Profile of Koda Kumi on Famous Like Me

Kumi Koda (倖田 來未 Kōda Kumi, born November 13, 1982), is a Japanese solo rhythm and blues singer. She was born and raised in Kyoto, Japan. She debuted in the professional singing career on December 6, 2000.

Kumi's first single track was "Take Back", which was released as a remix in english speech in the United States in March 2001. Her follow-up single was "Trust Your Love" (again in english-remix version), which held the 39th position in Billboard's Hot 100 singles sales chart and the first position in Billboard's Hot Dance Music and Maxi-Singles chart. Two more singles were released, "Color Of Soul" and "So Into You", but none of these were released outside Japan.

To honor the victims of the September 11 terrorist attack, Kumi collaborated with Korean singer Kwon BoA on the charity album SONGNATION with the single "The Meaning Of Peace", produced by Tetsuya Komuro, one of the most prolific, famous, and successful music producers in Japan.

Her first album was Affection, produced by Max Matsuura. It contains bonus tracks remixes by Hex Hector and Jonathan Peters (songs that were released as singles in US before).

Koda Kumi subsequent singles were "Love Across The Ocean" and M.A.Z.E." but it was her notable work with the Japanese versions of "Real Emotion" and "1000 No Kotoba" (released as Double A-side single) that started to cause sensation. Both songs were the main vocal themes for the video game, Final Fantasy X-2, in which she was also the voice actress for Lenne in the Japanese version of the game.

Her second album was Grow Into One. It contains a bonus track alternate orchestra version of "1000 No Kotoba".

She has been widely known for her effort to gain popularity as the singer for the Japanese version of Final Fantasy X-2, singing "1000 no Kotoba" (1000 Words) and the opening song "real Emotion". Although she recorded English versions of both songs, Square Enix believed that it sounded low-quality or lackluster, and many English-speaking fans have commented on the versions' Engrish lyrics and pronunciation. Consequently, Square Enix opted to have Jade of Sweetbox to perform the English versions of the Final Fantasy X-2 vocal songs. However, Kumi's versions were later released as b-sides on her single, "Come With Me".

More recently, Kumi released a Best Of collection on September 21st. Though the album held #2 on the Oricon for the first four days, it reached the top spot on the 25th. Even more impressive, Kumi beat out Mr.Children for that spot, one of Japan's highest selling artists ever. At the week's end, the album ranked #2 on the weekly charts and sold a highly impressive amount. Through the next week Kumi finally reached #1 on the weekly charts and had sales over 750k.

Kumi is also a spokeswoman for Christian Dior in Japan. Her favorite artists are Christina Aguilera, Beyonce, Pharrell Williams, Nelly, and Pink .

Movie Time

Koda Kumi has done a cover edition of the famous theme song to Cutie Honey for the Live action movie.

Discography

Singles

1. TAKE BACK (12/6/00)
2. Trust Your Love (5/3/01)
3. COLOR OF SOUL (8/3/01)
4. So Into You (3/13/02)
5. love across the ocean (7/24/02)
6. m.a.z.e (12/11/02)
7. real Emotion/1000の言葉 [1000 Words] (3/5/03)
8. COME WITH ME (8/27/03)
9. Gentle Words (12/10/03)
10. Crazy 4 U (1/15/04)
11. LOVE & HONEY (5/26/04)
12. LOVE & HONEY [CD+DVD] (5/26/04)
13. Chase (7/28/04)
14. 奇跡 [Kiseki] (9/8/04)
15. 奇跡 [Kiseki] [CD+DVD] (9/8/04)
16. hands (1/19/05)
17. hands [CD+DVD] (1/19/05)
18. Hot Stuff feat. KM-MARKIT [CD+DVD][LIMITED EDITION only 30,000 Copies] (4/13/05)
19. Butterfly (6/22/05)
20. Butterfly [CD+DVD] (6/22/05)
21. flower (8/10/05)
22. Promise/Star (9/7/05)
23. Promise/Star [CD+DVD] (9/7/05)

