Emmy winning singer reacts to Wagakki Band “Homura” + “Akatsuki No Ito” [Miki’s Tips 🎤]

[@scouser052]

The mask is a Noh mask, used in Japanese theater since the 14th century, they come in different styles, old man, woman, demon or ghost among others and are hand carved with a neutral expression, the actor can change the expression by tilting the head up making it appear to smile or laugh or down to produce a slight frown to express sadness

[@DrAcula-os1nz]

Homura (flame) is a song the guitarist Mackiya brought with him from a previous solo project. He uses the "Noh" mask on those songs. You will find at least 6 different versions of it, with and without Kurona and Beni. It is rarely performed the same from concert to concert. Akatsuki no ito (the thread of dawn) is written by Machiya and is a very special song for wagakki Band. The audience uses it as an encore chant. The song has only one verse repeated, apart from the shigin part at the beginning of the song. It can be sung to infinity. Machiya said in an interview that the first two years were trial and error until they found the recipe for not overpowering the traditional instruments. Daishinnenkai (New Year's party / concert) 2022 has a longer shigin intro than the original. You who are a singer must listen to their masterpiece "Sabaku no komoriuta" (desert lulabay) It is written for orchestra and with a view to Premium symphonoic night Vol 2. They also performed it on their "Otone kairou" tour 2018 which is also good (I like it best ) then with orchestra on backing track. The version of Doppo that they performed at Premium Symphinc Night is also beautiful. Yuko and Machiya in the duet. YT channel "CC W" has both versions with English subtitles

[@OscarGonzalez-bh4uk]

gracias por el dato

[@boat1207]

I am so amazed with their performances, the costumes, the traditional and modern instruments. All so amazing.... Thank you Mike German for this request and Ms. Miki's exciting comments and HUGE smile says it all..... 😀👍

[@svenkreuzberg2274]

The "Flute player" is Dai - su- ke . Dai is like dime without the m and su-ke is easy to pronounce. Here is what you can do. Try "Hakushu Kassai" live from Dai Shinnenkai 2018 (new years concert). This will show you what these guys are really can do. This song will blow you away.

[@4thArmoredVet]

Perfect suggestion for newcomers to Wagakki Band! The degree of musicianship is at such a high level that one can't help but be, as you've stated, be "blown away"

[@voluspa1954]

Daiske

[@hiawatha.g]

Thanks for coming back to them so soon. Much appreciate the valiant effort with their names! I hope you now get the comment I made on your first reaction--they had to hold back for Amy, as much as we love her. Now you see a bit more of what they are about.

[@pugnaciousdeliciososa2191]

In an interview, Yuko mention that they have no one composer. Because each person is so good musically and knows their instrument so well, whoever comes up with a song idea becomes the composer for the song and the others work around that. That was a good insight, that you mentioned that Yuko doesn't dominate the band and each person gets to play their part.

[@pugnaciousdeliciososa2191]

Japan's big cities can be quite a musical treat, in 2003 I remember on the bridge network near Hankyu train station in Osaka, at 5pm - 9pm, high school and college kids would come to set up their equipment and power generators to perform. It wasn't quite busking as we're used to, on that bridge - they didn't have open guitar cases to collect cash or anything, instead they'd have a friend go to hawk their CDs from a small table and also put out flyers for their upcoming bar gigs and whatnot. Many of those kids had quite a lot of stage presence and performed at a high standard. Tokyo has their "busking" performances in Yoyogi park, I believe.

[@mikeg.4211]

This was great fun to watch as always! An excellent intelligent and enthusiastic, knowledgeable reaction to a fantastic band and performance! Here are the lyrics as best I can find them: Akatsuki no Ito (Dawn's Thread) When the flowers open, the butterflies are full Beyond the sky we sing Beyond the distant clouds Cross the sea and cross the rainbow To reach you Feelings overflowing by cutting the weir In the place of the dream that will wake up someday So that you can laugh Over-spinning Beyond the sky we sing Beyond the distant clouds Cross the sea and cross the rainbow To reach you Feelings overflowing by cutting the weir In the place of the dream that will wake up someday So that you can laugh Layered spinning

[@wave8359]

thank you !!!

[@johancoetser906]

Yuko practices kenbu, Japanese sword dancing, too. There is a video on youtube where you can watch her practise it...

[@4thArmoredVet]

I must admit, for someone recently introduced to Wagakki Band your analysis was brilliant, Sometimes it's difficult to pin down why we like what we're hearing in music, but you broke it down perfectly. I appreciate the knowledge base that you obviously possess and subscribed so I can be further enlightened. Thank you🙏

[@wave8359]

---agreed !

[@somebuddy.]

This band is amazing, they have a strong characteristic with traditional instruments. Thankyou, hope you can react more of them! XD Can highly recommended : Wagakki band - Tengaku (Dai shinnenkai 2018) kzbin.info/www/bejne/oYStf4CHp9earNE Wagakki band - Synchronicity (Manatsu no Dai shinnenkai 2020) kzbin.info/www/bejne/i6u8gJVrgKx6oJo Wagakki band - Singin' for (Manatsu no Dai shinnenkai 2020) kzbin.info/www/bejne/iWakk4CtlLtof7s

[@philt6515]

This band must possesses black magic! Once you have experienced any of their performance (of any kind, live versions are all insane for sure!), it is so darn hard (nearly not possible) to completely get away from them, regardless what your background culture is. Have being seeing lots of same response "I need to see them live!", I was terrified by this, how difficult it will be for me to get one ticket of their live show....

[@PaleHorseShabuShabu]

I know enough about bass, drums, and guitar to know that Asa, Wasabi, and Machiya are damn good at what they do, and from what I'm slowly learning about the other instruments and the Shigin singing style, and the more I see from WGB, the others are damn good as well. Thanks for reacting to them, and I hope there's more to come.

[@ZwaraPlay]

Also recommend Wagakki Band：鏡花水月(Kyougasuigestu)+月に叫ぶ夜(Tsukini sakebuyoru) from REACT tour 2019 kzbin.info/www/bejne/l4jPfpZjpcd3mZo

[@TheCyberMantis]

There is nothing anywhere in the world that operates on the level of Wagakki Band. They are the best. Yuko san is a goddess. The USA looks like a trash dumpster by comparison. So much talent and class coming out of Japan. They are on another level.

[@howardbrown911]

Absolutely nailed it! I can't wait for the US to discover them, and when they do it will be like when the Beatles first came here. Wagakki Band is the best band in the world, and I am a 70 yr. old dude who has heard no band with this much talent since Led Zeppelin. Yuko's voice is amazing and it doesn't mean you have to know the language to feel the emotions in her song. After all Japan had no problem with appreciating many English and American bands there. Best rock voice since Robert Plant and with as much power and art in it as his! Amazing, amazing band!

[@tonygriffin_]

That mask the guitarist wears is scary as hell...yet his guitar with that sakura (cherry blossom) design on is very beautiful. Always love seeing Beni shred on her shamisen too!

[@arapaimagold8088]

Shamisen can easily going out of tune with just one single song. And the way Beni easily adjusting it back to be in tune in a live concert. Is nothing sort of class from a master.

[@kisonoabaraya]

You must listen to Wagakki band "Hakushu Kassai"(Cheering and Clapping) kzbin.info/www/bejne/a6Stn6mbd9uigtk

[@howardbrown911]

Yes! This is a must song to listen too. I think it might be my favorite!

[@ericifune5543]

Koto vary in size both in length and the number of strings. That is why there are more than one on stage. In traditional Japanese homes they are viewed similarly to pianos in the west.

[@ricardo__jr]

Thousands of people in the west are eager to see them live. May the covid pass quickly!

[@KebusuNiisan]

Each one of them are, indeed master-level musicians

[@missandei8371]

I love Wagakki band. They have a lot of good songs, but I would like to request a song that I highly recommend. There are short solo parts by each member's instrument, and Yuko's singing is wonderful. I will never get tired of this song no matter how many times I listen to it. Wagakki Band - 拍手喝采(Hakushu Kassai) / Dai Shinnenkai 2018 ~Ashita e no Koukai~ kzbin.info/www/bejne/a6Stn6mbd9uigtk

[@terry2276]

Taka 0 秒前 My big problem around Wagakki band is that there are too many comparably great songs and I can not decide easily for my recommendation. But I do agree with Hakushu Kassai (Applause and shout) That is energizing and encouraging us a lot with all instruments shining, and no need to say, Yuko’s voice. This song packs so much fun all over!

