BAND-MAID - YOLO - Ryan Mear Reacts

[@Jonas_S_]

There was once a Maid band from Japan Who said "we're gonna be the best in the land" Then words of them spread Suddenly all headlines said "Everyone hearing them turns into a fan!"

[@stimproid]

Well done 👏

[@JuanSan66]

Nice!

[@RyanMear]

Yes, very nice

[@GaryHolloway-810]

Jonas, i read your limerick in a newspaper, listened to the band you were talking about &....well the rest is history :)

[@Jonas_S_]

@@GaryHolloway-810 Mission accomplished! 😄😄😄

[@vincenzo-maidiac-5457]

Band-Maid was the only band that totally made me change my musical tastes. I've only ever listened to heavy metal, death metal and genres like that, I've always hated backing vocals, I've never liked female vocals in songs and pop choruses. Now I listen to them every day for at least 6 hours a day, Akane is my favorite drummer ever, Kanami probably my favorite songwriter and Saiki my favorite singer .. this band is magical.

[@RyanMear]

Agreed

[@jan-ovepedersen5764]

I went from being a Dream Theater (I have all DT albums) fan to be a Band-Maid (I have all BM albums) fan, grew up on 70s and 80s Hard Rock and Metal. Now I get it all from Band-Maid, hardly listen to any other band since I found them in March this year. What a revelation to find them, I'm all happy now, Band-Maid is playing Happy Metal IMO.

[@wanderslostify]

I'm the same. I am mostly into bands like Necrophagist, Crooked Cross and Genocide Pact. The last rock band I cared about was Alice in Chains in the Dirt era. Band Maid is simply the best rock I have heard in a very, very long time.

[@AntonioMellor]

I just saw a fan cam of "Turn Me On" ( Vladimir Chupin has great vids) where the camera is focused on Miku. You can see her playing clearly and her hand and fingers are allover the finger board. So cool to see. I love to watch Miku play, she is such a a rocker!

[@Slippy6582]

I realized something now, because of something you said: Normally you don´t hear singers like SAIKI, because of her style. We all know how versatile this band is, i think they are the most versatile band today! BUT it´s all because they all have another "core": SAIKI and MIKU are the "pop" part, KANAMI is the pure "rock" part, MISA is the "funk" part and AKANE is the "jazz" part. Everybody has a little bit of their own thing going on, but they all can stretch out into the other CORE without even trying, it´s easy for them to adapt even if they all have an "prefered" style and that´s makes them SO VERSATILE! Add their friendship and LOVE towards each other and you know why their chemistry is untouchable! Greetings from Germany and thanks for that new thought about my favorite band :)

[@lordvorador5735]

I agree with everything except the Saiki "pop" part. I would say she is more the "R&B/soul" part.

[@billb.5183]

Great reaction as always Ryan. Miku certainly deserves a lot more respect than she gets. How many people have to learn guitar from scratch AFTER they become part of a rock band? The amount of work she put in to be able to hold her own on stage with MISA, Akane, and Kanami had to be staggering. Also, like you said, she also has to sing backup on every single song. Now add all of the time she spends promoting the band and writing the bulk of the lyrics. She certainly has my respect.

[@JamesJames-iy6vx]

Well said! And the humility to admit that her voice isn't potent enough for rock and so had to scam a young, 19 year old to sing lead. And the humility to admit that she couldn't play the guitar initially. Have to respect this sharp-minded lady.

[@firebirdguy3151]

You know, Miku really put together an unknown Super Group. Saiki has one of the best female voices I've heard. When she starts singing, you stop and listen. Kanami is an amazing guitarist and songwriter. MISA is one of the most active bass players I've ever heard. Akane is an incredible drummer. In any other band they would be the best musicians in the group. This is the definition of a Super Group!

[@VegetaRabbit]

The lyrics are another one of Miku’s “take on the world” songs. In a battle between Miku and the world, my money is on Miku. lyrics: We put the blame in everything Through unattainable words. The things we can’t win against, It feels that they’re normal in our daily lives. I protect myself from the mass confusion of people. Being together with anyone, I pretended not to see anything, not to hear anything. Each time I lie, my chest tightens up. I open my eyes to seek, the source of the throbbing. I draw up a permanent magic spell, So that I can’t be hindered by anyone. My feelings are getting stronger As the dawn breaks in these wishful days. Ta-ta for now - I’m off to what’s beyond The shining morning glow. It starts from hereon! The word we call “Fate”, We give it out in desperation. It feels like I’m now back to zero, patching out the contemporary tomorrows. My head keeps spinning, somehow I can’t sleep Leaving things unsolved, As I head into the morning, What will change? Dreams and hopes, after having set-backs, They keep piling up on one another. The story of increasing the value of my existence. I’m proud of my rebellious self. I draw up a permanent magic spell, So that I can’t be hindered by anyone. My feelings are getting stronger As the dawn breaks in these wishful days. Ta-ta for now - I’m off to what’s beyond The shining morning glow. It starts from hereon! I draw up a permanent magic spell, I have conceived an unbreakable will. My eyes will never bewilder. I said to the expanding world before me; “Nice to meet you” My heart is pounding in excitement. It only happens once - that’s right, I’ll seize the day. The party is starting - time to prepare. I have no interest in something artistic. I don’t seek anything like eternity. All these boring give and takes, It’s all stupid - so just throw them away. Isn’t it better to collide head on? Fight on, right now. I draw up a permanent magic spell, So that I can’t be hindered by anyone. My feelings are getting stronger As the dawn breaks in these wishful days. Ta-ta for now - I’m off to what’s beyond The shining morning glow. It starts from here on!

