BAND - MAID (MAIKO) / Secret Maiko Lips [Reaction/Analysis!!!!]

You can check out more BAND - MAID content on the Patreon! Keep and eye out for the comments video if you'd like to be a guest on the podcast!
Patreon.com/jonstrice

[@surfingasongwave]

I'm sure your patreons have already answered, but search wikipedia for "traditional Japanese musical instruments" for a big long list. Basically, looking at one of the opening shots where they are all holding instruments, the three-string banjo-looking instrument MISA is holding is the shamisen (三味線). Akane is holding a hand drum; there are a boatload of various drums but I think she has a tsudzumi (鼓 ). Maybe an expert will correct me. I think we are also hearing a taiko (太鼓, lit. 'great drum'). There are also a ton of various flutes, and I'm not sure at all that the one Miku is holding is a horizontal flute, maybe a shinobue (篠笛) but there are various similar ones used for noh or in shinto shrines. We might also be hearing a shakuhachi (尺八), a vertical bamboo flute similar in size to an tenor recorder. The long stringed instrument in front of Kaname is a koto (琴、箏), it is plucked with a shell. These are still taught and used in the geiko houses today. Also, I'm pretty sure some of the scenes in this video are based on some famous artwork - the image of Misa with the cherry blossoms, or Kanami with the fan for examples. The geiko houses were very secretive and the artist was allowed to make taboo pictures of them in their unguarded moments, eating, having tea, or throwing fans. Saiki scored well, by the way. Look for a video titled "How Japanese Gambled by Throwing Fans" in the "Let's ask Shogo" channel. The game was banned by the emperor because it encouraged gambling. It's a hoot.

[@GaryHolloway-810]

Well i'm giving you a like cos you took the time to provide really good info.🙂👍

[@surfingasongwave]

@@GaryHolloway-810 Thanks, although it's not 100% accurate. The emperor didn't ban tosenkyo, the shogunates did. Nobody listened to the emperor back then. He didn't have any power.

[@GaryHolloway-810]

@@surfingasongwave Maybe he was a fan but just didn't want to get thrown.😏

[@JON.HOUSE24]

Hey Surfing! How can I get in touch with you?

[@sugaanessena3143]

Band-Maiko: The only band who can match the level of Band-Maid.

[@bandmaidfanATL]

IDK, Saiki's Pee Break is a pretty good instrumental quartet

[@RA57727]

Hahaha😂😂

[@phaeron]

Aren't our Maikos just absolutely stunning? 😇 The best April Fool's joke the music world has ever seen AND heard! You are one of only a few who realize that the lyrics or dialect is different. Hats off for that! There are now no excuses, or no way around 'Gion-Cho' now. The only original song of the best "cover band" of our Maids by miles. 🔥🤘🏻 _____________________ _"You think I'm laughing because I'm happy? Sometimes we laugh because we're sad or to hide our frustration"_ - from *Gacharic Spin* -「 I Wish I 」 🎶✨§

[@GaryHolloway-810]

Loads of bands have members that have side projects. BAND-MAID are so awesome they're a band who has another band.😮

[@Parker--]

A band so good they have their own cover band made up entirely of original band members.😝

[@JimboLana]

Misa's howl and Akane's "plong" at the beginning 😅. Look at Kanami, she is rocking out.

[@pohojisan1287]

Nice to meet you. I always enjoy looking at your works. I am Japanese and I would like to explain the lyrics used in this song. (I try to comment on Band-Maiko's reactions with this explanation, so I know some of you who read this comment section have already read it somewhere else, but I'll post it here as well.) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ In all the songs of BAND-MAIKO, Saiki uses the word called "京ことば Kyo-kotoba(Kyoto dialect)". The Kyo-kotoba has many special phrases that are different from the so-called "Kansai-ben(Kansai region dialect. Kyoto is included in the Kansai region)", and even if you are from Kyoto, it is not a word that ordinary people other than maiko and geisha use on a daily basis. Many maiko are not from Kyoto, but when working as a maiko in Kyoto, it is not desirable to use the dialect of the region in which they were born and raised. Therefore, the training content of Maiko includes the acquisition of this Kyo-kotoba. The Kyo-kotoba is, so to speak, a "common language" for maiko and geisha. ※ "Maiko(Pronunciation is my-ko)" means a person in the apprenticeship stage of Geiko (Geisha).

[@surfingasongwave]

Thanks for the extra information - it is a fascinating subject. My older sisters were very young when my Father was stationed in Japan during his service in the USAF. They all received Maiko dolls in a bamboo case. I think I know more about them now than they do! I just watched Ryan Mear tell about his trip to Japan. It sounds like you really took care of him and his family. Thank you for doing that!