Albums

1. affection (3/27/02)
2. grow into one (3/19/03)
3. feel my mind (2/18/04)
4. secret (2/9/05)
5. secret [CD+DVD] (2/9/05)
6. secret special edition for live [Limited Release] (4/13/05)
7. secret special edition for live [w/ T-Shirt (for Men), Limited Release] [CD+DVD] (4/13/05)
8. secret special edition for live [w/ Tank Top (for Ladies), Limited Release] [CD+DVD] (4/13/05)
9. Best ~first things~ (9/21/05) - 754,206
10. Best ~first things~ [CD+DVD] (9/21/05)

DVDs

1. 7SPIRITS (3/19/03)
2. feel... (3/24/04)
3. girls~Selfish~ (11/25/04)
4. secret -FIRST CLASS LIMITED LIVE- (9/21/05)

songnation

1. the meaning of peace w/BoA (12/19/01)
2. songnation (performed the meaning of peace w/BoA) (1/23/02)

Other Collaborations

1. LISA - SWITCH feat. Koda Kumi and Heartsdales (4/21/04)
2. LISA - So Beautiful (performed SWITCH WALL5 remix) (6/2/04)
3. LISA - GRATITUDE (performed SWITCH) (6/30/04)
4. JHETT a.k.a YAKKO for AQUARIUS - Just Go feat. Koda Kumi(3/9/05)
5. JHETT a.k.a. YAKKO for AQUARIUS (performed Just Go) (3/24/05)
6. KM-MARKIT - Vivid (performed Rainy Day) (4/20/05)
7. Super Sonic w/ D.I PROD BY DAISUKE IMAI (7/20/05)
8. JHETT BLACK EDITION [CD+DVD] (8/24/05)

Soundtracks

1. Final Fantasy X-2 O.S.T. (performed real Emotion and 1000の言葉 [1000 Words]) (3/31/03)
2. Gilgamesh O.S.T. (performed Crazy 4 U) (2/25/04)
3. Cutie Honey O.S.T. (performed キューティーハニー [Cutie Honey]) (5/26/04)

Compilation

1. avex 15th Anniversary Presents BOX SET [Initial pressing only limited release] (performed real Emotion) (7/30/03)
2. 99% Radio Show (performed real Emotion) (9/25/03)
3. Collabo. (performed the meaning of peace w/BoA) (2/18/04)
4. SOUL TREE - a musical tribute to toshinobu kubota (performed 夢 with You [Yume with You]) (2/25/04)
5. Dramatic Songs (performed m.a.z.e.) (12/1/04)
6. SPEED & POWER STYLE 2005 (performed real Emotion Mega-Mix, Trust Your Love Mega-Mix, and Into Your Heart Mega-Mix) (1/19/05)
7. RZ the best of rhythm zone 2005 [CD+DVD] [Regular Edition] (performed キューティーハニー [Cutie Honey] and SWITCH] (3/9/05)
8. RZ the best of rhythm zone 2005 [CD+DVD] [Limited Pressing] (performed キューティーハニー [Cutie Honey] and SWITCH] (3/9/05)
9. Kazen Parapara!! Presents Super J-Euro Best (performed Crazy 4 U <80'S STYLE REMIX>) (3/30/05)
10. SUPER BEST TRANCE presents SUPER J-TRANCE BEST (performed real Emotion (OVERHEAD CHAMPION REMIX) (3/30/05)
11. a-nation '05 BEST HIT SUMMER (performed キューティハニー [Cutie Honey]) (7/27/05)

US Performances

• May 23 - May 26, 2002: New York - Tokyo Music Festival; New York, NY.
• January 30, 2004: Ushicon 3 Anime Convention: Austin, Texas.
• March 25, 2005: KamikazeCon Anime Convention: Houston, Texas.

Audio clips

• Sample of "real Emotion" [â–¶]
• Sample of "1000 Words" [â–¶]

This content from Wikipedia is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article Koda Kumi