Listen/Review: 'Puzzle' by
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- Опубліковано 13 лип 2024
- Continuing my chronological journey through Band-Maid's catalog, today I listen to the second track off 2017's "Just Bring It" album, which is "Puzzle". The song and lyrics are haunting and powerful. (I also squeezed in the live acoustic from 2018 and the Official Live Video from 2023.)
NOTE: "Just Bring It" was the first album that saw Band-Maid credited with writing MOST songs. They are exclusively credited on 6 tracks (Don't you tell ME, Moratorium, YOLO, Awkward, decided by myself, and secret My lips) and partially credited on 5 tracks (Puzzle, CROSS, Take me higher ! !, TIME, you.) Two additional tracks (OOPARTS and So, What?) were entirely written by others.
0:00 Intro
1:22 Lyrics
3:35 audio
13:16 acoustic live
22:59 Official Live
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Band-Maid official website: bandmaid.tokyo/
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Chan's Band-Maid playlist: open.spotify.com/playlist/2l9...
Band-Maid on UA-cam: / @bandmaid @BANDMAID
Band-Maid's 'Just Bring It' (album) playlist (official): • Just Bring It
Puzzle:
audio only : • Puzzle
official live video : • BAND-MAID / Puzzle (Of...
Since this is a review/reaction, I hope "fair use" doctrine applies here.
#rock #review #reaction #musicvideo #audio #bandmaid #jrock
The easiest band member to replace is none, all the members are essential to Band-Maid's sound and friendships that have developed over the years can't be duplicated by anyone else.
Yes, the friendship/sisterhood/partnership dynamic would be forever altered, and I would hate to be the new person trying to fill that void.
@@Chan_Fry Along with trying to learn all of Band-Maid's extensive material, to break into the strong friendships between the other band members would be almost impossible, imho. I don't think the band would survive.
So far as replacing a member, I think the easiest answer is Saiki, insomuch as they have instrumentals where she's just not present. But they rely on her judgement for what's good enough to release, etc. She's like their editor in chief.
I think the next easiest answer is Miku, because she's the least proficient on her instrument, but when you think about what that would actually entail, it's insane how much she contributes. She's a chameleon, and will do whatever the band needs, more than anyone else. They needed harder vocals, she recruited Saiki and demoted herself. They needed a second guitar, and Saiki refused, so she picked it up. The rest of the band needs a break, she pumps up the audience, solo. And that's to say nothing of the sheer variety of sound she adds with her voice, and how her work on the rhythm liberates Misa and Kanami to go nuts.
Misa, Kanami and Akane are all non-starters. They're each such particular players, and it's how they mesh in the writing process that gives their music such a solid foundation, where every part is interesting and intertwined with the others, and then Miku layers on additional spice, and Saiki grounds it for the listener, keeping it catchy and accessible, and adding an emotional core.
What it comes down to is that there's no replaceable member. They have a special chemistry that makes them have a multiplicative effect on each other, well exceeding the sum of their parts. They're not just their songs, or even their ability to compose new songs, or to play their songs. They're each other's biggest fans and biggest motivators, I think in large part due to what they endured together, and it doesn't matter how good you are at playing an instrument or singing. You can't replicate what they are to each other, and it's what they are to each other that really makes them what they are to us.
you forgot Miku writes all the lyrics also.
"exceeding the sum of their parts" -- WELL SAID. I think with any new member, the band would just become "the sum of its parts", and thus less than it is now. And thanks for reminding us that Miku is more than just a "backup vocal and rhythm guitar". In many senses, she IS Band-Maid -- she certainly is (in my mind) more "Band-Maid" than anyone else. :-)
No one is replaceable.
Again. I absolutely love this format, man. definitely keep going with these reactions. There's not a Maidiac out here that would begrudge you for doing them.
If one member of BAND-MAID was replaced, the Earth would wobble on it's rotational axis even more than it does now. It must not happen. We must protect these glorious women at all costs.