[@kisonoabaraya]

Another recommendation : 鏡花水月(Kyougasuigestu)～月に叫ぶ夜(Tsukini sakebuyoru)/Flowers reflected on a mirror and the moon reflected on the water~Night screaming on the moon. Don't miss YUKO's sword dance.　kzbin.info/www/bejne/l4jPfpZjpcd3mZo

[@rudigerpawlik2623]

Beni plays a Tsugaru-style Futozao (Thick Neck Size) Shamisen.The sharp, flashy style of tsugaru was played in the streets by the bousama (blind musicians) who developed a more lively style.Blind musicians at the beginning of the 20th century, including Shirakawa Gunpachiro,Takahashi Chikuzan and sighted players like Kida Rinshoei developed a new style of play, based on traditional folk songs ("min'yo"), but with a lot Improvisation and eye-catching finger work. This style - known as Tsugaru-Jamisen, after the native region in northern Honshu - is relatively popular today in Japan. The virtuoso tsugaru jamisen style is sometimes compared to bluegrass banjo. The classic pick is called Bachi.The koto is a Japanese zither and the national instrument of Japan.The bamboo flute is called a shakuhachi and the second drum kit is a wadeiko The singer's very broad vibrato is typical of Shigin, a traditional poem concert style. Suzuhana Yuko, the singer of the Wagakki Band, began studying the piano at age three and shigin from age five. She graduated from the Tokyo College of Music’s Piano Program. Yuko is currently active as a shigin instructor, singer-songwriter, and pianist. The style of dance that Yuko performs is called Kenshibu ('Sword and Poetry Dance') This is a category of Japanese interpretive dances performed to traditional music with poetry. Kenbu refers to dances that are performed with the help of a sword and Shibu dance with one or more hand fans called Sensu / Ogi (folding fans).The origin is from samurai. In the early Meiji period, Raifu HIBINO (originator of the Shinto school) organized the conventional dancing styles into the current ones by introducing some styles of swordplay. Singing and dancing are performed basically by different persons. The number of performers varies; sometimes one singer and one dancer, but often one singer and two or more dancers. There are no specific costumes for singers, but dancers wear a hakama (divided skirt for men), shiro-tasuki (white sash for holding up tucked sleeves), and shiro-hachimaki (white headband) to express the emotion of the poem. In some dances a fan is used along with a sword.Dancing to shigin with a fan only is called Senbu (literally, "fan dance") or Shimai (literally, "poetry dance"). The mask that Machiya wears is based on the Noe Theater, popular in Japan. Masks are an essential part of the Japanese Noe theater whilst the actors of the Japanese kabuki theater perform without masks. ..

[@mikeat2637]

You also must check out a song the Yuko did separately from Wagakki Band with members of the great session musician group Kami Band, called Cradle Of Eternity. It is amazing !!!!! She is a true wonder !!!!! You would also like Gobosei, which is in the same vein as Homura but with more choreography, including Yuko's sword dancing. And Hangeki No Yaiba also.

[@danjoseph7515]

I think you'd really enjoy doing the song "Secret Maiko Lips" by Band Maiko. They are an "alter ego" version of BAND MAID where they dress in stunningly beautiful traditional costumes and add traditional instruments to their song "Secret My Lips".

[@_goliath2577]

10Q (thank you) for the content!

[@やすーー]

なんて綺麗な先生なんだろ 日本の楽器に興味を持ってくれて嬉しいです

[@VerchielxKanda]

If you really love Yuko's style of singing, there's another japanese artist to check out named Ikue Asazaki. The sad part is, her stuff is usually heavily copyrighted, so a lot of it's hard to find. Her song Obokuri Eeumi would be a good start. Here's a live version- kzbin.info/www/bejne/fIuxlJ2anMaNhLM&ab_channel=mtgaryu

[@bernardoesperanto3194]

Thank you for choosing the best "classical" version of the two songs. Maybe you want to check out Ningen Isu and their song "Baptism". The life version and the mv are both good in their way. The life version let's better concentrate on the music, the strong visuals from the mv guides you deeper in their world of doom metal.

[@tvo2563]

my recomendations: kzbin.info/www/bejne/rZeUhImQhNWKlcU from last year- it will have you in tears. kzbin.info/www/bejne/kKLMm6WYmtCHhbs with Machiya on vocals kzbin.info/www/bejne/l4jPfpZjpcd3mZo Yuko on top form

[@teyvang3953]

Should check out Utada Hikaru's Devil Inside, Kremlis Dusk & You Make Me Want to Be a Man performances at her Utada United concert... those songs are originally pop/rock songs on the EXODUS album, but at the concert, she rearranged them to be more rock... he and her talented band killed it...

[@TheEricthefruitbat]

Everyone gets their moment in the spotlight.

[@notshino]

Please react to their live Hakushu Kassai performance from dai shinnekai 2018! Imo this song really is one of the best examples of what can actually be achieved if you try to show the best of each Instrument. Everything in this song is so unique yet perfectly intergrated. Definetly one of the most fun performances ive ever witnessed :)

[@mikeat2637]

Beni plays what is called a "jazz" shamisen, which has a thicker neck as opposed to the classic shamisen. Another song you would like is Tengaku, specifically the live version from the Dai Shinnekai Concert in 2017.

