AMAZING! Band-Maid Performs Thrill and Real Existence - First Reaction!

[@grahamreed8774]

Thrill- Their first MV 2014. Went viral once it got put on youtube- 2,000,000 views in two weeks and saved the the band as their agency was going to pull the plug on them if it failed. Miku (Red Flower) founder of the band, Vocals and Guitar, was going to be the singer until she heard the sound of the band she had got together and realised that a stronger voice was needed- enter Saiki. Real Existance 2015, so two early songs. Saiki stopped using a mic stand some time later. The "Tiny Hat" as it is known by fans, belonged the Misa for the first year or so of the band, then she passed on to her best buddy Akane by 2015, who had it up to 2019, when she retired it.

[@crabuki1273]

A moment of silence for the beloved Tiny Hat.

[@Davey-Boyd]

@@crabuki1273 Amen

[@TehPhysics]

We salute you, Tiny Hat. You were first chosen by MISA(x3), then bestowed to Akane, and finally sacrificed in a volcano. You will never be forgotten! (I'm still annoyed there's no tiny bowler hat emoji 😕)

[@megalondonkleuter]

The Tiny Hat shall not be forgotten !

[@joliquidflow2296]

Miku was the original singer of the band. After a while she noticed herself that the sound and idea she envisioned for the band she put together was not there yet. Therefore she spoke with her management company and decided to get a different voice for the band . Adding Saiki as the last member to join her band. If you ask me , that’s what leaders do . She gave up her spotlight for the best outcome. As a Madiac . Miku has all my respect . Let’s not forget she didn’t play guitar and decided to take up that role and now she’s a phenom as a Leader , Co-singer , Backup vocalist , rhythm Guitarist and Lyricist. Also is a top Knoch business woman. She’s come a long way of being just a server in a maid cafe. Long love the pigeon!!❤

[@princeofcupspoc9073]

Miku has definitely NOT given up the spot light. 🙂

[@Short_Round1999]

I still find awesome how far she’s come. From not being able to play the guitar for the Thrill video to now

[@lurkmerchant]

​@@princeofcupspoc9073 I agree. Miku wants to sing lead, and everyone in the band knows and respect that. There're not many lead singers who let other singer take over her spot. But that's another thing where Band-Maid is so special. Every member thinks and acts for the band and their music. Miku's voice definitely suits pop-punk, J-pop better with more straight, clear vocal while Saiki's vocal has more vibrato in it that more likely fits RnB, jazz and rock more so now than back in 2015. Miku's backing vocal is an extra spice to the Maids' heavy sound, that works like magic.

[@tonygriffin_]

No other band breaks new gate like Band-Maid! The MV of Real Existence is excellent but the live performances are even more astounding ( kzbin.info/www/bejne/Y6K0n35_gbdoq5I ). The black and white theme (with a splash of colour) reflects Miku's original idea for the band's look and she chose it because of the Japanese aesthetic values of Sumi-e, ink painting, which is limited to black and white mostly but does allow the odd colour here and there (the red and blue flowers on Saiki and Miku's headgear). You clearly appreciate Band-Maid but no-one expects you to love or even like every song so don't sweat it. We'd all, I'm sure, want you to just stay being honest with your reactions. (But maybe give it a couple more listens anyway! 🤣)

[@thedocofrock1890]

i'm one of the minority that prefers the mv for 'real existence' over the live. first BAND MAID song i ever heard in 2016. blew me away instantly. the filming of it in the japanese temple made it that much cooler. you just did their first 2 mv's in chronological order so you may consider continuing that trend. the non- fiction days' and 'alone both have mv's and are kick ass songs.

[@Cheezyxyz]

100%

[@danjoseph7515]

You're in the minority, but definitely not alone in liking the MV more! 🤘🤩🤘

[@NikkoTonTonBoy]

Check out their first originally written MV, Alone. Great vocals and one of my favorites. PO!

[@geoffb5]

Both Thrill and Real Existence have official live videos up on their channel, I'd recommend doing both to compare to the MVs. At the time of the Thrill MV Miku, rhythm guitar/vocals didn't play guitar and wore it as part of her costume. That changed as she started learning to play under the tutelage of the lead guitarist Kanami. Now, 8 years later, she is very good. Both songs are still part of their recent concert setlists.

