You (Kumi Koda song)

"You"
Single by Koda Kumi
from the album Best: Second Session
Released	December 7, 2005 (JP)
Format	CD
Genre	J-pop
Length	17:52
Label	Rhythm Zone RZCD-45301 (Japan, CD)
Writer(s)	Koda Kumi, Yoko Kuzuya, Toru Watanabe
Koda Kumi singles chronology
"Promise/Star" (2005) "You" (2005) "Birthday Eve" (2005)

"You" (stylized as you) is Koda Kumi's 19th single and the first to be released in her 12 Singles Collection.^[1] It became her first single to hit #1 on the Oricon charts.^[2]

Information

you is singer-songwriter Kumi Koda's first single in her 12 Singles Collection and first single to reach #1 on the Oricon charts.

Each single in the collection had unique cover art based on certain cultures in various countries. The back cover of each single was a piece to a puzzle, which could only be completed by purchasing all twelve singles. The same was done for the obi strips, which contained a full image when arranged together in order.^[3]

As of April 2011, "you" is certified platinum for digital cellphone downloads by the RIAJ.^[4]

The music video for the title track tied into four other videos released during the 12 Singles Collection: Candy feat. Mr. Blistah, Lies, feel and Someday/Boys♥Girls.

Reception

Upon the single's release, it received favorable reviews from fans both in Japan and Overseas in North America. Many praised Kumi's vocals and the idea of releasing one single a week, each with differing cover art.

In North America, Vanessa went on to say how "Koda Kumi is an amazing artist with strong vocals, and [the] single doesn't hesitate to show that off." Chak commented how, though they did not enjoy ballads, they were "impressed" by the single and the music video "made it better."^[5]

In Japan, Rushin said "if you listen to the song, you will cry," and that "if you like ballads, you will not hate this." Tomopio, however, said that with the song being one of her bests ballads, they felt how its release would be "overshadowed by 12 weeks of continuous releases."^[6]

Music Video

While the music video for you is the first in the 12 Singles Collection, it is the second in a music video-driven story, its predecessor being Candy feat. Mr. Blistah.

you opens with three men talking about the heartbreak they had experienced in their lives and the women they were with. Each man had a passion that they followed and found a lover who shared in their interests.

The protagonist in you is played by Japanese actor Takashi Tsukamoto, whose passion is photography, and who finds a lover, played by Kumi, who he believes to have "the perfect image."

Cover

For the collection, each single was given its own, unique cover art, each which represented a dress from a different culture.

The cover for you represented the Inuit culture in Alaska.

Along with differing cover art, each obi strip contained a piece of an image, that, which put together in order, would reveal a full picture of Kumi. The same was done for the back covers of each single.

Track listing

(Source^[7])

Charts

Oricon Sales Chart (Japan)

Alternate Version(s)

you

1. you: Found on the single (2005) and its corresponding album BEST ~second session~ (2006)
2. you [Instrumental]: Found on the single (2005)
3. you ~Acoustic Piano Mix~: Found on Koda Kumi Remix Album (2006)
4. you ~Piano Version~: Found on BEST ~BOUNCE & LOVERS~ (2006)
5. you [Floor on the Intelligence Remix]: Found on Koda Kumi Driving Hit's 2 (2010)
6. you [KOZM® Remix]: Found on Koda Kumi Driving Hit's 4 (2012)

References

1. Avex Network (2005), Kumi Koda Official Web Site
2. Oricon Style (2005), Oricon Style