[@palominokid3002]

Pigeons Will Save the World !

[@ricklarsen7189]

Miku is one rather extraordinary small pigeon.

[@remmy2000]

Wow.. so deep, pigeon must have seen a lot of things in this world, she's 810 years old anyway

[@robert-gillesmartineau1208]

Cheers, mate!

[@bigbrutalbassbeer410]

Some people have called it controlled chaos, but I think cohesive freedom is more appropriate. And all 5 of them exercise this freedom regularly!💪🏻🤘🏻

[@RyanMear]

Nice!

[@chrisegbertky]

Cohesive freedom. Excellent!

[@jeremydawkins8814]

I have literally just finished watching the line cube Shibuya show so I'm on a Band Maid high at the moment. And this just added to it. Cheers Ryan.

[@jan-ovepedersen5764]

I can hear you, I've been on a Band-Maid high for 6 months now, and it's not fading yet. Never happened with any other band ever.

[@jeremydawkins8814]

@@jan-ovepedersen5764 In four years their is not a day goes by without hearing at least one song of Band Maid. One regret not knowing of them sooner.

[@dennissabe3277]

My biggest regret is that they weren't around in the '70s when I was in high school....would have made it so much more interesting...lol.

[@daveminers3404]

My favorite Band-Maid song. All the little things they do that they don't have to do, that you really don't notice until you've listened a few times, makes this song so much richer. Band-Maid doing Band-Maid things.

[@weilima9316]

Thanks! This song always stays in my Top 5 Band-Maid songs no matter how the order changes.

[@BenC460]

Ya know, just talking about American pop music and why it's so bad. I love music. I have bands that I am passionate about. There are songs that make me feel elated or bring a tear to my eye. There are so many people I talk to that tell me they love music and I'll ask them what kind of music do they listen to or who's their favorite band and you'll get the answer "oh I like all kinds of music" or "I like everything I don't really have a favorite band." For them music is just this thing that is in the background or they put on in the car because they're bored. And that's who all this crappy cookie cutter pop music is made for. It's just mass produced using a formula and put out there to make money. They put the least amount of effort into it for the greatest return. A band like Band Maid put work into their music. Kanami writes their songs and then the entire band works on them together crafting it, honing it, reworking it until they are satisfied and then it's recorded. Their music is a result of the love and devotion they have for music and not just a way to get rich and famous. Well at this point I'm just rambling so yeah.

[@drogonr9318]

Well said. :)

[@craigfenson]

beautiful rambling, if i may say.

[@GSpotter63]

Hit the nail on the head.... Could not have stayed it better.

[@snowdog5895]

Well said, and as a wise man once said, "Ramble on" 🎶🎸🥁🎸🎶🔥🙂

[@bobespirit2112]

I heard Danielle Haim, who I believe is a pretty decent musician, on a YT video chatting with her husband/producer and two other producers about how the recorded her drums on a song on their most recent album. I could not believe how much effort they put in modifying the drum sound - they each took the drum track and made adjustments and tweaks with compression or other techniques (I don’t really know about this stuff). My point is I thought it was absolutely ridiculous - they were doing what I imagine the record companies do on a big pop stars computer created song. Shouldn’t they just engineer a good drum sound in the studio, hit record and play - sure you gotta mix it but it just seemed over produced overkill.

[@mamiackerman_1004]

Finally! Thank you for reacting it xD

[@cembor]

YOLO. My 2 cents: THE. MOST. PERFECT. BASS. TONE. EVER. Again. :) Akane's drumming during Kanami's solo cannot be overstated. The sound of both Kanami and Miku's guitars on this song is fucking GLORIOUS. There is just an instrumental version of this song available as I'm sure you've been told by now. :) And the Miku hating incels can go..... somewhere else...

