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paradoxal

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  1. Like
    paradoxal got a reaction from Tetora in Which concerts have you been to?   
    Not a very long list, because I didn't attend to every vk concert here in Finland, just the ones I liked.
     
    2006-11-26 D'espairsRay @ Helsinki, Tavastia
    2007-03-20 MUCC @ Helsinki, Tavastia
    2007-10-11 Moi dix Mois @ Helsinki, Tavastia
    2007-10-30 the GazettE @ Helsinki, Tavastia
    2007-11-04 Dir en grey @ Helsinki, Tavastia
    2008-03-31 Matenrou Opera & Versailles @ Helsinki, Tavastia
    2008-07-03 Miyavi @ Helsinki, Tavastia
    2008-08-18 Kagrra, @ Helsinki, Tavastia
    2008-10-12 exist†trace & Black:List @ Helsinki, Gloria
    2008-10-18 SINCREA & GARI @ Helsinki, Gloria
    2009-02-08 LM.C @ Helsinki, Gloria
    2009-07-25 D'espairsRay @ Helsinki, Nosturi
    2009-09-23 Miyavi @ Helsinki, Tavastia
    2009-10-18 vistlip @ Helsinki, Gloria
    2010-04-28 exist†trace @ Helsinki, Gloria
    2010-09-22 D'espairsRay @ Helsinki, Tavastia
    2011-01-20 -OZ- @ Helsinki, Gloria
    2013-09-29 the Gazette @ Helsinki, The Circus
    2013-12-15 EAT YOU ALIVE @ Helsinki, Gloria
    2014-03-16 Miyavi @ Helsinki, The Circus
    2014-04-11 ADAMS @ Helsinki, Gloria
    2014-04-18 heidi. @ Helsinki, Gloria
    --
    2014-09-06 Lycaon x BORN @ Helsinki, Gloria
    2014-09-15 sukekiyo @ Helsinki, Nosturi
  2. Like
    paradoxal reacted to togz in My Opinion on Nocturnal Bloodlust`s Recent Remarks and Actions against `Piracy`   
    I tried to avoid getting involved in this one, however just to simply state my understanding of how it works:

    I feel that overseas fans downloading music really doesn't effect their sales. (as stated quite a few times). As of right now, we're not really a target audience since money has not been spent to promote and distribute their goods. cds etc to overseas fans. The fact that some overseas fans even go out of their way to spend the money and buy a cd would be a bonus considering what was spent to only promote and distribute in Japan. Yes in the long run, cd and goods purchased in overseas countries will most certainly play a role in deciding a tour here or not. I don't see a bunch of uploads coming from sources in Japan, they're usually uploaded and shared through overseas fans anyway.

    The one thing that annoys me most is the fact that people still pull the whole. "Well if you love the band so much you'll find a way to purchase their stuff." 
    I'd like to address the fact that a large percentage of people in to visual kei overseas are teenagers who don't have the means to even buy themselves their own shampoo let alone a $40 album. Plus from personal experience, I could love a band as much as i want to but if it's between keeping my water on or making sure I have gas money to get to work and buying a cd... hell, sorry for being responsible but i'm going to choose to pay my bills. I won't have a damn thing to play that cd on if my electricity gets shut off. but at least it will look nice on the shelf. 

    Another thing that was brought up was the numbers that fill the live houses this band plays at. I don't listen to Nocturnal Bloodlust so i don't have a solid opinion of their style. Regardless, whether people are downloading or not, if they like the band and have the money and are able to go see them, they'll go. Whether it be promotion and marketing, or the band just not really hitting home with their style choices... overseas downloads do not play a part in how successful they are in their own country. 

    I'm not saying downloading music illegally is all A+ okay now, no. Every artist deserves the support and i can understand. I'd be pissed off too if someone started handing out something I spent a shit ton of money on and hard work and efforts to make to just anyone. I'd feel under appreciated for the amount of people who claim to like it. But it should be common sense with the way the industry is and how file sharing has been for YEARS before NB even formed. 

    File sharing is and always will be there, so they need a game change because as stated somewhat before... NB has 99 problems and file sharing ain't one of them.
  3. Like
    paradoxal got a reaction from Mihenno in Royz new album "CORE" release   
    Oooh the new song sounds so good even though the quality is really shitty! Can't wait for the album to be published.
  4. Like
    paradoxal reacted to Flash-Fab-Supernova in Show Yourself (again)   
  5. Like
    paradoxal reacted to PumpkinPatches in My Opinion on Nocturnal Bloodlust`s Recent Remarks and Actions against `Piracy`   
    Sorry. I wrote a 60 page thesis on visual kei marketing to the 'bangya culture' for my international business degree. I'm trying to be as concise as possible. I suck at it.
  6. Like
    paradoxal reacted to PumpkinPatches in My Opinion on Nocturnal Bloodlust`s Recent Remarks and Actions against `Piracy`   
    I think you have some good points, but I still disagree with a vast majority of your ideas.
     
    1. I never stated that I believed it to be possible for Nocturnal Bloodlust to tour any country other than Japan at the moment. That isn't a feasible option at the moment, because you are correct: They aren't big enough. However, that does not mean that the option of touring abroad isn't something the band is thinking about on a pretty real level. HOwever, before any band has the opportunity to tour (or even play a single show abroad) they need to worry about the financial aspect. And you're right; they aren't making enough sales at the moment, but I would state that they certainly have a growing fansbase. Maybe not this year or next year, but if they continue on their current path, I don't understand why it is so difficult to believe they could potentially go abroad.
     
    We have bands like "BLOOD" and "LOKA" and even "The Sound Bee HD" that went on tour in a foreign countries, and I would go out of my way to state that their success had more to do with supply and demand that the music itself. We had very small bands being supplied by eager promoters (with less influence of management because they were small) and a high enough demand for 'visual kei' bands to supply a small band and give them the opportunity to tour. Now, take a band that has a bigger following (from the influx of forign followers on twitter, facebook, and the overall hype with most foreign fans to this band) and I would state there is a high possibility of roi. However, this is where management sees lack of sales abroad, and not the people. We know the fans exist, the management does not. And, given time, I would state that the band would grow in popularity and would be more feasible for a tour of some sort. However, management does not see that option.
     
    Let's also be honest: at a lot of visual kei lives abroad, it has nothing to do with the band. That's sad, but it's true. It's very common for fans of visual kei to go to visual kei lives abroad because they are visual kei. That's, unfortunately, the sad state of the foriegn visual kei fandom.
     
    Youre 100% right in stating that the current industry is flawed. That is why I think it is important to work with the industry and show that it is an viable option to reach out to a broader, more international audience. But because they don't have the demand,  they're not going to supply. 
     
    As for Nocturnal Bloodlust and the 'art' of popular music, I would state that you're partially correct. You're correct in that Nocturnal Bloodlust changed their style. That's on them, fine. (I think this band and visual kei do not mix well, I'll admit that) But saying they don't have the market may be going a bit too far. I would state that interest in them is high enough for us to be debating the finer points of illegal downloading, of the numbers of people downloading and checking them out, or even youtube hits to at least be a slight measure on market potential. 
     
    That's really what it seems we're debating about: Potential. Potential for sales, potential for international involvement, potential for money-making. 
     
    I don't think the band is failing. I don't see that happening, because they just announced a new tour (in larger venues), a new album, they hit between 1-5 with all their latest releases on the indies oricon chart, and they have a lot of attention on them right now. This isn't about the band failing, because they're doing just fine in the domestic market. The issue is they are losing sales and selling opportunities abroad. They're losing in the international market not because the interest isn't there, but because it's easier and free to just illegally download. And, as I've previously stated, you're not going to get what you want until you have an active voice in the market. Continue to illegally download, and you're never going to get a voice.
     
    I am not passing moral judgment on those who illegally download, but I think your reasoning is flawed in a business perspective. Because it obviously does affect the market enough for the band to actually say something about it, because they do want to branch out internationally. And they're not going to when they don't see any money in it. It's music business for a reason.
  7. Like
    paradoxal reacted to Peace Heavy mk II in Orange is the New Black (Netflix series)   
    I've seen a few episodes in passing, but never watched the series on my own (and would like to). It seems to be an interesting storyline and very progressive in terms of characters, which I believe is where a lot of the popularity and hype lies.
  8. Like
    paradoxal reacted to Furik in My Opinion on Nocturnal Bloodlust`s Recent Remarks and Actions against `Piracy`   
    OT: I don't have any input into this discussion but I do have to say this is one of the most intelligent and well-debated conversations I've seen on MH in a long time without any chaotic slandering towards one another.
  9. Like
    paradoxal reacted to relentless in My Opinion on Nocturnal Bloodlust`s Recent Remarks and Actions against `Piracy`   
    Two things I'd like to mention in regards to this post:
     
     
    1. In regards to your comment ("but to be fair, fans have been able to find rare and hard-to-find stuff from obscure bands for years prior to MP3s and filesharing") -- the keyword here is "been able to find rare and hard-to-find stuff", which has to do with scarce product. There simply weren't many ways to find out about these VK bands, and the goods available were even more scarce than the resources of finding out about them. Tell me, in those days when people found these tapes did any of the bigger name VK bands: 1. Tour the States (or Europe) because of these second-hand sales? and 2. Did these bands profit from said second-hand purchases? The answer to both is no. Yes, people "found a way" to get music; but not only was this a fractional minority, it was one that had next to 0 impact on those bands at that time. Also note that the world has vastly changed since this time and those that actually went out looking for these tapes back in the "80's and 90's" were the select few that were passionate enough about the music to want to look in length for the music. Your average consumer (the ones that ultimately drive a majority of the sales) were not prepared to do this.
     
     
    2. In regards to your comment ("most bands are stunned when they realize how popular they are abroad, because they just don't know. They actually have no idea how many fans they have abroad") - this is incredibly misleading because you're assuming a level of popularity that may or may not be there. Judging from venue size played in Japan by NB (650-700 person venues) not only is this ridiculous projection; but it could be an incredibly optimistic one as well. You have constantly mentioned that you are specifically talking about VK whenever someone brings up Western bands, so let's stick with Nocturnal Bloodlust that play in small clubs. Do you think that Nocturnal Bloodlust have a larger fanbase outside of Japan? Compare their fanbase with any 1 country (if you can) and let me know what you find. Could Nocturnal Bloodlust do a headlining tour of the US? The answer is no.
     
     
     
    This hits on a greater point that I have been keeping note of. Any excuse can be presented to try and explain Piracy and its impact on Nocturnal Bloodlust; but based off of observation, that should be the last of their worries. Yes, music is TECHNICALLY a privilege. Since a family member of yours (Mother I believe? Sister? I forget, sorry) performs in Opera, I'm sure you could relate to the concept that music is art that we have the privilege to appreciate on higher levels (as Classical music is the very essence of this notion); but in regards to Pop music, this becomes less so when the primary drive for these bands (and yes, lesser bands such as Nocturnal Bloodlust as well) is marketability. For example: Nocturnal Bloodlust, seeking to make changes to their lack of popularity, didn't change the music they're writing; but instead changed their image....for marketability. Did piracy make Nocturnal Bloodlust change their image? No. Their music and lack of interest in regards to their music did -- for marketability.
     
