Pearl: The Best Collection
Encyclopedia
Pearl: The Best Collection (stylised as pearl ～The Best Collection～) is Kokia
's first greatest hits album, released on December 2, 2009. It was released simultaneously with her first video clips collection, Jewel: The Best Video Collection.
(2003-2006). In this time, Kokia had released two albums (Remember Me
and Uta ga Chikara
), along with seven singles. After working with Mother Land, she set up her own personal management company, Anco & Co., and has worked with them ever since.
Three singles were released after Uta ga Chikara, and only feature on Pearl. The first of these, "Dandelion" (released 11 months prior in late February 2005), was used as the ending theme song for a Nippon Television
documentary show Super TV Jōhō Saibansen. The second was also featured in a TV show, Kin'yō Entertainment. This single, "Time to Say Goodbye," was released five months after "Dandelion," in July 2005.
The final single was released on New Year's Day
in 2006: "Ai no Melody/Chōwa Oto (With Reflection)
." The songs were used as the opening and ending theme songs for the animated film Origin: Spirits of the Past. This single was released a month prior to the best collection.
Kokia chose the title "Pearl" due to the secondary meaning of the word as an item of great beauty. She believed it created an image of a pearl necklace, where each of Kokia's songs were created from within her then threaded onto the necklace of her greatest hits album. Kokia also considered the songs to develop inside of herself like how pearls develop in seashells: by developing around something she has on her mind.
The title of Kokia's second greatest hits is thematically related to Pearl, since Kokia named it Coquillage
(the French
word for shell).
Kokia chose all her songs that were featured in commercials, and combined these with the songs most she wanted people to hear. She chose every track she had released as a single since 2003. From Remember Me
, five songs were taken: "I Believe (Umi no Soko Kara)," "Kawaranai Koto (Since 1976)," "The Power of Smile," "Remember the Kiss" and "Watashi no Taiyō." The version of "Remember the Kiss" on the album, "Remember the Kiss (A Wish)," was a previously recorded unreleased version. From Uta ga Chikara
, Kokia chose three songs: "So Much Love for You," "Utau Hito" and "Yume ga Chikara."
From the singles released post Uta ga Chikara, all four A-sides are included. "Chōwa Oto (With Reflection)" is a re-recording of "Chōwa Oto" from Kokia's Gai Records Victor Entertainment released album Trip Trip
in 2002. Also featured on the album from the singles was the B-side "Shiawase no Hanataba," which had been used as the Kyōdōbokin Red Feathers campaign CM song, and also featured as a theme song for the TV show The New Dotch Cooking Show
.
One song was a rarity from the soundtrack of the film The Hotel Venus
, a cover of the Eagles' song "Desperado
."
Other than the new versions of "Remember the Kiss" and "Chōwa Oto," there were three re-recordings: "Arigatō... (The Pearl Edition)," "Yume ga Chikara (Brave Warrior)" and "The Power of Smile (A Gentle Breeze)." Kokia felt it was important for her to re-record "Arigatō...," the lead single from her Pony Canyon
debut album Songbird
, after her growth as a musician, as well as a thank-you message to all her supporters. She re-recorded "The Power of Smile" (her most successful single) to try a new approach to a song that everyone would recognise. Kokia also attempted to capture the fun feeling of her live performances in the re-recordings of "The Power of Smile" and "Yume ga Chikara" by using musicians she plays with in lives (such as guitarist Kazuhiro Matsuo and pianist Toshiya Shioiri).
On January 21, Kokia performed her first live concert in Paris
, titled "Bonjour Paris! Bonjour mon ami!" This was followed by the album's official tour, Kokia Album Tour 'Thank U!', in February 2006 in Japan. She performed at three dates, in Nagoya, Osaka
and Tokyo
.
," written by Eagles members Glenn Frey
and Don Henley
.
Kokia (singer)
is a Japanese singer-songwriter, who performs under the stage name Kokia . She is best known for her songs and "The Power of Smile." She is also recognised for her numerous contributions to anime/game soundtracks, the most notable being "Ai no Melody/Chōwa Oto " for the film...
's first greatest hits album, released on December 2, 2009. It was released simultaneously with her first video clips collection, Jewel: The Best Video Collection.
Background
The album featured material from her time with Mother Land management under Victor EntertainmentVictor Entertainment
is a subsidiary of Japan Victor Company that produces and distributes music, movies and other entertainment products such as anime and television shows in Japan. It was formerly known as...