[@armynurseboy]

When they did Band-Maiko self covers, Miku changed the lyrics to the Kyoto dialect, which is a bit different than Standard Japanese. So yes, you caught that.

[@mikeat2637]

That shows how authentic they wanted this to be and the dedication to their music, for a joke !!!!!! There's a reason they are one of, if not, the most popular group in the world today.

[@grahamreed8774]

This song in particular, should be noted in world rock history for evrything about it and the genius that is Band-Maid.

[@LawrenceCox-bv9zt]

FYI: I believe the fan toss Saiki did is known as Tohsenkyo. It's a game.

[@Jonas_S_]

The 'banjo like' instrument is a shamisen. Kanami is sitting behind a koto. For their songs, they brought out traditional Japanese instruments to create a festive and elegant Kyoto-inspired sense of style. The members wear maiko (apprentice geisha) outfits, and their lyrics are based on the Kyoto dialect. They also changed their own names for Band-Maiko: Miku Kobato→Hatoko Saiki→Fujiki KANAMI→Kanoemi MISA→Umemisa AKANE→Akatsuki

[@ShikataGaNai100]

The 3-string instrument is a Tsugaru Shamisen. The flat zither is a Koto.

[@DAVID-io9nj]

The instrument is a Shamisen. Three strings and fretless. Waggaki Band uses one in their integration of modern and classical Japanese insruments. I would call their music a different take on big band music. Very theatrical. My favorite for a more traditional style is a group called Ki & Ki. BTW, did you prefer this version over the original? I did.

[@miqoto]

The Japanese instruments taiko(bass drums) tsuzumi(hand drum Akane was using) Koto(floor harp) shamisen(banjo looking instrument) shakuhachi(Japanese oboe) shinobue(Japanese flute). Maiko songs were an over the top April Fool's gift to us all 😂. Saiki said unfortunately too expensive to do again even though the fandom clamors for a return of the Maikos.

[@barrycounts490]

I think the instrument Misa has is a Shamisen ! It really sounds great =) Another band that uses it is the Wagakki Band ! Check out "Guernica" Live Tokyo Singing 2020 They play rock/metal mixed with traditional instruments ! They are my second favorite band from Japan next to Band-Maid =)

[@russellpotter7294]

On their tour of Japan,Band Maid did Band Maiko the honour of singing Band Maiko versions of the songs as a one off in their home town. The rumour that they are the same band and Cluppo is really Miku continues to haunt them.

[@makmiskell3733]

Thanks Jon! You maid me laugh more than once!

[@zolitoth2458]

Interesting fact: Chuck Norris is said to have seen Band Maid and Band Maiko in the same room at the same time:)

[@GaryHolloway-810]

😂👏👏 Chuck got bit by a rattlesnake once & after 3 days of agonising pain it died :)

[@zolitoth2458]

@@GaryHolloway-810 Until now I thought it was "fake news" (sponsored by D.Trump :)

[@johnmatthew102]

Get out of here! That's just an urban legend. :)

[@GaryHolloway-810]

Refresh my memory guys, are either of you going to see any of B-M's Aug US shows or do you just both know a lot about Chuck Norris? I still find it hard to believe he's not a real Texas ranger cos he gives such an accurate depiction of how they use martial arts to beat up suspects instead of drawing a weapon.😏

[@mikeat2637]

As was said below, the instrument you are referring to is a three-stringed instrument called the Shamisen, specifically a Tsugaru, or jazz shamisen. It was brought over from China, where it was called San Xian. Wagakki Band's Beni Ninagawa, is one of the best shamisen players there are, you should check out their videos. In this video, the effect was added electronically by a sound engineer. This, and 5 other songs came out when Band-Maid decided to pull an April Fool's joke and said they were changing from a hard rock band to one that references the geisha culture in Japan and called themselves Band Maiko (maiko is the term for a geisha in training). The ladies put a LOT of work into this joke and came out with some of their best songs. There are two videos on KZbin that show how the videos were made and how hard it was for the ladies to perform wearing kimonos. The normal costume for a geisha or maiko consists of seven layers of clothing that are tied very tightly with a sash, or obi, and weigh anywhere from 25 to 35 pounds. The ladies only wore a top kimono and said that even that was very hard to work in, as it is made of a very stiff fabric. Akane said that they had to take very frequent breaks because the sleeves were so heavy. They filmed these videos in Kyoto, which is the ancestral home of Japanese geisha culture, where everything is so picturesque. The scenery and set locations show up better in Gion-Cho.