I'm pretty sure the day I first thought about it, my thoughts caused a complete eclipse. My entire region was dark for several minutes -- the sun simply refused to shine on such blasphemy. :-)
@@Chan_Fry It seems you must guard your thoughts more closely in the future, my good man.🙂
The acoustic version puts me in the mind of being in a French cafe or bar, late at night surrounded by commiserating broken hearts over shots of whiskey. It actually reminds me of a song by british duo The Style Council called "The Paris Match"
There is certainly an "atmosphere" to that version -- the emotion of it draws me in until the rest of the world disappears...
Tokyo Garden Theater Okyuji was my first Band-Maid live experience! It was a sold-out show.
I've been to 5 Okyujis so far including Yokohama Arena and Shibuya acoustic Okyuji😉
The acoustic version of Puzzle is the one I fell in love with Saiki's singing😍
What an experience that must have been! Thank you for sharing.
Both the original electric version and the acoustic version are 11 out of 10. That is beyond rare. It's incredible. But then again, so is this band.
Agreed! This band is a treasure, and so is this song...
For me, this acoustic version isn't merely a "stripped down" version of the electric original - it is somehow an entirely different song (magically, with the same lyrics and melody). The change of pace allows for emotional emphasis that didn't fit in the original, but also removes the urgency and reminds me of those failed crushes that I stewed in for weeks - it seemed like the pain and confusion would never end.
That's one way to say it. :-) It certainly pulls at different heart strings than the original...
It's easy to see why this song is such a favourite particularly among fans who were lucky enough to find the band relatively early. Not only is it a great song, but I can't imagine what it must have been like to get this album and hear such a big leap in songwriting. It must have been incredibly exciting and made a huge impact.
"Akane always makes the right decision" this is *exactly* what I think. I don't know how she does it but almost everything she does feels perfect. She chose a dance beat for "Blooming" and the song is unimaginable without it. Who would even think to do that? I may have mentioned it in your last video, but although I've listened to hundreds of drummers who *do more* than Akane, I've never heard a drummer who *adds so much* to a song. One thing I sometimes think about is that, aside from Misa, the members were never really into rock music before Band-Maid. I wonder if that (in addition to being very smart, hardworking and talented) is partially responsible for the freshness of their music, even among other Japanese bands.
When you can hear Kanami's voice in the acoustics, it's like ambrosia being poured into my ears.
Replacing a member is unthinkable to me. I hate thinking about it but I do want to point out one thing: Miku, at first glance, seems like the easiest to replace musically (emotionally, not so much). But the way Miku constructs her lyrics and melodies is essential to the Band-Maid sound. If you haven't yet, I suggest reading t-shinji's post about "Why Miku is a great lyricist" (just search this and it'll come up). I think every Band-Maid fan should read it to see all the techinques she uses that helps to differentiate Band-Maid's vocal style from other Japanese bands. You can also hear this in her solo work in cluppo. Those songs are better because of Miku. It's another reason why no other rock band scratches the same itch as Band-Maid, at least for me. Her voice also works well with Saiki's whether that's matching it (new listeners often can't tell the difference) or contrasting with it.
There's about 2,000 other reasons why Miku is essential to the band but I did just want to mention some of the musical reasons here that might be overlooked.
"drummers who do more than Akane" -- Maybe not *hundreds*, but I've heard a few, yes. (That guy at the back of Unleash The Archers comes to mind.) It is certainly rare for a rock drummer to be a MUSICIAN in the way that Akane is -- "percussionist" might connote more accurately. And even if her name isn't on the credits, some of her drum arrangements should certainly count as "songwriting".
"ambrosia" -- I replied to someone else that I would like to see a Kanami-only song (like Saiki's piano "Choose Me"?) but with just Kanami and a mic and a guitar. "Like to" is far too weak of a phrase though. I would faint dead away if I saw/heard it, I'm sure.
