Pray/XXX

"Pray/XXX feat. Koda Kumi"
Single by Soulhead
from the album Naked
Released 27 January 2006 (JP)
Format CD
CD+DVD
12-inch single (W56736)
Recorded 2006
Genre J-pop, J hip hop, dance-pop
Label Rhythm Zone
RZCD-45303 (Japan, CD)
SM Entertainment
SMJTCD-091 (Korea, CD)
Writer(s) Soulhead
Soulhead singles chronology
"Sparkle☆Train"
(2005)		 "Pray/XXX feat. Koda Kumi"
(2006)		 "Kimi no Kiseki/Itsumademo..."
(2006)
Koda Kumi singles chronology
"No Regret"
(2006)		 "Pray/XXX feat. Koda Kumi"
(2006)		 "Ima Sugu Hoshii"
(2006)

Pray/XXX feat. 倖田來未 (Pray/XXX feat. Koda Kumi) is a single by the female duo Soulhead from the album Naked.[1] The main track, Pray, was an R&B mix and XXX featured artist Koda Kumi.[2][3] The single charted at #22 on Oricon Weekly.[4]

Koda Kumi had her own version of the song XXX' called D.D.D. feat. Soulhead on her Best ~second session~ album.[5]

Background information

Pray was written by the members and sisters of Soulhead, Yoshika and Tsugumi, with production being done by Octopussy. The song contained many R&B elements, mixing in elements of pop and rap. Being the main focus of the single, the outfits used in the music video were the same Soulhead donned on the single's cover.

XXX feat. Koda Kumi was also written by Yoshika and Tsugumi, with Octopussy producing the song. Musically, XXX is a dance song that borrows numerous musical elements such as R&B.[6] The song borrows a 4-bar melody from the Missy Elliot and Rockwilder's remake of Lady Marmalade, which featured singers Missy Elliot, Mya, Pink, Lil' Kim and Christina Aguilera.[7] The song is sung in half Japanese and English language.

XXX was the variation of the single D.D.D feat. Soulhead, which was released by R&B-turned-pop artist, Koda Kumi, in December 2005.[8] This version credits Kumi as the featured artist and is inspired by groove music.[9]

Much like their other singles, Pray/XXX was also released as a vinyl.[10]

Music video

Pray featured many elements in the video which were most popular during the 1990s music scenes - with fast-forwarding and slowing down for many segments - and mixed those with modern-styled shoots. The outfits featured in the music video's church scenes were those Soulhead wore on the cover of the single.[11]

XXX was the alternate version to D.D.D., which had Kumi as the main focus. XXX did not contain as much sexual imagery during the rapping, instead featuring the imagery with Yoshika and Tsugumi throughout the song and removing Kumi's solo dance segment.

Track listing

(Source: All Music[12])

CD+DVD

CD

CD
No.TitleLyricsMusicArrangersLength
1."Pray"  SOULHEADOCTOPUSSYOCTOPUSSY • Mitsuki Shiokawa • Masanobu Fukuhara • Tomoyuki Tachihara4:34
2."XXX feat. Koda Kumi"  SOULHEADOCTOPUSSY • Chris GehringerOCTOPUSSY4:13
3."Pray" (Instrumental) OCTOPUSSYOCTOPUSSY • Mitsuki Shiokawa • Masanobu Fukuhara • Tomoyuki Tachihara4:32
4."XXX feat. Koda Kumi" (Instrumental) OCTOPUSSY • Chris GehringerOCTOPUSSY4:09

DVD

  1. Pray (Music Video) - 4:32
  2. XXX feat. Koda Kumi (Music Video) - 4:12

12" Vinyl

Side A

  1. "Pray"
  2. "XXX feat. Koda Kumi"

Side B

  1. "Pray" (Instrumental)
  2. "XXX feat. Koda Kumi" (Instrumental)

Alternate versions

Pray

  1. Pray: Found on the single and corresponding album Naked (2006)
  2. Pray [Instrumental]]: Found on the single (2006)
  3. Pray ~worked by Kenny Dope: Found on Re-Construct Album Vol.2 Crystallized (2006)

XXX feat. Koda Kumi

  1. XXX feat. Koda Kumi: Found on the single and corresponding album Naked (2006)
  2. XXX feat. Koda Kumi [Instrumental]: Found on the single (2006)
  3. XXX feat. Kdoa Kumi ~worked by SA-RA: Found on Re-Construct Album Vol.2 Crystallized (2006)

References

  1. ↑ "Soulhead - Naked (CD, Album)". Discogs. Retrieved January 12, 2016.
  2. ↑ MTV 2014.01.14
  3. ↑ "Soulhead - Pray/XXX". Amazon. Retrieved January 12, 2016.
  4. ↑ "Oricon Weekly 01/29". Oricon. Retrieved January 29, 2006.
  5. ↑ "JPop Suki Videos". JPop Suki. Retrieved January 12, 2016.
  6. ↑ CD Journal Staff (March 8, 2006). "Kumi Koda / Best: Second Session [CD]" (in Japanese). CD Journal. Retrieved March 3, 2016.
  7. ↑ "Kumi Koda – D.D.D. featuring Soulhead" (in Japanese). peeplenet. December 21, 2005. Retrieved March 3, 2016.
  8. ↑ Pray/XXX (Liner notes). Soulhead featuring Kumi Koda. Japan: SMEJ Association. 2006. p. 1. AICL-1702.
  9. ↑ HMV Japan Staff (February 1, 2006). "Soulhead – Pray/XXX" (in Japanese). HMV Japan. Retrieved March 3, 2016.
  10. ↑ "SOULHEAD feat. Koda Kumi: XXX". 808 Records. Retrieved March 21, 2016.
  11. ↑ "Pray [HQ]". YouTube. Retrieved August 19, 2016.
  12. ↑ "Pray/XXX at All Music". Retrieved 2016-01-28.
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