet instrumentation that really does give off a sorrowful romantic atomsphere. The verses feature some wonderful vocals as she holds her notes well and reaches her higher notes perfectly. The English phrases such as “baby blue” and “come back” really stand out. The chorus isn’t as strong as the verses and is a little bland because the background vocals are a bit simplistic and is completely in English but Kumi’s adlibbbing sounds nice. The pure instrumental section gives off a dreamy feeling that works with the song’s atmosphere and is a nice spotlight on pretty instrumentation. The ending chorus features some stronger adlibbing from Kumi in English that really display the emotions that the song unleashes. 24 has very strong verses and a slightly bland chorus but it’s worth the listen for showing off Kumi’s vocals.

The album’s final upbeat song is Let’s Party. A nice and slightly funky instrumentation opens up this fun and uptempo song. On the verses, Kumi’s vocals are softer and for an upbeat song, the music is less aggressive and is even somewhat relaxing. To introduce the chorus, Kumi sings an English lyric such as the title of the song. The chorus is nice as the tempo continues and Kumi’s vocals are nice too. The pure instrumental section is nice as it puts a spotlight on how cool the music sounds. Overall Let’s Party is the weakest upbeat song but it’s still a nice listen.

Believe, the magical ballad, is the album’s semifinal track. The song starts off with guitar-driven instrumentation before the first verse starts and Kumi’s soft vocals do a perfect job of capturing the sorrow of the lyrics. The chorus stands out the most in the song as Kumi shows off her vocal power with an emotional presence that really stands out. Her power is seen especially on the final notes of the chorus where she really belts out. The pure instrumental section spotlights the magical quality of the song’s instrumentation before the emotional choruses come again. Believe is definitely the album’s star ballad for best capturing the emotion with fantastic vocals.

Through the sky is the album’s finale, a fantasy-like ballad. The song opens up with a magical instrumental before the first verse comes in. Kumi’s vocals show both some power as well as restraint that support the piano-central instrumentation well. The hook shows off Kumi’s range as she reaches a little higher and the final note before the chorus sounds fantastic. Her vocals during the chorus are really strong and have the emotion behind that make the song really come alive. The pure instrumental section is gorgeous as the beauty and fantasy feeling are spotlighted before Kumi comes strongly with the chorus. Through the sky is a wonderful finish for the album as a beautiful ballad that both displays emotional presence and vocal strength.

Album Ranking: A

Kumi’s 4th album features a variety of tracks that lets the listener find enjoyable. From the hot uptempo numbers such as Selfish and Trust you to the cute songs like キューティーハニー and LOVE HOLIC to the beautiful ballads such as Believe and 24, secret is a cohesive album from start to finish that is able to allure the listener.

Koda Kumi’s second studio album, grow into one, was released 03.19.03. The album shows a nice pop flare that begins to develop over the years. The singles released prior to the album were love across the ocean, m・a・z・e and real Emotion / 1000 乱反射.

Clench and Blistah join Kumi for the introductory track, Teaser. The song opens up Blistah delivering a nice rap section over a hot dance beat. Occasionally Kumi chimes in with a few phrases such as “get down” as well as some some oohs and yeahs. Kumi’s section comes in during the middle of the song and she sings her way wonderfully through it in all English. Her vocals sound perfect with the music and she captures the dance atmosphere perfectly. Clench comes after Kumi and delivers another rap section and finishes off the song with Kumi and Blistah chiming in a few times. Teaser is an excellent introductory track for the album and is a wonderful dance song.  

real Emotion is the second song on grow into one. The song opens up with Kumi singing “what can I do for you” before the instrumentation really comes into play. The pop sound and the beat really show just how catchy the song is before the first verse comes in. Kumi’s vocals are generally deeper here and progressively grow stronger as the verse goes on. The chorus really allows Kumi to sing with more power and catch, letting the listener follow along each word. Once the chorus finishes, the opening line repeats as she sings “what can I do for you; I can hear you.” The pure instrumental section sounds great as “what can I do for you” is repeated throughout the segment, only adding to the catchiness. real Emotion was half of Kumi’s first true hit single and it’s no wonder why.

