I think what makes this so memorable is you can see and hear the synergy between them. It was already growing between the 5 of them. They knew they had something special and wanted to grow together. As a side note, watching MISA play, she already had those travelling fingers that is so important to the Band-Maid sound. Thanks NittPicc.
I see you have another suggestion for the Christmas acoustic of Forward with Akane on the cajon. That performance is also a beautiful example of the harmony between Saiki and Miku. A full electric version of Forward is the second to the last number from the Yokohama Arena concert. It is a nod to Kentaro Akutsu, an early collaborator on Smile, Be OK and Thrill among many others.
Akane played cajon in the band Mochi to Cheese that was made up of Kanami, Akane and the members of the band Predia. There's a grainy recording of a Mochi to Cheese (もちとちーず) performance from October 4, 2015 on TH-cam, and of course Akane also played it in the 2021 acoustic Christmas concert.
these songs make sense of the Beatles comparison. Early Band Maid strikes me like "8 days a week" or "Dance with me" in it's innocence. regardless of the author.
Not the Band Maid I'm accustomed to, but somehow still the same feel. Talented musicians having fun and making me smile. 😊 Enjoyed your breakdown NP. One thing I always like is how you find the interesting and special touches in lyrics or composition. Thank you for sharing with us.
Love Akane playing the cajon. The best is in the acoustic Christmas okyu-ji during Forward. She's pretty restrained here but if you watch enough of the acoustic stuff, when she has them, Akane loves chimes and will find a lot of places to just hit those suckers.
Miku had actually moved a bit past the prop guitar stage if just barely. She played basic chords on several of the songs from this set, most notably on "Forward" and mainly only in the chorus. If memory serves this performance was soon after the MV for "Thrill" was released so the outfits are similar or even the same from the video.
My favorite song from Maid in Japan, the studio version is so damn catchy and full of life!, everytime i listen to Knockin on your Heart it brings me the good vibes of the early 2000's pop-punk that i'd enjoyed back then when i was young and full of dreams and hopes... lol And ofc this acoustic version is an absolute treasure!, even back then when they still were insecure and kinda "noobies" you can tell that they really enjoyed playing music and being on stage Thanks for this reaction NittPicc!
Miku desperately trying to find something to do with her hands. 🤣The album version of the track is so full of hooks, my mind is constantly occupied; the opposite of most of this style of pop music. I think it's by far the catchiest song they've done. My favourite anecdote about this show is that, at some point, Miku says, "Please just remember our name" and now their name is selling out venues around the world; a testament to her dream, as well as her (and the band's) amibtion, hard work, perseverence and talent. Thanks for the lesson on the cajon as well, very interesting.
Quite a playful romp by BabyMaid! This song may describe how Kanami appears to others while Mincho is the Dark Avenger! A joyful analysis as always NP!
You are right, this is just so much fun! It seems to me at least, that with the acoustic play, it had almost a Mexican feel to it. But yes, I really like this, both this fun version and the album version. If you like cajon, you need to react to Forward on the Christmas Acoustic album. They also have the video of the whole Okyu-ji on Band Maid Prime. It was so fun so see NittPicc enjoying this so much!!!
Very different, but still love their early stuff too. We all need to start somewhere. Another fantastic NittPic Sunday down...next week...Zen? PO!🕊 🤘😆🤘
You need to do yourself a favor and find a version of their acoustic show. Akane plays the cajon on that too. In fact I'd say the acoustic show is a must watch for any BAND-MAID fan.
It's fun to see the evolution of Band-Maid, from a time when material given to them but adapted & executed so well, to the creative & self-assured band they are today.
I realize that it is not super complicated to play but Akane plays the cajon at master level. Adding in the cymbal and chimes is icing on the cake. She borrowed a top of the line cajon from Zildjian for the Christmas Online Acoustic Okyuji and said how much she liked it in the commentary afterward. I was thinking they might just give one to her for the high praise but I heard later that she ended up buying one. Sad that they didn't value her endorsement enough to give one to her but that at least means we may hear her playing cajon again sometime. Akane playing cajon, cymbal, and chimes is not as wild as Akane playing Miku''s "backside". I have seen video of it. (LOL)
It's so interesting to watch this phase of Band-Maid, I'd love to have more first hand insight into how the band actually felt about their direction at this point. To me it seems like Miku and Kanami 100% believe in the project, Akane doesn't care as long as she can slap things and Misa/Saiki are half checked in, thinking about the next band they're going to join when this project falls apart.
If you look closely, miku has a pigeon next to her red rose. And no 'po' verbal tic. You definitely need to check out their newer acoutic offerings. They will blow you away.
I'll listen to anything these ladies do....wherever they do it, however they do it, whenever and no matter how many times they do it. Their music is my life right now. I'm gonna go listen to "Zen" a few more times.
Miku's voice is so sweet on this track. Bando Maido :) . It's like Akane doesn't know what to do with her feet :p . Normally this song is not my favorite, but this version has everything to love about our MAIDs. Misa is wearing shoes :p ....
Kanami adding backing vocals too! MISA! Thinking I’ve got to get these shoes off! Fun to hear the beginnings and from hearing Zen today…who would have guessed…but the pigeon knew! World Domination takes time and hard work! 🤘🕊️🦍🥷👸🏻👀PO!
This was a live performance as a guest at a small event called "Engagget Fes" in Akihabara (a city of electronics and otaku culture). They performed in front of an audience of several dozen people, most of whom probably didn't know who Band-Maid was. Miku was saying to the audience several times, "We are Band-Maid, so please at least remember our name." Band-Maid has overcome these times and has been active for over 10 years. It's been a long journey.
It might not be the Band-Maid we are used to today, but this sort of thing helped make them what they are today and for that reason alone should be treasured. But I also enjoy it because it is upbeat and even at this point it's clear (or so it seems to me) that they haven't just settled for performing a song that was given to them. There seem to be parts they have added to make it more interesting (for themselves and the audience), parts that display the early evolution of their group dynamic, and although muted the feeling that they are enjoying themselves (and being shy myself I put down MISA's aura of self-enclosure down to her own shyness rather than anything else).
The Wire Jazz Sticks are called Brushes. Akane uses the wooden version called Rods, or Bundles during the Christmas Acoustic Okyu-ji. There's also a stick in between called Broomsticks. MISA wanted to be in band that's more like the bands she likes. You may recall form the doco videos, she was in a band called Prototype for 5 1/2 years, and their main influence was Smashing Pumpkins. And, like BAND-MAID, they just made people smile. Her other influences were Red Hot Chili Peppers, The Who and Jimi Hendrix. Sure, BAND-MAID has Punk influences, but that's amongst so many others it can be a little watered down. However, MISA's been in BAND-MAID twice as long as she was in Prototype. She almost left BAND-MAID, but she's made a few sacrifices to gain a wider audience, but not many. They let her do what she wants. No Apron? Sure! All Black? Sure! Bass Solos? Sure! She's that good, and the most popular member by a wide margin. Her other nickname besides The Barefoot Assassin is Cool Beauty, but also Ass-Chin, for her cleft chin. She's very funny. Kanami once asked her, "MISA, do you like my songs?" MISA replied, "Mmm . . . I like you".
For the Christmas acoustic show, Akane in the commentary video, talked about how she was loaned a high end cajon and how much she liked it. She was debating to buy it.
I like this, but I can almost feel MISA being uncomfortable with the dress, the shoes and the lightness of the music. I wonder if she ever learned acoustic bass. I bet she'd look and sound cool with it 😊
The lyrics for this are very girly also. In Japanese, it’s a highly feminine thing to end your sentences with “wa” (わ), like to the point that it’s pretty uncommon in normal usage, and you see it largely in media used by characters that are kind of eccentric or old fashioned, whose femininity is a large part of their identity. I guess this is hard to pick out if you don’t understand any Japanese, because you don’t know which part of the sentence is which, but it’s the parts where they say “suru wa”.
There is absolutely nothing wrong with loving this. It may not be the Band Maid that they have become, but it is still the five ladies we love making music and having fun. And Akane has always loved the cajon as @rockyetsx70 and other note. I mean yeah, it's odd seeing them in these outfits and MISA has retreated into the shadows with a 4-string, etc. but I'll happily listen to any iteration of the band. Thanks for sharing it out!
So...I apologize for the technical difficulties in the beginning of this video. Give it 10 seconds and it starts! 😅
I think what makes this so memorable is you can see and hear the synergy between them. It was already growing between the 5 of them. They knew they had something special and wanted to grow together.
As a side note, watching MISA play, she already had those travelling fingers that is so important to the Band-Maid sound.
Thanks NittPicc.
I see you have another suggestion for the Christmas acoustic of Forward with Akane on the cajon. That performance is also a beautiful example of the harmony between Saiki and Miku. A full electric version of Forward is the second to the last number from the Yokohama Arena concert. It is a nod to Kentaro Akutsu, an early collaborator on Smile, Be OK and Thrill among many others.
Akane played cajon in the band Mochi to Cheese that was made up of Kanami, Akane and the members of the band Predia. There's a grainy recording of a Mochi to Cheese (もちとちーず) performance from October 4, 2015 on TH-cam, and of course Akane also played it in the 2021 acoustic Christmas concert.
B-M did several acoustic shows 2014-5 on the club circuit and Akane played either a cajon or snare/hi-hat those gigs.
these songs make sense of the Beatles comparison. Early Band Maid strikes me like "8 days a week" or "Dance with me" in it's innocence. regardless of the author.
Not the Band Maid I'm accustomed to, but somehow still the same feel. Talented musicians having fun and making me smile. 😊 Enjoyed your breakdown NP. One thing I always like is how you find the interesting and special touches in lyrics or composition. Thank you for sharing with us.
Miku's lower range can pass off as Saiki and yet she can easily go higher. She just lacks the power and looks too damn cute!
Love Akane playing the cajon. The best is in the acoustic Christmas okyu-ji during Forward. She's pretty restrained here but if you watch enough of the acoustic stuff, when she has them, Akane loves chimes and will find a lot of places to just hit those suckers.
Miku had actually moved a bit past the prop guitar stage if just barely. She played basic chords on several of the songs from this set, most notably on "Forward" and mainly only in the chorus. If memory serves this performance was soon after the MV for "Thrill" was released so the outfits are similar or even the same from the video.
BTW, this song, I can imagine them sitting around camp fire and sing along through the night, just look at Miku's glee face,
You're right. This would be a great sit around the campfire song.
Tiny Hatto...MISA wearing shoes...yeah, this is early
@@bandmaidfanATL all hail the tiny hat! 😅
My favorite song from Maid in Japan, the studio version is so damn catchy and full of life!, everytime i listen to Knockin on your Heart it brings me the good vibes of the early 2000's pop-punk that i'd enjoyed back then when i was young and full of dreams and hopes... lol
And ofc this acoustic version is an absolute treasure!, even back then when they still were insecure and kinda "noobies" you can tell that they really enjoyed playing music and being on stage
Thanks for this reaction NittPicc!
I love this song. Many hate it. I f'ing love it. Pure nostalgia trip for a a guy who never grew up.
Check out Forward live acoustic version - just Miku, Saiki, & Akane - very powerful acoustically
Miku desperately trying to find something to do with her hands. 🤣The album version of the track is so full of hooks, my mind is constantly occupied; the opposite of most of this style of pop music. I think it's by far the catchiest song they've done.
My favourite anecdote about this show is that, at some point, Miku says, "Please just remember our name" and now their name is selling out venues around the world; a testament to her dream, as well as her (and the band's) amibtion, hard work, perseverence and talent.
