Something that doesn't get mentioned a lot is how close they are. You'll hear they're like family, but it goes deeper than that. Akane loved her grandmother and wanted her to go to a concert, but her grandmother was to sick and never got to see the band live. When she passed the other girls decided to sing at the funeral. This is what you get from them all the time, the way they treat each other, the way they treat their fans and the way they treat their music, and it's infectious.
@@ApexRadius Yes, that's what I also remember, that they made a personal OKYUJI for Akane's grandma in her room. Amazing group of human beings they are...
Miku's only instrumental experience was a few weeks of "organ" (there's speculation that this might be a mis-translation for "accordion" 😅!) in elementary school. She didn't like being told what to play so she quickly dropped it.
Kanami writes the music and then Miku writes the lyrics. So, it's Miku who interprets the key changes and adds meaning. I think she's brilliant with it.
I think Kanami actually communicates telepathically with Miku during this process. For example, Kanami writes music with the idea of swimming in the ocean, and then Miku writes lyrics about swimming in the ocean. Without Kanami telling a single word to Miku regarding her thoughts and ideas.
@@VladimirChupin So cool. I wonder if they talk about songs while Kanami is writing. Or maybe when they chose one to work up. Apparently, Kanami has written many more songs than Band Maid has played or Kabato has written lyrics for. She once said that her company required her to write a song every week.
DICE is a classic Band Maid arrangement. Kanami is the principle composer and a typical arrangement will have the ending riff the same as the opening, the second verse has variation to keep the listener interested, and the chorus must be melodic. There are some compositions where Kanami will begin her guitar solo on the last note that Saiki sings and the same note as she ends going back into the singing section so we get a seamless transition. There is a lot of thought in a Kanami composition, she is a genius and that's why she is also my favourite maid !
Ohrenje's documentary series order is 1. Saiki 2. Kanami 3. Akane 4. Misa 5. Miku pt1,2,3 - Miku's is last as, as founder of the band, it encompasses all of Band-Maid (not just her story) so certain elements (e.g. recruitment) would be spoilers if presented before the others. Each is about half an hour but I've watched them countless times (with reactors and independently)
May want to hold off a bit on Ohrenje's Documentary Series. He has said in his discord he will be re-releasing them because he isn't completely satisfied with how they came out
MISA MISA MISA is known as the drinker of the band (which is a fallacy as MIKU actually out-drinks them all). She drinks hard liquor on stage from the bottle - that is because for quite a while early on, she suffered from pretty severe stage fright. Her parents were "hippies" ... and while I am still not completely sure what that means in Japan I think it equates to them being free spirits. We call her MISA MISA MISA because the band MAID a trip to Seattle at a time when she was questioning whether or not to stay with the band (2016). She did not really know if they were making an impact. She was greeted when she came on stage to the crowd chanting MISA! MISA! MISA! and at that point was convinced to stay. She has ever since been known as MISA MISA MISA :) . Saiki was actually pursuing a career in dance and acting when she joined the band. Once you know that it is obvious in her movements (especially her hands) and stage presence. I often refer to her as BAND MAID crowd control as she really knows how to own an audience. It's the reason I use the line from DOMINATION "we dance in the palm of her hand" to describe her ... and the reason she is referred to as "the queen" even tho MIKU was the founder. Saiki actually has a very deep voice for a Japanese (or any) girl ... she also has a "Yaeba smile" which makes her pronunciation unique, much like Freddie Mercury and his teeth. She got the nickname "the Ice Queen" because she was rarely captured smiling as she was very self conscious about it ... due to the encouragement of fans she embraces it now :) .
Mr D...You are a wealth of information...Where do you find this ? I read this morning, that as of the release of Conquerer, Saiki said she would do something about her teeth when she was in her 40's. The others thought it to be a silly notion and (possibly?) Talked her out of it .
@@frankandre4385 That is why I referenced Freddie Mercury. He never got his teeth "fixed" because he was concerned it would affect his singing. As far as I am concerned she is beautiful just the way she is :) .
@@PANIC_aka_PinD It's the same reason Barbra Streisand never got a nose job...Some things shouldn't be messed with. I would never fault Saiki for doing what she thinks is best for her.
@@frankandre4385 Lets leave Barbara and her schnozz out of this :p . Lots of people in the entertainment industry are known for some of their unique features above and beyond their talent. If Saiki's yaeba smile helps them achieve world domination, I am all for it ;) .
One of my favorite things about their songs is usually songs this hard and heavy tend to be dark themes, but Band-Maid has so many uplifting songs and themes in their songs even while being really heavy. Having been to a couple of their concerts, I was grinning ear to ear the whole time.
Right! I don't like most Western Rock because it's so negative! I'm sorry your friend committed suicide or died from drugs or you hate religion but get over it! Don't take me with you.
@patron40silver I have to be in a mood to appreciate the darkness and usually avoid it. My profession was to help abused and neglected children. So I've never seen Schindler's list. But I am grateful for I hurt myself today as recorded by Johnny Cssh. I love BANDMAID and am willing for them to sing instructions from IKEA about assembly of a bookcase and be hsppy!
@@patron40silver This can be true for some but for a guy sometimes dealing with depression it makes things worse. I need something that gets me out of it. Not wallow in it.
As far as I know Miku had never played any instrument before she started learning guitar for Band-Maid which makes it doubly impressive to see how far she has come. There are some fan cams of early concerts from that era where she is only singing but within a year or so she was already holding her own with the rest of the band. Granted she was just playing chords, as do most rhythm guitarists, but their songs are so complex I can imagine it was pretty intimidating to even try to support the off the charts talent of the power trio of Kanami, Misa and Akane. There will always be a special place in my heart for our little pigeon.
Miku did start to learnthe organ - this from an interview in 2019 , translated and published on reddit : "When I was in the 1st year of elementary school, I went to an organ class. I started going to the class because I wanted to do it on my own accord, but once I started being told "You must do this! You must do that!", I didn't enjoy it anymore and stopped attending the class . However, after I stopped attending the class, I practiced on my own by using the learning materials and enjoyed it a lot." I'm not saying Miku can play organ / piano but she did try and learn when she was small. source : Miku's Interview in "The Day Before World Domination" visual book (21 Jan 2019)
Miku was able to play by this time, and although Kanami would still play the rhythm parts in the studio, Miku would play on stage. As a rough guide, if Miku is holding a Rickenbacker, then it's an ornament, if she's holding a Zemaitis, like here, she can play her part.
Yeah, apparently Kanami, upon seeing Miku's choice of guitar, told her that the Rickenbacker wasn't going to cut it for the sound of the band but Miku didn't know any better at the time. She just picked it because she liked its looks. It was fine to start learning on. I've seen some early live footage in which Miku plays a couple of different non-Zemaitis models, including a black Stratocaster-type guitar. Not sure if it was a Fender.
Very possible, indeed. I only know that Miku said that she knew nothing about guitars at the time and chose it because she liked the way it looked. Kanami was like, "Nuh-uh..."
BAND-MAID is very lucky in that they not only have got one of the best drummers in rock and one of the best bassists in rock, but that these two are such close friends that they seem to be like one soul in two bodies. Moonchild and Sunchild, two sides of the same coin, the opposites which complement each other perfectly. And this is the rhythm section-a single word describing their unified duality.
Welcome back home Princess NittPicc! I hope you are having a wonderful day! This song does have closed captions on it, so you don't have to look up the lyrics, but I don't think "Play" does have closed captions. You had a really good grasp of what "Dice" is about without having read the lyrics yet. Miku is a little genius when it comes to writing lyrics, don't let that cute little lady fool you, and I'd strongly suggest you never try to play poker with her. Miku likes to write lyrics that can have different meanings for different people and uses a lot of words or phrases that have multiple meanings. Kanami tends to prefer complex rhythms, melodies and countermelodies, played really fast. Kanami set one of her goals to be writing a song faster than the fastest Dragon Force song which is about 225 bpm. She came close to that with "Black Hole" at 220 bpm. I suspect that little gentle genius will surpass that goal in the near future.
Thank you for not ignoring the vocals as most reactors do. I get it. What the trinity do is amazing. But the way Saiki floats over the flames and the support Miku gives her is amazing. One day you will find a song called Puzzle and you will see what I mean. And then you will find the acoustic version and Saiki and Kanami will have you in tears. (Although Anemone is even more emotional to me.)
Indeed! I often feel that most reactors don't give Miku and Saiki the credit they are due, but NittPicc gives every member the love they deserve. Our little pigeon has truly (l)earned her wings, Po!🕊
Great reaction and Saiki herself said that she was losing her voice and was worry that she won't be able to sing, she was also holding off on the operation has she had heard about singers losing their voice after the operation, but the band members all supported her and she got it done in the summer of 2017 and then a couple of months of vocal training (she and Miku both have vocal coaches now). DICE was recorded after the operation and her voice was back even better than before. Also, if you're up for it, you could listen to the studio version and then the live version.
Everyone but Miku learned piano at some point. Miku knew how to sing japanese pop and japanese folk songs(enka), no piano nor guitar in the beginning. She was effectively strumming some notes until they decided either Saiki or Miku were needed to learn guitar. Saiki said NO, so Miku took up that mantle. On the costumes, Akane-Miku-Kanami are the maids, and Misa-Saiki are the rock representations 😆
The Band Maid translated interviews on Reddit are lengthy but contain a lot of information on the creative process that they go through. It's like reading an unedited biography but quite fascinating !
@@frankandre4385 Mostly on Twitter, but also running some errands. Tending to my physical needs as well. . . . no not THOSE needs, LOL~! I am feeling much better. sometimes you just have to pamper yourself a bit. Physical therapy exercises have been a godsend.
“Bubble,” has more changes than any other song I’ve heard and I’ve listened to everything I could find. “Influencer,” has a 2 part bass solo followed by a unique sounding Kanami solo.
Often overlooked is what having two good singers allows in their music. Alone has them trading lead lines. Secret My Lips shows fantastic harmonizing in the last chorus. Corallium is them doing stuff. I don't know how to describe it. Extra bravo to Miku for having such a controlled flexible voice. Wide variety of vocalizations, higher and lower than Saiki, and a close tonal match to Saiki on demand.
I'll have to listen to your suggested tracks again---because that mingling of Miku and Saiki's voices is probably my favourite thing in all of Bandmaid !
As I've said on other reaction videos, Thrill got my attention and Dice made me go "Holy f#@k they are good." As far as the lyrics, the song subject is a bit more, um "adult" than I thought when first saw it years ago. Great reaction again, and it's fun watching your journey down the Pigeon Hole.
Yeah, actually it's not that kind of adult theme at all, as the above reply mentions. It's about going bravely into the world and taking chances, dealing with setbacks, and capitalizing on opportunities. So, yes, it's very much about being an adult in that sense.
I posted a information file about the song. What it is, is the Ladies calling out the shut ins called Hikikomori or NEET's. IT's saying are you going to sit there playing with dolls in your parents basement or are you going to roll the dice and step out into the real world and challenge yourself.
You never forget your first love. Dice was the first song I heard from them (in a reaction too! ) and I was just floored. I've been Maidiac ever since. I'm not going to give you any other songs because whatever you do next will be a favorite!
Miku wrote almost all of the lyrics and actively appeared in all media to raise her profile as the band's publicist. Meanwhile, she devoted all her personal time to practicing her guitar. Kanami-sensei gave her a pep talk, and while her fingertips were bleeding, she worked hard in the little time she had to practice.😂
No Miku never actually played anything until she picked up guitar basically out of necessity after Band-Maid was already formed. She had the idea for the band and then realized they needed a different singer because her voice didn't fit the style she wanted the music to be. Her talents were just pure charisma and absolute strength of will and untamed desire for her dream. That was a dangerous combination and she found 4 others that shared it and bam magic. She's the one I admire most because while everyone else has these innate musical talents she worked so hard every day and still does to rise to everyone's level and succeeds.
Excellent description! She just had to kick at the dark until it bled daylight (Bruce Cockburn) My Daddy would have said she's got a head like a ball peen hammer 😂
They've put out "live in studio" acoustic videos of "Catharsis" and "Sayonakidori" that really showcase how Miku's grown as both a singer and a guitarist, especially on "Sayonakidori" which I think she also wrote. ua-cam.com/video/sGzAQigaL14/v-deo.html
Yes, as you put it: "..pure charisma and absolute strength of will..." That's Miku all right ! and btw----Miku's walking- about adventures in Kyoto are really worth seeing...she reveals a great appreciation for place and landscape,,,,and it's fascinating to see her deeper and thoughtful self. Altogether, an admirable--as well as impossibly charming!---person.
Yo NP, as far as I know Miku plays no other instrument. I don't know if this is still a fact but Kanami plays all guitar parts on recordings then would show Miku how to play her parts Live. But there is no denying the fact that Miku's on the job learning and playing Live (in addition to singing!) should be an exemplary example to others of what can be accomplished with a great teacher, a massive desire and immense confidence. The whole BAND-MAID story would be an Awesome documentary that I'll be waiting for. Don't forget FROM NOW ON. Peace. 3.07
@@jkkansasband7056 Then we can say that all symphony orchestras do not know how to play music, because they do not write it themselves, but play, for example, Mozart.
About vocal layering, most of the time is Miku going either up or down to contrast Saiki's voice. If you listen to their live shows, you can hear Mikus super low voice as well as her highs. "Blooming" is my fave twin-vocals track and "Sayonakidori (acoustic)" is great to see how much Miku has grown (she did the guitar arrangement herself) as well as her cutesy voice
Whichever song you choose with this band, you'll never be let down. Some don't quite hit as hard as others but that's only by B-M standards. They're all good songs. Looking forward to Play next week already.
Dice has to be one of my absolute favorite songs from the Maids because of the message, the symbolism and just everything makes it a top pick in my book. I'm glad you enjoyed it ♥
I've had the pleasure of seeing them live twice, front row in Houston 22 in front of MISA and they are easily the best live band on the planet. Miku also handed me a pick at the end of the show because I had a sign in Japanese asking for a pick...she literally leaned over and handed me one. Oh and BTW MISA is absolutely beautiful in person.
looking forward to Band Maid sundays now. but how in the world are you going to go a week without listening to the Maids?? "Afterlife" has a killer riff and will make you laugh and bust a move at the same time.
Misa always plays barefoot... She says it helps her feel the vibrations from Akane's drums. And she usually drinks some Jim Beam during concerts. It helps with her shyness and as she gets more tipsy, her playing gets more phenomenal!!! These days she's cut down on the drinking a bit though she does love her alcohol. Miku is also an expert gambler! LOL.... She is an expert at the horse races and won a poker tournament before.
B-M's massive talent, charisma, creativity and firecracker tunes are what initially attracted me to this band but the more i learn about them individually the more I adore them, this rock and roll sisterhood has such respect and gratitude to their fan base, something that is so missing from other bands who are arrogant a-holes. Loved the reaction thanks from Australia 👍🍻
I don't think we've been introduced...Is Australia a country...an attitude...or a brand of rum...and are you commenting from inside a bottle ? Inquiring minds want to know...🤔🥃🧠🇦🇺
@@frankandre4385 I'm intrigued who is this Philosopher channeling Socrates and Plato using rum bottle analogues. Indeed am in in the bottle or out, is Oz a state of mind, is there more to reality than any Sense could realise, an Unseen World perhaps. All fair ponderings good sir but I do prefer the more direct realism of the Goddesses Five e.g the Candy or the Whip. I'm now going to wish you well and bid you adieu as I retire to meditate on how much rum my navel could hold, perhaps I'll find out tonight 🤪😃👍🍻🥃
@@brunobryant4846 Wow...such fascinating repartee ! I had a genie in a bottle once...I received no wishes and perhaps it was only a worm...Hard to tell... Anyway...I mourned that genie, who met the unkind fate of drowning in a bottle of River Raisin Agave Spirit . Ah, what might have been...😭💰
The transition from the bass solo into the guitar solo is the chef's kiss. So smooth and seamless. The lollapalooza video is a raw feed so it is truly a live video.
Great reaction yet again. I love to hear proper musicians (that's not me) analysing Band-Maid's music. It is true that it usually takes a few passes in the beginning to appreciate the complexity of their music. I have an open mind about music and today, as I do occasionally, take a listen to other Japanese rock and metal bands, just to make sure I'm not missing anything- they were what most people would consider the 9 most popular bands on youtube. I'm sorry- But for me, Baby Metal are not a band. They are a singing and dancing vocal trio with a backing band, but still probably the most popular. But just to confirm- Band-Maid are the best technical musicians and composers by miles. Any band that repeats the same arrangement for the verse or chorus now, doesn't work for me- say no more.
Love Thrill. Puzzle. Dice was the final hook for me. These ladies are my favorite hard rock band today and there are a lot of bands from the last century that I listen to and enjoyed because I'm an old headbanger, but these ladies are so ahead of so many other bands.
To see Miku go from air guitar in Thrill mv to the awe inspiring lead in solo of influencer during 10th anniversary Yokohama concert, makes you appreciate what she has put into her skills with hard work.
I guess you need to know a little about the MAID CAFE culture in Japan. Many girls working in these places will make music and CDs to have something to sell to guests as sort of a "side hustle". MIKU was in an IDOL singing group called "Lil Cummin" with a couple of other girls from the same cafe, and yes, she can really sing. The group won some sort of singing competition before the formation of BAND MAID so that was really her musical exposure at the time the band was started. Yukina from Hanabie also worked in a MAID cafe but that is a story for another time :) .
@@PANIC_aka_PinDIt would seem very unlikely but someone else might have better information. I believe the talent search competition had about 2600 entrants with multiple rounds. Three winners were chosen to be in the group. Entrants are usually judged as individuals. I suppose it could have been run like a Battle of the Bands but that doesn't seem to be the case. So it would be quite a coincidence if all three winners were working at the same café at the same time or had ever worked there at any time. That said, I don't know a lot about the idol system and find it a bit nuts. But we do have similar talent competitions in the West.
@@ApexRadius I do have a photo of all 3 together in MAID outfits but I can not find any confirmation that Risa or Yuuki worked at Home Cafe in Akihabara
@@PANIC_aka_PinD Ah, okay, I think I know where the confusion is coming from. Lil' Cumin did perform in maid costumes at times. There's an old video of it. But, of course, that was after the group was formed. I'd venture a guess that it helped solidfy Miku's idea for B-M. LC was a really sickly-sweet idol group so I can imagine how she thought she could turn the whole thing on its head. Also, B-M wasn't the first rock band to appear as maids. Doll$boxx did it for one music video. There could have been others, too. But B-M was the one to turn it into a full blown band theme.
Thank you NittPicc for your reaction! All I can say is Wow, your a really good reactor, you recognize both musical and visual motifs very quickly! There is so much fun with Band-Maid. Not only so many fantastic songs, it‘s the whole package with these ladies: their personas, their interaction with each other and their fans, the story of how the band was founded etc. You have a wonderful journey ahead of you!
I love Band-Maid's music because it feels like it is breathing and alive because of so many changes and not always playing the same thing over and over
What a great reaction! One of the best, in my opinion. Mentioning next week’s song in advance is a nice courtesy. I’m looking forward to it. I’ll offer only two insights today. 1) Yes, all the Maids are genuinely nice people. How nice? They leave rented tour buses cleaner than when they get it. They are also close friends. And they have the most sincere affection towards their fans of any band I know of. How much? They have written 4 (four!) songs dedicated to their fans. 2) Those goosebumps will happen a lot when listening to Band Maid. A lot, a lot. I’m letting you know ahead of time; there will be some whenever you decide to review “Blooming.” The bridge. OMG that beautiful bridge! You’ll see.
I'll simply add that you NAILED IT! Everything. Great reaction and VERY keen observations. One note: My guess is WHEN you go to your first Band-Maid concert, you'll think "I'm going to focus on MISA." MANY people say this. Or, if they are guitarists, they say "I'm watching Kanami (or now Miku) the whole time." As a former drummer, I ALWAYS watch the drums. That is until I went to my first Band-Maid serving. Because as most MISA fans and Kanami/Miku enthusiasts and Akane crazies find out, it's almost impossible to take one's eyes off...Saiki. She has the gravitational pull of a thousand suns. She's mesmerizing... and she's just....getting....better. It's NUTS! 🤯One prediction: If it hasn't happened already, I'm guessing that very shortly you will be interviewed by either MNN (Maid News Network) or The Gaijin Guys Podcast...or both. THAT will be VERY cool. Thanks much and keep smilin', NittPicc! 🕊
As others have mentioned, Miku started from scratch, which is all the more amazing if you see her play today. Always right on time and in tune even with the most complicated of rhythms. I can honestly say I’ve never seen Miku make a mistake when seeing them live or watching Band-Maid live videos.
I love Maid Sundays! The girls are unsurpassed when it comes to combining complex compositions under highly catchy main melodies. In Dice, specifically, three sections of the song out of tempo, perfectly spun as in a pearl necklace. Master songwriters!, specially in their bridges and second verses. Thank you NittPicc!, great job.
Kanami does such an amazing job with her solos of making me want more. They're just SLIGHTLY too short for me, which is perfect for me. They never wear out their welcome.
