This song maiko’s me happy. BAND-MAIKO - Gion Cho | REACTION

[@Prober61]

These - Women - Are - Genius! They can do anything and do it well.

[@GaryHolloway-810]

Public information announcement. A maiko is an apprentice geisha. A mako is a shark, do not get them confused. One will bring you to tears & have you in pieces, the other will just tear you to pieces.😌

[@reneedevry4361]

Love this comment👍🔥🤣😂😅

[@PANIC_aka_PinD]

Gary ... shark week is not for a while yet :p .

[@GaryHolloway-810]

​@@reneedevry4361 Gosh, thanking you.👍

[@GaryHolloway-810]

​@@PANIC_aka_PinDThx for telling me 30mins too late, Panic.😁

[@markabusireactions]

Let me know when shark week is, I’ll dedicate it to versions of Baby Shark

[@Davey-Boyd]

My current favourite Band-Maid song is "Awkward". And the Band-Maiko version "Akasimahen" is even better. The way the song builds and builds is absolutely stunning, but the Maiko version does it way better.

[@ELF_Productions]

I love Awkward... the structure it it is quite... Awkward. lol. but still good

[@dazedandconfused318]

And it has a much greater separation of traditional instruments plus added strings. And then there is 'The Sigh'. Top 4 song for me , both versions

[@Davey-Boyd]

@@dazedandconfused318 Saiki's sigh gets me every time! Ryan Mear just reacted to "Akisamahen" literally a few minutes ago!

[@GaryHolloway-810]

I can't disagree....apart from there is only one song that's my favourite :)

[@Davey-Boyd]

@@GaryHolloway-810 I wonder what that is? Lol!

[@lewissmith4123]

So please you enjoyed Gion Cho so much. The highlight for me is Miku's harmonies near the end, they give me goose bumps every time I hear them and I have heard them a lot !

[@Space_Ranger]

This is my favorite of the songs they did as Band-Maiko. I think it's better because it was made with the traditional stuff in mind from the beginning, rather than added on. I would also suggest the Waggakki band as well. This is their whole thing. A huge band and they actually play the instruments. Live as well.

[@seorsamaclately4294]

Strong ay to Wagakki Band.

[@Betonwolke]

The combination of traditional Japanese music with rock is perfect. A great side project from Band Maid.

[@garylai363]

I like at 6:07 where Miku is making tea for everyone and then Akane is digging into a bowl of noodles while everyone else is drinking the tea.

[@2abug]

If you want to listen to a song in which BAND-MAID take risks, you should definitely check out the MV for the song “Warning!”

[@ausoleil8269]

Nice reaction. You read my thoughts at the start, I'm glad I still have my weekend in front of me. I do love this song,I'm not listening to it often enough. It's refreshing, and if you like this kind of sounds, you should try listening to the Wagakki Band, a great Japanese band mixing traditional and rock instruments and vocals.

[@markabusireactions]

I’m putting them on my list!

[@GeographRick]

Of all of their great songs. This is still my favorite.

[@IkarosTypeAlpha]

glad you got to this song! I hope if they ever bring back Band-Maiko, they do more original songs with it. I love the different versions of their other songs, but I like that they give themselves even more freedom with an original track like this one

[@powbobs]

Apparently you need this. Wagakki Band. Homura. 1st Japan tour

[@Sleawzor]

you picked such a small tree and you still managed to hit it, that's talent 😋 thank you for the bonus video! (and thank you, requester!)

[@markabusireactions]

It’s actually about 7 foot tall, it’s just miles in the background and I have really long arms lol

[@greylocke100]

They rented the costumes, and they were several THOUSANDS of dollars to rent for the 2-3 days they needed them. They are handmade, hand dyed , hand crafted. Miku INSISTED on it. However, the other Ladies weren't too overly fond of it. Even though they didn't wear all of the layers that would actually be worn, the layers they did wear were enough to make it very difficult for the Ladies to play their instruments. Akane said the sleeves made it almost impossible to keep the beat, and Kanami when she dropped her pick, couldn't even bend over to pick it up. Saiki required help to get in the rickshaw, and MISA had problems walking due to the outfit and the shoes. Surprisingly, the one who had the least problems was Miku. She has actually done at least 2 photoshoots in proper regalia. You can find photos from one of the shoots online.

[@ericifune5543]

And it takes a long, long time to dress with lots of expert help. While most Japanese have worn formal kimono at some time, few have worn these hugely elaborate ones.

[@luimanprivatni8030]

IMHO this song and MV are masterpieces of band.... and should be official hymn, some 21.century vintage love letter from Japan to the World...

[@kicorse]

Top 10 Band-Maid song for me, and for the reasons you said. It's not catchy but it gets better every time you listen to it.

[@russellpotter7294]

As a fun experiment it worked really well. The Maiko EP is great. But having heard you say Band Maid can sound like any other band with two guitars, a bass and drums. I cancelled my subscription and wrote a letter of complaint. Sadly there is no one to send it to anymore and so I re subscribed. I still think they are a unique sounding band in whatever genre they play with. Band Maiko are a great cover band for The Maids but The Wagakki Band have the traditional instruments covered and we don't need another. Band Maid with the odd appearance by Cluppo and Band Maiko is all we need. Do newspapers exist to complain to? Can I write in crayon anymore? Is The BBC still going? Thank God for Band Maid where good music still exists like it did in the good old days.

[@markabusireactions]

I just mean musically 😂 obviously the individual songs stand tall, but sonically they use the same equipment and recording techniques as most other bands haha, I’m sorry if the truth hurts! 😂

[@miqoto]

This was the only original song they played on the EP

[@himbo754]

I like Gion-cho best of all the Band-Maiko songs. It is beautiful at several levels: the costumes, Saiki, the whole band singing, Miku's back up vocals, the Japanese instruments, the little jokes in the video, like Akane eating during the tea ceremony (she has an enormous appetite, and loves rahmen). Kanami didn't do a solo in this song, although I enjoy her soloes in general.

[@daaaaaave]

It’s a testament to the fact that Kanami is a composer first, guitarist second. The fact that she’s mixed so low, and that she doesn’t care about having a feature part or not really speaks to her lack of ego and devotion to the song.

[@28naveenator27van]

Great reaction and nice christmas touch. Happy holidays to you

[@markabusireactions]

And to you!

[@sugaanessena3143]

Band-Maiko; The only band that matches the level of Band-Maid.

[@jkkansasband7056]

Don't hit your twig. And haha, no solo! 🤣A lot of other reactors can rile us up but not you. btw, that's a compliment. I listen to BAND-MAID every day so reacting more than once a week is always a good thing. Peace. 1.98

[@markabusireactions]

I accept your compliment! It means you take my jokes in the good-natured way they are intended!

[@GaryHolloway-810]

Jk mark nearly snapped his twig.😮 He's not had it long & he's already trying to punch it's needle off :)

[@jkkansasband7056]

@@GaryHolloway-810 haha. It will be knocked down by end of year (even if he doesn't show it or he nails it down). Odds are 2-1. 🤣

[@GaryHolloway-810]

@@jkkansasband7056 Lol. I like those odds. He's bound to get his jumper snagged on the lights or something & rip it out of it's pot.😂

[@polskabob359]

The joke is on you there is no solo in this song

[@markabusireactions]

I paused it anyway just in case 😂

[@frankandre4385]

" I just punched my f***in tree." Dr Suess is rolling over in his grave wishing he had said it first ! If you write a children's book, i want a signed copy...😆

[@markabusireactions]

Including all the cursing? I can do that. I’ll even illustrate the damn thing. Gimme a topic and I’ll have it knocked out by next Thursday 😂

[@frankandre4385]

@@markabusireactions Possible book title : The Wounded Tree Plots His Revenge (subtitle: A Happy Christmas Tale of Vengeance and Bloodlust )

[@markabusireactions]

@@frankandre4385 the Ents rise again!

[@bbobjs]

As a black tar Band-Maid addict, I'll admit, their music videos tend to get carried by the music. I think it's mostly good because the focus tends to be on the band playing and I think when you're Band-Maid this is both the thing you do best as well as the thing people will doubt you can do. I will say, I think they've gotten better about selecting visually interesting locations as they're progressed. Keeping it to stuff you've seen, compare the MV for Blooming (2019) to Shambles (2023). I'm not sure what I'd say their most interesting MV is but I think Influencer tends to be their most effective. It's definitely something that visually grabs your attention but ultimately is just the maid doing what they do best, just playing.

[@Bodneyblue]

Agree about "Band-Maid this is both the thing you do best as well as the thing people will doubt they can do"..|I believe this stems from when "Thrill" was released and a number of critics said they are not playing their instruments and were miming. I suspect because of Miku's inability to play her guitar back then.....Which I feel is why their MV's tend to be of them playing..as apposed to a visual story (though they have done so with the "Start Over" MV)..I believe this is also why they made individual videos of themselves covering other bands songs...MISA's are MIA....But Kanami's cover of a "One OK Rock" was still about...as is one of Akane's... a cover of a MTH track. "Influencer"..is a track which will always remind me of my first trip to Japan...And the second time I visited (recently returned)..I did visit the quarry where it was filmed......and....it's just a quarry with water in it.....But as the ladies played there...then it's a location a fan would like to tick off if visiting Japan....just because.....Chosen I feel to enhance the appearance of the ladies new "Battle Armour" back them...In which they look stunning...(as if they they don't otherwise)...Long May They Reign!

[@bbobjs]

​@@Bodneyblue In a lot of ways, I think Miku's limitations really defined their sound. Having someone content to play the simple parts gives Misa a lot more room to roam than a bassist would typically have. It obviously wouldn't work if Misa wasn't a top tier bassist, but I don't think she'd pop as hard without Miku. She's also one of the best backing vocalists in the market, she really does a lot to be the glue so that band can be chaos. I have to imagine the quarry would look relatively bland compared to the MV. My assumption is they saturated the color to make it pop and then of course, no maids there, but definitely something I should consider visiting if I ever get to go to Japan again. Thanks for giving me the idea!

[@Bodneyblue]

@@bbobjs Your right on both counts.....Because of Miku's limited guitars skills at the start....MISA was filling in the space with not just bass lines but also to keep the melody going....Which as you say has defined their sound..Especially the fan favourite chats with Kanami..which in another band she may not have been given...This I think could also have been a factor in MISA staying....As she has been given much more freedom in her play...And yes, saturated the colour of the quarry to make it pop...As I said to enhance and match up with the ladies new "Battle Armour"....I didn't do the full tour of the quarry..as I suspect the tour would have been in Japanese and of little use to me not being able to understand it..so...plus it was a 1000yen more. (300yen the enter). I did have a Mont Blanc and coffee (1800yen)...I was the only westerner there..(only a hand full of people anyway). When I purchased the Mont Blanc..I used Google translate to tell the staff why I was there and showed them a quick clip of the "Influencer" MV..hehe..I don't think they knew about the MV being shot there..They seemed rather taken by it..hehe..Maybe made 2 more Maid converts.

[@Bodneyblue]

@@bbobjs I also visited a number of other sites regarding the Maids...I visited all those use for the MV "Don't Let Me Down" (Miku's anime run as I call it...hehe)..And BAND-MAIKO locals in Kyoto...And my persoanl fav...The temple used in the MV for "Real Exsitence"..My No.2 Maids track...These I visited during my trip in January...I also visited the temple this time round as well.....Doing the same as I did in Jan..I visited on my first full day..and also on my last full day in Japan...I played the MV on my mobile while standing right infront of where the ladies played....It was like I had a personal performance..hehe!..Long May They Reign!.

[@Greg-om2hb]

MAACO is a firm that paints your car. A MAIKO paints her face.

[@zer0tzer0]

Yeah, but Earl Schibe will paint it for only $199.95.

[@Greish-esquire]

😁

[@Cheezzepuff]

The entire time of watching this video the only thought that goes through my head is " The comments are going to be fire on this one!" Well done, I got my popcorn.

[@markabusireactions]

Hahahah, I’m getting better at this whole making people comment thing lol

[@fifis677]

This actually was an April fools prank (They released this album on April 1st of 2018).

[@johnquinn7794]

Maybe we secretly like being trolled and we’re baiting you.

[@markabusireactions]

Maybe I like trolling hahah

[@MattConnell-oq4je]

Hi Mark .Tune in to I'm Live EP 296 (29 minutes) and meet four talented female artists ! The Fix this a very good live show , by the way I love Band Maid? . So Mark please check out The Fix I would appreciate it if you do . All the best Matt.

[@TlanImass]

The Romaji of the Kyoto dialect always throws me off! There're so many vowels! I mean it makes sense since the 46 characters gets reduced to 26 alphabets even though each character is not necessarily a letter.

[@BillHallisey]

One of the most interesting shots of the Gion Cho video is of Akane walking up the stairs. There is a shot of Akane looking at the camera. In that shot Akane has a look of "If I fall down because of the wooden sandals, someone's going to die!"

[@markabusireactions]

😂😂

[@sugaanessena3143]

I was walking that stairs two weeks ago. Took a day of Band-Maiko nerding to visit the places in this video. btw it's Akatsuki, not Akane

[@philproffitt8363]

She had the look of a lost opportunity...all them stairs and she didn't bring her Slinky. Doh!! 🙈

[@Kevin6059]

Are you saying that our reverse psychology won't work anymore? Hmm... maybe we go to reverse/reverse psychology. Or - pig latin!

[@markabusireactions]

Maybe it already has worked, and you you’ve just broken me

[@brunobryant4846]

Many decades ago at Uni I watched a drunk Scotsman punching a tree, funny as fck, but you did it as well so it's possibly a Scottish cultural thing and that's how you tame cabers. I'd certainly subscribe to any sports channel with Scottish Tree Punching featured. A beautiful song from the Maids. Kanami, Miku and their Rock Sisters apparently have a never ending well of creativity, amazing. Okay I'm off to pugilise a pine and flog a fir - no double entendres intended. Viva the Maids, cheers 🍻

[@markabusireactions]

😂😂😂 imagine we all just fucked about the country punching trees to the ground. No wonder the Romans decided to cut their losses 😂

[@brunobryant4846]

@@markabusireactions 🤣🤣👍🍻

[@JuanSan66]

Good job!

[@markabusireactions]

Thank you!

[@zer0tzer0]

Mako is a type of shark. A Maiko (My-Co) is an apprentice Geisha. You;re still saying May-Co. In Japanese i is pronounced as a double i, or Long E sound. So it's Ma-ee-ko. There is actually a word in Japanese, ii.It's just means good. But BAND-MAIKO was so well received they did this two years in a row and never again. The next year was the COVID Lockdown and the following year was Miku's Solo project Cluppo's PEACE&LOVE. She did a song for each member of BAND-MAID but only PEACE&LOVE got a video. That one was for MISA who has a sort of Hippy / Punk aesthetic when not in uniform. You might do a reaction for that one since you like Miku's singing. It's pretty good, or ii desu ne. Very catchy. Also, Orenji has done documentary videos for each of the girl's backstories. You should watch those, even if you don't react to them. If you want to hear another band kind of like BAND-MAIKO check out Wagaki Band.