The third song on the album is the slow pop song, BOY FRIEND? The song opens up with a sweet instrumentation before the pop chorus comes in. Kumi’s vocals sound very good here and it makes the chorus really stand out. During the verses, Kumi’s vocals are a little softer but still show flare that make them memorable. It’s the hook that really stands out as the instrumentation changes and gives a “night-time” feeling and serves as a good contrast from the verses and the chorus. With some English phrases as well as Japanese lyrics, both languages work to compliment the other. The pure instrumental takes on the sound of the hook with only the English lines in a hushed voice. It’s a very strong decision that re-introduces the chorus strongly because of the different sound. Kumi adlibs her way out to bring the song to a great close. BOY FRIEND? is a nice song after real Emotion and a great addition to the album.

The mood of the album slows down with Your only one. The song opens up with a flute-like sound that really sets the atmosphere of the song nicely. The verses feature pretty soft vocals from Kumi in a deep tone and progressively, they become slightly stronger over the course of the verse. The chorus features a slightly different instrumenation along with some more powerful and emotional vocals from Kumi to really make it stand out more. The small pure instrumental section sounds very pretty as it takes on the same sound that opened the song up. Kumi ends the song with a little more power in her vocals with a few adlibs before instrumentation takes the final end. Your only one is a nice song and the album’s first ballad that is worth the listen.

LISA joins Koda Kumi for the fifth song, one. The song opens strongly with one line that really opens up the song on a fun and catchy part. Instrumentation follows and then the first verse comes in. Kumi’s vocals during the verses are pretty low-pitched but the chorus gives her a chance to show off her vocals strongly. She displays more power and she holds the final note of the chorus excellently before the hook, rapped by Kumi with attitude. LISA’s rap sequence features a lot of English to make it really pop and is pretty catchy in its own right. The song ends nicely with the chorus as lines of the hook are inserted during what would be the small music breaks to really combine Kumi’s more powerful vocals with her deeper vocals. Then the same line that opened the song, closes it, making for a very catchy ending. For its catchiness and fun, Kumi and LISA did a great job on the song. 

The sound of a harp opens the next song, One night romance. A mellow pop instrumentation opens up the song very nicely with a great beat. When the first verse arrives, Kumi shows off a little range as she sings both high and deep, soft and with power. She introduces each chorus with an English line such as “I wanna know what it’s all about.” The chorus really stands out for being catchy and Kumi’s vocals sound great here. One night romance is a pretty nice track and is fairly catchy so it’s worth the listen.

1000 の言葉, a magical ballad and one half of her first hit single, is next. The song opens up with a fantasy-like instrumentation before the first verse starts. Her vocals here begin on the deeper side, matching with the music which has become more simplistic. The hook begins to bring more variety to the instrumentation and Kumi begins to show off a little more vocal power, introducing the chorus perfectly. During the chorus, Kumi’s vocals sound great, particularly as she holds the final note with power and control. She does a good job of portraying the emotion of the song with her voice through the chorus especially. The pure instrumental setion spotlights just how pretty the music is and shows off it’s magical quality that makes it so enjoyable. The song is a beautiful ballad with lots of emotion that Kumi creates with her great vocals, making it a stand-out track on the album.

S.O.S. ~sound of silence~ shows off a pop flare with very interesting instrumentation. The song begins with very cool and synthesized music so that an almost “technological instrumentation” is established. Once the first verse, Kumi delivers her lyrics in a somewhat deep voice and with such a slickness, it fits with the music perfectly. The hook takes the instrumenation in a different direction as strings are focused and Kumi begins to display more vocal strength. The chorus shows off Kumi’s vocals even further in a catchy pop section that stands out perfectly. The pure instrumental section sounds great and puts an emphasis on the slickness and coolness of the music before making a smooth transition into the hook and final chorus. S.O.S. ~sound of silence~ is a great album track and a fun pop song that is one of the more memorable songs on the album.

