Coquillage: The Best Collection II
Encyclopedia
Coquillage: The Best Collection II (stylised as Coquillage～The Best Collection II～) is Kokia
's second greatest hits album, released on December 2, 2009.
, in 2006, up to her digital single , released in August 2009. It follows her first greatest hits album, Pearl: The Best Collection
, by four years.
The album was released after two of Kokia's "Life Trilogy" digital singles, in August 2009, and in November 2009. None of the billed A-sides on these singles feature on the album (these were indended for Kokia's 11th studio album, Real World
, in 2010), however one of the B-sides made it onto the album, Kokia's cover of Louis Armstrong
's "What a Wonderful World
" from "Kimi o Sagashite/Last Love Song."
, since pearls are formed within mollusc shells. Kokia chose the album art to feature Sandro Botticelli
's 1486 painting The Birth of Venus
due to Venus
due to the shell Venus stands on.
Kokia chose at least one song from every original album release to feature on the album, along with four rarities/B-sides and two new recordings. "Atatakai Basho" and "Nukumori (Aigakikoeru)" are originally from Aigakikoeru: Listen for the Love
(2006), however the strings version was a special version recoded for Kokia's film Ojiisan no Tulip and released on her 2008 digital download EP rarities EP Love Tears. "Ave Maria," "Chiisa na Uta" and "Everlasting" are from The Voice
(2008). "Say Goodbye & Good Day," which appeared as the B-side to the lead single from The Voice, "Follow the Nightingale
," and as a bonus track on the French version of the album also features on Coquillage. "Song of Pocchong (Shizuku no Uta)" was sourced from Fairy Dance: Kokia Meets Ireland
(2008), and "Kokoro no Rōsoku" from Christmas Gift
(2008). Two songs each from Kokia's 2009 albums were picked: "Dōke" and "Kono Mune no Kurushimi ga Itooshii Hodo ni Ikite" from Kokia Infinity Akiko: Balance
, and the acoustic version of "Infinity" from Akiko Infinity Kokia: Balance
, along with "Sekai no Owari ni."
"Candle in the Heart," the English version of "Kokoro no Rōsoku," was originally from Kokia's free release EP given out on the street of New York in 2008. "What a Wonderful World
" came from Kokia's digital single "Kimi o Sagashite/Last Love Song" in August 2009.
Of the new recordings, "Inori" is a self-cover of the song "Inori" that Kokia wrote/produced for Ayahi Takagaki
comes across Feldt Grace, a character single for Mobile Suit Gundam 00
. "Arigatō..." (originally released as a single in 1999 and re-recorded three times previously) is a new acoustic guitar version of the song.
" (Bob Thiele
, George David Weiss
).
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 second greatest hits album, released on December 2, 2009.
Background
The album features material from her first album released under Anco&co management, Aigakikoeru: Listen for the LoveAigakikoeru: Listen for the Love
Aigakikoeru: Listen for the Love is Kokia's fifth album. It was originally released under Wasabi Records in France in November 2006, however was eventually released in Japan six months later...
, in 2006, up to her digital single , released in August 2009. It follows her first greatest hits album, Pearl: The Best Collection
Pearl: The Best Collection
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....
, by four years.
The album was released after two of Kokia's "Life Trilogy" digital singles, in August 2009, and in November 2009. None of the billed A-sides on these singles feature on the album (these were indended for Kokia's 11th studio album, Real World
Real World (album)
Real World is Kokia's 11th studio album, released on March 31, 2010. Kokia travelled to the Tunisian Sahara for inspiration for songs on the album...
, in 2010), however one of the B-sides made it onto the album, Kokia's cover of Louis Armstrong
Louis Armstrong
Louis Armstrong , nicknamed Satchmo or Pops, was an American jazz trumpeter and singer from New Orleans, Louisiana....
's "What a Wonderful World
What a Wonderful World
"What a Wonderful World" is a song written by Bob Thiele and George David Weiss. It was first recorded by Louis Armstrong and released as a single in 1968. Thiele and Weiss were both prominent in the music world . Armstrong's recording was inducted in the Grammy Hall of Fame in 1999...
" from "Kimi o Sagashite/Last Love Song."