[@markabusireactions]

No no, I actually am saying ma-ee-ko 😂😂 it’s just very difficult to pronounce in my accent if I say it at a normal speed hahaha

[@Davey-Boyd]

Cluppo (Miku for Mark) actually did four music video's. "Peace & Love", "Flapping Wings", "Pogo" and "With You". Supposedly, never confirmed "Peace & Love" is MISA cos she is a hippy "Flapping Wings" is Miku obviously "Pogo" is Akane supposedly because of a Gorilla of the same name. But "With You" was written as the ending-theme for TV anime “Saku Arsnotria Sun!”

[@cactustactics]

I think the April Fool thing gets misread by a lot of people (in the comments I mean). Feels like in Japan a lot of artists do something fun or unusual for the day, but it's not really a joke - there's a lot of effort going into all this! It's a bit like bands doing weird stuff around Halloween Now announcing they were done with the maid thing and they were changing their theme and the band name when the first video dropped, that was a good prank

[@evilducks3710]

That is typically what happens when wearing headphones when listening to music. They sing in your ears. Trolling goes both ways! As far as videos that stand out as interesting in their own right and memorable to watch. I think After Life, Warning, and Unleash stand out the most… oh, and Dont Let me Down, where they sing about sex and Miku is sprinting towards the largest phallic symbol in Japan.

[@markabusireactions]

Okay that last one sounds hilarious

[@evilducks3710]

@@markabusireactionsit’s the Tokyo tower, but once you see what the video director is up to you can’t unsee it, otherwise it’s subtle.

[@lonniekramlich6241]

Mark, the fact that you have a sense of humor and can express yourself with coherent & articulate sentences puts you in the upper class of reactors......but don't let it go to your head.😮🤔😏👌We love a knowledgeable wise ass !

[@donaldbohn3183]

Saiki and Miku sing this song in the Kyoto dialect.

[@_JimS]

That Fokin' tree had it comin', it's been mocking you for a while now. Miku's solo project band "Cluppo" has a song on the album "Hatofull" named "POGO" that has a nice Japanese folk melody vibe going on like Gion-cho, it's subtle but it's there. CAUTION!!!! Miku has blue eyes in the video....so protect your heart.

[@markabusireactions]

Consider myself fully prepared for blue eyes!

[@kevenbridges9433]

Honestly I was happily waiting for a little trolling. Then you had to go and not do it. Well played.

[@markabusireactions]

Don’t worry, it makes a return next time 🤣

[@paulfarmer745]

I'm telling you again... You want to listen to Sayonakidori Acoustic.

[@markabusireactions]

I mean sure, I will put it out right now, if you want your Xmas ruined ☺️

[@ELF_Productions]

some people forget its your reaction with your opinion. not their reaction with their opinion. if they want to put out their opinion, they should just make a reaction video. ;)

[@markabusireactions]

It’s easier than it looks honestly, you just play the video and chat absolute shit over the top of it 😂 pause during the solos cause they’re always boring, and wax lyrical about how the pretty little ladies in their cute costumes are tryna play music. Simple lol

[@reneedevry4361]

​@@markabusireactions 🤣😂😅🥰🤣😂😅

[@rRobR]

Band-Maid doing Band-Maid things, creatively they are just genius, they have become masters of their craft, and still they try to be better, in my opinion the words "that should be good enough" probably don't exist in their vocabulary

[@roumiaou]

Ansan ! 🙂

[@crabuki1273]

markabusi: "Y'all say shit and you know I'm going to troll you with it." Also markabusi: "That sounded stupid, dont' be making comments about that, don't be making fun of me." LOL Keep trolling, I do love your BAND-MAID vids.

[@markabusireactions]

I can dish it out, can’t take it back 😂😂

[@falconsooner]

Actually the Band Maiko versions of Awkard and Anemone are stripped down compared to original versions

[@zelbinian]

You surprising little pixie

[@markabusireactions]

I AM a surprising little pixie!

