Greetings from the Motor City! Puzzle was 一番好き song from my first time hearing it, and that hasn't changed in the past three-plus years. It's been Puzzle and Daydreaming at the top of my list for a long time, and despite loving so much of their catalog (new and old) I'd be hard-pressed to change it. For me, the driving force for Pazuru is the synth at the beginning and end, it really punches hard with the emotional aspect of the song for me (so much tension!!!), with Akane's drumming a close second (far from her most impressive, but everything she plays just hits right, so to speak). Yeah, Mincho is riffing creatively the entire song, Kobato's chunky rhythm playing is so prevalent (especially in the classic Studio Coast Live version) along with providing strong harmonies, MISA does so much underneath that drives it forward and Saiki absolutely crushes it vocally. But those first couple measures with the synth....magical. Fortunate to see these talented ladies four times in October 2022 and have tickets in May for Nashville and my hometown. Counting the days...
From interviews I have seen with them, and articles, Kanami has an ongoing assignment from the label where she presents a new song kernel each week, that’s 52 new song starts a year. So she writes by constantly writing. She composes on the computer, sets up guitar and a drum demo that captures how she wants the rhythms to go, and sends to others. Misa then writes her Bass line and sends it back, Akane now adjusts drum lines more than she used to do. They all work together to build the instrumental sections, once they feel the mood and theme, Miku starts lyrics. Saiki is now also doing some lyrics, Misa has also started composing. I think No God was the first song where Misa wrote a baseline first and Kanami composed around the base part. Misa also changed how she composes her bass lines so that she doesn’t fall into patterns of familiar hand motions, I think she is composing either on computer or keyboard. Kanami often does initial composing on keyboard, so she then breaks the full keyboard piece into different instruments. Saiki was also working on her piano she could start composing too. All will still go through Kanami. Saiki is the one who usually decides when it is done, as the others will keep making adjustments or adding new things. Kanami has also said that now that Miku has sufficient rhythm guitar range so that Kanami doesn’t have to mirror or double her as often, that lets her have more range of what she can do with her guitar playing and what Misa can do. Kanami also said she has now stopped listening to other rock music to try to focus on her voice in her composition. They also all keep work on both the basics and new techniques, so the latest songs all have techniques that most of them could not do even a couple years ago. They all just keep trying to do more and express more in their music.
As the electric version vocals showed you the aggressive side & spite in Saiki's vocals, the acoustic version with Kanami will draw you towards the anguish in her voice & the sadness by Kanami. Break your heart it will.💔
Acoustic version is on the Patreon, gents ;) though, I may have to do another reaction to it considering how much about the perfect I missed initially @_@
The best way to listen to Just Bring it is the live performance of Studio Coast 2017. And the best version of Word Domination is, of course, Zepp Tokyo 2018. The ladies always find a way to elevate their music live.
I enjoyed your analysis about Kanami. You pretty much captured a lot of the reasons why she is one of my favorite musicians/songwriters. She is not as flashy as a lot ot guitarists but everything she plays has a purpose. Thank you for going on your rant to express your thoughts about her playing style. It is always nice to hear someone else's opinions and perspective.
The live from Studio Coast 2017 is one you now HAVE to see. As a guitarist you will look at Kanami playing and your jaw will drop. And saying "Too much"? You aren't the first person to say that. What makes it even more captivating, if you look at Kanami's right forearm and wrist, they are wrapped in flesh colored trainers tape. She was suffering from tendonitis during that concert. She changed how she held her pick to overcome that, but she had to be highly uncomfortable during that whole 2+ hour concert. The Studio Coast DVD was cut down to just over an hour, so a LOT of good songs were cut from the mix. Such as Unfair Game. But that is also the concert where you will hear just how important Miku's guitar is to the Ladies sound. As I said previously, listen to YOLO in particular and listen to the left channel for when Miku does her pick scrape into her part. And MISA's tone was courtesy of a quarter tone downtuned bass plus a drop pedal run through her Orange 200 Watt amp and dual 4X10 cabs. And Kanami structures her songs like she was building a magical castle floating in the air. And we can hear the effort. Her writing makes me wonder if she is a fan of Hayao Miyazaki and Laputa - Castle in the Sky. And it was after Just Bring it, that the Ladies started to mix their albums so they sounded like they would on stage. With Miku hard panned left, Kanami hard panned right except during solos, with MISA center left, drums and vocals hard center, though some of Miku's backing vocals are slightly panned left depending on the song. As for Kanami's sound, this was the album that Kanami was switching over from her AddicTone Super Strat with 3 single coils to her PRS with dual humbuckers. And you haven't even hear the REALLY GOOD STUFF!! Yet...
Isn't this the one from the concert? I don't think this was the track from the album as their solos are extended and sounds overall are not so refined, and Saiki's power is coming through.
That whole hour of concert is nothing but GOOD STUFF. That said it was hearing a, short lived, YT of the duo Matchless Gum and Awkward that prompted me to find and acquire the concert DVD and later the Blu-ray.
The Studio coast version is must to see. That build up before Kanami solo with Misa riff is insane. One of my favourite parts of BM along with 100 others.
Enjoyed your comments as usual, Jon. I like the artwork. Not only is there a skull lurking, but I think of this as the moment Miku gave Saiki her blue flower of belonging.
My favorite song. And what's extra fun is the full band live versions have Kanami more prominent in the mix, so it gives bit of a different perspective. (One of those two will be on the BD/DVD coming out late April.) And then the acoustic version is a completely different vibe.
This version is filled with rage. The acoustic version is filled with sadness. It’s a great example or reworking the song to create something quite different than the original. Find a translation and of the lyrics. Join BAND-MAID PRIME and watch the live version there. Also MORATORIUM.
@jon.reacts Greetings from the PNW. I enjoyed your reaction the second time through as much as I did the first time on Patreon. The live version of Puzzle has a different sound mix in which you can hear even more of the song’s subtleties and as much as you enjoyed this version, I’m guessing that you will like that version even better. Also, thanks for the reaction to the acoustic versions Puzzle and Anemone.
Jon, you need to listen to the acoustic version of this song with only Kanami and Saiki. Slowing the song down really shows Saiki's dramatic voice. Paired with Kanami's beautiful and haunting backing vocals, it truly memorable. The premise of the song is a young female who spots someone she loved ( a former lover?) with his wife(significant other) and the lyrics really show frustration, anger, and eventually grief felt by the young woman, because he will not complete the "puzzle" of her life, nor will she complete the "puzzle" of his life. Do yourself a favor and find the official live video of that acoustic set. It may make you shed a tear or two. Saiki, and her voice, is absolutely the star of the song.
This song, specifically the live Studio Coast version, is the first song I heard from BAND-MAID. Blew the top of my head right off. Still have to wear a hat to this day. I'm glad you liked it, though, I don't think you mentioned Saiki or Miku's vocals once. That's kinda crazy to me. But I was multi-tasking while listening/watching this reaction, so perhaps I missed it. Those two are even more powerful in the live version.
I think Saiki is amazing in both versions. There are times in this version where she hardly gets a chance to take a breath -- her breath control is so good. The acoustic version shows off her acting ability -- her body language and tone of voice, conveying the anguish of the song, clutching her waist, holding herself together in the loss that the song speaks about. She is always a physically expressive singer -- moving around on stage, using her free arm to "speak" the feelings in the song.
Thank you Jon. I have always said Kanami is lower in the mix by design. She primarily composes the songs, so you do not think she is going to be listen to the everything being mixed and mastered?
What the reel Puzzle is here is what is going on inside that cute little noggin of Mincho. I just imagine balls of musical yarn tangled together. She somehow pulls out little pieces and stitches them together in the most wonderful way. To put it another way? Someone call the Burgermeister because Kanami is the mad scientist of riffage Frankensteining the music together. This music is diabolically roaming the airwaves making us all fall in love with not just her but all of Band-Maid. Please don't throw me in the lake! I can swim. It's just the water is very cold. Dang. Kanami is a musical genius. Then the rest of the band adds their input and finish it. The band is really 'Maid' up of five musical geniuses.