[@waynebenedict5785]

This is the first song from Band-Maid that I heard, and it got my attention. The second was "Dice" and the hook was set! Down the Pigeon hole I went, never to return!

[@Bodneyblue]

"Real Existence"...my No.2.....LOVE the MV...2015...Akane going "Animal" (Muppets) on the drums...Kanami hopping about like a frog on a hot tin roof....Miku's smirk.....It all awesome.....The LIVE is awesome also...as if it wouldn't be anything less.

[@CoolClearWaterNM]

Love the muppets ref for Akane. I think of that nearly every time I see her in action. Best and happiest drummer active today!

[@sandcrab3706]

@@CoolClearWaterNM I'll second the thumbs up for the Animal reference to Akane. And I have a feeling she'd appreciate it 😊.

[@Kevin6059]

The official live version of Real Existence is the one you want - I'd recommend another reaction doing that one. Thrill made me want to watch another maid song, but Real Existence Live was the OMG moment for me.

[@phaeron]

"I don't care what the people say" ... these ladies are for me the undisputed queens of rock music. 🔥🤘🏻 _____________________ 「 _'Our rock never dies ever. Forever!'_ 」 --- *BAND-MAID* 'Manners' 🕊

[@Bodneyblue]

"Thrill"....The End...yet also...the Beginning of BAND-MAID...Their very first MV back in 2014.

[@GaryHolloway-810]

Did you sort out your Japanese ads problem?

[@Bodneyblue]

@@GaryHolloway-810 Been trying to reply to you Gary for days!...but they don't show.

[@GaryHolloway-810]

@@Bodneyblue I haven't seen anything from you in my notifications or i would've replied. Are you using a Tablet? As a last resort you could try a factory reset. Of course it will clear any data you haven't got backed up so make sure stuff you don't want to lose is saved :)

[@britwill72jp]

Loved your reaction! You might have been realized that Kanami's guitar solo is mostly very short. Like you said, I think she's always trying to do her best for the song. Not just showing off her technics. Same as Misa. Her bass tone and phrases are so good with the music they're playing. That's one of the reason I love them.

[@Cheezyxyz]

Thank you Britwill!

[@paulpetersen879]

My top song by Band Maid is Blooming. The mv for the song is excellent. The Riff Goddess Kanami really goes full guitar hero in that song. Highly recommend.

[@roygillotti4615]

Thrill is the song that got my attention, Real Existence was the song that sold me on Band-Maid long ago.

[@neilyamashita4348]

Now need to watch the online live version from their online concert from their channel!😀😜

[@aaronleesgbclieutenant]

🤘😎🤘 good morning Cheezy! Thrill was their very first Music video. And subsequently saved the band from breaking apart after it went viral here in the states and elsewhere. Miku at this point hardly new anything about playing the guitar yet. Hence why it's more of just a prop LOL

[@Cheezyxyz]

That's awesome! 🤣 just a prop lol

[@foxgod4466]

Good reaction man. You should definitely see all these songs, live. They are just perfect! See you at the next! 🤟🦊🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥

[@Cheezyxyz]

100% 😎🧀🤘 Thanks for the support Fox God!

[@megalondonkleuter]

3:36 On the moment your paused the video, Miku just sings the lyrics "A pigeon traces an Arc in the shrunken sky". When you are a Band-Maid fan you should know that in the music video of "Unleash!!!!!" you see Miku in a scene jamming on a Thrill set and transforming into a pigeon flying into a shrunkung sky to find the Arc in space to fire light on to the world again.😎🕊️

[@jwoodjapan]

I've never really felt that Kanami's solos were "over the top." They're usually short and seem to fit the song well. The usual complaint about them is that they're too short and not loud enough (in live performances). It took me a few listens to enjoy some of their songs. I'm not completely in on "Black Hole" yet, but like it better than before. When I first heard "Rinne," I didn't much like it. Now it's in my top five fav songs.

[@roygillotti4615]

Agreed, I think this reaction is the first time I heard anyone say her solos seemed like she was showing off. Almost everyone was disappointed they were too short and such like you said.

