Musicians react to hearing Japan X for the very first time!

[@sumoa1010]

紅＝Kurenai　ｘBeni 🥰

[@turbozed]

I've always enjoyed the lore around this. Enough people were calling this song Beni back in the day that X-Japan's lead singer started yelling "Kurenai da!" ("It's Kurenai!") at the beginning of their live performances. When Su performs Akatsuki, she pays homage to this by yelling "Akatsuki da!" There are still some sites that mistranslate the song into "Benitsuki" most that's the more common reading of the kanji both songs share.

[@sumoa1010]

@@turbozed 　That's a good explanation.😍

[@draculus666]

they have 2 guitars + bass, 3rd guitarist in this video (in red jacket) is Hide who died in 1998. They had him on screens during their show after.

[@Deilwynna]

also always bring hides yellow guitar with red hearts on stage when performing live along with (nowadays at least) a bass guitar from taiji, one of their former bass players who has also passed away, dont know if they honor heath the same way today as they honor hide and taiji bringing their instrument up on on stage as he quite recently passed away

[@gordonbell8728]

Gene Simmons from KISS has said "if X Japan had been from the west they would have been the biggest band in the world!"

[@williamdegrey]

One of the few things Gene has said that is true 😅

[@hikiyosi0115]

彼はアジア人差別をしない人です❤

[@boshiken4914]

Rock royalty in Japan. There is a great documentary called “we are X”. Unbelievable talent.

[@julianhernandez5234]

as mention in the comments the song is call Kurenai. The drummer Yoshiki plays the piano, guitar, violin, trumpet, cello, and writes and compose every song. He also composes classical music. they have 2 guitarist the person with the yellow suite is Hide he pass away on 1998

[@karingeiger6148]

Not sure Yoshiki also plays violin (Sugizo does) but his drumming is sensational, his piano performances are emotional highlights and he is a great composer. However, some songs performed during X Japan concerts were written by late guitarist hide.

[@febryanarirusda8007]

WE ARE X!🤘 R.I.P Hide, Taiji, Heath.

[@tenkasu_JP]

ku-re-nai (紅) daaaa!!!!!

[@Xia-hu]

There are 2 guitar players. The red haired guitarist in the red suit is already dead. But they played his footage as a homage. Sadly, the bassist died recently too :(

[@HaroMatsuRestarted]

BABYMETAL’s song “Akatsuki”(紅月 - Red Moon) was created in homage to this song, Kurenai (紅 - Red). Yoshiki - the pinanist/drummer - is a big name in Japanese music industry, and currently is member of The Last Rock Stars (TLRS). TLRS did a US tour last year, and BAND-MAID opened for the shows in US.

[@Fedz.no_miedo]

They are not myths. They are not legends. They are not idols. They are gods "We are X"

[@Wombatmetal]

X-Japan were monsters, perhaps the most influential metal band in metal. Babymetal borrowed so much from X when they were starting out. Like the neck brace; Yoshiki the drummer/pianist, cracked some vertebrates in his neck from headbanging too hard and wore a neck brace for years. The name of the song is Kurenei; not sure what Beni is from; and they have two guitarists. The third, the man with the pink hair, is Hide, a beloved performer from the band who passed in 1998 or so, and they projected images of him out of honor.

[@felixionescu6720]

The kanji is read as "Kurenai" and not "Beni", it's why Toshi the vocalist screams the legendary "Kurenai da!!" (It's Kurenai!!) at the beginning of the song. Probably one of the most iconic screams (and songs) in all of Japanese metal. The word "kurenai" translates as "deep red" or "crimson" and that's why the scene light up in red when after the intro. It's tradition that the crowd sing the second chorus at Toshi's command, and that he sings alone the third one. "Kurenai" is one of X Japan's oldest and biggest hits. It was released as a single on 1 September 1989. Drums & piano: Yoshiki (main songwriter and leader) Lead vocalist: Toshi Lead guitarist: hide (the pink-haired guitarist shown on screen in this video, he passed away on 2 May 1998 but is considered an eternal member) Lead guitarist & violinist: Sugizo Rhythm guitarist: Pata Bassist: Heath (he recently passed away, on 29 October 2023)

[@outwest1014]

They were massive in the 80's in Japan. They sold-out the Tokyo Dome 18 times. They were the first Japanese band to perform at Lallapalooza, Band Maid was the 2nd 14 years later!! Yoshiki , piano & drums is still active performing mostly classical piano and has put together the band The Last Rock Stars. Did you notice he is wearing a neck brace? The neck brace has become a symbol for Metal Music, Reference Babymetal "Death" from the Legend of 1997. The best MV's for hearing/watching X Japan are the Last Live series. They tragically fell apart.

