saiko

What's your band name? Do you have something shared online?

This is why I'm glad people like Kamijo decided to take singing lessons.

Btw, this is some seriously sexy K-pop tune. Definitely in the mood of a gay bar:

So true it hurts.

Regarding to Kamijo, I don't think it can be said that he simply changed his vocal range and that's it. Rather, I think Kamijo changed his range because he learned how to sing properly. That is to say, he realized that songs like Lareine's (tenor range) are not suitable at all for his own natural range (clearly baritone). This is easy to prove to anyone who listens just to a single Lareine song. And in fact I think it was clear to Kamijo himself ; in fact, several songs from Lareine's repertoire were tuned down for live performances. Check "Metamorphose" as an example: Album version (on C minor key) Live version (on B minor key, and also an epic performance) However, Kamijo might be still heard not so comfortable. Add to this the feminine and in-pain characterization that Kamijo tried to build for his on-stage persona. What you get is a voice that sounds like choked, it is clear that he is making a huge effort to be able to reach every high note. Also, I think that Kamijo smoked at that time, right? Much worse. Either way, Kamijo had a very good vocal performance in Lareine. Not only because he always kept himself into the key (which in visual kei is like asking a lot lol), but because, despite all this I said, he managed to keep a flow of voice that was voluminous, and all that while charaterizing it in a very convincing and beautiful way. Either way, fortunately he has decided to adjust to his natural range since Versailles began. His voice now sounds much more natural and versatile; he even can reach the tenor notes, which as I said are not natural for him, through some falsetto, which is actually heard very nice and dramatic. I think the same can be said regarding Gackt. Check the following "Mizerable"versions: Album version (on key of D flat minor) Live version (on key of C minor) Now there are other vocalists, that actually improved over the time, but in the beggining didn't try to lie to themselves proving that their range was higher than what their throats could actually offer without killing themselves into the process lol Ruki have always had a beautiful voice and a decent technic, but I feel that songs like "Wakaremichi" or "Miseinen" sounds legitly good nowadays. Ruki now can manage to run trough the different notes and volumes very smoothly, while managing to bring out a strong flow of voice, even while delivering this gothic-inspired deep voice that is one of the trademarks of the 'visual kei' sound, but that makes singers of the scene really -like, REALLY- bad 90% of the times. Album version (2002): Live version (2012, and also another epic performance) Also, Miku from Antic Cafe and Asagi from D can other great examples of vocal improving.

What and honor to have Yo in your band. By the way, he knows so well how to sell in Japan that he even uses the ridiculously cheesy English phrases.

Wow, how did Kaya managed to have all those top musicians for her? Queen!

@Reikatsumi Same guitar leak as in Royz's song intro at 2:27👇 Keep complaining ✌

True, but I bet there is a good number of Japanese fellows there in Nyc. On the other hand, it's not uncommon to the VK scene to have kind of wealthy fans, so maybe the trip could be affordable to them (Nyc is not that far from Tokyo, isn't it?). I remember attending L'arc's gig at Madison Square Garden and seeing that at least 50%-60% of the public were Japanese fans. I don't think they will have any problem fulfilling the bar.

Thinking this quickly -thus not very profoundly- I feel Mejibray did have a good work there, mostly in the beginning of their career, like you say. First, they were all very skilled musicians; and yes, that reaches Tsuzuku, too. I can agree on him having serious limitations to bring all his studio performance to his live performance, but the final result wasn't so different, mostly in their last era. On the other hand, he had a pretty strong and sensitive expression, in line with Kiyoharu's style, but also very unique. I mean, you could recognize Tsuzuku from every angle of the scene. He wrote very beautiful lyrics, too, not over-the-top but kind of sophisticated in terms of poetic expression. Second, they built-up very interesting and recognizable in-stage characters, which is the key of the visual aestehtics of 'visual-kei' in difference with other approaches to 'glam' in rock music. The best example of this was Meto's wheelchair and creepy teddy bear. Paradoxically, this something that the majority of "vk" bands can't achieve, mostly because they basically do rip-off certain famous characters of the past; I think we can all agree that Meto, Kouichi and Tsuzuku looks are still blatantly plagiarized to date. Third, they did had a very unique sound. The tones Mia, Meto and Kouchi's chose for their instruments created that 'sandy' sound that, when coupled with Tsuzuku's shrieky vocals, made the band instantly recognizable, no matter which song you could listen to. And in terms of songwriting, they did have some memmorable songs. I can think of "Raven" and "Decadence"; certainly there wasn't something like that in the scene in the past. For me, the weak point of Meji was the obvious plagious they did to some hit songs from classic bands (Deluhi, or even the Gazette), and also the 'formulaic' basic songs that they started to put out during the second half time as a band, more-less after "Theatrical Blue Black". Plus, I've never found their B-sides so exciting either. I think they got over-produced, and thus over-exploited. Maybe so much that they ran out of ideas, so they had nothing else to do rather than making 'catchy' songs for bangya to do furitsuke, copy-pasting their previous clichés in different ways, while choosing to put on the most eccentric attire and make the sexiest posing on stage. So they obviously gradually lost all their music value and started to become an 'idol' band.

Shoyo is a monster on bass, a very charismatic performer and also a cutie lol

What a bunch of cute fellows we are! Also, surprised by the amount of handsome guys here... 😶 👉👈 Should I point out my crushes? Lol

Very interesting! Love the sound and visuals! I've heard that the usage of hair and make-up in Kpop was pretty inspired into vk bands of the 90s. Is that true?

Literally screaming

I'll quote it here if there's anyone interested. Tl;dr this guys is total edgelord level dressing-like-a-fucking-faggot-and-pretending-to-spread-hate-over-faggots. He doesn't even hit a single note for fucks sake!

I always liked the girl in sailorfuku theme, it's like the very key of their aesthetic and I feel it sums their concept very well. I've never could guess what you are talking about lol Then, homophobic tweets? That's even serious stuff. Do you have a proof of that?

Why would someone hate Mamo?

Could be, but 'Inside beast' isn't EVERYTHING the Gazette actually did or does.

The Gazette a rip-off? Well, I get that some people won't like them and that's ok, but saying that they are a mere 'rip-off' speaks of literally not having anything in your ears out of a massive necessity of identification with A so you need to hate B in order to love A. That said, whether liked or not, and although nobody can't deny that they still have their flops -in terms of uninspired works-, the Gazette actually DID their job and seated a precedent in a majority of the 'formula' that defines modern and also classic 'visual-kei' sound, visuals, lyrics, etc., like a few artists did. Same goes for X, Luna, Kuroyume, L'arc, Rouage, Laputa, Malice Mizer, Pierrot, Shazna, Dir, Nightmare, Mucc, Sid, baroque, Kagerou, Antic Cafe, Kagrra, Deluhi, Kiryu, Nocturnal Bloodlust, and a long -LONG- etc. including and every band that has some status of cult-following. Just stop hating freely and try to listen carefully to the artists that made the bands you like to happen. And if you don't want to, that's ok, but try not to sound pretentious. Hm.

Oof, that was close hehe

I'd love to watch it! Ganbatte!

An Cafe has actually had some teary 'last lives' instances in their history: Bou's last live, before-hiatus last live and now this. Such an emotionally-unstable band, he. I deeply admire how they struggled till the end to remain together and achieve big goals.