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.
Gentle Words
倖田來未 Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
素直に言えず「Hello! Hello!」
逢えない日々が 続くから時計の
針を少しだけ 戻して
「2つの影が1つの時へ」
惹かれ合う 2人の Love
短く 淡い時間の中
優しすぎる言葉が
大きな夢が 2人の邪魔をする
背中 押したいはずなのに
夢を追いかけ 私のそばからそう
大きく羽ばたこうとしてる
「導かれるようにそっと」
そんな君を愛してる
強いまなざし その笑顔
めぐり逢えた喜びを
心の中 抱きしめて
惹かれ合う 2人の Love
短く 淡い時間の中
君の優しい言葉が
2人つなぐ鍵となる
The lyrics to Koda Kumi's song "Gentle Words" express the feeling of longing and the inability to directly express one's feelings. The singer gazes up at the sky and lets out a sigh, unable to say what she truly wants to say. The days of not being able to see each other continue, so she wishes she could turn back the clock just a little bit. There is the desire for the two of them to become one, to be drawn to each other in their love. However, in the short and fleeting moments they have together, the overly gentle words that are spoken only serve to evoke her own anxieties.
There is also a mention of a big dream that stands in the way of their union. The singer wants to support their partner, to push them forward, but at the same time, they are chasing after their dreams, moving away from her side, trying to soar high. She loves them as they are, guided by their own path. Their strong gaze and smile represent the joy of finally meeting each other, and they become the key that connects the two of them.
Overall, the lyrics convey the desire for a deeper connection with someone, but also the hesitation and insecurities that can arise in a relationship.
Line by Line Meaning
空を見上げて 少し溜め息つく
Looking up at the sky, I let out a small sigh
素直に言えず「Hello! Hello!」
Unable to say it honestly, I say, 'Hello! Hello!'
逢えない日々が 続くから時計の 針を少しだけ 戻して
Because the days without being able to meet continue, I want to turn back the hands of the clock just a little
「2つの影が1つの時へ」
'Two shadows becoming one moment'
惹かれ合う 2人の Love
The love between two people attracts each other
短く 淡い時間の中 優しすぎる言葉が 私の不安を誘う
In the short and fleeting moments, overly gentle words provoke my anxiety
大きな夢が 2人の邪魔をする
A big dream obstructs the two of us
背中 押したいはずなのに
Though I should want to support you
夢を追いかけ 私のそばからそう 大きく羽ばたこうとしてる
Chasing after your dream, you are trying to soar high away from me
「導かれるようにそっと」
'Gently being guided'
そんな君を愛してる
I love you for who you are
強いまなざし その笑顔
Your strong gaze and that smile
めぐり逢えた喜びを 心の中 抱きしめて
Embracing the joy of meeting each other within my heart
君の優しい言葉が 2人つなぐ鍵となる
Your kind words become the key that connects the two of us
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: koudakumi
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Risa
『Gentle Words』
2003.12.10 RELEASE
だいすきなシングル!
ジャケ写もサウンドも歌詞もMVも全部すき!
くぅちゃん綺麗!
「LIVE TOUR 2005~first things~」で
観覧車に乗りながらShh🤫てしてからのシャボン玉出てくる演出が最っ高に可愛かったの覚えてる!
カップリングの「Without Your Love」もカバー曲の「最後の雨」もめっちゃすき!
倖田來未
倖田來未-KODA KUMI- Listen Here →《https://avex.lnk.to/koda》
NewAL「re(CORD)」Release Now →《https://avex.lnk.to/KODAKUMI_reCORD》
【20周年イヤー記念スペシャル <MVフル尺大公開>】
KODA KUMI(倖田來未)の20周年イヤーを記念し、
今までの楽曲のリリース日に合わせて、MVのフル尺を大公開!
今だに進化し続ける国内トップのパーフォーマーKODA KUMI(倖田來未)
20年間を振り返りながらお楽しみください
Seregakuu
release Re(cord) on apple music E U ♥
ᴅɛvʏռ ᴘʀσᴡɛя ᴛʜɛ ꜰσx
Your songs are beautiful...
06 KEN
この時代のくうちゃんの曲は本間に神!!
今でも神やけど
Y S
倖田來未さんの曲の中で一番好き。切ない歌い方すごく好きです。
名無しさん
この歌、本当に好きすぎる。
いつまで経っても褪せない。
白玉あんこ
私の周りはこの歌知らない人多いから隠れた名曲だと思ってる
-Lisbeth Lisbeth
おれも知っているぞ
ひかる。🎶
俺も知ってる曲だ
toshi tsuku
DAI!!!