After 10 years, she became one of the best-selling artists of the decade and one of the most popular and influential artists in Japan.
Koda officially debuted with the single TAKE BACK in December 2000.
In 2002, after the release of several singles, she released her first studio album affection, which charted at #12.
Some success came her way when she was asked to do the main songs for the video game, "Final Fantasy X-2", with real Emotion/1000の言葉 (1000 words), Koda also provided the voice for the character Lenne in the Japanese version of the game as well as the character, "Yuna's", opening sequence dance via motion capture. The single proved to be a success, debuting at #3 and becoming Koda's first release to enter the top ten. It sold 282,734 copies and became the #24th highest-selling single of 2003. A few weeks later, Koda released her second studio album, grow into one, which debuting at #9.
In 2004, Koda released three more singles before the release of her 3rd studio album, feel my mind which again showed Koda's determinated progress, charting at #7.
From here on, Koda's success increased and her popularity rose with the release of her 11th single, a cover of 1970's anime opening, キューティーハニー, debuted at #4. This single also marked the start of Koda's to be trademark, new style: "ero-kakoii" (or "ero-Kawaii") which roughly translates as: "sexy-cool" or "sexy-cute". Koda's fourth album secret was released in February 2005. The album debuted #3 with 505,600 copie sold, making it the #22 album of 2005.
With Koda's popularity reaching new heights, she held her first live show, "secret ~FIRST CLASS LIMITED LIVE~", (later becoming one of the top 10 selling DVDs in Japan) and released her sixteenth single, Butterfly. Debuting at #2, it became her highest charting single of her career to date and was very well received by the Japanese public. Following this success, she released her first best-of compilation, BEST ~first things~. This is the album which is said to have skyrocketed her career, reaching #1 on the weekly charts and selling 1,207,793 copies, making it the #6 album of the year and the highest selling female album of 2005.
In December 2005, Koda Kumi began her 12 Singles Project in which she released one single each week for twelve consecutive weeks. The first single, you, became Koda's first ever #1 single. Each of the remaining singles from the project charted in the top five of the weekly singles chart. The success of the project was celebrated with the release of Koda's second best-of compilation album BEST ~second session~ which sold over a million copies in just over a week. It became the #2 album of 2006 with 1,768,628 copies sold. During this time, Kumi also won the 47th Nihon Record Taishō (best award prize in Japan) with Butterfly.
Her 30th single, 恋のつぼみ, the first single to be released since the 12 singles project, was released in May 2006 and debuted at #2 with 140,000 copies sold. The track became one of the most downloaded single of the year, with more than 2 millions legal downloads in just a few weeks. After the release of several successful singles, including 4 hot wave (a maxi summer single) and 夢のうた, which had become her #1 and #2 best selling singles with more than 300,000 copies sold, Koda released her fifth studio album, Black Cherry which remained at the #1 position for four weeks, selling more than 1 million copies. By the end of 2006, both BEST ~first things~ & BEST ~second session~ had nearly sold two million copies. Koda Kumi became the highest selling female artist of the year.
In 2007, Koda Kumi released several singles including 愛のうた, which became one of the most sung songs in Karaoke and one of the biggest hits from Koda’s discography. On the December 21st 2007, Koda Kumi became the seventh Japanese female artist to hold a solo concert at Tokyo Dome. During the concert, she celebrated the 7th year anniversary since her debut in front of 35,000 fans. By the end of the year, Kumi became, for the 2nd time running, the highest selling female artist of the year.
In January 2008, during the promotion of her 6th album, Kingdom, Kumi appeared as a guest on TBS radio show, "All Night Nippon". During which Koda mentioned her manager had recently got married and that she had asked her manager, "whether or not they would have children". When her manager replied that they wouldn't for the time being, Koda responded with her opinion that they ought to have children as soon as possible, as, "when women are around 35 years old their amniotic fluids go bad."
The comment was deemed so offensive that many radio shows and newspapers received angry complaints from women around the country. Koda's official website was shut down, along with endorser websites featuring her. Despite the public backlash, the album reached #1 on the Oricon charts for two weeks, selling over 600,000 copies.
4 months later, Koda made a return to the market with Moon Crying. Through the song, Koda expressed her real feelings and her apologies. The song quickly became a success and Koda was able to make a return to performing her songs on TV and radio. Shortly after the release of her 40th single, Koda released the upbeat single TABOO (to become one of the most popular song with her overseas fan-base) as well as the winter ballad single stay with me (which reached 2,000,000 downloads in few weeks) before the release of her 7th album : TRICK, which topped the Oricon Charts at #1 for 2 consecutive weeks.
In 2010, Koda celebrated the 10th anniversary of career beginnings, making it know that she wished to make the year special for her fans, the first project of the year was the release of her 8th album, UNIVERSE, coupled with a best album containing the biggest hits from her 2006~2008 works. During the year, she released several singles, including Lollipop & 好きで、好きで、好きで。, the later became her biggest digital success since 2008. She later released her first cover album, ETERNITY ~Love & Songs~, and held her first Stadium Tour in Summer 2010. In December, 2010, Koda Kumi hold a special concert in Tokyo Dome, for the 2nd time, in order to close the first chapter of her career with her fans.
Koda released her ninth studio album named Dejavu in March 2011. Shortly after its release, the singer started her national tour. Although Koda decided to perform in hall in order to be closer to her fans, this live tour is so far her longest tour to date with 72 dates from April to October.
Koda's 50th single was released August 2011 titled 4 TIMES. It included 4 songs as well as 4 music videos (first time since Summer 2006). The main song of the single is Poppin' love cocktail feat.TEEDA, a summer song produced by the pop rock band BACK-ON. The same year, she released 2 more singles where Koda shows the sexiest image of herself. In November 2011, Koda performed in Singapore for Mnet Asian Music Awards. She was the only Japanese star to perform and won the "Hottest Asian Artist" award. Koda's tenth album album was announced on December for a release in the beginning of 2012. Entitled , JAPONESQUE, the album includes a music video for each song, 17 in total. In the same time, Koda surprised everyone by writing on her official site that she is engaged to Kenji03 from BACK-ON. She announced her wedding by the end of the year. Few days after, Koda also confessed that she was 8 weeks pregnant.
空
倖田來未 Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
君の笑顔の奥の悲しみ
なくす勇気 君の胸の中にあるから
空よ教えて 自分ができることには
限界があるのかと考えて見上げる
「空には青い世界があるけど
僕には何があるのかな...」
卑屈になってしまう
遂げられなかった想い
届けようと誓う
広がるよ ほらみて
君の笑顔の奥の悲しみ
なくす勇気 君の胸の中にあるから
強くなること 意識せず
素直に笑えばいいさ
自然に歩いてこう
誰も笑いはしない
少しだけ自分の道
見えてきた気がする
どんなところかは
僕はまだわからない
夢と希望を鞄 詰め込んで
君との出会いを
待っている人がいるから
夏の風 教えてくれる
新しいことを告げに
未来広がるから
君の声を聞かせてよ
この歌が このメロディーが
流れ始めた 今ほら
準備は出来てる
君なら出来るよ きっと
広がるよ ほらみて
君の笑顔の奥の悲しみ
なくす勇気 君の胸の中にあるから
強くなること 意識せず
素直に笑えばいいさ
自然に歩いてこう
誰も笑いはしない
夏の風 教えてくれる
未来広がるから
These lyrics to Koda Kumi's song "Sora" (空) talk about the struggles and emotions hidden behind someone's smile. The singer encourages the listener to find the courage within their own heart to overcome sadness and limitations. They look up at the sky, wondering if there are limits to what they can achieve. They feel inferior and question what they have compared to the vastness and beauty of the sky. However, they realize that everyone's happiness extends infinitely, and they promise to reach their own unfulfilled desires.
The song expresses the message of finding strength and courage in oneself, even when facing sadness and uncertainty. It encourages the listener to embrace their emotions and face life with a genuine smile. The lyrics also mention the idea of walking on one's own path, even if others may not understand or laugh at it. The song carries a sense of hope and anticipation for the future, relying on the wind of summer to bring new opportunities. Overall, "Sora" is a motivational song that encourages self-discovery and perseverance.
Line by Line Meaning
広がるよ ほらみて
Look, it's spreading
君の笑顔の奥の悲しみ
The sadness beneath your smile
なくす勇気 君の胸の中にあるから
Because you have the courage to get rid of it in your heart
空よ教えて 自分ができることには
Oh sky, tell me if there are limits to what I can do
限界があるのかと考えて見上げる
I look up and wonder if there are limits
「空には青い世界があるけど
In the sky, there is a blue world
僕には何があるのかな...」
But what do I have...?
卑屈になってしまう
I become humble
人の幸せは どこまでも広がる
The happiness of others spreads infinitely
遂げられなかった想い
The feelings I couldn't accomplish
届けようと誓う
I vow to deliver them
広がるよ ほらみて
Look, it's spreading
君の笑顔の奥の悲しみ
The sadness beneath your smile
なくす勇気 君の胸の中にあるから
Because you have the courage to get rid of it in your heart
強くなること 意識せず
Become stronger without even realizing it
素直に笑えばいいさ
Just laugh honestly
自然に歩いてこう
Let's walk naturally
誰も笑いはしない
No one will laugh
少しだけ自分の道
Just a little bit of my own path
見えてきた気がする
I feel like I can see it
どんなところかは
What kind of place it is
僕はまだわからない
I still don't know
夢と希望を鞄 詰め込んで
Packing dreams and hopes into a bag
君との出会いを
Because there is someone waiting
待っている人がいるから
For the encounter with you
夏の風 教えてくれる
The summer wind will tell me
新しいことを告げに
To announce something new
未来広がるから
Because the future spreads
君の声を聞かせてよ
Let me hear your voice
この歌が このメロディーが
This song, this melody
流れ始めた 今ほら
Has started to flow, now, look
準備は出来てる
I'm ready
君なら出来るよ きっと
You can do it, for sure
広がるよ ほらみて
Look, it's spreading
君の笑顔の奥の悲しみ
The sadness beneath your smile
なくす勇気 君の胸の中にあるから
Because you have the courage to get rid of it in your heart
強くなること 意識せず
Become stronger without even realizing it
素直に笑えばいいさ
Just laugh honestly
自然に歩いてこう
Let's walk naturally
誰も笑いはしない
No one will laugh
夏の風 教えてくれる
The summer wind will tell me
未来広がるから
Because the future spreads
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: koudakumi
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
レントラー
頭からつま先まで可愛い
メイクも、髪型も服装も大好き
めっちゃ可愛い
露出してても下品さが全くない😍❤️
憧れる💓💓
トランプドナルド
めっちゃ懐かしい
たっぴ船長
これ発売された時
高校生だわ〜
懐かし
eritan 48
昔の彼女がよく歌っていた曲です。懐かしい。
Viola Z
When Koda Kumi was super good
田中勇次
めちゃめちゃくうちゃん大好き💓♥❤昔のくうちゃんは、最高😃⤴⤴テンションハイハイ😃歌姫くみ
misa 93
くぅちゃん(人･ω･)☆超かわいい☆(･ω･人)
くぅちゃん*´ㅅ`)ﾀﾞｲｽｷ♥
ゆり高崎
売れ始めたら鼻声っぽくなったよね
ちょんこと部落は死んどけ
手うるさいねんけど