hiroki 5521 Posted May 2, 2014 I haven't seen a thread like this, so here goes. For me, one of the biggest attractions in VK is the quality of their ballads. Even though ballads are a staple of pop music (and perhaps for that reason not viewed favorably by some), I find vk ballads in general to be at worst a little less cheesy than the the average pop ballad playing on the radio, and at best, profoundly moving. What are your favorite vk ballads? Please share your thoughts (youtube links or samples would be nice too ^^)! Simple piano/acoustic, or symphonic/operatic, or power ballads, etc. -- any kind of ballad is fine! I really look forward to trying them out (assuming I haven't already) I'll share mine soon. 2 CAT5 and Tetora reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
nullmoon 784 Posted May 2, 2014 I think for me, Deathgaze's 'ballads' are incredible and probaby their best stuff! Songs like Grace, Dearest, Glory Sky and Bliss Out Yourself are so good! D'espairsray's Squall is also another one of my favourites. Aaaaand pretty much all of Dir En Grey's also 2 Tetora and hiroki reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
CAT5 9075 Posted May 2, 2014 Oh, my top 2 will always be 9GOATS BLACK OUT - Sink (from Devils in Bedside) and RENTRER EN SOI - wither (from Sphire-Croid) Other favorites:BUCK-TICK - Long Distance Call (from 極東 I LOVE YOU)D'espairsRay - R.E.M-冬の幻聴- (from REDEEMER)the GazettE - DISTRESS AND COMA (from DIM)DIR EN GREY - INCONVENIENT IDEAL (from UROBOROS) I think that's about it. 3 Pretsy, utomunukara and hiroki reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Original Saku 1593 Posted May 2, 2014 Why does it only have to be VK Ballads? just sayin XD Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
hiroki 5521 Posted May 2, 2014 Why does it only have to be VK Ballads? just sayin XD Haha no specific reason, although both "VK" and "ballads" are open enough for interpretation without making it too broad. I'm sure if anyone wants to recommend some ballads from indies rock etc. we'll be happy to listen to them too XD Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest mitsu the indie girl Posted May 2, 2014 Ya...it's hard for me to choose from visual kei...lol But...here goes nothing: Annabyss Coast / float 〜葬送の鎮魂歌〜 auncia / ゆらゆら (from auncia..many more...like "2 pieces of presents" and "深水の結女") 1 hiroki reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Original Saku 1593 Posted May 2, 2014 I'm just saying that the topic title should be Japanese ballads period... after all we're not just a VK forum, and stuff like this does tend to make it seem quite the opposite to outside visitors. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
hiroki 5521 Posted May 2, 2014 I'm just saying that the topic title should be Japanese ballads period... after all we're not just a VK forum, and stuff like this does tend to make it seem quite the opposite to outside visitors. With all due respect, I'm not sure if I see what the problem is. No one has gone into the "New VK vs. Old VK." thread and asked the topic to be changed to "New Japanese music vs. Old Japanese music". Likewise no one has done that for Zess' thread on where VK finds inspiration. Furthermore if the topic had been "Your favorite Japanese ballads", then we'll see things like: which might be nice in itself, but probably deserves a separate thread so that people of reasonably similar interests can have some sort of focused discussion. 3 CaRaN, cirrus and Takadanobabaalien reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Bear 1817 Posted May 2, 2014 Any ballad from Kagrra would make my list to be honest. But if I had to pick just a few I'd go with the following songs: Kagrra - Utakata Kagrra - Irodori no Sanka But to be honest I tend to be disappointed by ballads on VK albums. I think they often feel very uninspired and unfitting to the rest of the album, and that they're made and included just because it is an "unwritten law" that you have to have at least one ballad on every album. The ballads themself are often very underwhelming and forgettable. 2 paradoxal and hiroki reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Takadanobabaalien 3607 Posted May 2, 2014 3 nullmoon, Pretsy and hiroki reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Original Saku 1593 Posted May 2, 2014 With all due respect, I'm not sure if I see what the problem is. No one has gone into the "New VK vs. Old VK." thread and asked the topic to be changed to "New Japanese music vs. Old Japanese music". Likewise no one has done that for Zess' thread on where VK finds inspiration. Furthermore if the topic had been "Your favorite Japanese ballads", then we'll see things like: which might be nice in itself, but probably deserves a separate thread so that people of reasonably similar interests can have some sort of focused discussion. Yeah except there's no point in having a separate thread for stuff like that, when we could just have it all in the same thread for ballads... "New VK vs. Old VK" and Zess's VK inspiration thread are totally different because they have to do solely with VK as a scene, movement, genre, or whatever else you want to call it and the history involved, as that is the focus of those topics. This topic pretty much fit's into a wider range of discussion as ballads are songs that are found in all types of music and genres. There's no problem. I'm just suggesting that maybe we could change this topic of discussion to accommodate a broader range of users and tastes. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Miasma 162 Posted May 2, 2014 couldn't find (good) videos for these: Amber gris - Fukamidori no Lorelei Daizystripper - Yasoukyoku i cry evertim 1 hiroki reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
paradoxal 2948 Posted May 2, 2014 Any ballad from Kagrra would make my list to be honest. But if I had to pick just a few I'd go with the following songs: Kagrra - Utakata Kagrra - Irodori no Sanka But to be honest I tend to be disappointed by ballads on VK albums. I think they often feel very uninspired and unfitting to the rest of the album, and that they're made and included just because it is an "unwritten law" that you have to have at least one ballad on every album. The ballads themself are often very underwhelming and forgettable. I agree with you 100%. Utakata is one of the most beautiful songs I've ever heard and actually I agree with you also that usually VK ballads tend to be very disappointing. But still I do have some favorites: Lycaon - 愛はきらめきの中に ~Acoustic Ver~ X Japan - Crucify my love (ok this one's cheesy as fuck but it's soo pretty!) Para:noir - December 24 Out of those three my favorite is probably December 24. It's so freaking beautiful. 2 hiroki and cirrus reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
hiroki 5521 Posted May 2, 2014 I really enjoyed the songs you guys have posted. Keep them coming @Saku: Ok gotcha, I'll keep that in mind next time! Para:noir - December 24 Out of those three my favorite is probably December 24. It's so freaking beautiful. ^ Omg yes. I want to like this 100 times (*_*) ANYWAY, here's my own list of favorites (youtube links in spoiler). Not necessarily my all-time top 10, but close. A(エース) - 灰色の天使 (Haiiro no tenshi) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J3uT-GzLx_0 Alice Nine - 夢幻-electric eden- (Mugen -electric eden-) DELUHI - 星の無い夜に (Hoshi no nai yoru ni) Jeniva - 下弦の月 (Kagen no tsuki) Kagrra, - 雫 (Shizuku) Moran - SNOWING ネオン (neon.) - 春奏OVER (Shunsou OVER) レイラ (REIRA) - Pledge シド (SID) - ハナビラ (Hanabira) 「東京指定」 (Tokyo Shitei) - One way~星に願いを~ feat.LUXAM Can't find videos for these: ALSDEAD - フライト (Flight) Clavier - Love Story Para:noir - December 24. And basically everything by SINCREA. 3 cirrus, paradoxal and Tetora reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
nullmoon 784 Posted May 2, 2014 Oh! I forgot Rentrer en Soi! To Infinity is fucking coooooool Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Pretsy 1343 Posted May 2, 2014 VK? All-time favorites then: DIR EN GREY - Ain't Afraid to Die (or embryo, they are equally brilliant) L'Arc~en~ciel - Hitomi ni Utsuru Mono (since we are talking about vk = vk era, ps. good headphones for better experience!) MUCC - Kagayaku Sekai (counts as a ballad, I guess?) Buck-Tick - Dress Luna Sea - MOTHER 9Goats Black Out - Sink Laputa - Gackt - Kimi no Tame ni Dekiru Koto La'cryma Christi - Nemuri Gusuri Rentrer en soi - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4eGygOuQI9c'>TO INFINITY -繰り返される喪失に捧ぐ祈り- Penicillin - Sincerely Yours the GazettE - Nakigahara Kuroyume - Nakigara wo I think that's it. 2 hiroki and Takadanobabaalien reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Peace Heavy mk II 7200 Posted May 2, 2014 Kuroyume - Kuchizuke Penicillin - Love Dragoon All of D=sire's discography basically Other than that, I usually hate ballads :/ Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
violetchain 912 Posted May 2, 2014 I'm cheating pretty hard on this because it's not anywhere near their VK era, but: GLAY - Koukai Also, Psycho le Cemu - Omoide Aruki Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Biopanda 2675 Posted May 2, 2014 This. This is one of the few songs that has ever moved me enough emotionally to make me cry, so I think it definitely deserves its spot on the top of my list. 1 hiroki reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
seikun 317 Posted May 7, 2014 I love those heavenly inspired ballads that make me see the fragility of life through the pain of a calm sadness. RENTRER EN SOI - Aqua 1 hiroki reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Visutox 188 Posted May 7, 2014 Only that one comes to my mind, wonderful. 1 hiroki reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
DogManX 179 Posted May 7, 2014 I have quite a few Malice Mizer - エーゲ~過ぎ去りし風と共に Nightmare - message Nightmare - 縷々~lulu~ Deathgaze - Amends DIR EN GREY - Amber DIR EN GREY - embryo 9goats black out - sink the Gazette - Reila X Japan - Crucify my love Girugamesh - Nobody Sendai Kamotsu - 男たちの晩夏 1 hiroki reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites