Mr. Taxi 1,095 Posted May 30, 2015 Share Posted May 30, 2015 Has Koda Kumi been kicked out of running to be queen of J-pop? Was she ever in the running in the first place? Who do you think has already replaced her? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
neojasnee 2,751 Posted May 30, 2015 Share Posted May 30, 2015 Isn't she one of the queens though? Namie and her both sell well dont they? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WasteOfLife 600 Posted May 30, 2015 Share Posted May 30, 2015 Koda, Ayumi, Utada, and Namie will always be some of the biggest female soloists in JPop history. It's fact. But it's true that Koda is not currently top-tier. I think her most recent album is kinda lackluster (with the exception of a couple of great songs). But in general female soloists aren't doing as well now as they were a few years ago. Now it's all about the gigantic girl groups like AKB48. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DocumentaLy 6,033 Posted May 30, 2015 Share Posted May 30, 2015 I think more people realize that she was a passing fad in the middle of last decade. People on this site at least. This site tends to be more... aware of what is happening in Japan compared to most international fans. Isn't she one of the queens though? Namie and her both sell well dont they? Kuu is selling about as much as Ayu now, which is like less than a quarter of what Namie sells. Nishino Kana, Mariya Takeuchi, JUJU, aiko, miwa, Shiina Ringo, Kyary Pamyu Pamyu, and YUKI all have had albums in the past year that outsold Kuu. Koda, Ayumi, Utada, and Namie will always be some of the biggest female soloists in JPop history. It's fact. But it's true that Koda is not currently top-tier. I think her most recent album is kinda lackluster (with the exception of a couple of great songs). But in general female soloists aren't doing as well now as they were a few years ago. Now it's all about the gigantic girl groups like AKB48. How is Kuu anywhere near them from a sales point of view? And AKB48 has been on the decline for a while. They're attempting to keep up appearances by adding more versions and gimmicks but even that's not working that well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OAO 822 Posted May 30, 2015 Share Posted May 30, 2015 Times may have changed, but Utada, Ayumi, Koda, and Namie were once the main queens. However, there have been a rise of artists that are selling more. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kinjiki 1,999 Posted May 30, 2015 Share Posted May 30, 2015 Spoiler: There is no queen because Japan has horrible women rights. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
srsly 398 Posted May 30, 2015 Share Posted May 30, 2015 She was the first jpop artist I really knew of beyond ppl who sang anime openings/closing songs lol. And thanks to her, I fell in the rabbit hole lol. Thanks for nothing, Kodi Kuma, except the best years of my life~ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sane 16,342 Posted May 30, 2015 Share Posted May 30, 2015 Was she ever in it to begin with? She's not even one of the top 20 highest selling female singers of Japan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NATE 516 Posted May 30, 2015 Share Posted May 30, 2015 Western J-pop fans have always elevated her to a status that was never true to her actual level of success. She could shift albums, but largely failed to create a lasting cultural imprint. I would personally categorize her as second tier along with acts like BoA and Mika Nakashima. My question though is do people really classify Utada as a Queen? Yes, she's ultra successful, but I've always associated titles like Queen of this, King of that, with glitzy, glamorous pop idolatry, people who are part of the pop machine. People like Utada are more traditional artists, less pop idols, hence why I never thought calling her one was appropriate. I don't think of Yuming as one either. But people like Ayu, Namie, Seiko, and Akina... yes. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DocumentaLy 6,033 Posted May 30, 2015 Share Posted May 30, 2015 Was she ever in it to begin with? She's not even one of the top 20 highest selling female singers of Japan A lot of people got into the scene around the time of her peak so their vision was skewed. Western J-pop fans have always elevated her to a status that was never true to her actual level of success. She could shift albums, but largely failed to create a lasting cultural imprint. I would personally categorize her as second tier along with acts like BoA and Mika Nakashima. My question though is do people really classify Utada as a Queen? Yes, she's ultra successful, but I've always associated titles like Queen of this, King of that, with glitzy, glamorous pop idolatry, people who are part of the pop machine. People like Utada are more traditional artists, less pop idols, hence why I never thought calling her one was appropriate. I don't think of Yuming as one either. But people like Ayu, Namie, Seiko, and Akina... yes. It's basically used for any female who is having a big impact. People call everyone a queen. And I never really got this whole thing of separating Utada. She is just as much a part of the pop machine. It's not as if she was like a MISIA who never did tv performances. Or a Ringo who has this overwhelming artistry. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sane 16,342 Posted May 30, 2015 Share Posted May 30, 2015 A lot of people got into the scene around the time of her peak so their vision was skewed. Compared to the average artist she's very successful, but compared to the top artists she's waaaay below them in terms of success I mean BoA has comparable sales with Koda in Japan, and nobody would ever think to call her the queen of Jpop Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NATE 516 Posted May 30, 2015 Share Posted May 30, 2015 It's basically used for any female who is having a big impact. People call everyone a queen. And I never really got this whole thing of separating Utada. She is just as much a part of the pop machine. It's not as if she was like a MISIA who never did tv performances. Or a Ringo who has this overwhelming artistry. Traditionally it has been used for a pop diva and typically only one at a time. It's not quite like Utahime which is used for any female singer that is big. I would personally categorize her more along the lines of Shiina and MISIA. Utada's media exposure isn't as limited as MISIA's, but it was certainly less than Shiina's. There has never been an idol aspect to Utada's career which is why I ultimately don't associate her with the other J-Queens. This is my interpretation, people are free to disagree. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crimson 94 Posted May 30, 2015 Share Posted May 30, 2015 A lot of people got into the scene around the time of her peak so their vision was skewed. It's basically used for any female who is having a big impact. People call everyone a queen. And I never really got this whole thing of separating Utada. She is just as much a part of the pop machine. It's not as if she was like a MISIA who never did tv performances. Or a Ringo who has this overwhelming artistry. That's exactly how people see her though. As for original thread question Kuu hasn't been the "current" Queen of J-Pop since Namie took over with Best Fiction in 2008. Overall though I view her as the 7th successful female artist of all time behind Seiko, Akina, Yuming, Ayu, Utada, and Namie. She's the best selling digital female artist according to RIAJ certifications with over 24 million certified digitally last time I checked. Yes she's not as big as the 6 females I just mentioned but she definitely isn't on the same level as people like Ai Otsuka, BoA, and Mika (with Mika being a step above the previous two). She's still able to hold arena tours while fads like Ai and BoA can barely play club/halls now. She still has one of the biggest fan bases for a solo female artist. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crimson 94 Posted May 30, 2015 Share Posted May 30, 2015 I mean BoA has comparable sales with Koda in Japan, and nobody would ever think to call her the queen of Jpop Except she doesn't. BoA never scored two back to-back 2x Million sellers and was never the top selling artist of the year in her peak. (let alone twice). Her single sales were also much lower. Kuu's 2015 Arena Tour is literally bigger than any tour BoA has had in her career and BoA has never sold out the Tokyo Dome. They aren't on the same level. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DocumentaLy 6,033 Posted May 30, 2015 Share Posted May 30, 2015 Traditionally it has been used for a pop diva and typically only one at a time. It's not quite like Utahime which is used for any female singer that is big. I would personally categorize her more along the lines of Shiina and MISIA. Utada's media exposure isn't as limited as MISIA's, but it was certainly less than Shiina's. There has never been an idol aspect to Utada's career which is why I ultimately don't associate her with the other J-Queens. This is my interpretation, people are free to disagree. The funny this is that when that blind item came out about B'z working with "utahime" everyone's mind went to Akina. So there is some attachment of that word there. I associate her with them because there is much more a similarity there than with people like MISIA or Ringo. That's exactly how people see her though. As for original thread question Kuu hasn't been the "current" Queen of J-Pop since Namie took over with Best Fiction in 2008. Overall