Ya se han publicado los participantes del Kôhaku Uta Gassen 2009, y aquí están:

Equipo Blanco (Chicos)
Arashi
ALICE
FUNKY MONKEY BABYS
Masaharu Fukuyama
Akira Fuse
Porno Graffitti
Kenichi Mikawa
Shinichi Mori
Yusuke Kamiji
flumpool
Hiroshi Itsuki
EXILE
NYC boys
Saburo Kitajima
Takeshi Kitayama
Kobukuro
Jero
SMAP
TVXQ
TOKIO
Hideaki Tokunaga
Kiyoshi Hikawa
Takashi Hosokawa
Yuzu
Remioromen

Equipo Rojo (Chicas)
AKB48
Ai Otsuka
aiko
Ayaka
Ikimonogakari
Mika Nakashima
Ayumi Hamasaki
Perfume
Nana Mizuki
Kumi Koda
Sachiko Kobayashi
Fuyumi Sakamoto
Akimoto Junko
Angela Aki
Sayuri Ishikawa
Miyuki Kawanaka
GIRL NEXT DOOR
Mitsuko Nakamura
Ayaka Hirahara
Kaela Kimura
Natsuko Godai
Yoshimi Tendo
DREAMS COME TRUE
Kaori Mizumori
Akiko Wada

El evento tendrá lugar el 31 de diciembre a las 7:15 (Hora de Japón) y se retransmitirá por NHK.

Artist: Kumi Koda
Release Date: December 10, 2003
Label: Avex Trax
Personal Rating: 4/5

1. Gentle Words
2. Without Your Love
3. Saigo no ame
4. Gentle Words (instrumental)
5. Without Your Love (instrumental)
6. Saigo no ame (instrumental)
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Gentle Words is very different regarding style and genre. Since she usually goes for the J-pop and laid back ballads, this new urban arrangement was something interesting. Personally, I’m not really into urban music but at least Kuu’s vocals sounded very presentable.

Without Your Love is another Urban oriented track, this time being R&B. It seems that Kuu is really improving her English now that the lyrics sound very pronunciated and clear. Like I said, Urban is not really my intake in the music department but it made a great B-side to accompany the A-side.

Saigo no ame is your typical laid-back track. In contrast with Gentle Words and Without Your Love, Kuu’s vocals actually “reaches” me. But it’s definitely B-side material.

Personal Rating: 4/5

Artist: Kumi Koda
Release Date: August 23, 2003
Label: Avex Trax
Personal Rating: 4.5/5

1. COME WITH ME (Original Mix)
2. real Emotion (English Version)
3. 1000 Words (English Version)
4. real Emotion (DJ MSK Remix)
5. 1000 Words (DJ 19 Remix)
6. COME WITH ME (Instrumental)
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Sometimes, I think that Kumi Koda wears that wackiest and exposing clothes…but that’s called “marketing,” right?

COME WITH ME (Original Mix) just happens to be the only original song on the single since the B-sides are Kuu’s versions of Real Emotion and 1000 Words. This time, Kuu does enter into the song with stronger vocals (which is a huge plus) and the tropical (or something like that) really pumps up the awesomeness of the song.

The real Emotion (English Version) and the 1000 Words (English Version) were actually Kuu’s English versions. Too bad it wasn’t featured in the America release of Final Fantasy X-2 since her English was actually okay here. (I thought that JADE from sweetbox did a good job with Real Emotion but her voice sounded awkward in 1000 Words)

Personal Rating: 4.5/5

Artist: Kumi Koda
Release Date: December 11, 2002
Label: Avex Trax
Personal Rating: 3.5/5

1. m・a・z・e
2. one feat. LISA
3. m・a・z・e (L12 Remix)
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Finally, a cover art that actually matches the theme of the A-side: outer space!

In m・a・z・e I have to admit that the first few seconds of the song sounded really weird but at least we know that it’s an R&B track early in the song. Kuu still has okay vocals but another problem remains: she literally screams at the recorder during the chorus. At least the instrumenals still reigns superior.

I think LISA is the singer that sang for one of the Gundam Seed Destiny songs (Tears). Correct me if I’m wrong though. Anyways, one feat. LISA sing in a pretty aggressive arrangement and both of their vocals could really synch with each other but for some reason, I prefer LISA’s vocals over Kuu.

Personal Rating: 3.5/5

Artist: Kumi Koda
Release Date: March 27, 2002
Label: Avex Trax
Personal Rating: 3.5/5

1. atomic energy
2. Trust Your Love
3. Go Together
4. Your Song
5. feel me
6. COLOR OF SOUL
7. Best Friend Of Mine
8. My Dream
9. So Into You
10. Till’ Morning Comes feat VERBAL
11. come back
12. TAKE BACK
13. Can’t Lose
14. walk
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The first thing that comes to mind upon uploading the album cover for affection was oooooh! Shiny!

TAKE BACK, Your Song, Trust Your Love, COLOR OF SOUL and So Into You were all (and I mean ALL) give extremely low ratings…can’t stress that enough.

atomic energy, feel me, and My Dream were just like the pre-released songs: awkward instrumentals, random sound effects and weak vocals. But I’m proud to say that Kuu actually kept the poor quality songs to a minimal; there’s actually a ton of awesome music in the majority of the album!

Go Together, Till’ Morning Comes feat VERBAL, and Can’t Lose were mid-paced songs that were getting there, but just didn’t reach me. At least all three songs had feelings of R&B and great rhythm, Just to keep in mind that VERBAL is in the popular m-flo remixing group.

OMG! Best Friend Of Mine, come back and walk were like Kuu’s first BEST songs she’s ever sang! With Best Friend Of Mine being an awesome interlude track loaded with Acappella ad-libs, come back and walk were extremely powerful ballads that may have even bested the ballads in her later releases! I just love the tension during both ballads’ development into the chorus!

Personal Rating: 3.5/5

Artist: Kumi Koda
Release Date: July 22, 2004
Lavel: Avex Trax
Personal Rating: 4/5

1. love across the ocean
2. the meaning of peace
3. So Into You (Dub’s Electro Remix)
4. love across the ocean (Instrumental)
5. the meaning of peace (Instrumental)
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I thought that the slow pace in love across the ocean didn’t really suit the R&B oriented mood but her vocal and style are presentable here. It’s until a little later when her pace starts to pick up and match the beats. At least there’s some feeling weaved into the song. I would probably consider this track a “fresh start” since her singles from her past era were a bit out of color.

Compared to he duet version with BoA, the meaning of peace is all Kuu singing. It’s pretty cool since the original version had mostly BoA singing in it. Kuu’s vocals still strains to meet the pitch during parts of the song but it’s still fun to listen to because the arrangement and chorus is just way to catchy. Kuu’s B-sides really took a big step since her last single!

Personal Rating: 4/5

Alive/Physical Thing / 45th Single / Release Date: [2009.09.16]

Se titula Alive Y salé en Cd y CD+DVD,como nos tiene acostumbrados la cantante,saca pv de los temas nuevos,en cada uno de sus trabajos.

CD:

01 Alive
02 Physical thing
03 Alive (Instrumental)
04 Physical thing (Instrumental)
05 TRICK Live Version (From TRICK Tour 2009)
06 Joyful Live Version (From TRICK Tour 2009)

DVD:

01-Alive PV

02-Physical thing PV

03-TRICK TOUR LIVE

Os dejo el live de Alive en Music Japan porque los pvs ya los han quitado.

Artist: Kumi Koda
Release Date: March 13, 2002
Label: Avex Trax
Personal Rating: 2/5

1. So Into You
2. COLOR OF SOUL (Dub’s Guitar of Soul remix)
3. TAKE BACK (BLACKWATCH Remix)
4. So Into You (Instrumental)
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And so this time, Kuu’s single doesn’t come with a second track or a B-side. …The cover is pretty crappy too.

So Into You was least expected, but not in a good way. The instrumentation pretty much owned the whole song and Kuu’s vocals went off somewhere. Although the chorus does do a bit of improvement with Kuu’s vocals, her voice is now a void of emotion. It doesn’t sound like she’s bored but she does sound emotionless. Let’s hope that she’s better than the instrumentation on the next release…

Ouch! Probably the lowest rating that I’d given so far…At least we know about your latest awe-so-matic music up to date!

Personal Rating: 2/5

Artist: Kumi Koda
Release Date: October 3, 2001
Label: Avex Trax
Personal Rating: 3.5/5

1. COLOR OF SOUL
2. It’s too late
3. Trust Your Love (Hex Hector Japanese Radio Mix)
4. Trust Your Love (BLACKWATCH Remix)
5. COLOR OF SOUL (Instrumental)
6. It’s too late (Instrumental)
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COLOR OF SOUL sounds like a pretty sexy pop song; which is new for the most part, but her strainy voice still stays. At least they changed the pitch of her voice throughout the song. Like having a lower pitch during the verses and then a (tweak) of a higher pitch during the chorus. Something new for her, but still needs a little practice with vocals.

Awww, man. I really hoped that Kuu also tried something new for the B-side but It’s too late ends up to be a little *cough* random. After an intro promising a pop oriented song, it suddenly switched to a more laid back ballad. Despite the *cough* random instrumentation, it doesn’t change the fact that Kuu still doesn’t notice the potential of her voice. I don’t know what to say about this song…

Personal Rating: 3.5/5

Artist: Kumi Koda
Release Date: May 9, 2001
Label: Avex Trax
Personal Rating: 3/5

1. Trust Your Love (Original mix)
2. STILL IN LOVE (Original mix)
3. Trust Your Love (Sean “Sepp” Hall Remix)
4. Trust Your Love (Razor’s Radio Mix)
5. Trust Your Love (Thunderpuss Radio Mix)
6. Trust Your Love (Instrumental)
7. STILL IN LOVE (Instrumental)
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Trust Your Love (Original mix) begins with a really awkward and random sounding noise followed by heavy beats. I thought that the overall song (and sound) sounded a bit “meh,” but at least the chorus stands out. Gotta admit that her vocals weren’t as impressive back then.

STILL IN LOVE (Original mix) also has a weird beginning but the following instrumentation draws me into the song. Kuu’s vocals finally stepped up a little bit since there’s more “omph” into it. I liked the B-side better than the A-side since it’s more Kuu but still sounds a bit average.

Personal Rating: 3/5

Here it is.  Kumi Koda’s “Physical thing” pv.  Enjoy.  Remember, Sept. 16 is the release the for this song.

Finally, Kumi and YUI come out with the pvs for their songs “Alive” and “It’s all too much”.  Enjoy.  A reminder, Kumi Koda’s “Alive/Physical thing” single comes out Sept. 16 and YUI’s “It’s all too much/Never say die” single comes out Oct.14.  Hopefully, I can get the pvs for the second A-sides to these singles.  Stay posted for new info.

YUI – It’s all too much

Kumi Koda – Alive

Note: Sorry for bad quality in Kumi’s video.

Artist: Kumi Koda
Release Date: May 24, 2006
Label: EMI Music Japan
Personal Rating: 4/5

1. Koi no Tsubomi
2. Koi no Tsubomi (A Cup Of Milk Tea Bossa Nova Version)
3. Koi no Tsubomi (Instrumental)
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Koi no Tsubomi sounded like the kind of bubblegum pop that actually fits the style of singer. Just like most Kumi Koda songs, the chorus never fails to be the best part of the song since it’s memorable and leaves this rhtymic feeling on the listener.

Anyways, Koi no Tsubomi (A Cup Of Milk Tea Bossa Nova Version) didn’t leave off the same feeling that the original version did but at least it’s the kind of remix that doesn’t leave a bad after taste. (It’s not just the same song with beats.)

Personal Rating: 4/5

Morning Musume (2009)

I don’t know about you, but I love Morning Musume. Now if you’re a Japanophile, no doubt you know exactly who I’m talking about. If you’re a Koreaphile who’s too preoccupied with After School, Brown Eyed Girls, Wonder Girls, Girl’s Generation (SNSD), etc. you probably don’t know. K-Pop is my first love but even I know who they are. I don’t care what Ayumi Hamasaki and Kumi Koda say, they’ve got nothing on MM and all their Hello!Project sisters. Morning Musume is absolutely amazing and always will be. Too bad about the graduating thing. But if they kept adding and never taking away, there would be like a zillion MM girls and some in their 30s or 40s, still singing teen pop. But whatever. Okay, who still listens to Love Machine? Or am I the only one….? Maybe the younger people know Nanchatte Renai? I guess this article isn’t really about anything….except how MM pwns and if you don’t think so you’re kind of an idiot.

Nueva encuesta del Oricon llega a nuestras manos y esta recien salida del horno. En este caso nos juzga cuál es la chica bronceada más guapa y la ganadora fue Niwa Asao, jugadora de volleyball playa.  Aunque támbien podemos encontrar en este top a Namie Amuro, Anna Tsuchiya entre muchos bellezones os dejamos el top 10:
1. Miwa Asao
2. Namie Amuro
3. Rikako Murakami
4. Anna Tsuchiya
5. Meisa Kuroki
6. Masako Natsume
7. Kumi Koda
8. Yukina Kinoshita
9. Chinatsu Wakatsuki
10. Kimiko Date