[@dennissabe3277]

Agree with you about "Black Hole"....still having a hard time getting into it....

[@crabuki1273]

I hope you'll take a look at the live version of Real Existence, either as a vid or on your own time. They go hard.

[@drvijil]

Good review. Thrill was their first release and got the Band Maid train rolling. I came across Thrill in 2016 and was instantly hooked and haven’t stopped listening to the maids ever since. Real Existence is also a great earlier song. FYI, if you see them in the traditional maid outfits, it’s in the early days. Misa playing a 4 string bass also means early music, also Kanami not playing PRS guitars. I do recommend you watch the live version of Real Existence, it’s very good. “Freezer”, “Shake that”, & “Don’t Let me Down” are also some good early songs.

[@greylocke100]

The roses in their head dresses have been speculated to mean they are Red Oni/Blue Oni. If you search out that term you will probably find the TVTropes website definition which is actually a pretty good one. And Akane's little bowler hat was fixed to her head so firmly it was actually painful for her, which is why she later got rid of it.

[@TomClark-Futoura]

These two oldies changed my life! Thx, Cheez!

[@jagjag3236]

Thrill unique in many ways, several already commented. The only thing I can add is that it might (?) be the only video where both Kanami and Misa wear high heels. It's kind of sweet that they are so young and full of hope when you see the music video today. Like watching your little sisters grow up, amazed and with a warm heart thinking "That was the worst".

[@JK-tz6kk]

Try "Sayonakidori" acoustic live from Band Maid's 2021 Christmas concert and you will get Miku (2nd V, Rhythm G, Lead Pigeon) taking the lead with Akane (Drums) as 2nd V. Beautiful, Po! Btw, Miku didn't know how to play rhythm G here. By the 2nd video reaction and now she is pretty good, Po! 🦍

[@RandomDude3047]

Great reaction to their earlier songs, it was good you did Thrill. I'm sure other people in the comments said why that song was so important to the band starting out. Anyway, a good one to check out is Don't You Tell Me. One of my favorites

[@ロベルさん菜園]

Cheezy mate! Greetings on a grey day here in Shizuoka City! Always a great idea to react in pairs! No need to apologize if you are not impressed by a song, everyone is different and it would be a boring world if we were. You are a very gentle and polite person which a good enough compliment to Band Maid! These two tapes are very early versions imposed onto them by their management. Useful to react on as they show the road they have walked upon since then! Thrill was their stepping stone as everyone below pointed out. Thanks to the British radio channel which featured that particular song they were saved from the oblivion threatened by the male-dominated music industry. Tell the truth, this video does do any justice to their talent. It is too obvious that it is just mimicked as the track is continually slightly out of sync. After that particular song, a good one but one that had been forced onto them they produced their first composition "Alone" and they never turned back since then, composing 95% of all their songs! Real existence has become a mainstay of their concerts, especially in Japan, where it is a battle to decide which is better, MV or live ! Have you noticed that Misa still played a 4-stringed bass, which she have completely abandoned? Kanami and Akane were already in their element although they have thankfully become heavier since then. Interestingly enough Miku was both still learning playing the guitar but also her voice which has become far more accomplished since then. As for Saiki it was before her polyps/node operation. She has grown beyond expectations since then! Sorry for making a nuisance of myself but I would like to reiterate my suggestion of a double reaction of Daydreaming and Warning (in that order and videos, as live performances of these particular songs are too pared down in their live concert versions!)! Take good care of yourself (ves)! Best regards, Robert-Gilles

[@frankandre4385]

Even the stuff I thought was " meh" at first has grown on me over time...Hail Band Maid !!

[@tommyjohnson9175]

The first one was their first breakout MV video back in 2013-14

[@thunderchild7137]

These early songs (written by others) are where Kanami learned to write a rock song. We know that she is a wonderful teacher ( just ask Kobato). But she is obviously a geat student as well since she now writes songs that are better than and more intricate than those she learned from. And she continues to get better and better. That's our Mincho.

[@thefamjaycrew3901]

Nothing wrong with listening to Band-Maid all the day long every song 🎵 is amazing 🤩 by them but About Us that song really speaks to me to so I understand yea About Us kinda makes me cry little bit you can tell in there faces they where trying not to cry making that video especially Saiki but yes We Love ❤️ Band-Maid nice 👍 reaction 😊👏👍 cheers 🍻 mate 😎

[@Cheezyxyz]

🤘🤘🤘😎🧀

[@AK-tv6bo]

これぞ７０年代のhardrock､素晴らしい。

[@VegetaRabbit]

Both these songs are off their second album, New Beginning. At this point, Miku was just starting to learn guitar, she wasn't writing lyrics yet, she was voluntarily replaced as lead singer by Saiki, she was basically a backup vocalist in the rock band she started, so their early songs have more vocal sharing so Miku had something to do. She was lead singer on one song per album for the first two albums.

[@wayneking5081]

That's why the tiny hat has been retired, It had to be so tight to keep it in place and therefore very uncomfortable

[@CoolClearWaterNM]

Thrill, and this video, was my introduction to Band Maid when they first came out. It has been wonderful watching them grow. Who knows where they will be in another 8-10 years?

[@terrancejordan7484]

I get what you are saying about Black Hole, listened to it about 4 times before I could understand the controlled chaos so you might not like songs like Different and No God. Two songs that will blow your mind is Don't You Tell Me live and Turn Me On live.

[@Short_Round1999]

Well, they’ve always been in maid outfits, but they’ve evolved. They wear them onstage, interviews, promotions, music videos, and the like. Other than that they wear regular street clothes

[@DAVID-io9nj]

Props to their management for listening to the band. Management wanted another song as their first MV. The band insisted on Thrill as more representative of the sound they were searching for. The rest is history. BTW, Black Hole was just chaos to me, until about the 6th listen, then it literalluy"clicked" in my brain.

[@killinjoke2517]

Oh!A new member to "Cult of the Litle Hat"we have to expand more!

[@enol8603]

So you like "groove"... Check out Giovanni. And their instrumental version of it.

[@HaukWind1]

Do yourself a favour and watch Real Existence live. ya ya!

[@K.H.D710]

You might prefer songs like "endless Story", "Bubble", and "the Dragon Cries". In that case, you will love most songs in the Conqueror album😉

[@randymcmillen647]

One of the rare times Saiki wears an apron.

[@_JimS]

Thrill....the video that saved Band-Maid....... Kanami writes her solos to mach the song and takes pride in the fact.

[@David-yt6kp]

It amazing to hear the difference of opinion from different reactors concerning Kanami's solos. Personally, I pay a lot of attention to the lyrics and how the music ebbs and flows with them. I have found the majority of Kanami's solos to be in good taste and right in line with Band-Maids music and style. Also, if you knew anything about Kanami at all, you would know showing off is not in her character. The amount of showmanship she does have has been coaxed out of her over the years. She is actually quite shy.

[@Cheezyxyz]

I've noticed 😎🧀🤘 The interview I saw really opened my eyes even more

[@bryanburton6087]

Two songs from their second album. This was before they wrote their own music and were just finding the sound they wanted. They weren't quite yet the greatest band in the world that was seeking world domination, but they were close. Thanks for the reaction.

[@dragonmac1234]

If you see a video with Akane wearing a small hat it's early in their career, she apparently hated it and it soon disappeared. You can see in the Thrill video Miku is singing and pretending to play her guitar, this is before Mincho stepped in and became her teacher. It's one of my favourite Band-Maid songs, and MISA's growling bass riffs are the reason why I call her The Mistress Of Thunder 🤘🤘😄

[@edwardallen4051]

Misa started off wearing Tiny Hat and it was her that hated it, the story goes that she was telling Akane that she hated it, Akane said it was cute so Misa ripped it off and said 'if you think it's so cute then you wear it' so Akane inherited it , I cannot verify this but it's just part of the Band Maid legend. The only thing I can be sure of is that Misa wore Tiny Hat originally as there are pics about and I think one or two old videos as well. Eventually akane felt she had to retire Tiny Hat as it had to be so firmly attached that it was painful to wear.

