The Koda Kumi Rate: PART IV. All things come to an end, WINNER announced

Which short track / interlude if your favorite / deserves a full version?

  • Introduction ~WALK OF MY LIFE~

    Votes: 6 75.0%

  • Interlude ~Dance~

    Votes: 1 12.5%

  • Introduction ~My music is designed from my DNA~

    Votes: 1 12.5%
  • Total voters
    8
evilsin

evilsin

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74
Suki de Shite

Average: 6,75
Highest scorers: 9,5x1 (@RUNAWAY), 9x1 (@Music Is Life)
Lowest scorers: 2x1 (@V3RYP05H), 5x2 (@cookiedough, @Cutlery)
My score: 7,5​

It's not a ballad! Kinda. Still another strike for "inside". Produced by Inoue Shinjiroh (tonne of Tohoshinki stuff) and written by him and Kumi, the song is of the newer caliber on the album.

It's a pleasant enough listen as you can tell from my score. Basically it's one of those "feel good" songs that try to lift your spirits with their peppy nature, although with less memorable melodies or ideas. For instance, something like "Someday" or "IN THE AIR" make for a lot more compelling end product. I certainly enjoy this and Kumi sounds nice, but there is nothing really engaging about this. Do I sound like I don't have much to say about this, dddd?

The lyrics are kinda unimaginative and reductive, but there still was this little gem of a line:​

Whenever I call out for you, I just love your face as you turn around
I call out to you for no reason. Say gently, "What's wrong?"
(c) @otenkiame

'Tis cute.

Let's see what @V3RYP05H (2) had to say about the album overall, since he like to be at the bottom so much, "The songs from W Face ~inside~ were just songs that after repeatedly retrying the album I just couldn’t stand. That album to me, as a whole, is so boring that I actually felt buyer’s remorse after my first listen and still do every time I revisit the album. None of the songs are top shelf Kuu songs for me, but those four songs below a 3 I can’t even finish to this day. Suki de Shite is pure dentist office music to me" What does it mean?

@Cutlery (5) was whelmed, "Well it's a jazzy venture alright. The strings are pretty and Kuu sounds good at least." Honestly, I read "jazzy" as "lazy" three times in a row, dddd.

I wasn't the only one comparing this to other songs with @Weslicious (7) hearing another happy ditty, "A lesser Lovely, but still good."

Lovely @otenkiame (7) heard "Lovely" as well, "Something a little bouncy and jazzy that sorta reminds me of "Lovely". Actually, yeah, it really does remind me of "Lovely", but with the melt-in-your-mouth sweetness dialed down. I guess, as far as cute tracks go, I think this is pretty good; enough so that I can enjoy it periodically when it pops up on my shuffle." Guess it was inevitable with this kind of soundscape.​

I'm pretty sure this is one of those "never performed live" songs.​
 
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evilsin

evilsin

Should we shake things up a little?
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72a
Kokoro Kara i love u

Average: 6,89
Highest scorers: 9,5x1 (@RUNAWAY), 9x1 (@Music Is Life)
Lowest scorers: 4,5x1 (@V3RYP05H), 6x3 (@Weslicious, @cookiedough, @lalaclairi_)
My score: 8​

Not that big of a shake up, but at least it's a ballad from something other than "inside". Let the girl breathe. Produced by Kumi's hubby Hi-yunk and written by him and Kumi, the track appears as the second ballad on "DNA". It's also a part of the rate's first tie!

This is pretty. Yes, the overall soundscape isn't that different from the usual M.O. of a Kumi ballad, still there is something very nice about this one. Like those little guitars in the second verse, for instance. Weirdly enough, despite the high score I awared this, I'm having a hard time finding anything to say about it, dddd.

I was wondering why Kumi sounded kinda weepy weepy~ weepy~ weepy like a sad girl in the chorus, but then I looked up the lyrics and this one is about sorrow, crying and forgiveness, so it kinda fits?​

I know what's important,
but it feels like I'm being crushed by sorrow
Just once more
stop time
and once more grip
my hand you've let go of...
(c) @otenkiame

Hey, looks like I wasn't the only one lacking any kind of thought on this song.

@otenkiame (6,5), who I believe managed to comment on all songs, might still warm up to this one, maybe? "Very reminiscent of her older ballads. I think my main problem with this is that it seems way too long for me. The third time the chorus comes around, I'm ready to clock out. It's a newer track, but I don't see myself warming up much more to it, unfortunately." Maybe.

And @Yeziirl (7) was just stating facts, "another one." Yes, it's another ballad on the album, deal with it.​

For some reason the track got excluded from its parent album tour, but it was performed on TV at the time of album's release.

There are also at least three covers of it by fans, which I guess is an indication of track's... success?​
 
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Weslicious

Weslicious

It's OK if a bit forgettable.
However, it really breaks the flow on the second half of the album. As such I tend to skip it, making it even more forgettable.
I was going to try for a 'DNA sequencing' joke here, but I'm too tired to make all the parts work well together... A bit like the sequencing on this section of the album!
 
evilsin

evilsin

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72b
NEVER ENOUGH

Average: 6,89
Highest scorers: 9,5x1 (@Music Is Life), 9x4 (@V3RYP05H, @RUNAWAY, @Yeziirl and @me!)
Lowest scorers: 3x1 (@cookiedough), 4x1 (@Ana Raquel)
My score: lookie above​

Of course another song in the tie is a ballad, of course. And it's the only one from "AND" as well. Produced by Matthew Tishler ("Love Me Back", "Lay Down"), Philip Bentley (TWICE's "STUCK IN MY HEAD") and Aimee Proal (ITZY's "WANT IT?") and written by them and Kumi, the track served as her 62nd single, which is also probably her last physical one. It was a part of the trifecta of singles that led to the release of both "AND" and "DNA".

This track... this one I love. Don't get me wrong, it took me a minute to fully appreciate it, but when I arrived, I arrived, just like the track itself by the end of its runtime. The fact that it's done by a team of Western producers certainly makes for far more interesting take on a ballad than another run-of-the-mill Hi-yunk production. It's mostly a jazzy piano only affair, still those seldom booms are so foreboding and they make you anticipate something and something does happen. That glorious climax. It's so satisfying every single time, Jesus. Moreover the tracks short length provides a lot of replayability as it doesn't overstay its welcome. It's one of the best ballads of the rate, but y'all ousted it at #72. Sigh.

I fathom the song's message is about Kumi's ambitions and her desires to do better.​

A world I still haven't seen
I want it, I want it all
(c) @otenkiame

Do y'all want it all?

Well, @Ana Raquel (4) definitely doesn't, "she looks gorg in the video. i don't have much else to say about the song other than it's def not my cup of tea." @ana Raquel‽ Not liking a ballad‽ NO!

@otenkiame (7,5), being the voice of reason once again, lists all the good things about the song, "A soft piano ballad with great vocals! I am not the biggest ballad fan in the world, especially when it's almost nothing more than a piano, but Kuu really does a great job with this. It does have a nice pick up with the bridge onwards, and ends so nicely. I even think its length is appropriate." So delegent.

Meanwhile @Cutlery (8) provides a pretty picture, "A down to earth ballad. It's very much «musical protagonist's low point» but as the track goes by, even though she still has doubts in herself, she comes back with a clearer mind after this scene." A Koda Kumi musical‽

And @Yeziirl (9) teaches me a new word, "Great ballad! Just as simple as heartless, which is the best aspect for ballads, imho! Maybe too much vocalfaggotry involved towards the end, but, nonetheless, gives me chills." Flaunt it if you got it or something like that.

Finally @RUNAWAY (9) spills tea all over my rug, "an absolutely gorgeous vocal performance from Kumi on one of her best recent ballads. This single doesn’t get enough love, honestly." It's Persian! I'll send you the cleaning bill.​

The track skipped the fanclub "AND" tour's setlist, but got a spot during the "DNA" tour. She's... struggling a bitsy.​
​

I also found out that I was mistaken about "Suki de Shite" never been performed, since it actually was at select dates of the "W FACE" tour.​
 
evilsin

evilsin

Sprockrooster said:
Yeah. But this is even more outrageous than normal. So it only makes sense if she would have a lot, which I can't recall exactly.
Click to expand...
This Part has 20 ballads and mid-tempos, give or take based on your concept of a ballad, so it's a 4th of all songs in this Part of the rate. And we already eliminated almost half of those. So, basically, what I'm saying is, this is a massacre.
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