Kokia (singer)

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Kokia
Birth name Akiko Yoshida (吉田 亜紀子)
Born July 22, 1976 (1976-07-22) (age 33)
Origin Tokyo, Japan
Genres J-pop
Occupations Singer, Songwriter, Producer
Years active 1998 - Present
Labels Pony Canyon (1998-2000)
Victor Entertainment (2001-2008)
Lantis(2008-Present)
Website Official Website

Kokia (コキア?) is a Japanese singer-songwriter from Tokyo. She is known mostly for her performances in video game and anime soundtracks; having appeared in eight different game/anime soundtracks to date. Kokia is also known for her vocal range, and ability to hold long-tone opera notes, having done so for 29 seconds during a television appearance. She is most well-known in Hong Kong and Taiwan for her song "Arigatou...", which achieved commercial success, and was covered by star Sammi Cheng. Her biggest hit in Japan is the single "The Power of Smile / Remember the Kiss", which reached number 15 on the Oricon charts. She studied opera at the Toho Gakuen School of Music.[1]

Contents

[edit] Information

[edit] Pre-debut - Pony Canyon

Kokia studied Opera and classical music while in university. During her time there, she caught the eye of a scouter from Pony Canyon, and in 1998 while still at university debuted with the single "Aishiteiru Kara" under the stage name "Kokia". This stage name that she created for herself was both her first name reversed (A-Ki-Ko -> Ko-Ki-A) as well as the name of a Hawaiian hibiscus flower which blooms during her birthday. "Aishiteiru Kara" and its B-side, "You", were used as insert songs for the Fuji Tv drama, Brothers. However, this single was not her first release into the Japanese market, as two weeks prior to this the Tail Concerto Ost had been released. The soundtrack contained "For Little Tail", the opening theme for the game, which Kokia had sung. Kokia's next release was a song called "Ai no Rinkaku", which was used as the ending theme song for the anime, Brain Powerd (the song was composed by the well-known composer, Yoko Kanno). Kokia followed up this single six months later with her second single, "Tears in Love".

Kokia's next single, "Arigatou...", was the first song that she had fully written and composed herself. It was used as the theme song for the TBD drama, Dotsuzen Oyako. While this did not propel her to stardom in Japan, Kokia became extremely famous in Hong Kong and Taiwan. "Arigatou..." won her the third place prize in the Hong Kong International Popular Music Awards. Popular Cantonese singer, Sammi Cheng, even recorded a Cantonese language cover of the song. This was followed up with Kokia's debut album, Songbird.

[edit] Victor Entertainment

After releasing her debut album, Songbird, Kokia took a break from music. Apart from contributing six songs to the Яk Standard project, nothing much was heard from Kokia until early 2001, when she switched labels from Pony Canyon to Victor Entertainment. In May, a new single of hers, "Tomoni", was released. This was followed up with three more singles, and the release of a new Kokia album, Trip Trip. These new songs showed a completely different side of Kokia, with the songs becoming unique and complex. The last track on the album A Gift was even featured in Subaru adverts throughout Europe.

In 2003, Kokia seemed to gain a lot more publicity than she had before. Her first new single since the release of Trip Trip, Kawaranai Koto: since 1976, had two semi-major tie-ups. The A-side was used as the theme song for the daytime drama Itoshiki Mono e, while the B-side, "Tell Tell Bouzu", was used as the second ending theme song to the anime, Hungry Heart: Wild Striker. This single debuted at number 47, Kokia's first top 50 single. Following this was the even more successful single, "The Power of Smile / Remember the kiss". "The Power of Smile" was featured in a TV commercial for Kao's Essential Damage-Care shampoo. The single grabbed the number 15 spot and is currently Kokia's most sold single. Similarly, her next album, Remember me, is her most sold album (which had debuted at number 15 too). In 2003, Kokia's old label, Pony Canyon, decided to feature Kokia in the popular Chinese drama At the Dolphin Bay's soundtrack with two songs: "I Catch a Cold" and "Shiroi Yuki".

2004 saw yet another Kokia album. Uta ga Chikara was backed with the two singles "So much love for you" and "Yume ga Chikara". "Yume ga Chikara" was the official cheering song for the Japanese team at the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens.

While Kokia released two singles in 2005 with minor tie-ups, she planned to start 2006 with a brand new single for the anime movie Gin-iro no Kami no Agito, called "Ai no Melody". The anime featured a re-arranged version of her song "Chouwa Oto" from her second studio album Trip Trip, as the opening theme, and a new composition of "Ai no Melody" as its ending theme song. Following this was Kokia's first live outside of Asia, a concert held in Paris on 21 January. Kokia also released a best album on 1 February (which was also sold in France and Spain, as well as Japan).

[edit] Beyond Victor

In June 2006, it was announced that Kokia would leave her label Victor Entertainment. She then set up her own independent website, and has sung at several lives. Following this, in October, it was announced that French label Wasabi Records would be releasing Kokia's new album, Aigakikoeru, in November for an exclusive France release. A Japanese version was later released on May 23, 2007 under Victory Entertainment.

Kokia returned to Paris on January 20, 2007 and performed in Le Bataclan.

Kokia released her newest single, "Tatta Hitotsu no Omoi", on January 23, 2008. It was featured as the opening theme for the second season of the Gunslinger Girl anime, titled Gunslinger Girl -Il Teatrino-.

In October 2008, Kokia released "Fairy Dance - Kokia meets Ireland". This marked a significant broadening of her work into very different musical styles and language. Two of the songs are in Irish, while others are traditional ballads in English, or original compositions inspired by Gaelic music.

Her single "Karma" is featured as the first opening theme song and "Transparent" is featured as the second ending theme for the 2009 anime Phantom ~Requiem for the Phantom~ produced by Bee Train.

[edit] Other compositions / Setlist tracks

Kokia has composed several songs for other artists. These songs are:

Kokia has also featured many new songs that do not appear on any releases yet in her recent lives. These songs are:

  • Hajimete Kiita Uta wa Komoriuta (初めて聴いた歌は子守唄; The First Song I Heard Was a Lullaby)
  • Il Fiore ([It:] The Flower))
  • Let's Show Them
  • The Water is Wide

[edit] Discography

[edit] Singles

  1. [1998.04.29] Aishiteiru Kara (愛しているから)
  2. [1998.05.21] Ai no Rinkaku (愛の輪郭)
  3. [1998.11.18] Tears in Love
  4. [1999.06.17] Arigatou... (ありがとう...)
  5. [2001.05.23] tomoni
  6. [2001.08.22] Say Hi!!
  7. [2001.11.21] Tenshi (天使)
  8. [2002.01.23] Ningentte Sonna Mono ne (人間ってそんなものね)
  9. [2003.05.21] Kawaranai Koto ~since 1976~ (かわらないこと)
  10. [2003.09.24] The Power of Smile / Remember the kiss
  11. [2004.04.21] so much love for you
  12. [2004.06.23] Yume ga Chikara (夢がチカラ)
  13. [2005.02.23] dandelion
  14. [2005.07.21] time to say goodbye
  15. [2006.01.01] Ai no Melody / Chouwa oto ~with reflection~ (愛のメロディー / 調和 oto)
  16. [2007.03.16] Arigatou... (ありがとう...)
  17. [2007.09.16] Watashi ni Dekiru Koto (私にできること)
  18. [2007.11.21] Follow the Nightingale
  19. [2008.12.03] Love Tears
  20. [2008.01.23] Tatta Hitotsu no Omoi (たった1つの想い)
  21. [2009.04.22] Karma
  22. [2009.08.05] Kimi wo Sagashite (君をさがして) / last love song
  23. [2009.08.26] Transparent
  24. [2009.11.18] single mother / Christmas no Hibiki (クリスマスの響き)