[@lennyg47]

Yes:)

[@jpineda0527]

Wagakki Band has an amazing range of styles I would recommend "ignite" and "synchronicity" two songs at totally different ends of their range that also highlight Machiya's (guitar) amazing vocal proficiency.

[@drwho4092]

We Japanese really apreciate your reaction to Wagakki Band. The following songs are typical Japanese ROCK by Wagakki Band . Hangeki no Yaiba : kzbin.info/www/bejne/eJitn6yYodqhqKc Hoshizukiyo: kzbin.info/www/bejne/gp-paKOVnctjf8k Yosiwara Lament: kzbin.info/www/bejne/rqbTaKttp5hrh5I Okinotayu : kzbin.info/www/bejne/jYS4eHSJe9Gsprs

[@a_un]

A digression about KOTO. This is a story about KOTO played by IBUKURO. (Sorry, it includes stories that have nothing to do with WGAKKI-BAND ....) * As an aside, IBUKURO is his real name, but it is a rare name in Japan. The Japanese word "i-bu-ku-ro" simply means stomach. But his name has nothing to do with the stomach. (Hahaha ..) In Japan, KOTO is recognized as an instrument with many female performers. Playing KOTO in historical culture seems to be due to the fact that it has been educated as a basic skill for women in aristocratic and upper class samurai families. About 150 years ago, there was a person named Michio Miyagi. His presence is known as the greatest contributor when considering the current world of KOTO. He is blind due to an illness he suffered from his childhood. (There are a surprising number of visually impaired people with genius musical abilities, such as Stevie Wonder, Ray Charles, or Japanese pianist Nobuyuki Tsujii.) Miyagi has endeavored to incorporate elements of Western music into KOTO, a folk instrument with a history of more than 1000 years. He is also the one who enthusiastically improved KOTO. Currently, the 17-string type, which is the mainstream of KOTO in Japan, is his invention. For that reason, the common koto used in Japan today is the 17-string type. However, KOTO, which is mainly used by WAGAKKI-BAND's Ibukuro, is a type with 25 strings. Playing a koto of this size requires a high level of skill as a professional player. from Japan * This is a sentence using a translation app. I hope that the intention is conveyed correctly.

[@joannalewis5279]

Lovely alive reaction

[@Wombatmetal]

Japanese is such a tricky language. Akatsuki is pronounced "Akat-ski"; the "u" is subvocalised. As it is also in Daisuke.

[@wave8359]

Woooooow !----an articulate and intelligent and spirited reaction !!! Thank you ! What a welcome kind of reaction !,,,,,,such a change from the limited vocab and uninformed insensibility of so many others.(Not that they are not well-meaning, and even passionate to a degree)----but they just don't have a lot of depth or flavour or perception. Anyway, -- -------THIS is a great reaction,and to a great band that deserves her appreciation and gratitude. MORE Wagakki Band please-----and more reactions from Michel !.....( I so hope that she will consider hearing: Mt Fuji Taiko Festival/2011 and 2012, HIRYUU HIGH-SCHOOL The main drummer ("the girl in the middle") is absolutely fabulous !!!!)

[@pujek2259]

seimei no aria - wagaki band, my recomended 👍

[@sodog44]

Anyone else think the intro is like Van Halen meets Japanese folk singing.

[@木村パイ択]

焔っていうチョイスがセンスを感じるん(*´･ω･)

[@mercyhouba]

i would love to see your reaction to nightwish -ghost love score (wacken 2013 live ) with the best female singer in the world

[@kirikagefuuma8594]

Nice react. 奇麗な方ですね。暇があったらPlease react LOVEBITES -Holy War.

[@azkapratama1853]

Hello Miss🤘☕🇲🇨 Come miss react talent 3girls hijab metal Indonesia band VoB:god, allow me (please) to play music, amazing skill & baddas dude 🤘, VoB go to Wacken open air (WOA)2022 in german. #VoBfansBase🇲🇨🤘☕

[@southron_d1349]

The Koto belongs to the tube zither family of instruments not the harp.

[@アルコール64才]

please、沙漠の子守唄。

[@joephysics5469]

Next try Bring Me to Life with Amy Lee. kzbin.info/www/bejne/npyUeKePgJx1gK8

[@kaz2507]

先生‘‘～、顔近すぎ‘～～～！ Senseeeee, your face is too close to the camera!

[@dr.s.]

This is really fun to watch. These kids know how to play. And that's cool. However, I would never add them to my Spotify playlist. To me - *and that is a personal thing* - this gets terribly boring after a song or two. It's like Fusion, a lot of Progressive Rock/Metal, almost everything that can be summarized under the term modern Metal, technically great but bores me pretty fast.