[@JuanSan66]

Now you have to listen to Gioncho and be absolutely amazed by the stunning beauty of the girls (oh, and the landscape too... 😉)

[@Kevin6059]

So totally like this band for their April fool's Day prank to be better than most band's best song. Seriously the song has some tricky rhythms and to pull it off like that is nothing short of fantastic.

[@polskabob359]

Oh my god i've been waiting for this video forever

[@XenosKB]

You should definitely do Gion-cho by them next. It’s their other Band-Maiko song with an MV, and the only Band-Maiko song that’s completely original.

[@Parker--]

And an absolute banger at that.

[@bryandevito5120]

Good info already in the comments regarding Kyoto dialect and instruments. All Band Maiko songs are done that way. The Maiko project was originally an April fools joke that actually upset a lot of fans who took it seriously. Just another example of the lengths these ladies go to gen up the fan base.

[@_JimS]

All the instruments are synthesized by Kanami and an engineer, but the instrument you are referring to is called a Shamisen. The flute sound may be a Shakuhachi. The words Miku wrote in the beginning are "World Domination".

[@Bekka_Noyb]

♥ that these girls gotta sense of humor! Their April Fools Day videos are great! ♥ BTW - you simply must check out their song Bubble (the video is an homage to Bohemian Rhapsody movie)

[@barrygeistwhite3474]

Get real used to the most recent Band-Maid song you discovered being your favorite. My top five B-M songs is mostly a revolving door of whatever I've listened to in the last 24 hours.

[@michaelmireles3119]

The instrument you are referring to is a Shamisen.

[@fazzbox5450]

Saeki used traditional Kyoto words used by maiko

[@jeffw7382]

Not only do they rock but they're pretty funny, too. The fan throw followed by clapping cracks me up every time.

[@jubalainerussell9182]

Beautiful! That is all.

[@DavidMISAMISAMISACook]

Umemisa Umemisa Umemisa!!!!!

[@tk72231968]

Misa's vocals are haunting....short as they are. It's a good song for being an April Fools....just goes to show they have the Midas touch with music.

[@superflylee003]

Great reaction Jon

[@greylocke100]

Shamisen, ding ding ding, Koto plink plink plink, Shakuhachi screech screech. MISA holding a Shamisen, Kanami has a Koto in front of her, and I cannot remember the name of the small drum Akane is using. The deeper drum sound though are Taiko drums.

[@GaryHolloway-810]

Could it be a tam tam? He says confidently without actually being that confident :)

[@greylocke100]

@@GaryHolloway-810 @miqoto wrote it further down the comment section. It's a tsuzumi and there is another flute called a shinobue that I didn't catch.

[@GaryHolloway-810]

@@greylocke100 Oh right. I tried my best Mr Greylocke.😔

[@greylocke100]

@@GaryHolloway-810 At least you tried and acknowledged that you may be wrong. I didn't even check further down until later.

[@GaryHolloway-810]

@@greylocke100 Haha. Well kudos to you for pointing it out then cos i didn't notice it either :)

[@JON.HOUSE24]

He's right about the lyrical line tho at 4:45 it's so good

[@manrayma]

i can shed some light on the "dinner table scene" at 4:08... the translation is " The Gorilla Eats!"

[@bandmaidfanATL]

Don't.....Stop..... Don't Stop! As our Pigeon says at every Okyu-ji, " We want World Domination through our music. We will NEVER STOP!"

[@makmiskell3733]

😅

[@arminthielen8570]

Gion-Cho next please

[@jonnyberggren4598]

Are they playing the traditional instruments also by themselves ?

[@bandmaidfanATL]

If you want to analyse some lyrics, try Don't Let Me Down. 😂

[@phaeron]

Maybe we should add that he should not have his child in the room for this. 🤭

[@mikeat2637]

Oh yeah !!!! No kids in the room !!!!! Or old farts like me (76), they could cause a pacemaker to blow out.

[@stevehall5128]

I mean...they're not really subtle

[@bandmaidfanATL]

Yeah, but very little translation needed, as it is mostly in English. (He said with no ulterior motives 😂)

[@mikeat2637]

@@stevehall5128 And this is not one of their original creations, it was written by another Japanese composer, I can't remember the name, but the lyrics are fire.

[@TreadheadA1]

Pin this comment and save money! (I already have Prime!) 😁😁 Great reaction, though!

[@ShikataGaNai100]

The Shodo Miku draws says, World Domination.

[@ShikataGaNai100]

The lyrics are in Kinki Dialect. Miku changed them to fit Kyoto.