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

[Weslicious]

I think I only gave Put Your Hands Up a 6 and, after re(playing) the album last week I probably would have scored it at least a full mark higher.
Like, as a stand alone pre-release single it wasn't anything too instant but it definitely works in its place on the album and I would miss it if it weren't there.
I'm not too hung up though given there's few songs left I want it doing better than.

Oh, I've just realised the placing issue and there are 5 of the 7 newly placed songs it should have done better than, whoops. I'll put my hands up in respect.

 

[Yeziirl]

At least my slip-up fulfilled the wish of @Cutlery!

 

[evilsin]

62
Gimme U

Average: 7,36
Highest scorers: 10x3 (@Music Is Life, @RUNAWAY and me!), 8,5x1 (@Remorque)
Lowest scorers: 5x2 (@mi|kshake, @Weslicious), 6x3 (@Sprockrooster, @cookiedough, @Cutlery)
My score: lookie above​

Looks like if it's not ballads it's something sounding remotely cute. Produced by Matthew Tishler ("Black Candy") and Andrew Underberg (Tohoshinki's "Chandelier") and written by them, Philip Bentley ("NEVER ENOUGH") and Kumi, the track appeared on "WALK OF MY LIFE" as one of the album tracks, which makes for a second cut from the album.

You joyless churls! This is happiness incarnate. Kumi sounds so damn delighful and it shows in all the parts of the song: the gentle intro and post-chorus, the crisp and clean verses, the we-going-places pre-chorus and finally that bombastic synth heaven of a chorus. Not to mention the middle 8 that tugs her up and down. I just simply adore this. If it wasn't for that tender post-chorus I'd imagine this would be just a 9 or maybe even an 8, but this just makes the whole track for me. And, honestly, it's painful seeing you kicking this out now.

Lyrically this is, well, about Kumi having enough in just her partner.​

Speaking of what everyone's talking about,
it's all "I want that, I want this"
But things like that aren't worth worrying about
If you don't have love, it's meaningless...
(c) @otenkiame

Okay, but you didn't have to attack me like that, geez. Despite an early exit, you had quite a bit to say about this one.

@Weslicious (5) dares, "Typical cutesy album filler. She’s done it before, and far better." No, no and no.

@Cutlery (6) misses his "I" and tries to go in, "t's kind of built from terrible elements. I mean those processed horns? The 2D vocals? The school marching band tea? No ma’am, no ma’am" I don't hear any of the sort, hun.

Reading @Yeziirl's (7,5) comment you'd think he would give this less of a score, "the intro, ugh… Live arrangment is so much better, seriously, if you take any cutesy Kumi song and play it live it sounds better." And what about that intro? It's gorgeous, that's what it is. And no, I don't agree, since she uses her saccharine cute voice singing some of these live.

The voice of reason has spoken again. I mean, @otenkiame (8), of course, "Okay, so Kuu's voice is so pretty during those opening "lalalas"! I've gotta say this is another one of those rare Kuu tracks that does cute right! Kuu just wants her man to stop with all the extravagance and just give her him, and does so with such sweet tones and a great melody for the hook!" It's great, y'all.

@RUNAWAY (10) just loves loves loves this song, "love love love this song. The summery, carefree feeling of this album is so great." Somehow I knew that this would be a 10 for you, dddd.

And lastly, @Music Is Life's (10) commentary evolved as he started to analyze things, "I love the beginning with her “la’s” and the piano hits. The drums are really great on this one too. A lot less busy then most of the album and that works in its benefit. The chorus is so catchy and just feels really BIG and I love that." Good for you, hun, and YAS!!!​

Kumi performed this quite nicely and exclusively during "WALK OF MY LIFE" tour.
​

 

[evilsin]

Don't tell me you've said everything you wanted to say about "Gimme U" in the commentary.

 

[Yeziirl]

Don't tell me you've said everything you wanted to say about "Gimme U" in the commentary.

I did!

 

[otenkiame]

Not much to say since I'm not even surprised at this point that it's already left while there are other songs that should've kicked the bucket long ago.

 

[RUNAWAY]

I'm still reeling from the loss of NO ME WITHOUT YOU.

 

[evilsin]

I did!

Of course you did.

Not much to say since I'm not even surprised at this point that it's already left while there are other songs that should've kicked the bucket long ago.

Same.

I'm still reeling from the loss of NO ME WITHOUT YOU.

At least it went up one place due to "Put Your Hands Up!!!" mishap.

 

[evilsin]

So no one cared I didn't post yesterday, huh?

61
Mercedes

Average: 7,43
Highest scorers: 10x1 (@Sprockrooster), 9,5x1 (@Yeziirl)
Lowest scorers: 5x2 (@mi|kshake, @lalaclairi_), 6x1 (@cookiedough)
My score: 7​

"WALK OF MY LIFE" takes another hit. Produced by Red Triangle a.k.a. George Tizzard and Rick Parkhouse (Alexandra Burke's "Sitting On Top Of The World") and written by them, Jon Maguire (Union J's "Beautiful Life"), Maegan Cottone (Little Mix's "Lightning") and Kumi, the song was one of the album tracks, that appeared on the album.

What is this and why does it sound like it could have been meant for Pixie Lott? Not that it's a bad thing. The best part about this song is definitely the beat. It's so... 3D? It's everpresent and very demanding, I hardly can sit straight listening to it. I'm also in love with how it sounds like it speeds up during the chorus, especially the last one. I love that characteristic about a beat and I believe I've only heard one other song which did something of the same thing and it was "Sweetest feat. LISA" (the one from m-flo and who I adore) by JHETT. The vocals are a bit shouty for my taste, but I got used to it. At least she sounds like she means what she's singing about.

And speaking of that, this is all about the titular Mercedes being a metaphore for passion or something:​

The engine scatters sparks whenever we kiss
Slow down your enthusiasm
I know you wanna...
(c) @otenkiame

I know you wanna comment on this one, yes?

Once again my subconsciousness, I mean @otenkiame (6,5), verbalizes my thoughts a lot more eloquently, "A song I want to like more than I do. I LOVE the old school vibe with the brass instruments, but I just find the chorus to be such a letdown. It just sounds so incomplete and empty to me. It's so frustrating because the song has so much potential, but the hooks just fall flat." Hey, I guess that's why I didn't give it a higher score, huh?

@Cutlery (7) hears similarity with a proper bop, "This feels a bit in line with ‘Show Girl’. It’s a good little bop if a tad unremarkable" Yeah, there is something similar here, although we all know, that "show girl" is heaps better.

I think @Music Is Life (8,5) wanted to give this a lower score, "l like the intro and the drums, it’s really fun. The horn flourishes add an extra element of *oooo* to it all ddd." Just a gut feeling.

@Yeziirl (9,5) was writing his commentary like it was his homework, "when I heard it first, I hated it, I thought it was too try hard and dumb, sloggish and just overall nonsensical. But years later, 3 years to be exact, this thing SUDDENLY popped in my mind. I was like “ok this is weird... why???”, then I ended up listening for this non stop for like 1-2 months in my playlist. The ratchety tacky vibe here is great! Ofcourse, it is not perfect, those “Ooh” in the chorus sound out of place, and breakdown kinda drags on for too long. But all in all, I think it is a great track that really grows on you. Also the performance was great, Kumi and Benz, name me a more iconic duo." Spoiler - wait till you see the commentary for his 11.

And lastly @Sprockroster (10) surely doesn't know what we're all talking about here, because he is busy bopping, "Honestly, a wig. That intro is fantastic and throughout the song it doesn't lose one sparkle." A wig? What is proper grammar for all this new lingo?​

The most iconic thing about the song though, is that it got Kumi a Mercedes Benz sponsorship for her 'WALK OF MY LIFE" tour, so they provided her with a teal Benz for the opening section of the concert, which honestly was quite a moment. Can't find the video, but you can listen.
​

 

[evilsin]

TOP60

Dance In The Rain
Lippy
Mercedes
Like It
House Party
HOTEL
Gimme U
You can keep up with me
MONEY IN MY BAG
PIECE IN THE PUZZLE
Fake Tongue
Sometimes Dreams Come True
LIFE so GOOD!!
WALK OF MY LIFE
11/14

BRIDGET SONG
Bring It On
Yorokobi no Kakera
Stand By You
Suki de Shite
Kimi Omoi
On my way
What's Up
Promise you
My fun
04/10

W FACE
Ultraviolet
insane
Damn real
Heartless
Bassline
Shhh!
Bangerang
Wicked Girls
Cupcake feat. AKLO
09/10

PARTY
SWEETEST TABOO
GOT ME GOING'
WHO
OUTTA MY HEAD
NEVER ENOUGH
ALL RIGHT
LIT
BRAIN
IT'S MY LIFE
09/10

HUSH
Dangerous
WATCH OUT!! ~DNA~
ScREaM
CHANCES ALL
Aenaku Naru Kurai Nara
HAIRCUT
Guess Who Is Back
HOT HOT
Kokoro kara i love u
Work That
PIN DROP
11/12

DO ME
GET NAKED
STRIP
k,
Rich & Famous feat. Sean Paul
again
Merry Go Round
Eh Yo
GOLDFINGER 2019 / Livin' La Vida Loca
Put Your Hands Up!!!
Summer Time
OMG
SHUTOUT
10/13


EXTRAS

TURN AROUND
SO FEVER
NEVER GIVE IT UP
EX TAPE
HURRICANE
NO ONE ELSE BUT YOU
Wanderin' Destiny
On And On
NO ME WITHOUT YOU
Soba ni Ite
puff
06/11​

 

[Sprockrooster]

Mercedes is among the strongest discoveries for me in this rate and after even more plays the 10 is highly deserved making this placement even more disgusting.