Info file about the song Dice. The song's basically about taking risks, seizing opportunities, putting in the work to get the rewards. Roll the dice. Take your shot. The doll is just a doll. It's harmless - in fact, that's kind of the point. The doll is a simulated person, it's safe. The girl is blindfolded, in the dark, holding the doll for comfort. She's sheltered. At the end of the video the girl abandons the doll, lifts up the blindfold, steps into a blinding light that represents the uncertainty and opportunity that she's been hiding from. This song is a call to arms. In Japan they have a sub-culture of shut-ins, people who are either unemployed or under employed who basically won't move out on their own. They stay in their parent/grandparent's home basically playing with dolls or video games, instead of getting out and living life and trying to better themselves. This song is calling them out. Challenging them, "Are you gonna stay in there playing with DOLLLLLLLLLS like a little kid? Or are you going to stand up take off the blindfold, leave the dolls and games behind and step out into the real world?" At the end of the video, the girl puts down the doll, takes off the blindfold and steps into the light. It's called Hikikomori in Japan and is defined as: "pulling inward, being confined", also known as severe social withdrawal, is total withdrawal from society and seeking extreme degrees of social isolation and confinement. Hikikomori refers to both the phenomenon in general and the recluses themselves. The concept is primarily recognized only in Japan, although similar concepts exist in other languages and cultures. Hikikomori have been described as loners or "modern-day hermits". Estimates suggest that half a million Japanese youths have become social recluses, as well as more than half a million middle-aged individuals. - Definition from Wikipedia
Thanks, it's a very interesting analysis! Although I always thought that Miku put a deeper meaning into this song. I feel that it's like a call from God to humans, to His creatures. God is standing there, His arms are full of gifts for us-but we have to make a step and start moving, to obtain those gifts. "Call Me Call Me Call Me" sounds to me like an eternal offer from God, that we should/must cry for His help, and the help will be provided. But we have to take responsibility for what we are doing. Also, God tries to awaken people and direct them to the right path by both "a carrot and a whip", i.e., reward and punishment. "One moment of pain, ten moments of delight," - that's what any wayfarer on this path is going through. No pain no gain. This song is full of such wise insights. Kobato-sama is truly one of the deepest philosophers of our time, in my opinion.
Miku basically had no desire to play an instrument at all but it was decided a second guitarist was needed, they agreed they didnt want another member so it was either going to be saiki (who outright refused) or Miku for the role. in the Thrill video she was told to pretend to play a bit and not dace so much swinging the guitar around or she might kill someone with it. Kanami played both guitar parts for studio recordings for years as miku practiced and got better with Kanami as her teacher for live performances. look up Ohrenje's video "BAND-MAID Documentary / KOBATO Miku -Part I-" She is so good now that in the last concert Muku actually played a wonderful solo intro to Influencer at the Yokohama Arena
This is post-surgery for Saiki (BTW Miku had the same surgery). Saiki's surgery was in the summer of 2017 after struggling with her voice for the previous year or two. She had some vocal training before Band-Maid, but really didn't have much in the way of technique and got by on natural ability. The polyps led her to work with a vocal coach who had been through the same issues. Now, she has amazing technique and can manage her voice well enough to do a 3.5 hour concert (Yokohama Arena show last November) and can finesse her vocals in ways she couldn't pre-surgery. In Band-Maid's discography, everything up to 2017's Just Bring It ( Band-Maid's fourth album) is before her surgery. The single Daydreaming/Choose Me (with Play as the b-side) was the first post-surgery studio recording. There's a very noticeable improvement in her voice, which went from good to amazing at that point.
Saiki's range is definitely wider than 3 octaves now I guess. Saiki and Miku swap low and high registers in recent songs works really well, until 2017 Saiki relied on Miku on lower or higher notes a lot. Saiki's speaking voice before the surgery was painfully raspy.
Pretty sure Miku doesn't play piano. Kanami taught her to play guitar and even wrote at least one song as a tutorial to prepare Miku for a more difficult song. Until recently (don't know about Unleash ep) I believe Kanami played all the guitar parts in the studio versions. (Kanami mentioned this in an interview.) That gave Miku more time to prepare for live shows. So this is probably Kanami playing rhythm in this studio recording. Of course they would have made this MV well after the studio recordings.
I really enjoy watching your reactions, it's like I relive my first reactions to their songs all over again. Your sheer joy is unmistakable. Your comment about Kanami is spot on. Off stage, she is very different from on stage. When it comes to playing, she is a real tiger. I've been right in front of her close to the stage twice and she is amazing to watch. It didn't happen at the shows I was at, but she does occasionally come down off the stage and gets close to the audience and everyone loves her for it. She is a genius composer but shows no ego at all. From what I've read, Miku never really brought up the maid costumes in any detail before they went to film their first video or live show, and Saiki and Misa weren't too thrilled. That's why they went their own way, which was a stroke of genius and made the band even more interested. Misa supposedly wanted to be an assassin maid and Saiki being a fashion model before had her own ideas, lol. But it all worked out perfectly. They have a chance to become one of the most iconic bands of all time by the time they are through. The best thing is that there are no egos with them, they all pitch in together to make things work perfectly. The harmonies between Saiki and Miku are all so smooth and on point. Sometimes it seems like they are a hive mind where they can finish each others sentences. I know you are going to react to the documentaries, but I believe the same creator also made some hilarious movies about Band Maid using Monty Python and James Bond as templates. You really have to experience them when they come back on tour here. There are also some very good videos of a number of their live performances when they were here on tour. Keep up the good work.
hello honey....I can honestly can say that I get so excited when you post a new review !!!!! band maid and you reviewing them is pure destiny I happen to be in the minority on the Lollapalooza performance only because the sound sucks.....Im one the madiacs pushing for Play Live The intro will totally blow your mind !!!!! Look forward to next review !!!!
Just put the list of Band-Maid songs on the wall and throw a dart at it.....be sure "WHY-WHY-WHY" is on there. All Miku could do was sing and dream. DICE was off their 2021 World Domination Album so that was well after Saiki's surgery which I believe was end of 2017 or beginning of 2018. Right before the surgery she was bad, very low and gravely. Saiki has a low voice in general, check out some interviews and you'll see. Akane's drop right after MISA's bass solo....she does that a lot, "Afterlife" has an epic drop.
I think most of us feel the same concerning Misa. She is the first member I recognized and loved. She is instantly cool. And her bass tone is soooooo good. Then you learn that each member has a very individual and interesting character besides their musician talent: Saiki has a surprising deep voice when laughing which sounds so wonderful. A-ka-ne is so emotional and most of the time smiling. Ka-na-mi is such a nice person and a genius composer. And miku ... Well, that would be a really long story 😂 That's why it is so important to watch not just the songs but also some Omajinai-time, interviews, documentaries, live interaction etc. You may grasp some nice little interactions during the live performance of "Freedom"!
The lead-in line to the chorus, "Seize the moment," only is sung before chorus numbers 2 and 3. It not only reflects the dramatic progression of the song you talked about but is emblematic of a strong and ongoing band theme: take off the blinders and move forward. You should definitely react to Dice and Hate as a single performance at Lolapalooza.
I really enjoyed this review. As a non-musician,I have no idea of the technical info you share(minor or major key?) ,but it doesn't matter. For me,any thing I don't understand,I lump in with the appreciation I have for the music. A good example is opera,which I dearly love,despite not understanding the language. The singing is just another musical instrument which enhances the performance. So,I look forward to your next Band Maid review.
Fun fact... Misa got her fan chosen nickname, Barefoot Assassin, because of a comment that Miku made about Misa's outfit. During an interview on a tv show the host said that Misa was not even wearing a maid outfit. Miku spoke up and said Misa was wearing an assassin maid outfit. That along with Misa's preference to go barefoot on stage gave rise to her nickname. The band kept the maid outfits a secret from Saiki until just before they took the stage for their first show together. She soon ditched the apron from it and eventually progressed to the more elegant outfits that she now wears. I always think of Saiki's outfit as more of a hostess / greeter maid than a server maid.
Ok....I'm an oldish guy....lemme tell ya....back in the '70's, I would have loved to sit down, smoke weed, and listened to tunes with you in a group.....you seem like a very contagiously fun person....DICE was my second Band Maid song.....I was hooked.....yes....please do check out Ohrenje's documentaries....they are VERY well done and full of tidbits....Saiki is first....of course...LOL....nice work...nice energy....thanks for the content
Their song "Rinne" (reincarnation) was written in response to critics who claimed their music was too "Pop". Oh yeah, I often get goosebumps listening to their songs.
As others have stated Miku could not play anything (Kanami is the pianist), Miku learnt guitar while in a band that was constantly touring - a concept that scares the life out of me lol! Miku Kobato "Little Pigeon" - band founder - rhythm guitar and second vocals. Main lyricist. Claims to be an 810 year old pigeon and makes pigeon noises when she speaks. Po! Very good at poker, into horses - betting on them and eating them. Very clumsy, may fall into ditches. The heart and soul of the band. Saiki Atsumi "The Ice Queen" - Lead vocalist and frontwoman. The youngest member at 29. Into train spotting and collecting trainers (sports shoes). Very girly, into doing her nails and is a fashion icon. Really into Baseball and the Hanshin Tigers. Don't mess with her you will lose. But she has a heart of gold and a killer dry sense of humour. Recently started writing lyrics. Has final say on songs. Kanami Tono - "Kanamincho" or usually just "Mincho" for short. Lead guitar and an absolute genius songwriter. Total riff machine. Has two personas. Normally a tiny cute shy very polite lady who seems very innocent (the band have to explain dirty jokes to her). Until she puts on her guitar. As the band say "then she gets quite violent" - she turns into the shredding rock star she is. Takes guitar off, back to the little girl. Likes cake, coffee and is totally infatuated by Saiki. She adores Saiki very much, to everyone's amusement. Akane Hirose - "The Gorilla" on Drums. Seems to be the sane member of the band, but is actually the band clown. Has an enormous appetite, seen eating in a lot of MV's. Eats a lot of bananas including on stage, hence the nickname. But she is terrible at actual cooking. Usually has a big grin on her face while drumming manically, Akane was also a DJ (under the name DJ Achi) and likes dancing and goofing with MISA. MISA (all caps, no last name) "The Barefoot Assassin" on bass. An absolute bass prodigy, MISA is very shy onstage (a total clown offstage with Akane). Nickname comes from the fact she plays barefoot and looks like an assassin. Because of shyness often drinks onstage, you can often spot a bottle of Jim Beam on her amp. She drinks it neat. Lately drinking more beer than whiskey though, good girl. Doesn't say much, but when she does it's usually totally hilarious! At a lot of concerts you will hear the fans chanting MISA! MISA! MISA! which has become a slogan.
@@waynedahlen9655 Wtf? She does. The band does. I do. Millions of people do in many countries. That's fact. And ITS NORMAL. You sound like a fascist. Got your MAGA hat on Karen?
"oooh this feels good!" YES! That's exactly it. Band Maids music just feel full of joy. They are my musical happy place these last few years. Every time I listen to them I just start smiling. Great reaction. Looking forward to Play next week 😃
Miku had zero experience with any musical instruments, until Kanami taught her how to play guitar. Miku was actually part of a J-pop trio, which didn’t achieve significant success, prior to her deciding to form Band Maid. As for Misa & Akane, there’s a performance video of a J-pop singer in which Misa & Akane are playing on it. It’s a funny video but their playing is solid. Through 2015/16, Saiki under a very heavy touring schedule, threw her voice out and developed polyps on her vocal cords. During that time she was performing under severe pain. Although she was very fearful, she had the surgery that was a success and her voice is better than ever. Band Maid is amazing live. There are fantastic official live performance videos of “Real Existence”, “Freedom”, “Domination” and “Play” are well worth your time.
A quick suggestion. BAND-MAID is known for changing arrangements for live performances. They don't always do it so it's always a surprise. Do a comparison of Manners studio vs official live. Mind blowing how different they are.
Great reaction again.these ladies are so damn good live,,,,yes Dice and Hate live at Lollapalooza live 2023 jeez they were on fire,its so good to see them feckin rip it up.enjoy Nittpic.
Great reaction again. I love your explanations based on an obvious understanding of music. You became within a short time one of my favorite reactors. I have the feeling that Band-Maid could be your Band too. You still have just scratched the surface. Yes Dice & Hate together live at Lolapalooza is a great example to get the live impression, even if the movie director was so overwhelmed that he did knew where to lend his eye on 🙂 But I guess you could be ready for some more complex stuff. I would like to recommend "Corralium" unfortunately there is no music video for it or the "Live" performance of "Manners" and "Black Hole" which shows the extreme span they cover. Looking forward for next Sunday.
Here's my take on DICE's lyrics: I know the "dice" have already been thrown (as in her lyrics), but I choose to look at it as stop being indecisive, sitting in a dark room playing with dolls (TV, phone, toys, games, etc.). "Seize the moment", roll the dice, open your eyes, and walk into the light! Miku's lyrics, especially after translation, can be a bit cryptic - open for interpretation, as are all poems and lyrics. But their music is always right on point which melds the two into wonderful songs of possibilities! Thx, Ms Picc! 🤘😂
Yes, MISA's charisma is really something special. 'Free' is a pretty good description, as Kanami gives her almost complete freedom to create her own parts as she sees fit. And in the end it always does, without sounding boring or repetitive. Together with Akane (dr) and Miku (gt), this results in a rhythm section that is unbeatable for me. 🔥🤘🏻 Speaking of MISA's charisma. There's another musician out there who is equally deeply chilled out when you see her on stage. Only she's part of what is perhaps one of the best lead guitar duos out there today, so she's usually a bit more in the spotlight. :) The name of this band has probably been mentioned before, and if you like guitar solos, I can only warmly recommend you to give 'Lovebites' a listen. Please put the track 'Holy War (Live at Zepp DiverCity Tokyo 2020)' on your list! Yes, there is a newer version, but the 'old' one has a better sound mix.😉 Once you've settled into the pigeon-hole of Band-Maid, a little visit to the wolf den could be quite fun. 🤭🙋🏻♂ _____________________ _"America invented rock. England improved it. And now, Japan has perfected it."_ ※ Band-Maid ※ Gacharic Spin ※ Lovebites ※ Nemophila ※ East of Eden ※ Hanabie ※ Asterism ※ Trident ※ etc.
I don't know if you know this yet, but Miku's last name is Kobato which means small pigeon. And yes, Miku thinks she is a small pigeon even making pigeon noises. Apparently, in Japan, pigeons make this noise - "kuruppo." sometimes Miku just says po for short. Her signature guitar is called the Flappy Pigeon, made by Zemaitis. It is decorated with pigeons. The fun personalities of these ladies make them so easy to love. They have real love and appreciation for their fans, as well as each other. I got to meet them briefly in 2019 at a preshow meet and greet. They were so down to earth and fun, despite the language barrier. They are exactly the kind of people you want your heroes and idols to be.
You might need a seatbelt and a crash helmet when you watch Dice-Hate? LOL! It is Rock and Roll Badassery at it's finest! Another great reaction, thank you! The first time I saw them live, I was worried that maybe they wouldn't sound as good live as recorded, it's been known to happen, as you mentioned. Not always the band's fault. Rented equipment, bad acoustics in a strange place, etc. I worried for no reason. As good as they are in the studio, their energy live is off the charts! That whole first show for me - Echoplex, LA 10-1-2019 - was awesome. But these four songs took it over the top for me. Dice- the one you just reacted to as well as Choose Me (which was featured in the Netflix movie "Kate,") Take me Higher and my favorite song - Freedom. Also, not only was Choose Me featured in "Kate" another song, Blooming was too. And oh yeah, Band Maid played themselves performing in a nightclub scene. I know you have been swamped with reaction requests for them, but if you are looking to change it up a bit, they did an acoustic show for Christmas in 2021 that just blew us all away. I wasn't even a big fan of acoustic music, but they were just so damn amazing. If you search for Band Maid acoustic you'll probably get a video or two from that show. Sayonakidori (Nightengale in Japanese) is a powerful, emotional song sung my Miku, not Saiki. In fact, it's just Akane, Misa and Miku. Simply beautiful. I still have trouble keeping my eyes from leaking when I hear that song and I'm a 60 year old ex-Marine. Just an incredible band. Thank you again for your excellent insight and entertaining reaction!
This band is just so good! I love this song so much! Just incredible. Akane just kills it as always. Mincho's "revving" on the neck is beyond awesome. That riff Kanami plays is so darn catchy. Sick bass and guitar. Miku is holding rhythm so well and Saiki is the slayer! This song has everything I want in a BAND-MAID composition. PERFECTION. Love your channel NittPicc. I have subbed!
Sugoi! Another great reaction. Love to see you're learning and enjoying! Since you'll be doing BAND-MAID Sundays, my suggestion would be to do the Official Music Video followed by the Official LIVE Video of the same song. Then we'd get twice as much of your excellent reactions! Arigatou! 🤘🤘 #SurrenderLove #ShareHappyLetsDance
Did you know that Jimmy Page took in a Band Maid show a few years back (in Japan, I think) and was so impressed with Akane's drumming that he just had to go backstage and meet her! That is high praise, indeed! There are pictures to prove it, too!
MISA MISA MISA!!!!! "Thrill" saved Band-Maid Literally "Dice" saved me Figuratively my life was dull and boring I was sick of even my favourite Bands and found ALL modern music BORING and generic I had heard Band-Maid in 2016 ("Real Existence") and had sort of been keeping loose track of them as well as Babymetal THEN in Feb 2018 15 seconds Changed EVERYTHING the first 15 seconds (BASS BASS BASS) of "Dice" I have now traveled from my home in Australia to half way round the world to LA USA in 2019 to see them Live (twice) and not a single day goes by without me listening to at least one Band-Maid song.
If you want to see and hear some excellent instrumentals from the Maids, there are some referred to as the "White Room" instrumentals, because the 4 instrumentalists are all in a line playing in a completely white room. They are difficult to find though. Most, if not all, are bonus videos from limited edition CD's. One of the best is Giovanni.
This was my third band-maid song, after Freedom/Domination, and as bass lover i felt in love. My favourite interview is on dailymotion they talk about Miku/Saiki different personalities and naughty jokes before shows. I never saw Ohrenje documentary series.
Honestly, the way you're into music and the fact that you actually know what you're talking about is awesome. I love your reactions and your attitude, keep it up PO! :) ❤
One thing I LOVE about this band is they never play the same chorus. In any song if you listen to the first chorus then the second the way they play them is completely different. They said they don’t want to be a “cookie cutter” band. This applies to verses too
I've said something like this on other channels, but musicians do the best music reaction videos, especially to a band like BAND-MAID. A musician has the technical knowledge to understand what the band is doing and what they hear might be different, even to another musician, based on their musical speciality.
Dice has two of my favorite Miku lines- "Come over to my place. Candy or the whip? What's your preference?" and "One moment of pain, ten moments of delight." 😮 Miku, what are you trying to tell us? 😏
Don't worry about people's suggestions.... pick any song... MV, live, audio only, documentaries, side projects, interviews... trust me, with the Band-Maid community, it won't matter. Just make sure you keep track of what you've reacted to as you'll get lost if you don't, lol.
I’m sorry but any time there is a bass solo I cry because it’s so EPIC!!!! 🤘🏽🤘🏽🤘🏽🤘🏽🤘🏽🤘🏽 Just adds onto more of why I’m always looking forward to more videos on here!!! 🎉🎉🎉🎉
Live Maid is the Best Maid.....anyone can fake it in the studio but to bring that experience to the Live Stage and elevate the performance...Well just saying....
Yeah she's grown a lot too. Started practising piano last year or so and played it solo on massive stage...she looks better with piano than guitar I guess.
![Lp. Сердце Вселенной #60 РОЖДЕНИЕ ЛОЛОЛОШКИ [Финал] • Майнкрафт](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/YoR0pAV9FVQ/mqdefault.jpg)
Something that doesn't get mentioned a lot is how close they are. You'll hear they're like family, but it goes deeper than that. Akane loved her grandmother and wanted her to go to a concert, but her grandmother was to sick and never got to see the band live. When she passed the other girls decided to sing at the funeral. This is what you get from them all the time, the way they treat each other, the way they treat their fans and the way they treat their music, and it's infectious.
It might even be better than that. I have read that all the girls went to Grandma's house and played a show for her before she passed.
@@ApexRadius They did. Akane posted about it on her Twitter and Instagram accounts.
They seem to get along better than any band that’s been together for 10 years has any right to.
@@ApexRadius Yes, that's what I also remember, that they made a personal OKYUJI for Akane's grandma in her room. Amazing group of human beings they are...
@@VladimirChupin You'd probably know better than most of us, Vlad.
Kanami is the pianist. Miku had absolutely nothing 😂, and look at where she is now!
Miku's only instrumental experience was a few weeks of "organ" (there's speculation that this might be a mis-translation for "accordion" 😅!) in elementary school. She didn't like being told what to play so she quickly dropped it.
Yes, she had a rough life.
Miku is a woman of focus, commitment, and sheer will.
@@holyomega3093If anything happens to her cat, watch out!
I have often said you could drop Miku Kobato in the middle of the Sahara with a kazoo and she would still become a rock star. Truth!
Kanami writes the music and then Miku writes the lyrics. So, it's Miku who interprets the key changes and adds meaning. I think she's brilliant with it.
I think Kanami actually communicates telepathically with Miku during this process. For example, Kanami writes music with the idea of swimming in the ocean, and then Miku writes lyrics about swimming in the ocean. Without Kanami telling a single word to Miku regarding her thoughts and ideas.
@@VladimirChupin So cool. I wonder if they talk about songs while Kanami is writing. Or maybe when they chose one to work up. Apparently, Kanami has written many more songs than Band Maid has played or Kabato has written lyrics for. She once said that her company required her to write a song every week.
DICE is a classic Band Maid arrangement. Kanami is the principle composer and a typical arrangement will have the ending riff the same as the opening, the second verse has variation to keep the listener interested, and the chorus must be melodic. There are some compositions where Kanami will begin her guitar solo on the last note that Saiki sings and the same note as she ends going back into the singing section so we get a seamless transition. There is a lot of thought in a Kanami composition, she is a genius and that's why she is also my favourite maid !
Ohrenje's documentary series order is 1. Saiki 2. Kanami 3. Akane 4. Misa 5. Miku pt1,2,3 - Miku's is last as, as founder of the band, it encompasses all of Band-Maid (not just her story) so certain elements (e.g. recruitment) would be spoilers if presented before the others. Each is about half an hour but I've watched them countless times (with reactors and independently)
Yup. These are the best, most detailed documentaries about the individuals in BM. Their personalities are very different.
May want to hold off a bit on Ohrenje's Documentary Series. He has said in his discord he will be re-releasing them because he isn't completely satisfied with how they came out
@@Studio-Coast_Kid They're quite good, but I feel they could have used another editing pass to tighten them up. Curious to find out what he changes.
MISA MISA MISA is known as the drinker of the band (which is a fallacy as MIKU actually out-drinks them all). She drinks hard liquor on stage from the bottle - that is because for quite a while early on, she suffered from pretty severe stage fright. Her parents were "hippies" ... and while I am still not completely sure what that means in Japan I think it equates to them being free spirits. We call her MISA MISA MISA because the band MAID a trip to Seattle at a time when she was questioning whether or not to stay with the band (2016). She did not really know if they were making an impact. She was greeted when she came on stage to the crowd chanting MISA! MISA! MISA! and at that point was convinced to stay. She has ever since been known as MISA MISA MISA :) .
Saiki was actually pursuing a career in dance and acting when she joined the band. Once you know that it is obvious in her movements (especially her hands) and stage presence. I often refer to her as BAND MAID crowd control as she really knows how to own an audience. It's the reason I use the line from DOMINATION "we dance in the palm of her hand" to describe her ... and the reason she is referred to as "the queen" even tho MIKU was the founder. Saiki actually has a very deep voice for a Japanese (or any) girl ... she also has a "Yaeba smile" which makes her pronunciation unique, much like Freddie Mercury and his teeth. She got the nickname "the Ice Queen" because she was rarely captured smiling as she was very self conscious about it ... due to the encouragement of fans she embraces it now :) .
Mr D...You are a wealth of information...Where do you find this ? I read this morning, that as of the release of Conquerer, Saiki said she would do something about her teeth when she was in her 40's. The others thought it to be a silly notion and (possibly?) Talked her out of it .
@@frankandre4385 That is why I referenced Freddie Mercury. He never got his teeth "fixed" because he was concerned it would affect his singing. As far as I am concerned she is beautiful just the way she is :) .
I like Saiki’s teeth. I kind of miss Su Metal’s yaeba teeth.
@@PANIC_aka_PinD It's the same reason Barbra Streisand never got a nose job...Some things shouldn't be messed with. I would never fault Saiki for doing what she thinks is best for her.
@@frankandre4385 Lets leave Barbara and her schnozz out of this :p . Lots of people in the entertainment industry are known for some of their unique features above and beyond their talent. If Saiki's yaeba smile helps them achieve world domination, I am all for it ;) .
One of my favorite things about their songs is usually songs this hard and heavy tend to be dark themes, but Band-Maid has so many uplifting songs and themes in their songs even while being really heavy. Having been to a couple of their concerts, I was grinning ear to ear the whole time.
Right! I don't like most Western Rock because it's so negative! I'm sorry your friend committed suicide or died from drugs or you hate religion but get over it! Don't take me with you.
@patron40silver I have to be in a mood to appreciate the darkness and usually avoid it. My profession was to help abused and neglected children. So I've never seen Schindler's list. But I am grateful for I hurt myself today as recorded by Johnny Cssh. I love BANDMAID and am willing for them to sing instructions from IKEA about assembly of a bookcase and be hsppy!
@@patron40silver This can be true for some but for a guy sometimes dealing with depression it makes things worse. I need something that gets me out of it. Not wallow in it.
As far as I know Miku had never played any instrument before she started learning guitar for Band-Maid which makes it doubly impressive to see how far she has come. There are some fan cams of early concerts from that era where she is only singing but within a year or so she was already holding her own with the rest of the band. Granted she was just playing chords, as do most rhythm guitarists, but their songs are so complex I can imagine it was pretty intimidating to even try to support the off the charts talent of the power trio of Kanami, Misa and Akane. There will always be a special place in my heart for our little pigeon.
Miku did start to learnthe organ - this from an interview in 2019 , translated and published on reddit : "When I was in the 1st year of elementary school, I went to an organ class. I started going to the class because I wanted to do it on my own accord, but once I started being told "You must do this! You must do that!", I didn't enjoy it anymore and stopped attending the class . However, after I stopped attending the class, I practiced on my own by using the learning materials and enjoyed it a lot." I'm not saying Miku can play organ / piano but she did try and learn when she was small. source : Miku's Interview in "The Day Before World Domination" visual book (21 Jan 2019)
Miku was the original singer and did not play any instruments until Kanami taught her to play guitar.
@stevehall5128 reminded us here that she was at least learning the accordion.
Miku was able to play by this time, and although Kanami would still play the rhythm parts in the studio, Miku would play on stage. As a rough guide, if Miku is holding a Rickenbacker, then it's an ornament, if she's holding a Zemaitis, like here, she can play her part.
Yeah, apparently Kanami, upon seeing Miku's choice of guitar, told her that the Rickenbacker wasn't going to cut it for the sound of the band but Miku didn't know any better at the time. She just picked it because she liked its looks. It was fine to start learning on.
I've seen some early live footage in which Miku plays a couple of different non-Zemaitis models, including a black Stratocaster-type guitar. Not sure if it was a Fender.
@@ApexRadius I think Miku's love of Sheena Ringo may have played a part too, her song Marunouchi Sadistic makes a "Rikken 620" an aspirational object.
Very possible, indeed. I only know that Miku said that she knew nothing about guitars at the time and chose it because she liked the way it looked.
Kanami was like, "Nuh-uh..."
I am so proud of Miku's growth as a guitar player. Watching her improvement over the years is inspirational.🕊
The members say that MISA is the nicest and funniest member.
She’s extremely shy.
You get to see her come out a bit in the live shows, especially making faces at Akane and sometimes messing with Miku during ‘magic time’.
@@ravenhull
Yes, she’s especially comfortable around Akane.
BAND-MAID is very lucky in that they not only have got one of the best drummers in rock and one of the best bassists in rock, but that these two are such close friends that they seem to be like one soul in two bodies. Moonchild and Sunchild, two sides of the same coin, the opposites which complement each other perfectly. And this is the rhythm section-a single word describing their unified duality.
♥ MISA!
Welcome back home Princess NittPicc! I hope you are having a wonderful day! This song does have closed captions on it, so you don't have to look up the lyrics, but I don't think "Play" does have closed captions. You had a really good grasp of what "Dice" is about without having read the lyrics yet. Miku is a little genius when it comes to writing lyrics, don't let that cute little lady fool you, and I'd strongly suggest you never try to play poker with her. Miku likes to write lyrics that can have different meanings for different people and uses a lot of words or phrases that have multiple meanings. Kanami tends to prefer complex rhythms, melodies and countermelodies, played really fast. Kanami set one of her goals to be writing a song faster than the fastest Dragon Force song which is about 225 bpm. She came close to that with "Black Hole" at 220 bpm. I suspect that little gentle genius will surpass that goal in the near future.
Thank you for not ignoring the vocals as most reactors do. I get it. What the trinity do is amazing. But the way Saiki floats over the flames and the support Miku gives her is amazing. One day you will find a song called Puzzle and you will see what I mean. And then you will find the acoustic version and Saiki and Kanami will have you in tears. (Although Anemone is even more emotional to me.)
😭 do not get me start it
Indeed! I often feel that most reactors don't give Miku and Saiki the credit they are due, but NittPicc gives every member the love they deserve. Our little pigeon has truly (l)earned her wings, Po!🕊
Great reaction and Saiki herself said that she was losing her voice and was worry that she won't be able to sing, she was also holding off on the operation has she had heard about singers losing their voice after the operation, but the band members all supported her and she got it done in the summer of 2017 and then a couple of months of vocal training (she and Miku both have vocal coaches now). DICE was recorded after the operation and her voice was back even better than before.
Also, if you're up for it, you could listen to the studio version and then the live version.
Saiki's (and Miku's) vocal coach is Ayako Nakanomori. Find a song called "Get the Glory" and you will see the similarities,
Everyone but Miku learned piano at some point. Miku knew how to sing japanese pop and japanese folk songs(enka), no piano nor guitar in the beginning. She was effectively strumming some notes until they decided either Saiki or Miku were needed to learn guitar. Saiki said NO, so Miku took up that mantle.
On the costumes, Akane-Miku-Kanami are the maids, and Misa-Saiki are the rock representations 😆
Saiki started piano last year.
Musicians really like and appreciate Band-Maid. The rhythm, instrumentation, melody and composition are so satisfying.
🤙🏽
The Band Maid translated interviews on Reddit are lengthy but contain a lot of information on the creative process that they go through. It's like reading an unedited biography but quite fascinating !
Yes, it's a good place to start, po! Hi Frank! 😃
@@charlescoleman4017 Been having some fascinating conversation on this channel today...I was wondering where you were . 🤔
@@frankandre4385 Mostly on Twitter, but also running some errands. Tending to my physical needs as well. . . . no not THOSE needs, LOL~! I am feeling much better. sometimes you just have to pamper yourself a bit. Physical therapy exercises have been a godsend.
“Bubble,” has more changes than any other song I’ve heard and I’ve listened to everything I could find.
“Influencer,” has a 2 part bass solo followed by a unique sounding Kanami solo.
Often overlooked is what having two good singers allows in their music. Alone has them trading lead lines. Secret My Lips shows fantastic harmonizing in the last chorus. Corallium is them doing stuff. I don't know how to describe it. Extra bravo to Miku for having such a controlled flexible voice. Wide variety of vocalizations, higher and lower than Saiki, and a close tonal match to Saiki on demand.
I'll have to listen to your suggested tracks again---because that mingling of Miku and Saiki's voices is probably my favourite thing in all of Bandmaid !
@@wave8359I was wrong about Alone re trading leads. Still great vocals. The trading leads was more common on their first two albums.
As I've said on other reaction videos, Thrill got my attention and Dice made me go "Holy f#@k they are good."
As far as the lyrics, the song subject is a bit more, um "adult" than I thought when first saw it years ago.
Great reaction again, and it's fun watching your journey down the Pigeon Hole.
If you’re referring to candy or whip, that’s actually just the Japanese version of carrot or stick. The line is just about motivation.
Yeah, actually it's not that kind of adult theme at all, as the above reply mentions. It's about going bravely into the world and taking chances, dealing with setbacks, and capitalizing on opportunities. So, yes, it's very much about being an adult in that sense.
I posted a information file about the song. What it is, is the Ladies calling out the shut ins called Hikikomori or NEET's. IT's saying are you going to sit there playing with dolls in your parents basement or are you going to roll the dice and step out into the real world and challenge yourself.
Thanks for the information and clarification. It is appreciated, but i still like my version, fantasy that it may be 😎
@@greylocke100😅
You never forget your first love. Dice was the first song I heard from them (in a reaction too! ) and I was just floored. I've been Maidiac ever since. I'm not going to give you any other songs because whatever you do next will be a favorite!
Mine is Domination.
I was talking about my love of female bass players, and was linked to this and Domination (live). Never turned back.
Miku wrote almost all of the lyrics and actively appeared in all media to raise her profile as the band's publicist. Meanwhile, she devoted all her personal time to practicing her guitar. Kanami-sensei gave her a pep talk, and while her fingertips were bleeding, she worked hard in the little time she had to practice.😂
Their dedication to perfection shows how much they really love what they do and care for each other.
No Miku never actually played anything until she picked up guitar basically out of necessity after Band-Maid was already formed. She had the idea for the band and then realized they needed a different singer because her voice didn't fit the style she wanted the music to be. Her talents were just pure charisma and absolute strength of will and untamed desire for her dream. That was a dangerous combination and she found 4 others that shared it and bam magic. She's the one I admire most because while everyone else has these innate musical talents she worked so hard every day and still does to rise to everyone's level and succeeds.
Excellent description! She just had to kick at the dark until it bled daylight (Bruce Cockburn) My Daddy would have said she's got a head like a ball peen hammer 😂
They've put out "live in studio" acoustic videos of "Catharsis" and "Sayonakidori" that really showcase how Miku's grown as both a singer and a guitarist, especially on "Sayonakidori" which I think she also wrote. ua-cam.com/video/sGzAQigaL14/v-deo.html
Yes, as you put it: "..pure charisma and absolute strength of will..."
That's Miku all right !
and btw----Miku's walking- about adventures in Kyoto are really worth seeing...she reveals a great appreciation for place and landscape,,,,and it's fascinating to see her deeper and thoughtful self.
Altogether, an admirable--as well as impossibly charming!---person.
Yo NP, as far as I know Miku plays no other instrument. I don't know if this is still a fact but Kanami plays all guitar parts on recordings then would show Miku how to play her parts Live. But there is no denying the fact that Miku's on the job learning and playing Live (in addition to singing!) should be an exemplary example to others of what can be accomplished with a great teacher, a massive desire and immense confidence. The whole BAND-MAID story would be an Awesome documentary that I'll be waiting for. Don't forget FROM NOW ON. Peace. 3.07
She did from now on 2 songs ago
You're wrong, Meek even has a solo project where she plays guitar alone, and she plays it great
@@Olkam-w5u Someone shows her what to play. She doesn't write music.
@@jkkansasband7056 Then we can say that all symphony orchestras do not know how to play music, because they do not write it themselves, but play, for example, Mozart.
@@Olkam-w5u I'm very confused as to what you're trying to say or what you think I said.
About vocal layering, most of the time is Miku going either up or down to contrast Saiki's voice. If you listen to their live shows, you can hear Mikus super low voice as well as her highs.
"Blooming" is my fave twin-vocals track and "Sayonakidori (acoustic)" is great to see how much Miku has grown (she did the guitar arrangement herself) as well as her cutesy voice
Whichever song you choose with this band, you'll never be let down. Some don't quite hit as hard as others but that's only by B-M standards. They're all good songs.
Looking forward to Play next week already.
Dice has to be one of my absolute favorite songs from the Maids because of the message, the symbolism and just everything makes it a top pick in my book. I'm glad you enjoyed it ♥
Assassins never show emotion.
🥷!!!
6:23 "I didn't know what to listen to!"
Relatable. This is every BAND-MAID fan upon their first listen to any new BAND-MAID song.
When you listen to their tunes, you have the impression that each girl has her own music sheet, making each of their songs complex and unique.
Kate Chopin. To me, this song is all about Awakening. And deciding to be Awakened. Are you gonna roll the dice? Candy or whip?
Saiki and a whip? And 4 inch heels? Where is this song going?
@@glenkelley6799 🤔where ever Saiki wants to take it. 😍🥵
Ohrenje's docu-series is the best one. Make sure you do them in order :)
I've had the pleasure of seeing them live twice, front row in Houston 22 in front of MISA and they are easily the best live band on the planet. Miku also handed me a pick at the end of the show because I had a sign in Japanese asking for a pick...she literally leaned over and handed me one. Oh and BTW MISA is absolutely beautiful in person.
MISA 😍😍😍
looking forward to Band Maid sundays now. but how in the world are you going to go a week without listening to the Maids??
"Afterlife" has a killer riff and will make you laugh and bust a move at the same time.
Misa always plays barefoot... She says it helps her feel the vibrations from Akane's drums. And she usually drinks some Jim Beam during concerts. It helps with her shyness and as she gets more tipsy, her playing gets more phenomenal!!! These days she's cut down on the drinking a bit though she does love her alcohol.
Miku is also an expert gambler! LOL.... She is an expert at the horse races and won a poker tournament before.
I think she is also a part owner in a race horse.
She has a good po-ker face.
B-M's massive talent, charisma, creativity and firecracker tunes are what initially attracted me to this band but the more i learn about them individually the more I adore them, this rock and roll sisterhood has such respect and gratitude to their fan base, something that is so missing from other bands who are arrogant a-holes. Loved the reaction thanks from Australia 👍🍻
I don't think we've been introduced...Is Australia a country...an attitude...or a brand of rum...and are you commenting from inside a bottle ? Inquiring minds want to know...🤔🥃🧠🇦🇺
@@frankandre4385 I'm intrigued who is this Philosopher channeling Socrates and Plato using rum bottle analogues. Indeed am in in the bottle or out, is Oz a state of mind, is there more to reality than any Sense could realise, an Unseen World perhaps. All fair ponderings good sir but I do prefer the more direct realism of the Goddesses Five e.g the Candy or the Whip. I'm now going to wish you well and bid you adieu as I retire to meditate on how much rum my navel could hold, perhaps I'll find out tonight 🤪😃👍🍻🥃
@@brunobryant4846 Wow...such fascinating repartee ! I had a genie in a bottle once...I received no wishes and perhaps it was only a worm...Hard to tell... Anyway...I mourned that genie, who met the unkind fate of drowning in a bottle of River Raisin Agave Spirit . Ah, what might have been...😭💰
Yea, the Ohrenje Documentary set is really good, worth a watch if you are interested in their how it all started.
The transition from the bass solo into the guitar solo is the chef's kiss. So smooth and seamless.
The lollapalooza video is a raw feed so it is truly a live video.
Great reaction yet again. I love to hear proper musicians (that's not me) analysing Band-Maid's music. It is true that it usually takes a few passes in the beginning to appreciate the complexity of their music. I have an open mind about music and today, as I do occasionally, take a listen to other Japanese rock and metal bands, just to make sure I'm not missing anything- they were what most people would consider the 9 most popular bands on youtube. I'm sorry- But for me, Baby Metal are not a band. They are a singing and dancing vocal trio with a backing band, but still probably the most popular. But just to confirm- Band-Maid are the best technical musicians and composers by miles. Any band that repeats the same arrangement for the verse or chorus now, doesn't work for me- say no more.
Love Thrill. Puzzle. Dice was the final hook for me.
These ladies are my favorite hard rock band today and there are a lot of bands from the last century that I listen to and enjoyed because I'm an old headbanger, but these ladies are so ahead of so many other bands.
To see Miku go from air guitar in Thrill mv to the awe inspiring lead in solo of influencer during 10th anniversary Yokohama concert, makes you appreciate what she has put into her skills with hard work.
I guess you need to know a little about the MAID CAFE culture in Japan. Many girls working in these places will make music and CDs to have something to sell to guests as sort of a "side hustle". MIKU was in an IDOL singing group called "Lil Cummin" with a couple of other girls from the same cafe, and yes, she can really sing. The group won some sort of singing competition before the formation of BAND MAID so that was really her musical exposure at the time the band was started. Yukina from Hanabie also worked in a MAID cafe but that is a story for another time :) .
I don't think the other girls were from the same café. They had all been winners of a talent search competition.
@@ApexRadius I always thought Risa Aoyagi and Yuuki Yano were employed at the same cafe, but I could be wrong.
@@PANIC_aka_PinDIt would seem very unlikely but someone else might have better information. I believe the talent search competition had about 2600 entrants with multiple rounds. Three winners were chosen to be in the group.
Entrants are usually judged as individuals. I suppose it could have been run like a Battle of the Bands but that doesn't seem to be the case. So it would be quite a coincidence if all three winners were working at the same café at the same time or had ever worked there at any time.
That said, I don't know a lot about the idol system and find it a bit nuts. But we do have similar talent competitions in the West.
@@ApexRadius I do have a photo of all 3 together in MAID outfits but I can not find any confirmation that Risa or Yuuki worked at Home Cafe in Akihabara
@@PANIC_aka_PinD Ah, okay, I think I know where the confusion is coming from. Lil' Cumin did perform in maid costumes at times. There's an old video of it. But, of course, that was after the group was formed.
I'd venture a guess that it helped solidfy Miku's idea for B-M. LC was a really sickly-sweet idol group so I can imagine how she thought she could turn the whole thing on its head.
Also, B-M wasn't the first rock band to appear as maids. Doll$boxx did it for one music video. There could have been others, too. But B-M was the one to turn it into a full blown band theme.
Thank you NittPicc for your reaction! All I can say is Wow, your a really good reactor, you recognize both musical and visual motifs very quickly! There is so much fun with Band-Maid. Not only so many fantastic songs, it‘s the whole package with these ladies: their personas, their interaction with each other and their fans, the story of how the band was founded etc. You have a wonderful journey ahead of you!
If she wants to she can be very success as a youtube reactor. Total package! Funny,enthusiastic, knowledgeable and beautiful
I love Band-Maid's music because it feels like it is breathing and alive because of so many changes and not always playing the same thing over and over
What a great reaction! One of the best, in my opinion.
Mentioning next week’s song in advance is a nice courtesy. I’m looking forward to it.
I’ll offer only two insights today.
1) Yes, all the Maids are genuinely nice people. How nice? They leave rented tour buses cleaner than when they get it.
They are also close friends. And they have the most sincere affection towards their fans of any band I know of. How much? They have written 4 (four!) songs dedicated to their fans.
2) Those goosebumps will happen a lot when listening to Band Maid. A lot, a lot. I’m letting you know ahead of time; there will be some whenever you decide to review “Blooming.” The bridge. OMG that beautiful bridge! You’ll see.
I'll simply add that you NAILED IT! Everything. Great reaction and VERY keen observations. One note: My guess is WHEN you go to your first Band-Maid concert, you'll think "I'm going to focus on MISA." MANY people say this. Or, if they are guitarists, they say "I'm watching Kanami (or now Miku) the whole time." As a former drummer, I ALWAYS watch the drums. That is until I went to my first Band-Maid serving. Because as most MISA fans and Kanami/Miku enthusiasts and Akane crazies find out, it's almost impossible to take one's eyes off...Saiki. She has the gravitational pull of a thousand suns. She's mesmerizing... and she's just....getting....better. It's NUTS! 🤯One prediction: If it hasn't happened already, I'm guessing that very shortly you will be interviewed by either MNN (Maid News Network) or The Gaijin Guys Podcast...or both. THAT will be VERY cool. Thanks much and keep smilin', NittPicc! 🕊
As others have mentioned, Miku started from scratch, which is all the more amazing if you see her play today. Always right on time and in tune even with the most complicated of rhythms. I can honestly say I’ve never seen Miku make a mistake when seeing them live or watching Band-Maid live videos.
One of these days, Mike is going to play a tapping solo on stage and everyone is going to lose their shit.
Yes. Including me.
I love Maid Sundays! The girls are unsurpassed when it comes to combining complex compositions under highly catchy main melodies. In Dice, specifically, three sections of the song out of tempo, perfectly spun as in a pearl necklace. Master songwriters!, specially in their bridges and second verses. Thank you NittPicc!, great job.
Kanami does such an amazing job with her solos of making me want more. They're just SLIGHTLY too short for me, which is perfect for me. They never wear out their welcome.
Info file about the song Dice.
The song's basically about taking risks, seizing opportunities, putting in the work to get the rewards. Roll the dice. Take your shot.
The doll is just a doll. It's harmless - in fact, that's kind of the point. The doll is a simulated person, it's safe. The girl is blindfolded, in the dark, holding the doll for comfort. She's sheltered. At the end of the video the girl abandons the doll, lifts up the blindfold, steps into a blinding light that represents the uncertainty and opportunity that she's been hiding from.
This song is a call to arms. In Japan they have a sub-culture of shut-ins, people who are either unemployed or under employed who basically won't move out on their own. They stay in their parent/grandparent's home basically playing with dolls or video games, instead of getting out and living life and trying to better themselves. This song is calling them out. Challenging them, "Are you gonna stay in there playing with DOLLLLLLLLLS like a little kid? Or are you going to stand up take off the blindfold, leave the dolls and games behind and step out into the real world?" At the end of the video, the girl puts down the doll, takes off the blindfold and steps into the light.
It's called Hikikomori in Japan and is defined as: "pulling inward, being confined", also known as severe social withdrawal, is total withdrawal from society and seeking extreme degrees of social isolation and confinement. Hikikomori refers to both the phenomenon in general and the recluses themselves. The concept is primarily recognized only in Japan, although similar concepts exist in other languages and cultures. Hikikomori have been described as loners or "modern-day hermits". Estimates suggest that half a million Japanese youths have become social recluses, as well as more than half a million middle-aged individuals. - Definition from Wikipedia
Thanks, it's a very interesting analysis!
Although I always thought that Miku put a deeper meaning into this song. I feel that it's like a call from God to humans, to His creatures. God is standing there, His arms are full of gifts for us-but we have to make a step and start moving, to obtain those gifts. "Call Me Call Me Call Me" sounds to me like an eternal offer from God, that we should/must cry for His help, and the help will be provided. But we have to take responsibility for what we are doing.
Also, God tries to awaken people and direct them to the right path by both "a carrot and a whip", i.e., reward and punishment. "One moment of pain, ten moments of delight," - that's what any wayfarer on this path is going through. No pain no gain.
This song is full of such wise insights. Kobato-sama is truly one of the deepest philosophers of our time, in my opinion.
Thank you for this! Again, this is the kind of thing I love. I learn something new with every single comment. ☺️
Miku basically had no desire to play an instrument at all but it was decided a second guitarist was needed, they agreed they didnt want another member so it was either going to be saiki (who outright refused) or Miku for the role. in the Thrill video she was told to pretend to play a bit and not dace so much swinging the guitar around or she might kill someone with it. Kanami played both guitar parts for studio recordings for years as miku practiced and got better with Kanami as her teacher for live performances. look up Ohrenje's video "BAND-MAID Documentary / KOBATO Miku -Part I-"
She is so good now that in the last concert Muku actually played a wonderful solo intro to Influencer at the Yokohama Arena
Saiki with guitar...isn't the right image maybe with acoustic looks okay. 😂
Saiki will be celebrating her 30s in two days finally joining her sisters.
This is post-surgery for Saiki (BTW Miku had the same surgery). Saiki's surgery was in the summer of 2017 after struggling with her voice for the previous year or two. She had some vocal training before Band-Maid, but really didn't have much in the way of technique and got by on natural ability. The polyps led her to work with a vocal coach who had been through the same issues. Now, she has amazing technique and can manage her voice well enough to do a 3.5 hour concert (Yokohama Arena show last November) and can finesse her vocals in ways she couldn't pre-surgery. In Band-Maid's discography, everything up to 2017's Just Bring It ( Band-Maid's fourth album) is before her surgery. The single Daydreaming/Choose Me (with Play as the b-side) was the first post-surgery studio recording. There's a very noticeable improvement in her voice, which went from good to amazing at that point.
Saiki's range is definitely wider than 3 octaves now I guess. Saiki and Miku swap low and high registers in recent songs works really well, until 2017 Saiki relied on Miku on lower or higher notes a lot.
Saiki's speaking voice before the surgery was painfully raspy.
Misa may look grumpy, she's as goofy as the others,
Pretty sure Miku doesn't play piano. Kanami taught her to play guitar and even wrote at least one song as a tutorial to prepare Miku for a more difficult song. Until recently (don't know about Unleash ep) I believe Kanami played all the guitar parts in the studio versions. (Kanami mentioned this in an interview.) That gave Miku more time to prepare for live shows. So this is probably Kanami playing rhythm in this studio recording. Of course they would have made this MV well after the studio recordings.
I really enjoy watching your reactions, it's like I relive my first reactions to their songs all over again. Your sheer joy is unmistakable. Your comment about Kanami is spot on. Off stage, she is very different from on stage. When it comes to playing, she is a real tiger. I've been right in front of her close to the stage twice and she is amazing to watch. It didn't happen at the shows I was at, but she does occasionally come down off the stage and gets close to the audience and everyone loves her for it. She is a genius composer but shows no ego at all.
From what I've read, Miku never really brought up the maid costumes in any detail before they went to film their first video or live show, and Saiki and Misa weren't too thrilled. That's why they went their own way, which was a stroke of genius and made the band even more interested. Misa supposedly wanted to be an assassin maid and Saiki being a fashion model before had her own ideas, lol. But it all worked out perfectly. They have a chance to become one of the most iconic bands of all time by the time they are through.
The best thing is that there are no egos with them, they all pitch in together to make things work perfectly. The harmonies between Saiki and Miku are all so smooth and on point. Sometimes it seems like they are a hive mind where they can finish each others sentences. I know you are going to react to the documentaries, but I believe the same creator also made some hilarious movies about Band Maid using Monty Python and James Bond as templates. You really have to experience them when they come back on tour here. There are also some very good videos of a number of their live performances when they were here on tour. Keep up the good work.
hello honey....I can honestly can say that I get so excited when you post a new review !!!!! band maid and you reviewing them is pure destiny
I happen to be in the minority on the Lollapalooza performance only because the sound sucks.....Im one the madiacs pushing for Play Live
The intro will totally blow your mind !!!!! Look forward to next review !!!!
Just put the list of Band-Maid songs on the wall and throw a dart at it.....be sure "WHY-WHY-WHY" is on there.
All Miku could do was sing and dream. DICE was off their 2021 World Domination Album so that was well after Saiki's surgery which I believe was end of 2017 or beginning of 2018. Right before the surgery she was bad, very low and gravely. Saiki has a low voice in general, check out some interviews and you'll see. Akane's drop right after MISA's bass solo....she does that a lot, "Afterlife" has an epic drop.
I think most of us feel the same concerning Misa. She is the first member I recognized and loved. She is instantly cool. And her bass tone is soooooo good.
Then you learn that each member has a very individual and interesting character besides their musician talent:
Saiki has a surprising deep voice when laughing which sounds so wonderful.
A-ka-ne is so emotional and most of the time smiling.
Ka-na-mi is such a nice person and a genius composer.
And miku ... Well, that would be a really long story 😂 That's why it is so important to watch not just the songs but also some Omajinai-time, interviews, documentaries, live interaction etc.
You may grasp some nice little interactions during the live performance of "Freedom"!
The lead-in line to the chorus, "Seize the moment," only is sung before chorus numbers 2 and 3. It not only reflects the dramatic progression of the song you talked about but is emblematic of a strong and ongoing band theme: take off the blinders and move forward. You should definitely react to Dice and Hate as a single performance at Lolapalooza.
I really enjoyed this review. As a non-musician,I have no idea of the technical info you share(minor or major key?) ,but it doesn't matter. For me,any thing I don't understand,I lump in with the appreciation I have for the music. A good example is opera,which I dearly love,despite not understanding the language. The singing is just another musical instrument which enhances the performance. So,I look forward to your next Band Maid review.
Fun fact... Misa got her fan chosen nickname, Barefoot Assassin, because of a comment that Miku made about Misa's outfit. During an interview on a tv show the host said that Misa was not even wearing a maid outfit. Miku spoke up and said Misa was wearing an assassin maid outfit. That along with Misa's preference to go barefoot on stage gave rise to her nickname.
The band kept the maid outfits a secret from Saiki until just before they took the stage for their first show together. She soon ditched the apron from it and eventually progressed to the more elegant outfits that she now wears. I always think of Saiki's outfit as more of a hostess / greeter maid than a server maid.
Ok....I'm an oldish guy....lemme tell ya....back in the '70's, I would have loved to sit down, smoke weed, and listened to tunes with you in a group.....you seem like a very contagiously fun person....DICE was my second Band Maid song.....I was hooked.....yes....please do check out Ohrenje's documentaries....they are VERY well done and full of tidbits....Saiki is first....of course...LOL....nice work...nice energy....thanks for the content
My favorite part of this song is the transition from bass solo to guitar solo. It's so seamless.
Their song "Rinne" (reincarnation) was written in response to critics who claimed their music was too "Pop". Oh yeah, I often get goosebumps listening to their songs.
As others have stated Miku could not play anything (Kanami is the pianist), Miku learnt guitar while in a band that was constantly touring - a concept that scares the life out of me lol!
Miku Kobato "Little Pigeon" - band founder - rhythm guitar and second vocals. Main lyricist. Claims to be an 810 year old pigeon and makes pigeon noises when she speaks. Po! Very good at poker, into horses - betting on them and eating them. Very clumsy, may fall into ditches. The heart and soul of the band.
Saiki Atsumi "The Ice Queen" - Lead vocalist and frontwoman. The youngest member at 29. Into train spotting and collecting trainers (sports shoes). Very girly, into doing her nails and is a fashion icon. Really into Baseball and the Hanshin Tigers. Don't mess with her you will lose. But she has a heart of gold and a killer dry sense of humour. Recently started writing lyrics. Has final say on songs.
Kanami Tono - "Kanamincho" or usually just "Mincho" for short. Lead guitar and an absolute genius songwriter. Total riff machine. Has two personas. Normally a tiny cute shy very polite lady who seems very innocent (the band have to explain dirty jokes to her). Until she puts on her guitar. As the band say "then she gets quite violent" - she turns into the shredding rock star she is. Takes guitar off, back to the little girl. Likes cake, coffee and is totally infatuated by Saiki. She adores Saiki very much, to everyone's amusement.
Akane Hirose - "The Gorilla" on Drums. Seems to be the sane member of the band, but is actually the band clown. Has an enormous appetite, seen eating in a lot of MV's. Eats a lot of bananas including on stage, hence the nickname. But she is terrible at actual cooking. Usually has a big grin on her face while drumming manically, Akane was also a DJ (under the name DJ Achi) and likes dancing and goofing with MISA.
MISA (all caps, no last name) "The Barefoot Assassin" on bass. An absolute bass prodigy, MISA is very shy onstage (a total clown offstage with Akane). Nickname comes from the fact she plays barefoot and looks like an assassin. Because of shyness often drinks onstage, you can often spot a bottle of Jim Beam on her amp. She drinks it neat. Lately drinking more beer than whiskey though, good girl. Doesn't say much, but when she does it's usually totally hilarious! At a lot of concerts you will hear the fans chanting MISA! MISA! MISA! which has become a slogan.
@@waynedahlen9655 Wtf? She does. The band does. I do. Millions of people do in many countries. That's fact. And ITS NORMAL. You sound like a fascist. Got your MAGA hat on Karen?
"oooh this feels good!" YES! That's exactly it. Band Maids music just feel full of joy. They are my musical happy place these last few years. Every time I listen to them I just start smiling. Great reaction. Looking forward to Play next week 😃
I get goosebumps and teary eyes every single time the song reaches THAT point. And hearing it live for the first time was so amazing!!
Miku had zero experience with any musical instruments, until Kanami taught her how to play guitar. Miku was actually part of a J-pop trio, which didn’t achieve significant success, prior to her deciding to form Band Maid. As for Misa & Akane, there’s a performance video of a J-pop singer in which Misa & Akane are playing on it. It’s a funny video but their playing is solid. Through 2015/16, Saiki under a very heavy touring schedule, threw her voice out and developed polyps on her vocal cords. During that time she was performing under severe pain. Although she was very fearful, she had the surgery that was a success and her voice is better than ever. Band Maid is amazing live. There are fantastic official live performance videos of “Real Existence”, “Freedom”, “Domination” and “Play” are well worth your time.
A quick suggestion. BAND-MAID is known for changing arrangements for live performances. They don't always do it so it's always a surprise. Do a comparison of Manners studio vs official live. Mind blowing how different they are.
I forgot to mention that the official live video for MANNERS is two songs but there is a good break between songs.
Great reaction again.these ladies are so damn good live,,,,yes Dice and Hate live at Lollapalooza live 2023 jeez they were on fire,its so good to see them feckin rip it up.enjoy Nittpic.
This song is perfect.
Great reaction again. I love your explanations based on an obvious understanding of music. You became within a short time one of my favorite reactors. I have the feeling that Band-Maid could be your Band too. You still have just scratched the surface. Yes Dice & Hate together live at Lolapalooza is a great example to get the live impression, even if the movie director was so overwhelmed that he did knew where to lend his eye on 🙂 But I guess you could be ready for some more complex stuff. I would like to recommend "Corralium" unfortunately there is no music video for it or the "Live" performance of "Manners" and "Black Hole" which shows the extreme span they cover. Looking forward for next Sunday.
Here's my take on DICE's lyrics: I know the "dice" have already been thrown (as in her lyrics), but I choose to look at it as stop being indecisive, sitting in a dark room playing with dolls (TV, phone, toys, games, etc.). "Seize the moment", roll the dice, open your eyes, and walk into the light! Miku's lyrics, especially after translation, can be a bit cryptic - open for interpretation, as are all poems and lyrics. But their music is always right on point which melds the two into wonderful songs of possibilities! Thx, Ms Picc! 🤘😂
Yes, MISA's charisma is really something special. 'Free' is a pretty good description, as Kanami gives her almost complete freedom to create her own parts as she sees fit. And in the end it always does, without sounding boring or repetitive. Together with Akane (dr) and Miku (gt), this results in a rhythm section that is unbeatable for me. 🔥🤘🏻
Speaking of MISA's charisma. There's another musician out there who is equally deeply chilled out when you see her on stage. Only she's part of what is perhaps one of the best lead guitar duos out there today, so she's usually a bit more in the spotlight. :) The name of this band has probably been mentioned before, and if you like guitar solos, I can only warmly recommend you to give 'Lovebites' a listen. Please put the track 'Holy War (Live at Zepp DiverCity Tokyo 2020)' on your list! Yes, there is a newer version, but the 'old' one has a better sound mix.😉 Once you've settled into the pigeon-hole of Band-Maid, a little visit to the wolf den could be quite fun. 🤭🙋🏻♂
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_"America invented rock. England improved it. And now, Japan has perfected it."_
※ Band-Maid ※ Gacharic Spin ※ Lovebites ※ Nemophila ※ East of Eden ※ Hanabie ※ Asterism ※ Trident ※ etc.
I don't know if you know this yet, but Miku's last name is Kobato which means small pigeon. And yes, Miku thinks she is a small pigeon even making pigeon noises. Apparently, in Japan, pigeons make this noise - "kuruppo." sometimes Miku just says po for short. Her signature guitar is called the Flappy Pigeon, made by Zemaitis. It is decorated with pigeons. The fun personalities of these ladies make them so easy to love. They have real love and appreciation for their fans, as well as each other. I got to meet them briefly in 2019 at a preshow meet and greet. They were so down to earth and fun, despite the language barrier. They are exactly the kind of people you want your heroes and idols to be.
I'm happy you reacted to Dice. This is the one that made me a Maidiac.
You might need a seatbelt and a crash helmet when you watch Dice-Hate? LOL! It is Rock and Roll Badassery at it's finest! Another great reaction, thank you! The first time I saw them live, I was worried that maybe they wouldn't sound as good live as recorded, it's been known to happen, as you mentioned. Not always the band's fault. Rented equipment, bad acoustics in a strange place, etc. I worried for no reason. As good as they are in the studio, their energy live is off the charts! That whole first show for me - Echoplex, LA 10-1-2019 - was awesome. But these four songs took it over the top for me. Dice- the one you just reacted to as well as Choose Me (which was featured in the Netflix movie "Kate,") Take me Higher and my favorite song - Freedom. Also, not only was Choose Me featured in "Kate" another song, Blooming was too. And oh yeah, Band Maid played themselves performing in a nightclub scene. I know you have been swamped with reaction requests for them, but if you are looking to change it up a bit, they did an acoustic show for Christmas in 2021 that just blew us all away. I wasn't even a big fan of acoustic music, but they were just so damn amazing. If you search for Band Maid acoustic you'll probably get a video or two from that show. Sayonakidori (Nightengale in Japanese) is a powerful, emotional song sung my Miku, not Saiki. In fact, it's just Akane, Misa and Miku. Simply beautiful. I still have trouble keeping my eyes from leaking when I hear that song and I'm a 60 year old ex-Marine. Just an incredible band. Thank you again for your excellent insight and entertaining reaction!
At you taking a pun Lol - lollapalooza?
This band is just so good! I love this song so much! Just incredible. Akane just kills it as always. Mincho's "revving" on the neck is beyond awesome. That riff Kanami plays is so darn catchy. Sick bass and guitar. Miku is holding rhythm so well and Saiki is the slayer! This song has everything I want in a BAND-MAID composition. PERFECTION. Love your channel NittPicc. I have subbed!
Sugoi! Another great reaction. Love to see you're learning and enjoying! Since you'll be doing BAND-MAID Sundays, my suggestion would be to do the Official Music Video followed by the Official LIVE Video of the same song. Then we'd get twice as much of your excellent reactions!
Arigatou! 🤘🤘 #SurrenderLove #ShareHappyLetsDance
Did you know that Jimmy Page took in a Band Maid show a few years back (in Japan, I think) and was so impressed with Akane's drumming that he just had to go backstage and meet her! That is high praise, indeed! There are pictures to prove it, too!
MISA MISA MISA!!!!! "Thrill" saved Band-Maid Literally "Dice" saved me Figuratively my life was dull and boring I was sick of even my favourite Bands and found ALL modern music BORING and generic I had heard Band-Maid in 2016 ("Real Existence") and had sort of been keeping loose track of them as well as Babymetal THEN in Feb 2018 15 seconds Changed EVERYTHING the first 15 seconds (BASS BASS BASS) of "Dice" I have now traveled from my home in Australia to half way round the world to LA USA in 2019 to see them Live (twice) and not a single day goes by without me listening to at least one Band-Maid song.
I think you should continue to wait to check out the lyrics til later, but I think you definitely want to see these lyrics.
If you want to see and hear some excellent instrumentals from the Maids, there are some referred to as the "White Room" instrumentals, because the 4 instrumentalists are all in a line playing in a completely white room. They are difficult to find though. Most, if not all, are bonus videos from limited edition CD's. One of the best is Giovanni.
This was my third band-maid song, after Freedom/Domination, and as bass lover i felt in love. My favourite interview is on dailymotion they talk about Miku/Saiki different personalities and naughty jokes before shows. I never saw Ohrenje documentary series.
Everyone is taken by MISA. But also the same could be said for Saiki, Miku, Akane and Kanami, po!
there is band-maiko, cluppo, instrumentals, and acoustic, and live, all awesome
Glad you are enjoying my favorite band. They deserve a Grammy!! If you do teach flute you need to hear Wagakki Band's flute player.
Honestly, the way you're into music and the fact that you actually know what you're talking about is awesome. I love your reactions and your attitude, keep it up PO! :) ❤
One thing I LOVE about this band is they never play the same chorus. In any song if you listen to the first chorus then the second the way they play them is completely different. They said they don’t want to be a “cookie cutter” band. This applies to verses too
I've said something like this on other channels, but musicians do the best music reaction videos, especially to a band like BAND-MAID. A musician has the technical knowledge to understand what the band is doing and what they hear might be different, even to another musician, based on their musical speciality.
Dice has two of my favorite Miku lines- "Come over to my place. Candy or the whip? What's your preference?" and "One moment of pain, ten moments of delight." 😮
Miku, what are you trying to tell us? 😏
Another band to react to that has top notch musicianship is Leonid and Friends.
As you will find out shortly, whatever they lay down in the studio, they take to the stage.
One of the best live bands worldwide atm.
This is my favourite Band maid tune, pure talent right there. 🔥🔥
Don't worry about people's suggestions.... pick any song... MV, live, audio only, documentaries, side projects, interviews... trust me, with the Band-Maid community, it won't matter. Just make sure you keep track of what you've reacted to as you'll get lost if you don't, lol.
I’m sorry but any time there is a bass solo I cry because it’s so EPIC!!!! 🤘🏽🤘🏽🤘🏽🤘🏽🤘🏽🤘🏽 Just adds onto more of why I’m always looking forward to more videos on here!!! 🎉🎉🎉🎉
MISA is just a casual badass. 🤘🔥🤘
🤘🏽🤘🏽🤘🏽🥃🥃🥃
Live Maid is the Best Maid.....anyone can fake it in the studio but to bring that experience to the Live Stage and elevate the performance...Well just saying....
Saiki voice in live now it’s outstanding
Yeah she's grown a lot too. Started practising piano last year or so and played it solo on massive stage...she looks better with piano than guitar I guess.
Very beautiful understanding of the song.
Always enjoy your reacts, NP! I always get a little more out of the song, musically speaking, than I started out with.