Best: First Things

Best: First Things
Greatest hits album by Kumi Koda
Released September 21, 2005
Recorded 2000-2005
Genre J-pop, hip hop, R&B
Label Rhythm Zone
RZCD-45252 (Japan, 2CD+DVD)
RZCD-45254 (Japan, 2CD)
Producer Max Matsuura
Kumi Koda chronology
Secret
(2005)		 Best: First Things
(2005)		 Koda Kumi Remix Album
(2006)
Singles from Best: First Things
  1. "Butterfly"
    Released: June 22, 2005
  2. "Flower"
    Released: August 10, 2005
  3. "Promise/Star"
    Released: September 7, 2005

Best: First Things (stylized as Best ~first things~) is the first compilation album released by Japanese Pop singer Kumi Koda. It debuted at #1 on Oricon, giving her first number-one album, and became her longest charting album, staying on the charts for 124 weeks.[1] The album included all of her a-sides released since her debut in 2000 and became her highest selling album, selling nearly two million copies as of 2007.

The album was released in 2CD and 2CD+DVD with the limited editions containing the bonus track the meaning of peace from the Song Nation project on the second CD and a "special video mix" on the DVD.[2][3] The first press of the 2CD+DVD came with a slipcover and a deluxe booklet.[4]

Promotions

To help promote her album, on September 21, 2005, Koda Kumi held a special costume exhibition in Shibuya at Shibuya Station and an event where fans would try their best to replicate the dress Kumi wore on the cover of the album. During the event, fans were able enter a lottery for a chance to win a signed copy of Best ~first things~ or her first concert DVD secret ~FIRST CLASS LIMITED LIVE~.[5]

Background Narration

“I’m glad I didn’t give up . . . I could finally see a stage sparkling in the spotlight. . . Every single day felt like a dream." - Koda Kumi

Koda Kumi talks in KODA REKI how 2005 became her happiest year, where her songs continued to top the charts and she was invited to music shows. She says her happiest moments were when she knew people were listening to her songs. By being invited to the Japan Record Awards and Kōhaku Uta Gassen, being given several awards and performing on prestigious shows, she felt as though she was final able to repay the people who had been supporting her; namely, her parents.

2005 also gave boom to her ero-kawaii style and popularity. She said that, while she was proud to have the title, she was nervous of what her parents would think.

"When I saw my parents smiling happily, it was then, from the bottom of my heart, I was glad I stuck with my style." - Koda Kumi[6]

Track list

CD1
No. TitleLyricsMusic Length
1. "NO TRICKS"  Kumi Koda • Daisuke ImaiDaisuke Imai 4:31
2. "TAKE BACK"  Kumi KodaKazuhito Kikuchi 4:55
3. "Trust Your Love"  Kumi KodaKazuhito Kikuchi 4:27
4. "COLOR OF SOUL"  Natsumi WatanabeMiki Watanabe 4:28
5. "so into you"  Kumi KodaYasuhiro Abe 4:32
6. "love across the ocean"  Kumi KodaTsukasa 3:37
7. "m•a•z•e"  Kenn KatoHiroo Yamaguchi 4:04
8. "real Emotion"  Kenn KatoKazuhiro Hara 3:59
9. "1000 no Kotoba"  Kazushige NojimaNoriko Matsueda • Takahito Eguchi 5:58
10. "COME WITH ME"  Kumi Kodah-wonder 4:46
11. "Gentle Words"  Kenn KatoD.A.I 3:44
12. "Crazy 4 U"  Miki WatanabeMiki Watanabe 4:06
CD2
No. TitleLyricsMusic Length
1. "Cutie Honey"  Kurodo Q.Takeo Watanabe 3:06
2. "Chase"  Kumi Koda • Kazuhiro HaraKazuhiro Hara 4:58
3. "Kiseki"  Kumi Koda • Kosuke MorimotoKosuke Morimoto 4:58
4. "Selfish"  Miki WatanabeMiki Watanabe 3:53
5. "hands"  Kumi KodaKatsumi Ohnishi 4:25
6. "Hot Stuff feat. KM-MARKIT"  Kumi Koda • KM-MARKITDaisuke Imai 4:06
7. "Butterfly"  Kumi KodaMiki Watanabe 4:18
8. "flower"  YoshiYasuo Ohtani 4:38
9. "Promise"  Kumi KodaDaisuke Imai 4:47
10. "Star"  Kumi KodaKosuke Morimoto 4:05
11. "the meaning of peace"  Tetsuya KomuroTetsuya Komuro 5:16

DVD: Music Video

  1. "TAKE BACK"
  2. "Trust Your Love"
  3. COLOR OF SOUL"
  4. "so into you"
  5. "love across the ocean"
  6. "m•a•z•e"
  7. "real Emotion"
  8. "COME WITH ME"
  9. "Gentle Words"
  10. "Crazy 4 U"
  11. "Cutie Honey"
  12. "Chase"
  13. "Kiseki"
  14. "Selfish"
  15. "hands [Single Version]"
  16. "Hot Stuff feat. KM-MARKIT"
  17. "Butterfly"
  18. "Promise"
  19. "Special Mix Video from Best ~first Things~" (First Press Edition Bonus Clip)

Charts

Oricon Sales Chart (Japan)

Release Chart Peak Position First Week Sales Sales Total Chart Run
September 21, 2005 Oricon Daily Charts 1
Oricon Weekly Charts 1 558,916 1,916,661 124 weeks
Oricon Monthly Charts 1
2005 Oricon Yearly Charts 6
2006 Oricon Yearly Charts 17

Alternate Versions

  1. NO TRICKS: Found on the album (2005)
  2. NO TRICKS [Shohei Matsumoto & Junichi Matsuda Remix]: Found on Beach Mix (2012)

References

  1. ↑ "Best ~first things~ / KODA KUMI / ORICON STYLE". Oricon. Retrieved January 28, 2016.
  2. ↑ "Koda Kumi - Best -first things- (Korean Special Version)". YesAsia. Retrieved January 28, 2016.
  3. ↑ "BEST -first things- (2CD)(Japan Version)". YesAsia. Retrieved January 28, 2016.
  4. ↑ "Kumi Koda: Best ~first things~". Wordpress. Retrieved January 28, 2016.
  5. ↑ "9/21 best album "BEST ~first things~" and LIVE DVD "secret ~FIRST CLASS LIMITED LIVE~" released simultaneously!! Costume exhibition in Shibuya". Koda.cc. Retrieved January 28, 2016.
  6. ↑ "(koda kumi) KODA REKI". Verduistering. Retrieved January 28, 2016.
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