It's my all time favorite from Band-Maid 😉 If you want check the live version you can find on billibilli /Chinese YT 😉/And yes Kanami made a full guitar solo from this song.She just a genius.Nice reaction btw 👍
Kanami always contributes a huge amount to the songs during the vocal sections. Not only that, parts of her solo's are often on the off beat or syncopated.
Another thing I really like about their more recent compositions...you hear Kanami with the chords on your left ear for a few measures, and then you hear Miku take over the chords in your left ear while Kanami starts going off on her virtuoso sweeping.
When I say masterpiece, this is it. It's in my top two with Secret My Lips. I knew you would enjoy this one. It's so complex it's mind blowing. Kamani really is a genius and this one proves it. Saiki with the staccato rhythmic melody of her voice on top truly tells a story throughout. Miku penned some aggressive lyrics to go with this, and Saiki expresses it as she always does. Hopefully you get a chance to see the live version from Studio Coast. It's so raw. And you can hear each instrument so clear. Especially Miku with her chunky Zemaitis. And if you listen, Kanami basically solos throughout the whole song. After that, the live acoustic. Kanami and Saiki give the song a whole haunting new meaning. Like you said, they do whatever they want. ぽ
I do like your point of view on each reaction, and i get it to have something special for people who are paying, but some people like me, we support with likes and suscribe cause i cant afford another way. so is sad to left behind just for money thing. that been said, i do like that u read every comment. BTW kanami doesnt write some songs, she writes every song, then she send the demo to each member and they contribute with their parts , also miku is the main lyricist but lately saiki has written some lyrics too. Keep up the good work and hopefully u dont let us out just for not been able to donate money (even if we want to). Greetings from Chile, South america
It's comments like yours why I wrestle with myself about putting things behind a pay wall. I still have the live version of Puzzle to check out, maybe that'll be a double shot and I'll sneak a re-reaction to the acoustic Puzzle in on that one ;) stay posted.
MISA MISA MISA!!!!! MY favourite by default now let me explain Why (thanx David Heretic) whenever I compile a top 5 songs, You know after a new Album or after a New Vid "Puzzle is ALWAYS in it not always 1st BUT always for example when "Conqueror" came out it was "Rinne" "Flying High" "Puzzle" "Secret My Lips" and "Clang" then when unseen world came out it was "I still Seek Revenge" "Manners" "Puzzle" "Flying High" and "Freezer" and so on
Accoustic version emphasizes on Saiki's true vocal talent as well as Kanami's talent of songwriting and arranging. Puzzle is my most favorite until "Manners" came out.
The band has always referred to the controlled chaos as "painting a picture". As an example the driving music is such to paint a sonic picture representative of being sucked into a black hole in the song of the same name. This is a common feature of Band-Maid music. As reference Alone was their first self authored and produced song. Everything since with two exceptions are all Kobato-Tono or Kobato-Atsumi or all five. "Evolution beyond expectations" is how Miku wrote about it. They are great, aren't they?
There is a live version that you can hear Kanami a lot better, I believe it's on their TH-cam page. And of course the acoustic live version, this one will surprise you.
To me this song lyrically is Jolene sending Dolly's husband back to her, after Dolly confronts her. She loves him just as much, so she understands Dolly's pain. She sacrifices her love and sends him back rather than make Dolly suffer the pain she now feels. The music makes you feel the roller coaster of her emotions. The passion in the bass, the pain in the drums, the screaming in the guitars. Miku writes some great lyrics once you wrap your head around what she is saying. She doesn't hold back.
10:52 Also, Justin Hawkins when he reviewed Dice (Hype!) said that they seemed to "be a project with real integrity. They aren't doing this for commerce, yet they have millions of views." So, you are in good company (?)
Finally, someone else who has the contrary view about Kanami"s levels. I got tired of posting the idea that Kanami would NOT allow a mix she wasn't happy with. It's her composition. She knows what she is trying to achieve.
Have always thought this also. She knows most rock listeners will focus on the guitar. So she makes you search for it through the other magic that is happening
Do you have somewhere we can send you links? There are some "live" links from another website that will be deleted from the comments if we post them here. Puzzle (Live), Don't You Tell Me (Live) and Moratorium (Live) are must reacts.