 

[V3RYP05H]

This is so much fun, lowkey regret not taking part in the previous part.

 

[Yeziirl]

I thought its gonna be another tie and that's why you didn't post.

Also I never noticed that chorus kinda speeds up, so that's a nice little discovery.

I always wondered what "that boom boom in the back" could mean, what do you guys think *smirk*



ps. why wanderin destiny is still here...

 

[mi|kshake]

Good riddance to Mercedes! Wanderin Destiny is one of the stronger tracks in this rate for me.

 

[evilsin]

Mercedes is among the strongest discoveries for me in this rate and after even more plays the 10 is highly deserved making this placement even more disgusting.

Love that you made such a discovery.

This is so much fun, lowkey regret not taking part in the previous part.

This is the best comment. Thank you so much, as I've put in a lot of effort into this rate.

I thought its gonna be another tie and that's why you didn't post

What? No, I just needed a night to myself.

ps. why wanderin destiny is still here...

Because some people really enjoyed it.

 

[evilsin]

We have a 4-track tie ahead of us.





















And the first one to go from it is...

57a
GOT ME GOING'

Average: 7,5
Highest scorers: 10x1 (@Cutlery), 9,5x1 (@RUNAWAY)
Lowest scorers: 4x1 (@cookiedough), 5x1 (@Sprockrooster)
My score: 7​

We come back to "AND" to relieve it of a second track. Produced by Paulo Mendonca (Craig David's "Officially Yours"), Curtis Richardson ("Cherry Girl", "Under") and Jessica"Jessie J"Cornish and written by them lot and Kumi, the track appeared as a new track on the album. This one marks the third time Jessie created a song for Kumi, and a last one so far at that.

This is pretty nice and groovy, don't you think? It has this old school jazzy arrangement going on about it, which gives it a bit of flavor and Kumi mostly delivers. I can have a moment or two with it, but it doesn't thrill me enough to go straight to it outside of a full album listen. Although I'd say that the last double sized chorus works nicely and the little flourishes that I keep on discovering are cute (like that little sax and those background vocals during the chorus). I wonder if I would have liked the demo by Jessie, hm?

When it come to lyrics, this is about Kumi falling head over hills for someone.​

My breath stops
I get dizzy, so please
Right away give me a kiss
I just have one reason
(c) @otenkiame

Thoughts?

For @otenkiame (7,5) it's something to enjoy, "I'm quite a fan of this urban track. It reminds me of older urban tracks and feels quite groovy for it. Kuu herself sounds like she's having so much fun, and shows off all her vocal abilities, even if sometimes they're a bit harsh on the ears. I do wish there was a bit more to it, though. Seems like it could use something." Once again, same.
​

@Yeziirl (9) is poet, y'all, "Good track, but I think she sounds too rough here, like those dry trees in the middle of a desert." What a simile!

And @Cutlery (10) was all over that shit, "Oh she showed range, sue me! When it's right, she does this funky brand of R&B so really well, and I love that this is almost entirely made of hooks." So is anybody sueing him, or...?​

​

This was performed during the fanclub tour for "AND" and I was lucky enough to witness this live, kii! The live arrangement made this even groovier, really. And as for the performance itself, it was a bit of a rehash of the "Bassline" one from "W FACE" tour with the hats an all.
​

 

[Cutlery]

BYE how is Life so Good still in over this??

 

[Yeziirl]

Live rendition sounds a tad smoother than original, so that's a good thing!

 

[berserkboi]

Again - another one with a pretty melody and her tone is heavenly! I get what @evilsin is on about with the take a little odd and wobbly though it somehow suits the melody (and message)? Very pretty!

 

[berserkboi]

Dreams Come True - this is so stunning? Reminds me of the gorgeous concert mixes we used to get in the 90s from Jean-Jacques Goldman or Mylene Farmer. That vibe is captured so beautifully!

Put Your Hands Up - Okay, this is giving me GALS in a Karaoke Bar realness so I am stanning! Can I sing Aitsu with you guys joining me? :D

Gimme U - this is nice but I feel like she is above this level? There's a bit of a plodding quality to it (unless it's a different song at the beginning? The second half of the video is a bit better)

Mercedes - A bop for sure, though a little faceless in parts. We enjoy a few aspects of the production though!

Got Me Going - Giving me that City Hunter soundtrack flavour I am always 100% here for!