[@Prophet12]

Your comments on North American music is exactly why I listen to Japanese rock and especially Band-Maid. Awesome!

[@bane8896]

Completely undeservedly, I overlook this song and then I am always surprised at how wonderful a YOLO song is. You are a composer and this is the ideal song to understand how Kanami composes. She first plays the melody for which she gets inspiration on the piano or plays it on the guitar and places it in her archive. You can hear what this basic melody looks like in the case of YOLO at this link: kzbin.info/www/bejne/gpC6e5WBmdmChKc. A beautiful slow ballad that is a masterpiece in this version as well. When Kanami chooses one of the archived melodies to make a song out of it, she simply speeds it up and adds solo riffs and an arrangement of other instruments. Her genius and inspiration is inexhaustible and there are always several hundred melodies in her archive and that is why she can easily release songs that 99% of bands do not have in their entire discography. I think she said she would love to work with other artists as well, when the time comes and the breathtaking songs we listen to, are just one part of her immense talent. When songs that are not suitable for Band-Maid come to light, you will see all the splendor and magnificence of this modest and lovely artist. Keep up the good work, all the best!

[@204pjfaherty]

You're so right about the over processed production on modern music, and it's not just over there in the US. It's the same this side of the Atlantic with too many song writers involved in writing what usually turns out to be wall paper or elevator music as you would call it.

[@JuanSan66]

Yolo is a masterpiece of rock music. You may say that I am crazy, but after seeing the 500 songs of Rolling Stone magazine I am missing a dozen of Band Maid. In this song there was already everything that would come later. A declaration of intentions. Oh, and Miku plays a lot here. To fully savor the six or seven guitar riffs of this song, I recommend the Studio Coast 2017 live show. Super sharp, with Mincho nailing it. Exciting.

[@gunkymonkey4407]

I saw the Rolling Stones 500 songs and it was pretty pathetic. But what do you expect from a bunch of people in the American music industry. When I saw Dynamite from BTS in the mid 300's I just had to laugh.

[@JuanSan66]

@@gunkymonkey4407 That is.

[@drogonr9318]

After I hear this one song, I feel like I've heard three. And it feels like a journey. For me, this song is one of the best intros to Band-Maid. It's probably the earliest Kanami composition that became a Band-Maid song, as she wrote it prior to the band's formation. The song really shows off the band's talent early in its development imo.

[@RyanMear]

Whoa! That's the first I heard that it was written prior to their formation!

[@drogonr9318]

@@RyanMear Yep. This is probably the earliest Kanami song we have, back when she was still programming drum beats for Akane that couldn't be played by a human, according to the latter. She wrote it as an instrumental (as she often seems wont to do), but Saiki loved it so much that they added vocal melodies and lyrics. It's one of the first songs I'd heard by the band, and the sheer musical creativity that felt bursting from it really made me take notice.

[@GSpotter63]

Most eat to live but there are those who live to eat...The BAND-MAID fan, a true musical connoisseur.

[@emocelot]

A song I always connotate with yolo in my head is "Glory" for it's really unique, almost progish feeling it gives. Well worth checking that one out.

[@benjpr5395]

One word: FINALLY!!! This song is a masterpiece one of the reasons why Just Bring It is my favourite album! The 2nd verse is so good and still their best to date imo, Kanami is on 🔥 with at least 6 different riffs and that solo 🤯! You should try the 4th track of the single it is the instrumental version of this song and the Live version at Shinkiba 2017 they absolutely nailed it!! Don't pay attention to people talking sh*t about Miku's playing ability we all now what she is capable now (who said Black Hole?...) and knowing where she comes from it's even more impressive. Great reaction as always 👍

[@chrisegbertky]

The sheer balls of getting on stage with a guitar when you can't play is big. But getting on stage after one year playing with the musicianship of the rest of the band? Holy shite what a tremendous person in a little body. An writing lyrics. Courageous!

[@lurkmerchant]

The slide part Miku plays in Wonderland is my favorite.

[@philproffitt8363]

Ryan...That second verse man!! I've got a routine with YOLO: I listen to all their stuff in the car...when I get to the YOLO single, I skip to the Instrumental to immerse in the glory of the composition, then back with Saiki restored (sublime), then Unfair...GUM, and then instrumental and full track one more time before I can move on. Obviously when I'm driving alone :-)

[@kekunkekpar9770]

These ladies know how to play music, they bend the rules, they are not prisoners of a style. The rock is not dead, it just moved to Japan. In the west the music is computerized, auto-tuned and they even analyzed wich words should be in the song.