Hmm... I don't have a dedicated discord set up yet, but... you can go to the Patreon and drop the links on my Shanti Shanti Shanti reaction there since it's available to the public. No subscription required to drop those links, but do feel free to sub up to the Patreon if you aren't already and check out my reaction to Puzzle and Anemone acoustic versions 😜
Nice reaction. You haven't done a new group in a while. You really need to discover Voice of Baceprot. A three-person all-girl metal group that will blow your mind I promise
Well, I have some stuff recorded that I haven't released yet lol but before anything else, I'm looking at Hanabie since y'all been pestering me about them for months now 😂😂
You should really check out the lyrics. While Kanami indeed speaks through her guitar, Miku is more direct on her lyrics..... or is she? Many have said that Miku is a poet, so even if you understood Japanese, you still need to wrap your head around her words in order to fully get what she is saying. I do highly recommend checking the English translation of Puzzle's lyrics out.
Fact: Kanami plays 30 different riffs in this song, each better than the last. Okay, I’m exaggerating… but just a little. :). I’ll take her any day over any of the “guitar hero, super shredder” players.
Kanami's genius extends far beyond her 6 strings. Someone said she is "fearless as a composer" and you can really feel her courage in her work. I think that courage is what makes her superior to just about any other guitarist out there including those "super shredders"
@@JON.HOUSE24 Yes, it’s the compositions that set Band Maid apart, IMO. There are many bands with very talented players, and many bands can put out some really great songs. But so many of those bands have one, or a few, good songs, and the rest are average or worse than average. Band Maids average baseline is equal to most groups best output. That’s how I see it anyway.
They aren't Japanese, that's where they grew up. They are humans. They aren't women, but they happen to be that gender. They are everybody. They aren't musicians, it's the medium they've chosen to express themselves. They are artists, in every sense of the word. Opinion from the Ozark Mountains in Arkansas.
I knew there was a reason I liked your comments. I grew up in the Missouri Ozarks and although I've lived my adult life in Japan, I still miss those rolling hills and rivers. Lots of places for Zen moments.
You can't say Misa without saying Akane. They are the most amazing and beautiful rhythm section on the planet. I bet their periods are perfectly in sync!!!!!
![BAND-MAID / Matchless Gum [DOUBLE Feature Reaction/ANALYSIS!!]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/q2pSOiapCZk/mqdefault.jpg)
![BAND-MAID / Matchless Gum [DOUBLE Feature Reaction/ANALYSIS!!]](/img/tr.png)
![BAND - MAID / Corallium LIVE at Shibuya Eggman [REACTION/ANALYSIS!!]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/gHFF-gzJ4kA/mqdefault.jpg)
Greetings from the Motor City!
Puzzle was 一番好き song from my first time hearing it, and that hasn't changed in the past three-plus years. It's been Puzzle and Daydreaming at the top of my list for a long time, and despite loving so much of their catalog (new and old) I'd be hard-pressed to change it.
For me, the driving force for Pazuru is the synth at the beginning and end, it really punches hard with the emotional aspect of the song for me (so much tension!!!), with Akane's drumming a close second (far from her most impressive, but everything she plays just hits right, so to speak). Yeah, Mincho is riffing creatively the entire song, Kobato's chunky rhythm playing is so prevalent (especially in the classic Studio Coast Live version) along with providing strong harmonies, MISA does so much underneath that drives it forward and Saiki absolutely crushes it vocally. But those first couple measures with the synth....magical.
Fortunate to see these talented ladies four times in October 2022 and have tickets in May for Nashville and my hometown. Counting the days...
They didn't play Puzzle at any of 2022 tour shows, but did bring it back for TGT. And it sounded great.
This is the song that drew me in. Not just one of my all time favorite Band Maid song, but one of my all time favorite songs.
