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.
Believe
倖田來未 Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
また弱い自分に気付いた
君からさよなら
「それで終わりなの?」
言えない言葉が涙に変わってく
傷つかない恋なんて
本当の恋じゃない
君との傷なら恐くない
もう一度見てくれるとそう信じたい
Listen to my heart
素直な鼓動を震える身体
この腕で抱きしめたまま
こうして毎日続いていくものと
思っていたんだ これからもずっと
君のみつめるその先にはもう
僕はもう映っていないの?
何かを大切にしようとするとまた
大切なものを傷つけていたんだ
I Believe これからもずっと
君を笑わせるのが僕だったのに
Listen to my heart
素直な気持ちを
必要としてほしい
いつでもそばにいるから
I Believe 強がりな僕を
もう一度見てくれるとそう信じたい
Listen to my heart
素直な鼓動を震える身体
この腕で抱きしめたまま
I Believe これからもずっと
君を笑わせるのが僕だったのに
Listen to my heart
素直な気持ちを
必要としてほしい
いつでもそばにいるから
The lyrics of 倖田來未's song "Believe" delve into themes of love, loss, self-realization, and the struggles of maintaining relationships. The opening lines, "戻せない過去 戻れない過去 また弱い自分に気付いた" ("The unreturnable past, the unreachable past, I noticed my weak self again"), suggest a sense of regret and vulnerability, as the singer reflects on their inability to change the past and acknowledges their own weaknesses. The departure of a loved one is also referenced with the line, "君からさよなら 'それで終わりなの?' 言えない言葉が涙に変わってく" ("Goodbye from you, 'Is this the end?' Words I can't say turn into tears"), showcasing the pain of goodbye and the difficulty in expressing emotions.
The chorus of the song reinforces a sense of hope and determination, with the repetition of "I Believe" serving as a mantra for the singer to hold onto. The lines, "I Believe 強がりな僕を もう一度見てくれるとそう信じたい" ("I Believe that if you would look at my tough façade again, I want to believe") express a desire for acceptance and understanding despite putting up a front. The plea to "Listen to my heart" emphasizes the importance of genuine emotions and vulnerability in the singer's relationships, as they long to be embraced with authenticity.
As the lyrics progress, there is a sense of introspection and questioning about the nature of relationships and the singer's role within them. The lines, "こうして毎日続いていくものと 思っていたんだ これからもずっと" ("I thought this would continue every day, from now on and forever"), convey a sense of uncertainty and disillusionment as the singer wonders if they still hold a place in the heart of the person they once loved. The acknowledgement of causing harm unintentionally, as seen in "何かを大切にしようとするとまた 大切なものを傷つけていたんだ" ("Every time I tried to cherish something, I ended up hurting what was precious"), reflects a sense of regret and a desire to do better moving forward.
The closing verses and chorus of the song revisit the themes of self-realization, persistence, and the yearning for connection. The repetition of "I Believe" and the plea for the other person to "Listen to my heart" reinforce the singer's resolve to show their true self and be there for the person they care about. The lines, "I Believe これからもずっと 君を笑わせるのが僕だったのに" ("I believed that from now on and forever, making you smile was what I was meant to do"), reveal a sentiment of wanting to bring joy and happiness to the relationship, despite past struggles. Ultimately, the lyrics encapsulate a journey of self-discovery, acceptance, and the enduring hope for a lasting connection built on genuine emotions and understanding.
Line by Line Meaning
戻せない過去 戻れない過去
I can't go back to the past, I can't return to the past
また弱い自分に気付いた
I've noticed my weak self again
君からさよなら
Goodbye from you
「それで終わりなの?」
'Is that the end?'
言えない言葉が涙に変わってく
The words I can't say are turning into tears
傷つかない恋なんて 本当の恋じゃない
Love that doesn't hurt isn't true love
君との傷なら恐くない
I'm not afraid of the wounds with you
I Believe 強がりな僕を もう一度見てくれるとそう信じたい
I want to believe that you will look at my tough side again
Listen to my heart 素直な鼓動を震える身体 この腕で抱きしめたまま
Listen to my heart, trembling with honest beats, held in these arms
こうして毎日続いていくものと 思っていたんだ これからもずっと
I thought this would continue every day, forever
君のみつめるその先にはもう 僕はもう映っていないの?
Do I no longer appear beyond where you're looking?
何かを大切にしようとするとまた 大切なものを傷つけていたんだ
Whenever I try to cherish something, I end up hurting what's precious
I Believe これからもずっと 君を笑わせるのが僕だったのに
I used to be the one who made you smile, and I believe that will continue
Listen to my heart 素直な気持ちを 必要としてほしい いつでもそばにいるから
I want you to need my honest feelings because I'll always be by your side
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: koudakumi
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind