violetchain

Oh good, I'm glad they're not abandoning the older songs. Still kind of makes me smile to see a VK band using the word "Frenemy".

The song sounds cute so far, and the new look is nice. I'm not wild about the grey hair on Kakeru though. I feel like he needs a warmer colour to stand out.

GLAY, Psycho le Cemu, metronome, and I guess LIPHLICH and umbrella from the younger generation.

^Interesting, I didn't know that. I just remember enjoying the two SEX MACHINEGUNS songs I heard back in the day. ANGEL-TAKA mentioned that he had to convince the two of them to wear makeup for the MV, and I was kind of surprised because I thought I remembered ANCHANG wearing makeup before. Apparently not? Koki Tanaka, a former member of the boyband KAT-TUN. After he got kicked out of Johnny's he started a rock band called INKT with members of High and Mighty Color, and they used to play shows with a few VK bands like NOIZ and Jin-Machine for whatever reason.

Lol, I find the screams kind of charmingly awkward. The first one is pretty jarring though. When I first heard it I was like “wait, did he sound like that before?”

He posted a tweet recently saying that there was some abnormality with his blood, but he got checked out and there was nothing else strange (I think that's what it says, at least?), so hopefully this isn't because he's getting sicker. It seemed like he was pretty relieved by the results. Rega also mentioned getting fired up enough to want to celebrate when he heard the news, so it must have been a pretty good result?

That's too bad. I wasn't expecting them to last that long due to Yanagi's health, but it still feels pretty sudden. It seemed like they were really excited about where things were going with the new line-up.

I like it. I liked Hakubishin too though, so I guess I shouldn't be surprised.

I'm still kind of amazed by the randomness of this collab. I knew Koki was friends with NOIZ, but I didn't expect them to ever release something together. ANCHANG being on the track adds an extra layer of ridiculousness too. The makeup looks cute on them though. I'm hoping that this ends up inspiring Koki to join an actual band at some point instead of just sticking with this solo project thing he's doing. I love the guy, but the song samples he posted sounded pretty rough.

The video is here, since apparently Columbia doesn't allow embedding either. Darwin’s Train Music and Lyrics: Shingo Kanehiro Wait a minute, I’m jumping onto the train of this era If I do nothing, I’ll be mowed down by change It’s natural selection You’ve got to evolve The real me has already gone extinct Darwin, Darwin If you can mimic well, You’re going to adapt to your environment Darwin, Darwin I’ve gotta pass through this Today And this reality Wait a minute, Which one should I transfer to next? Lifestyles and ideologies – I’ve got my pick of both “Is it okay even if I’m weeded out? Huh?” The departure bell resounds I don’t know which one is right Darwin, Darwin Am I really adapting to my environment well? Darwin, Darwin At best, I’m a monkey* Why do I want to survive? Hierarchies have no meaning to me Am I fitting in? Am I not? How should I live? Only god knows the right answer Ah Darwin, Darwin Today as well, I’m practicing my mimicry Will I adapt to my surroundings? Darwin, Darwin Will I be able to survive? Even if I adapt to my surroundings, Darwin, Darwin I need to get through Today, And this reality I’m on Darwin’s train… Notes: *I’m not positive about this line DARWIN'S TRAIN Chotto matte Jidai no densha tobinoru Bootto shitecha Henka ni hikikorosareru Touta sarete shimau yo Shinka shite ikanakucha Hontou no jibun nante Mou zetsumetsushu de DARWIN DARWIN Umaku gitai shi Kankyou tekiou shite iku DARWIN DARWIN Koete ikanakya Kyou o Genjitsu o Chotto matte Tsugi dore norikaereba ii? RAIFU SUTAIRU Shisou mo yoridorimidori “Touta shitemo ii kai? Naa?” Hassha no BERU hibiku Dore ga seikai nante Sou wakarya shinai DARWIN DARWIN Umaku hontou ni Kankyou tekiou shite iru? DARWIN DARWIN Takadaka MONKII Nande Ikinobitai no? Kankei nai sa HIERARUKII Tekisha ka? Ina ka? Boku wa dou ikitekya ii no? Kami nomi zo shiru seikai Aa DARWIN DARWIN Kyou mo gitai shi Kankyou tekiou shite iku? DARWIN DARWIN Ikinobireru no? Kankyou tekiou shitatte DARWIN DARWIN Koete ikanakya Kyou o Genjitsu o I’M ON DARWIN’S TRAIN... Kanji: http://j-lyric.net/artist/a057922/l047eb5.html

I think I'm finally sold on NOISEMAKER?

I think the deal is that each member will post his individual artist photo alongside the picture with the rules on his own account, and if the total number of retweets for all of them put together reaches 500, then they will post the lyric video for a song that they revealed at their first pre-live that will also be featured on the mini-album. So no live footage or anything.

Still kind of amazed that my favourite Japanese actor and Kj suddenly decided to star in a movie and record a song together. Yousuke is apparently going to be in a thriller series being made for Netflix and BBC next year as well, so I'm pretty excited that I'll be able to see something new he's in with subtitles. Still need to get around to Silence as well, but it seems like it'll be a really heavy watch and I've heard mixed reviews, so I've been a bit nervous about checking it out.

I love emo SALU. I feel like I'm probably a bit off with some parts of this one though, so if you have any corrections please feel free to let me know. SKY TO DIE feat. SALU Lyrics: RYKEY, SALU Music: A-KAY The sky looks so far away The sky is too blue, and today I’ve started wanting to die The sky looks so far away The sky is too blue, and today I’ve started wanting to die [RYKEY] Today as well, my world is freedom I can’t make anyone else feel it, this freedom I’m just repeating the same days over and over Today as well, the flow of time is freedom* I don’t want to meet up with anyone I can't even answer the phone now Surely you’re doing better than me Hello Mr. President The sky looks so far away The sky is too blue, and today I’ve started wanting to die The sky looks so far away The sky is too blue, and today I’ve started wanting to die [SALU] In this town, everyone seems to be happy There's a Sunday farmer’s market Even if I chat with the driver a bit or something, it’s no use I get calls from my friends and have conversations about work But I can’t go back to the day I want to return to I’m searching for a reason to die, But I can’t betray you when you’re waiting for me Heaven and hell are both meaningless Like this, I'll head up to the top of that building Holding on tight to everything, I'll flap my wings I just want to be praised by that person** The sky looks so far away The sky is too blue, and today I’ve started wanting to die The sky looks so far away The sky is too blue, and today I’ve started wanting to die Notes: *, ** I’m not sure about these lines in particular SKY TO DIE feat. SALU Sora ga tooku ni mieru yo Sora ga ao-sugite kyou wa shinitaku naru yo Sora ga tooku ni mieru yo Sora ga ao-sugite kyou wa shinitaku naru yo [RYKEY] Ore no sekai wa kyou mo FURIIDAMU Dare ni mo sawarasenai kono FURIIDAMU Onaji hibi o tadatada kurikaesu Toki no nagare wa kyou mo FURIIDAMU Dare ni mo aitaku nai Ima wa denwa ni mo derarenai Kitto omae wa ore yori BETTER HELLO MR. PRESIDENT Sora ga tooku ni mieru yo Sora ga ao-sugite kyou wa shinitaku naru yo Sora ga tooku ni mieru yo Sora ga ao-sugite kyou wa shinitaku naru yo [SALU] Machi wa minna shiawase-sou de Nichiyou FAAMAAZU MAAKETTO Untenshu to sekenbanashi nanka shitetemo shikata nee Tomodachi kara denwa mo shigoto no hanashi Modoritai hi ni modorenai Shineru wake sagashiteru Dakedo matteru kimi wa uragirenai Tengoku mo jigoku mo kudaranee Kono mama ano BIRU o nobotte Subete dakishimeta mama de habataite Ano hito ni homeraretai tte dake Sora ga tooku ni mieru yo Sora ga ao-sugite kyou wa shinitaku naru yo Sora ga tooku ni mieru yo Sora ga ao-sugite kyou wa shinitaku naru yo Kanji: http://j-lyric.net/artist/a05d778/l043511.html

^The show I saw was at Anime North, so it was a fairly big audience that was super into him, but yeah I imagine his regular shows are way more awkward. Still, if you can see him for free or for cheap, it's a fun experience. I'd never heard of him before, and I went with three people who have little to no interest in Japanese music, but we all ended up enjoying it because of all the stage antics.

Just thought I'd mention this in case anyone hadn't heard and was interested in going. I know a lot of people look down on acts like HITT, and his music generally isn't that great (although I do love this song), but I saw him at my local convention when he came to Canada years ago and it still stands as one of the most entertaining concerts I've ever been to. He sang duets with recordings of himself, he brought out random props, he did choreography, he inexplicably pulled out a bass for like one song and barely played it, he wore Pikachu and Helly Kitty stickers over his nipples, and he spent the whole concert dramatically throwing his jacket off his shoulders. The guy is a showman, and he's really endearingly silly onstage. My friend is still down to see him again if he ever comes back. XD https://highfeel.jp/2018/06/20/hitt-back-to-europe/ Dates: 24 aug Lille (FR) | Bobble Café 25 aug Veldhoven (NL) | AbunaiCon 26 aug Liege (BE) | Le Garage 30 aug Cologne (DE) | Tsunami Club 31 aug Poznan (DE) | Pod Minoga 2 sep Paris (FR) | Abracadabar (Free entry)

^I'd call that short, even for Japan. I think even Noah from Avanchick is like 158 cm, and the guy is tiny.

I feel like it's probably not anything super thrilling, since it seems like they didn't bother to make new costumes for it. Well, assuming that that is Airo, I'm expecting a lot of this.

I think that's Lyubi in the middle and Airo from UNDER FALL JUSTICE on the right? Would make sense since those three always seem to be so close.

That's too bad, I actually really liked the name Hakubishin.

They really do show up all over the place. I mainly got into them because they do a lot of collabs with SALU, tbh. Although, I think the main reason they came to mind was actually because they namedrop THE BLUE HEARTS in that song, and KOHH also mentions them in one of his tracks, so I kind of linked them together in my head. It's funny that you mention KID FRESINO as well, since NENE, the female MC from Yurufuwa Gang, is featured on Arcades, the B-side for the video you linked. XD

Took a few listens to get used to the vocals, but it's pretty adorable. Dunno why they went with all black costumes for a song called "Hikari" though.