Stunning.
This review was requested by Jin from Sora to Kujira! Visit STK for some fascinating articles about Hello Project, as well as some K-Pop fun and much much more!
The cover of this album has a certain air of loneliness and isolation, which is the impression I got from listening to this album.
KOKIA is an artist who seems to delight in the unorthodox. The title “THE VOICE” is a perfect fit, as the shining star of this album is KOKIA’s beautiful voice. If you look over the track listing, you’ll also see why THE VOICE is a great title. Operatic titles like “Ave Maria” are tossed among Japanese titles like “Gomen ne.”
Speaking of Ave Maria, it is the greatest track on this album, to me. KOKIA sings it with gentle melancholy. The song is so haunting that it made me chill, and I’ll admit to becoming a little emotional as the song progressed. Hey, there is nothing wrong with music evoking that kind of response. I sat and cried my eyes out to Miliyah Kato’s “Last Love” the other day too.
Not every track on THE VOICE is depressing. Another of my favorite tracks was Follow the Nightingale, an uplifting piece that is energetic in parts and calm and beautiful in others. The song just made me feel good about life. I think that is what KOKIA was trying to do with that song.
A final noteworthy track is everlasting, which vaguely reminded me of “The Circle of Life” from the Lion King.
In Conclusion: As I listened to THE VOICE, I was oddly reminded of RIKKI’s music. If you’ve played Final Fantasy X and/or heard “Suteki da Ne,” you know what I mean. KOKIA is just amazing because her music has a very classic sound but its still current. She sings with so much chilling emotion that you can’t help but be moved. This is HIGHLY recommended.
Reader Question: What is the most moving song you’ve ever heard?
Sakurayume 
Yay for requests! I’m really glad that you liked it. *-* I know there’s people who always go “OMG THIS IS DA BEST ALBUM EVAR” but this album totally deserves it.
Simple beautiful and touching. 😥
Yeah, it really does. I loved it because its so sincere. You feel like she’s singing right to you.
Oh, I didn’t see the question at the end. Most moving song I have ever heard is between Hamasaki Ayumi’s JEWEL, Hikki’s Dareka no Negai ga…, and KOKIA’s everlasting.
Mine would be Ai Otsuka’s Kingyo Hanabi. It has special meaning to me.
Please tell us about this. I noticed this was your favorite song (though I don’t rmr where I read it).
Its the song that my fiance and I have chosen to play at our wedding. I first heard the song about a week after we got together, and it made both of us cry.
Ev’one loves this but me.
My first KOKIA was “Follow the Nightingale” single; loved it and the b-side.
The next singles I got into and loved were: “Tatta Hitotsu no Omoi” and “Transparent”.
My expectations for “the VOICE” were not met. The album was boring, and forgetful.
User Answer: The moving song? Gosh that’s difficult. In English, it’s Enrique Iglesias’ “HERO”, and Faye Wong’s “Eyes On Me” (FF crush).
In Korean, I love Son Dam Bi’s “Invisible Person” and Soh Jin Young’s “Dalmeun Sarang (ballad version)”.
In Japanese…hmmm…let’s go with Shizukusa Yumi’s “Hana Kagari”, FicutionJunctionYUUKA’s “Akatsuki no Kuruma”, BoA’s “Meri Kuri” or “Kimi no Tonari de”, and just about any ballad from the beautiful Yuna Ito, just to name a few.
Great review. The VOICE will always be my favorite album from her.
Concerning your question…I’m not sure. lolz
K’s “Only Human” and Angela Aki’s “Dahlia” come into my mind though.