Kumi Koda

Asuka K. · September 4, 2006

Name: Kumi Koda (倖田來未), born as Kumiko Kouda (神田來未子)

Birthdate: November 13, 1982

Place Of Birth: Kyoto, Japan

Ethnicity: Japanese

Height: 167 cm

Weight: 52 kg

Bloodtype: A

Hobby: shopping

Favourite music: Hip-Hop

Favourite sport: squash

Favourite colour: green and purple

Favourite season: Summer

Favourite clothes: Dolce & Gabbana, H・A・K

Favourite Japanese artists: Toshinori Yonekura, Sukima Switch

Favourite Western artists: Christina Aguilera, Nelly, P!nk, Pharrel Williams

Kumi Koda is the official model of the character Lenne in Final Fantasy X-2

Kumi Koda has a three octave singing voice.

Kumi Koda is a Japanese solo R&B and pop female singer and also the older sister of J-pop star misono, of the former J-Pop band day after tomorrow. Although Kumi Koda debuted in 2000 with her debut single "Take Back," massive success didn't come until 2003 with the release of her seventh single, titled "real Emotion/1000 no Kotoba," which became a huge hit song mainly because the songs of the single were theme songs of popular PlayStation 2 videogame Final Fantasy X-2 and since then, Kumi's career has taken off.

In 2005, she was one of the best-selling artists because of her compilation of singles album titled "Best ~First Things~," and in 2006, she reached the top of the Oricon singles charts with the first single of the "~12 Single~ Collection," the single titled "you."

Kumi was the first girl born to the Koda family in a number of generations. It was the strong support of her grandfather (who taught her Japanese bamboo flute) and her mother (who taught Japanese harp) that helped Kumi become a success. Kumi started practicing classical Japanese dance at the age of three which sparked her interest in performing, and singing in particular.

She used to watch her mother singing at family meetings and parties held after Kumi's dance performances. Kumi's mother had the ability to captivate an entire audience while she was singing, and Kumi wanted to be like that when she was older. Nevertheless, she did not want to be just an icon or celebrity. Instead, Kumi was more interested in capturing an audience's attention with her voice. In her primary school yearbook, she wrote "I want to be a singer when I grow up."

The first time she went for an audition was when she was in 3rd grade of primary school. While attending Kyoto Seika High School for young women, Koda auditioned alongside Maki Goto for the so-called 3rd generation of the Japanese group of entertainers known as Morning Musume, but she wasn't selected. Her pursuit of a singing career would have to be held off for a number of years.

It was not until 2000 that finally had a break. Koda Kumi won the "Avex Dream 2000" audition held by Avex Trax and was signed to Rhythm Zone, an urban-minded sublabel at Avex. She looked forward to finally being able to follow in her mother's footsteps.

Kumi wrote and rewrote lyrics over and over and did recordings endlessly without being given an exact day of the release date of her debut single. Finally Kumi Koda made her debut as a professional singer on December 6, 2000 with her debut single titled "TAKE BACK," but the single had poor sales and failed to chart. Kumi felt really depressed about her failure, because she thought it was her fault. The single was even released in the U.S. in March 2001 and debuted #20 at the Billboard Hot Dance Music Sales, which can be considered a general flop. Instead of focusing on a possibly lucrative American career, Kumi wanted to put emphasis on reaching the top in the local charts back then (Japan).

The follow-up single of Kumi's was "Trust Your Love" ― also released in the U.S. ― which held the 19th position in Billboard's Hot 100 singles sales chart and went to number one in Billboard's Hot Dance Music/Maxi-Singles Sales chart. Two more singles were released, "COLOR OF SOUL" and "So Into You." Koda did not release any more singles in America.

After releasing her first four singles, Kumi released a collaboration with Korean pop singer BoA. The song was created to honor the victims of the September 11, 2001 attacks, and used for the charity album SONGNATION. BoA and Kumi contributed the single the meaning of peace, which was produced by Tetsuya Komuro.

With four solo singles under her belt, Kumi released her debut studio album, affection, on March 27, 2002. Kumi talked about it to an Avex reporter of this stage of her career, and she said she didn't care which songs she sang if she was able to sing. For example, with her songs "COLOR OF SOUL" and "So Into You" she used to wonder: "Will everyone hum this song or sing this song at Karaoke?." She said that she did not had enough experience or skills and methods to understand her own feelings, despite the yearning to inspire many with her music. The album failed to bring her the success that she dreamed of.

Koda continued to strive for the success, and in the summer of 2002, she released her 5th single "love across the ocean." Even though she thought the song was a masterpiece, it failed to bring her success. It debuted at number 19 at Oricon and quickly dropped completely off of the charts.

Her 6th single, "m

Asuka K. · September 4, 2006

Do not post thumbnails or small images side by side resulting in it equaling greater than 600 pixels.Thanks, AnaBB Cover

jig · September 4, 2006

she looks good, I'll try to find some of her music

Asuka K. · September 4, 2006

I can show you some Music Videos of hers if you are interested.

Asuka K. · September 4, 2006

Here's a performance from her First Things Tour 2005

http://www.sendspace.com/file/qeogyr

Anouk · September 5, 2006

I love her. Thanks for starting this thread.

jig · September 5, 2006

Here's a performance from her First Things Tour 2005
http://www.sendspace.com/file/qeogyr

thank you, she's very hot :wub:

and thanks for the pics Anouk

jig · September 5, 2006

Several Music Videos:

You -> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ZWABZBfSgk (omg what a great song )

Selfish -> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2HvATRkynX8 (omg what a great video )

Shake It -> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uddDoHVF7pQ (OMFG another great vid, need this in better quality :angel: )

Koi no Tsubomi -> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y_tahesuJlI (good song )

Butterfly -> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zcZP_H_UrTw (another very hot video, lol each time it's either a hot video or a good song)

Feel -> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SaF1ioT8HQI (sexy video + good song )

Ningyo Hime -> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4IK5PYQUjNM (little weird but still soo sexy )

I'll post more later, I wanna thank you Asuka for introducing this woman to me, I never heard of her before but she now landed in my top10 women :wub: :wub: :wub: :woot:

Nemeside · September 5, 2006

thanks for the video

Asuka K. · September 5, 2006

Wow, I appreciate the thanks, She's my favorite female singer, and definitely in my top 5. I do have Shake It in better quality, I'll upload it.

Thanks for putting the 12 single in 12 weeks themed pictures, Anouk. I'l put the singles' covers up.

Anouk · September 6, 2006

Wow, I appreciate the thanks, She's my favorite female singer, and definitely in my top 5. I do have Shake It in better quality, I'll upload it.
Thanks for putting the 12 single in 12 weeks themed pictures, Anouk. I'l put the singles' covers up.

No problem. I have all 12 singles.

My fav :wub:

Anouk · September 6, 2006

Wow, I appreciate the thanks, She's my favorite female singer, and definitely in my top 5. I do have Shake It in better quality, I'll upload it.

Thanks for putting the 12 single in 12 weeks themed pictures, Anouk. I'l put the singles' covers up.

No problem. I have all 12 singles.

My fav