The Voice (Kokia album)
The Voice | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
![]() | ||||
Studio album by | ||||
Released | February 20, 2008 February 28, 2008 (France)[1] | (Japan)|||
Recorded | 2007 | |||
Genre | J-pop, folk | |||
Length | 1:01:52 (Japanese Edition) 1:03:07 (French Edition) | |||
Label | Victor Entertainment, Wasabi Records | |||
Producer | Kokia | |||
Kokia chronology | ||||
| ||||
French edition cover | ||||
![]() | ||||
Singles from The Voice | ||||
|
The Voice (stylised as The VOICE) is Kokia's sixth studio album, released in February 2008.[2] It is the first of four album releases in 2008 celebrating her 10th anniversary as a singer.
Three songs from the album feature on Kokia's 2009 greatest hits collection Coquillage: The Best Collection II: "Ave Maria," "Chiisa na Uta" and "Everlasting."[3] Also featured are "Say Goodbye and Good Day," the bonus track from the French edition, along with the Fairy Dance: Kokia Meets Ireland rearrangement of "Song of Pocchong."[3]
In late 2009, "Lacrima" was chosen to be used as the ending theme song for the film Uyghur Kara Kita Shōnen.[4]
Background
[edit]In response to the 2007 Chūetsu offshore earthquake, Kokia wrote a charity song, "Watashi ni Dekiru Koto," after being contacted by one of her fans who lived in Kashiwazaki, Niigata.[5] The fan sent copies of the song to the local FM station FM Pikkara, who put the song on heavy rotation. A month after the earthquake, Kokia performed at a special encouragement concert to 3,000 residents in Kashiwazaki, along with the Japan Self-Defense Forces' band.[6] When Kokia returned from this concert, she wrote the lullaby "Lacrima," which also features on the album.[7] Two months after the earthquake, the song was released as a CD locally, due to popular demand (featuring both "Watashi ni Dekiru Koto" and "Lacrima").[6] Both songs later feature on the album, though "Watashi ni Dekiru Koto" as a Japan-only bonus track.[2] "Watashi ni Dekiru Koto" was later featured in a segment on the popular show Daremo Shiranai Nakeru Uta on December 9, 2008.[8]
In November 2007, Kokia released "Follow the Nightingale," which was used as the opening theme song for the game Tales of Innocence.[2] It was a commercial success, reaching #33 selling 12,000 copies (her fourth most sold single, as of 2010).[9] The single's B-side, "Say Goodbye & Good Day" was used as the ending theme song for the game.[10] It features on the French edition of The Voice as a bonus track.[11]
Kokia also released a single "Tatta Hitotsu no Omoi" (たった1つの想い, Just One Thought) (the anime Gunslinger Girl: Il Teatrino's opening theme song) in January 2008 to commercial success (it sold over 10,000 copies),[9] however the single was released through anime retailer label Marvelous Entertainment, instead of Kokia's regular retailer Victor Entertainment. Neither the leading track or its B-side "Umaretate no Shiro" (生まれたての白, Newborn White) feature on the album.
