After the hot 2013 Summer Trip fans were expecting a winter ballad as Koda Kumi's next single but she took us by surprise releasing a highly energized combo of two explosive songs!

As soon as the artworks were revealed I was already so excited about this single as they displayed a classy Kumi with a perfect make up and a perfect outfit, all of the covers seemed so much more refined than the previous Summer Trip. So is this Dreaming Now! just a good package or is it actually a good single?
Here's my review:

 

01. Dreaming Now!  The song was written by Koda Kumi in honor of Japan's part in the 2013 Volleyball World Grand Champion Cup which was held in Japan. Dreaming Now is a moving and inspiring pop song with a beautiful melody and a simple, fun production but it's all so perfectly packaged with great lyrics and amazing vocals that the song really shines! The bridge dares to be different and brave and adds that extra twist which explodes in the final chorus. Many fans think that Dreaming Now is too commercial but I personally feel that this is one of her best pop songs, the video is amazing as well 9/10

 

02. XXX is an explosive track, one of Kumi's best dance/electronic songs and I am proud to say that the two authors who composed the melody of XXX are Italian (Gabriele Guidi, Michela Lombardi - Gabesco Publishing). I was quite disappointed that this amazing electro number was just a b-side as I think it brought something fresh to Kumi's discography 8/10

 

03. Ai no Uta (愛のうた) LIVE @ a-nation stadium fes.2013 this isn't the best live version of the popular ballad. The too much speaking and too many ARIGATOU yelled through the whole song kind of ruin the atmosphere. Two instrumentals or a live version of IS THIS TRAP? would have been better in my opinion