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Love or hate the genre, they are talented.
- Thread starter Spent
- Start date
Gotta love Japan for keeping it weird!
That they are talented is not to be disputed, nor does it surprise me. Japan and Korean culture seem to take performance arts very seriously, even if it's "just" pop music.
I recently listened to a radio show where they were discussing the world of K-pop and how there are basically boot camp-style boarding schools for kids thought to show potential where they are drilled in musicianship, singing, and choreography. They are also subjected to diet and exercise to get into physical shape and restricted from internet use and even dating until well into their 20s. That's pretty hardcore. It wouldn't surprise me if something similar exists in Japan.
That they are talented is not to be disputed, nor does it surprise me. Japan and Korean culture seem to take performance arts very seriously, even if it's "just" pop music.
I recently listened to a radio show where they were discussing the world of K-pop and how there are basically boot camp-style boarding schools for kids thought to show potential where they are drilled in musicianship, singing, and choreography. They are also subjected to diet and exercise to get into physical shape and restricted from internet use and even dating until well into their 20s. That's pretty hardcore. It wouldn't surprise me if something similar exists in Japan.
I really like the music. The vocals are not there though for me. Could use a nice Bruce Dickinson type or the Helloween style vocalist.
Russ
Russ
Even though they use excessive backing tracks, Baby Metal is highly entertaining. I'd buy a ticket to go see them.
Who is talented?
The band are hired guns that were added later and don't write most of their material. They are all excellent musicians but the producer of Babymetal only sees the band as the three girls. They are talented in their own way, but are the Monkees. Its a creation of a record producer.
The most talent here is the marketing of the band and whoever is creating the visuals. They've figured out how to perfectly sell people something that makes no sense but looks really awesome. There is a Japanese PT Barnum somewhere laughing all the way to the bank.
The band are hired guns that were added later and don't write most of their material. They are all excellent musicians but the producer of Babymetal only sees the band as the three girls. They are talented in their own way, but are the Monkees. Its a creation of a record producer.
The most talent here is the marketing of the band and whoever is creating the visuals. They've figured out how to perfectly sell people something that makes no sense but looks really awesome. There is a Japanese PT Barnum somewhere laughing all the way to the bank.
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And you know this how? Just because you don't like it doesn't take away from the talent. I can't stand Michael Jackson, way over produced, but I acknowledge his talent. And for the record, many of the acts P. T. Barnum employed were talented.
That's the point; speed metal meets bubble gum pop. Without the three vocalists those guys would still be playing crappy venues with 5 other bands a night. I still don't know if I like it or not, but somebody had a good idea.
How do I know what? How can you possibly expect an answer when you don't put a definitive subject in the question. Or are you asking a rhetorical question just to ask it?
Talent isn't a means unto its self. The main singer is pretty good, but her vocals clash with the music. The other two often just sing literal gibberish (go read the lyrics for Gimme Chocolate) and also clash with the music. The musicians are all fine players in their own right, but are playing pretty generic stuff written by the producer that slammed this whole thing together.
Maybe its just me, but I don't care for things that are blatantly designed around the prospect that I'm simpleton that will be awed into thinking something is good based on it being a spectacle. Its like all of the terrible action movies and reboots that are being made. They are cotton candy; tasty fluff with no substance. That's how I feel about Babymetal. There are musicians busting their humps, writing their own material, and going broke doing it. Meanwhile someone concocts this, throws a ton of money at to polish it up, and people get suckered. Lots of bands could come up with great shows if they were instantly put on large stages with thousands for production.
My bad. How do you know they don't have talent? It was the first line of your post, so I assumed you would have picked up on that. I'm going to put you in the "hate them" column. I confess, I didn't read your entire rant, pretty much got the gist of it from the first few lines. This was a lighthearted post, not meant to bring out the trolls, so please feel free not to read or participate any more. I get your feeling on the band, but I think you missed the point; it's supposed to clash. Hey, even Mozart had detractors (not saying they're in the same class). For the record, I'd be pretty happy if someone threw that kind of cash and production at my band, but that's just me. Oh, and now I get your username. Clever. (Just so we're clear, that was humor, meant to lighten the conversation)
Sure it's got a harder edge, but overall it just seems like overproduced bubble-gum pop. No doubt the musicians have some serious skill. I am sure many members of TalkBass could easily master the bass part.
Watching the video seemed a bit surreal. IMHO, The producers should have spent much more on lighting. The look they created seems good for theatrical but falls short for the high-energy music being performed.
I would find the music acceptable as a backing track to a video game. YMMV
There are other videos with much less production. There's one on Stephen Colbert's show that's much tamer. He says what we're all thinking.
Guys, can we please not get into nothing arguments because one guy doesn't like that another guy sees a particular music act as a disingenuous product of a record label, that like all other music acts, has its noticeable flaws. We're better than that.
Well-executed. I can see why this genre has a dedicated fan base, even if it doesn't include me.
They were live on Colbert a couple weeks ago and absolutely nailed it.
They were live on Colbert a couple weeks ago and absolutely nailed it.
It's funny but not my type of music. It's like a bunch of pitched metronomes. Although, at least they have a bass.
I like it. It's a fun mashup of styles with some good production behind it. Sure it was dreamed up by a producer and not the musicians, but it's a lot more creative and enjoyable than another growly-vocal BROOTAL! group with cartoonish lyrics and terrible stage presence.
