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#jpop

34 posts33 participants2 posts today

Wagakki Band (和楽器バンド) – Yasouemaki (八奏絵巻) (2015, Japan)

Our next spotlight is on number 1011 on The List, submitted by ChrisJagged.

Founded by singer, composer, lyricist, Shigin master, Kenshibu dancer, and classical pianist Suzuhana Yuko, Wagakki Band (和楽器バンド) is named after the traditional Japanese instruments that are prominent in their music, wagakki. Originating out of Suzuhana’s acoustic folk trio Hanafugetsu (which is still active), the band essentially merged with folk punk/visual kei band Crow×Class to result in a 8-member group with a sound that lands somewhere in-between the folk rock and folk metal spheres. Wagakki Band first gained popularity via their adaptations of Vocaloid songs, with their first LP, Vocalo Zanmai (ボカロ三昧) (2014), consisting solely of Vocaloid covers. The album we look at here is their second studio album and first to contain original material. It incorporates methods of Shigin, a traditional poetry form performed/recited in a particular manner, as would their following albums.

Following the release of Yasouemaki, Wagakki Band’s popularity would continue to grow both at home and internationally, and the band would go on to release five more LPs, with Tokyo Singing (2020) featuring a collaboration with Amy Lee of Evanescence. As of the end of 2024, the band has gone on indefinite hiatus.

Even if you, like me, don’t know much about J-rock/J-pop, if you have an interest in folk rock/metal (and love/miss[1] key changes!), this is a really fun band to check out.

Happy listening!

  1. Here’s a fun Tedium article that was referenced in a toot I saw recently, exploring the demise of the key change in pop music over the last 60 years: “The Death of the Key Change” by Chris Dalla Riva (Nov 9, 2022). The article looks specifically at pop music that hit the Billboard Hot 100 charts so I can’t help but wonder now if the key change is still alive and well in J-pop. Anyone know? ↩︎
Continued thread

I indicated this last month, but more JPop has been on my offline listening, so we've seen some of that rising in the numbers.

Also, Young Posse's "Cold" which dropped in March, is sitting at 13th most listened to for me for the year. Why did that one hit me so hard?

Next month may be different as new stuff came in toward the middle / end of March that mixed up my list. Also, Neth Priere Cain tracks have been rising.

Also, year to date - most listened to artist? NMIXX. Most listened to album? Coheed and Cambria's "The Father of Make Believe," which dropped in March.

We'll see what April brings!

It's Monday so it's time for #MoodMusicMonday! Today's mood is "salty".

Post a song/songs that you think fit "salty"! It can a song about being salty or literally about salty food or something (tears and the ocean, for eg, are salty) or maybe was created cuz somebody was salty or whatever you want!

There are no wrong answers, it's just an excuse to post music!

Remember to include the hashtag #MoodMusicMonday and the mood "salty"

#Music#PopMusic#Rock

So, you got together with a few friends and you've decided to start a J-Pop boy band (no actual musical skills required, only dancing skills,.computers and autotune will take care of the musical aspects). Now your band needs a catchy name.

No worries, I'm here to help you. Take an English noun. Any noun. And add Boy, Man or Mr. to it: Fish Boy, Snow Man, Mr. Children. (these are all actual names)
You're all set.

#Japan #JPop #Engrish