"Promise/Star"
"Promise" CD only cover
Single by Koda Kumi
from the album Best: First Things
Released	September 7, 2005 (JP)
Genre	Promise J-pop, R&B Star Electronica, dance, house, J-pop
Length	17:50
Label	Rhythm Zone RZCD-45242/B (Japan, CD+DVD) RZCD-45243 (Japan, CD)
Koda Kumi singles chronology
"Flower" (2005) "Promise/Star" (2005) "You" (2005)
Alternative cover
"Star" CD only cover

Promise/Star is the first double a-side single by Japanese artist Koda Kumi. It was the final single released before her first compilation album, Best ~first things~. It managed to chart at #4 on Oricon and stayed on the charts for 14 weeks.

Information

Promise/Star is Japanese R&B-turned-pop star Kumi Koda's 18th single domestic single under the Avex sub-label Rhythm Zone. The single was Kumi's first attempt at a double a-side and was her final single released before her first greatest hits album, Best ~first things~.^[1] It peaked at #4 on the Oricon Singles Charts and remained on the charts for 14 weeks.^[2]

The single consisted of the upbeat pop song "Star" and the emotional ballad "Promise," along with their corresponding instrumentals. The CD only edition was of limited release and contained unique cover art, compared to the CD+DVD edition.

"Promise" was used as the ending theme on the TV Asahi show Telechika, while "Star" was used as a promotional campaign for the Nintendo DS game Urusei Yatsura: Endless Summer.^[3]

Despite being a double a-side, "Star" only received a short version, the music video only being a minute and a half long. It was speculated that the full version would be released on Best ~first things~, but a complete version was never released.

Packaging

Promise/Star was released in two editions: CD and CD+DVD. Along with the music videos on the DVD, a behind-the-scenes making video was also included.

While the single received two editions, the CD only was of limited release.^[4]

Limited editions of the single contained specialized cover art for both the CD and CD+DVD editions. However, on the standard editions, both "Promise" and "Star" received their own cover art, whereas the booklets were reversible.

Music video

"Promise" carried a sad theme of a woman crying at a wedding altar, missing her fiancé, who had died prior to their wedding. In the video, Kumi is donning a wedding dress and veil during the past scenes and a full black ensemble during the mourning present day scenes.

"Star" was more optimistic, with Kumi in front of a starry background. There were no scene changes in "Star," instead only changes in camera angles.

Track listing

(Source^[5])

Chart history

Charts and sales

Alternate Versions

Promise

1. Promise: Found on the single and corresponding album Best ~first things~ (2005)
2. Promise [Instrumental]: Found on the single (2005)
3. Promise [ELMER VoVo Remix]: Found on Koda Kumi Driving Hit's 6 (2014)

References

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