Kingdom (album)

For 2006 album, see Cataract (band).
Kingdom
Studio album by Kumi Koda
Released January 30, 2008
Recorded Japan
Genre Pop, R&B , Rock
Label Rhythm Zone
Producer Kumi Koda
Kumi Koda chronology
Best: Bounce & Lovers
(2007)		 Kingdom
(2008)		 Trick
(2009)
Singles from Kingdom
  1. "But/Aishō"
    Released: March 14, 2007
  2. "Freaky"
    Released: June 27, 2007
  3. "Ai no Uta"
    Released: September 12, 2007
  4. "Last Angel feat. Tohoshinki"
    Released: November 7, 2007
  5. "Anytime"
    Released: January 23, 2008
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[1]

Kingdom is the sixth studio album by Japanese singer-songwriter Kumi Koda. It was released on January 30, 2008, a week after her single anytime. The album debuted at #1 on the Oricon Weekly Charts with sales of 421,302.[2] It remained on the charts for thirty-three weeks.[3] The album was released in four editions: CD, CD+DVD, CD+2DVD and CD+2DVD+Poster, with limited editions of all versions carrying the bonus track Black Cherry.

Kingdom has been certified triple platinum by RIAJ for shipment of 750,000 copies in Japan.[4]

Information

Kingdom is Kumi Koda's sixth studio album and tenth album overall. It was released on January 30, 2008, a little over a year after her previous studio album Black Cherry. The album was her fourth consecutive album to claim the #1 spot on the Oricon charts, continuing her streak, which began in early 2005 with her Best ~first things~ album. It contained new material and was her first album to have music videos for every song - including the introduction. She would later do this again for her 2012 album Japonesque.[5][6]

The album was available in four versions: CD, CD+DVD, CD+2DVD and a limited edition CD+2DVD+Poster.[7][8][9][10] The first DVD featured sixteen music videos for each song on the album, including the music video for the non-album song Run For Your Life.[11] The second DVD was of her Premium Live In Hall In Yokohama Arena concert, which was performed at the Yokohama Arena in Yokohama on June 20, 2007.[12][13] The CD+2DVD edition contained a slip cover, three stickers of the different album covers and a booklet, which contained photos of the concert. The album's artwork was to symbolize Kumi's popularity in the Japanese music industry at the time, with Kumi donning a crown and sitting on a throne.[14]

Packaging

Kingdom was available in four editions:

The limited editions of all versions contained the bonus track Black Cherry on the CD, which was the full version of the introduction from her last studio album, Black Cherry.

Controversy & Cancelled Promotions

On January 31, an inflammatory statement by Kumi made on the talk show All Night Nippon created controversy, causing Avex Entertainment (via Koda Kumi's request) to cancel all promotions for Kingdom on February 2.[15] Her website was shut down with a letter from Kumi posted on the page, apologizing for her remark.

During the radio show, Kumi was asked what she thought about her manager recently getting married, to which she responded lightheartedly, "When women turn 35, their amniotic fluid goes rotten, so I hope they have a child before then."[16] The statement caused backlash due to Japan's low birth rates and the sensitivity of the subject. Due to the statement, she lost promotions for GemCerey, the KOSÉ "Visée" line and Coca-Cola.[17]

Kumi made an appearance on FNN Supernews to apologize for the remark, saying how she deeply regretted hurting thousands of Japanese women and mothers.[18] She also made several public apologies and apologized during her tour for Kingdom.

Despite the backlash, the album still reached #1 on Oricon.[2]

KODA REKI

"I must not pretend like it never happened . . . The moment I thought, “My dream has finally come true," I destroyed everything with my own words . . . I realized how immature and unprofessional I was. I stand and speak in front of so many people. I hadn’t thought about the responsibility and power that came with my position."
— Koda Kumi, KODA REKI

In KODA REKI, Kumi's published biography, she said how she still cries when she thinks about the comment and hurting "many Japanese women." She goes on to say how it was that moment in her career when she realized how immature and unprofessional she was, not realizing how many people listened to her words due to her fame. She admitted how she had cancelled several rehearsals for Kingdom's corresponding tour, Live Tour 2008 ~Kingdom~, due to the severe anxiety she would get when she believed that she would walk out onto the stage to perform, only to have an empty arena.[19]

Music Videos

The album contained music videos for every song on the CD, including the introduction. It also featured the "live version" of Black Cherry, which was performed during her Live Tour 2007 ~Black Cherry~ Special Final in Tokyo Dome. It also featured the non-album music video for Run For Your Life, which was originally released on her single Freaky in 2007.

Several of the music videos lined up to perform one coherent story line - much as was done during her 12 Singles Collection from her Best ~second session~ era with five of the music videos. Those that lined up where Koi no Mahou, Himitsu, Amai Wana and Anata ga shite kurete koto. All four videos contain the same piece of jewelry to signify their connection and story.

It also featured the "album versions" of Ai no Uta and anytime, both with different scenes not released in their single counterparts.

Reception

Kingdom has garnered positive reviews by fans, with some calling it a "perfect set of musical tracks that flow with one another."[20] Fans have praised the album for Koda Kumi's vocal style and her transition from genre-to-genre. Other reviews had less positive remarks, calling the music videos "boring" and "cheap," but still praising the musical styles on the CD.[21]

Track list

(Official Track list[22])

CD

CD
No. TitleLyricsMusicArrangement Length
1. "Introduction for Kingdom"  Kumi KodaKoda KumiMine-chang 1:40
2. "LAST ANGEL feat. Tohoshinki"  Koda Kumi • H.U.B.Negin • Hugo Lira • Ian-Paolo Lira • Thomas GustafssonNegin • Hugo Lira • Ian-Paolo Lira • Thomas Gustafsson 3:48
3. "Amai Wana" (甘い罠 / Sweet Trap)Kooda KumiHIROHIRO 3:58
4. "Himitsu" (秘密 / Secret)Koda KumiDaisuke "D.I" ImaiDaisuke "D.I" Imai 4:23
5. "Ai no Uta"  Koda Kumi • Kosuke MorimotoKosuke MorimotoTomoji Sogawa 4:51
6. "anytime"  Koda KumiHideya NakazakiHideya Nakazaki 4:09
7. "Under"  Koda KumiAdam Royce • Curtis Richardson • Nyticka Henringwaythe Beatardz for the Nuchues recording group and The Conglomerate for Axiom Enterprises, Inc. 3:39
8. "BUT"  Koda KumiTommy HenriksenTommy Henriksen 3:37
9. "Koi no Mahou" (恋の魔法 / Magic of Love)Koda KumiYuta Nakanoh-wonder 4:32
10. "Aishou"  Koda KumiReika YuukiMasaki Iehara 3:52
11. "Anata ga Shite Kureta Koto" (あなたがしてくれたこと / What You Did for Me)Koda KumiDaisuke InoueDaisuke Inoue 4:11
12. "Wonderland"  Koda KumiNao TanakaNao Tanaka 3:27
13. "FREAKY"  Koda KumiHenriksenHenriksen 3:18
14. "MORE"  KodaAnna-Maria La Spina • Christopher Lee-Joe • Philippe-Marc Anquetil  3:11
15. "Black Cherry"  Daisuke "D.I" ImaiDaisuke "D.I" ImaiDaisuke "D.I" Imai 2:59

DVD1: Music Videos

DVD1: Music Video
No. TitleDirector(s) Length
1. "Introduction for Kingdom"     
2. "anytime [Album Version]" (Music Video)   
3. "FREAKY" (Music Video)   
4. "Under" (Music Video)   
5. "Koi no Mahou" (Music Video)   
6. "Himitsu" (Music Video)   
7. "Ai no Uta [Album Version]" (Music Video)   
8. "MORE" (Music Video)   
9. "Amai Wana" (Music Video)   
10. "Aishou" (Music Video)   
11. "Anata ga Shite Kureta Koto" (Music Video)   
12. "Wonderland" (Music Video)   
13. "Run For Your Life" (Music Video)   
14. "BUT" (Music Video)   
15. "LAST ANGEL feat. 東方神起" (Music Video)   
16. "Black Cherry [Live Version]" (from Live Tour 2007 ~Black Cherry~)   
17. "LIVE DVD TRAILER" (from LIVE DVD "KODA KUMI LIVE TOUR 2007 ~Black Cherry~ SPECIAL FINAL IN TOKYO DOME")   