[@thedocofrock1890]

this song is a bit overlooked now as far as reactions go but damn - it has everything and one of my favorite kanami solos

[@ViiOlet810]

Hey Ryan! I trust you also listened to the instrumental version of this song that was released in the same mini-album. Cause it's amazing! 😎 Thanks for another great reaction! Rock on Po! 🤘🖤🕊️

[@t-kanazawa855]

This article shows the relationship between kanami and miku. This is interview with Miku Kobato and Kanami on Headbang vol. 28, a metal magazine, published on December 21, 2020, before the cancellation of Budokan. This interview shows Miku and Kanami’s mutual respect as songwriters. - How do you see each other’s guitar play? Kobato: My teacher is Kanami-chan. I started playing the guitar after forming Band-Maid, and I’ve come this far taking after her, po. - From a teacher’s point of view, is Kobato-san an excellent student? Kobato: Po (looking at Kanami). Kanami: She’s… very… dependable… Kobato: Ha ha ha (laughs). Kanami: Kobato is faster at palm muting than me. Kobato: Because I started it with strumming, po! (Showing her biceps) I’ve gained quality muscle, po. - (laughs) Kanami: Powerful strumming is her advantage. Chords too, now. Kobato: Yeah, I think I’ve learned a lot of chords, po. Kanami: Now that I can let her play complicated things like tension chords, we can’t do servings without her guitar anymore. Kobato: Tee hee hee (blushing). - So she has become very dependable compared to the beginning. Kanami: She didn’t like the guitar at first! Kobato: Ha ha ha (laughs). At first I wasn’t supposed to play the guitar, so when I had to start to play it, I was like “Oh, I don’t want to play it much, po” (laughs). …That’s not the case now, po! Kanami: It’s fun because I’ve been watching her growth for 6 years since then. And her growth makes me feel I need to grow more too. - So she also inspires you. In that sense, do you think Kobato-san’s technical improvement has increased what your band can do? Kanami: Yes. But I don’t write phrases by taking Kobato into account. Whether she can play them or not, I give them to her, like “You must work hard on this!” - So songs are your first priority. Kobato: She gives me like “This will be hard!” (laughs) And I’m like “Yes, sensei, I’ll do my best, po”. I clear the hurdle every time, po. - Does she ask to do something impossible? Kobato: Like “I can’t sing while playing this, po…” (laughs). In that case we talk about it together, po. - You have such a relationship because you trust each other. Kobato: You can’t do it if you’re not good friends, po. Kanami: Yeah. - The B-side Don’t be long is an instrumental. How do you make a distinction between vocal songs and instrumental songs in terms of composition and performance? Kanami: I’m conscious of fine nuances in instrumentals, like “This is my nuance”. Kobato: Since there’s no vocals, I try to make the guitar sing, po. Kanami: We always play an instrumental at servings, and our masters and princesses love that, right? Kobato: Yes, they love that. There are so many masters and princesses looking forward to seeing each instrument and each of us get the spotlight. Instrumentals are indispensable for us Band-Maid, po. Kanami: We are always like “How about writing an instrumental for this serving?”

[@remmy2000]

Wow

[@robert-gillesmartineau1208]

Well said, mate! 素晴らしい！

[@RyanMear]

I just love this

[@gregs_music_corner]

The live version of this from the february 14th dvd is absolutely mental.... And yeah, miku didn;t know how to play and basically was just smiling behind a guitar in the first couple years... But now? Man, Band Maid wouldn't be the ame AT ALL without her. She's good man. Very good. The crap she pulled off- while singing I mind you- in Black Hole Is some crasy stuff on guitar.

[@RyanMear]

For real!

[@COTTERO]

I think you are wrong, I am very sure that of their four live DVDs YOLO is only available in the gigs of Akasaka Blitz, January 9, 2017 as the seventh and closing track and Shinkiba Studio Coast, November 24, 2017, as the ninth track of fifteen ... I could be wrong, but after seeing the four gigs multiple times I don't think so.😉

[@gregs_music_corner]

@@COTTERO You're totally right! Sorry, I mixed them up

[@秋本耕司]

online okyu-ji feb 11,2021,as the 11th track of ... I can hear Miku's guitar well.

[@COTTERO]

@@gregs_music_corner You are 100% rightt in something ... either of the two live versions of YOLO is absolutely mental.👍

[@markmathewssgbcpenaltyboxs6389]

Love this song. Thank you for reacting to this video.

[@lonniekramlich6241]

Thats why I love them.....real musicians & musicality second to none !!❤😎

[@madsstavang]

Yolo is probably my all time favorite single. Amazing A-side and unbelievable B-side.

[@DavidMISAMISAMISACook]

MISA MISA MISA! this song has the rare privilege of being twice in my top 15 in 2 different formats this one and the Instrumental version alll MISA MIA MISA!

[@daveminers3404]

Only twice? Band-Maiko?

