The Koda Kumi Rate: Part III, COMPLETE. See you in Q1 2020

She could've been so much, too bad the Japanese didn't care for her.

Hopefully this changes #soon.

Kumi and Broadway in one sentence? Now I've seen it all.

 

What about a cover and a ballad?





















67
Alone

Average: 6,81
Highest scorers: 10x1 (@Music Is Life), 8,5x1 (@me!)
Lowest scorers: 3x1 (@Ana Raquel), 4x1 (@Yeziirl)
My score: lookie above

Spoiler: Leaderboard History

5 voters: #54, 6,80 avg.
10 voters: #62, 6,30 avg.
15 voters: #63, 6,80 avg.
18 voters: #76, 6,81 avg.

​

Anyone feeling a bit lonely today? Written, composed and originally performed in 1996 by Okamoto Mayo, the song was first released as a b-side to "Koishikute" and was our first taste of Kumi's second cover album "Color The Cover", as the song later appeared on it. What can I say? This is another lovely ballad that has some memorable and pretty melodies in the chorus. Kumi does a great job here as she soars through the strings and guitar riffs. The way she gets overtaken by the emotion by the end of the song is something else. The lyrics are about a love triangle where a girl falls in love with her best friend's boyfriend:

I sit on a bench alone and see off many trains
The city lights blur - it really resembles that day

On the opposite platform, I found you and your girlfriend
You two were crossing arms happily
Your girlfriend is my important friend

If I were able to be more honest... If I had more courage...
I can't accept anything - I still love you so much
(c) @otenkiame

Only three of you could muster up anything to say about this, but seeing how I didn't have much to say about it as well... I'll forgive you.

It appears @Yeziirl (4) has an attention span of a goldfish, "another 5 minutes long bore…" And all together now - slower, doesn't mean boring.

The further down the songlist @abael (7) went, the more analytical it got for him, "It strange that KK’s production team seems to understand the strengths in restraint for her B-Sides, which stands in stark difference to most of the album." She's a chama-chama-chama-chameleon after all, she needs to try everything.

We'll finish with @otenkiame (7,5), who once again understands me like no other, goddamn it! "I wouldn't go saying this is my favourite covers of hers, but she did a great job covering this. The emotion is there, getting across regardless of the language barrier. Honestly, I enjoyed this cover ballad more than a lot of her own ballads she had been releasing around the time of its release." I would go that far, but this was very lovely, yes.

Kumi performed this one live during her "JAPONESQUE Tour", but I can't find any links online, so let's listen to the original instead.

​

 

What's a rate without a couple dozens of ties?


65a
Slow feat. Omarion

Average: 6,86
Highest scorers: 9x2 (@soratami, @vague), 8,5x3 (@Love Deluxe, @Remorque, @Music Is Life)
Lowest scorers: 2x1 (@Eskiath), 4x1 (@abael)
My score: 6,5

Spoiler: Leaderboard History

5 voters: #75, 6,00 avg.
10 voters: #66, 6,10 avg.
15 voters: #68, 6,67 avg.
18 voters: #65, 6,86 avg.

​

Apparently "JAPONESQUE" hasn't suffered enough. Written by Kumi and Omari Ishmael Grandberry, a.k.a. Omarion, and produced by Tommy Clint (Amuro Namie's "Heaven"), the track was one of the newer ones on the album. It boasts a surprising collaboration in Omarion. I still wonder how that all happened. Anyway, we got a 2010s R'n'B mid-tempo full of synths. On paper I should be eating that whole plate up, but in reality I almost hate it. I mean, the chorus' melody is really nice, but I want to strangle whoever suggested putting vocoder all over Kumi's vocals throughout the entire song. It cheapens the whole song for me. I also didn't really like Omarion's contribution, because it seems he didn't get the memo that the song is about not needing anything material. Cue Omarion listing everything he has and provided for his boo... Sigh. Kii at him saying "fuck" though. So yeah, the lyrics:

What I want is it slow
Let's advance on slowly
Let's destroy, destroy
the things that tear us up

All the money and cars
Your overworked expression
I don't need things like that
I wanna be with you
I want you to be as you are
Don't leave me behind
I wanna be with you slow slow...
(c) @otenkiame

Do you like it slow?

@Eskiath (2) wasn't impressed with the vocal production just as I am, "Too much autotune and then random guy on a boring track."

@abael (4) worked hard to find anything to salvage in this, "This is pop music at its least interesting. Not rubbish at best."

@RUNAWAY (7) gave this a nice mark, but has something to say, "she really didn’t need a feature on this song. it would have been so much better without Omarion."

This is one of the times where I can't agree with @otenkiame (7,5), "A song that's got American R&B written all over it. I like the track's smooth flow, and how Kuu and this Omarion guy sound together. I think the overuse of autotune is a bit unfortunate, but it doesn't really detract that much. The rap fits nicely, too."

