Trust Your Love

"Trust Your Love"
Single by Kumi Koda
from the album Affection
B-side	STILL IN LOVE
Released	May 3, 2001 (Japan) November 2, 2001 (United States)
Genre	R&B
Length	26:42
Label	Rhythm Zone
Writer(s)	Kumi Koda
Kumi Koda singles chronology
"Take Back" (2000) "Trust Your Love" (2001) "Color of Soul" (2001)
Trust Your Love [U.S Version]

"Trust Your Love" is Japanese R&B artist Koda Kumi's second single and was AX Music Factory's theme for their AX Power Play. It was released on May 3, 2001, in Japan and November 2 in the United States. The single reached #14 on the Oricon Weekly Charts.

The single became her last single to be released in North America, where, beginning with her next single, Color of Soul, she began to focus solely on the music market in Japan. This was due to Kumi, while happy to receive recognition in the United States, feeling that being known Overseas would not be possible long-term if she was unable to become successful in her home country.

While she did have a North American release for Trust Your Love, the b-side, Still in Love, was exclusive to Japan. The U.S release only harbored remixes for the main track.

The music video for Trust Your Love carried fashion themes from early-2000s North American artist's music videos, namely Britney Spears and Backstreet Boys. Many television shows in the United States also carried similar fashion trends, such as Zenon: Girl of the 21st Century, which was a possible inspiration for the outfits Kumi donned.^[1]

Information

"Trust Your Love" is Japanese singer-songwriter Kumi Koda's second single under the Avex sub-label Rhythm Zone. The song peaked at #14 on the Oricon Weekly charts upon its debut in Japan. The North American version was released a few months later on November 2nd and performed better in the United States, reaching #1 on the Billboard Hot Dance Music charts.^[2][3] This would be her final single released for North America, whereas beginning with her next single, "Color of Soul", she began to focus solely on the Japanese market.

The version released in the United States received different cover art and was marketed under Kumi's American stage name, "Koda."^[4] This version did not contain the original mix of the song, instead carrying six remixes. The remixes were done by different artists, with tracks #1 and #3 remixed by Hex Hector, tracks #2, #4 and #5 remixed by Thunderpuss duo Chris Cox and Barry Harris, and track #6 remixed by Blackwatch.^[5] This edition omitted the b-side, Still In Love, making the track exclusive to Japan.

The U.S. version was also released as a 12" vinyl.^[6]

In Japan, the title track was used for AX Music-Factory's AX Power Play theme.^[7] There was also one b-side, "Still In Love" (stylized as STILL IN LOVE), which was omitted from the corresponding album, "affection."

Packaging

"Trust Your Love" came in two editions:

• CD: contains seven musical tracks.
• CD [U.S Edition]: contains six musical tracks.

The edition for the United States contained six remixes of the title track, omitting the original mix of "Trust Your Love". The Japanese editions contained three remixes of the title track, along with the b-side "Still In Love" with the instrumentals.

Promotional advertisements

"Trust Your Love" was used for AX Music-Factory's AX Power Play (stylized as AX POWER PLAY).

AX Music-Factory is a music-centered television program in Japan, which is similar to MTV in North America. "AX" comes from the original name JOAX-(D)TV, which started on the Nippon Television Network. JOAX-(D)TV would later become known as AX Music-TV, which hosts the Factory program.^[8]

Music video

Fashion used in the music video for "Trust Your Love."

The music video for "Trust Your Love" was set in a winter tundra. In the video, Kumi wore a metallic shirt and pants, which, at the time, was used in the fashion of many American videos, including Backstreet Boys' "Larger Than Life" (1999) and Britney Spears' "Opps!... I Did It Again" (2000).^[9]

While the video was not set around a personal theme, Kumi was seen in two different dance segments: one solo and one with back-up dancers. The dancers in the video were the same two dancers used in her initial debut video, "Take Back."

Her music video would later be the inspiration for the alternate version to BoA's North American debut video, "Eat You Up," which was also filmed in a tundra-like environment with similar camera angles and dance moves.^[10]

Reception

Upon its released, the single garnered positive reviews from fans.

In North America, Jae commented on the music video, saying how it was apparent it was a product of the 90s, whereas "the 90s style lasted for most artists until 2003/2004." They went on to praise the b-side, "Still In Love," calling it "rougher" and "darker" than "Take Back." They also said how they favored the remixes for "Trust Your Love" more than "Take Back."^[11]

In Japan, Mariko said how much they enjoyed the song's climax and that it will "be stuck in your ear." Suu-chan said how they believed the song to be "better than "Take Back,"" but was not as well known . They go one to say how the song is a "masterpiece," but said the music video was "kind of ugly, but Koda Kumi can really sing." Astrology said that, while the song was from Kumi's debut album "affection," Kumi "still has a very good voice."^[12]

Track listing

(Source^[13])

Japan Version

U.S. version

12" Vinyl

Alternate versions

Trust Your Love

1. Trust Your Love: Found on the single (2001) and corresponding album affection (2002)
2. Trust Your Love [Sean "Sepp" Hall Remix]: Found on the single (2001)
3. Trust Your Love [Razor's Radio Mix]: Found on the single (2001)
4. Trust Your Love [Thunderpuss Radio Mix]: Found on the single (2001)
5. Trust Your Love [Instrumental]: Found on the single (2001)
6. Trust Your Love [Hex Hector Main Club Mix]: Found on the U.S single (2001)
7. Trust Your Love [Thunderpuss Club Mix]: Found on the U.S single (2001)
8. Trust Your Love [Hex Hector Main Radio Mix]: Found on the U.S single (2001)
9. Trust Your Love [Thunderpuss Radio Mix]: Found on the U.S single (2001)
10. Trust Your Love [TunderDUB]: Found on the U.S single (2001)
11. Trust Your Love [Blackwatch Remix]: Found on the U.S single (2001)
12. Trust Your Love [Hex Hector Japanese Radio Mix]: Found on COLOR OF SOUL (2001)
13. Trust Your Love [BLACKWATCH Remix]: Found on COLOR OF SOUL (2001)
14. Trust Your Love [Terminal Vox Remix]: Found on Koda Kumi Driving Hit's 2 (2010)

References