[@weapon6666]

X is super fantastic🎉

[@kerrylewis7964]

Yoshi the drummer now has a super group called The Ladt Rock Star that played New York and Los Angels last year. They flew Band Maid out to open both shows. Yoshi has also composed for the Emperor of Japan

[@ましょちょう]

Please be aware that Babymetal is much inspired by X-Japan. BM's "akatsuki” is a hommage to this song "kurenai".

[@rocklol2335]

you should definitely check out something of their earlier years, with the crazy hair and HIDE the guitarist of course, [after his passing they became kind of melancholic] I'd recommend live performances of SCARS or sadistic desire or the most famous performance of the ballad Endless rain from the last live 1997(last performance with HIde before his death and breaking up as a band)

[@buccanero]

The person playing the violin is Sugizo, from the band Luna Sea. He joined X-Japan in 2009.

[@realdocloco]

Unfortunately, by ignoring the (often tragic) story of the band, you're losing 75% of this performance's meaning. It's no criticism! On the contrary, it's an incentive to find out more, and the best way to do that is to watch the fantastic documentary "We Are X". You'll look at this band in a totally different way afterwards.

[@nomennescio4604]

You could do "Rusty Nail". It was the opening number for the legendary "Last Live", the band's farewell show on New Years Eve 1997 before breaking up. They originally made an anime MV (space monsters invading earth, Evil Hide, and resolution through Yoshiki-as-Christ sacrificing himself, all kinds of weirdness) too. But you should check out fx the live stuff late 80's, early 90's, with the legendary Taiji on base. And the full... hair... puts hair on the chest of "hair metal"...

[@rakjr6]

Kurenai gets covered a lot. Yoshiki is a celebrity in Japan, famous for his charity work. He sells wines in Japan, and has a fashion design house. He has been a guest in the Royal box at the Ascot horse race in the UK. He injured neck once, too much headbanging. The neck braces in Babymetal's videos are an homage to Yoshiki. In one Babymetal video Moa and Yui sit down at a transparent piano, like Yoshiki's. As mentioned he is part of the supergroup The Last Rock Stars who Band-Maid opened for in the US. Yoshiki also has a TV show, which Saiki and Miku of Band--Maid have been on, and Saiki sang Yoshiki's ballad "Endless Rain" with Yoshiki as her piano accompanist. On the NHK's New Year's 2020 show he played "Endless Rain" on the piano with multiple singers: Sarah Brightman, Babymetal, LiSA, milet, Roger Taylor, and the group the SixTones with Brian May on guitar. He also co-wrote a song in 1994 with Roger Taylor, "Foreign Sand".

[@ガラヤン]

The person playing the drums composed and performed for His Majesty the Emperor. He is also an amazing person.

[@gao1258]

To truly grasp the greatness of X Japan 🇯🇵 please go to the lives from 88-91 for full visual kei and then the later mid 90a shows for them doing “rusty nail” , Hide is a legendary guitarist and has a classic solo in “rusty nail “, other top songs by the band are “endless rain” and “ rose of pain” and “weekend”

[@debrakurenai588]

Any Japanese rock/metal band in Japan today was inspired or influenced by this band. They are rock gods in Japan. WE ARE X 🙅🏻‍♀️

[@kicorse]

They're an essential band to give a proper try sooner or later - arguably the most internationally important Japanese band. To illustrate just how important, Band-Maid were delighted to be invited to be a support act for drummer Yoshiki's current project in the US for a few shows last year. I also think they were the only Japanese band ever to play Lollapalooza before Band-Maid did last year. As with any band from that era, there's a mental adjustment that modern listeners need to make, but they have plenty of very good songs.

[@danbuter]

I just wish I could be in a band that had crowds like that. Holy hell, that would be amazing.

[@schelin1447]

Legends! 🤘

[@rijajoestar]

You should check their other song, the name is "Art of Life". IMO its their best song, has 30minutes length, also the solo was awesome.

