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

Just that my taste is *kissy tace*

 

More ties? More ties.













If you feeling LIT say "hell yeah!"​

If you're bad and boujee say "yeah!"
All my ladies lookin' snatched say!
All my gentlemen lookin' snatched say!​

28a
LIT

Average: 8,25
Highest scorers: 10x4 (@Ana Raquel, @V3RYP05H, @RUNAWAY, @Yeziirl), 9,5x1 (@Music Is Death)
Lowest scorers: 6x2 (@otenkiame, @Sprockrooster), 6,5x2 (@cookiedough, @Cutlery)
My score: 8,5​

"AND" hasn't been seen in 14 elimination, so guess it was time for it to get some beating. Produced by Hi-yunk and written by Kumi, the track was our first taste of the album, as this was released as the 60th single, albeit a limited one. Naturally this got a nice looking summery music video.

This is lovely. The surf rock was a perfect choice for a summer bop, so props to Hi-yunk. We had some surf rock elements in "Inside Fishbowl" before and we also got some very recently with "puff", still generally this is an unexplosred genre for Kumi, so I'm all up for it. The track is a lot of fun with a lot of sing-along parts, so it was no wonder that this became a hit with the fans and Kumi always performs it in the encore section of her concerts now. I can't get enough of those smoothest "Everybody yeah" and "Come on, get crazy" parts in the chorus though. They sound so pristine it hurts. Also, I have never noticed until this very write-up how minimalistic the verses are, there are barely any sounds except for Kumi's voice, which is pretty cool.

When it comes to the lyrics, it's just a summer party song.

C'mon bouncing & beat
Everywhere's a dance floor
Let the fragrant winds of summer blow
It's all from here - It's show time!!!
(c) @otenkiame

The second month of autumn just started here, on the other hand...

Wait, since when @otenkiame (6) isn't a fan of Kumi's rapping? "Oooh. I had some harsh things to say about this when it was released. I don't feel as strongly now, but this track is certainly not "lit". I'll give that the hooks with their surfer/summer vibes are certainly an earworm. But, god those rapped verses are just embarrassing. Especially the second verse." I actually love the second verse, it's dynamic.

@RUNAWAY (10) will have to be mad, "this song is undeniably great. wouldn’t be mad if it won, honestly. It’s just so awesome." Because it definitely didn't win.

And a lot of high praise from @Yeziirl (10), "very addicting and catchy, my favorite part is that (yeah, you guessed it) dumb random ass rap break no one asked, but she delivered. Yet again, big difference between song name which implies some tropical shithouse or maybe a dubstep trap banger, but it’s some modern surf pop, which is honestly dope! Music video is gorgeous and doesn’t really look that cheap at all, so slay, it was probably the best music video out of everything she released since Walk of my Life." Let's not get crazy, okay?

This one is performed live quite regularly, as I mentioned, ever since it's first outing during the "W FACE" tour actually.​

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wrong and not lit

 

It's still funny how she used the word "snatched" in this song.

 

The use of "boujee" is a lot more curious for me.

 

You...




































...Are damn real...

















28b
Damn real

Average: 8,25
Highest scorers: 10x2 (@Remorque, @RUNAWAY), 9x3 (@Music Is Death, @Yeziirl and @me!)
Lowest scorers: 6,5x1 (@Cutlery), 7x2 (@Weslicious, @cookiedough)
My score: lookie above​

After a staggering 51 eliminations "W FACE ~outside~" finally takes another hit and what a hit it is! Produced by Ava1anche (???) and Yamamoto Ryohei (a.k.a. Ryohei, a great self-produced singer) and written by Kumi, the track was one of the newer ones on the album.

I fucking hate y'all for ousting this as the second "worst" song on "outside". This is sublime! The way the track builds and Kumi flows on the verses makes the whole thing sound like waves coming in and washing all over me. Meanwhile the slick guitar is tasteful and precise. Kuu's voice is soaked with kind of languish throughout the song and it has so much emotion with so little in the outro that it makes it simply divine, I just have to stan. The only thing that prevents me from giving this a full mark is, as for some of you as well I'd guess, is the chorus. It is a Kumi's take on the popular instrumental chorus and it works, mostly. It would've smashed though had it had a more dramatic second coming and maybe some actual words for the last round, alas we got what we got. Let's thank Jigglypuff for finding some time in her busy schedule to provide some vocals though.

Lyrics wise this is about a post break-up time when the good memories of the relationships might still flood the mind akin to the sea waves at the thought of the person, so much so that the person is too real in you imagination. The wave-y similes are present and once again make me appreciate the sonic qualities of the track.

I get intoxicated on memories
When I close my eyes, it goes on
It's like I'm in a sea and I can't breathe
I'd prefer you'd blot me out
with blue paint
A sad melody
In reality, back to me

Flash back surging forward
Wandering in the waves I swim in the blue
But there was the truth
In the future I dance with you
(c) @otenkiame

These lyrics are so good, damn.

@Cutlery (6,5) isn't a fan of Jigglypuff, "I'm no fan of high pitched nondescript vocal samples/loops. This is the most basic production of the album." Basic? Generic, maybe, but basic it is not, you dull butter knife. Gotta ask Ms. Jiggly to draw some moustache on you.

@otenkiame (8), on the other hand, appreciates the heavily processed vocals, "A bit on the slower side, "Damn real" brings in some trap that goes over really well for me. I'm just a fan of the drop with the synths and the weird vocal effects. Let's not forget about Kuu, too! Her vocal performance is absolutely stunning! She brought in a perfect amount of emotion and attitude."

Whereever @otenkiame heard trap, @Yeziirl (9) heard another genre, "A promising pop ballad turns into a dubstep throwback and thank god! It’s like when you talk to people and then your anxiety kicks in and you make those “yuuu yuuu you yuuuu” sounds in your head, damn real!" @Yeziirl's mind is not for me to understand. You do you, boo.

Kumi performed the song only during the "W FACE" tour, where she was suspended in the air with a screen in the background depicting starts, galaxies and whatnot.

 

Wait, you wrote my score as 9, but in write-up commentary it is 10.

 

Fixed.

 

I am SHOOK! “LIT” going out like that was so unexpected! What the hell guys!?

 

Well, not "just like that", since it is Top30 and at a 8,25 average.

 

Ok but in my honest opinion it’s one of the best singles within this part so it went out “just like that”.

 

You know what, I'm in a weird mood today and there was too little sadness happening about the last elimination so there is going to be none today.

 

I expected Damn Real to be Top 10!

 

I love being a girl










































27
GET NAKED

Average: 8,28
Highest scorers: 10x1 (@Music Is Death), 9,5x2 (@cookiedough, @RUNAWAY)
Lowest scorers: 7x4 (@lalaclairi_, @mi|kshake, @otenkiame, @Ana Raquel), 7,5x1 (@Yeziirl)
My score: 8,5​

The run for the next album out is getting tighter with each elimination. Produced by Erika Nuri Taylor (Little Mix's "Wings"), Michael Anthony Naylor (???), Ronald Ferebee Jr. (Jesse McCartney's "Have It All") and Lindsay Johnson (???) and written by Kumi, the track was one of the digital singles we got before the release of "re(CORD)". Moreover it was one of the tracks that received a music video, which had Kumi in the album artwork setup in all those cords hehe and in a glass cube with a neon stick. The video though wasn't on the album's DVD and was only made available in full on the fanclub edition of the "re(LIVE)" tour DVD instead. Consumerism queen.

Have I overscored this? I think I might have. I mean, it's quite nice and judging by the lowest scores it was far from being hated, still why do I feel like I don't like this one over, say, "STRIP"? Hm... some food for thought. Anyway, as I said, this is a nice urban track with some dynamic verses, chanty chorus and a hook-y hook. Sonically we have some non-standard drums and heavy bass throughout and even some police sirens. I remember someone once said that all the best Kumi tracks have those. True or not? You decide. And lastly, despite being on the verge of screeching in the chorus, Kuu mostly delivers vocally. I believe she managed to modulate her voice to the betterment of the song and in the process made it engaging.

As for the message, this one is about the struggles of a modern woman and letting it all go sometimes.

(I love being a girl)
I yearned and aimed to be the best princess
(I love being a girl)
As if to erase my true self, I'm changing

(But I have those days)
All my jeans too tight
Feeling I can't catch up
(And I don't need those things)
I can go natural
I've found my style
(c) @otenkiame

The nod to "Black Cherry" was cute. The track didn't really impress, looks like, since there are only 2 pieces of commentary.