From interviews I have seen with them, and articles, Kanami has an ongoing assignment from the label where she presents a new song kernel each week, that’s 52 new song starts a year. So she writes by constantly writing. She composes on the computer, sets up guitar and a drum demo that captures how she wants the rhythms to go, and sends to others. Misa then writes her Bass line and sends it back, Akane now adjusts drum lines more than she used to do. They all work together to build the instrumental sections, once they feel the mood and theme, Miku starts lyrics. Saiki is now also doing some lyrics, Misa has also started composing. I think No God was the first song where Misa wrote a baseline first and Kanami composed around the base part. Misa also changed how she composes her bass lines so that she doesn’t fall into patterns of familiar hand motions, I think she is composing either on computer or keyboard. Kanami often does initial composing on keyboard, so she then breaks the full keyboard piece into different instruments. Saiki was also working on her piano she could start composing too. All will still go through Kanami. Saiki is the one who usually decides when it is done, as the others will keep making adjustments or adding new things. Kanami has also said that now that Miku has sufficient rhythm guitar range so that Kanami doesn’t have to mirror or double her as often, that lets her have more range of what she can do with her guitar playing and what Misa can do. Kanami also said she has now stopped listening to other rock music to try to focus on her voice in her composition. They also all keep work on both the basics and new techniques, so the latest songs all have techniques that most of them could not do even a couple years ago. They all just keep trying to do more and express more in their music.
As the electric version vocals showed you the aggressive side & spite in Saiki's vocals, the acoustic version with Kanami will draw you towards the anguish in her voice & the sadness by Kanami. Break your heart it will.💔
Totally.. The acoustic is one of the best.. Band maid has a knack of producing three awesome versions of each song. Studio, Live and acoustic..
@@patron40silver Haha. Oh yeah. Patron you should've told me before i posted it :)
@@grantnealon5101 I agree. They are sometimes almost like entirely new songs altogether :)
Acoustic version is on the Patreon, gents ;) though, I may have to do another reaction to it considering how much about the perfect I missed initially @_@
@@grantnealon5101 ... and sometimes instrumental.
The best way to listen to Just Bring it is the live performance of Studio Coast 2017. And the best version of Word Domination is, of course, Zepp Tokyo 2018. The ladies always find a way to elevate their music live.
I enjoyed your analysis about Kanami. You pretty much captured a lot of the reasons why she is one of my favorite musicians/songwriters. She is not as flashy as a lot ot guitarists but everything she plays has a purpose. Thank you for going on your rant to express your thoughts about her playing style. It is always nice to hear someone else's opinions and perspective.
The live from Studio Coast 2017 is one you now HAVE to see. As a guitarist you will look at Kanami playing and your jaw will drop. And saying "Too much"? You aren't the first person to say that. What makes it even more captivating, if you look at Kanami's right forearm and wrist, they are wrapped in flesh colored trainers tape. She was suffering from tendonitis during that concert. She changed how she held her pick to overcome that, but she had to be highly uncomfortable during that whole 2+ hour concert. The Studio Coast DVD was cut down to just over an hour, so a LOT of good songs were cut from the mix. Such as Unfair Game. But that is also the concert where you will hear just how important Miku's guitar is to the Ladies sound. As I said previously, listen to YOLO in particular and listen to the left channel for when Miku does her pick scrape into her part.
And MISA's tone was courtesy of a quarter tone downtuned bass plus a drop pedal run through her Orange 200 Watt amp and dual 4X10 cabs.
And Kanami structures her songs like she was building a magical castle floating in the air. And we can hear the effort. Her writing makes me wonder if she is a fan of Hayao Miyazaki and Laputa - Castle in the Sky.
And it was after Just Bring it, that the Ladies started to mix their albums so they sounded like they would on stage. With Miku hard panned left, Kanami hard panned right except during solos, with MISA center left, drums and vocals hard center, though some of Miku's backing vocals are slightly panned left depending on the song.
As for Kanami's sound, this was the album that Kanami was switching over from her AddicTone Super Strat with 3 single coils to her PRS with dual humbuckers.
And you haven't even hear the REALLY GOOD STUFF!! Yet...
Isn't this the one from the concert? I don't think this was the track from the album as their solos are extended and sounds overall are not so refined, and Saiki's power is coming through.
In the concert Kanami's guitar is higher in the mix. Almost as much as MISA's bass. It isn't here.
That whole hour of concert is nothing but GOOD STUFF. That said it was hearing a, short lived, YT of the duo Matchless Gum and Awkward that prompted me to find and acquire the concert DVD and later the Blu-ray.
The Studio coast version is must to see. That build up before Kanami solo with Misa riff is insane. One of my favourite parts of BM along with 100 others.
Enjoyed your comments as usual, Jon. I like the artwork. Not only is there a skull lurking, but I think of this as the moment Miku gave Saiki her blue flower of belonging.
12:30 She is to me. Santana, Angus, EVH, Slash, Clapton, Hendrix, Kanami, Flea, and MISA. It's called Style.
My favorite song. And what's extra fun is the full band live versions have Kanami more prominent in the mix, so it gives bit of a different perspective. (One of those two will be on the BD/DVD coming out late April.) And then the acoustic version is a completely different vibe.
This version is filled with rage. The acoustic version is filled with sadness. It’s a great example or reworking the song to create something quite different than the original.
Find a translation and of the lyrics. Join BAND-MAID PRIME and watch the live version there. Also MORATORIUM.
It's true artistry. They take the same notes and words and change the meaning of the song.
@jon.reacts Greetings from the PNW. I enjoyed your reaction the second time through as much as I did the first time on Patreon. The live version of Puzzle has a different sound mix in which you can hear even more of the song’s subtleties and as much as you enjoyed this version, I’m guessing that you will like that version even better. Also, thanks for the reaction to the acoustic versions Puzzle and Anemone.
Jon, you need to listen to the acoustic version of this song with only Kanami and Saiki. Slowing the song down really shows Saiki's dramatic voice. Paired with Kanami's beautiful and haunting backing vocals, it truly memorable. The premise of the song is a young female who spots someone she loved ( a former lover?) with his wife(significant other) and the lyrics really show frustration, anger, and eventually grief felt by the young woman, because he will not complete the "puzzle" of her life, nor will she complete the "puzzle" of his life. Do yourself a favor and find the official live video of that acoustic set. It may make you shed a tear or two. Saiki, and her voice, is absolutely the star of the song.
This song, specifically the live Studio Coast version, is the first song I heard from BAND-MAID. Blew the top of my head right off. Still have to wear a hat to this day.
I'm glad you liked it, though, I don't think you mentioned Saiki or Miku's vocals once. That's kinda crazy to me. But I was multi-tasking while listening/watching this reaction, so perhaps I missed it. Those two are even more powerful in the live version.
I think Saiki is amazing in both versions. There are times in this version where she hardly gets a chance to take a breath -- her breath control is so good. The acoustic version shows off her acting ability -- her body language and tone of voice, conveying the anguish of the song, clutching her waist, holding herself together in the loss that the song speaks about. She is always a physically expressive singer -- moving around on stage, using her free arm to "speak" the feelings in the song.
I may not have. Not because they weren't amazing, but because everything in this track is amazing @_@
I often come back to,live Coast version of Puzzle. I’d say if studio version is 9/10 then live version is 12/10.
Thank you Jon. I have always said Kanami is lower in the mix by design. She primarily composes the songs, so you do not think she is going to be listen to the everything being mixed and mastered?
Band Maid's best song (IMHO) definitely on my desert island song list!!! 🎶🎸🥁🎸🎶🔥🙂🕊
Not "Big Dad"?😵
@@GaryHolloway-810 After listening to some of Michael Jackson's best hits, Kanami said she was finally ready to "Dig Bad."
@@jwoodjapan Haha.😆 That's clever.👏👏
As Well as Misa, Akane is thunderous in this studio version.
I appreciate how much substance you bring to your reactions...follow up your Kanami insight with their song 'Daydreaming '... you won't regret it.
What the reel Puzzle is here is what is going on inside that cute little noggin of Mincho. I just imagine balls of musical yarn tangled together. She somehow pulls out little pieces and stitches them together in the most wonderful way.
To put it another way? Someone call the Burgermeister because Kanami is the mad scientist of riffage Frankensteining the music together. This music is diabolically roaming the airwaves making us all fall in love with not just her but all of Band-Maid.
Please don't throw me in the lake! I can swim. It's just the water is very cold.