[@yosmat]

Beni❌　kurenai⭕️

[@PurpleDracos]

Unfortunately the bass player Heath in this died last year. The band has had more than its fair share of tragedy over the years Hide the guitarist and Taiji the bassist Heath replaced have also passed away. Yoshiki's father committed suicide when he was a child which colours a lot of his writing. The band broke up when Toshi the singer was tricked into joining a cult by his wife, which was hard on Yoshiki as they had beed friends since childhood. Sugizo the violinist and lead guitar is also in the band Luna Sea. Nemophila also covered Luna Sea's song Rosier, so could be a double header.

[@obud3777]

We Are X ! 🤘 R.I.P. Hideto Matsumoto 🎸(Hide)

[@godbless0921]

AND R.I.P. Hiroshi Morie (Heath)

[@obud3777]

@@godbless0921 Heath’s death was a big shock! R.I.P.

[@obud3777]

Next X Japan: “Rusty Nail” from the Last Live! 🤘R.I.P. Hide🎸

[@tsubakichan]

Yeah, as some said.. .they began in the early-80s so they're definitely beyond their prime in this performance (I say this as a massive X Japan fan, who claims them as my favorite band). As you mentioned, they are massively influential not only for the Japanese visual kei movement, but also a lot of the J-rock/J-metal you see today like Babymetal, Nemophila, etc. Yoshiki, the piano/drummer - is classically trained, and does most of the compositions. I definitely recommend their recorded stuff - anything from their older thrash-y stuff like Blue Blood, to power/melodic metal like Silent Jealousy, and more modern'ish stuff like Dahlia and Rusty Nail. Naturally they have a lot of ballads too - Tears is a really good one.

[@tsubakichan]

And uh... my favorite X Japan song is what I consider their magnum opus: Art of Life. It's 29-31 minutes long (recorded vs live) so um... maybe not for everyone. But that defines X Japan for me.

[@godbless0921]

R.I.P. Hide and Heath. We are X.

[@mhf1979]

RIP Taiji

[@ratfink5035]

A reminder that April 1st is Fox Day, when BABYMETAL makes major announcements on either new music and or upcoming activities/tours. We might get more announcements as to who else will be playing at their Fox Fest in May. So far Electric Callboy and Polyphia have been announced

[@bradkornatowski3866]

Now you know where the BabyMetal X + Fox Sign came from.

[@kazuyaasano7010]

死んでしまったHYDEのソロパートは当時のLive音源を流して、サイドギターが一緒に演奏しています。もう1人の代わりに演奏しているメンバーはHYDEをリスペクトして、ソロは演奏せずにバックで演奏しています。 なのでソロパートの音は1人しか引いてないけどシンクロしたハーモニーを奏でています。

[@draculus666]

it is the same song that Nemophila covered, Kurenai

[@gorillack_japan]

This kanji can also be read as "beni," "kou,"etc., but the official name of the song is "kurenai. The connotation is that it's a bright red.

[@roberthradek7100]

Though I don't really like X Japan, there songs are very hit or miss, I do respect them greatly. Many of the Visual Kei bands I love would not exist without them. Though I do like their guitarist Hide's (Hee-day) (the pink haired one) solo group. His second album reached #1 in Japan.

[@nomennescio4604]

"X", later "X Japan" (when they tried to break in the US in the 90's, which didn't work out, which probably hastened the band's break-up in 1998) - is hard to overstate their importance for Japanese music back in the day. They ended up kind of like "Sex Pistols", "Queen" and "Metallica" all rolled into one for influence.

[@yenxid]

highly suggest the chi to bara 1990 blue blood/sadistic desire performance. really shows what they were like back in the day

[@icollect1003]

紅は深い赤色という意味もあります バックモニターに映る赤い服のギタリストはHIDEといいXJAPANNの初期メンバーギタリストです HIDEは不幸な事故で亡くなり日本の音楽界の大きな損失でした その存在は赤のカリスマ 彼等がこのライブで彼の映像と共に紅を歌うことは彼への追悼でもあります

[@yurikim2744]

😊Thank you for reacting to X japan, your story is very interesting, if you want you can look it up, you also have very good themes❤

[@ericifune5543]

X Japan has huge cultural significance in Japan. They arose in the 80's and their early visuals went far, far in excess of glam metal. This was also the time of economic growth and young people were expected to get good jobs and work as salary men. X Japan showed an entire generation it was OK to be different. When Hide died, 10,000 people showed up at his funeral.