Thanks for the lesson on the cajon as well, very interesting.
This is a great show like 30+ mins , their 1st acoustic
Actually they did several acoustic shows on the club circuit before this one. But no audio/visual record of those.
Quite a playful romp by BabyMaid! This song may describe how
Kanami appears to others while Mincho is the Dark Avenger!
A joyful analysis as always NP!
I just landed here from Zen and it felt like a real trip to another time and place. Pre Po! times...
This video is my happy place , it never fails to cheer me up. ❤
You are right, this is just so much fun! It seems to me at least, that with the acoustic play, it had almost a Mexican feel to it. But yes, I really like this, both this fun version and the album version. If you like cajon, you need to react to Forward on the Christmas Acoustic album. They also have the video of the whole Okyu-ji on Band Maid Prime. It was so fun so see NittPicc enjoying this so much!!!
Pop-punk or hard rock-they're just that good
It's a great little song tbh.
Ah yes, the era of Akane's tiny hat!
RIP Tiny-Hat San!
Very different, but still love their early stuff too. We all need to start somewhere. Another fantastic NittPic Sunday down...next week...Zen? PO!🕊 🤘😆🤘
Girls are awesome! Love them❤
You need to do yourself a favor and find a version of their acoustic show. Akane plays the cajon on that too. In fact I'd say the acoustic show is a must watch for any BAND-MAID fan.
It's fun to see the evolution of Band-Maid, from a time when material given to them but adapted & executed so well, to the creative & self-assured band they are today.
I realize that it is not super complicated to play but Akane plays the cajon at master level. Adding in the cymbal and chimes is icing on the cake. She borrowed a top of the line cajon from Zildjian for the Christmas Online Acoustic Okyuji and said how much she liked it in the commentary afterward. I was thinking they might just give one to her for the high praise but I heard later that she ended up buying one. Sad that they didn't value her endorsement enough to give one to her but that at least means we may hear her playing cajon again sometime.
Akane playing cajon, cymbal, and chimes is not as wild as Akane playing Miku''s "backside". I have seen video of it. (LOL)
Not a "po" to be heard. Akane also played a cajon with Mochi and Cheese and on some of the songs in the epic Christmas acoustic show.
It's so interesting to watch this phase of Band-Maid, I'd love to have more first hand insight into how the band actually felt about their direction at this point. To me it seems like Miku and Kanami 100% believe in the project, Akane doesn't care as long as she can slap things and Misa/Saiki are half checked in, thinking about the next band they're going to join when this project falls apart.
Miku helping out with percussion on this track! 😊
If you look closely, miku has a pigeon next to her red rose. And no 'po' verbal tic. You definitely need to check out their newer acoutic offerings. They will blow you away.
I never noticed the pigeon next to the rose
I'll listen to anything these ladies do....wherever they do it, however they do it, whenever and no matter how many times they do it. Their music is my life right now. I'm gonna go listen to "Zen" a few more times.
Miku's voice is so sweet on this track. Bando Maido :) . It's like Akane doesn't know what to do with her feet :p .
Normally this song is not my favorite, but this version has everything to love about our MAIDs. Misa is wearing shoes :p ....
Check the version of Thrill from the same concert ;) hehe
Akane makes this song so fun, her joy is infectious. I like to request this song for reactors, because it's so different but still a really neat song.
This whole performance is a treasure. The version of Thrill they play is sooooo Different but great. Arrangement is very Latin like Matador.
Kanami adding backing vocals too!
MISA! Thinking I’ve got to get these shoes off!
Fun to hear the beginnings and from hearing Zen today…who would have guessed…but the pigeon knew!
World Domination takes time and hard work!
🤘🕊️🦍🥷👸🏻👀PO!
Princess NittPicc, when you analyze "Zen", especially if can get you hands on the score, you're going to lose you mind.