Dang. Kanami is a musical genius.
Then the rest of the band adds their input and finish it. The band is really 'Maid' up of five musical geniuses.
It just doesn't stop!!!!!!!!!!!
The BAND-MAID non-stop express goes "Choo Choo Choose Me".
It's my all time favorite from Band-Maid 😉 If you want check the live version you can find on billibilli /Chinese YT 😉/And yes Kanami made a full guitar solo from this song.She just a genius.Nice reaction btw 👍
This one is the best of the bests.
Kanami always contributes a huge amount to the songs during the vocal sections. Not only that, parts of her solo's are often on the off beat or syncopated.
Another thing I really like about their more recent compositions...you hear Kanami with the chords on your left ear for a few measures, and then you hear Miku take over the chords in your left ear while Kanami starts going off on her virtuoso sweeping.
When I say masterpiece, this is it. It's in my top two with Secret My Lips. I knew you would enjoy this one. It's so complex it's mind blowing. Kamani really is a genius and this one proves it. Saiki with the staccato rhythmic melody of her voice on top truly tells a story throughout. Miku penned some aggressive lyrics to go with this, and Saiki expresses it as she always does. Hopefully you get a chance to see the live version from Studio Coast. It's so raw. And you can hear each instrument so clear. Especially Miku with her chunky Zemaitis. And if you listen, Kanami basically solos throughout the whole song. After that, the live acoustic. Kanami and Saiki give the song a whole haunting new meaning. Like you said, they do whatever they want. ぽ
I do like your point of view on each reaction, and i get it to have something special for people who are paying, but some people like me, we support with likes and suscribe cause i cant afford another way. so is sad to left behind just for money thing. that been said, i do like that u read every comment.
BTW kanami doesnt write some songs, she writes every song, then she send the demo to each member and they contribute with their parts , also miku is the main lyricist but lately saiki has written some lyrics too. Keep up the good work and hopefully u dont let us out just for not been able to donate money (even if we want to).
Greetings from Chile, South america
It's comments like yours why I wrestle with myself about putting things behind a pay wall.
I still have the live version of Puzzle to check out, maybe that'll be a double shot and I'll sneak a re-reaction to the acoustic Puzzle in on that one ;) stay posted.
I well prefer the live version of Puzzle. This is the real masterpiece. The bridge before Kanami solo is insane in its building.
MISA MISA MISA!!!!! MY favourite by default now let me explain Why (thanx David Heretic) whenever I compile a top 5 songs, You know after a new Album or after a New Vid "Puzzle is ALWAYS in it not always 1st BUT always for example when "Conqueror" came out it was "Rinne" "Flying High" "Puzzle" "Secret My Lips" and "Clang" then when unseen world came out it was "I still Seek Revenge" "Manners" "Puzzle" "Flying High" and "Freezer" and so on
Someone give this man the link to the live version
For me Akane has my attention in this song.
Now you need to listen to the acoustic version! TOTALLY different experience....
Agreed! It's been live on the Patreon for about a week now ;)
Watch the Live Jon!
Accoustic version emphasizes on Saiki's true vocal talent as well as Kanami's talent of songwriting and arranging. Puzzle is my most favorite until "Manners" came out.
The band has always referred to the controlled chaos as "painting a picture". As an example the driving music is such to paint a sonic picture representative of being sucked into a black hole in the song of the same name. This is a common feature of Band-Maid music. As reference Alone was their first self authored and produced song. Everything since with two exceptions are all Kobato-Tono or Kobato-Atsumi or all five. "Evolution beyond expectations" is how Miku wrote about it. They are great, aren't they?
Couple more bout the same time stamp...(turn me on, live) & (don't you tell me, live) both are killer tracks..
There is a live version that you can hear Kanami a lot better, I believe it's on their TH-cam page. And of course the acoustic live version, this one will surprise you.
Not being funny, Jon, but if i'm hanging over the side of a cliff i don't really want to start writing a book. Bloody dangerous for a start :)
Lmao sure 😂😂 there probably are safer ways to get inspiration lol
To me this song lyrically is Jolene sending Dolly's husband back to her, after Dolly confronts her. She loves him just as much, so she understands Dolly's pain. She sacrifices her love and sends him back rather than make Dolly suffer the pain she now feels. The music makes you feel the roller coaster of her emotions. The passion in the bass, the pain in the drums, the screaming in the guitars.
