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.
1000の言葉
倖田來未 Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
夢の優しさかな？
ウソを全部
覆い隠してる
ズルイよね
旅立つ君に
冷めた背中見せて
ひとり戦うの？
ズルイよね
｢帰ってくるから｣
追い越してゆく君の声
意地張って
強いフリ
時を戻して
叫べば良かった？
行かないでと涙こぼしたら？
今はできる
どんなことも
言えなかった
1000の言葉を
遥かな
君の背中におくるよ
翼に変えて
言えなかった
1000の言葉は
傷ついた
君の背中に寄り添い
抱きしめる
夢の続きは
君を思いながら
あの日のこと
忘れたふりして
ズルイよね
｢手紙を書くから｣
視線そらした君の声
意地張って
強いフリ
時を戻して
怒れば良かった？
待てないよと肩を落としたら？
今はできる
どんなことも
聞こえてる？
1000の言葉を
見えない
君の背中におくるよ
翼に変えて
聞こえてる？
1000の言葉は
つかれた
君の背中に寄り添い
抱きしめる
言えなかった
1000の言葉を
Lalalala..
君の背中におくるよ
翼に変えて
聞こえてる？
1000の言葉は
Lalalala..
君の背中に寄り添い
Lalalalala....
The lyrics to 倖田來未's song 1000の言葉 tell the story of someone who is unable to express their true feelings to a loved one who is about to leave. The person reflects on how the other person's words seem like they are covering up lies and wonders if their kind words are just a dream. When the loved one leaves, the person regrets not speaking up and wonders if they should have begged them to stay or expressed their anger. Despite their regrets, they decide to send their love through 1000 unspoken words that they will turn into wings to carry their love to their loved one. The song is a poignant reflection on the power and difficulty of communication.
Line by Line Meaning
君の言葉は 夢の優しさかな？ ウソを全部 覆い隠してる ズルイよね
Are your words a gentle dream or are you hiding all lies? It's unfair.
旅立つ君に 冷めた背中見せて 聞いていたよ ひとり戦うの？ ズルイよね
Showing a cold shoulder to you leaving, fighting alone? It's unfair.
｢帰ってくるから｣ 追い越してゆく君の声 意地張って 強いフリ 時を戻して 叫べば良かった？ 行かないでと涙こぼしたら？ 今はできる どんなことも
"I will come back", your voice overtaking, stubbornly pretending to be strong. Should I have yelled to not go? If I had cried and begged you to stay? I can do anything now.
言えなかった 1000の言葉を 遥かな 君の背中におくるよ 翼に変えて
The thousand words I couldn't say, I'll send them to your distant back, turning them into wings.
言えなかった 1000の言葉は 傷ついた 君の背中に寄り添い 抱きしめる
The thousand words I couldn't say hurt, but I'll embrace you and stay by your side on your back.
夢の続きは 君を思いながら あの日のこと 忘れたふりして ズルイよね
Continuing the dream while thinking of you, pretending to forget that day. It's unfair.
｢手紙を書くから｣ 視線そらした君の声 意地張って 強いフリ 時を戻して 怒れば良かった？ 待てないよと肩を落としたら？ 今はできる どんなことも
"I'll write a letter", your voice avoiding my eyes, stubbornly pretending to be strong. Should I have been angry? If you had dropped your shoulders and said you can't wait? I can do anything now.
聞こえてる？ 1000の言葉を 見えない 君の背中におくるよ 翼に変えて
Can you hear them? I'll send the thousand words you can't see to your back, turning them into wings.
聞こえてる？ 1000の言葉は つかれた 君の背中に寄り添い 抱きしめる
Can you hear them? The thousand words are tired, but I'll embrace you and stay by your side on your back.
言えなかった 1000の言葉を Lalalala.. 君の背中におくるよ 翼に変えて
The thousand words I couldn't say, lalalala... I'll send them to your back, turning them into wings.
