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

[berserkboi]

I have sooooo much to catch up on!!!

WOW - Haircut is wig-snatching!! Well, that LIVE Version you posted anyway! :D
Piece In The Puzzle - another big bop!!! Why are they all going in a row?? Boy - she goes off LIVE, hey? I must check out if I can ever attend a concert of hers if I happen to be in Japan at all again!!
Scream - Great beat and vibe, but true to form I am not digging the vocal affectations that much Dddddd
Lippy - Another one with lots of vocal affectations Ddddd Wish these four eliminations were reversed!

Let's hope I get a chance to do some more later today!!

 

[otenkiame]

I am so happy my 11 made it to the Top 10. I honestly didn’t expect it to go this far.

 

[Yeziirl]

Can we just acknowledge the fact that besides ~ Inside ~, which rightfully died in a dumpster fire early on, these have been some amazing scores overall.

That's all that matters in this rate, haha.

 

[Sprockrooster]

My preferred order:
10 Hush
9 It's My Life
8 Hot Hot
7 Like It
6 Shhh
5 Ex tape
4 Bassline
3 So Fever
2 W Face
1 Dance in the Rain

Compared to the previous time I participated I am doing better. I have no 5 left to torpedo the average from the winner as my lowest score is a 7. And I have multiple 10's ready to line up with the winner.

 

[evilsin]

That is fine, but all people have different takes on what is a 10 song and there are no rules about what it should be, so that is fair to me when commentary has some little tidbits against the song. And then calling it fake is weird, maybe you just didnt expect certain songs to score that high? Then it is not people putting fake votes, it is just what you did not expect and it all comes back to taste difference.

I'm not authority on how to score, of course, still to me a 10 is a perfect track that I would gladly see winning the rate. Can you truly say that you would be okay and even happy with "Bangerang" winning? I don't think so. That's why we have a scale of 0 to 10 to score the songs in the first place, not to mention that I allowed half-points, meaning that you have whooping 21 scores that you can use.

And as for fake score, I did say yours were, even though this Part of the rate was suspiciously different to the previous one. What I meant is that the most important part for me is genuine scoring without any hidden agendas like swaying the vote and whatnot.

It looks like I'm saying that your score for "Cupcake" wasn't genuine, but, honestly, I was just confused by your commentary especially after you couldn't decide whether AKLO's rap was cringey or not.

Can we just acknowledge the fact that besides ~ Inside ~, which rightfully died in a dumpster fire early on, these have been some amazing scores overall.

No, we cannot, because y'all are a balladophobic bunch.

My scores are what they are and I stand by them - I may have a change of mood here and there but besides 1 point or so’s difference, it’s not like I’m wishing I had given a song I didn’t like in the first place my 11 or something!

Yes, but that 1 point could have change the final placement of the song in a small rate like this.

Love the discussion though, so please keep it up and expect the next elimination this evening.

 

[Yeziirl]

I am just not good with words, I know dddd.

 

[cookiedough]

Enough of this Bangerang slander.

 

[YourLeadSinger]

That's not how voting works. Shows that you shouldn't score the songs willy-nilly, especially in a rate that has very few voters.

Sis, it was me being tongue-in-cheek. I voted them the way I see fit. Chill.

 

[evilsin]

Sis, it was me being tongue-in-cheek. I voted them the way I see fit. Chill.

Show me where I wasn't "chill" in the quoted post.

 

[YourLeadSinger]

Show me where I wasn't "chill" in the quoted post.

Miss, you went from 0 to 60 by accusing me of voting “willy-nilly” and how it sure “showed” me that I shouldn’t vote that way (even though the statement it was in response to was a joke to emphasize that I thought “OMG” was the best song of the three, I didn’t really want to change my scores).

 

[evilsin]

Miss, you went from 0 to 60 by accusing me of voting “willy-nilly” and how it sure “showed” me that I shouldn’t vote that way (even though the statement it was in response to was a joke to emphasize that I thought “OMG” was the best song of the three, I didn’t really want to change my scores).

What? I meant that you can't know the result beforehand obviously, so you should score accordingly if you wanted "OMG" to be higher. And even though I was quoting you, my comment was in general targeted at everybody to take scoring more seriously. The "willy-nilly" comment is for the people eho plaster low scores on ballads and high scores on faster paced songs, when clearly they all are different and deserve a range of scores. Maybe you're the one who needs to chill, because I wasn't trying to attack anybody and especially you.

 

[YourLeadSinger]

And even though I was quoting you, my comment was in general targeted at everybody to take scoring more seriously.

This is kind of a weird take especially considering you’ve broken up your responses before to address the appropriate parties whereas in that response it very much reads as a response to my statement but ok.

 

[evilsin]

I am just not good with words, I know dddd.

Same, as you can see with the shitshow that ensued.

This is kind of a weird take especially considering you’ve broken up your responses before to address the appropriate parties whereas in that response it very much reads as a response to my statement but ok.

I thought of what say to this to continue the argument or squash it, but then I remembered that you were the only one who gave out 2 zeros, so...

In all seriousness, I didn't expect this reaction because it was never my intention to cause it and I'm sorry this happened. You should know that Kumi is everything to me, so my judgement might get cloudy when it comes to her.

 

[evilsin]

saa me wo tojite​

IME-JI shite
tsubasa hiroge Oh​

10
Dance In The Rain

Average: 8,68
Highest scorers: 11x1 (@RUNAWAY), 10x3 (@Remorque, @Sprockrooster, @otenkiame), 9,5x1 (@Music Is Death)
Lowest scorers: 6x1 (@Ana Raquel), 7x1 (@V3RYP05H)
My score: 8,5​

"Like It" is the last one standing from "WALK OF MY LIFE" now. Produced by her0ism (a lot of songs for NewS), Ziggy (BoA's "No. 1" !!!) and Melanie Fontana (EVERGLOW's "Bon Bon Chocolat") and written by Kumi, the track was released as 58th single albeit the physical release was limited to the fanclub. The track received a very nice music video, which was the first one to use Oculur Rift's 360 degrees virtual reality technology. It was even displayed at Tent London, an art exhibit, where they used 3D sound effects and full immersion effects. Talk about innovation.

In the perspective of the whole album, this one is probably most JPop sounding one of the bunch, which is probably due to her0ism's presence. Although "WALK OF MY LIFE" had a bit of a JPop feel to it as well. I do like this quite a bit. It is quite epic and I can see why they wanted something as big as the music video we got for this. My favorite part of the song is the pre-chorus. It's very short, but Kuu's delivery and melodies are top-notch here. The verses are also quite good, since Kuu sounds so subdued and in control. On the one hand we have a great contrast with the chorus which bursts with energy, still on the other, it gets into the shouty territory there. I'm quite indecisive about the chorus, due to the fact that it sells the song and yet I don't fully enjoy it. The very tight backing vocals are nice though... Guess this might be why I never could give this a higher score. This is still a damn good pop song no matter how you look at it.

The song is basically Hilary's "Come Clean", but make it sad. I guess everyone got under the rain at least once in their lifetime and if not danced in it, then perhaps let it soak you through.​

This rain moistens
my heart and the earth
I don't mind if I'm washed away
C'mon, let's dance. Dance dance in the rain
(c) @otenkiame

Yeah, why not floods as well, it's 2020 after all. So far this is the track that got the most commentary. Guess it pays to be the first in the songlist.

@Cutlery (7,5) manages to call this a ballad, "Hmm well, the vocals are what they are. It’s a competent R&B ballad nonetheless!" And what about the vocals? Do tell.

@Yeziirl (8) wasn't a fan of the shoutiness, "When I listen to this song, I always think it’s too overdramatic. Maybe a little too shouty in the chorus, I would have preferred it more softly." Kuu? Overdramatic? No such thing.

Perhaps @cookiedough (8) nails it? "Great chorus. This song feels both new and old at the same time, like a transition between some of her older songs and her new ones." It does sound like this, yes.

@Weslicious (9) would've liked for this to be a little less, "Whilst I do think some parts of this sound a bit busy and frantic, it doesn’t take too much away from an otherwise great track." Which parts?

Looks like @Music Is Death (9,5) loves things exploding into his face, "The piano melody is really pretty, and I love the drums on this. The way the pre-chorus builds and explodes into the chorus is wonderful."

The track made @otenkiame (10) do what it was made for, "Whew. What a song. I don't have any idea where I should start. The whole piano with the dance beats go together so deliciously. And I never tire of the hooks no matter how much I listen to them. "And then you dance, gotta dance dance in the rain". It's this perfect fusion of introspection with a bit of a bounce element to make you want to literally dance in the rain. Well done, Kuu." Were you shouting at the skies as well?

@Sprockrooster (10) is a ray of sunshine for me today, "She is such a storyteller in her music and vocals. I have no clue what is this about, but I am swept." Once again shows that music is universal after all.

And I leave you with our 11-giver, @RUNAWAY (11), "this is my favorite song of this period of hers, and I’ve had this earmarked for my 11 since part 3 started. Listening to it again over the past year solidified things for me, and officially confirmed this as my 11, and it’s such a rush of a song. Sort of a mix between a ballad and a fierce dance track, and her vocals are absolutely incredible here. That high note that she hits at the 2:50 mark gives me so much life, and I’m so thankful to Kuu that I have this song in my life."​

This one had a couple of live outings, but ultimately it should be performed more. Here it is in the set for Music For All, All For One festival. I also link to the various versions of the music video, since it was really something else at the time of the release.


​

 

[Yeziirl]

Gotta agree pre chorus is also my favorite part, I think maybe because Kumi sings low there and I really like the sound of her lower register.

Also lets mention that epic golden shower live performance during latest tour, legends only!

 

[Ana Raquel]

Woo and my only score below 7 unless I overlooked something is out!!!!

 

[evilsin]

Also lets mention that epic golden shower live performance during latest tour, legends only!

Oh yeah, that was pretty incredible.

 

[YourLeadSinger]

I loathe the chorus to this so much. I think it really sours an overall great song.

I love the drama of it all and how it builds, I love the way she sings the verses and prechorus and then.... that chorus... comes like a slap in the face. I’m just taken out of the whole ass mood I was in and am just waiting for the chorus to be over.

I thought of what say to this to continue the argument or squash it, but then I remembered that you were the only one who gave out 2 zeros, so...

In all seriousness, I didn't expect this reaction because it was never my intention to cause it and I'm sorry this happened. You should know that Kumi is everything to me, so my judgement might get cloudy when it comes to her.

It’s all good Sis, I get it. I just wanted to clarify some things, no fighting. It’s only a rate, dddd.

 

[mi|kshake]

Outrage! Had Dance in the Rain down as a potential number 1!

 

[otenkiame]

"Dance in the Rain" almost got my 11. It was between it, one more song, and what I eventually went with.