Kokia: Bird of Paradise

This flower was used for the cover of her first album 'Songbird'. And how fitting this is indeed. Far more suitable than the hibiskus flower of her nickname.

Kokia is the nickname of Akiko Yoshida. Can you see her inventiveness? A-KI-KO -> KO-KI-A. It's spelled backwards, signifying also her birth flower, a species of hibiskus flower. She may be quite humble and not particular cute for the standards of the japanese song industry, but her voice is stunning and full of surprises. For almost 2 decades she has given us a rich repertoire. She's 35 now and often performs in Europe, basing her activities in Paris. As she was sent a couple of times in America during summer for music classes, she is one of the very few artists speaking so clearly and fluently English. She came to be known through her songs for anime and games.



For start let's go through her anime/game songs.

Within the difficulty of accomplishing my one and only wish, I
Want to show you that I'll protect you to the end, for something irreplaceable, 
it's a promise that I want to fulfill [...]


Let's believe in the miracle called 'now' [...]


Let's risk everything; I want to be shining within my granted time
I'm just only breathing and being here; even though it's just that, my feelings overflow
I have my happiness; just by being able to think so, how much
Light, enough to be lovely, will this moment release?[...]

The winter wind shakes the forest in my noisy heart
The things that can live with it stay as they are
Everyone who has heard the quiet voice in this forest has shed tears at noise [...]

Her voice makes you wanna cry, doesn't it? A more traditional song that echoes in you and makes you wanna dance and howl.

You are just like sunlight falling through tree crowns.
You gave me the happy smile, courage and will to live on.
The warmth of the heart in my memory,
feeling a connection stronger than anything.

Its all because of you, that I can live like myself. [...]

ATTAMIJAHAHIRA TAGONOMARAKIKOTA (= Our tale began the moment we meet)
TERIIMUH TERIIMUH IAM (= March on)
ATERA REGANAHIAS IAM (= The die has been cast)
EKUDUS TINOTA IAM (= We've only just begun) [...]

Kokia describes the song as being "like a horse running through a great plain". I can't help but to agree. It screams freedom and sounds like a battle cry! Contrasting Follow the Nightingale, Say Goodbye and Good Day is more pop and as the title says this song is about the concept of 'each end is a new start'.

Will you tell me when our promise runs out?
Tell me, softly, when happiness to come.

I will seek you out,
although I cannot change the past, I will think of you, always.

I will hope in my little lonely heart that you’ll be,
just be, yourself.

                                     
                                     
Shall we go explore more? She's a pleasure to ears. She can be childlike and epic, tender and strong. Really versatile.

Let's make the whole world bloom with flowers of light
Floating on dandelion fluff
A single seed from parts unknown
Became a flower blooming in our town

Small kindnesses and sympathy
Land in someone's heart
Budding and blooming
And bearing fruit [...]

[...]This country congratulates the spring with love, through flowers,
The Japanese people live with the seasons,
The people, rivers, mountains, valleys, dreams, all wait
For those who return home. Even if they change,
Their hearts never willthe flower banquet[...]

Welcome to the magic world
The world of unfading magic. The small little me
Came out among the gigantic dreams without sense or proof,
And repeated life, desperately.

http://dai.ly/cZiCXT

I started walking while humming,
I got louder and louder, unconsciously, but I don't care,
Progressing steadily, I opened my arms,
And gave everything leaping in a big hug.

Give me a new power, I want to give you a bubbly smile,
The power of a smile. [...]

Though it hurts sometimes, I want to feel your presence
The memories are my only solaceso that you are always here

If I ever meet you again
I just want you to know one thing- thank you, thank you

Every moment I can feel you
Wish you feel the same way
If I show my secret garden you can touch to eternity
It fill me in with scent of rose
Everlasting memory
Glow my life, you give me a heart to love
What I feel please stay forever

Someday I know it may fade away
Still we ask for forever [...]

[...]Feelings I can’t put into words follow your cheek
Today I just want to nuzzle up against you and work out what they are

This shaped world is so fleeting
That you lose sight of the truth
But I want to believe and choose
Signs of angels have rained down on us[...]

[...]The feeling that goes out from the bottom of my heart
The sounds that vibrate in the tense air, from where, from where they come?

I leave myself to the music.
Sinking deeply in waves of the sounds.[...]

Yes, she sings Italian beautifully, too. A very high-tune song that calls us to surrender ourselves to KOKIA's magic.


For the last song of this post I chose one with deep and wise lyrics and strong emotions: Ningette Sonnamonone

Did you want to become your idea of perfect?
You were probably just imitating someone, right?
Any way of flying is OK, right?
It's having the courage to take off that's important, right?

We say things like "It's no good now", but

We become ourselves through crying and laughing
And worrying and getting back up and everything we feel
Living and being ourselves and everyday joys
Make us happy
Believing and trying
And doing it over every time
That's the way people are
The way we can forgive each other is wonderful

You're so resolute because you're tired, right?
This may surprise you, but nobody minds
Did you think you'd come this far alone
Because you didn't want to cause anyone any trouble?

People are...

As we help each other and lend each other a shoulder
And stop after every few steps
Breathing, taking deep breaths
And sighing sometimes
We become ourselves through crying and laughing
And worrying and getting back up and everything we feel
That's the way people are
The way we can forgive each other is wonderful

If you can share times of happiness with someone
Then you're never alone, even in hard times
That's the joy of sharing

Chorus (x2)

We are all naked
All searching for warmth
Amid all our weakness and sadness
And trying to move forward somehow