The Koda Kumi Rate PART I: The End. Onto the next part we go

mi|kshake

mi|kshake

I used to love a bit of 3LW back in the day, especially their first album but totally missed the stolen sample in Shake It until I read about it online years later! I actually give it a lower rating because of the Ice Cube sample in the middle of the song. I thought it was just for the "breakdown" in the PV - fine! But then I listened to Secret...and the sample to this day ruins the song for me.

I remember being a member of a Kumi forum back in the day (can't remember the name but the address maybe had the phrase "Stream of Stars" in it?) and OH.MY.GOD the meltdowns when the PV for Shake It was released! I'm sure some members vowed never to listen to her again!
 
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Deleted member 3416

Ceir said:
REAL
EMOTION
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Hmm not if my scores are anything to go by.....

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Deleted member 3416

send photo said:
Nice of you to go into niche rates for artists you're unfamiliar with just to fuck it up for the fans.
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Hmm actually I voted how I would normally in any rate so please don't be so stupid. I've made some great discoveries and given various high scores, just because I don't like a particular song doesn't mean I've come into a rate to "fuck it up for the fans" so that's laughable.

Also I wouldn't be taking rate advice from someone who abandoned their biggest one but cheers.
 
ohnostalgia

ohnostalgia

Staff member
She/her
GhettoPrincess said:
Also I wouldn't be taking rate advice from someone who abandoned their biggest one but cheers.
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evilsin said:
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As the host who was “abandoned”, you two have no fucking idea what was going on in either of our lives and behind the scenes. So this was extremely uncalled for and really gross. @send photo had legitimate reasons to leave and quite frankly I almost quit too. A rate is not more important than your health.
 
evilsin

evilsin

ohnostalgia said:
As the host who was “abandoned”, you two have no fucking idea what was going on in either of our lives and behind the scenes. So this was extremely uncalled for and really gross. @send photo had legitimate reasons to leave and quite frankly I almost quit too. A rate is not more important than your health.
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I'm in no form tried to insinuate anything, was just reacting to that particular faux pas. I too believe it was uncalled for, but a bit in @GhettoPrincess' defense, not many people on the forum really knew the reasoning for @send photo's leaving.

Can we please enjoy the music?
 
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evilsin

evilsin

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And y'all probably thought we were done with ties...































































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3 (2 track tie) real Emotion
Average: 8,75

Highest score: 11x1 (@Ceir), 10x6 (@send photo, @Monkey0, @Eskiath, @RUNAWAY, @Remorque, @me!)
Lowest score: 5x1 (@GhettoPrincess, I'm scared for you, sis)
My score: look just above​

Whew! What a ride this was for grow into one and in it's final moments in the rate it managed to secure a Top 3 placement even if it's a tie. real Emotion was produced by the brilliant Hara Kazuhiro and written by Kato Kenn specifically for Final Fantasy X-2. At this point I want to, no, need to express my immense gratitude to those people in Square Enix that believed in Kumi and gave her that amazing platform. Thank you so fucking much! The track in question is a melting pot of sounds and influences with the overarching futuristic feel and it's a perfect match for the games opening. Just a simple "What can I do for you?" and I'm hooked. I remember how surreal it felt to boot up my PS2, put the disc in the tray, press "X" and be welcomed by this mammoth of a song. At that point I already knew of Kumi and was listening to her all the time, so hearing her song, even if performed by another singer, was such a moment of genuine appreciation and love for the artist and world of music. Honestly, this is just a damn good pop song. Lyrics are, naturally, about Yuna's and Tidus' relationship:​

Even if you feel
Feelings that are shaking in the real world
If you shut your eyes, you'll be here
We have bonds
So, we are not alone

My feelings are shaking in the real world
I don't want to be defeated
All I can do now is just run
I can hear in my heart
That you are not alone
(c) @otenkiame

