Rahzel

Honestly my playlist just rolled and I wanted to share this instead:
 
 
So we were talking about Shoutan me and a friend and it's just amazing how he takes the 3D Bishounen Aesthetic to another level?? Cheesy choreo, check. Flawless looks, check. Actually bearable music, check. Doubles as an idol and seiyuu, check. TECHNOLOGY, check. Can't really point any flaws. Guess that's where years of j-pop and k-pop took us. I'm fine with this

Really, yay thanks! It's just silly topics (like the one with good engrish songs and the one about ghostwriting) but if it doesn't bother people then I guess I will.

I like the MV for LEGO BIG MORL's "Wait?" a lot as well. I think what they did with it was a really cute gesture.
 
Hiroki, the guitarist with the blonde hair, was in a motorcycle accident, and he fractured his right wrist and couldn't play for like a year or something, but the members decided to put the band on hiatus and wait for him to recover instead of getting someone to fill in. 
 
"Wait?" was one of the first songs they released after coming back, and well, it's pretty easy to see what the song is about.
 
 
 

If I could hang out with anyone, it’d be whichever core member of the MM gang who’d take me (no vocalists, also I would play a Tennis match or go to Mainatron Craze Space with Kami if he was still here with us). With Mana-sama, I’d want to eat his fabled curry while watching whatever weird European Art film he wants to show me in VHS collection. With Közi, I’d sit down with him in a cafe in Paris, just talking about life and art while we drink too much coffee and overeat croissants. Or maybe we’d go fishing together, except I haven’t fished since I was seven so I’ll be absolute crap at it. I don’t think he’d mind though. And with Yu~ki, I’d want him to do Japanese calligraphy with me or just watch him draw or make jewelry while we chat.

Yoshiki so I can see what he actually does all day cuz it's clearly not writing that album.

i'll take on this challenge, vk only and one band each
 
baroque - ila.
kannivalism - sugar rainy
plastic tree - zetsubou no oka
deadman - additional cause for sorrow
guniw tools - looser sugar
 
if i wasn't limiting it to one band each i would've listed all songs by baroque only lol

Just thinking I could sUMMmaRiZe my favorite playlist of 1000+ songs to only 5 favorite songs of favorite bands... yeah...

Off the top of my head:
 
There's something so damaging about Lacey's voice which I adore. It brings across those pained emotions portrayed in the band's music, and that's something I really appreciate with Lacey's way of singing. It's what makes Flyleaf distinctive and timeless if you ask me.
 

 
As for a solo pick, it'd have to be Ellie Goulding now that I think about it. It's really too bad her music is such a bore but she has one of the best, if not the best voice in current mainstream music. Forget Adele, Goulding's voice is soft, lush and effortlessly gorgeous, she deserves to make much better music that suits it. I'd enjoy her much more. The song closest to how I'd like her to sing more often is 'Love Me Like You Do', acoustic version. 
 

 
I'll edit this with more picks once I think over it.

Really, yay thanks! It's just silly topics (like the one with good engrish songs and the one about ghostwriting) but if it doesn't bother people then I guess I will.

Not sure how "unexpected" this is but:
 
Argonavis aka Boydori now has a character who is a bandomen yay
Also oldies popular shoujo manga Kaikan Phrase had a band whose guitarist was ex-vk (but since Ayabie covered Datenshi Blue as if it's a vk song ... is it unexpected?)

Really, yay thanks! It's just silly topics (like the one with good engrish songs and the one about ghostwriting) but if it doesn't bother people then I guess I will.

Really, yay thanks! It's just silly topics (like the one with good engrish songs and the one about ghostwriting) but if it doesn't bother people then I guess I will.

necro-ing this thread OOOOOPS
 
I wanted to share my skincare routine since I've been kinda into that as of last year and this seems like the place to post it. First of all, I got into skincare after my visit in Japan last year when I tried a few products that basically changed my view on skincare. I never believed in skincare until after trying those products, which actually showed results. Since then I've been trying many different products, including delving into Korean skincare, but I later found out that I started breaking out to almost everything so I think I kinda messed up my skin.....But anyway, here's some of the stuff I use. I've been minimizing my routine for a while now. I have oily/dry/sensitive skin btw.
 
-in the morning I just wash my face with plain water
-tone my face with Secret Key Tea Tree Refresh Calming Toner
-moisturize my face with Chifure Light Milky Lotion
-also recently got SoonJung 10-Free Moist Emulsion which works just as well as a lightweight moisturizer
-i then use a sunscreen called Biore UV Aqua Rich Watery Whitening Cream for when i go out, however it leaves a white cast so i'm probably gonna switch over to something else
 
-at night i use a Kose Softymo Deep Treatment Oil to remove makeup (which is basically just eyeliner) and dirt
-wash it off with Matcha Hemp Hydrating Cleanser
-tone and moisturize my face with the products i listed above
-occasionally i use Rosette Cleansing Paste Acne Clear for when my acne gets bad, i avoid using it daily cuz it dries my face and breaks me out but it works really good at minimizing those annoying red bumps i get sometimes
 
So that's basically my skincare that has been working well for me lately. I'd still like to find a cleanser that does more than hydrate my face and yet doesn't break me out from all the stripping. Or just something gentle that helps with hyperpigmentation/acne scars/pores.
 
As far as fashion goes the colors I mainly wear are black and darker shades of red like maroon. I have some white, grey, and dull blue tops in my wardrobe as well. Otherwise that's basically it. I most likely will not wear any other color unless it's a comfy t-shirt, but I still would not wear anything that's mostly bright. I didn't really care for shoes before but I have about 5 pairs now, all of which are black. One of them is just mainly slippers tho. I wear are few accessories, always have a pair of earrings on and a thick plain silver ring on my right index finger. Occasionally I wear necklaces and bracelets rarely since I'm always in long sleeves.
 
The only makeup I put on is a thin black eyeliner, basically just on the waterline. And some foundation to cover some redness. I'd like to draw in my eyebrows since they're almost nonexistent but I'm bad at making them look natural. Plus I'm a bit lazy.
 
For my hair I find that Japanese hair products work the best for me. I remember having much softer hair from when I studied abroad in Japan for a year. Anyway, I've been using the Ichikami Moisturizing Shampoo and Conditioner lately and it makes my hair feel soft all the time. I also use Deuxer 3 wax to add some volume to my hair and then go in with a hairspray to 'kinda' keep it from moving. I still haven't found a hairspray that actually works well. I'd like try out some Japanese hairspray products but they usually aren't available online.
 
Anyway, this post turned out rather long so OOPS, again. Tbh, I never really cared much about my looks until after I dropped out of college and started trying to feel happier about myself. I mean I still did the minimal stuff but never really poured much money into it until then. Guess some of it has to do with actually earning a constant income as well (although i'm currently back in school so *weep*).

I have got to say that everything I've cherished in this lifetime hasn't grown well and plundered into a abyss of simple creed and jokes games I've grew up with or the people I've known all changed drasticly but in search of what matters in this world I feel iddylic when I visit this forum its been a long time since I found a forum with interesting people and friendly individuals all of them never hesitant to reply back when ever I write something on my mind I'm honored to be a part of forum that is preserved in times of discrimination and hate, anguish, fear, and loneliness. 

Last night, I dreamt that I was at my grandma's playing ACNH and I showed her all the fossils I dug up. Her face turned into a scowl and she decided she hated me for playing Animal Crossing and kicked me out of her house and said she never wanted to see me ever again so I told two of my friends and they were just as shocked as me. Needless to say, I felt very strange when I woke up.

🤣🤣 I was hoping to get smth like "I threw him to jail inside my dreams" 😅
 

Just realized this topic was here and i felt the need to share the headphones i use which actually really make some sounds from certain Visual kei songs come to life a bit better. I notice a difference when using these then a regular 5-20 dollar pair of headphones. I dont know if anyone has experienced an abrasion noise before when instrumentals and synths clash when using cheaper headphones. With these i dont seem to get that at all or as much. Obviously this also would have to do with song quality and studio quality but most songs i have played using these opened my ears a bit more. Sure is worth a shot and highly recommend if you like in-ear headphones.  You can pick them up for 50 bucks on ebay or amazon.
https://www.oneplus.com/uk/bullets-wireless
 

 
 

Please do necro threads if you have smth to add. It would probably bring some life back to topics people didn't see originally or forgot about. 

Don't we all! 😞 Lately one of the few things that actually bring me joy is updating my neocities and following other retro websites there. And it's just confirming my suspicions - I am old old Internet is still fun, social network monopolies are unnecessary 
And as for Demi she was the only Disney singer I not only tolerated but actually liked in my teens when she still did ~rockish songs~ lol a pity the Disney singer label weighs so heavily because she is so fine and could do much better. Gotta love her versatility in going from Let It Go to FOB - Irresistible unscathed
 
In another subject, isn't this new release from Utada Hikaru pretty amazing?
 
_______________
 
 
Found this song and I am surprised at how much the monotone vocals sound like some contemporary singers but with a positively 80s/early 90s beat and sound ofc. And it bothers me how much she sounds exactly like someone I should know well (Etsuko Yakushimaru? Komuai? Something-like-that-but-not?)
 
(kinda offtopic but, the whole citypop revival of the last half of the decade made me realize how many of these trends that have become all the rage in japanese experimental/alt dance (-inspired) music in the 2010s actually began in 1970-80 and it's just crazy. Wish I could say something convoluted about it but to be fair I think Golden Bomber - Dance My Generation summed up the trend better than I could ever lol.)

I'm the sort of person who's gotta get right to the bottom of it all. If I feel sad, I have to proactively do what I can to address the source of the problem. That may just be because I tend to get angry before I get sad but whatever. Failing that, I talk to someone who can help me or, if there's really nothing anyone can do, I comfort myself with video games, rest and food (which is pretty much what I do in my spare time anyways).

*cracks knuckles* well... 👀  
 
Okay I am not going to put anyone in these forums through k-pop mvs (though I am well qualified to do so I'll refrain) but *will* share the one k-pop MV that got me into k-pop after years of being "eek" about it. (ironically my ~ult bias~ which would be the kpop equivalent of a honmei turned out to be the white haired guy lol.)
 
  
Now moving on to less k-poppy stuff... To be honest I am uninspired now (blaming it entirely on whoever made my mind go to k-pop MVs.) but ... some of my favorite MVs lately would be not-particularly-outstanding-just-emotional things like Colorful World by Kariya Seira and melt by TK/suis ; Guess sometimes I like "everything an artist puts out" because they are just so charismatic and/or creative like Alice Vicious or Sayuri or Shishido Kavka etc. Or because they are purely 100% amazing (thats amazarashi) 😞 ...
 
 
I wish I didn't sound that biased but honestly the only Japanese video aside from these that I remember vividly in the last ~2 years was that one where the SCANDAL girls came out. Maybe I'm that out of the loop in Japanese MVs lol In general hmm ... American/British PVs interest me more. I guess the production values are better which in turn makes the whole thing better. But k-pop beats it all  remember the MV that made Ayabambi worldwide famous? A k-pop group did that recently, dumbed down with bad music, by the way. 
 
When it comes to vk these days I was reminded of Dance My Generation which is great, which in turn reminds me that Pentagon and Golden Bomber had some amazing PVs. On The Other Hand my faves were never ... exactly known for great PVs (HAHAHAHAHHA ... the understatement), so no recommendations here lol. (for proof, here's the best of Shounenki and Nightmare honestly.) For what it's worth sometimes I really like Miyavi's PVs though that's ... not vk (does Ashita Genki ni Naare count in prime 2020?)

... Anyway, where were we? K-pop MVs! Thanks 
 

I love PVs, it's so great to discover all the ones you guys picked! I just discovered Hysteric Panic and I'm very thankful for that, I love it haha!
 
I absolutely adore all of WEDNESDAY CAMPANELLA's PVs. It's hard to pick just one but I guess Ikkyu-san will do, as it was the first one I saw from her and it made me instantly fall in love with her universe:
 
 
Much of the same can be said for MONDO GROSSO but I'll pick Labyrinth:
 
 
... and Charisma.com. But my favorite is moyamoyashite:
 
 
I have a big soft spot for KIRINJI's Jikanga Nai:
 
 
Anyway, as can be seen from all the ones I've mentioned, even though I do enjoy watching simple PVs just centered around the band playing, they usually don't make it to my favorites. It's interesting because it didn't use to be that way. There are many simple PVs from MUCC and Plastic Tree that I love, and they are simply that.
But the nicest "it's just the band playing but in extremely cool lighting" PV I can name is THE NOVEMBERS' Bad Dream. What a great song, too.
 
 
The ultimate PV to me will be, always and forever, MAXIMUM THE HORMONE's eponymous. It's just everything I love about them into one song and one music video hehehe
 
 
It's actually been a while since I've watched visual kei PVs, I guess I gotta get back to it. Which is why most of what I listed is J-pop (aside from the past 2). But what would be this topic without someone mentioning the GazettE's Taion, right?
 
 

I've been wanting to discuss this topic for a long time. Fundamentally since, in the last ten years or so, the ratio of what in this forum has been called "formulaic VK stuff" has increased considerably, which, on the other hand it is closely linked to a phenomenon that has also recently appeared, and that in this forum has been called "idol kei". Of course, as many here quote repeatedly, the abandonment of adolescence does not cease to be a powerful motive in this situation, since it makes the condition of possibility (necessary, though not sufficient) so that one can remove the veils of idealization deposited on certain music or artist (and realize how badly done or executed some productions were; for me an example of it was Ryohei-era ayabie). Finally, in the verge of the end of the decade, another reason is my concern about the fate of the VK in the 2020's, considering that since the second half of the '10 has not thrown some real "quality" or "novelty", something that can be established at the level of "classic", as it actually happened with some releases put out in the period of 2008-2013.
 
It is not easy to discuss all these issues, I imagine, for several issues: perhaps it can hurt the emotions of some users of this forum who, in fact, are very comfortable enjoying the said idealization of certain artists. On the other hand, talking about this with some minimum measure of ownership requires a listening by a broad repertoire of VK, which has at least something from each of its eras (at least the "classics"). And also, it requires some knowledge (at least intuition) about aspects related to composition, instrumental performance, recording, live performance, the dynamics of the consumer market, etc.
 
As, to my pleasant surprise, I have found in this forum people who speak (or at least try) from this knowledge, is that I come to open this thread here in MH. Anyway, I hope that no one is deprived of writing here, contributing from what he/she has and his/her interests.
 
I think that it is best to start on by discussing some basic concepts, instead of directly delving into anything else:
 
1) What are the indicators that make a song "ghostwritten" for you? And that it is not?
2) What are the indicators that make a band "idol kei"? And that it is not?
3) Where would you put its birth date?
4) Do they qualify as "good music" or not? Do you enjoy them? Do not? 
5) Does it seem to you that this certain music goes "against" (to put it somehow) of certain "well-being" of the scene, or of the music itself?
6) Why are you still listening to VK in the 2010s? Are your reasons the same as before? What does it give you that other music does not give you?
 
I read you!

I'm far from an old hand in the fandom but I think I know what you're getting at. I’m actually gonna invert the question order because my thought process caused 2 to lead to 1:
 
2) From my perspective, Idol Kei is made up of Kawaii af Oshare Kei bands that don’t have a special sound to them and sound like they could’ve been mass-produced.  They're really successful despite being run of the mill and may just be industry plants. I don’t want to name names because it's just conjecture and they could be innocent. One of the biggest indicators, to me, is a lack of previous band history, i.e this is either their first or second band they’ve been a part of. It’s usually never more. It’s especially telling if they never had some dumbass high school garage band that was… Well, doing something. Or in the rare exceptions like Lunacy, showing some real promise and raw talent that just needs to be polished up. Tangent note, I’ve noticed in the VK fandom that we’re anal af about listing out a member’s previous band history. I’ve seen people write out band histories that span like 10 different bands for each member in forums and comments sections. Could this be a by-product of wanting to see the artistic process and evolution, or to check for industry plants? Well, that’s just conjecture...
 
1) That leads me to here. Stuff that makes me think, “Huh, is a debut band like this really making stuff that sounds this polished already? And damn, they kinda sound just like [some other band that sounds generic]” makes me wonder if they really did write it. One big indicator that a band isn’t ghostwritten is when the band members have a history that I can follow around. When I follow that history, I can usually find patterns in songwriting that trace to one member. Such as a love for that new wave sound he grew up with as a teen or a jazz influence from his formal lessons. Also, artistic evolution is a big indicator of a band being 100% "real", if you will, such as incorporating different genre elements as time goes by or being able to hear their music evolve as the members gain more experience with writing and performing songs.
 
3) That’s… Tricky. I’d go back as far as the early 2000s when An cafe existed, but were they really that manufactured? Maybe later then, but then I wouldn’t really know what year exactly. The jury’s out on this one 

4) As biased as I am to old school stuff and underground stuff that sounds like it was recorded on the vocalist’s bootleg Chinese Yak-Bak, I still listen to new school stuff, occasionally even bands that I think could be ghost written. It's cute and danceable, and it's usually written competently so it's not technically bad. Besides, sometimes I just need a break from the concept pieces and experimental songs from angura bands I love, ya know? Nothing wrong with that.
 
5) Every genre and scene deals with ghostwriting, even ones where literally all you write are the lyrics (big lol @ rap ghostwriting considering that in this day and age you can just read the writing on the wi-fi router and slap a trap beat over it to make a hit), I think VK won’t be negatively impacted by this by too much. Besides, it's not like these sickeningly saccharine sweet boy groups claim to be high art or some shit. There’s so much more that could seriously shoot VK in the foot, like continuing cute but ancient industry practices until the whole damn industry collapses.
 
6) I listen to lots more than just Visual Kei, but it’s still my #1 ever since I discovered it a few years ago. I wrote a long-ass paragraph on this in another thread but here’s a TL;DR:
- Jrock chords, baby, I want that shit injected into my bloodstream. They are actually really different from the Western pop chords. I’m no music major so I’ll spare you the half-assed music theory lesson and simply compare them in layman’s terms. Jrock chords are like a “question and answer” type of progression that resolves itself in an intrinsically… pleasant manner? It provides the question to the answer, simply. Western pop is like a “whole statement” type of progression, it’s meant to add more statements on to it.
- I love the looks a lot, they make the PVs so much more fun to watch! VK to me is more than looking pretty, it’s about expressing the meaning of the music through the use of visuals, using it as a compliment to the lyrics or even just with the actual song structure.
- I like how the lyrics are so much more subtle than in English. I know that it's a by-product of how Japanese is as a language when compared to English, but even still, I'm gonna argue this one because I have translated songs (mostly in my head these days) before and their subtle meanings don't get completely lost in translation, the thought process still stays intact in English. It’s actually kind of ruined English songs for me in all honesty because now many sound like “Hurr-Durr, I have to actually tell you how to feel about what I just said instead of letting you interpret it or understand the implications”. I could go on a rant about this shit. But let’s just say an English artist would say “I killed myself then everyone was sad” and a Japanese artist would say “[I was] erased from this earth, a fact that your tears tried to blur out”. I understand that being vague is upsetting to some but I feel like spelling it out so bluntly like so many western artists do is insulting to the listener’s intelligence. Or at least my intelligence…