[@二本延長]

ネモフィラがカバーしていたKurenai ダヨ。

[@marclamy364]

Actually Iron maiden is definitely an influence. hide, the former lead guitar player (the one with pink hair on the screens there) who died in 1998, said that listening to Iron Maiden's first albums is how he learnt to arrange twin guitar harmonies! :)

[@buccanero]

Also, the red headed guitarist isn't really there, the images are archive footage projected in a giant screen. His name is Hide and passed away in 1998.

[@onearthonelegion]

I love you girls!

[@Deilwynna]

if you do more reactions of x japans live performances, yoshiki has a youtube channel himself where he has uploaded high quality videos from their "the last live" concerts from new years eve 1997, it was their last show before they broke up and didnt come back together until 10 years later (without hide though as he had died), some songs i love from that 1997 show are kurenai, x, rusty nail, and endless rain

[@ivi_kiwi99]

I would give everything to have the chance to travel in time just to see them once play together in their original set up 😭🫶🏻

[@しーちゃんの使徒]

It's said that 'Akatsuki' by BABYMETAL is the answer song for this song.😄

[@mhf1979]

I would rather you guy reaction to the last live 紅 that also is Hide last live as the X Japan lead guitarist X from Singapore

[@ilonaforsman]

In this video the crowd is so loud that you can't hear the music. Try to find a Bitter video. Bytheway that violinplayer and the guitarplayer is the same guy, Sugizo. His on band is Luna sea.

[@Viking_Pete]

You chose a fairly bad version to watch. The ones from Last Live (last recorded performance with Hide, before his death in 1998), are much better, with regards to the sound. Hide are the guitarist dressed in red, with pink hair

[@cypher7707]

You can read 紅 Beni, exactly. But this song is 紅 “Kurenai”. Kurenai or Beni is mean Japanese dark red.

[@miqoto]

You can't hear the third guitarist because the guy who played the violin is playing his part. Bassist isn't really featured in this band. Heath(bassist) also passed away last year.

[@tsubakichan]

Visual Kei is pronounced like "kay" in Kayla, or the letter K

[@nagaselatan7421]

RIP HIDE (the red jacket)

[@fultonbenjamin9022]

Well, we know where the hair band concept went!

[@pinoypower69]

🐺LOVEBITES RULES🐺

[@Cory2340]

if u guys want to hear in my opinion one of the most talented bands out there check out a song called sokoninaru - tenohira de odoru i promise it will blow your mind, love the videos.

[@sorainclude6881]

ku-re-nai (紅) daaaa!!!　kzbin.info/www/bejne/r6iwpnqIhcqlg9k A-ka-ts-ki（紅月）daaaa!!　kzbin.info/www/bejne/jX63c4ShmcmioMU Su-METAL's tribute to X japan.

[@kto012]

Chris Jericho is a fan of X Japan

[@marcoskazu_]

🤘🤘🤘❌🔥🔥🔥

[@mphill66]

listen to 'Stab Me in the Back" Live it's very fast

[@TheKiman2]

Oooooh you guys should've seen X Japan's visual in the late 80s！！！

[@grapsorz]

take a look at a better mixed version.. THEN you can look at all the covers of *"kurenai" done by all the other Japanese band's.. just about every band have done one.

[@Masked_Rider420]

Kei is pronounced like Kay

[@ねこまみれ-x7r]

beni???

[@ssst6402]

べにてwww

[@COTTERO]

X Japan... for sure one of the greatest bands ln J Metal's history... but not my cup of tea.😶

[@Raiden-R]

「紅」BENI ✖️→「紅」KURENAI ◯

[@kaelinvictus6039]

Its not a complete video without being hijacked by Babymetal tidbits that is completely irrelevant to X Japan's history.

[@Simon-jh1hf]

It's a shame that all versions are mixed so badly

[@凱傑楊-y8o]

好爛的評論！🤢

[@1974ryo]

The only decent rock band in Japan around the 90's is this X Japan. The rest are all garbage. Still, I did not listen to X Japan and listened to American and British HR/HM with enthusiasm.😀

[@katudayon]

X-japan NO good ! Im japanese this band Idol like fool girl

[@KamikazeWeed]

"flashy attention grasping look to them and presentation.." .. oh boy you havent seen anything yet, watch their lives during the early 90's.. That is Visual Kei