[edit] Albums

  1. [1999.07.16] songbird
  2. [2002.01.23] trip trip
  3. [2003.11.12] Remember me
  4. [2004.07.21] Uta ga Chikara (歌がチカラ)
  5. [2006.02.01] pearl ~The Best Collection~
  6. [2006.11.29] aigakikoeru - French Release
  7. [2007.05.23] aigakikoeru - Japanese Release
  8. [2008.02.20] The Voice
  9. [2008.09.17] Kokia complete collection 1998-1999
  10. [2008.09.24] Fairy Dance ~Kokia meets Ireland~
  11. [2008.11.12] Christmas gift
  12. [2009.03.18] Kokia∞Akiko ~balance~
  13. [2009.03.18] Akiko∞Kokia ~balance~ - Limited Release
  14. [2009.12.02] Coquillage ~The Best Collection II~

[edit] DVD / VHS

  1. [2006.02.01] jewel ~The Best Video Collection~
  2. [2007.05.05] Kokia Live in Paris -les couleurs de Paris-
  3. [2008.07.16] The Voice 10th Anniversary Concert
  4. [2009.09.23] Wherever I am ~World Tour 2009 in Europe~

[edit] Major compilations

  1. [2000.07.26] Яk Standard feat. Kokia - "goes on forever"
  2. [2000.09.21] Яk Standard feat. Kokia - "melody"
  3. [2000.12.16] Яk Standard - "Kanata Made" (彼方まで) (#1 goes on forever, #4 Gekitsuu (激痛), #5 Kokia with Risa - a voice, #8 Jiyuu na Hito (自由な人), #10 Kaze (風), #12 melody)
  4. [2005.07.27] Roppongi Men's Choir with Kokia - "Peace Road" (#1 Peace Road)

[edit] Compilation / other

  1. [1998.04.16] Tail Concerto Ost (#1 For Little Tail)
  2. [1998.04.29] Brothers Ost (#1 Aishiteiru Kara, #2 You)
  3. [1998.08.05] Brain Powerd Ost (#19 Ai no Rinkaku)
  4. [1999.03.17] Fuji Tv Dorama Soundtrack Best (#5 You)
  5. [1999.09.07] Neshia no Tabibito Ost (#10 Neshia no Tabibito ~Umi to Kaze to Hito no Uta)
  6. [2000.02.03] Planet of Love (#3 Tsuru Norohito - Dreaming) (feature vocals: Kokia)
  7. [2000.03.23] Ningyou Soushi Ayatsuri Sakon Ost II (#20 Sayonara wa Iwanai de)
  8. [2000.05.10] Gensou Suikoden II Ongakushuu Orrigzonte (#2 Kokia with Ueno Yoko - Currents)
  9. [2000.10.25] Saijo Hideki - "Toki no Kizahashi" (feature vocals: Kokia)
  10. [2002.12.04] Vita Nova - "Shiawase" (#5 Rom no Aoi Hibiki)
  11. [2003.01.22] Fake? - "Tomorrow Today" (#11 Care) (feature vocals: Kokia)
  12. [2004.02.18] Missing You (#4 Aishiteiru Kara)
  13. [2004.03.03] Hotel Venus Ost (#7 Desperado, #9 Desperado (Orchestra Version), #11 Desperado (With Tap Version))
  14. [2004.12.08] 802 Heavy Rotations J-Hits Complete '01-'03 (#1 Say Hi!!)
  15. [2005.03.30] Minna no Uta Best Hit Collection (DVD) (#4 Yuukyuu no Mori)
  16. [2005.11.02] Hiranuma Yuri - "Mada Mienu Neiga no Tame no Ongaku" (#7 Daiji na no wa Tsuyoku Omou Koto) (feature vocals: Kokia)
  17. [2006.01.07] Gin-iro no Kami no Agito Ost (#2 Cyouwa Oto ~With Reflection~, #30 Ai no Melody (Soundtrack Ver.))
  18. [2006.06.07] Thank You!! (#2 Kawaranai Koto ~Since1976~)
  19. [2006.06.07] Thank You ~Arigatou~ (#6 Arigatou...)

[edit] References

  1. ^ "Kokia - Group at Last.fm". Last.fm. http://www.last.fm/group/Kokia. Retrieved 16 August 2009. 

[edit] External links

Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kokia_(singer)"