[@DavidMISAMISAMISACook]

@@daveminers3404 it's about 25 and I haven't heard the Acoustic yet that was played Feb 14th 2020 but not put on the blu-ray so potentialy it could be 4 in the top 25

[@daveminers3404]

@@DavidMISAMISAMISACook Fair enough.

[@DavidMISAMISAMISACook]

@@daveminers3404 there are far toooooo many good songs in any other band they would be my top 4

[@Muzicman-ut3jr]

Yolo is an awesome tune! If you listen more than once it’ll quickly become too 3 !

I think the thing here is that Saiki is singing long notes legato style while the band is going fast and hard but clean. It's weird when you can focus on listening to vocals or band but it's so hard to focus on both at the same time.

[@nostalgiatripmedia6937]

Thanks buddy, knew you would love this one!

[@RyanMear]

You are welcome! Thank you!

[@snowdog5895]

Always great to watch reactions from people who "get it" 🎶🎸🥁🎸🎶🔥🙂

[@realdocloco]

That's a very interesting observation about Saiki's singing! And suddenly, it reminds me of Annie Lennox 's (of Eurythmics fame) singing tone! I was a big fan of her back then.

[@thunderchild7137]

Said it before, guess I'll say it again. Any band who can accomplish what Band Maid has in Their short time together will always have me as a fan. These early tracks of Their own songs show a remarkable musical knowledge as well as them gelling their individual styles and giving us something new but at the same time something so familiar.

[@SagaciousTwo]

The way I understand it Kanami writes both lead and rhythm and records them. Then Mikule learns the part before they play it live. Still pretty impressive for some who has only been playing a few years.

[@DavidMISAMISAMISACook]

MISA MISA MISA! have been re-watching your Band-Maid Vids (cos they are Great). in this one you were talking about Miku singing and Playing, just after that at 11:38 EVERYTHING Band-Maid to me was summed up in a split second, It is only a Music Video but watch Mikus face She looks down at the fret board to make sure she is miming the right cord this to Me encapsulates the pure effort that goes behind the talent.

[@Thor_Iversen]

Thanks! That was great! Maybe you could check out a recent live version to hear how Saiki's vocals are on this song post-surgery?

[@hiawatha.g]

This song was a couple of years ahead of its time. You hear a lot of the stuff which eventually exploded forth on Unseen World. Amazing song.

[@Dese34]

Preach Ryan! Couldn't agree more on Miku. Rhythm guitar for 20yrs, could never sing backup vocals (tried many times) and be that comfortable playing on stage. If you haven't done it, you just don't know.

[@philcalvino884]

YOLO is a diamond of a song, with so many sweet facets that you can look at from all sides, flawless. The bootlegged acoustic version of YOLO (and Awkward!) is absolutely heart-wrenching (and btw very googleable).

[@markbaker8255]

I would love for them to put together a video of them in the studio throughout the recording process...like the Beatles in Let it Be. I think that would be interesting to see them interact with each other in the songwriting process.

[@starocean6013]

Everytime I watch you do a band maid mv you look like a kid on Christmas morning to quote you sssoooo good and they are the living legends known as band maid be well

[@glenkelley6799]

Great reaction and this was the A-side :). The location was in better shape but they were practicing Unfair Game and Matchless Gum before the shoot and things started melting.

[@falagar4567]

There was a lyrics video for YOLO a while back(it's gone now) it really made me fall in love with this song. Glad that you enjoyed it.

[@d.h8538]

They're monsters.

[@RyanDng]

I really enjoyed this reaction Ryan! The quality of this video is sooo good and it didn’t take away from the original song at all, like really good cuts and stuff. Personally I like your comments wherever you put them because hearing your insightful things is always a treat! In fact sometimes I wish I could hear more of your breakdowns… 😊 (I really enjoyed the onset breakdown)

[@dexterplant778]

Thank you Ryan for having Miku's back! It took me years to be able to play guitar and do harmony vocals with confidence, on top of that I also played the leads, coming off a lead back into the riff and doing the vocal sometimes was just a plane crash, alot of practice went into trying to solve that, Miku is one of five toppings on the world's best pizza, you don't get the world's best pizza without all of the toppings, once again thank you for calling out all the key board musician's who can't seem to acknowledge just how huge Miku's presence in Band Maid is.

[@lartranslation6929]

one of my favorites jeezus everything. perfect song spine tingles just fromt he guitar tones insanely good i wanna talk about this song for ages but did it too much ^^ so good under rateda nd under played live

[@ceniminima]

Band-Maid new single "Sense" will be release on October 27, 2021.

[@johnstroup3868]

Still trying to wrap my head around this one (Black Hole took 3 listens). The thing about moving musical lines, is that if you have two parts where one is on a passing tone and one is on chord tone, it can sound....messy? uncoordinated? discordant?...I'm not sure, but just wrong. Kanami, MISA, and Miku apparently spend the time to make it all work, and it ends up in Bach-level counterpoint. Does anyone else think OSHA would not approve this set? It looks downright dangerous to move around.

[@lurkmerchant]

It almost feels like Misa and Kanami doing their own thing and they are, but still they work together to make something that shouldn't work, work somehow. That's how they come up with band-maid sound. Saiki's voice sounds more rock on stage, but I don't think this is live version. It sounds more like studio recording. Other bands who I definitely recommend are bad brains and maximum the hormone. These are more hardcore punk, but very interesting bands.

[@BM4-Life]

*Kanami:* You know what this song needs? *Akane:* More drums? *MISA:* More bass? *Kanami:* No silly more Guitars. 😁 😁 😁

[@curtisrrobles7885]

🤘🏼🤘🏼🤘🏼

[@saltwaterinsanity]

Yeeaahhh!! Kanami riff is every where🎸🔥👍🔥

[@GSpotter63]

It needs more cowbell....hahaha

[@philproffitt8363]

Part of me would like to see them do some kind of Xanadu-esque performance; more drums/percussion, double-necked guitars/bass, maybe Saiki with some gothic-looking 'Keytar' :-) Most of all I think they have the ability, composition/lyrics/musicianship, to pull off an epic multipart prog/concept masterpiece...live performance and release an EP. But I'm satisfied with 'Black Hole'...that's a pocket-sized 'Natural Science' for me. A right good trip.

[@snowdog5895]

Saiki: Smooth as silk vocals over this orchestrated chaos? 😁🕊

[@COTTERO]

Yeap, YOLO is one of my very favorites, their live version at Akasaka Blitz closing the gig is fantastic... also the live version from Shinkiba Studio Coast is great.👍

[@TheJerm]

Thanks Ryan! Love this tune (because, of course I do). Kanami is a Goddess/Genius/Extra-Terrestrial Goddess (Did I type "Goddess already?) Misa's bass sounds like it's been deep-fried (extra crunchy). Plus, she plays co-lead in like, half the song. Saiki lays down some loooong, sweeeet notes and Akane, in this one, just fits and grooves perfectly (because of course she does.) And then there's Miku.... The lyrics are beautiful and inspiring (again) and her voice is angelic as always. I don't know sh** about playing guitar, but anyone who has a problem with "The Visionary" probably needs an exorcism....or a hug. 😄

[@me262talon2]

Shout out to the video and art director!

[@Xrousn]

Mad props to you on your recognition of Miku and her abilities. That young lady has definitely earned her stripes and continues to unlock her potential with every song. She has come a long way, and I'm excited to watch the journey she, and the other ladies are on. Rock on, good sir. Rock on.🎸🎤🎸🥁🎸

[@markmark6378]

I always think of Saiki being a pop star singer that is brave and confident enough to believe that her singing will not be over shadowed by being accompanied by great music! I think she understands the concept of "band" and believes that the sum of the parts makes a greater whole.

[@Medley3000]

11:00 Miku's progress in guitar playing over the years is really remarkable when you see the beginnings of 2013 compared to today. I'm sure we'll hear a real guitar solo from Miku in a song soon. She's almost ready now and we all know that the little dove wants to grow up.

[@markbaker8255]

She is almost ready for her own solo...Kanami reaffirmed that in an interview recently

[@dennissabe3277]

Mincho would definitely be the judge and jury on that one, for sure!

[@jamesgodwin868]

Kanami's 30th birthday was on the 28th. And,on one of the private Band-Maid groups on Facebook,(there are several that I follow) Helge Fjeld said "And Mincho as she is called by friends will continue to make fantastic music along with her band members we hope for a long time 🙏" while wishing her a Happy Birthday. Her actual name is Kanami Tono,and she was born in Kanagawa,Japan in 1991. Just thought you'd like to know.

[@5Melig]

Thanks for stepping in for Miku. She may not be a guitar virtuoso and not have a powerfull voice, but she is always right in time, right in tune.

[@JamesJames-iy6vx]

Underneath that helium-voiced, cutesy and occasionally weird public persona is a lady with a sharp mind determined to succeed. I cannot but be in awe of her.

[@xsveron1287]

@@JamesJames-iy6vx hardest working pigeon there is PO

[@chrismiller5940]

Miku's playing ability has increased quite a bit from when they started. I have been following them since their first 2-3 video's were released and the difference between then and now is impressive.

[@s102364]

In this song , not only sound but lyrics is good . Please look this video with lyrics .

[@nogarddragonkin]

another great reaction as always...but whats next damn you its like a cliff hanger :P

[@stimproid]

The reason some of the current "artists" need 40 songwriters credits is to dilute the royalty they will need to pay the artist they stole the melody from.

[@curtisi4403]

I heard Yolo started off as a instrumental. That version is highly worth a listen

[@SteveBalderrama]

I was one of those rock/metal fans that was originally thrown off by BM's "poppy" vocal chorus's. I think it works so well for BM for a number of reasons though, including of course the talents of Saiki and Miku and also the melodic approach BM uses is just superior to a lot of popular songs. Their melodic style is crafted more along the lines of great vocal songs by say Carole King or Elton John vs modern pop stuff. I never got into power pop or pop punk, but in some ways it's valid to say that BAND-MAID is the ultimate expression of Power Pop ( with a ton of emphasis on "power").

[@philcalvino884]

As someone who still has one leg in the metal world, I completely agree. Melodically, Band-Maid moves beyond the typical pop sound, and Saiki has that more alto-range smoky flavor that fits their music perfectly.

[@joshi_new_wave]

Great song! Listen to it often but forget it has a video sometimes lol. Great reaction man, keep up the good work!

[@Kevin6059]

Nothing wrong with food references, and it's nice to start your day with a Band-Maid casserole. And since "YOLO", it is advisable to fill said life with as much Band-Maid as possible. Even if you believe in Rinne.

[@RyanMear]

😆BAND-MAID CASSEROLE! *I might have to steal that*

[@Kevin6059]

@@RyanMear Permission granted, although Gary alone supplies ample material.

[@ricklarsen7189]

Love the song. The set creeps me out. Probably because I boil water for a living.

[@bandsublime9462]

I echo your words. I liked Michael Jackson and those who followed him afterwards, but I am not down with pop music these days because they sound superfluous. Although for youngsters they are the music of their generation, I just want to keep listening to good music like these talented ladies produce.

[@frankallen3634]

I'm way too dumb to learn languages so for years I've just thought of saiki as a wonderful instrument in the band.

[@RyanMear]

I don't consider myself dumb and started learning Japanese.... you really need a lot of time to get it. I don't have that time, sadly, it's not easy

[@sjnix7044]

I know that stupid smile well. I wear it every time I listen to Band Maid.

[@septimusseverus7237]

5:30 I maybe wrong, but I have the feeling Kanami has used a counterpoint arrangement of the bass, guitar and voice in that section. Like it was done in Bach’s era. The purpose of counterpoint is to have several melodic lines playing together without conflicting.

[@bryanhallman8183]

This is a song that Casey Casum would have announced on the Top 40 in the early 80's. One that you could go full Iron Eagle with, because, the rhythm is just that good.

[@patron40silver]

Keep your feet on the ground and keep reaching for the stars.

[@septimusseverus7237]

You are so darn correct about Miku. I can just imagine how difficult and impressive it must have been for her to level up her skils until she is able to play the rythm guitar (she had just been learning for a few years) while at the same time harmonizing perfectly on stage with a powerful singer such as Saiki. Now, think also she had to do all this to insert herself in a power trio of monster musicians such as Akane, Misa and Kanami.

[@paulfarmer745]

If you didn't know, the EP includes YOLO as a instrumental only

[@miqoto]

I think the duo solo part works because Akane leaves space open for them and Saiki to operate in(a nice slow beat to accompany them).

[@robert-gillesmartineau1208]

Ryan! Blimey, I forgot o comment on that! First a big thank for putting "some people" in their "right place"! We all know them, and I believe every fan will back you up for saying so. It is a very complicated song, especially when you consider it was an early one! This can be achieved as you mentioned only thanks to the musical education of at least three of them.Saiki is a natural singer and Miku is just a monster of practice that would kill any of her detractors in a singe day. Now, where are they going to take us, notwithstanding the live concerts they have announced for this year? They love small venues, but that might be impossible from now on, at least in the States. In Europe, fans prefer small to medium-sized venues. Ask Mark Knoppfler! Talking of which I have the impression that if someone could have them listen to Rory Gallagher, The Who, Dire Straits and Thin Lizzy, we might be in for some raucous live performances! Take good care of yourself (ves), Robert-Gilles

[@mickyart]

"YOLO" is TOP 5 for me (although my Top 5 is like 20 Band-Maid songs squeezed in together and another 50 in a very close 6th place... then the 30 songs left make the rest of a Top 10. Yes, my Top 10 from Band-Maid is the whole 100 songs) ... Anyway, after the whole non-sense, "YOLO" is freaking awesome... Kanami still in her "Audictone" years... The Band-Maiko version ( "YOLOSIOSU") is also awesome .... OH yeah, please try to find the instrumental version of this too.... again, awesome!

[@RyanMear]

We had a time sorting out the best BAND-MAID song on Discord.... pretty much came to the same conclusion! LOL

[@johneg27]

I was surprised the first time I heard this song. I didnt expect much from a song titled YOLO but I was like well its BAND-MAID, should check it out. Damn good song. Not much else to say about it.

[@curtisrrobles7885]

MISA!!! MISA!!! MISA!!! 🥃🥃🥃

[@nasa_my]

i guess i know what you're trying to say, it's catchy and sounds like pop style of singing than typical rock, but i don't mind about it and i'm a big Queen fan, i'm used to it and a survivor of pop allergies. i think saiki can get away with it since she has a nice deep and clear voice like freddie did, unique voice compared to other bands/groups in that era. having said that, i too love no doubt, pink, alanis morissette, garbage, holes - some are catchy af. p/s you're one of my fav band-maid reactors and alice in chains is one of favs too. :-)

[@RyanMear]

All those bands and singers you mentioned have great instrumentation!

[@dennissabe3277]

As always..love your reactions...first time hearing this song..love it! Also really appreciated your defense of Miku and her guitar playing. She has progressed by leaps and bounds..no thanks to Kanami-sensei....brilliant!.... meaning Kanami has probably helped her progress...

[@avader5]

Happy Birthday 🎂 Kanami, lead guitarist of Band-Maid! We love 💘 your music 🎶 here in Silicon Valley! You are like Mozart 🎹!

[@andrewcanuck6417]

Stop all you want Ryan and never feel the need to apologize. If your reactions simply consisted of you saying "cool" or "wow!" I for one wouldn't be interested. Your insights are why it's interesting, I suspect most of your repeat viewers feel the same.

[@吉田守-v1u]

TURN ME ON AND WONDERLAND REACTION PLEASE !!

[@joshi_new_wave]

He’ll get to those in due time, eventually he’ll do all of their songs lol. Lucky us!

[@bradmenpes809]

"YOLO" is fantastic, and the instrumental version on the YOLO release shows clearly just how complex it is. What I truly love about Band-Maid is that they never let their complex song structures get in the way of the greatness of the song (if that makes any kind of sense). Everything they do serves the song.

[@garylai363]

Apparently this was a Kanami song long before Band-Maid that she readapted the melody to become YOLO. Back in her singer-songwriter days? kzbin.info/www/bejne/gpC6e5WBmdmChKc One of their earlier songs, not as complex but really nice chorus, one of my favorites.

[@ethangospodareck]

Yeeees!! It's a good day!

[@markyg236]

Re: Miku on guitar. I've seen the number 10,000 hours of practice time to reach elite level play of an instrument. This comes to 4 hours a day for a bit under 7 years. She has said that she tries to practice every day, and sometimes all day, so she may not quite be there, but she's getting close. Still waiting to see her pick vs. strum though. Maybe she has and I've missed it?

[@RyanMear]

What's the one song where it has a very specific bend.... she does it and nails it. Its two full step bends followed by two full step and back down bends. Easy to fuck up.

[@gregs_music_corner]

The crap she does behind Kanami on black hole during the brekdown certainly ain't strumming :) Worth to pay attention to the live show.. Or the separate covers from the DVD.

[@markyg236]

@@gregs_music_corner Don't misunderstand me, big Miku fan and I'd love to be wrong, just saying I haven't seen it. Went back and rewatched, the live, guess I missed the part you were referring to. Aside from the bit she did at the start all I saw was chords.

[@chrismiller5940]

@@markyg236 The bend is in the second verse of Manners and is in the music video and live video

[@snowdog5895]

I was thinking her most active lead part is in Giovanni.

[@SagaciousTwo]

you can tell this is early days because the only one with her signature guitar is Miku. No PRS or black cloud.

[@jan-ovepedersen5764]

Miku managed to get much better within 6 years then I could manage. OK, I didn't have very good equipment and a sensei when I first started playing, which held me back until I could affort to buy a great Ibanez guitar and a Marshall JCM rig. Miku is a great guitar player, and it's not easy to sing Band-Maid backing vocals and play guitar at the same time, but she is doing both great.

[@sjnix7044]

I kind of ignored this song for years because I hate the title. Such an over used phrase in the west. This is a top 15 catalog song from them and that is EXPENSIVE real estate. Love YOLO.

[@maurograziati5769]

Ciao ryan....i advise you to see AWKWARD LIVE little known song....a real musical gem

[@Big_Al_63]

I can't go but you do know that they are going to be in Chicago Nov 1st!

[@RyanMear]

Yep! Wave abd I will be there!

[@mechanicat23]

Ahh… Ya. This is premium Band Maid. Before the world caught on, before Misa found her Black Smoker, and Saiki grabbed the world by the …