W Face: Inside/Outside | ||||
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Studio album by | ||||
Released | March 8, 2017 | |||
Recorded | 2016–2017 | |||
Genre | See background and content | |||
Length | 43:10 (Inside) 32:49 (Outside) | |||
Label | Rhythm Zone | |||
Producer | Max Matsuura | |||
Kumi Koda chronology | ||||
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Singles from W Face: Inside/Outside | ||||
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Alternative cover | ||||
W Face (pronounced Double Face) is a two-part studio album released by Japanese singer Koda Kumi. Each record is titled Inside and Outside,and Rhythm Zone released both albums on various formats on March 8,2017. Work on W Face began after Koda completed her promotional tour for her album Walk of My Life in early 2016. Inside was produced by Japanese producers and composers,whereas Outside was crafted by a variety of producers and collaborators from outside Japan,including Dsign Music,Andrew Goldstein,Lola Blanc,and Lindy Robbins,among others.
Both Inside and Outside are concept albums;the former explores personal and emotional themes,while the latter focuses on a more aggressive and sexy depiction of the singer. Musically,Inside is J-pop-driven,with midtempo numbers and ballads,whereas Outside combines dance music,hip-hop,rock music,and R&B elements influenced by Western culture. Additionally,Koda co-wrote both albums. Both Inside and Outside received positive reviews from music critics.
Commercially,both albums were moderately successful. Outside debuted at number one on Japan's Oricon Albums Chart,while Inside stalled at second place. Despite holding the top positions,sales underperformed overall in comparison to her previous efforts. The album was promoted with two singles:"Kimi Omoi" from Inside and "Shhh!" from Outside,both of which underperformed in the Japanese market. Furthermore,Koda embarked on her 2017 W Face Live Tour,which was followed by a live CD,DVD,and Blu-ray release in December 2017.
In late January 2017,Koda Kumi and her record label Rhythm Zone announced plans to release two studio albums under the project name W Face. [1] Titled Inside and Outside,the announcement came after Koda completed her 2016 Best Live tour and promotional activities for her previous studio album Walk of My Life (2016). Koda mentioned a track from Inside called "Yorokobi no Kakera," which was used as a commercial tie-in for Aoki Freshers in Japan,while teasing a collaboration with Japanese musicians AKLO and Chara on a track titled "Cupcake". [2] [3] In February,she further announced tracks "On My Way" and "Ultraviolet" appearing on Inside and Outside. [4] According to Koda,Outside was produced first,followed by Inside. She stated that formulating Inside was "harder" than Outside,because she wanted to "work on new material" immediately. As a result,she chose to release both records in the same year. [5]
Both Inside and Outside are concept albums;the former delves into personal and emotional themes that highlight her "softer" side,whereas the latter focuses on a more aggressive and sexy portrayal of the singer. [1] [6] Inside is a J-pop-driven album that mixes contemporary pop music,midtempo songs,and ballads. [5] Koda co-wrote the majority of the album,which also includes collaborations with Back-On,Kosuke Morimoto,Shinjiro Inoue,Yoko Kuzuya,Hi-Yunk,and Chara. [7] In an interview with Billboard Japan ,Koda stated that the album's opener,"Bridget Song," discusses women's hardships,while "Promise You" expresses universal love between family,friends,and lovers. [5]
Outside has a more "aggressive" sound and incorporates elements of dance music,hip-hop,rock,and R&B from Western music. [6] [5] The opening track inspired the album's project title,"W Face". Koda stated that she wanted to emphasise different depictions of womanhood in tracks such as "Bassline," "Ultraviolet," and "Wicked Girls" through her lyrics. [5] Additionally,the album songs "Insane" and "Bassline" both feature freestyle rapping. [5] [8] Unlike its pairing record,all tracks except "Cupcake" were arranged by various producers and collaborators outside of Japan,including Dsign Music,Andrew Goldstein,Lola Blanc,and Lindy Robbins. [9]