though I view her as the 7th successful female artist of all time behind Seiko, Akina, Yuming, Ayu, Utada, and Namie. She's the best selling digital female artist according to RIAJ certifications with over 24 million certified digitally last time I checked. Yes she's not as big as the 6 females I just mentioned but she definitely isn't on the same level as people like Ai Otsuka, BoA, and Mika (with Mika being a step above the previous two). She's still able to hold arena tours while fads like Ai and BoA can barely play club/halls now. She still has one of the biggest fan bases for a solo female artist. I don't get that all. I love Utada, but as far as pure musicality, it's easily Ringo. Between her solo work, her band, her material for other people, Utada just doesn't compare. I think people let sales and nostalgia cloud their judgement a lot when it comes to her and that's something that's always annoyed me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sane 16,342 Posted May 30, 2015 Share Posted May 30, 2015 Except she doesn't. BoA never scored two back to-back 2x Million sellers and was never the top selling artist of the year in her peak. (let alone twice). Her single sales were also much lower. Kuu's 2015 Arena Tour is literally bigger than any tour BoA has had in her career and BoA has never sold out the Tokyo Dome. They aren't on the same level. In total Japan sales Koda's got about 2x, but for average sales per release they're fairly closely matched. I'd say they're similarly well known among the public, too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SeeYaWithYou 4,415 Posted May 30, 2015 Share Posted May 30, 2015 I'd say they're similarly well known among the public, too. No... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sane 16,342 Posted May 30, 2015 Share Posted May 30, 2015 No... I mean I live in Japan, but what do I know Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crimson 94 Posted May 30, 2015 Share Posted May 30, 2015 I mean I live in Japan, but what do I know I mean I live in the US so I guess that means everything I say about the music industry here is fact. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SeeYaWithYou 4,415 Posted May 30, 2015 Share Posted May 30, 2015 I mean I live in Japan, but what do I know I refuse to ever believe that fucking Boa has the same public recognition as Koda Kumi I have heard a person that grew up in Japan say that Koda Kumi is the same level of famous as Ayumi Hamasaki, and I don't believe that shit either. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DocumentaLy 6,033 Posted May 30, 2015 Share Posted May 30, 2015 I'll just post this so we can get a 3rd party perspective done by actual professionals: x-axis is familiarity. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crimson 94 Posted May 30, 2015 Share Posted May 30, 2015 I'll just post this so we can get a 3rd party perspective done by actual professionals: x-axis is familiarity. A bit off topic but I usually find these so off the mark. In what world is Kaela Kimura more well known than Akina Nakamori, Every Little Thing has a higher public interest over Namie, Kyary is more well known than Namie, Utada, Ayu, etc. It's weird. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kuu-sus 847 Posted May 30, 2015 Share Posted May 30, 2015 the same fatties trying to discredit even as her tour as we speak sells out and still holds her crown as the best selling soloist to debut in this century in Japan stay pressed and be blessed Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Midnight~Circus 1,093 Posted May 31, 2015 Share Posted May 31, 2015 I personally never lumped her in the "J-pop Queen" category simply because she never left a huge cultural or developmental impact in the Japanese music scene compared to some of her more respected peers. The Japanese media and general public don't acknowledge her as a music queen anyway and never did. She was definitely more of passing trend that caused commotion and furor for her overtly sexual image. More than anything she bears similarities to Mai Kuraki, Ami Suzuki, Boa who were popular for only a portion of a decade. The difference is Kumi can still sell out arenas making her more profitable than some of her peers. I still adore some of her older works even though her recent offerings have been lackluster. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DocumentaLy 6,033 Posted May 31, 2015 Share Posted May 31, 2015 the same fatties trying to discredit even as her tour as we speak sells out and still holds her crown as the best selling soloist to debut in this century in Japan stay pressed and be blessed Girl, that is such a qualified throne to be sitting on... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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