@Weslicious (8) didn't find much to not like here, "A true basic bit of midtempo, with a rather catchy melody."

@Yeziirl (8) states what everybody's been thinking, "Kumi has such random features on her albums..."

Our happiest voter @Music Is Life (8,5) loves this, "LOVE the production. The feature is cute."

Once again, Kumi performed this during the "JAPONESQUE Tour", still I couldn't chase the link down.

​

 

*whiny voice*

I need you...

Baby girl...

Right now...








65b
Passing By

Average: 6,86
Highest scorers: 10x2 (@Remorque, @otenkiame), 9,5x1 (@Love Deluxe)
Lowest scorers: 4x1 (@Weslicious), 5x6 (@Coming Century, @Ana Raquel, @mi|kshake, @Eskiath, @lalaclairi_, @soratami)
My score: 9

Spoiler: Leaderboard History

5 voters: #33, 7,60 avg.
10 voters: #61, 6,35 avg.
15 voters: #73, 6,60 avg.
18 voters: #65, 6,86 avg.

​

It's been a while since "Dejavu" lost any tracks, huh? Written by Kumi and Brandon Howard (Vanessa Hudgens' "Gone With The Wind", DOUBLE's "Let It Go" and "Eventually"), a.k.a. B.Howard, who also produced the track and is featured on it, albeit uncredited, the track was used as one of the promotional tracks from the album and got a music video, just as "Bambi" did. There is something about the piano and Kumi's vocals here that just strike me right into my heart. That live performance during the "Dejavu Tour", which practically excluded B.Howard from half of the song only solidified my feelings for this, even if the author tried to be as annoying as he could be with his MJ impression. Speaking of, B.Howard's mother, Miki Howard, used to be a singer and was managed by Joe Jackson, so people have been thinking that he might be MJs son for years now, but there is still no concrete evidence. Funnily enough, B.Howard potrayed MJ in "A Tale of Two Coreys"... Anyway, the lyrics!

It was my last love (I wish she could be right here)
I believed there wouldn't be an end (so weird)
I believe even now (I see you I see you, I see me I see me)
that you feel the same

Even though it might hurt me
I want you to tell me the truth
(c) @otenkiame

So has anyone of you been charmed by the dulcet tones of Mr. Howard?

@Weslicious (4) managed to squeeze in a half-baked pun into his commentary, "This drags. Pass."

@Eskiath (5) is most certainly isn't a fan of Mr. Howard, "Ugh, I would like it but the guy really annoys me so I can't stand listening to it."

@Yeziirl (6,5) wasn't enamoured with Mr. Howard either, "that guy needs to chill and leave this track."

The track got @Cutlery (6) a little confused, "This is... rough. There's not an awful lot of chemistry between Kuu, B Howard's cut-and-paste vocals, the forced emotion or the instrumental (the latter is pretty, though). Though for some strange reason it's not an instant skip, there's a little charm in it" Listen to the live version, it's a lot better.

@abael (7) find some good in Mr. Howard's input, "I like the inclusion of another singer to change up the ballad formula, even if it's a pretty standard twist, any attempt to mix it up is appreciated." It does make for a little more unusual sound, yes.

Did anyone expect @Music Is Life (9) not to love this? "I love the piano. This is a cute mid-tempo."

The song captured @otenkiame's (10) heart and won't let go, "What a magnificent ballad. It's got all the right ingredients to make something so special. The two vocalists work wonders together, even though B. Howard is kinda ripping off MJ's vocals at times. Anyway, I can't get enough of Kuu's higher notes - she sounds so pretty!"

As I mention in the write-up, the live for this was superb, but there is no video of it online, so y'all better go and listen to it on Spotify.

You can also listen to Mr. Howard's demo if you want. Why would you though?

​

 

Looks like Monday got y'all by the tongues since there is no commentary between the eliminations today... Oh well. The work of a rate host is never easy. Any prediction for the next songs to go?

 

Yas Biracial queen, Kenji is shaking. I wonder what did Kumi whisper to Omarion in that music video. Something like “I tie Kenji to bed with some bdsm bandage and go away on tour, wanna netflix and chill?”

Poopin love cocktail please!

 

I shouldn't have asked for comments...

 

Honestly Kumi probably does that, no?

And wow, Passing by live version is much better, too bad I didnt know about it back then, hehe

 

'Slow' is like 'Passing By' Part 2. I guess it's fitting that they would leave this rate together.

 

I don't think so, no. I was cringing at the "biracial" comment and the fact that you suggest she's cheating on her husband. Not cute.

I'm trying to get into the nitty gritty of it all quicker.

