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"No Regret"
Single by Koda Kumi
from the album Best: Second Session
Released	January 25, 2006 (JP)
Format	CD
Recorded	2005
Genre	Electronica, R&B, Dance
Label	Rhythm Zone RZCD-45307 (Japan, CD)
Songwriter(s)	Toru Watanabe, h-wonder
Koda Kumi singles chronology
"Candy" (2006) "No Regret" (2006) "Pray/XXX feat. Koda Kumi" (2006)

"No Regret" is an R&B song by singer-songwriter Koda Kumi. The song debuted on the Oricon charts at #4, remaining on the charts for twelve weeks. The single made it the eighth release for her 12 Singles Collection, and, unlike the majority of the singles, was not limited to 50,000 copies. This was one of three that were not limited, the other being the first single in the collection, you, and the final single, Someday/Boys♥Girls.

Information

No Regret is Japanese singer-songwriter Kumi Koda's eighth single in her 12 Singles Collection and twenty-sixth overall. It managed to peak at #4 on the Oricon Singles Charts and remained on the charts for twelve weeks.^[1] Unlike most of the other singles in the collection, No Regret was not limited to 50,000 copies. This was only done with two other singles in the collection: you and Someday/Boys♥Girls. No Regret sold 72,081 copies within the first week and, as more recent figures show, it has sold a total of 131,348 copies.^[2]

Each single in the 12 Singles 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] However, the obi strip image was omitted on the Hong Kong versions.

"No Regret" is a blend of R&B and electronic dance music. The music was composed and performed by musical composer h-wonder, who had previously composed the bulk of the music for Kumi's debut studio album affection, and the lyrics were written by Toru Watanabe, who had written the musical score to the first single in the 12 Singles Collection, "you."^[4][5] The b-side to the single was an alternate version of "Rain," the original which had previously been released on her third studio album, feel my mind.^[6] However, while the b-side was an alternate version, the instrumental for the piece was that of the version originally placed on the 2004 album.^[7][8]

To help promote the single, "No Regret" was used as the opening theme to the second season of the Japanese anime series, The Law of Ueki, which was an adaptation of the manga of the same name.^[9] The theme of the story was a battle between candidates to decide the next god of the Celestial World.

Reception

Upon its release, "No Regret" garnered positive reviews from both North American and Japanese fans.

In North America, Niku said how the song's beat was "very catchy" and, while "some may think that this song is too similar to "Butterfly" or "Cutie Honey". . . "No Regret" [had] an anime feel that [separated] itself." Jae said how the song was good for a "night out" and that it was "on a [their] Night Club playlist."^[10]

In Japan, Miyu Aki said how "other than "Shake It Up," it [was their] personal favorite." They also go on to say that, "even to this point, [No Regret] is nothing to be ignored." Ranunculus compared the song to "Butterfly," but said how the song's speed "seemed to work," and that the title track "matched her personality." They mainly praised the coupling track, "Rain," saying how it was "Kumi's voice that made the ballad work."^[11]

Music video

"No Regret" was not part of the story-themed videos like "you," "Lies," "feel" and "Someday."

The music video did take on a Charlie's Angels theme with a trio of crime fighters who go undercover at a nightclub. In the video, several homages are paid to the Wachowski brothers' 1999 science fiction film The Matrix, with Kumi performing some of the shots with bullet time visual effects.^[12][13]

This theme would later be built upon in Koda Kumi's theatrical debut, Cherry Girl, which was released on her sixth studio album, Black Cherry.

Cover

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

No Regret took its inspiration from the country of India.

Along with differing cover art, each obi strip contained a piece of an image, which when 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^[14])

Charts

Oricon Sales Chart (Japan)

Alternate Versions

No Regret

1. 
   No Regret: Found on the single and corresponding album BEST ~second session~ (2006)


2. 
   No Regret [Instrumental]: Found on the single (2006)


3. 
   No Regret [Dub's not have regret either remix]: Found on Koda Kumi Remix Album (2006)


4. 
   No Regret [Future House United Remix]: Found on Koda Kumi Driving Hit's 2 (2010)

External links

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


2. Oricon (2006), Oricon Style online
   

References