DVD2: Premium Limited Live in Hall in Yokohama Arena

DVD2: PREMIUM LIMITED LIVE IN HALL IN YOKOHAMA ARENA
No. Title Length
1. "Cherry Girl"    
2. "BUT"    
3. "WON'T BE LONG"    
4. "Someday"    
5. "you"    
6. "hands"    
7. "MORE"    
8. "Your Song"    
9. "Koi no Tsubomi" (A Cup of Milk Tea Bossa Nova Version)  
10. "Sweet Love..."    
11. "WIND"    
12. "Encore  

Charts

Oricon Sales Chart (Japan)

Release Chart Peak Position Sales Total Sales Chart Run
January 30, 2008 Oricon Daily Charts 1 142,997 612,223 32 weeks
Oricon Weekly Charts 1 421,302[2]
Oricon Monthly Charts 1
Oricon Year-end Chart 13 610,733[23]

Singles

Date Title Peak position Chart run Sales
March 14, 2007 "But/Aishō" 2 14 weeks 130,890
June 27, 2007 "Freaky" 1 15 weeks 200,322
September 19, 2007 "Ai no Uta" 2 20 weeks 134,831
November 14, 2007 "Last Angel" 3 12 weeks 91,620
January 23, 2008 "Anytime" 4 3 weeks 53,189

References

  1. ↑ Greenberg, Adam. "Kingdom - Kumi Koda - Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards - AllMusic". AllMusic. Retrieved October 19, 2014.
  2. 1 2 3 "Oricon Weekly 标 题: 本周ORICON(08/02/11付)". newsmth.net. Retrieved 2012-09-01.
  3. ↑ "Kingdom / KODA KUMI / ORICON STYLE". Oricon. Retrieved January 31, 2016.
  4. ↑ 一般社団法人 日本レコード協会｜各種統計. RIAJ (in Japanese).
  5. ↑ "Japonesque [CD+2DVD]". CD Japan. Retrieved June 13, 2016.
  6. ↑ "Kingdom [CD+2DVD Limited Edition]". Play Asia. Retrieved June 13, 2016.
  7. ↑ "Kingdom (Normal Edition)(Japan Version)". YesAsia. Retrieved June 13, 2016.
  8. ↑ "Kingdom (ALBUM+DVD)(Japan Version)". YesAsia. Retrieved June 13, 2016.
  9. ↑ "Kingdom (ALBUM+2DVD)(Limited Edition)(Japan Version)". YesAsia. Retrieved June 13, 2016.
  10. ↑ "Kingdom [ALBUM+2DVD+Poster (First Press Limited Edition)(Japan Version)". YesAsia. Retrieved June 13, 2016.
  11. ↑ Amazon Japan Retrieved 2012.09.01
  12. ↑ "Koda Kumi "Kingdom" another year of #1 album". Oricon. Retrieved January 31, 2016.
  13. ↑ "Kingdom [w/ 2 DVD, Limited Edition / Jacket A]". CDJapan. Retrieved June 13, 2016.
  14. ↑ "Kingdom CD+2DVD". YesAsia. Retrieved June 8, 2016.
  15. ↑ "All Night Nippon". univasian.com (in Japanese). Retrieved 2012-09-01.
  16. ↑ "Kumi Koda comment goes rotten". TokyoGraph. Retrieved May 2, 2016.
  17. ↑ "Kumi Koda comment goes "rotten," suspended for a month". Oh No They Didn't!. Retrieved May 2, 2016.
  18. ↑ "Koda Kumi controversy - FNN SUPERNEWS". YouTube. Retrieved June 13, 2016.
  19. ↑ "Year 2008: I mustn't forget it.". Koda Reki. Retrieved June 13, 2016.
  20. ↑ "Kuu-chan's lovely kingdom! by Whitney". Kingdom Reviews. Retrieved February 1, 2016.
  21. ↑ "Kingdom CD+DVD Review". Kingdom Reviews @YesAsia. Retrieved February 1, 2016.
  22. ↑ "Kingdom". rhythmzone.net. Retrieved 2013-08-11.
  23. ↑ http://www.oricon.co.jp/music/special/081211_01_03.html
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