Miku writes some great lyrics once you wrap your head around what she is saying. She doesn't hold back.
You HAVE to see the acoustic version of Puzzle, you can really feel Saiki's angst when she sings. It's just so good!
10:52 Also, Justin Hawkins when he reviewed Dice (Hype!) said that they seemed to "be a project with real integrity. They aren't doing this for commerce, yet they have millions of views." So, you are in good company (?)
Finally, someone else who has the contrary view about Kanami"s levels. I got tired of posting the idea that Kanami would NOT allow a mix she wasn't happy with. It's her composition. She knows what she is trying to achieve.
Have always thought this also. She knows most rock listeners will focus on the guitar. So she makes you search for it through the other magic that is happening
100%
Do you have somewhere we can send you links? There are some "live" links from another website that will be deleted from the comments if we post them here. Puzzle (Live), Don't You Tell Me (Live) and Moratorium (Live) are must reacts.
Hmm... I don't have a dedicated discord set up yet, but... you can go to the Patreon and drop the links on my Shanti Shanti Shanti reaction there since it's available to the public. No subscription required to drop those links, but do feel free to sub up to the Patreon if you aren't already and check out my reaction to Puzzle and Anemone acoustic versions 😜
Nice reaction. You haven't done a new group in a while. You really need to discover Voice of Baceprot. A three-person all-girl metal group that will blow your mind I promise
Well, I have some stuff recorded that I haven't released yet lol but before anything else, I'm looking at Hanabie since y'all been pestering me about them for months now 😂😂
Why not live?( i hope, you react to puzzle acoustic vers. it’s something esle
You should really check out the lyrics. While Kanami indeed speaks through her guitar, Miku is more direct on her lyrics..... or is she? Many have said that Miku is a poet, so even if you understood Japanese, you still need to wrap your head around her words in order to fully get what she is saying. I do highly recommend checking the English translation of Puzzle's lyrics out.
Pes please. The acoustic live version as soon as possible. I weep every time. The emotion Saiki pours out is painful to watch at times.
It's up on the Patreon with "Anemone" 😉
I asked to chatgpt if Kanami is an Angel.. well, she's not..
Fact: Kanami plays 30 different riffs in this song, each better than the last. Okay, I’m exaggerating… but just a little. :). I’ll take her any day over any of the “guitar hero, super shredder” players.
Kanami's genius extends far beyond her 6 strings. Someone said she is "fearless as a composer" and you can really feel her courage in her work.
I think that courage is what makes her superior to just about any other guitarist out there including those "super shredders"
@@JON.HOUSE24 Yes, it’s the compositions that set Band Maid apart, IMO. There are many bands with very talented players, and many bands can put out some really great songs. But so many of those bands have one, or a few, good songs, and the rest are average or worse than average. Band Maids average baseline is equal to most groups best output. That’s how I see it anyway.
They aren't Japanese, that's where they grew up. They are humans. They aren't women, but they happen to be that gender. They are everybody. They aren't musicians, it's the medium they've chosen to express themselves. They are artists, in every sense of the word.
Opinion from the Ozark Mountains in Arkansas.
I knew there was a reason I liked your comments. I grew up in the Missouri Ozarks and although I've lived my adult life in Japan, I still miss those rolling hills and rivers. Lots of places for Zen moments.
I want a refund for the missing 20 seconds
Old Band Maid Is better.
What would be your best "old" B-M song?
@@JON.HOUSE24 Unfair Game, Matchless gum, Moratorium, etc.
You can't say Misa without saying Akane. They are the most amazing and beautiful rhythm section on the planet. I bet their periods are perfectly in sync!!!!!
yikes. creepy, dude.
@@DeanF_MIDI ITS A MASSIVE COMPLIMENT DEAN, CREEPY WOULD BE TALKING ABOUT SAIKI'S INCREDIBLE THIGHS, NOT THAT I WOULD EVER DO THAT!