Koda Kumi - koi no tsubomi

Koda Kumi's single koi no tsubomi was released as both CD only and CD+DVD. This review is of the edition with DVD. The title song was used for the drama series "busu no hitomi ni koishiteru."

The title track, koi no tsubomi, starts with a slow intro and Koda Kumi's vocals, but it turns into a happy ballad which also sounds quite upbeat. The vocals are very clear and they flow perfectly with the beat. The combination of the beat and the string instruments make this a unique ballad. The song ends with an instrumental outro. This is a true feel-good song.

The next track is a bossa nova version of koi no tsubomi. It's much slower and not as upbeat as the original song. Koda Kumi's vocals also seem more relaxed on this track. The piano in the instrumental part towards the end is a nice addition and gives this song more of a "mature feeling" than the previous track.

An instrumental version is also included on the single. The DVD contains two clips: the PV for koi no tsubomi and the making-of video. The music video starts with a close-up of Koda Kumi looking like a fairy. In the video, the singer plays different roles and wears bright, colorful outfits. This video is definitely magical, and fans of Koda Kumi will love the making-of clips.