I've made a presentation of POWER POINT to share my opinion on the album "aigakikoeru - european version". I included some samples and kawaii stuff... Please, enjoy it!
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General notes

 

When you open the special box, you find a booklet with the romaji lyrics & illustrations by KOKIA Along the pages, you’ll see different stages of a dog's day. (yes yes, you’ve read well!) It contains a beautiful poster, and in its back, you’ll read all the lyrics, translated into English and French.

                  

                   KOKIA is not known for the visual marketing, but this time she decided to stress on this aspect too. The CD is illustrated by KOKIA too. KOKIA has written all the songs, music and lyrics.

 

                   The principal theme of the album, its core, it’s LOVE. And with each song, we have different approaches to love. We see in the graphic art of the album different hearts (which represent LOVE): there’s a heart in the cover. KOKIA is listening to what LOVE tells her. And she transmits this to us. In the booklet we have a dog chasing a heart, playing with it, listening it, and its bark, maybe, it’s a message of love, too. KOKIA loves dogs.

                  

                  I find the use of English in this album very appropriate, as is addressed to an Occidental audience. Her pronunciation is not bad, in fact, she uses difficult words such as “wriggling”. I bet not many students of English do not know how to pronounce this word properly.

 

                   The album has a really Occidental feeling, but, curiously, we have an important Japanese style present in the album, in a way it never was in KOKIA songs… So, again, this interest in representing a Japanese artist in an Occidental market without loosing her identity, and a wish to success.

 

                   Now, I will analyse each song.

 

Someday when you love someone ~anthem ver.~
Itsuka dareka wo aishita toki ~anthem ver.~

 The first track touches the general love. A couple love, the love anyone may find some day. The love you are given by your parents. And the love you give when you become… a mother or a father. I think the title of the song is rather meaningful.

 

                   I knew this song had a very emotional  lyric without knowing what it said. And It has not deceived  me. My favourite quotation from it is… “Someday, when you love someone, you’ll realize then that you have always been loved”

 

                   This is a very special version, because it’s only a bell ring and KOKIA voice what you will hear in the album version.

 

                   This has become the closing song in KOKIA shows. Personally I like this one far better than Remember the Kiss.

 

                   The sample you have here is from a live this late year. Isn’t is beautiful? She has transformed it into a very poppish version! I would define the song as a sort of ballad.

 

                   KOKIA wishes you to find love. And this album may help you.

 

A universe is…
Uchuu ga…

 

This song has a special kind of power. This was one of the few songs I had listened before playing the real album. I knew the song in the player for professionals,  of www.kokia.fr  was not complete. It ended in 3:00 or so…  The best part of the song was missing! ^_^

 

                   The song transmits STRENTH, a power that rushes through the body and soul. This song is quite unique in KOKIA discography. We could compare it to the second track of trip trip album, in that folk style… but this song is smart. Lyrics are powerful too, even sensual. (Would it be this the source of power?) “Ah! Am I going to be yours tonight?” I don’t know if she is referring to a man or to the night.

 

                   My first impression, without knowing what the lyric said, was that the theme of the song was the power that has the universe, and this power was clearly present in the style of song. A flower blooming, the energy going from one place to other, the power of nature, a new life. The energy flowing all around the UNIVERSE. I still keep this opinion. Nevertheless, the lyrics are sort of different from this.

 

                   So we could interpret the lyrics in two senses: KOKIA talks about a man, or she is talking about universe. But then, what about the sentence “Both of us we’re in the same universe”. Please, read the lyrics by yourself and get your own conclusions

                  I would pick up this sentence: “One never can tell what’s about to happen,        when it’s done we call it destiny / It doesn’t have to be perfect, just be mysterious.”  To sum up,  LOVE for UNIVERSE, for the flow of things.

 

 

Hope of an ugly Ducklin’
Ahiru no kokoro

 

Apparently, this is just another third track of a KOKIA album. The thing is that Say Hi!!, So much love for you, Different way… have a nice, a free & easy spirit. Even she plays the role of the ugly Ducklin’ in the song. But this is just the surface. The lyrics are really deep.

 

                  Does she consider herself an “ugly Ducklin’”? (I think it’s not necessary to explain what this means). Or does ugly ducklin’ stand for all the people who want to go beyond their appearances, to go beyond what people think about their physic aspect?... In a society, the Japanese society, where IMAGE is so important, KOKIA has already released 5 albums and a “Best" and has many public and exclusive performances along the year.  Those who look at KOKIA, and think she’s not that pretty, and despise her music or show no interest in her music are loosing a great opportunity to discover a wonderful artist.

 

                   I would stress the following lines for this song:

                   “Even when they say nothing you do will go right, I never give up”

                   Love in this song, is clearly, LOVE FOR ONESELF, FOR OURSELVES. 

 

The story of two daughters
Futari no musume
 

 

Awakening ~ open your eyes ~

 

This song has an interesting melody. It’s mysterious and sensual at the beginning. Then it turns more magnificent. The chorus is the more representative of KOKIA. I believe is one of the favourites of all times for KOKIA fans. This has more or less the same style, but with changes, obviously. This song tries to open your eyes to life, to the possibilities, tries to heal your heart when you are too tired of trying, this is a message – don’t close your eyes to life, go on! Love for… ONESELF again? Perhaps…”See the evil part of it too, then make up your mind and get strong. That's FREEDOM” exquisite…  By the way, every time Open your eyes starts, I think it would be a good base for a Trance remix… quite odd, isn’t it?

 

Cocoro
(heart)

 

The most Japanese song within Aigakikoeru. Instruments, music, way of singing. Well, the lyric is about love, again, and the name of the son is highly related with love, too. “If your desire is strong enough, they will follow you”. It was time to have a KOKIA song like this, again, she shows herself as a Japanese singer, keeping the tradition that surrounds her. It is a very beautiful song. Calm, quiet, peaceful. And with a nice lyric that transmits its message without knowing its meaning. This usually happens with KOKIA ^^  I can’t imagine this song LIVE, it has to be a real experience!

HUMANITAIAN

 

How many times have you said “I hate HUMANITY!!!” because you have had a bad day in relation with people? Well, this song expresses JUST THE CONTRARY. I LOVE HUMANITY!!! It’s the message of this song. And, actually, her thesis are solid! She explains is a convincing way why she loves humanity and she justify, and it’s mature, and knows there’s pain too, that’s why she says in the song ”Yes, I’m still waiting for someone’s kind words, I’m waiting for so long, with so many expectations”. Could this be more real???

 

                   The melody is joyful. We are not used to sound effects in KOKIA’s songs, this is an exception. The songs starts with KOKIA voice distorted, but not in a bad way! It’s very slight

 

                   A good song to do step or other aerobic activities ^^

 

 

So sad so bad

Another JEWEL in the album. SURPRISING MELODY, SURPRISING USE OF ENGLISH AND SHOKING LYRICS. Yes, evil exists, and within us. That's how clear KOKIA states it. Again, distorted voice, this time, very well used, because it’s supposed this voice comes from the deep… For love to exist, hate and evil must exist. I do not need to explain more of this song, just writing here the lyrics:

 

         Under the blue sky in the darkness

         Held close by the deep blue

         In the heightened space

         Exists a creature that just starts wriggling.

 

         (…)

         So sad, so sensitive,

         So bad, so innocent,

         so shy, so breakable,

         That’s him (…) everybody has it

 

                   She pronounces English quite well in this track. The use of this language here impacts and reinforces the message of the song, making it more accessible for everyone.

 

                        There is a mistake in the translations part. This song just has the French translation of the English parts. But the Japanese parts are not translated. I suppose they thought the song was quite English and it did not need translation for the two lines of stanza…

 

 

A flower blooming under tenderness
Yasashikusareru to Yasashikunareru Hana

 

I have to admit it, I don’t like too much this song. But, it’s beautiful, I admit this too. At the beginning, I thought this song was about her daughter. But it’s not. The lyrics is again about general love. The title in Japanese means something like “tenderness calls tenderness, a smile answers to another”. This is first line of the lyric. This the topic of the song.

 

Warmth ~ listen for the love ~
Nukumori ~ listen for the love ~

This time, you have the video sample. After A universe is… you’ll see a sample of this song. It’s the song that gives title to the album. Aigakikoeru… can be heard in the song. I can hear LOVE. That is the meaning of the title of the album, or Listen for the love, but I prefer I can hear love. I chose this lines… “How much happiness did I bring into this world with me? I’m alive, that’s all. But how much happiness will that bring to me?” Quite sharp, isn’t it? I like this song more than “A flower…” The style of the song is again, peaceful. You can see it in the sample. Can you hear LOVE? … The instrument of this song is a beautiful guitar… it took me a while to notice it, as it is so well merged with KOKIA’s voice, that I didn’t pay attention!

 

why do I sing?

Another English hint, this time, a whole song. Piano. KOKIA’s voice. And a question that is answered in the song. I prefer this song to the last two tracks (#9 & #10). The style is quite familiar to me, but I could not say what’s it. It’s like classical piano song and classical European – American song… very appropriate for Soundtrack music, specially the piano solo, which is just the most amazing piano solo I have heard apart from “The piano” OST. Toshiya Shiori is the pianist, but I suppose KOKIA would play it herself in her show. I think her English is quite good in this song. The more I listen to this song, the more I like it… She sings to spread a message of LOVE.

 

cosy place
Atatakai basho

 

Ohhh, delicious track. Jazzy atmosphere. That’s why I say she uses Occidental influences in this album. And still, fans are surprised, because we had never seen KOKIA playing this role. And she plays it right, yeah!

 

                   Well, lyrics here, are also a surprise. Physical contact, what do you think it’s that cosy place? This is not EVE lyric, but it’s not very far.  I LOVE IT! Absolutely recommended!

 

                   This is properly a love song, a declaration of LOVE . Her voice fulfil the lover’s heart deeply and softly. I am discovering anew side of KOKIA, actually… This is why it’s important to read the lyrics too, although KOKIA can be enjoyed without language skills, obviously! ^^

 

                   The climax of the song is when she says… “madly wanting so…. What’s something you would never forget?”

 

 

Remember the kiss ~ world edition ~

 

This song, apart from being in English, has an occidental feeling too. It reminds me to some Michael Jackson song, we are the word we are the children.. The first notes… take a look at that! 

 

                   The version in this language changes a bit, but I think it gets better. The meaning of the original lyric is well expressed in this new one. Her English is not native, it’s not perfect. For example, it’s not common to pronounce the “g” of “-ing”… but I don’t think is incorrect.

 

                   The style is classy. It reminds me to the classic songs by American important artists of all times. I’m not a music critic, but I think you know what I mean   She is trying new styles in this album and I know she would do well in Swing, but what about R&B? perhaps, we would be surprised!! ^_^

 

                   “We are here because our lips are meant to sing a song of love.”

                 

                   This is a perfect song to share, and to make emotions flow to surface!

 

 

Music, like a prayer
Inori ni mo Nita Utsukushii Sekai

 

This is a song that was within Birthday Present CD for KOKIAn’s (the members of the fan club). I like this song. It’s meant to be a classic track for KOKIA.

 

                   I was surprised when I discovered that the version of the full preview for professionals at kokia.fr was different from the official version. You can download it here. It seems it was recorded for rehearsal, or something like, because the definite version sound much more professional and neat. Well, perhaps most of you do not get the difference, but I had this track since Birthday Present release, and I had listened this song many times… because I do like it, and I found differences when I listened the full preview of kokia.fr

 

                   Now you can enjoy two versions!!

 

                   Let’s analyse it a bit. The them is love for GOD. I’m surprised because Japanese society is not that Christian. The song is quite Christian, in fact. It seems a Church melody. (Similar to the first track of Aigakikoeru, Someone when you love someone, with those bells and stuff…).

 

I have said love for GOD, but also, LOVE FOR MUSIC, which has a healing effect on souls, as FAITH has too. So in the lyric, we can see a comparison between the melody of MUSIC and the melody of GOD. 

 

Overview

I think I will give this album a … 9/10!!! Yes, it’s quite good. I recommend it. ^^

 

Someone…     8’5

A universe… 10

Hope of an… 8

Story of two… 9

Open your eyes 9’5

cocoro…        9’5

HUMANITARIAN… 8

So sad so bad       10

Flower blooming… 7’5

Warmth…      7’5

Why do I sing…        9

cosy place…  9’5

Remember the kiss… 8

Music like… 9

 

Where can I buy 『aigakikoeru』???

 

I can tell you my experience with this on-line shop.

 

                  ZEMANGA

 

                  The shipping was correct and more or less fast. The problem I see is the EXPENSIVE shipping cost, it’s more than the CD! So I suggest to buy more than one copy, to arrange several cd’s for several friends, that you can distribute it by yourself, or cheaper.

 

                   There are many shops that have this album. You can look in google, or you can visit these ones. Hope some of you decide to make this final step and acquire this exquisite album.  They may have less expnsive shipping costs…

 

                  DISCOUNT MANGA

                  FNAC FRANCE

                  J-MUSIC STORE

 

                            PLEASE, SUPPORT KOKIA IF YOU LIKED THIS PREVIEW!

 

                   I suggest you to, to visit this on-line shops to buy Japanese releases of KOKIA. These shops have guarantees, and I have ordered from them several times.

 

                  CDJAPAN   YESASIA GLOBAL

 

 

         Now it’s your time to say what you think. Did you like what you saw? Do you want to add something?

 Do you have any doubt? There’s a place for all this, it’s here. Share your thought about KOKIA’s album!

 

LYRICS OF AIGAKIKOERU

                   (scans and romaji lyrics here by d4mon@JMP)

 

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