     
     
    Now, is this a failing of the consumer, or band? Is the consumer responsible for Nocturnal Bloodlust playing 600 person club shows, or is this the band's fault? It's self evident when you consider the reasoning above that piracy is not the main reason; but a lack of interest in the overall product. As I'm sure you know in the appreciation of Opera, if the role of The Queen of the Night in Mozart's Die Zauberflöte  can not perform the demanding falsettos required, people will not attend the performances due to the poor performance of the singer. This is the same with Pop (Popular) music: If people do not have any interest in a band, they will not attend their concerts, and thus the band will be playing to fewer and fewer people (in Popular music this can end a band/group/solo artist).
     
     
     
    In sum: Due to your misleading "facts" and narrow interpretations, you are not seeing the entire picture here. Sure piracy has SOME impact on the archaic model of record labels (due to the very design of the old ways clashing with the new); but it can not be cited as the reason for a band's failings, especially when they have 99 other problems to worry about.
  10. Like
    paradoxal reacted to PumpkinPatches in My Opinion on Nocturnal Bloodlust`s Recent Remarks and Actions against `Piracy`   
    It seems everyone else who has read and commented had an okay time understanding my response. You didn't, so I'm sorry I wasn't completely clarifying.
     
    This topic is about fans and their purchasing habits, and the fact that a band has a right to state their opinions on illegal downloading. 
    To begin:
     
    As stated, the international market does directly influence the band's sales, particularly when many of these fans consider the music and band important enough to follow and request that the band visits their countries. International sales are vital if you want the band in question to take part in an expensive expedition abroad.  In addition, fans complain when bands they enjoy disband, even when it is in regards to funds, yet do not purchase music. 

    The sales of even 10% of people who illegally download would have a massive affect upon the visual kei industry, which is already considered small and niche.
     
    Because we're talking about visual kei, not western music. If anyone wants to know how much it sucks being the child of a starving artist, go ahead and send me a pm. 

    The point of the matter is this: Visual kei is an expensive industry to be a musician. Sales are important to a band, because it directly influences the amount of industry attention they receive, as well as sponsorships, promotions, and in the end, money. The purchase of music is vital to keeping the industry alive. And yes, foreign fans are important to that, considering how numerous they are, and how very little they spend.
     
     

     
     
    You're correct in one way, but I overall disagree with this sentiment because we live in an international economy. The act of 1000 fans illegally downloading a cd in Chile can hurt a band, by taking away that 10% of fans who would have purchased the cd otherwise. If international fans want to be considered a part of this industry (and considering how often people tweet, tumbl, write on facebook walls or write on boards like this) they need to become part of the financial aspects of the industry. That is how entertainment works. The Japanese domestic market listens to the Japanese people. The international fans want to be listened to--how do you get the domestic market to pay attention other than money?
     
    I disagree with this completely. 
     
    The band is very obviously attracting fans, but the fans are the issue. The fans are unwilling to spend money, for a variety of reasons. The issue begins with the fan. The fan (gathered from the variety of posts on this thread) don't believe they are responsible for purchasing music. They believe that because they do not have the money, they are still deserving of music, as if it were water. Music is not a right. It is not a 'need'. It is a want. And, if a fan is willing to illegally download music, then they are the problem. Their way of thinking is the problem.
     
    Everyone is enjoying making excuses: "It's too expensive." "The quality isn't good enough!" "I don't have the money." "I deserve music." This is the problem. No band owes their fans free music.  
    The solution is that the band and industry work with the foreign fanbase to create a method where fans can purchase music and be a part of the industry, rather than a leech sucking potential sales from the industry. Someone on this thread pointed out that a lot of fans purchase singles, but already have them from illegal downloads. The industry needs to make a product that is attractive, but even with the most amazing products.... nothing will matter until the fans change their perception of their influence.
     
    And I thought this was going to go bad not because of my response, but because it seems most of you are pro illegal-downloading. That in itself is scary enough.
  11. Like
    paradoxal reacted to PumpkinPatches in My Opinion on Nocturnal Bloodlust`s Recent Remarks and Actions against `Piracy`   
    I'm sorry you don't like the way I presented my points. 
     