W Face was released on March 8,2017 by Rhythm Zone in a variety of formats. Ten different tracks appeared on Inside and Outside,while a DVD and Blu-ray Disc on each version included the same music videos;these visuals were for the songs "Ultraviolet","Insane","Bassline","Wicked Girls","Bridget Song",and "Promise You". [10] [11] In Taiwan,Avex Trax distributed the CD and DVD versions of Inside and Outside on March 22. [12] [13] In Japan,first-press editions of both albums included slipcase packaging,additional leaflets about Koda's promotional activities,and a B2-sized poster of the album artwork. [14] The album artwork for both records shows close-up shots of Koda;Inside features her making a "mild" expression,whereas Outside features a greyscale portrait of her with heavy makeup. Each edition have slightly different shots of Koda. [15]
W Face produced two singles from both albums:"Kimi Omoi" from Inside and "Shhh!"" from Outside. The former track first appeared on Koda's mini-album Fever:Legend Live ,which was distributed exclusively in promotional campaigns for the Pachinko game of the same name. [16] A music video was also included with the mini-album's DVD release. [17] Because it was included on the mini-album and not released separately,it served as a B-side to "Shhh!". [18]
"Shhh!" was the album's only physical single,released on April 9,2016 by Rhythm Zone. [18] It was distributed exclusively through Mu-Mo,a shop run by Rhythm Zone's parent company Avex Trax,and was also available during Koda's Best Single Collection Live Tour in 2017. [19] [20] "Shhh!"'s packaging was available in four different variations,all of which were exclusive to concert venues. Each edition featured unique cover art that,when aligned,revealed a hidden image. [21] In addition,a special barcode was available on all four formats,which included an exclusive mobile download from SP Music in Japan. Tracks from W Face were promoted on various live shows. She appeared on Utacon on January 31 and Music Fair on February 25,where she sung "On My Way",the theme song to the Japanese television series Mahiru no Akuma(Midday Devil / 真昼の悪魔) (2017). [22] [23] [24] [25] She also promoted the track "Promise You" on Good Time Music and Utacon in mid-March 2017. [26] [27]
Several tracks from Inside and Outside were remixed by various producers and DJs and included on Koda's remix album, Koda Kumi Driving Hit's 7 ,which was released a month later on April 6. [28] To promote the album further,Koda embarked on her W Face Live Tour in 2017,visiting all prefectures in Japan;the tour concluded on January 28,2018. A live recording and film were shot at the Tokyo International Forum and released on December 6,that year. [29] The DVD and Blu-ray releases debuted at number four on the Oricon DVD Chart and remained there for twelve weeks. [30]
Review scores | |
---|---|
Source | Rating |
CDJournal | (positive) [31] |
CDJournal | (positive) [32] |
W Face received favourable remarks from music critics. Japanese magazine CDJournal reviewed both albums separately. The publication praised Inside's "down-to-earth" and "supple" production,citing tracks "Yorokobi no Kakera" and "My Fun" as album standouts. [31] Outside complimented Koda's attitude throughout the album,as well as its R&B sound. The reviewer also praised Koda's vocals on the album track "Heartless" and praised its distinct piano-driven sound in comparison to the rest of the album. [32]
Commercially,W Face was a moderate success in Japan. Outside debuted at number one on the Oricon Daily and Weekly Albums Chart,selling 20,246 copies in its first week,while Inside debuted and stalled at number two,selling 20,157 copies. [33] [34] On the Oricon Digital Chart,the positions were reversed,with Inside selling 1,200 units and Outside selling 1,000 digital copies. [35] Despite ranking first and second in Japan,it was her lowest-performing album at the time,selling significantly less than her previous release Walk of My Life (2016). Inside spent nine weeks on the chart,while Outside lasted ten weeks. [36] [37] On the Billboard Japan Hot Albums chart,Inside debuted at number two,while Outside peaked at number three. [38] Both Inside and Outside have shipped over 28,000 units in Japan. [39]