"Miku... lyricist" -- Wow, that quite an in-depth post. After I began learning Japanese (a few months ago), one thing I learned early was the "mora" idea (what we might call syllables but isn't exactly the same thing), and quickly noticed that Band-Maid wasn't following those rules very well -- which t-shinji mentions. I also noticed the switching to English words, which seemed random at first but very quickly I realized it's incredibly FUNCTIONAL, even if they're words difficult for Japanese to pronounce. The equivalent Japanese phrase might have seven mora, but if the English word/phrase has three syllables and the song needed three syllables there, then the English word is a perfect fit. (Not to mention the double-language puns that others have pointed out.) It really broadens her reach to have English sitting *right there* if she needs it. :-)
But the main reason for me, that Miku is probably the LEAST replaceable, is that she IS Band-Maid. Not just the face of it, but the definition of it, the smile/head tilt of it, like no one else up there can do. Without her, it's just "Band" (in my opinion).
I've always said that if I HAD to pick a favourite song, it would be this one. It showcases all 5 beautiful puzzle pieces that form the masterpiece we call BAND-MAID. 🤘✌️
Right now it's tied for number one for me... I moved it up in my sorted Spotify playlist but can't decided between "Order", "Real Existence", "Unfair Game", and "Puzzle"... (I'm only including the songs I've heard on this channel for now; I assume others will eventually contend for number one...)
I think that the members are so close to each other that if one of them quits the whole band will disband.
I would imagine that Puzzle would be in the top ten of many peoples all time favourite Maid songs. The original version is full of anger and frustration. While the acoustic is heartbreaking and full of pain. Just a brilliant song for me. Thanks again for these reviews. I just need to lie down and sob with the idea that any of them would leave.
I'll file it in my (overflowing) "shouldn't have said that out loud" file. :-)
The live version is one of my 'Goto' Band-maid songs. Yes, fans complained that They couldn't hear Misa very well, and Band-Maid re-uploaded the video several time to address the mix complaints.
there was another upload of the acoustic version that included a little more of the 'music box' intro. It's very haunting and sets the emotional tone for "Puzzle".
Ah, I didn't know there were previous audio issues... I think the audio sounds fine in that live video (Band-Maid's live audio recordings are some of the best I've EVER heard); it's just that MISA's sound wasn't quite as stand-out as it was in the studio track ...
As for the music box intro, I'm not sure how I feel about that. I think a couple of seconds were probably enough for me. :-)
In case you haven't heard Band-Maid is distributing on Zaiko streaming service a concert they did on Feb. 22nd. 22 songs in 1 hour 45 minutes. Available as 1 week or 1 month archives. Release is at midnight Eastern US time this Saturday.
Always enjoy your reviews. Thank you for this one.
Thanks for the info... I hadn't heard of Zaiko until just now, but I was able to find the event you mentioned. (If anyone else is interested, looks like it's 4,500 yen -- about $30, I think.)
This was a top 5 song for me from the first time I heard it but that acoustic version shot it into number 1 and it's been there for the past couple of years. The raw feelings (give credit to Miku's lyrics) expressed are superb.
Yes, Saiki emotes that song as if the events JUST NOW happened and she's still feeling it. What a talent they found when they decided five was better than four. :-)
When Kanami goes into her solo in the live version, I equate it to being strapped into a rocket ship and blasted into space. Her solo doesn’t just come in, it launches into it. The beginning guitar riff you heard in the beginning possibly reminded you of AC/DC’s song called Thunderstruck which has a similar riff and Kanami’s version kicks ass especially when it comes back in after her solo. I think Angus would approve.
Thanks for the comment! Someone mentioned earlier that I was probably thinking of "Thunderstruck", and I felt silly for not thinking of it -- since that was formerly one of my favorite songs. :-) But then I made the mistake of listening to these two songs side by side and now my estimation of "Thunderstruck" is severely diminished in comparison.
Puzzle is another great song from these amazing ladies! Love the shirt, btw!
Thanks! The shirt was a Christmas gift from my spouse/children (along with two others). I have a hard time not wearing them every day. :-)
@@Chan_Fry I know what you mean! I have several and I have to talk my self out of wearing them too much, for fear of waring them out! I have a few that are still in the shipping sleeve, lol!
Replace a member? Miku is definitely the face, promoter, and joyful wordsmith of Band-Maid. But Saiki is the image, strength and voice. Kanami is the music, heart and future of Band-Maid. Akane is the relentless, pocket beater and energizer. And MISA is the driving soul and dark spirit of Band-Maid.