    Let me be more concise.

    1. Illegal downloading is still illegal.
    2. Making music, playing concerts, and promotion cost money that the band and their management pays.
    3. This money and promotion comes from cds.
    4. Bands won't go to the US/EU/South America if they can't see sales.
    ???
     Result: No sales? No band for you.
     
     
    You don't have to like the bands, but this goes for any visual kei band. And we're talking about visual kei bands right now, which is why I didn't bring up other musical genres. So, you're not really making any valid points.
  12. Like
    paradoxal reacted to PumpkinPatches in My Opinion on Nocturnal Bloodlust`s Recent Remarks and Actions against `Piracy`   
    I'm sure I'm going to get shit for this.
     
    Let's begin with a simple concept: Illegal downloading is illegal. This is not a moral statement, this is just a fact. More importantly, those who host copywritten materials are actually breaking more laws than those who download songs. This is not a debatable fact. Now, are the current modes of selling CDs and other music outdated? Yes, they are. Are there issues with a international-based way of purchasing music? Yes, that's undeniable. But is it illegal at this moment to take music that you did not create? Yes.
     
    So, legally, Nocturnal Bloodlust does have a right to state that it is wrong for people to illegally download their music. So, they do have a right to say what they want, even if we disagree with it. Can they sue? Yeah, they can. Will they? Probably not, because I'm pretty sure they wanted to prove a point more than anything. Should they? Honestly, I don't think so, but it would definitely help bring changes to the way we see illegal downloading. Bands going after illegal downloading doesn't happen very much... and for a Japanese visual kei band to go against a foreign fanbase? Pretty much unheard of.
     
    Now we get into the rest... like moral dilemmas.
     
    But before we get there, it's important to cover what a CD sale (or MP3 sale) actually means. 
     
    You're correct to assume that a CD sale does not go to the artist directly. Typically, the money goes to the label, and a portion of that income goes the the musician themselves. The label typically pays for the production of music (time at the studio, audio and visual equipment, artwork, mixing, raw production materials like CDs, jacket covers, etc.), the purchase of raw materials for the band itself (make up, costumes, equipment vans, sometimes actual equipment, etc.) the production of memorabilia and other goods, travel, food, airfare, payment of their staff (I'm not sure, but last time I saw Nocturnal Bloodlust they had three permanent staff. Their roadie, and two people from management) as well as payment for space at lives. 
     
    In regards to the 'lives' payment, visual kei venues require you pay at the end of the night, after performing. It's not unheard of for small/medium venues to cost between ¥150000-¥500000 ($1500-5000) and you damn well better prepare to have that money on hand. At Taibans, yeah. It's split between the acts, but even then, that means you need to sell a lot of tickets. Why do you think a lot of band members sell at their own tables? Fans are far more willing to pay money to their favorite member than to a staff member... who'd have to be paid as well. 
     
    I once saw an indies band back in 2012 at EDGE and then accidentally met their guitarist at Ikebukuro Station. He was actually debating on whether he should eat a bowl of ramen or walk the 4 kilometers home, because they were short that night and he had to give all the money he had in his wallet except for a ¥500 coin. I bought the guy a ramen cup because it was just so depressing. Bad nights happen, and if you don't have the money, don't be surprised if you have to actually dig it out of your own funds.
     
    Then again, I lived across the street from 7-11 where a super indies bandman worked nights. Because most indies band members have to have two, sometimes three jobs. Hell, Natsu of Nocturnal Bloodlust worked in a 7-11 for a long time to pay for his band activities.
     
    Being in a visual kei band is expensive. So, while sales don't go straight into the member's pockets, you can bet that they're just as important for the band to survive. A band can't make or sell music if they don't have the money to play or even record. 
     