Hm... never seen them as similar.

 

Its a joke!

 

Not a funny one.

 

I hate that you're right!

Make me drunk with ya lips, baby!
















64
Poppin' love cocktail feat. TEEDA

Average: 6,89
Highest scorers: 10x4 (@Weslicious, @RUNAWAY, @Music Is Life and @me!), 9x2 (@Ana Raquel, @vague)
Lowest scorers: 1x2 (@Eskiath, @Yeziirl), 4x1 (@Coming Century)
My score: looke above

Spoiler: Leaderboard History

5 voters: #68, 6,30 avg.
10 voters: #67, 6,05 avg.
15 voters: #66, 6,70 avg.
18 voters: #64, 6,89 avg.

​

Looks like "JAPONESQUE" is losing tracks every other elimination now, dddd. Written by Kumi and TEEDA of BACK-ON and produced by the members of the said band, "Poppin' love cocktail" was one of the 4 a-sides released on "4 TIMES". It's a high energy pop-rock affair that is perfect for summer. It's also officially the first time Kumi's future husband Hi-yunk worked with her. The recording of this track was when they met and started hanging out. We know the rest, although it appears that there was a bit of drama behind the scenes. You see, misono was featured on BACK-ON's single "with you" that was released a couple months before Kumi's. The story goes that misono had her eye on Hi-yunk first, but when Kumi worked with BACK-ON, he instead fell for her sister. All of this is only rumours, of course, but it's still a curious little detail. Okay, so the song is really good to me, so I was really surprised when I saw those low scores for it. The rush of the chorus is undeniable and I live for, in no particular order:

• those little synths in the chorus;
• the length of a double-sized chorus, especially with two of them at the end;
• Hi-yunk providing backing vocals;
• the "na na na na wow wow wow" outro that could have lasted for a minute and I wouldn't have noticed.

I also never had any issue with TEEDA's feature, especially since it's so little in size conpared to kumi's part. Lyrics wise this is about meeting someone really hot and falling head over heels for them. Guess Kmi was a prophet when she wrote this, kii.

I can't take my eyes off you, sexy boy
You make my heart race
An attractive sexy body
I want you so badly
You feel it too, right?
Sunglasses are useless
in the prank of the too bright sun
Poppin' love cocktail

A momentary healing, my sexy boy
I don't want this to end,
so let me hear your sexy voice
I want you so badly
I want you to fill up
my body completely
But if you hurt me
I won't forgive you
(c) @otenkiame

Have been poppin' love cocktails to this?

I'm sorry everyone, but @Yeziirl (1) decided to go all out with his commentary, "another intro that just makes your ears bleed, its uncomfortably cheesy and what the hell is Poppin love cocktail? Is it the jizz you get when you pop your pussy hard and get an orgasm which makes you leak? Is it blood which comes out after your eardrums pop from the number of boring songs on this album?" I always thought of "popping" as "drinking quickly" here and not in the "fizzy" kind of way, but you do you.

Sadly, @otenkiame (5) lost me, "Too long. Five minutes for this kinda song is too long for me. There are certain aspects to this pop/rock song that are fun, though. I mean, the hooks are pretty catchy, which is usually all you need in a song. I'm not too convinced about TEEDA, though. Sometimes I feel he's a bit...of a poser?" I mean... rappers kinda have to be posers, no? This is a weird critique.

@abael (6) didn't appreciate TEEDA's contribution to the track, "This would be much better tackled solo."

At the same time @Cutlery (7) wanted this to end sooner, "She swings from one sunny jam trope to another in a matter of seconds. This can soundtrack a very carefree beach summer. Teeda's rap and bits are a fun addition, too. But there's a big problem in how overlong it feels"

@Music Is Life (10) had his whole damn life to this, "This is like a fun alt-roc/pop-punk bop! Wasn’t expecting this at all. No idea who the feature is, he’s…interesting. He doesn’t detract from the song, but it’d still probably be better if he wasn’t there. This is such a fun bop though! I was actually head banging along!" I would've been shocked if you new TEEDA before taing part in this, dddd.

I love when I can agree with @RUNAWAY (10) wholeheartedly, "this song has always been such a huge rush for me. it goes the fuck offffffff STILL." YAS!

Now you know I have to post that a-nation'11 performance, where Kumi was all lovey-dovey with Hi-yunk.
​

 

WOW I'm dumbfounded, I thought this was a lot more loved! Guess it's more "+" than "July 1st"

 

Wow what a prediction!

 

Well, I don't looks like horny about this one going.

 

Those 1s definitely soured the score, not even a 7+ average!

Me neither.

 

I hope Cocktail is the black sheep of 4 Times, the remaining A-sides are phenomenal and I'll fight

 

Hmm, I wonder if you'll have to...