[@dragonmac1234]

@@edwardallen4051 The first I saw of tiny hat Akane was wearing it and it was a pain in the ass to attach it to her head. RIP tiny hat

[@edwardallen4051]

@@dragonmac1234 here's a pic of the liner notes from Maid In Japan i.imgur.com/rzuGziK.jpg with Misa and Tiny Hat

[@dragonmac1234]

@@edwardallen4051 Thanks for that, they all look so young. They're late 20's early 30's now, so I'd guess they were in their late teens/very early 20's then (a similar age the sisters from The Warning are now).

[@kyles5513]

The official live video of Thrill is better I think, and the recent fam cam of Thrill live in Seattle is the absolute best version. Still one of my favorite songs by them (even if they didn't write it)

[@rakjr6]

The red and blue roses have been with them since the beginning. It may be a reference to the "red and blue oni" of Japanese folklore. Miku couldn't play guitar, their agency wanted one of the singers to hold a guitar. Miku actually learned to play and has become a solid rhythm guitarist but she sings less lead now. They have a few songs where she is the solo lead. The most recent was Sayonakidori off of the Unseen World album. It has been known for awhile that the success of the Thrill MV saved the band. More recently, it came out their agency wanted to fire the instrumentalists and keep Miku and Saiki as a song & dance idol duo. Apparently they were only ones under contract.

[@gizeright]

Please react to Turn me on and/or Play(Rinne/reincarnation, Moritorium if your taking suggestion?) I love all their live performances. Thanks for you awesome review

[@falconsooner]

Enjoyed the reaction. I will admit you are the first reactor that I have heard say their guitar solos are sometimes too fast or over the top. Usually people complain they aren't long enough. I do think as you listen to more of their discography that you may change your mind a bit about the solos.

[@Cheezyxyz]

Thanks Falcon. How I feel regarding solos is this: it should never take away from the song as a whole. Metal, in particular, calls for a solo in almost every song. That's just how that genre works. But the solo has to depend on the song. Some need to be shorter, faster, slower, and indeed longer.

[@falconsooner]

@@Cheezyxyz I agree philosophically. For example I think Lovebites solos are too long and slow down the momentum of the song but power metal fans would likely disagree. I just personally differ that Kanami's solos are often out of place. Very rarely have I ever felt like they take away from the song and almost always I feel like they move the song along. Dice is a good example. Blooming as well. Most are between 10 to 20 seconds. I am curious of the BM songs you have listened to...which ones you felt had solos the didn't fit the bill from your perspective? Not to debate or be argumentative but to get an idea of where you are coming from. To be fair...you haven't yet heard some of their songs that have some of their more iconic solos (Alone, Daydreaming, Choose Me etc). Anyway...enjoy the dialogue.

[@interstellardave]

@@Cheezyxyz I actually rewatched all your Band Maid reactions because I couldn’t believe your Kanami comment. Sure enough, you’ve always been nothing but complimentary about her playing, solos included, so maybe you were thinking of someone else?

[@chakouyang2545]

You probably like their older album more

[@TlanImass]

You won't like the Unseen World album I fear but I believe the songs in Conqueror and the Acoustic album will definitely appeal to your taste.

[@kyles5513]

He likes manners, and I can almost guarantee he'll like chemical reaction, and maybe even I still seek revenge. I love that album.

[@Cheezyxyz]

My taste of music is very wide to all tempos and genres. Just because I don't like Black Hole definitely doesn't mean I dislike Band-Maid. They are very talented, and I've enjoyed every song so far.

[@falconsooner]

@@Cheezyxyz exactly...I know one guy the likes 10 of the 12 songs on UW. Black Hole is one of the 2 songs he doesn't care for...so chances are you will like most of the songs. I I'd listen to BH live and Studio back to back. I do think the studio is less jarring because Misa is a bit lower in the mix. In the live she is very upfront and I can see where it would seem like she conflicts more with what Kanami is doing especially if it is the first listen.

