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.
Once Again
倖田來未 Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
今、目に映るshiny day
Here we go, I'm a find my way
今、目に映るshiny day
ふとした瞬間に不安になる事だって
誰もうまく隠して、見せる
good smile
寂しさ溢れた夜には
明日を願う、心にblue sky
人は皆、旅の途中
君も歩いてゆくから
この声が続くその時まで
歌うonce, once again
届けonce，once again
その胸に花が咲く頃まで
待つよonce，once again
愛の詩を歌うよ with you
Here we go, I'm a find my way
今、目に映るshiny day
Here we go, I'm a find my way
今、目に映るshiny day
サヨナラがある度に
大人になる事なんて
知らず出会いと別れ
繰り返したmy life
意地悪な顔してみたり
人をもっと愛してみたい
夢は夢で終わらせない
私はまだ旅の途中
君がそこにいるから
声が続くその時まで
歌うonce, once again
届けonce, once again
その胸に花が咲く頃まで
待つよonce, once again
愛の詩を歌うよ with you
優しい風が顔を撫で
思い出すシルエット
いつもそばにいてくれる
かけがえないbest friends
強くなれるそんな気がして
もっと遠くへ
この声が続くその時まで
歌うonce, once again
届けonce, once again
その胸に花が咲く頃まで
待つよonce, once again
愛の詩を歌うよ
この声が続くその時まで
歌うonce, once again
届けonce, once again
その胸に花が咲く頃まで
待つよonce, once again
愛の詩を歌うよ with you
Here we go, I'm a find my way
今、目に映るshiny day
Here we go, I'm a find my way
今、目に映るshiny day
Here we go, I'm a find my way
今、目に映るshiny day
Here we go, I'm a find my way
今、目に映るshiny day
The lyrics of "Once Again" by Koda Kumi convey a message of perseverance, self-discovery, and the power of love and friendship. The song reflects on the journey of life and the moments of uncertainty and loneliness that we all experience. It encourages the listener to keep moving forward, to keep singing, and to find their way, even in the face of challenges.
The lyrics open with a determination to find one's way, to see the bright and shiny day that is before us. It acknowledges that everyone goes through moments of unease and vulnerability, but they are able to hide it behind a good smile. In the midst of a lonely night, the song suggests looking up at the sky and wishing for a blue sky in one's heart, expressing a desire for hope and brighter days.
The song emphasizes that everyone is on a journey, including the listener, and despite the goodbyes and constant cycles of meeting and parting in life, it is important to continue loving and cherishing others. The lyrics suggest a need for personal growth, wanting to become kinder and more loving towards others. It also encourages not letting dreams remain as mere dreams, but instead pursuing them and not letting them end prematurely.
The song touches on the importance of best friends, who are there through thick and thin, providing comfort and support. The lyrics evoke a sense of nostalgia through gentle winds and memories, and the presence of those irreplaceable best friends brings reassurance and strength. The song gives a sense of empowerment, the belief that one can become stronger and go further.
Overall, "Once Again" is a song about resilience, the beauty of love and friendship, and the ongoing journey of self-discovery.
Line by Line Meaning
Here we go, I'm a find my way
Let's start, I will find my own path
今、目に映るshiny day
Now, a bright day is reflected in my eyes
ふとした瞬間に不安になる事だって
Even in unexpected moments of anxiety
誰もうまく隠して、見せる good smile
Everyone hides it well and shows a good smile
寂しさ溢れた夜には
On lonely nights
何故か空を見上げて
For some reason, looking up at the sky
明日を願う、心にblue sky
Wishing for tomorrow, a blue sky in my heart
人は皆、旅の途中
Everyone is in the middle of a journey
君も歩いてゆくから
You are also walking forward
この声が続くその時まで
Until this voice continues
歌うonce, once again
I sing once, once again
届けonce，once again
Deliver once, once again
その胸に花が咲く頃まで
Until the flowers bloom in your heart
待つよonce，once again
I will wait once, once again
愛の詩を歌うよ with you
I will sing a love poem with you
サヨナラがある度に
Every time there is a goodbye
大人になる事なんて
Becoming an adult
知らず出会いと別れ
Unknowingly meeting and parting
繰り返したmy life
My life that repeats
意地悪な顔してみたり
Trying to make a mean face
人をもっと愛してみたい
I want to love people more
夢は夢で終わらせない
I won't let dreams end as just dreams
私はまだ旅の途中
I am still in the middle of the journey
君がそこにいるから
Because you are there
優しい風が顔を撫で
The gentle wind strokes my face
思い出すシルエット
Remembering the silhouette
いつもそばにいてくれる
Always being by my side
かけがえないbest friends
Irreplaceable best friends
強くなれるそんな気がして
Feeling like I can become stronger
もっと遠くへ
To go even further
この声が続くその時まで
Until this voice continues
歌うonce, once again
I sing once, once again
届けonce, once again
Deliver once, once again
その胸に花が咲く頃まで
Until the flowers bloom in your heart
待つよonce, once again
I will wait once, once again
愛の詩を歌うよ with you
I will sing a love poem with you
この声が続くその時まで
Until this voice continues
歌うonce, once again
I sing once, once again
届けonce, once again
Deliver once, once again
その胸に花が咲く頃まで
Until the flowers bloom in your heart
待つよonce, once again
I will wait once, once again
愛の詩を歌うよ with you
I will sing a love poem with you
Here we go, I'm a find my way
Let's start, I will find my own path
今、目に映るshiny day
Now, a bright day is reflected in my eyes
Here we go, I'm a find my way
Let's start, I will find my own path
今、目に映るshiny day
Now, a bright day is reflected in my eyes
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: Pushim
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind