OldSkuleNerd REACTION to NINGEN ISU / Heartless Scat

[@DianaRussia531]

These guys are pros. They struggled in the90's and took day jobs to support themselves. They kept pumping out music though. Then they finally got an overseas tour in 2019 for 2020 and along came coronavirus and I think most if not all the dates were canceled. Glad you found them. These guys never gave up.

[@vamprosmortimer5133]

The best way i have seen to describe this band is, "You tell your Japanese Grandfather (the guitarist/vocals) they know nothing of modern music, so he gathers your Father (the drumer) and the ghost of his Father (the bassist) and they teach you the way of the samurai".

[@michael5460]

I have never in my life had a metal song touch my heart the way the song has, they nailed it full force IMHO.

[@AlmightyPi]

yeah the song always makes me wanna cry for some reason

[@onetymebigtyme]

The Hidden Gem of Japan, this is like Sabbath, Rush or King Crimson of japan, absolute Legends

[@UltimateGamerCC]

i really dig it, and here i thought that Japan was still in love with the 80's. lol never knew a band like this was going down in Japan.

[@judsonethan2648]

Sorry to be so off topic but does anyone know a way to log back into an instagram account? I stupidly lost the account password. I appreciate any help you can give me

[@crosbyethan2761]

@Judson Ethan Instablaster :)

[@judsonethan2648]

@Crosby Ethan Thanks for your reply. I got to the site thru google and I'm trying it out atm. Takes a while so I will reply here later when my account password hopefully is recovered.

[@judsonethan2648]

@Crosby Ethan It did the trick and I now got access to my account again. I am so happy! Thanks so much you really help me out :D

[@ねこちっぷ]

素晴らしいリアクションありがとう。 バンド30年の重みを感じてくれて嬉しいです。

[@Toobeegort]

The scat part of this song is scat singing like in jazz, the shabadadia Babababa bit.

[@lotuswraith]

Well it's a double entendre since they are scatting in the jazz sense throughout the song but also lyrically the song is about being at your lowest point and feeling unloved (feeling like skite) and begging for some higher power to look out for them.

[@smievil]

I always get the wrong idea when i hear about scatman

[@wine.knight]

I am so happy you finally did this! Ningen Isu is one of the best things I have ever heard! So freaking talent and so damn powerful! This song has it all! Also loved to watch your face on your journey to this! I think almost all of us goes through the same range of emotions with this so. And your pure happiness is just golden!

[@friki-tiki]

I've been listening to these guys since I was stationed in Iwakuni in '96. It's about time they get some eyeballs on them. Nobody in Japan really knows them but I could not get enough of their music.

[@Physhi]

I was never in service but I did go to one of their concerts because someone in the service told me to go to their concert.

[@cyberpotato63]

By the way, the song Heartless Scatt is a Buddhist prayer. Basically it's about a lonely and destitute man who has worked his ass off, but struck out at both love and worldly success. He is praying to have just a single taste of victory before the end.

[@kevinhiggins7838]

Just want to mention that the ending lyrics make it apply to everybody... and that’s the Buddhist part of the song as I see it. Edit: really, I see the ending lines as a refutation of everything that preceded them.

[@Wveth]

It contains a Buddhist prayer but the whole thing is not one giant Buddhist prayer. The lyrics are "heartless scat" (as in not worth paying attention to) because at first he is praying only for himself. By the end he prays for everybody.

[@puffdadico6063]

They have been playing for more than 30 years, and they are still rocking. Band Maid, Unlucky Morpheus, Love Bites, Baby Metal...and Asterism did not emerge out of nowhere. Ningen Isu has always been in the scene inspiring the young generations to follow. Never underestimate the old dudes in Japan...lol

[@timthomsonart]

It's a truly relentless song! Some real gems in their back catalogue

[@tonygriffin_]

Amazing threesome! Been playing together for about 30 years. Their 'characters' are a 19th century teacher (lead guitar), a mute monk (bass) and a member of the Yakuza (drums). As good as Rush as far as musical threesomes go. The music for the 21st century is all Japanese - Band-Maid, Babymetal, Wagakki Band and Ningen Isu especially.

[@pinoypower69]

i just recently discovered this band. i was shocked. i didn’t know how to react to this band. they are bad ass. 2 bands i love now. this band and Lovebites.

[@bobbywinkler9455]

Trident, Voltage or Snoopy guess who the drummer is JUNNA,, check nemophila banana song or Revive,,,, Bridear, Brave New world is about the new world we live in because of the virus,,., Band Maid,,, Onset Instrumental

[@bobbywinkler9455]

Vob Braceprot Indonesian group ,,,, Jewel Box, hotel California haha really cool group

[@davidornberg]

Old? Guitarist is born 1965.. well age is just a number! Playing for 30 years... this "prayer" for success went viral and they did a small tour to Europe, 2 gigs in Germany, 1 in London UK. Was heading for the US but then the Corona shit happened! Next Life for Sale with Ningen Isu.. hit CC on that to!

[@dragonvert3633]

And the dancer in MV of Life for Sale Min Tanaka was 73 years old at that time!

[@mogaman28]

February last year I travelled to London from Spain, before all the covid crap went uncontrolled, and saw Ningen Isu at the Canden Underground in a friday and Babymetal at the Apollo next sunday. Best weekend ever in my life. PD: And the British Museum and Imperial War Museum were great too.

[@geoff2027]

You lucky sod...

[@CDMS_pt]

I love this guys. I have 29 albums from them. Pure prog metal. 😁👍

[@artysta122]

I am a proud fan of this band. I'm just starting to complete the entire discography. I want all their records.

[@fernandorodrigues1939]

Watching videos of their live performace is crazy they have more stamina than young people! Love them!

[@paulb22]

Ningen Isu are amazing, discovered them late last year, they have an incredible discography going back 3 decades, well worth checking out

[@northstar7694]

These gentlemen have lots of recent, really good stuff. Love and respect these legends.

[@bosunbones.8815]

A teacher, a monk, and a yakuza walk in to a karaoke bar.....

[@silverseto1158]

Must check Namahage and and Colour Out of Space by them next.

[@seanmorgan5276]

Now I have a new band to follow! That was AWESOME!!! Thanks OSN!

[@CoolClearWaterNM]

This group was my introduction to Japanese rock back in '90 or '91. My great grand daughter calls them 'pa-pa rock' when we listen to it. Give a listen to 'Hell's mountain of needles' live from the early '90s.

[@lennyg47]

They are not old. They are in their mid 50's.

[@churchofthegoldenone4577]

Scat is an old school Jazz singing styke rhyming nonsense syllables. Shabadabadia is classic 1940s scatting. Scat Artists include Cab Calloway and Mel Torme. This influenced the Doo Wop Rock of the 1950s.

[@ctking78]

This was so good. Thank you for turning me on to yet another Japanese rock/metal group. Still waiting for some Merging Moon “Greyen” reaction from you. Japanese metal meets Jinjer essentially

[@christianshoffner864]

Been waiting for this one! Love it!

[@JFrancoDrums]

I dont even know what i was expecting, but what i got was great!

[@deathreaper8009]

This is the most incredible music ever! You think its done then they come back with more! 🤘😎🤘

[@vlastik]

Asterism and Ningen Isu together - it could be a super jam session.

[@thesuperdak7224]

I'm just glad you turned on the CC.

[@cyberpotato63]

Love these guys. They are loads of fun. They're kind of the Jurassic park of Japanese metal. A throwback to 70s metal and prog rock. Their sound has changed and morphed through the years.

[@markdzima]

Maybe you aren't quite old school enough to recognize "scat" as a musical term? Louis Armstrong and Ella Fitzgerald were famous singers of scat vocals. In this song, I think it was the "shabadabadia shabadabadia babababa" part that was the scat (the singing of nonsense sounds).

[@Paulfighteronline]

Haha yes! I was surprised that his first thought had to do with poo😆😆

[@DanDroidx]

I realize Louis Armstrong is probably more famous for it, but the first person I always think of when it comes to scat singing is Cab Calloway.

[@Hareemakun]

They're good, heavy drumming there!!🥁🥁🥁

[@CotoneyeKim]

About time, lol, awesome, now you understand stand they are old school cool. Cheers

[@timthomsonart]

Oh Yes! You did it! :D (and I haven't even watched it yet!)

[@datwongai3903]

You should also check out Namahage, The Colour Out of Space, Life for Sale, At the Mountains of Madness (live) and Caterpillar from these guys (at the very least). All excellent songs, and a couple are directly related to Lovecraft.

[@keithvincent4]

The masters of japan.

[@pointlesswasteoftime]

That was fun. It's good seeing a genuine blind reaction. You had no idea what was coming. 👍

[@lotuswraith]

I was so excited to see your reaction to this song. :) I discovered them for myself only a year or so ago and was floored by the experience; I was grinning like an idiot watching you loose it as well.

[@perfectmaster42]

The moment I saw you reacted to this, I dropped everything to witness the event.

[@1947dd]

They are an awesome band, you should give Namahage a chance. They been doing it 30 years. The base players favorite band was KISS.

[@corruptedfiles1989]

I'm surprised how much I liked this song

[@Fulbor]

Maximum the hormone - yoshu fukushu Maximum The Hormone - Bu ikikaesu!! or anything else by them really they are awesome, even though i don't understand any japanese it's one of my favourite Bands or Diablo swing Orchestra - Voodoo mon amour Diablo swing Orchestra - Black Box Messiah

[@GregDaGoblin]

These guys rock. Definitely no joke ;)

[@Bobbybill123]

It took about 2 songs after discovering this band for them to shoot up to easily my top 5, fucking love NINGEN ISU

[@kevinkarbonik2928]

Rumor has it he bought that SG new in '62.

[@hammerhiem75]

Scat in this context is not poop thankfully..... And yes they are the Japanese Black Sabbath. The lyrics on this song are really really deep, love the second verse. The costumes are Scholar, Noh Actor, Gangster. Another great song by them is Namahage, they are seriously talented, but then 40 years of practice will do that.

[@kevinlane7555]

Nice reaction!!!! yeah, these guys are the real deal, and here's the thing....I've been listening almost exclusively to Japanese bands for a couple of years and what I know is that you have to leave your western preconceptions of how things should look and sound behind you....This is a very different culture that has unique appreciation for melody and rhythm...and their lyrics tend to be much deeper and more insightful as well....plus, you'll probably find yourself singing Shabadabadia for a week.....Cheers!.....

[@Uselesswizard]

YESSSSSS!!!! I hoped you would react to these guys!

[@ehcah2011]

Ningen Isu is fantastic!!! Please check more! See you next!!! And my sugestion is another fantastic band. Crystal Lake, " Into The Great Beyond"

[@fernandonovo6149]

When I first saw this band.....I swear I was terrified by the bass player.....I would not want to run into him in a dark ally on a night of the full moon! However, he is a fabulous bass player and great singer too! Rumour has it that he is a kind person.....maybe! Never judge a book by its "old cover"!

[@davidgoza5620]

It's just Uncle Fester having a blast on bass!

[@faceplantor7372]

A Rock metal masterpiece..🤘🏾⚡️👀

[@christopherjohnferrer3771]

Now Wajima vs Kanami guitar battle reaction, that would be fun /,,/

[@lotuswraith]

Yes.

[@peterkarargiris4110]

'Scat' is a jazz music term - the 'shabadabba dabba diya' bit is 'scat'. Nothing to do with poop. These guys are legendary.

[@seanfromjapan60]

"Boh's dad " ...Exactly! I love that! lol

[@theartofgoldenlily]

I feel you. Makes me weep watching this also.

[@an0ana]

You don't find this song; this song finds you.

[@JwLinberg7788]

Just as u thought they re done (end the song), they aint done yet , keep on coming !

[@fabiospy2]

a good musician has an open mind without frills and not criticizing just for the title of the song

[@sobabruddah7576]

The Uncle Fester comment isn't the first time that's been uttered in reactions, lol. 🤣👍👍🤘🤘🤘

[@jindas4217]

They are awesome.

[@vincentwee632]

Ningen Isu: Ning ngen isu... ngen as in good, get, game, etc... Ningen means Human.... Isu means Chair... so it's Human Chair in English....

[@JohnWilliams-bt9er]

Thank you. One of my favorite bands lately. I haven't seen anybody react to their song The Caterpillar and that's one of my favorites please react to it next.

[@satoru4797]

Nice video! First I've heard of the "Gongnam style" HAHAHA that cracked me up😅. This song reflects their whole journey as a band. They've been around for about 30 years but they only got recognized in the past decade when BABYMETAL spread Japanese metal outside Japan. Shinji Wajima (vocals and guitar) just turned 57 [?] this December 25. His attire resembles a buddhist. Ken-ichi Suzuki (bass) resembles a black monk. Nobu Nakajima's (drums) attire resembles a Yakuza (or a punk). Their band name "Ningen Isu" translates to "Human Chair". If you want to dig their songs, you might want to hear suzuki's (bassist) voice. If so, I recommend you their song "The Color Out of Space". You'll also love it.

[@rog2224]

Shinji Wajima is 55. Born 25 Dec 1965...

[@satoru4797]

@@rog2224 thanks for the correction!

[@vincentwee632]

Ok.... after this reaction... you can react to their next song titled "Love Nirvana" ... that song is an absolute banger....

[@loicleborgne8713]

I think what you wanted to say at the end, those guys ROCKS

[@sabin97]

that "shabadabadia" is quite literally the heartless scat.

[@DieNWOsiehtAlles66]

The drummer is dressed as Yakuza- the Japanese Mafia. The bassist is dressed as a traditional monk (forgot the exact aera). The singer is also some traditional (priest) dress- I forgot which it was though :( Pretty sure someone else has more detailed info on this :)

[@Socrates_1775]

There's a video out there from a Japanese TV show that has this singer, Shinji Wajima, vs Kanami from Band-Maid in a guitar battle 🤘😊🤘

[@underratedrocksongs3430]

Even though they disbanded, check out Gonin-Ish

[@peterpetrus8140]

thanks for peaple lake you ar the best react ever .

[@billpeters9999]

Thanks, I love this band. I think I've been around long enough to know cool shit when it comes around. Ok here's some major talent Heilung - Norupo historical Viking folk/tribal. Wardruna - Kvitravn indescribable, beautiful former Gorgoroth drummer led band. The Re-Stoned - Chromagnetic Stomp Power trio from Russia Just pure gold.

[@Liz-cmc313]

Props to this band for staying power. The drummer looks like he should be in a rock-a-billy band

[@Erik6706]

Try them live too... Saw the pedal and effect setup of the guitarist. Oldies but goldies, just saying... 🤘🦊❤ Stay safe!

[@Vitericus1]

Yes! Now check out "Namahage" (pronounced nah-mah-ha-gay)

[@CaffeineNightOwl]

OSN has discovered ningen isu. looks can deceive ... they really are something else.. and a great reaction. trust us.

[@dormichigan6447]

Awesome reaction! These guys are great. I think it'd be really cool if you checked out Maximum the Hormone. They're another Japanese metal band that does things differently. Don't try to understand the lyrics though, I'm Japanese and I can't understand what they're saying.

[@brucesurfside5792]

Great song. So refreshing to see great musicians not try to show off every tool in the tool bag and just play well. Great riffs, cool solo that’s not overdone.