(2003-2006). In this time, Kokia had released two albums (Remember Me
Remember Me (Kokia album)
The album was Kokia's first to chart on the Japanese Oricon albums charts, reaching #15 and selling over 45,000 copies. It is currently also Kokia's most sold release, as of 2010....
and Uta ga Chikara
Uta ga Chikara
-Singles:-Japan Sales Rankings:-Personnel:* Kiyotsugu Amano - acoustic guitar * Katsuhiko Asano - recording/mixing* Masashi Fujimori - art direction, art work * Sayaka Hayakawa - violin * Ayako Himata - violin...
), along with seven singles. After working with Mother Land, she set up her own personal management company, Anco & Co., and has worked with them ever since.
Three singles were released after Uta ga Chikara, and only feature on Pearl. The first of these, "Dandelion" (released 11 months prior in late February 2005), was used as the ending theme song for a Nippon Television
Nippon Television
is a television network based in the Shiodome area of Minato, Tokyo, Japan and is controlled by the Yomiuri Shimbun publishing company. Broadcasting terrestrially across Japan, the network is commonly known as , contracted to , and abbreviated as "NTV" or "AX".-Offices:*The Headquarters : 6-1,...
documentary show Super TV Jōhō Saibansen. The second was also featured in a TV show, Kin'yō Entertainment. This single, "Time to Say Goodbye," was released five months after "Dandelion," in July 2005.
The final single was released on New Year's Day
New Year's Day
New Year's Day is observed on January 1, the first day of the year on the modern Gregorian calendar as well as the Julian calendar used in ancient Rome...
in 2006: "Ai no Melody/Chōwa Oto (With Reflection)
Ai no Melody/Chōwa Oto (With Reflection)
is Kokia's 15th single, released on January 1, 2006, a month before her greatest hits collection Pearl: The Best Collection. The songs were used as the ending and opening theme songs for the animated film Origin: Spirits of the Past...
." The songs were used as the opening and ending theme songs for the animated film Origin: Spirits of the Past. This single was released a month prior to the best collection.
Conception
The idea of releasing a greatest hits album was first suggested to her by her Mother Land director in early 2005, after he noted the number of singles and soundtrack songs Kokia had.Kokia chose the title "Pearl" due to the secondary meaning of the word as an item of great beauty. She believed it created an image of a pearl necklace, where each of Kokia's songs were created from within her then threaded onto the necklace of her greatest hits album. Kokia also considered the songs to develop inside of herself like how pearls develop in seashells: by developing around something she has on her mind.
The title of Kokia's second greatest hits is thematically related to Pearl, since Kokia named it Coquillage
Coquillage: The Best Collection II
Coquillage: The Best Collection II is Kokia's second greatest hits album, released on December 2, 2009.-Background:...
(the French
French language
French is a Romance language spoken as a first language in France, the Romandy region in Switzerland, Wallonia and Brussels in Belgium, Monaco, the regions of Quebec and Acadia in Canada, and by various communities elsewhere. Second-language speakers of French are distributed throughout many parts...
word for shell).
Kokia chose all her songs that were featured in commercials, and combined these with the songs most she wanted people to hear. She chose every track she had released as a single since 2003. From Remember Me
Remember Me (Kokia album)
The album was Kokia's first to chart on the Japanese Oricon albums charts, reaching #15 and selling over 45,000 copies. It is currently also Kokia's most sold release, as of 2010....
, five songs were taken: "I Believe (Umi no Soko Kara)," "Kawaranai Koto (Since 1976)," "The Power of Smile," "Remember the Kiss" and "Watashi no Taiyō." The version of "Remember the Kiss" on the album, "Remember the Kiss (A Wish)," was a previously recorded unreleased version. From Uta ga Chikara
Uta ga Chikara
-Singles:-Japan Sales Rankings:-Personnel:* Kiyotsugu Amano - acoustic guitar * Katsuhiko Asano - recording/mixing* Masashi Fujimori - art direction, art work * Sayaka Hayakawa - violin * Ayako Himata - violin...
, Kokia chose three songs: "So Much Love for You," "Utau Hito" and "Yume ga Chikara."
From the singles released post Uta ga Chikara, all four A-sides are included. "Chōwa Oto (With Reflection)" is a re-recording of "Chōwa Oto" from Kokia's Gai Records Victor Entertainment released album Trip Trip
Trip Trip
Trip Trip is Kokia's second album, released in January 2002. It was her first album released with Victor Entertainment, and her only released under Gai Records management...
in 2002. Also featured on the album from the singles was the B-side "Shiawase no Hanataba," which had been used as the Kyōdōbokin Red Feathers campaign CM song, and also featured as a theme song for the TV show The New Dotch Cooking Show
Dotch Cooking Show
The was a Japanese cooking show produced by the Yomiuri Telecasting Corporation and known for its use of highest quality and most expensive food ingredients domestic and international to Japan...
.
One song was a rarity from the soundtrack of the film The Hotel Venus
The Hotel Venus
The Hotel Venus is a Japanese-made film, performed in the Korean language. It was released on March 6, 2004 in Japan, Tokyo and in South Korea September 10, 2004...
, a cover of the Eagles' song "Desperado
Desperado (song)
"Desperado" is a soft rock song by the Eagles, an American rock band, written by group members Glenn Frey and Don Henley. It first appeared on the 1973 album Desperado, and has later appeared on numerous compilation albums although it was not a single....
."
Other than the new versions of "Remember the Kiss" and "Chōwa Oto," there were three re-recordings: "Arigatō... (The Pearl Edition)," "Yume ga Chikara (Brave Warrior)" and "The Power of Smile (A Gentle Breeze)." Kokia felt it was important for her to re-record "Arigatō...," the lead single from her Pony Canyon
Pony Canyon
is a Japanese company, established on October 1, 1966 , which publishes music, DVD and VHS videos, movies and video games. It is a subsidiary of Japanese Media Group, Fujisankei Communications Group.-History:...
debut album Songbird
Songbird (Kokia album)
Songbird is Kokia's debut album, released on . It is her only album released under Pony Canyon, the rest being released with Victor Entertainment or ....
, after her growth as a musician, as well as a thank-you message to all her supporters. She re-recorded "The Power of Smile" (her most successful single) to try a new approach to a song that everyone would recognise. Kokia also attempted to capture the fun feeling of her live performances in the re-recordings of "The Power of Smile" and "Yume ga Chikara" by using musicians she plays with in lives (such as guitarist Kazuhiro Matsuo and pianist Toshiya Shioiri).
Promotion
Kokia appeared on the TV shows West21 and A-ha-n Rouge, as well as had articles in magazines AI-Vision Press, CD Data, Gekkan Audition, Gekkan Newtype and Gekkan Songs throughout January and early February.On January 21, Kokia performed her first live concert in Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
, titled "Bonjour Paris! Bonjour mon ami!" This was followed by the album's official tour, Kokia Album Tour 'Thank U!', in February 2006 in Japan. She performed at three dates, in Nagoya, Osaka
Osaka
is a city in the Kansai region of Japan's main island of Honshu, a designated city under the Local Autonomy Law, the capital city of Osaka Prefecture and also the biggest part of Keihanshin area, which is represented by three major cities of Japan, Kyoto, Osaka and Kobe...
and Tokyo
Tokyo
, ; officially , is one of the 47 prefectures of Japan. Tokyo is the capital of Japan, the center of the Greater Tokyo Area, and the largest metropolitan area of Japan. It is the seat of the Japanese government and the Imperial Palace, and the home of the Japanese Imperial Family...
.
Reception
The album reached #19 in its first week, selling 10,000 copies. It charted for a single more week in the top 100 at #67, before charting lowly for another four weeks. The album re-entered the charts in February 2007, charting lowly for two weeks.Track listing
All songs written by Kokia, except for "DesperadoDesperado (song)
"Desperado" is a soft rock song by the Eagles, an American rock band, written by group members Glenn Frey and Don Henley. It first appeared on the 1973 album Desperado, and has later appeared on numerous compilation albums although it was not a single....
," written by Eagles members Glenn Frey
Glenn Frey
Glenn Lewis Frey is an American musician, singer, songwriter, and actor, best known as a founding member of the Eagles. Frey formed the Eagles after he met drummer Don Henley in 1970 and the two eventually joined Linda Ronstadt's backup band for her summer tour. The Eagles formed in 1971 and...
and Don Henley
Don Henley
Donald Hugh "Don" Henley is an American singer, songwriter and drummer, best known as a founding member of the Eagles before launching a successful solo career. Henley was the drummer and lead vocalist for the Eagles from 1971–1980, when the band broke up...
.
Singles
| Date | Title | Peak position | Weeks | Sales |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| "Dandelion" | 84 (Oricon) | 3 | 3,500 | |
| "Time to Say Goodbye" | 54 (Oricon) | 2 | 2,900 | |
| "Ai no Melody/Chōwa Oto (With Reflection) Ai no Melody/Chōwa Oto (With Reflection) is Kokia's 15th single, released on January 1, 2006, a month before her greatest hits collection Pearl: The Best Collection. The songs were used as the ending and opening theme songs for the animated film Origin: Spirits of the Past... " |
30 (Oricon) | 6 | 13,000 | |
| "Arigatō... (The Pearl Edition)" | 139 (Oricon) | 3 | 1,900 |
Japan Sales Rankings
| Release | Chart | Peak Position | First Week Sales | Sales Total | Chart Run |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oricon Daily Albums Chart | |||||
| Oricon Weekly Albums Chart | 19 | 10,000 | 19,000 | 8 weeks | |
| Oricon Yearly Albums Chart |