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Dejavu
[2011.03.02]
After celebrating her 10 years in the music business with the UNIVERSE era and releasing a cover album, Koda Kumi comes back again with a new original album: Dejavu.
As usual, everything started with a big summer single in 2010, Gossip Candy, which featured the good Lollipop and the amazing b-side Inside Fishbowl. The next single Pop Diva was even more interesting so I was getting very curious!
When Dejavu was finally released, I felt a little akward about it as I was expecting a more rocking album or simply a record full of dance tracks in the attempt of following the American music trends of that period. Instead, I listened to an album that sounded like a...dejavu!
Koda Kumi mixes RnB, pop and electronic synths again but this time everything sounds fresh and new despite recalling the past. We have the usual ballads, sexy songs, dance and pop tracks but almost none of these sounds like everything she has released in the past. Dejavu ranked at #1 on the Weekly Oricon Chart with 138,005 copies and it has sold more than 211,000 physcal copies. It is certified PLATINUM for the shipment of 250,000 units. Here's my track-by-track review:
01. Prologue To Dejavu is probably one of her best intros ever which goes perfectly into the first song, Pop Diva...amazing! 9/10
02. Pop Diva the album starts with a bang! This song took me by storm and I was really impressed by its production and dissonant sounds. The pre-chorus is terrific and the whole song is strong, unique and catchy at the same time. Unfortunately there isn't a good bridge to spice things up a bit and the song can get a bit repetitive.... 9/10
03. Lollipop is a sexy RnB song which made my summer 2010 also thanks to its trashy video that I love! Kumi's English here reaches impressive "peaks" for western ears but the amazing beat, the catchy chorus and the good bridge make this Lollipop a great song 7/10
04. Okay sounds like Ciara's Ride and other Tricky Stewart's productions but Kumi adds that JPop twist with her voice and a beautiful melody making Okay a RnB gem which really stands out 8.5/10
05. Aitakute (逢いたくて) after the electronic and dance start, Dejavu continues to follow a RnB style and I love it. Aitakute is a refined song full of details thanks to a classy production. This special and unique ballad renews a genre in which Kumi tends to repeat herself quite often 9/10
06. Passing By at first I didn't like this song as it's the third melanchonic slow-jam in a row but with time I learned to appreciate it. The production is beautiful with a charming piano and the modern twist of a RnB beat and an urban synth. Kumi's voice remains soft and gentle and despite I don't like the random male vocals they actually don't compromise the quality of the song 8/10
07. At The Weekend now the album heats things up with this amazing and powerful synth-pop track by the stellar production! The American influence is obvious but the quality of the sounds used and the incredible Kumi's voice make this song hypnotic and perfect 8/10
08. Interlude To Dejavu another fantastic interlude with amazing vocals. Kumi's English is almost comprehensible here! 7/10
09. Melting here's the cute-kawaii-sugary-fluffy-pop song which this time has a weird Christmas vibe. Melting is nothing new, it reminds me a lot of Birthday Eve but the chorus is lovely. Probably the least interesting moment on the album but it's still enjoyable and fun 6/10
10. Hey Baby! is a typical Japanese song: you either love it or hate it. I love it. Even this one can be classified under the category "cute-kawaii-sugary-fluffy pop songs" but the production is so powerful, the chorus so amazing and the bridge so fantastic that Hey Baby! is crazy, fun and definitely a success 7/10
11. Choi tashi Life (ちょい足しLife) l don't like the pop twist of the second half of the album, this Choi tashi Life is very similar to the previous Melting and despite there are some cool ideas here and there, the song simply doesn't make a big impression. If you won't skip it, then it's quite enjoyable 6/10
12. Anatadakega (あなただけが) is a beautiful ballad which again doesn't sound too much like anything she has done before. It's then a pleasent surprise, I particularly love the piano. The chorus has an amazing melody which is simply beautiful. Kumi's voice makes this song memorable, classy and refined. Anatadakega is with Ai No Kotoba her best ballad for the quality of the interpretation and originality 10/10
13. Suki de, Suki de, Suki de. (好きで、好きで、好きで。) Dejavu happens to contain Kumi's best ballads. We find again a top notch composition: melody, production and vocals are astonishing. I love the guitar at the end which adds that unique passion making this song stands out among her other ballads. Redundant strings and vocals as usual but overall Suki de, Suki de, Suki de is one of Kumi's best ballads 7/10
14. Bambi is a fresh and fun pop song produced by the duo Nervo and despite its silly melody Bambi has an interesting and cool sound. Clearly this is not the peak of the album but it's catchy and easy 7/10
15. I Don't Love You !?? is a peculiar song which similarly to Bambi, mixes simple pop elements and a more detailed production, this time the track feels more interesting and mature, very good 8/10
Dejavu can be divided in two halves: the first one is RnB driven while the second one focuses more on pop songs. If this doesn't allow the album to be costant in terms of quality, on the other hand I think it was a good choice tracklist-wise making the album more choesive and easy listening.
The productions on Dejavu are extremely well done and the album features beautiful ballads as well proving to be one of Kumi's best works.
The only evident flaw here is the excessive number of pop songs which doesn't match the mainly RnB and electronic sound of the album. Personally, I would have moved Inside Fishbowl and Black Candy in the actual album, Outside Fishbowl in Pop Diva and both Melting and Choi tashi Life in Gossip Candy.
Overall, Dejavu is a strong album that even without changing too much Kumi's sound (as TRICK did in 2009), it revisits it keeping high quality standards. Then there aren't major dowsides or bad songs. Dejavu is definitely one of my favourite Koda Kumi's albums and probably one of her best releases.
Dejavu: 7.5/10
Italian Fan Club Tracklist:
Pillis
Purchase Dejavu:
Amazon Japan
Yes Asia
CD Japan
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