[@creepything9478]

Yes!!!

[@TheApilas]

They have plenty of really good some but also some odd ones :) Can recommend "Caterpillar", "Baptism", "Voice of nothing", "Life for sale" and "Namaghe".

[@Emperorgonzo1]

So I showed heartless scat to my friend his comment well this is fucking epic the music is great but the lead singer is not that epic in the voice still 13 out of 10 but not sure why. So I thought honestly thought and said “his voice is not special but his skill at telling the story rivals the rifts of his guitar” my friend. “YES!”

[@kevinhiggins7838]

It’s been mentioned a few times already, and here’s one more: NEMOPHILA. In particular, their song OIRAN.

[@marcoskazu_]

HEARTLESS SCAT (NINGEN ISU Band) If you, Holy Angels, do exist in this universe Will you bless me on the cheeks? With my painful effort never paid off I've just been standing in the shadow Will the day come someday when I can fly high in the sky? Will the day come when I can see the Sun? Tell me, Holy Angels Shabadabadia Shabadabadia Babababa Shabadabadia Shabadabadia Babababa If you, Divine Goddess, are staying hidden somewhere Why don't you smile at me on my forehead? I've never tasted the nectar of victory I’ve never succeeded in love Will the day come when I can get intoxicated by the victory? Will the day come when I can embrace love? Tell me, Divine Goddess Shabadabadia Shabadabadia Babababa Shabadabadia Shabadabadia Babababa Countless stars are twinkling in the sky Every one of us is under them With a thousand wishes in each heart Lululu Lululu If you, Lord Buddha, really exist in some place Please have mercy on me, too Having nothing precious in my possession Desolated Isolated I've been living my life with a series of failures Will the day come when I can totally be satisfied? Will the day come when my dreams come true? Tell me, Lord Buddha Shabadabadia Shabadabadia Babababa Shabadabadia Shabadabadia Babababa Shine a light on my life Shine a light on my future Shine a light on every creature Shine a light on tomorrow for all

[@prchy681]

Most youtubers thought it was a joke whenever their subscribers requested this song lol

[@lappesjl1]

the whole shababaa thing is scat In scat singing, the singer improvises melodies and rhythms using the voice as an instrument rather than a speaking medium.

[@pattymeals2395]

When reacting to them turn the captions on cause they really had good lyrics. 👍👍👍

[@greenrena8503]

1. error: trusting the internet! 2. error: not beliving it's setting you up for later if it works, for now!!! But still, a nice song, issn't it?

[@Jmaveryk]

Yeah, is the japanese Black Sabbath

[@pjlu2]

Awesome!

[@kemochang2552]

There is still metal music in Japan that is unknown to the world. THE冠「日本のヘビーメタル」 He is a samurai.

[@saltydashlightly9074]

The drummer is dressed in a style that was very popular with the Yakusa.

[@zabriabubakar5982]

BOH's father plays 4strings bass, BOH plays 6strings bass, BOH sister MISA(Bandmaid) plays 5strings bass, BOH's son(ASTERISM) plays 7strings bass...complete set.

[@cyberpotato63]

I already see some requests for Namahage. Go for Namahage live - 25th anniversary tour (DVD released 2015) The music video version is all black & white. The live version has red stage lighting. The Namahage are ogre like demons that come into the village at night to get bad children. In far northern Hanshu, there is a namahage festival. Wikipedia has some nice namahage pictures.

[@revangerang]

The nonsensical sounds (scatting) comes from a long musical tradition, and is often used to represent emotions so deep you can’t put them to true words.

[@robertturner8040]

These are ace and its about time you did Nemophila !!! better than love bites new last year.

[@supermanblue2274]

Their band name means "Human Chair".

[@rolandkarlsson7072]

scat is a way of singing, like scabbadabbadia bababababa, and not only p**p.

[@Abelion_Jayakerto]

the great part was ASTERISM and Ningen Isu was under the same label Tokuma Japan Communications.