Conception
Kokia selected songs for the album with the concept of songs that can "cleaning your heart." She decided the title would be the French word for shell, coquillage, for several reasons. Firstly, it is a pun on her name ('coquillage' sounding like 'Kokia') Secondly, it is thematically related to her first greatest hits album, Pearl: The Best CollectionPearl: The Best Collection
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....
, since pearls are formed within mollusc shells. Kokia chose the album art to feature Sandro Botticelli
Sandro Botticelli
Alessandro di Mariano di Vanni Filipepi, better known as Sandro Botticelli was an Italian painter of the Early Renaissance...
's 1486 painting The Birth of Venus
The Birth of Venus (Botticelli)
The Birth of Venus is a painting by Sandro Botticelli. It depicts the goddess Venus, having emerged from the sea as a fully grown woman, arriving at the sea-shore...
due to Venus
Venus (mythology)
Venus is a Roman goddess principally associated with love, beauty, sex,sexual seduction and fertility, who played a key role in many Roman religious festivals and myths...
due to the shell Venus stands on.
Kokia chose at least one song from every original album release to feature on the album, along with four rarities/B-sides and two new recordings. "Atatakai Basho" and "Nukumori (Aigakikoeru)" are originally from Aigakikoeru: Listen for the Love
Aigakikoeru: Listen for the Love
Aigakikoeru: Listen for the Love is Kokia's fifth album. It was originally released under Wasabi Records in France in November 2006, however was eventually released in Japan six months later...
(2006), however the strings version was a special version recoded for Kokia's film Ojiisan no Tulip and released on her 2008 digital download EP rarities EP Love Tears. "Ave Maria," "Chiisa na Uta" and "Everlasting" are from The Voice
The Voice (Kokia album)
The Voice is Kokia's sixth studio album, released in February 2008. It is the first of four album releases in 2008 celebrating her 10th anniversary as a singer....
(2008). "Say Goodbye & Good Day," which appeared as the B-side to the lead single from The Voice, "Follow the Nightingale
Follow the Nightingale
"Follow the Nightingale" is a song by Kokia, released as her 18th single on November 21, 2007. The song, along with the single's B-side "Say Goodbye & Good Day," were used as the opening and ending theme songs for the Nintendo DS game Tales of Innocence....
," and as a bonus track on the French version of the album also features on Coquillage. "Song of Pocchong (Shizuku no Uta)" was sourced from Fairy Dance: Kokia Meets Ireland
Fairy Dance: Kokia Meets Ireland
-Japan Sales Rankings:...
(2008), and "Kokoro no Rōsoku" from Christmas Gift
Christmas Gift (album)
Christmas Gift is Kokia's eighth studio album, released in October/November 2008. It is her first full-length Christmas album, though she had released a special Christmas EP for fans, A Piece of Christmas, in November 2006...
(2008). Two songs each from Kokia's 2009 albums were picked: "Dōke" and "Kono Mune no Kurushimi ga Itooshii Hodo ni Ikite" from Kokia Infinity Akiko: Balance
Kokia Infinity Akiko: Balance
Kokia Infinity Akiko: Balance is Kokia's ninth equal studio album, released simultaneously with Akiko Infinity Kokia: Balance in March 2009....
, and the acoustic version of "Infinity" from Akiko Infinity Kokia: Balance
Akiko Infinity Kokia: Balance
-Personnel:* Takeshi Arai – guitar * Katsuhiko "Chara" Asano – mixing engineer * Toshihiko Fujimi – publicist* Takashi Furuta – drums * Yuya Haraguchi – acoustic/electric guitars...
, along with "Sekai no Owari ni."
"Candle in the Heart," the English version of "Kokoro no Rōsoku," was originally from Kokia's free release EP given out on the street of New York in 2008. "What a Wonderful World
What a Wonderful World
"What a Wonderful World" is a song written by Bob Thiele and George David Weiss. It was first recorded by Louis Armstrong and released as a single in 1968. Thiele and Weiss were both prominent in the music world . Armstrong's recording was inducted in the Grammy Hall of Fame in 1999...
" came from Kokia's digital single "Kimi o Sagashite/Last Love Song" in August 2009.
Of the new recordings, "Inori" is a self-cover of the song "Inori" that Kokia wrote/produced for Ayahi Takagaki
Ayahi Takagaki
is a Japanese voice actress and singer. She had her first major voice acting roles in 2007, voicing Jasmine in Deltora Quest and Lucia Nahashi in Venus Versus Virus....
comes across Feldt Grace, a character single for Mobile Suit Gundam 00
Mobile Suit Gundam 00
is an anime TV series, the eleventh incarnation of Sunrise's long-running Gundam franchise consisting of two seasons. It is directed by Seiji Mizushima and written by Yōsuke Kuroda, and features character designs by Yun Kōga. The twenty-five episode season was officially announced by Sunrise...
. "Arigatō..." (originally released as a single in 1999 and re-recorded three times previously) is a new acoustic guitar version of the song.
Promotion
In December after the album's release, Kokia held a six date tour in Japan, .Reception
The album charted for two days in Oricon's top 50 daily singles chart, as #27 and #48, before dropping off completely. In the first week, the album reached #73 and sold 2,100 copies, significantly lower than Kokia's original albums released under Anco&co. The album charted for a single more week at #250, selling a total of 2,700 copies.Track listing
All songs written and produced by Kokia, except for "Ave Maria" (Vladimir Vavilov) and "What a Wonderful WorldWhat a Wonderful World
"What a Wonderful World" is a song written by Bob Thiele and George David Weiss. It was first recorded by Louis Armstrong and released as a single in 1968. Thiele and Weiss were both prominent in the music world . Armstrong's recording was inducted in the Grammy Hall of Fame in 1999...
" (Bob Thiele
Bob Thiele
Bob Thiele was an American record producer who worked on countless classic jazz albums and record labels.-Biography:...
, George David Weiss
George David Weiss
George David Weiss was an American songwriter and former President of the Songwriters Guild of America.-Career:...
).
Japan Sales Rankings
| Release | Chart | Peak Position | First Week Sales | Sales Total | Chart Run |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oricon Daily Albums Chart | 27 | ||||
| Oricon Weekly Albums Chart | 73 | 2,100 | 2,700 | 2 weeks | |
| Oricon Yearly Albums Chart |
Personnel
- A&R – Jun Sukegawa
- Design coordination – Mikio Koike, Aki Okiyama
- Designer – Kokia
- Design support – Eri Yaguchi
- Director – Shigeyuki Hirano (Anco&Co.)
- Downloads marketing – Masahito Kuniyoshi
- Arrangers – Kokia (#8, #13, #2-1, #2-2), Taisuke Sawachika (#2, #10-11, #14), Kiyohide Ura (#1, #5-7, #12), Sean Whelan (#4), Yasuhisa Yamamoto (#3, #9)
- Engineers – Katsuhiko "Chara" Asano, Ciaran Byrne, Joseph Chester, Yoshikazu Sasahara, Sean Whelan
- Label managers – Toshihiko Fujimi, Satoshi Kamata, Hiroyuki Makimoto,
- Management office – Anco&Co.
- Marketing – Kenji Nozaki
- Mastering – Hiroshi Kawasaki (Flair)
- Musicians – Takeshi Arai, Takashi Furuta, Hiroko Ishida, Harutoshi Ito, Ayako Karasawa, Atsushi Kawahata, Kimura Strings, Kazuhiro Matsuo, Tsuyoshi Miyagawa, Emi Nagoya, Katsuhiko Sato, Kyoichi Sato, Ryosei Sato, Taisuke Sawachika, Shigeki Serizawa, Shin Eai-Sung, Ryoji Takai, Gen Tanabe, Hanako Uesato, Kiyohide Ura, Sean Whelan, Yasuhisa Yamamoto
- Overseas licence – Emiko Kato, Hiroshi Kobayashi, Kazuhiro Yoshida, Sho Yoshimoto
- Producer – Kokia
- Publicist – Shuichi Matsuura
- Songwriters – Kokia (#1, #3-5, #7-14, #2-1, #2-2), Bob ThieleBob ThieleBob Thiele was an American record producer who worked on countless classic jazz albums and record labels.-Biography:...
/George David WeissGeorge David WeissGeorge David Weiss was an American songwriter and former President of the Songwriters Guild of America.-Career:...
(#6), Vladimir Vavilov (#2) - Web promotion – Atsushi Suzuki