Thank you for doing this. Like others have said, it's almost five minutes shorter in the studio because there's no breaks between movements (Yoshiki didn't have to run back and forth from the piano and drums in the studio, obviously), and he drew the piano solo out a little longer here than he needed to. A lot of people think the piano solo doesn't need to be there, but the entire song builds towards it. The piano solo is meant to represent a mental breakdown and recovery, hence the rapid decline into keyslamming and then slowly coming back to the original melody, it's shorter and better executed in the studio version. This live version is amazing because they managed to pull this entire thing off live though, especially Yoshiki, who was known to black out from exhaustion and other health issues at his drums anyway (these days he's had countless back surgeries, neck surgeries, and has to wear a neck brace when playing drums, he's broken his neck, his back, both wrists and a leg playing with the ferocity he used to, as explained in the We Are X documentary, he was born extremely frail). But definitely check out Kurenai, X, Week End, Rusty Nail, Endless Rain, etc. from them. They were the band that started EVERYTHING as we know it now in Japan.
You're right Xero. Spot on there. When I first listened to them back 15 years ago, I did not really enjoy the dragging piano solo but after awhile understanding the message they trying to bring.... you actually do enjoy and it feels like an important build-up to the music.
I agree. Yoshiki likes to involve his listener to this masterpiece. The piano part isn’t the most technically satisfying to hear if you’re just in it for the music. If you hear the piano part live after all the commotion in the first movement, you’d know this is the part where you somehow get involved. Suddenly, it’s not just about Yoshiki’s life experiences. However, different circumstances, his pain is relatable to varying degrees which makes this piece very powerful. The piano part becomes meditative and I started reflecting on my own life. My own ups and downs and such. Suddenly, the long segment becomes very very short LOL.
People are bobble heads. If they think the piano solo doesn't need to be there then they have no business listening to this. It is clearly beyond them and they don't get it.
Hey man, good to see a reaction video for this masterpiece. I'm a lifelong X Japan fan and I used to always skip the piano part until it finally clicked for me. The problem is the piano section is boring if you listen to it for musicality. But you have to listen to it more emotionally and psychologically with the theme of the song in mind. The song is about the trials and tribulations of life, and the piano section is a musical representation of going through the mundane pain of life, trying and failing to capture the light of living. I would highly recommend giving the studio album version a listen as it is captured there much better.. as you mentioned in your commentary, there are many moments in the piano section where you go "There we go..it's getting brighter"..only to have it come crashing down again, like life does so often. The studio version does a great job of capturing that moment at the end where the piano section finally comes together with the bright strings and the song rockets back to excitement. The last passage seems like they're playing the same bit over, but it gives you a distinct feeling of resolution and joy due to the addition of the piano and the way it relieves your frustration from having sat through 10 minutes of that uncomfortable piano section. It's just not something you can fully appreciate on a first listen, I would highly recommend giving the studio version a couple of goes. I just want to stress that the piano section is not supposed to be enjoyable to listen to - it's supposed to be grating and uncomfortable, and sitting through it all is what really gives the final reprise the reward, and shows you the meaning of "Art of Life" - it's the musical answer to the main theme of the song - "Do I try to live, do I try to love?"
Woow 😍😍😍 In my personal opinion, I think, it's the best song in heavy metal music history, it's very complete! Thank you so much, for this video, so amazing! You have to do , ROSE OF PAIN with orchestra , if you feel like it, of course! WE ARE X 🙅♂️🔥
I think the piano part was essential especially during lives. I have heard them played this live back in 2010 and it wasn’t this long. It wasn’t... the same. I went online and listened to this again because the piano part.. although it dragged painfully long represents the ups and downs of life. One minute you’re in synced with it, next moment you’re in a turmoil, nothing works right.. like the clanging of random piano keys. Then there’s hope.. in the second movement. There’s 180 change in the lyrics as someone pointed out. Yoshiki found his resolution to his pain (this was homage to his father who committed suicide when Yoshiki was young). But yah.. it was meant to be a “live” song :) Great review!!
I know it's too long, but at 31:43 when you comment they're repeating the phrases did you noticed the 180 degree shift in the lyrics and meaning? I think that was the point.
@@Baldmann i think thats the point he wanted to deliver with that piano solo ... for those people who suffer...life is overlong with repetitive tragedies.
This song is made it over one year , This song history is they can't go to oversea in 90's . Yoshiki was very angry because many foreigner scoff they don't speak english . So yoshiki write this song to venting his emotions . And write all english lyrics .
It is long like that because of the meaning of the battle with depression and mental breakdown- the confusion, emotion, and pain that leads to it- the deep and dark descent into little better than madness, and the hard suffering in that period... and the struggle to find the way out... it's a long arduous process and the song is in large part Yoshiki coming to terms with his own mental health struggles and pains of his often tormented life... in that sense, it's a genius song. And as a person with deeply profoundly formative trauma... this song has ALWAYS resonated with me- I have been in those madness periods... often lived in the pre- and post- segments, too... The song is soul-stirring to those knowing these struggles.
I haven't heard this song in years. These guys were THE big band in Japan from the 80s into the mid 90s. Their whole story is quite sad, but still amazing though. They had to create their own label just to play. Their music was too fast, too extreme for the Japanese mainstream at the time. Yet, somehow they became the biggest band in Japan at the time with a chance to go international. They went on to influence many bands to come after them. Without these guys we might not have Dir en grey, The Gazette, and many others. Someone mentioned some of the other bands influenced by then in the comments as well, which is true from what little I have heard of them (they aren't bands I really follow, but I can still hear it). Other good bands from this time period are Loudness, Buck Tick, and Luna Sea (whose vocalist I think you will really enjoy)
thanks man gazette and X in one day that's a big deal for meee that was sooo nice yesss it's long but I guess X are the most of the time working for live concerts so maybe when you are live you will not feel that's a long track you will just love the music and the atmosphere sooo i guess it's Worth it btw yoshiki is sooo amazing piano and drums sometime he really goes insane ^^
This song, based on the shock of an affair when he was ten, was written by Yoshiki in his early 20s. It represents all the things in his life by that age which others may experience in their whole lives. FYI: We Are X, a documentary film directed by Stephen Kijack. Trailer : ua-cam.com/video/T3yJhsrgg4g/v-deo.html
I'm always crying while listening this masterpiece. This song fits my life so well...Very encouraging lyric in its last part💪 BTW, thx for the reaction, bro
It's one of those things where the song was so established at that point, that it's kinda for the fans of the band that it's so long and epic, though I'm sure there's fans who don't like the length either. Some Japanese bands tend to do the whole drawn out sections of songs, especially if it's the end of the concert. X-Japan is an incredible band, with so many different flavors, including Thrash believe it or not, and even a Guns n Roses vibe at times. Their early stuff was aggressive and high energy, but they're also amazing with ballads. Yoshiki is a genius to me. Guy was born to create special music. Probably the most iconic Japanese band ever, and they had a huge influence on bands like Babymetal (hear a song like Akatsuki by them) especially when it comes to some of the theatrical stage show elements. Great reaction either way. If I could make an X-Japan request, for a change of pace, check out "X JAPAN - Stab Me In The Back (Tokyo Dome 1991.08.23)"
Seen them live just once in US, they closed with AoL (just the 2nd movement) and it was very moving.. i can't explain it. I wish it was the whole track tbh because it's like missing the first part of a story but the ending is still very sweet.
Seriously my favorite song of all time! I love x japan, I even met Yoshiki IRL once, one of the best day ever. This band has so many killer tracks, although I do find the later albums more 'ballad' like, which I tend to find boring. But Vanishing vision, blue blood are legendary albums, I love them.
The piano part is shorter in the CD. Yoshiki is just a very simbolic person, he wrote all the instrumentation (including solos) and lyrics, the piano solo is supposed to represent his "descent into insanity" at the moment or something like that but I do enjoy that part more nowadays tho, it's like 5 or 6 minutes long and has more actual playing. I also think the last part is more about the lyrics, because they have different tone than the first half (because piano symbolism etc) You might like Kurenai more, it's a a lot shorter and the performance itself is amazing. ua-cam.com/video/1bvREd9ZQVQ/v-deo.html or Rose of Pain ua-cam.com/video/FH9A0LvPYUk/v-deo.html
I found the second half after the Piano to really grasp the internal struggles of PTSD. Where as the first half feels like the beginnings of a soldiers career. And the Piano being a decent into the madness that comes over you.
Sooo.. yeah, that piano piece and beyond was pretty much why I had suggested the other 2 songs I mentioned in that other video. Don’t get me wrong, it’s a beautiful piece but I have to concur with you on the point that the piano did go on for too long as much as I love Yoshiki... my next suggestion will be other work from the guitarist hide(the red head in this vid). He had a couple bands but I’m going to float out his hide with spread beaver songs. With that the tracks I’ll suggest are Tell Me and Eyes Love You. There’s a lot of other songs so it’s actually hard to pick but these are kinda catchy and fun. At any rate, have a great day!
Actually its about 28 minutes long from CD, I feel you because I was a bit tired and kind of amazed about myself for being such a patient person when I finished listening whole song the first time even though I am a big fan of X Japan, and I didn't play that track until today. Good and honest review, thank you.
I always thought of the piano section to be the internal struggle of the character singing the song. The first 2 major sections out line a problem and the want to change it. The final section is the character declaring and or in the process of overcoming w/e it is. I do agree it's a bit long, and the short version is basically just the final section of the whole song
I've got just the thing for you! If you enjoyed the song itself but found it to be too long the try checking out "X JAPAN - Art Of Life (3rd Movement)", it came out on their "We Are X" CD and it's a LOT shorter, around 5-6 minutes if I remember correctly.
Right there with you about the piano section. I get the significance, but that doesn’t make it any less repetitive. Also, to be honest, seeing this recording of X Japan in their prime just reminds me how sour I am over the current state of the band.
I'm glad I am not the only one. I enjoy the song as a whole, but the piano section being that long just seems really self indulgent. Length does not always translate to effect. I'm going to do covers most of the day, but I do want to get Iced Earth's Gettysburg up at some point as well.
Regular viewer here, again, love your objective analysis. Just check out the LP version. More crisp, precise, and tells a better story overall. Appreciate your work, fella.
BTW, the reason for the long interlude between Yoshiki's appearances was due to his exhaustion. This was the end to a proper set involving their best songs. I kinda don't blame him for taking a breather.
I love this song but the piano bit feels like that Modern Family episode where Cameron drags the drum solo forever. Love the singer/guitarist though, not overly technical but the melodies and riffs are nothing short of amazing.
Taiji was in the band when they played it with an orchestra. 1991. The Tokyo Dome version is weak compared to this one. ua-cam.com/video/GROH1-Uq5ec/v-deo.html
Yes, of course. To each their own tastes. And if you allow me, if you haven't done yet, I highly recommend you listen to : Dahlia (The Last Live 1997); Rose Of Pain (with Orchestra 1991). With Art Of Life, those live versions are my X Japan's Top 3 songs. :)
I feel that before someone listen to art of life he should listen to any x Japan song first before and if he like it, listen to Rose of Pain, it's more than 10+ minute song, if you like it only then listen to art of life.
I found your reaction so interesting! I think this is probably how most people feel about the piano part. The solo is normally about 9 minutes long and in my opinion it can’t be shorter to be affective. It’s a breaking point in the song where the narrator is on the verge of taking his own life, falling into madness, struggling while life around him stays the same (second piano). If you think about killing yourself you don’t do so in a minute or two (or 9 for that matter^^’) but it’s a constant up and down of feelings that are always the same, nerve wracking, therefore it SHOULD be uncomfortable to listen to. In the end life wins, everything works in sync again. The third part is full of hope, looking into a future that couldn’t be seen before. The song is influenced by Franz Schubert Symphony No.8 in B Minor, his “unfinished Symphony”. And it took two years to record. It’s hard to hear in the live version…but the symphonic elements are amazing! I think it’s a track that is very unusual for a Metal Band and I can understand WHY you think it’s too long, I really do, but I can’t agree with it ^^. Thank you so much for sitting through it, though!! You made my day!
I don't find how long the piano parts are to be uncomfortable. I find them boring after five minutes. It becomes extremely repetitive, and self indulgent. It is no longer making me feel anything, and it lost me. If I was not filming a reaction, I would have stopped it. I won't address the suicide issue too much, but people have made that decision in a far shorter span than 9 minutes. That said some people have taken longer. The third part is the same parts of part 1. It would be different if they added something new, but they didn't. If you make something that long there needs to be more to it than what this track offered. It was good, but It would have been better, and had more impact if it was shorter. "I think it’s a track that is very unusual for a Metal Band" It is not that unusual. Iced Earth have Gettysburg which is just under 34 minutes. I've seen them perform it live three times. It does not feel like 33+ minutes. Dream Theater have several 20+ minute songs to include the masterful "A Change Of Seasons." Maiden have several really long songs. The difference is those songs don't extend the length by drawing one part out so long. I'll put up a video for Gettysburg. You can see the difference.
I think that is probably personal preference/feeling. To me it builds a lot of “uncomfortable” tension it doesn’t get boring at all, it’s actually the part of the song which flies by the fastest. But as I said I think a lot of people feel it the way you do! There’s nothing wrong with that. (I don’t want to dwell on it either, but yeah, lots of people make a decision in under a minute. But then they haven’t thought about it either. ) I didn’t thought about the length at all when I said it’s unusual…what is unusual to me is that it is clearly build like a classical piece of music. It adds a different layer of interpretation to the song which I find interesting. There is so much symbolism and so many references in there ( also unusual doesn’t mean that nobody ever did it before or after, just that it isn’t often. And you yourself seem to find it unusual in the way that it repeated itself in the third part and made you bored in the second while other songs with similar lengths don’t.) I am looking forward to the songs you’ve mentioned and to extend my horizon! ^^ Have a good day~
I remember I edit this song to suit my preference by omitted some part and piano especially the breakdown. Still long but good for my treadmill workout.
Is funny to hear people which have no idea about what is going on. This musicians do not make music for people that just want to hang bang their heads. They make music to heal the soul. The passage with Yoshiki on the piano is actually not enough, we need to tear our souls completely before we can rebuild it. To bad I even spent the time listen to someone that is lacking so much understanding.
"Is funny to hear people which have no idea about what is going on. " I'm very aware of what is going on. "This musicians do not make music for people that just want to hang bang their heads. " You make the false assumption that I just want to bang my head. It simply isn't true. "The passage with Yoshiki on the piano is actually not enough, we need to tear our souls completely before we can rebuild it." It would be good if it was 5+ minutes shorter. The track is not this long on the album. "To bad I even spent the time listen to someone that is lacking so much understanding." I do understand it. I just don't agree with the choice to make a bloated song even longer. I love long tracks when they are written, and composed well. This version is bloated in my opinion. I'll take " A Change Of Seasons by Dream Theater," or "Gettysburg by Iced Earth," over this any day. They are better written, and composed.
"Overlong is your head , eggman" Making personal attacks won't change my opinion of the track. If you are going to troll me, at least do a better job of it. :)
@@Baldmann this is a masterpiece in all ways , music ,lyrics,passion , backstory , performance , all pure talent , even the 10+ repeatable piano of yoshiki is just enjoyable to see cause of his performance and passion , there is no personal opinion , drink your coffee and shut up
I found it incredibly boring. Too much repetition. Some of the movements just repeated over and over. I mean when I listened to the old Leslie West music piece doing variation on a theme, there was the same lick but it was done differently throughout the music. This was just a vanity piece for Yoshiki. hide did much more interesting music than Yoshiki ever could.
Art of Life is not long enough. Each time I listen it, I have to listen an another because not long enough.
X JAPANが海外の人にも聴かれている事は日本人としても嬉しいしファンとしても嬉しいね☺️
Thank you for doing this. Like others have said, it's almost five minutes shorter in the studio because there's no breaks between movements (Yoshiki didn't have to run back and forth from the piano and drums in the studio, obviously), and he drew the piano solo out a little longer here than he needed to. A lot of people think the piano solo doesn't need to be there, but the entire song builds towards it. The piano solo is meant to represent a mental breakdown and recovery, hence the rapid decline into keyslamming and then slowly coming back to the original melody, it's shorter and better executed in the studio version. This live version is amazing because they managed to pull this entire thing off live though, especially Yoshiki, who was known to black out from exhaustion and other health issues at his drums anyway (these days he's had countless back surgeries, neck surgeries, and has to wear a neck brace when playing drums, he's broken his neck, his back, both wrists and a leg playing with the ferocity he used to, as explained in the We Are X documentary, he was born extremely frail). But definitely check out Kurenai, X, Week End, Rusty Nail, Endless Rain, etc. from them. They were the band that started EVERYTHING as we know it now in Japan.
You're right Xero. Spot on there.
When I first listened to them back 15 years ago, I did not really enjoy the dragging piano solo but after awhile understanding the message they trying to bring.... you actually do enjoy and it feels like an important build-up to the music.
I agree. Yoshiki likes to involve his listener to this masterpiece. The piano part isn’t the most technically satisfying to hear if you’re just in it for the music. If you hear the piano part live after all the commotion in the first movement, you’d know this is the part where you somehow get involved. Suddenly, it’s not just about Yoshiki’s life experiences. However, different circumstances, his pain is relatable to varying degrees which makes this piece very powerful. The piano part becomes meditative and I started reflecting on my own life. My own ups and downs and such. Suddenly, the long segment becomes very very short LOL.
People are bobble heads. If they think the piano solo doesn't need to be there then they have no business listening to this. It is clearly beyond them and they don't get it.
Hey man, good to see a reaction video for this masterpiece. I'm a lifelong X Japan fan and I used to always skip the piano part until it finally clicked for me. The problem is the piano section is boring if you listen to it for musicality. But you have to listen to it more emotionally and psychologically with the theme of the song in mind. The song is about the trials and tribulations of life, and the piano section is a musical representation of going through the mundane pain of life, trying and failing to capture the light of living. I would highly recommend giving the studio album version a listen as it is captured there much better.. as you mentioned in your commentary, there are many moments in the piano section where you go "There we go..it's getting brighter"..only to have it come crashing down again, like life does so often. The studio version does a great job of capturing that moment at the end where the piano section finally comes together with the bright strings and the song rockets back to excitement. The last passage seems like they're playing the same bit over, but it gives you a distinct feeling of resolution and joy due to the addition of the piano and the way it relieves your frustration from having sat through 10 minutes of that uncomfortable piano section. It's just not something you can fully appreciate on a first listen, I would highly recommend giving the studio version a couple of goes. I just want to stress that the piano section is not supposed to be enjoyable to listen to - it's supposed to be grating and uncomfortable, and sitting through it all is what really gives the final reprise the reward, and shows you the meaning of "Art of Life" - it's the musical answer to the main theme of the song - "Do I try to live, do I try to love?"
Woow 😍😍😍
In my personal opinion, I think, it's the best song in heavy metal music history, it's very complete!
Thank you so much, for this video, so amazing!
You have to do , ROSE OF PAIN with orchestra , if you feel like it, of course!
WE ARE X 🙅♂️🔥
Goodness, at last a react video of Art of Life.
I think the piano part was essential especially during lives. I have heard them played this live back in 2010 and it wasn’t this long. It wasn’t... the same. I went online and listened to this again because the piano part.. although it dragged painfully long represents the ups and downs of life. One minute you’re in synced with it, next moment you’re in a turmoil, nothing works right.. like the clanging of random piano keys. Then there’s hope.. in the second movement. There’s 180 change in the lyrics as someone pointed out. Yoshiki found his resolution to his pain (this was homage to his father who committed suicide when Yoshiki was young). But yah.. it was meant to be a “live” song :) Great review!!
the best song in the heavy metal of the history!!! wooooow
I know it's too long, but at 31:43 when you comment they're repeating the phrases did you noticed the 180 degree shift in the lyrics and meaning? I think that was the point.
Honestly at that point I was ready for it to be over.
@@Baldmann i think thats the point he wanted to deliver with that piano solo ... for those people who suffer...life is overlong with repetitive tragedies.
This song is made it over one year , This song history is they can't go to oversea in 90's . Yoshiki was very angry because many foreigner scoff they don't speak english . So yoshiki write this song to venting his emotions . And write all english lyrics .
It is long like that because of the meaning of the battle with depression and mental breakdown- the confusion, emotion, and pain that leads to it- the deep and dark descent into little better than madness, and the hard suffering in that period... and the struggle to find the way out... it's a long arduous process and the song is in large part Yoshiki coming to terms with his own mental health struggles and pains of his often tormented life... in that sense, it's a genius song.
And as a person with deeply profoundly formative trauma... this song has ALWAYS resonated with me- I have been in those madness periods... often lived in the pre- and post- segments, too... The song is soul-stirring to those knowing these struggles.
I haven't heard this song in years. These guys were THE big band in Japan from the 80s into the mid 90s. Their whole story is quite sad, but still amazing though. They had to create their own label just to play. Their music was too fast, too extreme for the Japanese mainstream at the time. Yet, somehow they became the biggest band in Japan at the time with a chance to go international. They went on to influence many bands to come after them. Without these guys we might not have Dir en grey, The Gazette, and many others. Someone mentioned some of the other bands influenced by then in the comments as well, which is true from what little I have heard of them (they aren't bands I really follow, but I can still hear it). Other good bands from this time period are Loudness, Buck Tick, and Luna Sea (whose vocalist I think you will really enjoy)
ScarletTsubasa Don't forget Sugizo from Luna Sea took over lead guitar in X Japan since they've reunited.
You liked this a lot more than I did the first time I heard it, however, over time Art of Life became one of my all-time favorite songs.
I still can't handle how long the piano part is, and that is what keeps me from going back to it. Overall I did enjoy it.
If you close your eyes you could easily hear Phil Anselmo talks about X Japan song. Lovely.
thanks man
gazette and X in one day that's a big deal for meee
that was sooo nice
yesss it's long but I guess X are the most of the time working for live concerts so maybe when you are live you will not feel that's a long track you will just love the music and the atmosphere sooo i guess it's Worth it
btw yoshiki is sooo amazing piano and drums sometime he really goes insane ^^
the song evolves, it's just not the instruments, it is also the lyrics from the beginning to end. I love that song! :D
Studio version, especially for the piano solo, is much more enjoyable.
This song, based on the shock of an affair when he was ten, was written by Yoshiki in his early 20s. It represents all the things in his life by that age which others may experience in their whole lives.
FYI: We Are X, a documentary film directed by Stephen Kijack.
Trailer :
ua-cam.com/video/T3yJhsrgg4g/v-deo.html
this long song is my fav forever... ❤ art of life for live !!! we are x
A Masterpiece. We Are X!!!
I'm always crying while listening this masterpiece. This song fits my life so well...Very encouraging lyric in its last part💪
BTW, thx for the reaction, bro
You made such an effort to react this song! Great!
Yoshiki is a drama queen :D this song is like whole concert :D
It's one of those things where the song was so established at that point, that it's kinda for the fans of the band that it's so long and epic, though I'm sure there's fans who don't like the length either. Some Japanese bands tend to do the whole drawn out sections of songs, especially if it's the end of the concert. X-Japan is an incredible band, with so many different flavors, including Thrash believe it or not, and even a Guns n Roses vibe at times. Their early stuff was aggressive and high energy, but they're also amazing with ballads. Yoshiki is a genius to me. Guy was born to create special music. Probably the most iconic Japanese band ever, and they had a huge influence on bands like Babymetal (hear a song like Akatsuki by them) especially when it comes to some of the theatrical stage show elements. Great reaction either way.
If I could make an X-Japan request, for a change of pace, check out "X JAPAN - Stab Me In The Back (Tokyo Dome 1991.08.23)"
もっともっとXの曲を聴いてみてくださいね
日本人ファンより
i really appreciate this reaction brother \m/ thanks!
x japan - kurenai 👍
Hilmi Helmi Oh yes, I love this one. I second this
Yea man, Kurenai, X or Weekend from the Last Live!
never overlong........ for me its nice song with great duration........
I can't do it. It's too repetitive for me. It's just far too drawn out for the length. There are great moments, but 30+ minutes was just too long.
Seen them live just once in US, they closed with AoL (just the 2nd movement) and it was very moving.. i can't explain it. I wish it was the whole track tbh because it's like missing the first part of a story but the ending is still very sweet.
We are X!!!!
I've etched this song's entirety into my memory.
Seriously my favorite song of all time! I love x japan, I even met Yoshiki IRL once, one of the best day ever. This band has so many killer tracks, although I do find the later albums more 'ballad' like, which I tend to find boring. But Vanishing vision, blue blood are legendary albums, I love them.
Song of my teenage years. Glad you reacted to it.
The piano part is shorter in the CD. Yoshiki is just a very simbolic person, he wrote all the instrumentation (including solos) and lyrics, the piano solo is supposed to represent his "descent into insanity" at the moment or something like that but I do enjoy that part more nowadays tho, it's like 5 or 6 minutes long and has more actual playing. I also think the last part is more about the lyrics, because they have different tone than the first half (because piano symbolism etc)
You might like Kurenai more, it's a a lot shorter and the performance itself is amazing.
ua-cam.com/video/1bvREd9ZQVQ/v-deo.html
or Rose of Pain
ua-cam.com/video/FH9A0LvPYUk/v-deo.html
I found the second half after the Piano to really grasp the internal struggles of PTSD. Where as the first half feels like the beginnings of a soldiers career. And the Piano being a decent into the madness that comes over you.
YES, in my top 3 songs of all time. Funny, it's one of those rare epics I feel is perfectly structured and not too long (the EP version that is).
Sooo.. yeah, that piano piece and beyond was pretty much why I had suggested the other 2 songs I mentioned in that other video. Don’t get me wrong, it’s a beautiful piece but I have to concur with you on the point that the piano did go on for too long as much as I love Yoshiki... my next suggestion will be other work from the guitarist hide(the red head in this vid). He had a couple bands but I’m going to float out his hide with spread beaver songs. With that the tracks I’ll suggest are Tell Me and Eyes Love You. There’s a lot of other songs so it’s actually hard to pick but these are kinda catchy and fun. At any rate, have a great day!
Actually its about 28 minutes long from CD, I feel you because I was a bit tired and kind of amazed about myself for being such a patient person when I finished listening whole song the first time even though I am a big fan of X Japan, and I didn't play that track until today. Good and honest review, thank you.
This song is such a journey, be it studio or live :).
We are X ..... We are LIKE
I always thought of the piano section to be the internal struggle of the character singing the song. The first 2 major sections out line a problem and the want to change it.
The final section is the character declaring and or in the process of overcoming w/e it is.
I do agree it's a bit long, and the short version is basically just the final section of the whole song
We are X....X from Malaysia
I've got just the thing for you! If you enjoyed the song itself but found it to be too long the try checking out "X JAPAN - Art Of Life (3rd Movement)", it came out on their "We Are X" CD and it's a LOT shorter, around 5-6 minutes if I remember correctly.
발드맨님이 이 명곡 리액션 올리신걸 이제 알았네 ㅋㅋ
Long, yes, very looong. But a monument noneless. I'm not s super fan, but I gotta respect these guys. For me, they're like The Beatles.
We are x!!!!
Right there with you about the piano section. I get the significance, but that doesn’t make it any less repetitive. Also, to be honest, seeing this recording of X Japan in their prime just reminds me how sour I am over the current state of the band.
I'm glad I am not the only one. I enjoy the song as a whole, but the piano section being that long just seems really self indulgent. Length does not always translate to effect. I'm going to do covers most of the day, but I do want to get Iced Earth's Gettysburg up at some point as well.
More X Japan please🤙🏿🤙🏿check out their ballad collection as well
I'm with you, I enjoy most XJapan stuff but I was done 3 minutes into that piano transition
Regular viewer here, again, love your objective analysis.
Just check out the LP version. More crisp, precise, and tells a better story overall.
Appreciate your work, fella.
BTW, the reason for the long interlude between Yoshiki's appearances was due to his exhaustion. This was the end to a proper set involving their best songs. I kinda don't blame him for taking a breather.
Great, many people react to other version of this song, some are shorter, and mono sound, you watch the right one.
We are X
I love this song but the piano bit feels like that Modern Family episode where Cameron drags the drum solo forever. Love the singer/guitarist though, not overly technical but the melodies and riffs are nothing short of amazing.
Nice! This one is cool but I think that Kurenai is the best music for anyone starting to know about X Japan.
I've heard X Japan, but never that track.
That piano obviously long to give the band the break they need especially Yoshiki.
Agreed the piano part was excessive..
I recommend the ballad Tears, or for a similar song to Art of Life that is under ten minutes Silent Jealousy.
Rose of Pain. Especially the live version with a full orchestra. 12 minutes but no dragging.
Xero Delacroix would recommend rose of pain live Tokyo dome 1992 instead. I would prefer Taiji playing in this song.
Taiji was in the band when they played it with an orchestra. 1991. The Tokyo Dome version is weak compared to this one. ua-cam.com/video/GROH1-Uq5ec/v-deo.html
good choice, never seen this live.
ドラマではなくこれが現実をもとにしてるから残酷だよなぁ、、、
でもだからこそこの音が生まれたとも考える。
good...so good reaction.
You have to see the good side of it : the longer, the better. :)
Long songs are great if they keep me engaged.
Yes, of course. To each their own tastes.
And if you allow me, if you haven't done yet, I highly recommend you listen to :
Dahlia (The Last Live 1997);
Rose Of Pain (with Orchestra 1991).
With Art Of Life, those live versions are my X Japan's Top 3 songs. :)
I feel that before someone listen to art of life he should listen to any x Japan song first before and if he like it, listen to Rose of Pain, it's more than 10+ minute song, if you like it only then listen to art of life.
I've heard X Japan, just not this track. I enjoy them.
React to galneryus the force of courage live...as i can remember,,that song break to 4 part/theme?..n not that long.. Under 20 minutes...
React to X Japan's Kurenai, that song is beyond this world.
I feel like to recommend Show-ya and Babymetal.
There is love and respect of three bands eath other.
I found your reaction so interesting! I think this is probably how most people feel about the piano part. The solo is normally about 9 minutes long and in my opinion it can’t be shorter to be affective. It’s a breaking point in the song where the narrator is on the verge of taking his own life, falling into madness, struggling while life around him stays the same (second piano). If you think about killing yourself you don’t do so in a minute or two (or 9 for that matter^^’) but it’s a constant up and down of feelings that are always the same, nerve wracking, therefore it SHOULD be uncomfortable to listen to. In the end life wins, everything works in sync again. The third part is full of hope, looking into a future that couldn’t be seen before. The song is influenced by Franz Schubert Symphony No.8 in B Minor, his “unfinished Symphony”. And it took two years to record. It’s hard to hear in the live version…but the symphonic elements are amazing!
I think it’s a track that is very unusual for a Metal Band and I can understand WHY you think it’s too long, I really do, but I can’t agree with it ^^.
Thank you so much for sitting through it, though!! You made my day!
I don't find how long the piano parts are to be uncomfortable. I find them boring after five minutes. It becomes extremely repetitive, and self indulgent. It is no longer making me feel anything, and it lost me. If I was not filming a reaction, I would have stopped it. I won't address the suicide issue too much, but people have made that decision in a far shorter span than 9 minutes. That said some people have taken longer. The third part is the same parts of part 1. It would be different if they added something new, but they didn't. If you make something that long there needs to be more to it than what this track offered. It was good, but It would have been better, and had more impact if it was shorter.
"I think it’s a track that is very unusual for a Metal Band"
It is not that unusual. Iced Earth have Gettysburg which is just under 34 minutes. I've seen them perform it live three times. It does not feel like 33+ minutes. Dream Theater have several 20+ minute songs to include the masterful "A Change Of Seasons." Maiden have several really long songs. The difference is those songs don't extend the length by drawing one part out so long. I'll put up a video for Gettysburg. You can see the difference.
I think that is probably personal preference/feeling. To me it builds a lot of “uncomfortable” tension it doesn’t get boring at all, it’s actually the part of the song which flies by the fastest. But as I said I think a lot of people feel it the way you do! There’s nothing wrong with that.
(I don’t want to dwell on it either, but yeah, lots of people make a decision in under a minute. But then they haven’t thought about it either. )
I didn’t thought about the length at all when I said it’s unusual…what is unusual to me is that it is clearly build like a classical piece of music. It adds a different layer of interpretation to the song which I find interesting. There is so much symbolism and so many references in there ( also unusual doesn’t mean that nobody ever did it before or after, just that it isn’t often. And you yourself seem to find it unusual in the way that it repeated itself in the third part and made you bored in the second while other songs with similar lengths don’t.)
I am looking forward to the songs you’ve mentioned and to extend my horizon! ^^
Have a good day~
If you do another X Japan song, do Stab me In the Back. ua-cam.com/video/c5HqiOC_wt0/v-deo.html It's one of their more aggressive songs.
Nice! React to Luna Sea-Another live :-P
For mi never is overlong.
I feel you, 20 years listening to X and I still jump the piano solo part. I just let it roll when I'm cycling or something boring like that.
hide there !!!
damn
ahhhh i just cant move on with this song. i wish that toshi still can sing this song like in 90s again 😭😭😭😭❤
I remember I edit this song to suit my preference by omitted some part and piano especially the breakdown. Still long but good for my treadmill workout.
kurenai!!!! ☺☺☺
Is funny to hear people which have no idea about what is going on. This musicians do not make music for people that just want to hang bang their heads. They make music to heal the soul. The passage with Yoshiki on the piano is actually not enough, we need to tear our souls completely before we can rebuild it. To bad I even spent the time listen to someone that is lacking so much understanding.
"Is funny to hear people which have no idea about what is going on. "
I'm very aware of what is going on.
"This musicians do not make music for people that just want to hang bang their heads. "
You make the false assumption that I just want to bang my head. It simply isn't true.
"The passage with Yoshiki on the piano is actually not enough, we need to tear our souls completely before we can rebuild it."
It would be good if it was 5+ minutes shorter. The track is not this long on the album.
"To bad I even spent the time listen to someone that is lacking so much understanding."
I do understand it. I just don't agree with the choice to make a bloated song even longer. I love long tracks when they are written, and composed well. This version is bloated in my opinion. I'll take " A Change Of Seasons by Dream Theater," or "Gettysburg by Iced Earth," over this any day. They are better written, and composed.
I am sorry that I am not good at English.
おでん字幕はいらない
Rottura di coglioni assurda
React to Ohayou Gozaimasu - mimizu in the dance floor
m.ua-cam.com/video/j7Janbj1u0E/v-deo.html
Overlong is your head , eggman
"Overlong is your head , eggman"
Making personal attacks won't change my opinion of the track. If you are going to troll me, at least do a better job of it. :)
@@Baldmann this is a masterpiece in all ways , music ,lyrics,passion , backstory , performance , all pure talent , even the 10+ repeatable piano of yoshiki is just enjoyable to see cause of his performance and passion , there is no personal opinion , drink your coffee and shut up
I found it incredibly boring. Too much repetition. Some of the movements just repeated over and over. I mean when I listened to the old Leslie West music piece doing variation on a theme, there was the same lick but it was done differently throughout the music. This was just a vanity piece for Yoshiki. hide did much more interesting music than Yoshiki ever could.
We are X