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Composers(s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|---|
1. | "Bridget Song" | Hi-yunk |
| 3:59 |
2. | "Bring It On" |
| Back-On | 3:08 |
3. | "Yorokobi no Kakera" (喜びのかけら / Piece of Joy) |
| Shimada Masanori | 4:26 |
4. | "Stand By You" | Koda |
| 5:49 |
5. | "Sukideshite" (好きでして / I Like You) |
| Inoue | 3:55 |
6. | "Kimi Omoi" (君想い / Your Thoughts) |
|
| 5:17 |
7. | "On My Way" | Koda | Ryuji Yamamoto | 4:42 |
8. | "What's Up" | Koda | Katsuhiko Yamamoto | 3:20 |
9. | "Promise You" |
| Hi-yunk | 4:38 |
10. | "My Fun" | Koda | Chara | 4:02 |
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Composers(s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|---|
1. | "W Face" | Koda |
| 3:17 |
2. | "Ultraviolet" | Koda |
| 3:43 |
3. | "Insane" | Koda |
| 3:11 |
4. | "Damn Real" | Koda |
| 4:15 |
5. | "Heartless" | Koda |
| 3:18 |
6. | "Bassline" | Koda |
| 3:18 |
7. | "Shhh!" | Koda | Sellers | 3:17 |
8. | "Bangarang" | Koda |
| 3:24 |
9. | "Wicked Girls" | Koda | Yuka Otsuki | 2:41 |
10. | "Cupcake" ((featuring AKLO)) |
| Dylan Kelly | 2:13 |
No. | Title | Length |
---|---|---|
1. | "Ultraviolet" (music video) | 3:50 |
2. | "Insane" (music video) | 3:19 |
3. | "Bassline" (music video) | 3:26 |
4. | "Wicked Girls" (music video) | 2:46 |
5. | "Bridget Song" (music video) | 4:01 |
6. | "Promise You" (music video) | 4:43 |
Total length: | 21:25 |
Personnel details were sourced from the Inside and Outside liner notes booklet. [7] [9]
Visuals and imagery
Musicians
Technical and production
Chart (2017: Inside) | Peak position |
---|---|
Japanese Albums (Billboard) [38] | 2 |
Japanese Albums (Oricon) [34] | 1 |
Japanese Digital (Oricon) [35] | 6 |
Chart (2017: Outside) | Peak position |
---|---|
Japanese Albums (Billboard) [38] | 3 |
Japanese Albums (Oricon) [34] | 1 |
Japanese Digital (Oricon) [35] | 7 |
Region | Date | Format(s) | Label | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|
Japan | March 8, 2017 | Rhythm Zone | [10] [11] | |
Various |
| Avex Trax | [40] [41] | |
Taiwan | March 22, 2017 |
| Avex Taiwan | [12] |
"D.D.D." is a song recorded by Japanese recording artist Kumi Koda, taken from her second greatest hits album, Best ~second session~ (2005). It contains guest vocals from Japanese music duo Soulhead. It was written by Soulhead members and sisters Yoshika and Tsugumi, with production being done by Octopussy. The song is Kumi's first collaborative effort since her single "Hot Stuff" with Japanese rapper KM-MARKIT, which was released a month prior. As part of Kumi's 12 Singles Collection releases, "D.D.D." premiered on December 21, 2005, as the third single from the album. The CD cover sleeve has Kumi wearing a black mini-dress and headdress. The cover sleeve is to represent the country United Kingdom, and its symbolism of Britannia.
"Take Back" is a song recorded by Japanese singer-songwriter Kumi Koda, taken as her debut and lead single from her first studio album Affection (2002). It was released on December 6, 2000 via Rhythm Zone in two physical editions; a CD single and 12" vinyl. Additionally, Sounday and Orpheus Records distributed the song in North America in May 2001 with four more formats, but was remixed as a dance number by Jonathan Peters. The track was written by Koda herself, composed by Kazuhito Kikuchi and produced by Max Matsuura. The result was finalized after she had won a competition to find another artist for the Avex Trax company, which later published Rhythm Zone under Matsuura's guidance.
Best: First Things is the debut greatest hits album by Japanese singer Koda Kumi. Rhythm Zone released it in a variety of formats on September 21, 2005. The album is divided into two discs, each containing a single released by Koda between her 2000 debut with "Take Back" and her most recent single, "Hot Stuff" in 2005. The second disc contains four new singles: "Butterfly", "Flower", "Promise", and "Star", as well as a bonus track, the solo version of "The Meaning of Peace".
"Taboo" is a song by Japanese recording artist Kumi Koda, taken from her seventh studio album Trick (2009). It was written by Koda, and co-written and produced by Hiro. "Taboo" is a dance-pop song that lyrically discusses several taboo subjects including sex and homosexuality. It contains numerous elements including electropop and hip-hop, and employs use of vocoder. It was released as the second single from the album on October 8, 2008 by Rhythm Zone.
3 Splash is an EP by Japanese recording artist and songwriter Kumi Koda. It was released on 8 July 2009, by Kumi's record label, Rhythm Zone. Her fourth extended play consists of three recordings; "Lick Me", "Ecstasy" and "Hashire!", with three additional interludes. It was released in two different formats: stand-alone CD, and a CD+DVD bundle - the latter bundle was re-released with a pink-transparent CD holder. The three artworks for the EP depicts Kumi posing with the title of the work superimposed over her. The CD+DVD bundle artwork features her holding a basketball, this artwork was also used for the digital release of the EP.
Best: Third Universe is the third greatest hits album by Japanese recording artist Kumi Koda. It was released as a double album with her eighth studio album Universe on February 3, 2010 by Rhythm Zone. The greatest hits album includes singles between May 2006 "Koi no Tsubomi" and her December 2008 single "Stay with Me", with a bonus disc with newly recorded material. As a double album, it was released in four different formats; a two album bundle, a two album and DVD bundle, a two album first pressing bundle, and a two album digital release. A fifth format was released, but only featured the compilation.
Gossip Candy is an extended play by Japanese recording artist and songwriter Kumi Koda. It was released on July 7, 2010, by Koda's record label, Rhythm Zone. Koda's fifth extended play, Gossip Candy consists of five recordings; Lollipop, Inside Fishbowl, Outside Fishbowl, For You, and a cover of Got to Be Real, originally performed by Cheryl Lynn. It was released in three different formats: Digital EP, CD and CD+DVD. The CD only version was re-released as the "Dream Music Park" edition with a bonus baseball cap. The Dream Music Park concert was later released on the CD+2DVD edition of Dejavu.
"Pop Diva" is a song recorded by Japanese musician Kumi Koda, taken as the fourth and final single from her ninth studio album Dejavu (2011). It premiered on February 2, 2011 by Rhythm Zone and Avex Music Creative Inc. in two physical formats and for digital consumption. The song was written, composed, arranged and produced by musical artist Lil' Showy, making it one of few tracks from Dejavu to not be written by Koda.
Japonesque is the tenth studio album by Japanese recording artist Kumi Koda. It was released on January 25, 2012 by Rhythm Zone. It was also released just a little under a year after her 2011 album, Dejavu. Japonesque marks Koda's tenth consecutive studio album to be produced by Japanese producer and manager Max Matsuura, amongst many other producers, while she contributes to the album as the lead vocalist, background vocalist, and songwriter to majority of the songs. Recorded in Japanese with minor phrases in English language, Japonesque is a Japanese pop album with numerous musical elements such as dance music, R&B, electronica, and rock music.
"Go to the Top" is a song recorded by Japanese recording artist Kumi Koda for her eleventh studio album, Bon Voyage (2012). It premiered on October 24, 2012 as the lead single from the album. The song was written by Kumi, while production was handled by Clarabell. It was used as the opening theme song for the Âge–developed anime series Muv-Luv Alternative: Total Eclipse. Musically, the track was described as an electronic dance song with elements of 8-bit music, dance-pop, and dubstep.
Bon Voyage is the eleventh studio album by Japanese recording artist Kumi Koda. It was released on February 26, 2014, by Rhythm Zone. Bon Voyage is Koda's first album since her 2012 Japonesque, and her longest album in production since her 2008 studio album Kingdom. The album's production was handled by several music producers, such as Joseph Lawrence, Toby Gad, T-Sk, Mats Lie Skare, Figge Bosstrom, Tommy Henriksen, Badur Haberg, and Clarabell. It also features guest appearances from Sean Paul and OVDS. Five different formats were released to promote the album: a standalone CD, a CD and DVD bundle, a CD and Blu-ray bundle, a fan package featuring a live DVD, and a digital release in Japan.