You are correct, it is super cute...❤❤❤😂😂
This was a live performance as a guest at a small event called "Engagget Fes" in Akihabara (a city of electronics and otaku culture). They performed in front of an audience of several dozen people, most of whom probably didn't know who Band-Maid was. Miku was saying to the audience several times, "We are Band-Maid, so please at least remember our name." Band-Maid has overcome these times and has been active for over 10 years.
It's been a long journey.
Tiny hat akane is different era of band maid plus saiki before surgery 🤘🏻🫶🏼🤘🏻
If you loved the cajoun do yourself a favour and listen to Gacharic spin Alive did after the Japanese tsunami its hauntingly beautiful
Everyone needs a "Happy Song".
It might not be the Band-Maid we are used to today, but this sort of thing helped make them what they are today and for that reason alone should be treasured. But I also enjoy it because it is upbeat and even at this point it's clear (or so it seems to me) that they haven't just settled for performing a song that was given to them. There seem to be parts they have added to make it more interesting (for themselves and the audience), parts that display the early evolution of their group dynamic, and although muted the feeling that they are enjoying themselves (and being shy myself I put down MISA's aura of self-enclosure down to her own shyness rather than anything else).
So cute!
Just an additional comment - it is actually good. I get latin vibes. This could be a South American band.
🤘😛🤘
Miku playing "lap cajon"
Miku misunderstood her guitar as a cajon...shirankedoh🙄😏😁
The Wire Jazz Sticks are called Brushes. Akane uses the wooden version called Rods, or Bundles during the Christmas Acoustic Okyu-ji. There's also a stick in between called Broomsticks. MISA wanted to be in band that's more like the bands she likes. You may recall form the doco videos, she was in a band called Prototype for 5 1/2 years, and their main influence was Smashing Pumpkins. And, like BAND-MAID, they just made people smile. Her other influences were Red Hot Chili Peppers, The Who and Jimi Hendrix. Sure, BAND-MAID has Punk influences, but that's amongst so many others it can be a little watered down. However, MISA's been in BAND-MAID twice as long as she was in Prototype. She almost left BAND-MAID, but she's made a few sacrifices to gain a wider audience, but not many. They let her do what she wants. No Apron? Sure! All Black? Sure! Bass Solos? Sure! She's that good, and the most popular member by a wide margin. Her other nickname besides The Barefoot Assassin is Cool Beauty, but also Ass-Chin, for her cleft chin. She's very funny. Kanami once asked her, "MISA, do you like my songs?" MISA replied, "Mmm . . . I like you".
Miku still wearing her guitar as an accessory.
I'll wait for ZEN,
Miku literally does everything in this song except playing her guitar 🤣
For the Christmas acoustic show, Akane in the commentary video, talked about how she was loaned a high end cajon and how much she liked it. She was debating to buy it.
I like this, but I can almost feel MISA being uncomfortable with the dress, the shoes and the lightness of the music.
I wonder if she ever learned acoustic bass. I bet she'd look and sound cool with it 😊
Absolutely
She has said she has an ambition to perform with an upright bass, but that it won't happen any time soon
Miku's pre PO days.
You cannot watch this without a big smile.
Miku now does guitar duals with Kanami.
The lyrics for this are very girly also. In Japanese, it’s a highly feminine thing to end your sentences with “wa” (わ), like to the point that it’s pretty uncommon in normal usage, and you see it largely in media used by characters that are kind of eccentric or old fashioned, whose femininity is a large part of their identity.
I guess this is hard to pick out if you don’t understand any Japanese, because you don’t know which part of the sentence is which, but it’s the parts where they say “suru wa”.
There is absolutely nothing wrong with loving this. It may not be the Band Maid that they have become, but it is still the five ladies we love making music and having fun. And Akane has always loved the cajon as @rockyetsx70 and other note. I mean yeah, it's odd seeing them in these outfits and MISA has retreated into the shadows with a 4-string, etc. but I'll happily listen to any iteration of the band. Thanks for sharing it out!