For once it's @otenkiame (7) who loses me, "This is so similar to "DO ME" in its overall soundscape. In fact, the two songs almost sound the same in some ways. It's pretty tight with the dark and slick approach, and I actually like the way she "raps" her lines in the hooks. Plus, being about being yourself is more interesting than just being another sex song." Wait, what? This is an urban track, while "DO ME" is borderline EDM.

I like it when @Yeziirl (7,5) gets all technical on me, "something about vocal mastering seems off. I don’t know if this and Strip’s composer are the same, but it seems this way. They both don’t really have clear melodies and are heavily driven by bass, and that’s the problem where you have a melody which is driven by vocals, but those vocals sound muffled. Unlike in Watch Out which was at least properly mastered and sounded cool. In the end you end up listening to bass farts, which is not that pleasant because vocal track sounds like shit. Also that random police siren in the background is annoying, hire another composer! I was hyped at first, but unfortunately Kumi couldn’t save this Nudist anthem!" Even though I'm not sure I agree with his opinion.

The track had a live outing during "re(LIVE)" tour.

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Neon stick music video, the Saturdays are shaking!

 

She had a long day and she's tripsy, okay?



Oh-oh-oh-oh, oh-oh-oh-oh, oh-oh-oh-oh-ooh, oh my god!


































26
OMG

Average: 8,36
Highest scorers: 10x4 (@cookiedough, @Weslicious, @Remorque, @V3RYP05H), 9x2 (@otenkiame, @Music Is Death)
Lowest scorers: 5x1 (@lalaclairi_), 6,5x1 (@Cutlery)
My score: 8​

Why don't we continue with "re(CORD)" while we're at it? Produced by T-SK, HIROMI and Joleen Belle, a.k.a. the same team that produced "DO ME", and written by them and Kumi, the track served as yet another single offering before the album's release.

I enjoy this one quite a bit actually and I think I should have scored it higher at least in comparison to the just eliminated "GET NAKED". The standard vocoder shenanigans aside, this is a robust bop full of energy and life. I especially adore the latin-flavoured "stop" filled pre-chorus, where the pace picks up. The chorus is a bit unimaginative, but it is quite infectious and would translate nicely in a live environment.

It looks like the song is about Kumi's relationship with her fans.

Only you make me feel
this kinda energy
And only I make this melody
resound
(c) @otenkiame

Definitely a special kind of bond.

@Yeziirl (8), her mind, it amazes me sometimes, "I can’t believe someone produced this in 2019, but it’s quite catchy. The same issue vocal mastering. She was like “Ok, I have Work that in DNA which is from like 2011-2012, Now if I do a throwback album I have to put another one of these songs that sound dated! And I will name it OMG because when people will hear it they will think “Omg, why the hell it sounds so old and also not properly mastered!” Perfect!”"

Sometimes all we need is a nice club dance tune, right, @otenkiame (9)? "A nice club dance tune! Autotune is unnecessary, but I'll let it slide since I've said before I don't mind autotune too much. While hearing Kuu say OMG is fun, if I had to pinpoint my favourite portion of the song, it'd have to be the end of the chorus when the beat picks up and Kuu gives some "ooooh~" ad libs. Great song!"

And lastly @Weslicious (10) just read my Tinder profile, "Cheap.Tacky. Amazing!"

This one got an energetic live performance during "re(LIVE)" where fans chanted "oh my god" all throughout the song.

​

 

OMG what is up with my 11 contenders being slaughtered at this point!? The Top 5 song choices are starting to worry me!

I adore “OMG”. I agree it sounds dated but since she’s not a Western act, it doesn’t really bother me in the slightest. Plus it’s actually lots of fun. That final chorus with all the additional embellishments never fails to send me into another plane; honestly should’ve gotten a video.

 

“GET NAKED”, followed by “OMG”? Homophobia.

I’m looking at you, “STRIP”. Hoping for a top 20 to redeem your fallen re(CORD) sisters.

 

Weird how the closer to the finale we're getting, the less talkative you lot get, huh?

 

I don't really care about OMG, but those scores and averages are pretty high!