Continuing songs with interesting instrumentation is m・a・z・e. The song opens up with Kumi speaking in English when a very cool and somewhat mysterious instrumentation comes booming in. Kumi’s vocals are deeper during the verses and as the instrumentation becomes slightly more varied, her vocals become strongly. The catchiest part of the song, the chorus, brings the instrumentation to its coolest sound and Kumi’s vocals to their strongest in the song as she sings with emotion. The strings are really brought out during the pure instrumental section, which re-introduces the chorus very nicely. Instrumentation finishes the song off very nicely, making this song another one not to be skipped nor forgotten.

The final song in the trio of interesting instrumentation is 乱反射. The song begins with an instrumentation almost reminiscent of a video-game, opening the song up very strongly. During the verses, Kumi’s vocals are deeper to match the more basic instrumentation at this point. The hook is strong as Kumi shows more vocal strength and the instrumentation begins to sound like it did in the opening. The chorus allows Kumi to sing even more powerfully and with more emotion. The pure instrumental section is very nice as Kumi sings in a deep voice “hey boy.” A powerful finish ends the song with wonderful music. With an interesting instrumentation and some great vocals from Kumi, the song is cool and addictive.

One of the album’s true ballads is here, Pearl Moon. Soft and pretty piano playing introduces the song before Kumi sings with smooth and deep vocals during the verses. The overall song is pretty simplistic as the instrumentation remains piano-central and Kumi sings with the same general tone. Her vocals carry the emotion well so that the listener can really believe what she is singing. It may be a little bland but it’s a nice listen every now and then.

Certain elements of jazz come to Kumi on the sexy and seductive, Nasty girl. The song opens up with a great instrumentation that captures a jazzy feel and creates a certain sexual energy. As the first verse begins, Kumi’s vocals are smooth and seductive to really capture the atmosphere created by the sound and the lyrics. The chorus steps out as Kumi shows off more vocal strength, particularly as she holds the last note of the last line perfectly. The pure instrumental section is a nice touch, showing off some great piano sounds and the following line that she whispers puts the icing on the cake. The song finishes with a fantastic note from Kumi in the final chorus and following instrumentation. Nasty girl is an excellent album track that shows off Kumi’s vocals, which help capture a sexual atmosphere perfectly.

To be one is the semifinal track, which nicely captures the sounds of summer. A fun dance beat opens up the song before the first verse comes in. Once again, her vocals are somewhat low but they really have a certain energy to them that works perfectly with the music. The chorus gives more vocal power and even more energy to this catchy song. The pure instrumental section really takes the listener into the world of the song as Kumi’s “hey” is repeated in a somewhat hushed voice in the beginning and grows louder until the section finishes. To be one is a really fun summery pop song that segues very nicely into the album’s final track.

The album ends strongly with the infectious pop dance song, love across the ocean. The song opens up with a fun instrumentation before the first verse begins. During the verses, Kumi’s vocals are more on the deep side to because the instrumentation is simplistic during the verses, her voice is spotlighted. The hook serves as a bridge as Kumi begins to sing a bit more powerfully and the instrumentation becomes more varied, which transitions into the chorus perfectly. Kumi brings out even more vocal power on the catchy chorus and the finishing English lyrics “oceans apart, longing to be with you again” really make it pop at the end. The pure instrumental section spotlights the impressive guitar playing in particular to bring out just how catchy and infectious the instrumentation really is. The same instrumentation finishes off the song after the chorus, rounding off the song wonderfully. love across the ocean is an excellent song and a brilliant album closer as it shows off Kumi’s great vocals with a dance beat that she shows her completely in her element.

Album Ranking: A –

Kumi’s second album features many tracks that listeners can find enjoyable. From the beautiful ballads such as 1000 の言葉 and Your only one to the dance pop tracks such as love across the ocean and S.O.S. ~sound of silence,~ the album has its bases covered. Kumi brings her heat on Nasty girl and works very well with interesting instrumentation on tracks such as 乱反射. grow into one is an excellent album that is a good collection of Kumi songs.