[@GeographRick]

Seeing some of your other Band Maid videos, you seem to really like Miku. I do as well. You probably have already heard this, but in case you haven't, Miku did a side project of her own. Calling herself Cluppo. It's more pop-rock, but still really good. "Peace and Lover" was the first of several that she has done. kzbin.info/www/bejne/oYOQd4OsjsyDoK8si=4pSDrlNYAljv2XQg The song "With You" she wrote for an Anime. It has a a "city pop" sound kzbin.info/www/bejne/fKrPgIqJZpiFisksi=nmjH2iafzr8swVXt

[@markabusireactions]

I know of Cluppo, but I’m saving her for a special occasion!

[@LS-uv9gg]

Certain lyrics in this one have always terrified me that my mind is going in a direction that maybe it's not supposed to; or if that is really what is meant, then...awkward...hahaha. If I had to level one criticism against my favourite band in the world, it would be when they choose to muffle/distort, or otherwise add effects to Saiki's vocals. Again, I'm sure I'm off the bell curve here, but hearing her voice with or without the awesome harmonies from the group, when she carries a note for a longer period of time, or shifts tones, or just speaks into the microphone is something I can't get enough of. Miku the same actually if I'm being honest, her voice is sublime, but they don't seem to muck with it's sound quite as much.

[@DavidMISAMISAMISACook]

Umemisa Umemisa Umemisa!!!!! My only criticism of Your re-action is You didn't punch Your "WEE TREE" hard enough

[@markabusireactions]

😂😂😂

[@cembor]

Secret Maiko Lips was the original April Fool's joke in 2018. They only released that one song in 2018. In 2019, for April Fool's they fully embraced the overwhelming response to Secret Maiko Lips and released the Band-Maiko EP. This is the only Band-Maiko original composition. All the other songs were maiko covers of Band-Maid songs. They even had member specific yukata (not kimonos) made for this EP and the PR tour they did for it. For the Secret Maiko Lips video they just rented yukata (which is very common in Japan, like renting a tux or ball gown).

[@OtobokeGaijin6218]

B-M rented kimonos, not yukatas, for the Band-Maiko vdos, but from one of the top shops in Kyoto, not the shops that cater to tourists. Yukata are rarely rented in Japan, no reason to as they're easy to buy-hotels and ryokan will provide them, and people will often simply keep those. Geiko/maiko most certainly don't wear yukatas. They wear kimonos, and the maiko will wear particularly elaborately decorated long-sleeved versions called furisode. B-M were re-creating that look, and they certainly wouldn't have worn yukatas. Just another example of wrong info about Japan and its culture and about B-M that proliferates on English-speaking y t.

[@BillHallisey]

Just call it Band Maid Music!

[@markabusireactions]

NEVER

[@stevekane4922]

The other thing with band maiko songs is that miku and saiki translated or composed it all into the old dialect from the geisha district. Before everything else straight out of school miku did a job teaching old Japanese. These girls have depth. Re costumes, just getting dressed for a show and looking after kimono would need a wardrobe staff and they would die of heat. 😂

[@bandmaidfanATL]

😒 the puns! 😂🫣 They Goin-Cho make me 🤮

[@stevehall5128]

The most widespread common denominator among Band-Maid fans does seem to be a weakness for groan-inducing wordplay 🤓

[@markabusireactions]

I’m here for it

[@daaaaaave]

@@stevehall5128 It's Miku's specialty, but I think a lot of it is lost on the non-Japanese fans.

[@stevehall5128]

@@daaaaaave Well except her puns are elegantly clever, unlike most of ours ☺

[@leekebot1802]

The comment about risks with their video had me like "Well, there is Warning... Oh, wait that was more a risk to their well being. Not the same." Anywho, they were asked if they'd play a concert as Band-Maiko. They said nope, because those costumes weigh a ton. They'd prolly sweat off the make-up too, I'm betting. Now, I wait for a Cluppo reaction. Or maybe their acoustic video from the set they did during x-mas... That'd be interesting too. Eh, whichever, whenever. I'm here for it.

[@markabusireactions]

All in good time!