Brats - Kimarigoto
Added 2024-09-08 15:00:08 +0000 UTCHappy Birthday Charles!
You were the comment I read on the video when I looked it up for this reaction! What are the odds?!?
Anyway, I am bummed to hear that Brats is permanantly disbanded. They seemed to have so much potential. Their sound is great and their singer has a punky style of singing. Plus the use of some modern styles like the autotune is pretty neat!
I had fun with this one!
Comments
Rei Rei Rei! (yes the singer Not the bassist) I personally would call them Grunge rather than Punk maybe a compromise "Grunge Punk"
David Cook
2024-11-21 09:36:19 +0000 UTCPASSCODE (Taking you out) is what immediately comes to mind for me :) .
PANIC
2024-09-09 22:29:08 +0000 UTCThe whole auto tune/vocaloid thing is big in Japan. Look no further than Hatsune Miku (the virtual idol and the original vocaloid “singer”). Yes, a 20’ tall anime hologram with a real backing band sells out arenas in Japan… https://youtu.be/jhl5afLEKdo?si=llsaT_QteKiqD3hD And, that style of vocal production pops up in various places: Sheena Ringo https://youtu.be/YLfkgo-3_sk?si=R4NNbfPTg9ziUcmO Gacharic Spin https://youtu.be/DSx9z8ZdDM0?si=Hw-GRhmp0qSavxRY Perfume https://youtu.be/KbiSxunJatM?si=P1GpHRho7Kibh5Nv PassCode https://youtu.be/zWfIRfKPm60?si=aIgKbCW1Y4sXpfqp …and that’s just the tip of the iceberg!
Kevin (WhirlwindMediaStudio)
2024-09-09 04:52:35 +0000 UTCSpeaking about punk voices... You may remember that the first album which was officially characterized as "punk" was Peter Hammill's "Nadir's Big Chance" from 1975. At least, that's what John Lydon of the Sex Pistols called them: 'In a 1977 Capital Radio broadcast, John Lydon of the Sex Pistols played two tracks from the album, "The Institute of Mental Health, Burning" and "Nobody's Business", and expressed his admiration for Hammill.' https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nadir%27s_Big_Chance It's also part of the Sex Pistol's lore that John Lydon was wearing a Pink Floyd T-shirt where he wrote with a ball pen, "I hate" at the top. I remember how surprised I was to read this story, for me Pink Floyd and Van der Graaf Generator, together with Yes and King Crimson, belonged to the same group of early British prog rock bands, and I thought if you love one band in this list, you probably love all the others. And of course Peter Hammill is one of the greatest vocalists of all time, there can be no doubt about that. At least in rock—I don't talk now about opera singers, they are a world of their own. I think people tend to call "punk" the music which aims at the sincerity and meaning rather than musical embellishments. Which is quite a fuzzy characterization, I would say, because Peter Hammill was one of the founding fathers of prog rock, and Van der Graad Generator, his main band, was top level virtuoso musicians. Himself included, of course. People often call BAND-MAID a punk band, probably because of their emphasis on sincerity and meaning. In this regard they are different from bands like DreamTheater or DragonForce or Liquid Tension Experiment etc., who are more on the "academic" prog rock side of things, and nobody would call them "punk." Although for me BAND-MAID is a modern reincarnation of the idea of progressive rock. Tony Visconti also called them "prog metal," and I fully support this characterization. BAND-MAID don't borrow any direct inspiration from King Crimson or Van der Graaf Generator or Yes, as many other Japanese bands. It seems Kanami came to her style of music independently, she was always citing Santana as her influence, and then some jazz musicians, Eddie Van Halen (of course) and other people on that side of the musical spectrum. I would be curious to hear what she would say about Robbert Fripp, if any journalist ever asks her about him.
Vladimir Chupin
2024-09-08 17:34:14 +0000 UTCLOL! Thanks for the shout out! Not expecting that, but that was cool. Yeah, it's a bummer that they are no longer together. They didn't put out much, I think 2 full albums worth, but it was all really enjoyable. They have a few videos on YouTube if you want to check them out more, including a fan submitted video clips version of Ms. Downer that is really fun to watch. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mViuqz7QSMs For something on the softer and more emotional side, check out Toge. It's a big departure for Kimarigoto, but it's a really beautiful song. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OSiPmESCCpk Unfair is another really cool song by them. I really like this one. Maybe someday they'll give it another go.
Charles Coleman
2024-09-08 17:19:21 +0000 UTCThey did a video for Ms Downer using many fan submitted videos that was really fun to watch. Toge is another really cool song. A little less punk, but just beautiful.
Charles Coleman
2024-09-08 16:54:39 +0000 UTCOk, I will apologize up front for the lengthy post … as I know it will be :p . I have done quite a bit of research on this song as well as this band. From my DM chats with Rei on Facebook, while we never discussed much of this directly, I can tell you she is a good person who is humble and has a willingness to interact with fans. Hopefully I can provide a little context, and maybe explain the look she is giving you at the end of the video, for those interested. BRATS is a Japanese all-female rock band formed in 2011 by sisters Rei (vo) and Aya (ba) Kuromiya. There was a hiatus from 2013 – 2017 as Rei performed with Ladybaby. Their style is probably more punk than anything, lacking the virtuoso instrumentation found with many Japanese bands. Rei knew a form of fame before her introduction into music due to her early career as a Gravure IDOL … a gravure idol is a Japanese model who poses in provocative lingerie and swimsuit photos for magazines and photo books aimed at men. Very mild by western standards, but nonetheless … they are similar to pin-up models, but are usually more seductive than regular models and idols. She started in the business at the age of 8 (born in 2000). While I have never really read anything about her parents, you have to wonder. Anyway, BRATS songs are very different from other Japanese written material mostly because of this. Rei developed some personal issues and struggled with mental stability and comfort with herself due to her time modeling. BRATS music and lyrics are angsty and almost angry at times. Rei blames the industry and poor treatment of girls for a lot. Rightfully so. As BAND MAID fans we know this type of song and subject matter are atypical for Japanese bands in general. More of what you may find in American music … but BRATS had an approach that was maybe a little more palatable than an American band … and Rei’s real-life experiences makes the music more genuine. Music and lyrics seemed to be used as an outlet for Rei to deal with her anxiety, anger, or anything she was feeling at the time, as much of it is intended as a thumb in the eye of the IDOL industry. On to the song - kimarigoto translated is “standard operating procedure” or more casually, RULES. IDOLS are expected to live to a standard and there are many do’s and don’ts that the industry expects the girls to adhere to. The girls are usually “promised” fame and fortune for living by this strict code, but are underpaid and overworked until they are “successful”. People have speculated the line - “Looking for errors until now” … unfortunately references that the idol world can be very unhealthy for one’s mind, leading girls to do things such as worry excessively about their body weight, looks, etc, and can sadly lead to mental or eating disorders. The song speaks about hoping to achieve atonement following a past that she wishes could never have happened (assuming this song is another reference to Rei’s former idol life). The line “Deception, insincere laughter” speaks of pretending to be someone you are not, likely referring to Rei’s idol years, again. By the end of the song, it appears to be a little more hopeful, ending with “I’ve lived so far”. Probably meaning that after quitting the idol industry, which many may see as the only way to musical fame in Japan, she’s managed to continue on without many regrets. The quotes above were taken from Rosabella Fayes lyric translation blog. BRATS officially disbanded on March 30th 2024. Rei was initially a founding member of LADYBABY then left to perform full time as BRATS with her sister. Currently she performs with the band REIRIE, mostly now singing in a pop style leaving her rock roots behind. Rei also has a clothing line called "suiciDe". It seems she has settled the score with the demons of her past. Other notable BRATS songs include EXCUSER, MS. DOWNER, DOUDATTE YOKATTA, and NO MORE NO MORE (A LIFE FOR MONEY). Kimarigoto was their biggest hit. Proper English Translation: (I don't know what's going on with those subtitles :p ) . Flashback to my maze of regrets Undo - hope is the future Everyone’s a little splattered I’m living with my dirty hands That’s how it works Moping (about that) is a waste of time Looking for errors until now How long will you survive? Atonement is a human Standard operating procedure Deception, insincere laughter, Regrets, I want to erase yesterday Everyone wants to live on After stepping over the darkness in the past That’s how I come to terms with that Every day that we live We admit, little by little That atonement is A human standard operating procedure Everyone’s a little splattered I’m living with dirty hands That’s how it works Moping (about that) is a waste of time The atonement is… Everyone wants to live on After stepping over the darkness in the past That’s how I come to terms with that I’ve lived so far
PANIC
2024-09-08 15:38:45 +0000 UTCLOL! Thank you! I too feel bad about them breaking up. They had a lot of promise and I really enjoyed their music. I even had a ticket to see them in their only US appearance - In Anaheim at an Anime convention in early 2020. But hernia surgery prevented me from going. D'oh!
Charles Coleman
2024-09-08 15:27:26 +0000 UTC