聞こえてる？ 1000の言葉は Lalalala.. 君の背中に寄り添い Lalalalala....
Can you hear them? The thousand words are lalalala... I'll stay by your side on your back, lalalala....
Contributed by Jason A. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Hina
君の言葉は
夢の優しさかな?
ウソを全部
覆い隠してる
ズルイよね
旅立つ君に
冷めた背中見せて
聞いていたよ
ひとり戦うの?
ズルイよね
「帰ってくるから」
追い越してゆく君の声
意地張って
強いフリ
時を戻して
叫べば良かった?
行かないでと涙こぼしたら?
今はできる
どんなことも
言えなかった
1000の言葉を
遙かな
君の背中におくるよ
翼に変えて
言えなかった
1000の言葉は
傷ついた
君の背中に寄り添い
抱きしめる
夢の続きは
君を思いながら
あの日のこと
忘れたふりして
ズルイよね
「手紙を書くから」
視線そらした君の声
意地張って
強いフリ
時を戻して
怒れば良かった?
待てないよと肩を落としたら?
今はできる
どんなことも
聞こえてる?
1000の言葉を
見えない
君の背中におくるよ
翼に変えて
聞こえてる?
1000の言葉は
つかれた
君の背中に寄り添い
抱きしめる
言えなかった
1000の言葉を
Lalalala…
君の背中におくるよ
翼に変えて
聞こえてる?
1000の言葉は
Lalalala…
君の背中に寄り添い
Lalalalala….
Hina
君の言葉は
夢の優しさかな?
ウソを全部
覆い隠してる
ズルイよね
旅立つ君に
冷めた背中見せて
聞いていたよ
ひとり戦うの?
ズルイよね
「帰ってくるから」
追い越してゆく君の声
意地張って
強いフリ
時を戻して
叫べば良かった?
行かないでと涙こぼしたら?
今はできる
どんなことも
言えなかった
1000の言葉を
遙かな
君の背中におくるよ
翼に変えて
言えなかった
1000の言葉は
傷ついた
君の背中に寄り添い
抱きしめる
夢の続きは
君を思いながら
あの日のこと
忘れたふりして
ズルイよね
「手紙を書くから」
視線そらした君の声
意地張って
強いフリ
時を戻して
怒れば良かった?
待てないよと肩を落としたら?
今はできる
どんなことも
聞こえてる?
1000の言葉を
見えない
君の背中におくるよ
翼に変えて
聞こえてる?
1000の言葉は
つかれた
君の背中に寄り添い
抱きしめる
言えなかった
1000の言葉を
Lalalala…
君の背中におくるよ
翼に変えて
聞こえてる?
1000の言葉は
Lalalala…
君の背中に寄り添い
Lalalalala….
JapaniseYourSelf
@Hina 歌詞を投稿していただきありがとうございます！🙏😃😊
渡邉梨花
これ大好き
clare Jean
now it's because of Kumi Koda and Hikaru Utada that's made Japanese pop my favorite genre in music.
JapaniseYourSelf
@clarejean3309 Thanks for sharing! My first was Hikaru Utada and Koda Kumi after, they began I believe the same years approximately! How can't we fall in love with these two great singers! ☺👍
あぐりGGI32
この曲を聴いて涙を流した高校生の頃の思い出が蘇ります。レゲエやガルクラ、セクシーな曲を普段歌われている倖田來未さんが、切なく、美しい透き通った曲を歌って下さったのは今でも感謝してもしきれません。
JapaniseYourSelf
@spheredmuh 思い出や気持ちを共有していただき、本当にありがとうございました！はい、多くの人に語りかけるとても美しい曲です！ ☺👍
くずごみ
自分の中では最高の名曲。
JapaniseYourSelf
@くずごみ レビューを共有していただきありがとうございます。😊😃👍
Meh
Wow, I didn't realise this was the original version of the 1000 words that's in FFX-2! No wonder it's in the top 100 FF music playlist haha