[@GaryHolloway-810]

Of course i was Thrilled when i found BAND-MAID really were the Real Existence of Hard Rock music :)

[@Cheezyxyz]

😎🧀🤘🤣

[@田中伸悟-q1p]

On April Fool's Day ↑ Sorry, Translation Band-Maiko and Cluppo 🤘

[@bobespirit2112]

I think too much can be made of Miku being the original lead singer. She tried it for literally a couple weeks of rehearsals and one industry showcase before they agreed to audition a stronger lead singer. Miku already knew of Saiki and thought she’d be perfect and the rest is history. In my mind that’s just all about the formation of the original band and I feel that Saiki is a full original member having been part of all recorded songs and all albums except for a few dozen hours of rehearsal and essentially a “practice” performance. She’s been a part of 99.9999999% of the band’s history and 100% of all meaningful activities. My 2 cents. 🤷🏻‍♂️ That said, I love Miku’s lead vocalist tracks, especially Sayonkadori 🔥

[@Cheezyxyz]

2 cents is always worth it!

[@zer0tzer0]

Now you have to do 'Real Existence' LIVE. And sorry, but you're wrong about Kanami's solos being show-offy, or not fitting with the song. On the contrary. If she wanted to noodle like Yngwie she could, no problem. But that's not her thing. She likes Santana. So looking at it from that perspective, I would say she's restrained, writing just enough of a solo to complement the rest of the song, with solos for MISA and Akane as well where appropriate.

[@etoineschrdlu9382]

"Thrill", while it is the video that saved Band-Maid from being dissolved by their agency, has been a source of annoyance in the past. The video, being a quick and dirty minor label production, doesn't always sync sound and image perfectly, which led some critics to think that Band-Maid was just 5 pretty girls lip syncing to studio musicians: one more idol group. If you look carefully you'll notice that Akane isn't hitting her symbols and that Miku is miming playing guitar. Kanami addressed this issue during an interview by playing a current One Ok Rock hit song by ear on air. When they recruited Saiki, Miku stayed on as "front person" as Saiki, like Kanami and Misa, was pretty shy unless performing. But that left Miku with nothing to do until she sang and that was not the image the group wanted to project, so Miku picked up a guitar. In the studio Kanami recorded all the guitar parts, lead and rhythm, and encouraged Miku to learn guitar as Kanami really needed a rhythm guitar onstage. I don't think we will ever know all the details of the angst Kanami and Miku went through while Miku was learning guitar. Miku got very frustrated at first. One thing we do know is that Kanami told Miku that she had to learn to play the guitar, that she could not just stand there holding it. To this day Kanami will still record a song's rhythm track to save studio time and allow Miku more time to learn the part.

[@ericifune5543]

And Akane played Maximum the Hormone's "Benjo Sandal Dance" who's drummer is Nao, one of her music heroes.

[@lonniekramlich6241]

You're the first reactor I've ever heard criticize Kanami's lead guitar work & I couldn't disagree more. Most of the time people complain about her guitar being too low in the mix & not that she's excessive or over doing it. One of these days I would like too hear Dani from The Warning do a legit guitar solo. But too each their own.❤️🎙🎸🥁😎🤘

[@interstellardave]

Yeah… most reactors praise her for serving the songs with her solos, and not showing off to the detriment of it, or the rest of the band. Definitely an odd opinion but, to each his own…

[@tommyjohnson9175]

Oh no... you didn't do "Real Existence" LIVE... Oh well, it's all good with Band Maid.

[@starocean6013]

It's thee song that launched 14 million veiws in 8yrs which constitutes being played 3.4 times a minute for 8yrs straight sssoooo yeah an early song

[@DavidMISAMISAMISACook]

I think You are thinking of another band Band-Maid have (Kanami in particular) made a conscious effort to match the Solo to the track and get rave reviews from Guitarists for doing so, as You say not everybody thinks the same way. If Your not a fan of "Black hole" I would recommend staying away fro "Giovanni" it is WAY PROG

[@carlosretamal1567]

you need to react to Warning' official video...song called Warning...the band Warning should do a song called Band Maid...ja

[@Cheezyxyz]

Lol! This would be awesomr

[@carlosretamal1567]

@@Cheezyxyz kzbin.info/www/bejne/aGOVd4pufNOMipI In case you haven't seen it...

[@Cheezyxyz]

I have, thanks for sharing 😎🧀

[@waynedahlen9655]

Correction: The song is Warning! with an exclamation point. Warning band is The Warning with the "THE" before warning....

[@greencase]

This guy should stick to pop music.