Unicorn (Koda Kumi album)

Unicorn (stylized as UNICORN) is the eighteenth studio album by the Japanese singer Koda Kumi, released on April 17, 2024, over two years after her previous studio album Heart (2022).

Unicorn
Studio album by
ReleasedApril 17, 2024
Recorded2023–2024
GenreJ-pop
LabelRhythm Zone
ProducerKoda Kumi
Koda Kumi chronology
Heart
(2022)
Unicorn
(2024)
Singles from Unicorn
  1. "Trust・Last"
    Released: March 8, 2023
  2. "Let's Fight for Love!"
    Released: August 21, 2023
  3. "Tōi Machi no Doko ka de..."
    Released: December 6, 2023
  4. "Vroom"
    Released: December 20, 2023
  5. "Silence"
    Released: February 14, 2024

It was released in five editions: CD+DVD, CD+Blu-ray, CD+DVD Box Set, CD+Blu-ray Box Set and a limited CD edition. Unicorn has eleven musical tracks on the CD and three music videos on the DVD/Blu-ray. The Box sets included the making of the album. Prior to the album's release, Kumi released four digital songs to help promote the album: "Let's Fight for Love!", "Toi Machi no Doko ka de...", "Vroom" and "Silence." The only physical single was "Trust・Last", which she performed with Shōnan no Kaze. Koda Kumi released a solo version on the album.

Background and release

edit

Unicorn is the eighteenth studio album by Koda Kumi, and was released on April 17, 2024.[1] It debuted at No. 9 on the Oricon Albums Charts.[2]

The album was released in five editions: a limited edition CD+Live Venue, which was only available to her fan club Koda Gumi, CD+DVD, CD+Blu-ray, and box sets of both the CD+DVD and CD+Blu-ray editions, each which contained a photo book and a making video of the album.

The album was preceded by five singles: "Trust・Last", "Let's Fight for Love!", "Toi Machi no Doko ka de..." (遠い街のどこかで... / Somewhere in a Distant City), "Vroom" and "Silence.".

The CD contained six new tracks, along with the previously released digital singles and a solo version of "Trust・Last", originally performed with Shōnan no Kaze for the Japanese drama series Kamen Rider Geats. The DVD and Blu-ray contained the corresponding music videos for "Silence", "Vroom" and "Toi Machi no Doko ka de...". The box sets contained behind-the-scenes footage.

Promotional activities

edit

On March 8, 2023, Koda Kumi teamed up with Japanese reggae group Shonan no Kaze for the song "Trust・Last."[3] The song was utilized as the theme song for the Japanese drama series Kamen Rider Geats.[4] A short version of the music video was uploaded on Avex's official YouTube on March 12, 2023, to aid in promotions.[5]

Track listing

edit
CD
No.TitleLyricsMusicArranger(s)Length
1."Unicorn" (Introduction)Koda KumiHi-yunkHi-yunk0:57
2."Heaven's Kitchen"Bonnie PinkHi-yunkBonnie Pink • Hi-yunk3:27
3."Vroom"Koda KumiHi-yunkHi-yunk3:12
4."Tokio"Shigesato ItoiKunihiko KaseHi-yunk3:51
5."Silence"Koda Kumi • Shinjiroh InoueShinjiroh Inoue • Udai ShikaShinjiroh Inoue4:48
6."UFO"Yuu AkuShunichi Tokura • YUTACHIVA • Kazz Noguchi4:08
7."We are Fighters"Koda KumiT-SK • Emi Tawata • Sam Vending • Haleigh BowersHiDE Kawada • T-SK4:02
8."Trust・Last" (TYPE K)Shōnan no KazeHi-yunkHi-yunk3:50
9."Piece of My Wish"Yuho IwasatoTomoka UedaGakushi4:58
10."Toi Machi no Doko ka de..." (遠い街のどこかで... / Somewhere in a Distant City)Mika WatanabeSatoshi Takebe • Tetsuro Toyama • Hitoshi KonnoHideya Nakazaki5:32
11."Let's Fight for Love!"Koda KumiHi-yunkHi-yunk3:21
Total length:42:06
DVD/Blu-ray
No.TitleDirector(s)Length
1."Silence" (Music Video)Ryuji Seki4:51
2."Vroom" (Music Video)Ryuji Seki3:12
3."Toi Machi no Doko ka de..." (Music Video)Ryuji Seki5:42
4."Unicorn" (Behind the Scenes)  

Charts

edit
Chart performance for Unicorn
Chart (2024) Peak
position
Japanese Albums (Oricon) 14

References

edit
  1. ^ "倖田來未、ニューアルバム『UNICORN』4月リリース". Billboard Japan. February 21, 2024. Retrieved March 24, 2024.
  2. ^ "Oricon Daily Album Rank". Oricon. Retrieved April 17, 2024.
  3. ^ "【ビルボード】倖田來未×湘南乃風「Trust・Last」DLソング初登場1位、JIMINがトップ5に2曲送り込む". Billboard Japan. March 15, 2023. Retrieved March 24, 2024.
  4. ^ "【急上昇ワード】倖田來未 × 湘南乃風のタッグが光る〈仮面ライダーギーツ〉主題歌". OTOTOY. March 6, 2023. Retrieved March 24, 2024.
  5. ^ "【仮面ライダーギーツ主題歌】Trust・Last (Music Video Short Edit)/ 倖田來未 × 湘南乃風". Avex Official YouTube. March 12, 2023. Retrieved March 24, 2024.
edit