Recording
[edit]Kokia first decided the theme for the album in May/June 2007.[12] Kokia chose the album's title and concept based on what people always considered her strength in music.[13] She generally chose album themes in the past based on lyrical messages, but for her 10th anniversary chose the theme to be her own voice.[14] The album's neoclassical style and song selections were intended to show the entire range of Kokia's singing abilities.[14] In an interview with Viviana, Kokia explained, "Simply put, I thought I'd made songs that only I could sing."[14]
Kokia started focusing on recording the album in October 2007.[12] Originally nine of the songs were planned to be recorded in November,[15] however recording was briefly delayed due to Kokia catching a cold. It was resumed in late November.[16] The album release date was officially announced in early December, before recording had finished.[17] The final song recorded for the album was "Il Mare dei Suoni," on 8 December.[18] The album had finished mastering on 13 December.[19]
Many songs were written for the occasion, such as "Chiisa na Uta,"[12] however others were older songs "Nani mo Kamo ga Hoshi ni Natte" was originally performed by Kokia in concerts in 2003.[20] "Todokimasu Yō ni" was performed at her June Garden concerts in 2005.[21] She talked in detail about the creation of the song "Il Mare dei Suoni" in her blog in June 2006,[22] which she had originally performed at her That's Why I Was Born solo live concert in 2003[18] (though it was originally titled "Sento nel Core" (It: Feel the Core)).[20]
Release
[edit]![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/c/c7/Kokia_Collection1.jpg/200px-Kokia_Collection1.jpg)
Unlike Kokia's previous album, Aigakikoeru: Listen for the Love, it was released in Japan before in France. The Japanese edition was released on 20 February, eight days before the French edition.[1][2]
The album was re-released in France as a part of a 3-CD set called Kokia Collection, on October 22, 2008. The album also featured 2006's Aigakikoeru: Listen for the Love 2008's and Christmas Gift, and features a cover similar to the Christmas Gift photoshoot cover.[23]
Reception
[edit]Review scores | |
---|---|
Source | Rating |
CDJournal | (positive)[24] |
The album reached #42 on the Japanese Oricon albums charts, selling 8,000 copies.[9]
CDJournal gave the album a positive review, noting Kokia's "wonderful natural sound."[25] The Voice received an award from Adlib magazine in 2008, for the Domestic World/New-Age category.[26] Adlib praised Kokia's "seven-coloured voice," as well as the wide range of genres on the album, encompassing classical, Irish folk music and Okinawan folk songs.
Track listing
[edit]All songs written and produced by Kokia, except for "Ave Maria," which is a cover of the classical aria by Vladimir Fyodorovich Vavilov in Italian.
No. | Title | Arranger(s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|
1. | "Odoyaka na Shizukesa (Jōka) (穏やかな静けさ~浄歌, Calm Serenity: Purification Song)" | Yasuhisa Yamamoto | 5:37 |
2. | "Follow the Nightingale" | Taisuke Sawachika | 4:40 |
3. | "Ave Maria" | Sawachika | 4:13 |
4. | "Todokimasu Yō ni (届きますように, So This Can Reach You)" | Kokia | 3:25 |
5. | "Song of Pocchong (Shizuku no Uta) (song of pocchong~雫の唄, Song of a Drop of Water)" | Sawachika | 3:33 |
6. | "Gomen ne. (ごめんね。, Sorry)" | Yamamoto | 6:05 |
7. | "Lacrima (It: Tear)" | Kokia | 5:23 |
8. | "Nani mo Kamo ga Hoshi ni Natte (何もかもが星になって, Anything Can Become a Star)" | Kokia | 5:25 |
9. | "Il Mare dei Suoni (It: The Sea of Sounds)" | Kokia | 6:23 |
10. | "Everlasting" | Sawachika | 5:37 |
11. | "Chiisa na Uta (小さなうた, A Little Song)" | Sawachika | 6:40 |
No. | Title | Arranger(s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|
12. | "Watashi ni Dekiru Koto (私にできること, What I Can Do)" | Kokia | 4:51 |
No. | Title | Arranger(s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|
12. | "Say Goodbye & Good Day" | Sawachika | 6:06 |
Release | Chart | Peak Position | First Week Sales | Sales Total | Chart Run |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
February 20, 2008 | Oricon Daily Albums Chart | 17 | |||
Oricon Weekly Albums Chart | 42 | 4,653 | 7,765 | 4 weeks | |
Oricon Yearly Albums Chart |
References
[edit]- ^ a b ""The VOICE" disponible dès à présent" (in French). Kokia's MySpace Blog. 2008-02-28. Retrieved 2010-03-27.
- ^ a b c d "KOKIA|The VOICE|@Victor Entertainment" (in Japanese). Victor Entertainment. Retrieved 2010-03-27.
- ^ a b "[CD] Coquillage ~The Best Collection II~ [初回生産限定盤] ". Neowing (in Japanese). Retrieved 2010-03-28.
- ^ "11/26(木)ミュージシャンKOKIAさんのミニライブ開催!". Uplink (in Japanese). 2009-11-04. Retrieved 2010-03-28.
- ^ 「私にできること」♪. 'Otonami' Music Translator Kokia's Blog (in Japanese). 2007-07-26. Archived from the original on 2010-04-08. Retrieved 2010-03-28.
- ^ a b "中越沖地震復興応援ソングKOKIA「私にできること」". Ganba 716 (in Japanese). Retrieved 2010-03-28.
- ^ KOKIA 「私にできること」 CD発売決定!!. FM Pikkara (in Japanese). Retrieved 2010-03-28.
- ^ 誰も知らない泣ける歌♪. 'Otonami' Music Translator Kokia's Blog (in Japanese). 2008-12-10. Archived from the original on 2010-04-08. Retrieved 2010-03-28.
- ^ a b c d "オリコンランキング情報サービス「you大樹」". Oricon. Retrieved 2010-03-27. (subscription only)
- ^ "KOKIA / 「テイルズ オブ イノセンス」オープニングテーマ~Follow the Nightingale" (in Japanese). CDJournal. Retrieved 2010-03-28.
- ^ "KOKIA - The Voice - Editio limitée". Wasabi Records (in French). Archived from the original on 2011-07-23. Retrieved 2010-03-28.
- ^ a b c 季節はめぐる〜. 'Otonami' Music Translator Kokia's Blog (in Japanese). 2007-10-29. Archived from the original on 2007-11-24. Retrieved 2010-03-28.
- ^ "DEEP DIVE ― KOKIA". Amazon.co.jp (in Japanese). Retrieved 2010-03-28.
- ^ a b c "【interview】The VOICE 10年を迎えて1 Vol.1 -『The VOICE』-". Viviana (in Japanese). 2008-04-02. Archived from the original on 2011-07-22. Retrieved 2010-03-28.
- ^ アルバムレコーディング日記 ♪. 'Otonami' Music Translator Kokia's Blog (in Japanese). 2007-11-07. Archived from the original on 2007-11-24. Retrieved 2010-03-28.
- ^ "アメバスタジオ in 原宿". 'Otonami' Music Translator Kokia's Blog (in Japanese). 2007-11-24. Archived from the original on 2007-11-24. Retrieved 2010-03-28.
- ^ テイルズオブイノセンス ゲームの発売日!. 'Otonami' Music Translator Kokia's Blog (in Japanese). 2007-12-06. Archived from the original on 2007-11-24. Retrieved 2010-03-28.
- ^ a b いよいよ・・・♪最後の1曲. 'Otonami' Music Translator Kokia's Blog (in Japanese). 2007-12-08. Archived from the original on 2007-11-24. Retrieved 2010-03-28.
- ^ "アルバム「The VOICE」完成!". 'Otonami' Music Translator Kokia's Blog (in Japanese). 2007-12-13. Archived from the original on 2007-11-24. Retrieved 2010-03-28.
- ^ a b 過去のライブ&イベント(2003年) (in Japanese). Archived from the original on 2011-07-13. Retrieved 2010-03-27.
- ^ 過去のライブ&イベント(2005年) (in Japanese). Archived from the original on 2011-07-13. Retrieved 2010-03-28.
- ^ "★ HAPPY NIGHT 2 ★". 'Otonami' Music Translator Kokia's Blog (in Japanese). 2006-06-16. Archived from the original on 2008-01-21. Retrieved 2010-03-28.
- ^ "Kokia Integrale - Listen for the love + The voice + Christmas gift [Bande originale]". Amazon.fr (in French). Retrieved 2010-04-03.
- ^ CDJournal review
- ^ "KOKIA / The VOICE" (in Japanese). CDJournal. Retrieved 2010-03-28.
- ^ "【ADLIB AWARDS 2008】受賞作品発表(邦楽編)+4月号リコメンド・ニュー・ディスク" (in Japanese). Adlib, Amazon.co.jp. Retrieved 2010-03-28.