Walk of My Life is the twelfth studio album by Japanese singer-songwriter Koda Kumi. It was released a year after her previous studio album, Bon Voyage, on March 18, 2015. Continuing her streak of chart-topping albums, which began in 2005 with Best: First Things, the album debuted at No. 1 on the Oricon charts. The album remained on the charts for fourteen weeks.
"Trust Your Love" is a song recorded by Japanese singer-songwriter Koda Kumi and was used as the second single from her debut album Affection (2002). It was released on May 9, 2001 via Rhythm Zone in two physical editions: a CD single and 12" vinyl. Additionally, Sounday and Orpheus Records distributed the song in North America with the same formats, but was remixed as a dance number by Hex Hector. The song was written by Kumi herself, whilst composing and production was handled by Kikuchi Kazuhito and Max Matsuura respectively. Musically, it is an R&B song that incorporates synthesizers and keyboards, and describes two lovers believing in each other.
Summer of Love is the sixth greatest hits album by Japanese singer-songwriter Kumi Koda, released on July 22, 2015 through Rhythm Zone. It follows her five previous greatest hits albums, Best: First Things (2005), Best: Second Session (2006), Best: Bounce & Lovers (2007), Out Works & Collaboration Best (2009), and Best: Third Universe/Universe (2010). The compilation was released in many different formats including a one-disc standard edition, and a two-disc CD and DVD package. The album includes three new tracks; "Ex Tape", the album's lead promotional single, "Hurricane", and "No One Else but You".
Universe is the eighth studio album by Japanese recording artist Kumi Koda. It was released as a double album with her third greatest its album Best: Third Universe on February 3, 2010, by Rhythm Zone. Beginning in early 2009 after completing two mini-concert tours, the album's production was handled by several music producers, such as Andy Dodd, Adam Watts, Figge, Tim Larsson, Tommy Henriksen, U-Key Zone, Thomas Gustafsson, and H-Wonder. It also features a guest appearance from Koda's sister and Japanese recording artist Misono. Koda contributed towards the album as the executive producer and songwriter. Universe is primarily a J-pop album with numerous elements of dance-pop, rock, R&B, electropop, and pop ballads.
"Dance Dance Dance" is a song recorded and performed by Japanese collective unit E-girls. It first appeared on their greatest hits album E.G. Smile: E-girls Best (2015), and subsequently served as the single of their fourth studio record E.G. Crazy (2017). The track was released on September 30, 2015 through Rhythm Zone and Avex Music Creative Inc. in three physical formats—two CD's and a DVD bundle—and for digital consumption. The song was written by Lauren Kaori, composed by DWB and Nanna Larsen, and produced by DWB with Exile's Hiro. "Dance Dance Dance" is their second single released in 2015, with "Anniversary!!", to only feature selective members in the line-up.
"Anniversary!!" is a song recorded and performed by Japanese collective unit E-girls. It first appeared on their greatest hits album E.G. Smile: E-girls Best (2015), and subsequently served as the single of their fourth studio record E.G. Crazy (2017). The track was released on May 20, 2015 through Rhythm Zone and Avex Music Creative Inc. in three physical formats—two CD's and a DVD bundle—and for digital consumption. The song was written by Hana Utsugi, composed by Sky Beatz, Fast Lane and Lisa Desmond, and produced by Exile's Hiro. "Anniversary!!" is their first single released in 2015 to only feature selective members in the line-up.
"Go! Go! Let's Go!" is a song recorded and performed by Japanese collective unit E-girls, taken as a single from their fourth studio record E.G. Crazy (2017). The track was released on November 30, 2016 through Rhythm Zone and Avex Music Creative Inc. in three physical formats—two CD's and a DVD bundle—and for digital consumption. The song was written by Kotake Masato, composed by Lisa Desmond, Erik Lidbom and Maria Marcus, and produced by Exile's Hiro. It is the final single to feature Dream member Erie Abe, whom left the band on December 31 that same year.
Koda Kumi Driving Hit's 7 is the ninth remix album by Japanese singer-songwriter Kumi Koda. The album was released April 5, 2017. It debuted in the top ten on the Oricon Albums Charts at number 9.
DNA is the fifteenth studio album by the Japanese singer Koda Kumi, released on August 22, 2018, six months after her previous studio album, AND, making it her second album of 2018.
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