    I'll also put here that there is always complaining when a band disbands on here-- I've seen it time and time again people saying it isn't fair that an indies band disbanded, that they were such a huge fan of the music. But it never seems that we actually talk about why they disbanded. "They're not selling tickets or cds" is a good reason. In fact, one of the first comments on here was about how bands just conditionally disband if they're not doing well. We think that's stupid (or at least I do) but then when a band takes it into their own hands to say something about why people shouldn't illegally download their music, people throw a hissyfit. I don't understand the logic. If you want a band to survive, you buy the music. Because supporting the band you enjoy doesn't mean you make a few gifs and put them on tumblr, or draw fanart. We live in a time where, for musicians to thrive and actually continue with their activities, they need money.
     
    Then you have to factor in the importance of selling CDs in a less understood way. Every time a sale of a cd is made, it shows the interest in the band. In Japan, charts are still important to knowing where a band stands. The better your sales doesn't just mean how many cds you sold, it directly effects how much advertising your next single or album receives. It can mean the difference between your video getting played on repeat on the tvs in Tower Records or getting shoved in with all the other releases. It directly reflects how many interviews the band receives offers from, how many spots they get on television, how many radio stations play the songs. We're not going to get into super big details in regards to marketing of visual kei, but it is extremely temperamental to the wants of the market.   
     
    And here's where things get interesting: Visual kei isn't as popular as you would think. This is still a niche market not with an unlimited amount of funds, space, or attention. In an industry like that, you have to understand what it means for a band to lose out on a 'sale'. Even a handful of sales abroad DO matter to a band that's fighting for recognition.
     
    Let's also talk about people requesting that a band travel abroad to play lives for foreign audiences. I don't think msot of you realize how expensive that is-- it's obscene. Let's talk about a 'normal' tour (like Dir en Grey, or D'espairsray for a second.) 
     
    If a band wants to play in the US, they actually have to compete for visas. They have to prove the worth of their music and show that they are not going to affect the American music industry negatively. To get an entertainment or artist visa in the US, it's piles and piles and piles of paperwork, because the US goes out of its way to protect their music industry. The fees for getting a band to tour art astronomical on their own, but to tour the US? It's horrifying. That's actually why a lot of bands skip over the US and play in Europe. The visa requirements are far less stringent and it's cheaper.
     
    This is why a lot of bands end up playing at conventions. It's typically cheaper for the band, because the convention has people who know the laws and are willing to pay the fees required. However, it isn't unheard of for bands to play on the promise of being paid when they arrive... and never getting paid. Or, not making the money they expected and being unable to recoup that money. And, during that time they're abroad, they aren't playing for their core audience, meaning... they're missing out on that much money. 
     
    It's amazing how many times I've gone onto official youtube channels and seen the requests for a band to go abroad... and then see those same names pop up in filesharing places. Because guess what? The band sees that, too. They're tech savvy. They know where they're selling cds. They know where they're not selling cds. So, by looking at that, they can tell that they aren't selling enough in Europe, in the states, or wherever they are getting requests for lives from. And you know what that does? That influences the band against going abroad. They see that their cds aren't selling in that area, so they don't believe they would be able to recoup the money they spent on going abroad. They don't believe enough fans exist to pay for their visits. 
     
    Illegal downloading is directly affecting who you get to see go on tour abroad. 
     
    So while we can debate over how big of an asshole Masa is for saying that illegal downloading is wrong, you have to understand where they're coming from. It isn't unheard of for labels to drop bands for not making sales, no matter how great the music is or how talented the band is. 
     
    I'm also stunned by the sheer amount of self-righteousness and entitlement going on in this thread. No one is entitled to free music.
     
    There are 'needs' and 'wants'. Needs are things like water, food, shelter. Wants are internet, computers, music made by men who are wearing ten pounds of makeup and are waving around guitars. 
     
    You want the music. You will survive without it. I'm not sure of the ages of anyone on this board, but I will say this: I had that same opinion until I actually had to pay for my own bills.
     
    Before I became an adult. 
     
    Now, let's talk about Nocturnal Bloodlust themselves for a second. 
     
    This is the closest thing foreign fans have gotten to an internationally-minded band in a very long time. They make sure their music is available for fans abroad, two of the members are fluent in English and regularly converse with fans, and they have been going out of their way to bring foreign fans into the fold. They even made it so foreign fans could become members of their fanclub. They want to go abroad. And let's remember how a band can find it viable to go abro--oh. Right CD sales in foreign countries, not the number of requests a band receives.
     
    In addition... they run their label pretty much on their own. All of the costs? They pay for them. Iris and Crisis is Nocturnal Bloodlust's label. They have connections to Raiz Entertainment (their old label) which has connections through the industry... but for the most part, they're the people who have to pay for everything. We can debate on if they should have gotten into visual kei until the cows come home, but the fact of the matter is: Shit is expensive. 
     
    'Fans' are also pissed off because they got called out on it. The band knows people are illegally downloading, and brought it up. They want to talk about the problem. It isn't even the first time the band's done this--they did it last year, and the year before that when they released Ivy. Now, rather than having a discussion about illegal downloading and what the foreign fans want... people railed against him. They said he was overbearing and an asshole, and that he didn't have a right to speak out about illegal downloading. That's not the conversation they need.
     
    If you want to have a conversation with the band about how to better market themselves to foreign fans, do it! I think it would be a good idea if they opened an international webstore where fans could buy goods and CDs. A way of buying songs off their website that are bundled with lossless versions and photos. Add special goodies for people who buy mp3 versions. It's cheaper to buy the versions of all their releases off itunes in USD than it is for Japan (example, their newest single costs ¥250 a song but in USD is only $1.29.) This is also a band that makes sure the cds are available within a week of their release in Japan, because they understand that once the cd is out there... they're not going to sell as many copies. But even a few matter. 
     
     I think it would be great if they tried to use more English and worked to try and make themselves more internationally minded. Rather than getting angry that the band is mad at foreign fans for illegally downloading, make it so the band knows what you want. And you'll buy.
     
    There will be people who continue to illegally download. That won't change. People who think they somehow deserve music and the work of other people. People who think they're entitled to music (the reason I can't even begin to imagine.) And there's nothing any of us can do about that. But buying a cd or MP3 will at least show the band where fans are, and will make your voice heard.
     
    And this isn't just for this one band. This is for any band with a huge foreign following. Most bands are ignorant of how popular they are in foreign countries, because they just don't sell many cds in those areas, so they don't know. What you have to do, as fans of a band, is be loud about your love for a band. Otherwise... this will just happen time and time again.
  13. Like
    paradoxal got a reaction from togz in Orange is the New Black (Netflix series)   
    I feel SO MAD AT THAT BITCH, my rage is beyond imagination. But still I think the actress is super hot.
     
    Somehow this series makes me feel really uncomfortable when I'm watching it. Things like what happened S02E01 are so terrible you can't even imagine it because I can really identify with all the characters. Even the thought of being in a prison gives me such anxiety but still I can't stop watching this series...
     
    A kind request: PLEASE PUT SPOILERS UNDER [ spoiler ] [ /spoiler ] codes. I really don't want to get spoiled in here :< Not everyone can watch the newest season in one day and some haven't even watched the whole first season.
  14. Like
    paradoxal reacted to Tetora in Tetora`s Sketches.   
    Hello,
     
    These are some of my favorite sketches that I always keep around for motivation / inspiration. I don`t set out to draw anything anime / manga styled, but this is how I see things and how things come out when I just draw people. I have studied realistic styles, and anatomy when I was young, but now I like to play around and make things different, like different faces, wide shoulders, slim waists, etc... None of these are `finished` drawings, I just sketch for five minutes or less until I get the outline of what I want.
     
    I have not drawn much in a while because I have many other things to do, hopefully posting these motivates me to get back to doing another thing I love.
     

     

     

     

     

     

     
    But most of all I just hope you enjoy looking, I share because I see many great creators here and enjoy seeing your stuff as well.
  15. Like
    paradoxal got a reaction from togz in Orange is the New Black (Netflix series)   
    I watched the first season in like 3 days or sth because I was sick at home and had nothing to do. It's a great series though, I really enjoyed the first season. Yesterday I watched S02E01 and I'm really shocked at the ending of it. BITCH IT WAS YOUR FUCKING IDEA.
  16. Like
    paradoxal got a reaction from Yukami in Royz new album "CORE" release   
    Oooh the new song sounds so great! Thank you Yukami for linking the preview!
  17. Like
    paradoxal reacted to Yukami in Royz new album "CORE" release   
  18. Like
    paradoxal reacted to colorful人生 in Show Yourself (again)   
    I haven't taken a picture of myself in a while >_>... Filters ahoy! 
     

  19. Like
    paradoxal got a reaction from sugibo in アルルカン(arlequin) new maxi single "墓穴(hakaana)" release   
    album arts revealed!
     

     

     

     
     
     
    I think the album arts are very pretty and I will preorder the singles asap. I really love everything they've released (except for 胸の内側に宿る息 maybe) so I'm pretty sure I'll love these as well.
  20. Like
    paradoxal reacted to Flash-Fab-Supernova in Visual Kei FEVER - VK radio station launched   
    Who needs radio?
  21. Like
    paradoxal reacted to Trombe in アルルカン(arlequin) new maxi single "墓穴(hakaana)" release   
    アルルカン(arlequin) new maxi single "墓穴(hakaana)" will be released at 2014/07/30 (3 TYPE)
     
    TYPE A (1,944yen) will include CD+DVD (including "墓穴(hakaana)" PV), TYPE B (1,944yen) will include CD+DVD (including 4 live songs from their one-man live "Slip over the EDGE" at Ikebukuro EDGE at 2014/03/15), and TYPE C (1,620yen) will include CD only
     
    [CD track list]
    01.墓穴(hakaana)
    02.Apotosis
    03.リビドー(libido) (included in TYPE C)
     
     
    btw they will hold their one-man live "道連れ。(michidure)" at TSUTAYA O-West at 2014/10/19 and their one-man live "カルぺ・ディエム(carpe diem)" at LIQUIDROOM ebisu at 2015/01/18
  22. Like
    paradoxal reacted to Kles in Show Yourself (again)   
    New hair
  23. Like
    paradoxal reacted to sai in Saw-wielding man attacks Japan girl group AKB48   
    Not to mention that thing that happened last week with that kid in Santa Barbara who killed 6 people because he couldn't get laid. He even made a (really creepy) video about how the day would be his "day of retribution" and he was also part of the Men's Rights Activist group online. He felt like women OWED him sex because he was nice to them. The MRA isn't just for jokes anymore, it's actually killing people. The worst feminism does is make white teenage boys angry on the internet, jfc.
     
    The major press seems to be trying to push the whole misogyny issue to the background by saying he was "mentally ill" and that this is the reason why he did what he did. I won't deny the kid must've had some sort of illness but that doesn't change the fact that the action was fuelled by misogyny/hate for women. It's funny how people only tend to recognize mental illness as an actual legit thing when they're doing it to protect a white guy.
     
    Terribly sorry for going off-topic, but since we're talking misogyny anyway...I hope the girls get well soon and I hope they'll get all the medical and mental care they need to let this go.
  24. Like
    paradoxal reacted to Senedjem in Saw-wielding man attacks Japan girl group AKB48   
    not all men
  25. Like
    paradoxal reacted to Jigsaw9 in Saw-wielding man attacks Japan girl group AKB48   
    I guess nobody . . . saw it coming.
     
    I'm terrible, sorry.
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