Taboo (Koda Kumi song)

"Taboo"
A woman, dressed in a black dress with black-coloured accessories, posing towards the camera with blonde streaks in her hair. The text "Koda Kumi", and "Taboo" are placed on the upper-left side of the image.
CD only artwork.
Single by Kumi Koda
from the album Trick
B-side"Always"
ReleasedOctober 8, 2008
Recorded
Genre
Length3:55
LabelRhythm Zone
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)Hiro
Kumi Koda singles chronology
"Moon"
(2008) 		"Taboo"
(2008) 		"Stay with Me"
(2008)
Music video
"Taboo" on YouTube

"Taboo" (capitalized as "TABOO") is a song by Japanese recording artist Kumi Koda, taken from her seventh studio album Trick (2009). It was written by Koda, and co-written and produced by Hiro. "Taboo" is a dance-pop song that lyrically discusses several taboo subjects including sex and homosexuality. It contains numerous elements including electropop and hip-hop, and employs use of vocoder. It was released as the second single from the album on October 8, 2008 by Rhythm Zone.

Critical reception towards "Taboo" has been positive, with a majority of the critics commending the catchy chorus and its production. Several critics have highlighted "Taboo" as the album's and Koda's career stand out track. In Japan, "Taboo" became Koda's fifth number one single, and reached number six on the Asian–Taiwanese Singles Chart. It has sold over 88,000 units in Japan, and "Taboo" was certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of Japan (RIAJ) for shipments of 100,000 units. "Taboo" has been professionally remixed twice, and included on her remix albums Koda Kumi Driving Hit's (2009) and Beach Mix (2012).

A music video for "Taboo" was directed by Takashi Tadokoro, and features Koda in a mansion. Based on themes and exploration of homosexuality and sexual content, the video has Koda dancing in different rooms with female and male companions. Another video version was edited with longer bathroom and dancing scenes. "Taboo" was included on the set list of the singer's 2009 Trick tour, and the Premium Night: Love & Songs tour. "Taboo" and its music video has been widely considered an emphasis of Koda's self-described style "Ero kawaii", and has been notified as one of her "sexiest" and most well-known videos.

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