If, God forbid, any had to be replaced and you could still call them Band-Maid, IMO, Kanami is the only one who couldn’t be replaced. And maybe Saiki, too. But there are great singers ready to go. It’s just they probably wouldn’t have the natural charisma, moves and vocal energy Saiki possess. Miku could be replaced if Kanami could find an equivalent guitarist / vocalist / lyricist / MC / spokesperson / marketing dynamo. Akane could, but it would take a Senri Kawaguchi-type DrumZilla to replace her. MISA could because Kanami could train and write bass lines to get a new bassist up and running. Lovebites did pretty good with their replacement. But MISA's playing is one-of-a-kind and provides a signature sound and drive to the band. She may be missed the most!
The replacement(s) might also be able to enhance missing vocals and lead relief. But the current super successful synergy the members provide would be forever damage. It makes me sick just to think about it. But I’m not really sure you could still call them Band-Maid if any one had to be replaced. Sooo… LONG LIVE EVERY BAND-MAID MEMBER!!!!! AND LONG LIVE BAND-MAID!
Thanks for a great articulate rundown of Puzzle, Chan! PS - I still think 2017 Studio Coast is the best version of Puzzle. 🤘😂
I'm in complete agreement with your musings about replacing a member. As you say, they COULD replace one, but it simply wouldn't be the same band. (I'm a little curious how someone like Juna Serita would do in MISA's place, but only for a single song/show, and only to satisfy my curiosity, not for the long term.) Also, would the replacement have to wear the same style maid armor as the member they replaced or would they get to choose their own style?
Maybe for a future April 1 show, they could hire five people to take the stage for the opening, until there's an obvious reaction from the crowd -- and then the original members come out, one by one, replacing the replacements, so to speak. :-) (Maybe Miku first, because I think she could really pull off the acting required in such a staged joke.)
PS: I did find a version of this from Studio Coast 2017, but it had a heavy overlay (I assume attempting to avoid copyright strikes) that was too visually distracting for me. :-/
Mincho's voice is not very strong but she did originally want to be a singer songwriter so she took the trouble to master the art early on.
Beyond that she has absolute perfect pitch (as more east Asians do) so holding a note is little problem.
I would certainly like her to sing more -- her vocal quality is unlike Saiki's and Miku's -- but I'm also okay if she continues to focus on songwriting and guitar work. :-)
@@Chan_Fry oh yeah we need her calm and focused.
Only thoughts of saiki and cake are allowed in.
Saiki can certainly emote. You don't need to speak Japanese to hear the longing in the acoustic version, compared to the angst in the electric version.
I'm amazed at how she places herself deep into the emotions of these songs. We know she's performed them repeatedly, but each time it seems like the thought just now struck her and she *feels* it like it's the first time. Wow.
Chan...you're the man! Love the format. Your vids and comments are always insightful and among my favorites. Every time I hear this song it pulls at my heart. Thanks for supporting and promoting this amazing band. I hope they recognize all your efforts. Cheers!
Thank you! I enjoy Band-Maid's music so much that I can't help it. :-)
Great content as usual. It's probably already been said a million times but no Band-Maid could not be Band-Maid without ALL 5 members. Each person brings something unique and individually special to the mix. When they come together a special magical chemistry takes place, making the Whole Greater than just the Sum of its Parts.
And then they do things only Band-Maid can do, like some Post Modern Musical Voltron.
Nemophila is going through that now, with the departure of their Co-Lead Guitarist Saki. They'll get through but definitely won't be the same for the foreseeable future. It's similar but on an impossibly different level with Band-Maid.
VOLTRON! Perfect analogy -- they each have individual skills, but together they become something that no one else can fit into. :-)
(Not sure of Nemophila's history, but Saki wasn't an original guitarist, was she? In other words, I think some of those other bands have already gone through some lineup changes, whereas Band-Maid never has... Also, I'm sure none of them wants to be the one that breaks the others' hearts...)
@@Chan_Fry Voltron... yeah well, men of a certain age you know ;-)
Useless Info Sidebar: Nemophila was basically a Supergroup made up of members of different bands and high profile session players that were brought together by Lead Singer Mayu to back her up at a showcase she was performing at. Everyone on stage that night felt the chemistry and Nemophila was born out of the ashes of those former bands.
So yes in a way you are correct, but she (Saki) was an original founding member of Nemophila, but it wasn't the band she had started out and come up with (Mary's Blood). Nemo formed just prior to the Pandemic, placing them at about the 4 1/2 - 5 years mark together. Playing 7 string guitars Saki and Co- Lead Guitarist Hazuki had a unique guitar chemistry that Nemo will struggle to replicate unless they decide to bring in another Ace. Bringing us back to that pesky aforementioned chemistry thing, although rumor has it Mayu maybe picking up the guitar Miku style to fill in?
It seems there is a fair amount of movement within the J-Rock scene particularly among drummers. It's not everyday you get a Skandal or a Band-Maid!
I don't know how many times I've listened to this song before the Tokyo Gardens LIVE performance, but that performance for some reason put it on the map for me. I just can't get enough of it now.
I feel the acoustic version is how this passionate song for it's lyrical content was intended. Saiki sure can bring the emotion.....
After ten years together, over four for me as a Family member of Band-Maid, I couldn't imagine any one else in any position.
Thanks Chan! Awesome as always....
Thanks for watching. I also can't imagine anyone else in any of these slots. And of course each member is the "favorite" for a certain section of fans, who would be heartbroken to lose that one person. Keeping this in mind, I'm going to cherish the group as long as it lasts. :-)
@@Chan_Fry Absolutely! For sure but I have a feeling we'll be enjoying them even individually, if it comes to it, for years to come.
It's a complete PUZZLE to me why the entire rock world aren't (yet) solid Band-Maid Fans! Is there some language / cultural / sexist chauvinism going on? Is it just incompetent marketing? Is there NO GOD to give some justice where justice is due? ;-) Luckily for them, Band-Maid continues to accelerate in creative song writing, performance, and sold-out shows worldwide.🤘🎀🤘Thx Band-Maid fans, Maidiacs, and Chan!
I keep running into people who simply don't enjoy *any* rock music, which boggles my mind... But at least, in their cases, I can understand why they wouldn't like Band-Maid. (No accounting for taste, right?) But for those who DO enjoy rock, I can't fathom not jumping on the Band-Maid bandwagon.
@@Chan_Fry Aside from the language and outfits, I can see why some people don't like Band-Maid's music. It's really for the experience hard / prog / rocker and musician. It's complex, dense and fast. It's in your face - a far cry from easy-to-listen, smooth pop gingles.
But everyone says they're talented musicians. You could play them one of Band-Maid's mid-tempo songs -- Daydreaming, Bestie, About Us, Anemone, Endless Story, Memorable, PAGE, Wonderland, Awkward, Start Over, Mirage, At the Drop of a Hat and Smile -- and they'd probably like them. But maybe not Saiki's piercing voice. Which to fans is a perfect voice to cut through the wall of sound and to deliver the mass amount of lyrics per song.
I really believe Band-Maid should reach -- at least -- the commercial levels of a Yes, Rush, or Foo Fighters, etc.. Thx, Chan!
Understanding the difference between The Warning and BMs growing popularity would be very telling.
There is always the possibility that one of the band members will say, "I have found someone I really love, I want to put my life with him first, and I want children, so I am leaving the band.
If such a situation occurs, the band will either suspend activities for a while and try to convince the member to stay in the band, or leave her amicably and choose a new member, or break up the band.
No one can predict the future. But the music will remain.
In order to keep BAND-MAID's one and only great group of songs forever, it may be necessary to make them a little more major. It depends on your efforts.
@@freewheeler2go Yeah, you can see that The Warning songs that are a bit more simple with more space around a basic, powerful beat, they sing in English, and the group is super accessible to their fans -- all makes a real difference in international popularity. Of course there's more to it, but The Warning's stronger growth is undeniable.
Personally, I rate the song writing of both groups a 10; member personalities and band synergy a 10; and song production a 10. A few differences is... the Maids are better musicians tecniqually (which isn't that big of a deal at the songwriting and execution levels of these two bands), and The Warning tour more.
I'm really hoping we get to see quality videos of their 2-man concert June 12 in Japan! But because of Japan's paranoia laws about restricting fancams at concerts, I'm not holding my breath.
Thank you for react to our favorite band
You're welcome, and thank you for watching. :-) More to come...
Yes it’s one of Band-Maid’s harder rock sounding song…but can be the most heart felt songs. Kamani is an amazing composer.
🤘🕊️🦍🥷👸🏻👀PO!
Looking forward to your Moratorium listen!
I do just adore how this song fills so many spaces: it's hard rock, it's poetry, it's a cry for help, it's a masterpiece.
like AC/ DC Thunderstruck
"Thunderstruck" was in my top five favorites for several years, so yeah, I feel silly for not immediately making the connection. Just now, listening to Kanami's cyclic riff and comparing it side-by-side with A. Young's riff, yes, they do have the same idea... BUT, and this is a huge "but", I should have never listened to them side by side. After hearing "Puzzle", the drums in Thunderstruck sound so incredibly boring (with minor exception of when they first come in), the bass guitar made my soul flatline, and I realized that the lead guitar riff is about the only thing that song has going for it. Wow.
Agreed
@@Chan_Fry This has happened to me with many songs that I liked in the past. They just pale in comparison to what the Maids do.
The acoustic version is so soulful and emotional and dreamy with Kanami's backing vocals. The electric live version conveys anger and frustration, love how Saiki can show both in the different versions!
I was absolutely stunned by Kanami's backup vocals in that version, and would love to hear more from her (not at the expense of what she already does, of course) -- maybe Miku could write lyrics for a "Kanami-only" ballad, which I think would be a great moment in a future show! :-)
@@Chan_Fry Remember, Kanami was a singer/song writer when Miku found her on UA-cam, so it is possible, and would be very cool and interesting too see her get a main singing song in the future. Kanami can sing, as she demonstrates occasionally, but prefers not to.
"This is a startlingly good hard rock band...and in all my years of listening to rock and roll and especially hard rock I've never been as impressed with a band as I have with this one". Your words but (possibly in some weird time travel paradox) I've been saying the same thing since 2017, when I first found THE best Hard Rock band in the universe (and in any parallel ones). Kanami's masterful adaptations of their electric songs to acoustic versions are always sublime and clever. They served us a 14 song acoustic set on xmas day 2021 and mixed it up by playing together, in duets and in trios. There are 2 songs from it available on YT (and all of it available elsewhere) - CATHARSIS and the wonderful SAYONAKIDORI, performed as a trio with Miku on vocals and guitar, Akane on drums and backing vocals and MISA on electric bass. Really enjoyed your reactions and dive into various versions of one song - never seen it done much but it's a great idea and I've subscribed to see if you do more of the same as there are many live and MV and acoustic versions of songs available. It is a great chance to display and see and react to their talents at songwriting, composition, musicianship and stage performance so hats off to you for doing it. PS There's some Band-Maid rarities on my YT channel and I've translated and added English subtitles to 6 of their MV's that lacked them but that's on FB and I can't post the link on YT - though if you looked for 'BAND-MAID SUBTITLED MV'S' you might find them!
Thanks for the comment! When I first started doing this, I intended my "reviews" to be only *listening* to the albums (audio only, maybe mentioning or linking to the videos), and trying to go straight through an album in one go. That turned out to be unworkable on my end, LOL. So I switched it up once I started bumping into more songs that had MVs. I like how each track can take us through time, from studio version to more recent live performance, and how their performances change over the years (in the cases where we have multiple lives available). This way we can also see Miku's development as a guitarist, Saiki's transformation from inhibited to commanding, the trends in their battle armor, and so on. :-)
(I'll take a look at your channel; thanks!)
Ha! I enjoyed the Kanami insertion into "Back To The Future". (My parents were school-aged in the 1950s, which is my reference for that time period in the movie, and I can't imagine what they and their friends -- in rural Oklahoma -- would have thought of a hard rock Japanese maid shredding at a school dance, LOL. I'm going to guess it wouldn't have gone over well...)
@@Chan_Fry They would have got over the cognitive dissonance, I'm sure - just like so many of us who thought Rock was male and mostly angry until we found Band-Maid, Lovebites, Babymetal, Nemophila and all the other great bands in Japan playing superbly and smiling too. Either that or she'd have been run out of town!
@@Chan_Fry Miku's development and her realisation of her dream of being a Rock Star has been a joy to witness. From wearing a guitar as a necklace in THRILL to standing spotlit and alone on stage at Yokohama Arena, shredding a great solo guitar intro to INFLUENCER. And Saiki has gone from shy singer to being a Stage General! Love the latest battle armour too.
My top five is a rotating fifty songs or so from this band, then the rest are in the 2 slot!
I may never be satisfied with sorting my list of their songs, but I think I'm settling into three tiers... (3) "pretty good" by any band's standards, but not up to par for Band-Maid, (2) simply amazing and will never tire of listening to them, and (1) somehow even better than the second tier. :-)
@@Chan_Fry Pretty good by any other bands standards says a lot for Band-Maid in general. Good rating plan!
The first time I noticed the switch to their name in Katakana was at Lollapalooza at the start of their 2nd tour in the US in 2023 (it was also that way the night before at the Aftershow gig I later discovered), It was the normal logo in the May tour. They may have switched in the interim during their Japan gigs between those dates
Ah, thanks! While editing this video, I saw that Akane's bass drum said "Band-Maid" (English) in the Jan. 2023 video. And it looks like it's back to English in late 2023 (Yokohama), so maybe she switches whenever she wants, or maybe the katakana was more fleeting than I previously thought.
Can Rush continue without Neil Peart? Just wouldn’t be the same. It’s simple physics, Band-Maid is a puzzle made up of 5 pieces. If one of those pieces goes missing, the puzzle becomes incomplete and it no longer ties it together.
I suppose not (though Peart wasn't the founding drummer, if I'm not mistaken)... But I wonder how many people in the '70s might have said the same thing about Bon Scott and AC/DC, or (pre-1985) David Lee Roth and Van Halen? :-)
(Fortunately, I guess in both those cases, the lead guitar work was strong enough to carry them through...)
Oh, and no, no member of this band is replaceable. Musically, I think it's possible to replace all five of them. But it would just be five people playing Band-Maid songs.
Very well said.
My second favorite Band Maid song. Close to my heart. (My number three is coming up next.) If and when you get to Anemone there is a matching acoustic version.
I know some of the acoustic versions are harder to find than others... Over the last week, I've been searching out various versions of upcoming songs and keeping a list of links... hopefully I'll find the Anemone acoustic version before that one comes up. :-)
I have seen the who could be replaced, and I have to say Kanami writes most of the music while Miku has written most of the lyrics. Misa's bass playing is so active unlike mot bass players. Akane is such a unique drummer and Saiki Voice is perfect for the band. But the real Heart of the band is heir friendship and I don't think that can be replaced. So No one member could be replaced without the band dynamic failing. It might be a Led Zeppelin situation of "when all are one and one is all, to be a rock and not to roll"
Seems like everyone is in agreement then. :-) This is a BAND, not a group of five people who play music together...
Have no desire to ponder a different line-up.
I probably spend too much mental energy on "what ifs". :-) At least my wife thinks so, LOL.
To me, Akane has done masterful job mimicking aheart continually skipping beats and dropping, as one's heart does when they are forst falling in love and there is uncertainty with it's permanence.
Interesting way to look at it! I do love the way she pulses in and out, switching rhythmically from heavier drum patterns to lighter ones, but always leaving us guessing. :-)
This was from the original live version, filters and the lyrics are added to the video, but was taken down on the Band-Maid channel.
ua-cam.com/video/f7754rouTDw/v-deo.htmlsi=wBpj74t2_Vc1m1HF
Thanks! Yes, that's the one I mentioned in my reply to someone else below... The visual filter was simply too distracting for me (let's chalk it up to an undiagnosed mental disorder on my part, but I simply can not watch it).
I wouldn’t want anyone in Band Maid replaced but, if it happened, Kanami would make the biggest impact because her compositions, though aided by input from the rest of the maids, have really shaped their sound. Replacing any of them, though, would be a noticeable change for sure and, again, I’d hate to see it happen.
Yes, future compositions would certainly have a different flavor without Kanami... (though she herself is a constantly evolving composer, never static). Musically, I think most people seem to agree Miku would be easiest, but it also makes the least sense because no one is more "Band-Maid" than Miku. I hope to never see it happen.
I am in the X number of songs as my favorite faction. Prime Rib taste really good, until the King Crab is served. But then the Rack of Lamb is brought out!
Have you tried the Filet Mignon with Dijon? (Secret Maiko Lips) 😁 LOL
True! And I like certain songs more than others depending on my mood or how long it's been since I heard them... (which is one reason I've been delaying listening to a bunch of Band-Maid stuff while I work my way through these reactions/reviews...)
MISA MISA MISA!!!!! it may be cliche but without all Band-Maid it is NOT Band-Maid, I would insist (like I have any say) that they change the name. This is my ABSOLUTE favourite Band-Maid song and yes in this and the Studio Coast live version the Bass seems subdued/lower in the mix.
:-) It is currently tied (with several others) for my favorite. It is such a BIG song, covering so many bases and taking up so much space (like that giant white screen in the Tokyo Garden show)... that it's impossible to ignore.
Kanami started out as a singer/songwriter, sonshe CAN song, she just doesn’t like to regularly.
And the studio and acoustic versions hit on different ways. The studio version is an argument, the acoustic version is a lament.
If Kanami wants to save 99% of her singing for private moments, that's fine with me... But I also yearn for her to sing more. :-)
@@Chan_Fry One of her conditions for joining the band, supposedly, was that she wouldn't have to sing.... 😉😉
Puzzle is definitely one of Band-Maid's top songs and more importantly it's a definitively Band-Maid song from the riffs to the lyrics. Effectively it's a love song told from the perspective of the mistress; wanting more, but also knowing that attempting to get more would only harm their desire and end the relationship. It's a song that's almost impossible to directly relate to, but also sung such that you immediately feel the desperation even without understanding the language. Even as someone extremely biased towards Band-Maid, I'm not going to pretend they don't have replicable songs, but Puzzle is certainly far into the irreplaceable set.
...but then speaking of replicability, could ANY of the members of Band-Maid be replaced?
Talent wise, MISA is an irreplaceable bassist. It would maybe be possible to replace her, but you'd be getting a strict downgrade and probably a significant one. In contract, I think Miku seems like the easiest member to replace, but secretly she might be impossible to replace. She's probably the least technical musician of the band, but in every way she is the glue that holds everything together; particularly I think the quality and necessity of her vocal harmonizing is often overlooked.
Saiki would be the third hardest member to replace. Singers are inherently hard to replace but despite that and her relatively unique voice, I think the hardest thing to replace about Saiki is her stage presence. She has a way of puppeteering the audience that I think would be extremely hard to find in a similarly talented singer.
As for Akane and Kanami, I think they're both world class but they don't surpass their potential competition in quite the way MISA does. I think you could probably find musicians that would be capable of replacing them on a technical level, but both bring so many intangibles that I don't think it'd be worth doing.
Instead of replacing a maid, let's imagine the band breaks up and becomes two bands. Miku, MISA and Akane remain Band-Maid while Saiki and Kanami form a new band. Both of these bands would have the potential for successful careers. Let's further imagine that Miku leaves to start a solo career, we already know she could have a successful career but MISA and Akane could easily function as the backbone of a new band. If then Saiki and Kanami broke up, it's hard to imagine they wouldn't be able to make a solo career work if they wanted to.
Great breakdown of the various members' value! As you say, Miku has already shown she can do fine as a solo act, and any of the Power Trio could easily slide into various other bands... Saiki, well, I am certain she would land on her stilettoed feet. :-)