I'll give the floor to @Monkey0 first, "I'm pretty sure this song being in Final Fanatasy made the game as successful as it is." No lies detected, sis. At the same sime @Eskiath just calls it iconic, which it is. And @RUNAWAY agrees with my perception of the song's use in the game, "it's a stone cold BOP. Fits FFX2 PERFECTLY, and I never get tired of it. That's how you do an iconic video game #moment." YAS! Sadly, @Ceir couldn't muster up even a word for his 11. Oh well.​

Kuu loves to perform this one to this day, so let's have one of the older ones here, from a-nation '05.
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evilsin

evilsin

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3 (2 track tie) Selfish
Average: 8,75

Highest score: 11x1 (@GhettoPrincess), 10x5 (@Sprockrooster, @lalaclairi_, @RUNAWAY, @Weslicious, @Remorque)
Lowest score: 7x3 (@send photo, ha revenge! @Eskiath, @ThisIsRogue)
My score: 9​

And thus secret managed to have 2 of its songs in the Top 3! Which was expected, really. Selfish was produced and written by the producer extraordinaire Watanabe Miki, who delivered not only her first proper rock-influenced song, but one of her best as well. Truthfully, rock chick Kumi is pretty much 50/50 for me, even though I do believe that she can certainly sing those kind of songs. This is probably due to the fact that I generally prefer more poppier or R'n'B-tinged sounds, so you can just dismiss my ramblings. At the time of the release the track was so different and daring for Kumi that it's no wonder people loved it so much. I still remember how the fans were still raving about it when I discovered Kuu. Let's appreciate what appears to be one of the most powerful middle 8's of Kumi's discography as well. It doesn't even have words! The vampiric music video is probably one of the most striking of hers, with the whole choreography and outfits and stuff. Lyrically the track is about getting free in general and from a relationship:​

You just kept abusing me
Do you know how much that hurt me?
"I'm selfish, I'll be kind now"
Don't screw with me!

Since you've lost me, it's too late
For regrets

I just want to get away, you surely
Can't shine without me
Now's the moment, today for sure
I'll make you kneel in front of me
Selfish
(c) @otenkiame

Man hating queen, yas!

We go in with @Monkey0 (8) referencing Tyra, I imagine, "Make it rock but sexy!" And she did it effortlessly with flying colors. @lalaclairi_ is having a blast, "My favorite of all the rock-Kumi singles. It's relentless from the first few seconds; truly a powerhouse of a song." It doesn't let you get bored, that's for sure. @Sprockrooster was planning his next visit to the wig shop, "A heavy guitar track. QUEEN! With adlibs? WIG!" Was it chilly after? @RUNAWAY reveals one of his favorite places for finding backdoor music, "now this is the kind of Kuu I love. Rock-Kumi is the best. One of my first experiences with Kuu is accidentally finding this video on Vimeo back in like 2008 and LIVING. I love her so much." And I love that you love her. Did I comment this already? Maybe. We finish this elimination with @GhettoPrincess, who gave her precious 11 to this, "Loving the pop/rock vibe in this one, great choreography and music video too. Definitely the song that stood out the most to me".​

Kumi rarely performs Selfish nowadays, but we still can get a live here an there.
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evilsin

evilsin

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Average: 7,36

68 Your only one
64 Ranhansha
56 S.O.S. ～sound of silence～
50 Pearl Moon
40 Nasty girl
39 One night romance
31 m.a.z.e
28 one
22 BOY FRIEND?
22 To be one
12 love across the ocean
9 1000 no Kotoba
3 real Emotion

Highest scorers:
@evilsin 8,54 (feels... correct)
@Eskiath 8,35
@RUNAWAY 8,15

Lowest scorers:
@Ceir 6,23
@Sprockrooster 6,46 (you got what you wanted, sis)
@GhettoPrincess 6,77​
 
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Sprockrooster

Sprockrooster

RUNAWAY said:
Wait......the finale is NO TRICKS v. Cutie Honey?! What kind of ICON?!!
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evilsin said:
It is. This is actually amazing, who could've thought.
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Since I do not know her or her music that well... What am I exactly missing?

Also, I feel very afraid too.
I have a 5 and 10 left. I am not ready for any wrath.
Then again it would be full circle if I lowscored the winning song as @evilsin did in my Solange rate.
 
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