Flutist reacts to dancing giants in...|ATARASHII GAKKO!, Tokyo Calling

[@PaulEngineer]

AG see themselves as the vanguard of a new youth attitude... promoting independent freedom of expression and creativity ... with the support of those around them. Some incredibly mature vision for ladies of 22-25 years of age.

[@Retec]

AG! is currently my second favorite group after Band-Maid. I was never into any dance performances before, but these ladies are so mesmerizing with their creative choreo that they make themselves, it's impossible not to get drawn in! And consider this another vote for their collab with Sheena Ringo - I am a little obsessed with that song.

[@martinashfield8973]

Their live stuff from their recent tour is great, especially when the lead singer goes into the audience, disappears and pops up in the upper stands.

[@otobokegaijin6218]

AG performed this song live the day after the MV premiere, on a t v morning show I happened to be watching. (For that matter, Suzuka was just on Japanese t v talking about her friend superstar singer Ado.) The blurb accompanying the vdo release states that it evokes the old 特撮映画 "tokusatsu eiga", or "special effects movies", such as "Godzilla". The vdo director, Pennacky (also did "NaiNaiNai"), is known for symbolic and tropological visuals. He directed what to me is Band-Maid's most interesting vdo, "After Life", which is loaded with symbolism referencing that band's history and the Buddhism implied by the song's title, which is a translation of a Buddhist term. "Tokyo Calling" has them too, such as the white and red helmets, a bow in the direction of the Ultraseven Guards, and the バブリー red-suited hostess, a visual trope recalling the days of the economic Bubble. Some fans have suggested the lyrics evoke the Clash's "London Calling". There are Japanese songs also titled "Tokyo Calling" going back a few decades that, perhaps influenced by the Clash, address the anomie or purposelessness of modern urban life.

[@Gary-Ellis]

Speaking of Ghostbusters, they do the theme song. A must watch.

[@NittPicc]

👀

[@roqy]

Atarashii Gakko was my gateway drug to Japanese music. Four girls narrating short intro-to-Japanese-culture videos. Then I figured out that the background music was them too. Rabbit hole the size of the abyss. No end in sight.

[@jinggaddi]

Tokyo Calling is my first foray into Atarashii Gakko. I love how the song starts out with a sound-the-alarm vibe, and transforms into a call for unity towards the end. From something totally negative to something totally positive. Pure genius. Plus the choreography is killer. I also dig the tonality change which you just mentioned -- from mope to hope. You should also check out AG's live performance on Jimmy Kimmel. As for your next AG song, try Seishun Wo Kirisaku Hado. You will enjoy that for sure. 😊

[@RA57727]

Thank you NittPicc, this was fun. These girls are very creative.

[@JuanSan66]

They are a hilarious band with excellent music and fantastic choreography, so much so that it distracts from the depth and quality of Suzuka's voice. To listen with more attention and detail to the voices, I recommend the collaboration between Sheena Ringo and Atarashi Gakko called "Runaway Number 1" (椎名林檎と新しい学校のリーダーズ - ドラ１独走)

[@Jagnarock]

Gran momento para ver una presentación en vivo! Ellas tienen videos específicamente de las coreografías que son increíbles también! mi recomendación: SEISHUN WO KIRISAKU HADO Video coreografía: kzbin.info/www/bejne/jn67iX9uoMZqm7c Live: kzbin.info/www/bejne/pXPNoZaLjtGFaK8 (vienen dos canciones pero me parece que el sonido esta muy bien!)

[@ExUSSailor]

Those ominous horns definitely remind me of Akira Ikufube's score to the 1954 "Godzilla". Also, they performed this live on Jimmy Kimmel's show.

[@spadeas49]

For me it's obviously a nod to it, even they're "futuristic" uniform, look like some uniform from a Godzilla movie or an Ultraman show. With Pineaple Kryptonite too, I sense that they have a certain love for tokusatsu works. To add about the live version, you see better that when only Mizyu et Kanon sing the back up vocal, they said "Nya" (the sound of a cat in japanese), while making paws with their fists ^^.

[@zs9811]

(From _Ultraman_ (1966-1967) Episode 33) kzbin.info/www/bejne/nYeWlpSHoJeZkK8si=zOea0T8XO2U5mr-A&t=12 The Ultra Garrison Force (from _Ultraseven_ (1967-1968) Episode 34) kzbin.info/www/bejne/oGaWamlqpb-Sr80 (From the 2022 film _Shin Ultraman_ ) kzbin.info/www/bejne/qH_Qo5uqe79_pbc

[@gitsnak777]

Holy shit, i never realized how fun they are

[@Aaronacer]

They played this at Coachella this year with the USC Trojans marching band and Taiko drums. They were the talk of Coachella. Absolutely crushed it closing out the Gobi Stage both weekends.

[@outwest1014]

Watched them on thew Coachella live stream. They killed it. Good audience 1st night, jammed for 2nd night. They were also on the Jimmy Kimmel Show with a great audience. Japanese group on a American national show is BIG!!

[@Aaronacer]

You should check out some of their older songs as well, such as the MV for "Koi Geba". Has a much heavier Jazz infusion to it that you will enjoy.

[@BlahBlah_13]

You should check out the Suki Lie official music video from AG!.

[@Grum-monkey]

I would second Suki Lie that someone else mentioned along with Nai Nai Nai single take on the train car - but then all their stuff from OMVs to their dance practice videos are worth watching. Their dancing and vocals are superb, there is always a point to their songs, yet they are always presented with humour (and their non-music stuff is worth seeking out as well simply because it's funny).

[@huttese_bebop]

I am so excited for you to discover more AG, they're so great 😊

[@criseldasamson2470]

Great review and analysis. AG! is one of a kind 🔥🔥🔥🔥

[@Kcgrade095]

You should do Seishun wo kirisaku hado

[@Grum-monkey]

Yay! AG! again.

[@Greg-om2hb]

Of course not CGI. I haven’t seen the Tokyo Calling video before, but I’m pretty sure it was filmed at Toho, the studio that created the Godzilla (Gojira) movies (and the kaiju battle scenes in the Beastie Boys’ video for Intergalactic). It’s in keeping with the ominous sound of the horn, which evokes memories of Godzilla menacing and destroying Tokyo.

[@ぽぴる]

ようこそ！日本のクレージーアイドルの世界へ！TOKYOCalling！

[@pipeledzeppelin]

AG! Las mejores

[@Racer-X-090]

Atarashii Kaiju!! 🤯

[@Olkam-w5u]

Two interesting information: Atarashi Gakko's producer is now Mark Niishita, better known as Money Mark, former producer of Bestie Boys

[@rickwagner-]

He worked with them on the 'SNACK TIME' EP and the 'Forever Sisters' song, but he's not their current producer. I wouldn't be surprised if he worked with them again though. They got along well.

[@jeffragar3493]

There is a live version of "Love Breaker", a jazz influenced song, where they act out the story of the song before singing it. It is followed by "Kisses On a Rainy Night" that features Mizyu on the vocals. kzbin.info/www/bejne/oaS7mKF5lJh5p8U

[@PaulEngineer]

AG also did a collaboration with Maximum the Hormone.... don't think there's an MV yet. (sigh)

[@geeklet]

I have never seen a group that continues to defy desription like Atarashii Gakko ❤

[@monicabarona7585]

Take a look at "Fly high" :3

[@realdocloco]

It would be great to react to their collaboration song with japanese legend Sheena Ringo! So you would be introduced to her too - just search Sheena Ringo Atarashii Gakko! on YT and it's the first link - great song!

[@PaulEngineer]

AG the ladies (and clown-princesses) in waiting, Sheena the Queen of the live show. Great intro song.

[@marcoskazu_]

I love Atarashii Gakko!!! More reactions with this group, please! Hey, do you know Tokyo Ska Paradise Orchestra-TSPO (Tongue of Fire and Hazumu Rhythm with featuring Puffy, for example? - it's a jazz and ska band, with a strong base of brass instruments) and virtuosic girls from MOS Group Banda brass band (and the winning performance on AGT?). They are all very fun and original! I suggest watching Atarashii Gakko - AG live! The AG audience goes crazy during the presentations! 🎷🎷🎷🎷📯📯📯📯🔥🔥🔥🔥

[@PaulEngineer]

No way! You're not doing this reaction without me! LOL Other songs get quite a bit weirder, but this is a great anthem track live. One of the most fun shows I've ever been to.

[@erickjuarez9097]

Please I am begging you to watch Ottonablue specifically the one from The First Take I feel like you’d really enjoy and have a lot to talk about

[@Pichu1232]

Such a simple song just telling everyone to be proud and make movement, love it

[@k3w1b3an5]

Spotify recommended this too me a few months ago. I really like it.

[@Dante94]

What I love about AG is that they are able to put meaning into everything they do. It also makes me smile when I hear them called "the most dangerous band in Japan". Their motto is "We Stick Out" and to a country that sees conformity as the rule they want to be individuals no matter what. A lot of their songs deal with how society is kinda failing the youth and how we need to forge a new path and bring everyone with us. And for them the youth is anyone who feels that way. Naming it Tokyo Calling as an homage to London Calling by The Clash, which is about how British society in the late 70s is failing its youth and crumbling, just emphasizes their point. Pairing that with such Japanese imagery and the Godzilla style music sample is great. They've come to destroy Tokyo, but to also lead them into a new future.

[@PANIC_aka_PinD]

I think my favorite song by these girls is "Free your Mind". They are fun and do a lot of interesting things to promote Japan and Japanese culture. You played it 3 times and never asked what a "cat cafe" was. I had to look it up ... apparently it is a place where people pay by the hour to interact with cats ... maybe I should get out more :p .

[@jeffragar3493]

They have cafes with other animals, too, like guinea pigs.

[@PANIC_aka_PinD]

@@jeffragar3493 lol ... that just seems wild to me. I mean ... I have a friend with a cat I could probably go pet if I wanted ... a guinea pig, probably not :p .

[@satocalbee8857]

It was a long time ago that Japanese people were said to be too serious. They are seriously fooling around.

[@Olkam-w5u]

Suzuka (the girl with glasses) is a close friend of Japanese singer Ado.

[@keithy_is_tired]

Japan has a very demanding life style, specially for workers and students. this song is a bit similar to the song Woo Go in terms of message: people are supposed to work in order to live, not live to work and study. Japan's standards are so high, you often see people working and studying their mental health away, and "wasting" their youth. they're not saying not to live a mundane life, but to let oneself enjoy life. it's the youthful spirit you can find in every AG song, as it's their main message: youthfulness isn't about age, it's about attitude; have fun, be silly, be authentic, all of which can be done even within the confines of society. that is what AG has said the group really stands for! if you're interested in looking more into their music, i'd recommend Suki Lie, NaiNaiNai, and Seishun wo Kirisaku hado. if you want to see a very nice choreography, i'd recommend koinosyadanki.

[@NittPicc]

I love this explanation. It makes so much more sense! Thank you for this and I’ll check out these other suggestions. ☺️

[@rockyetsx70]

A pointed commentary on the rigid structures in Japan's society, especially frustrating for young people who have different goals than becoming salary men and housewives. Shot in Toho's studio where Godzilla films were shot.

[@RayYan-uk4fv]

Holla cute me ilove you 💋💋 💋