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.
Work It Out!
倖田來未 Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Sunshine 味方つけて
また今日も始まりました
この戦いが
このドア開ければ
愛想笑いをして
理解しがたい日常が
可笑しいけど
指先ばっかを見てても
何も始まらない
前を見ればほらでっかい
ゴールあるじゃない!
クヨクヨそんな顔
私の顔には似合わない
嫌な事が前にあれば
イイ事もある
Go! Go! Go!
Work it out!
見掛けなんかで
判断するヤツは
大事なもの失ってる
可哀想な人
戦いが終われば
Friend dinner も待ってる
ムカツクけど今日も負けない
ハナタレが
やっぱやるしかない
指先ばっかを見てても
何も始まらない
前を見ればほらでっかい
ゴールあるじゃない
クヨクヨそんな顔
私の顔には似合わない
嫌な事が前にあれば
イイ事もある
未来の私は
今が底ならば這い上がる
ホントの強さを
忘れちゃいけない
Go! Go! Go!
泣いてしまえば
向こうの思うツボ
指先ばっかを見てても
何も始まらない (何も始まらない)
前を見ればほらでっかい
ゴールあるじゃない!
クヨクヨそんな顔
私の顔には似合わない
嫌な事が前にあれば イイ事もある
Go!go!go!
Work it out!
Go! Go! Go!
Go! Go! Go!
Work it out! Work it out!
The lyrics of "Work It Out!" by Koda Kumi convey a message of perseverance, optimism, and embracing challenges in life. The song encourages listeners to face their difficulties head-on and find the strength to overcome them.
The opening lines "Here we go, raise your feet" and "Get some sunshine on your side" set the tone for a new day and a fresh start. It signifies the beginning of a battle or struggle, but also suggests that with a positive mindset, one can conquer anything that comes their way.
The lyrics emphasize the importance of not getting caught up in trivial judgments or appearances. It highlights the foolishness of those who judge based on superficial factors, as they are missing out on valuable experiences and connections. This critique evokes sympathy for such individuals, as they are described as "pitiful people" who have lost something significant.
The chorus of the song repeatedly urges the listener to "Work it out!" This phrase serves as a mantra, reminding individuals that simply focusing on their doubts and worries won't lead to any progress. Instead, they should look ahead and recognize the immense possibilities for success that lie before them. The determination to face challenges head-on and the refusal to be discouraged are key themes throughout the song.
The lyrics also emphasize the idea that for every negative experience, there is also something positive waiting to be discovered. It encourages the listener to remain resilient even in the face of adversity because, in the end, there will be a reward or a "big goal" to achieve.
The final lines emphasize the importance of never forgetting one's true strength, even when at one's lowest point. It advises against falling into the trap of being manipulated by others' opinions or allowing oneself to be consumed by negative emotions. The repetition of "Go! Go! Go!" underscores the need to keep moving forward and not give up.
Overall, "Work It Out!" serves as a rallying cry for perseverance, resilience, and optimism. It encourages listeners to overcome challenges with a positive mindset, focus on the possibilities ahead, and recognize the good that can emerge even from difficult experiences.
Line by Line Meaning
Here we go 足あげて
Let's get ready, lift your spirits
Sunshine 味方つけて
Bring some positivity, surround yourself with supporters
また今日も始まりました この戦いが
Once again, another day of this ongoing battle begins
このドア開ければ 愛想笑いをして
As I open this door, I put on a fake smile
理解しがたい日常が 可笑しいけど
The incomprehensible daily life may seem strange, but
やるしかない私
I have no choice but to keep going
指先ばっかを見てても 何も始まらない
If I only focus on my fingertips, nothing will happen
前を見ればほらでっかい ゴールあるじゃない!
But look ahead, there's a big goal waiting!
クヨクヨそんな顔 私の顔には似合わない
A worrisome face doesn't suit me
嫌な事が前にあれば イイ事もある
If there are unpleasant things in front, there are also good things
Go! Go! Go!
Let's go, with full energy!
Work it out! 見掛けなんかで 判断するヤツは 大事なもの失ってる 可哀想な人
Work it out! Those who judge based on appearances are missing out on important things, poor souls
戦いが終われば Friend dinner も待ってる ムカツクけど今日も負けない
Once the battle is over, there's a friend dinner waiting. It may be frustrating, but I won't lose today
ハナタレが やっぱやるしかない
Even if setbacks occur, I still have no choice but to keep going
未来の私は 今が底ならば這い上がる ホントの強さを 忘れちゃいけない
The future me will crawl up if I'm at the bottom, I must not forget my true strength
Go! Go! Go!
Let's go, with full energy!
泣いてしまえば 向こうの思うツボ
If I cry, that's what they want
指先ばっかを見てても 何も始まらない (何も始まらない)
If I only focus on my fingertips, nothing will happen (nothing will happen)
前を見ればほらでっかい ゴールあるじゃない!
But look ahead, there's a big goal waiting!
クヨクヨそんな顔 私の顔には似合わない
A worrisome face doesn't suit me
嫌な事が前にあれば イイ事もある
If there are unpleasant things in front, there are also good things
Go!go!go!
Let's go, with full energy!
Work it out!
Work it out!
Go! Go! Go!
Let's go, with full energy!
Go! Go! Go!
Let's go, with full energy!
Work it out! Work it out!
Work it out! Work it out!
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Royalty Network
Written by: Dana Calitri, Kumi Koda, Tommy Henriksen, Nina Ossoff
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind