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Umi_Niwa

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Posts posted by Umi_Niwa

  2. Posted

    Kiyoharu without makeup (no surprises) and in his casual clothes + one of his daughters

    https://fbcdn-sphotos-d-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-prn1/945354_451258231632194_451496008_n.jpg (2005-ish I suppose)

     

    Kinda cute. Also:

     

    Kuroyume's ~first lineup~ a.k.a Hitoki, Kiyoharu and Shin backstage (during one of Kuroyume's comeback gigs, 6/2012)

    https://fbcdn-sphotos-e-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash3/577154_283796148378404_983437895_n.jpg

     

    I suppose fans have seen both of these :)

    I love that pic of him with his daughter. So adorable ♥

     

  3. Posted

    Not meaning to be butthurt or anything but are you familiar with the fact that Kiryu is neo japanesque band? Their whole concept revolves around being traditional. I don't think THAT has been done to death, meaning there haven't been many neo japanesque bands out there. I can name... three from VK scene. There are more cheap Dir en grey copies out there than bands who actually carry out traditional look and concept throughout their whole career. 

    Isn't that something Miyavi started? Maybe not, but I still don't like it.  You know, we all have different tastes, that's cool.

     

    I do like Fukusuke though. He's so cool :D

  4. Posted

    I agree with Arithmetica. Sure, there have been tons of bad PVs back in the day as well... I'd say the difference in awfullness lies in the technology. In the 80s and 90s the crappiness was thanks to low-budget, lack of talent and the movie being shot with a cheap cam. Today the equipment may be better- but an overdose of CGI and computer effects can ruin it and make the video look cheap too.

     

    I like D's PVs for being a good example what good PVs are made of: great scenery, lovely details and great costumes. Most of their PVs tell stories as well so it's not just the band posing around. I could compare D to Kiryu too considering that most of their PVs or outfits are colourful (maybe not as vivid and flashy as Kiryu's). I really like the way they work with different concepts with both music, video and the visuals (clothes). In my opinion that's what visual kei originally was all about and when a band fails at that their PVs might not be so interesting (at least to me).

     

     

    I totally agree with anyone who says Dir en grey's PVs are fantastic. Though I can't really get myself into the music videos they have been producing a while... I don't know why, but their recent PVs didn't fascinate me as much as their older ones did.

    You're right though, when it comes down to it basically visual kei is more about visuals than content, so it would be too much to expect of everybody to make the videos that I'd like to see. And the bands that stand out are not purely visual kei. You'd think that with all today's technology it would inspire something really creative. But today's trend in the genre seems to be to focus on showing the band's "style" and for that a bunch of closeups, camera pans and in-out of focus manipulations will do perfectly fine. Although to be honest it's not only the fault of visual kei. In short- nothing will compare to Michael Jackson :P

  5. Posted

    Exactly!

     

    Also D does have some great videos, I think my favourite would be Der Konig der Dunkelheit. The rose scenes are the best but I think the PV was one of their best to tell the story of that song. Asagi's dancing is pretty dorky though but that's okay :E

     

    http://youtu.be/zf0w16UZf6o

    Lol, first of all I want to say that the Japanese traditional theme has been done to death (yeah I know it's legit but still). And while in D's case it may have been impressive, in Kiryu's case I find it pretty cheap looking. And gawd someone must've been on crack while doing that video XD

    And no, not all old visual kei bands have good pvs, there are a lot of crappy ones. Often going well with the crappines of the music.

    That D video you posted is kinda hilarious. I can't say I'm wowed because most of their videos are made in this manner. And I'm kinda bored with all that Asagi/random member interaction. I can read a fanfic and have some better action. The only ones I was actually impressed with were Ouka saki some in keri and  Kuon. With the latter I'm kinda disappointed because I expected more action for such a dramatic song. But the theme was beaufitul. 

     

  6. Posted · Edited by Umi_Niwa

    As long as this is not met00l and is more like Lareine stuff I'm totally in.

    I kinda hated his voice in Lareine actually but it was still better than Versailles imo. There were at least a few non-pretentious songs you can easily listen to without all that vampire crap. Honestly it's getting old. Anyway I'm curious to hear what he does.

    Judging by the preview it looks like he's not dropping his vampire act yet. Nice pairing btw, lol.

  7. Posted

    Continuing with more eye-candy stuff:

     

    Merry - Fukurou (2013)

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_1aCWplz2KI

    Fits well with song's theme

     

    Buck-Tick - Sabbat (1990)

    As with previous one, "gloomy castle/house and goth meetings"-theme and song go along pretty well :)

     

    Dir en grey - Akuro no Oka (1999)

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M9UCPliVQBw

    "The Hill of Acropolis" and scenes of band performing in Acropolis, sweet. (Correct me if I am wrong in terms of shooting place)

     

    Dir en grey - Ain't Afraid to Die (2001)

    Beautiful PV, beautiful theme

     

    Also, when it comes to Penicillin - as much as I despise their current "vk overuse of green screen effects" fad, I love some of their "'MURRIKAH" ventures back in the 90s (1997 to be exact, 1995 PVs are sort of...weird?)

     

    Penicillin - Ippasu Atero (1997)

    Basic 90s hip-hop "pimp" elements and VK aesthetics collide together = ???

     

    Penicillin - Yoru wo Buttobase (1997)

    http://www.nicozon.net/watch/sm16738490

    Low quality-ish but you get it either way

    Akuro no Oka is epic, though I wish there was more going on plot-wise but I love how literally dark it is. Didn't know there was a video for it. Thanks for sharing! :) I was in that place about eight years ago :P

    And Merry as wild and aggressive as usual XD

    I'll watch Penicillin later.

  8. Posted

    Dir En Grey indeed made some awesome pvs.

     

     

    Kodou is one of my favorites. I'm not a fan of the gory stuff but videos like this leave an impact. I think it fits the song lyrics well. Definitely needs to be watched fullscreen. I think it's one of Diru's best.


     

    I never bothered to read the lyrics but they are beautiful, the video is kinda messy but I like it.


    Yokan and The Final pvs are conveying the message well.
     

  13. Posted

    One more favorite of mine is Lacryma Chirsti. I absolutely love their visual era that was revolving around mysticism. But also after they dropped the visuals and played more of a mainstream rock.  I kinda like it how there are no screaming and growling in any of their songs (at least to my knowledge). That sets them apart for me, along with Luna Sea, Laruku and Janne Da Arc.




     


     

  14. Posted

    Ever since I got introduced to visuals, I've always thought that PVs should "strengthen" the message of specific song or have somewhat related elements in them. In my case, "landscape /wandering PVs" are those I usually love/like.

     

    (listing below)

     

    Also, travelling PVs inspire me alot (Guniw, Glay and Hyde/Kiyoharu in general have good "cruising" PVs or so)

     

    Doesn't mean I -would- mind "be-pretty-pretend-you're-playing" aesthetics, since that's "the thing" of music videos for decades...


    My thought exactly. Luna Sea had made some great music videos throughout their career. I really like "Mother". It's very touching and sad. But I also like some newer ones, such as these:


     

    I saw Gravity some years ago and it really impressed me, I was even inspired to create a digital painting by it. I love the eerie atmosphere and the setting. 

     


    Also like this one for "In Silence". It has alot of "posing and showing off your fucking cool" XD  Unlike the new VK it was actually interesting to look at them.
     

    I've never seen that Laruku video, it's also effin cooi.  I love these videos with an ethnic kind of setting and little stories going on. Will go to my favorites from now on 8-D
    But this one is a work of art in my opinion ♥  Even if something like this was done before I think it's brilliant. Fits the mood of the song perfectly.

    http://vimeo.com/39512350

     

     

    Yay for lots of naked people, lol. Looks like it was banned on Youtube.
     

  17. Posted

    There is very little originality when it comes to pvs, especially in Visual Kei. Mostly focusing around the band playing the song, with little else going on (though I'm sure there are those who disagree with me :P). Although sometimes nothing else is necessary, but I do appreciate those bands who also think of some plot line in their videos. And those are pretty rare. So I wanted to ask you guys to share if you've seen anything interesting. 

    I kinda like Golden Bomber videos, as silly as they are (or because of that) XD   

     

     

    Maybe it's not in the 'serious' music category but you get my point.



    There are a few other bands that I enjoy watching their videos such as Malice Mizer or Psycho Le Cemu, or Kagrra and MUCC. 

  25. Posted

    Hurt MEJIBRAY / Heal Dir En Grey

     

    Nightmare - 8
    Royz - 16
    Lustknot - 11
    The GazettE - 10
    [_Vani;lla] - 10
    Lycaon - 10
    Capella - 2
    SPYAIR - 10
    MEJIBRAY - 7
    Diaura - 10
    Dir en grey - 11
    Kagrra, - 10

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