The Voice (Kokia album)

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The Voice
Studio album by
Kokia
ReleasedFebruary 20, 2008 (2008-02-20) (Japan)
February 28, 2008 (2008-02-28) (France)[1]
Recorded2007
GenreJ-pop, folk
Length1:01:52 (Japanese Edition)
1:03:07 (French Edition)
LabelVictor Entertainment, Wasabi Records
ProducerKokia
Kokia chronology
Aigakikoeru: Listen for the Love
(2006) 		The Voice
(2008) 		Kokia Complete Collection 1998-1999
(2008)
French edition cover
Singles from The Voice
  1. "Watashi ni Dekiru Koto"
    Released: September 16, 2007
  2. "Follow the Nightingale"
    Released: November 21, 2007

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]

"Kokia Collection" cover, featuring The Voice.

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]

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
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.TitleArranger(s)Length
1."Odoyaka na Shizukesa (Jōka) (穏やかな静けさ～浄歌, Calm Serenity: Purification Song)"Yasuhisa Yamamoto5:37
2."Follow the Nightingale"Taisuke Sawachika4:40
3."Ave Maria"Sawachika4:13
4."Todokimasu Yō ni (届きますように, So This Can Reach You)"Kokia3:25
5."Song of Pocchong (Shizuku no Uta) (ｓｏｎｇ　ｏｆ　ｐｏｃｃｈｏｎｇ～雫の唄, Song of a Drop of Water)"Sawachika3:33
6."Gomen ne. (ごめんね。, Sorry)"Yamamoto6:05
7."Lacrima (It: Tear)"Kokia5:23
8."Nani mo Kamo ga Hoshi ni Natte (何もかもが星になって, Anything Can Become a Star)"Kokia5:25
9."Il Mare dei Suoni (It: The Sea of Sounds)"Kokia6:23
10."Everlasting"Sawachika5:37
11."Chiisa na Uta (小さなうた, A Little Song)"Sawachika6:40
Japanese bonus track
No.TitleArranger(s)Length
12."Watashi ni Dekiru Koto (私にできること, What I Can Do)"Kokia4:51
French bonus track
No.TitleArranger(s)Length
12."Say Goodbye & Good Day"Sawachika6:06

Japan Sales Rankings[9][edit]

"Follow the Nightingale"
A sample from the lead single, "Follow the Nightingale."
"Chiisa na Uta"
A sample the ballad "Chiisa na Uta," one of the four songs from The Voice to feature on Coquillage: The Best Collection II.
Problems playing these files? See media help.
Release Chart Peak Position First Week Sales Sales Total Chart Run
February 20, 2008 (2008-02-20) Oricon Daily Albums Chart 17
Oricon Weekly Albums Chart 42 4,653 7,765 4 weeks
Oricon Yearly Albums Chart

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b ""The VOICE" disponible dès à présent" (in French). Kokia's MySpace Blog. 2008-02-28. Retrieved 2010-03-27.
  2. ^ a b c d "KOKIA｜The VOICE｜@Victor Entertainment" (in Japanese). Victor Entertainment. Retrieved 2010-03-27.
  3. ^ a b "[CD] Coquillage ～The Best Collection II～ [初回生産限定盤] ". Neowing (in Japanese). Retrieved 2010-03-28.
  4. ^ "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.
  5. ^ 「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.
  6. ^ 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.
  7. ^ ＫＯＫＩＡ 「私にできること」 ＣＤ発売決定！！. FM Pikkara (in Japanese). Retrieved 2010-03-28.
  8. ^ 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.
  9. ^ 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)
  10. ^ "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.
  11. ^ "KOKIA - The Voice - Editio limitée". Wasabi Records (in French). Archived from the original on 2011-07-23. Retrieved 2010-03-28.
  12. ^ 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.
  13. ^ "DEEP DIVE ― KOKIA". Amazon.co.jp (in Japanese). Retrieved 2010-03-28.
  14. ^ 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.
  15. ^ 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.
  16. ^ "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.
  17. ^ 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.
  18. ^ 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.
  19. ^ "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.
  20. ^ 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.
  21. ^ 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.
  22. ^ "★ 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.
  23. ^ "Kokia Integrale - Listen for the love + The voice + Christmas gift [Bande originale]". Amazon.fr (in French). Retrieved 2010-04-03.
  24. ^ CDJournal review
  25. ^ "KOKIA ／ The VOICE" (in Japanese). CDJournal. Retrieved 2010-03-28.
  26. ^ "【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.
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