Calling some japanese music "americanized" is a little confusing for me. America's music has some really bad music, music with no feeling, just all cutey wutey love here and there. But to me, Japanese music has emotions put into it and I think that is why I respect Japan, because of their ways and harkwork. Even if the music is dark, it is coming from their hearts. People in America can see that too, and Japanese music has been getting intershipped, people stop liking the bands. I guarntee you if America had a band that was truly into their music and a true idol to look up too, and if another country like them and was buying them off I-Tunes and constantly playing them on youtube, this American band would ship their music to another country because it is better buisness. Anyone know what I am getting at?

So I really don't see why Japan bands should be put down for this reason. Bands everyone can get tired of the music they play or their look. For example, if a band played nothing but dark music and sad lyrics and one day they see the world in different eyes and decide to change, why should we put them down if they change? That example isn't really a good one but it mainly grabs the point I am trying to make.

no. its not really that. i think my main problem is the fact that the music comes second now. the looks comes first. and this is all also triggered by the fans. they become blind to talent. they'll go for anything that is the prettiest at the moment, they'll put the musical aspect second. they'll like an artist, even if they sound shite, just because the artist would be "good looking"
that's all VK's become. the music's dying.

When you say America's music has some really bad music,that is true, but that doesn't mean that it's all bad or that Japanese music is necessarily all good. It's got some real shite as well, which is partly what we are discussing, but w/e. I saw this really disturbing jpop music video the other day, and i know we are talking about vk here, but i'm just using that to point out that there is crappy Japanese music. I see what you say about bands going for a new look though, etc. and how we shouldn't blame them for changing, i wish they wouldn't change sometimes though if it sucks:mad:

Change means growth. Everyone has to grow. If we don't grow then there's nothing.

I think it's good to change in the same instance, the bands that change and forget what they were, or where they started is wrong. We need the past fr the future and bands that pretend some of their music doesn't exist is wrong. For example Dir En Grey won't even acknowledge the VK years. A friend of mine had an old CD she wants signed and Kyo refused to do it. Changing is not bad, but doing something like that is.

Eh. To the stupider section of the mass maybe. Otherwise bands based purely upon looks would surely swallow up the charts.

All I'm saying is... Just because some bands conform to the market doesn't mean you should tear the rest of the new-gen VK bands.

Albeit, most none of them are quite as satisfying musically, or even VISUALLY, anymore.

Right.

I don't know really. I can stand quite a few. At least, after I've read their lyrics, I can know if they have skill. Because, personally, if the lyrics can paint a picture for me, then the band may have a shot in my heart.

I can't stand what's happened to American music, really.

i definitly think that its not JUST americans musicians kind of becoming.. crap. Britain is producing more and more Talent show bands etc who are all crap.

i keep seeing The Pussycat dolls new video and cringing at how horrid they all look. (not to mention the lyrics)

pkus.. Hi! im new lol

I have to say though some American music is coming back. They're realizing what we need and bringing it.

Pop is... well it never had my heart to begin with.

I can definitely say there are some bands I can't stand to hear. That just the opening is enough to make me cringe, but that's for all music. I don't think anyone can like everything. There limitations to everyone's tolerance level.

I like VK well some I havn't really been listening for long started listening early last year, I heard GazettE's "Sugar Pain" and I just started listening to more and more. I can notice a change but I guess I don't listen to as much as other's but can honestly say theres something still to like about it. All artist change over the yrs if not we'd be stuck with the same sound and be complaining about that as well, but I certainly don't like all bands to change that is a true statement. I think evolving is natural. I've had alot of poeple say what I listen to SUCK's and I just laugh it off because its what i listen too and others opinions don't count :P.(to get back on subject) but I don't think VK is dying, i think its changing and I came too late(sits with the old music). I'll still always listen to: Dir En Grey, GazettE, and DéspairsRay, Miyavi, Rentrer En Soi, and PIERROT...and I guess I should check out X-Japan seeing as I heard about them but havnt listened to them.

Of all Visual Kei Bands
i think Maximum The Hormone should stand out

they scream,everyone in their band is pro as hell.

and it's a pretty obvious mix of pop and metal that blend so well.

Also I don't think there music and styly stayed true to VK they are just alittle more urban

(BTW MY 100th Post YAY!)

Visual Kei, they are all starting to look and act the same. No creativity. First they need to take a break from preforming to take a rest and come back with new ideas.

Miyavi is doing a very good job of changing what he looks like. When he changed his look by removing his ear rings and cut his hair with dying it black. He made a change from the colorful Miyavi of the old days. I hope he does loss the personality with the performances.

Gackt is changing too with the times which keeps me impressed. The new look that Gackt has come up with is very nice looking. The eye make up is hot as well as the black shirt&pants, with red tie. It is a change for Gackt that gives him more respect.

Mana is the same old same old, dress like a girl. Where is something new Mana.

I agree with you all. VK needs help!

At first VK was something really unique and original - now all the VK bands look the same, and have the same music style, it's kinda becoming really boring.

I respect some artists for doing their own thing, like Miyavi with Neovisualizm and Gackt is just beyond being a typical artist, but come on, all the Peace&Smile Company bands look and sound the same to me (the GazettE, ScreW..) Maybe it's because they all have the same hair and makeup artists.. And then there's the Versailles-type bands like Chariots....to me, they just look exactly like each other. I know VK is a style shared by all of them but there is a lack of originality within the genre.

Nowadays it seems that a band can become really popular just for how they look whether or not their music is good.

That's how I feel anyway - a change is in order.

All aspects of culture change over time, and are constantly changing. Especially music. Change is inevitable.

stopped by to say that yea, i agree.

Visual Kei is getting old now, and not a whole lot of bands that are good. VK bands actually only lasted a very short while.

I remember even back in 2007 I was getting kinda bored of most bands. Besides MUCC, Dir en grey, D'espairsRay, and GazettE I used to like Nightmare. But they got old really quick, and all other bands are horrible nowadays.

I hardly listen to VK bands at all nowadays, or j-rock for that matter.

VK is so mainstream
 

I guess it's going that way because of society, and more people have came to like it. And also it has a lot of Western influences, which makes it mainstream.
I believe that Visual Kei had died since Hide did. I mean, those people made up the genre. Luna Sea is not as popular as they were back then. Now it's mostly the more mainstream bands like Alice Nine, GazettE , Vivid , SiD , Sadie. And then came OSHARE KEI. The opposite of Visual kei, adding up to the girlishness. I love bands such as SuG and An Cafe because they are just so <strike>fucking</strike> cute. But they do add up to the cross dressing. I personally love the GazettE <strike>to death</strike> ! And I think that they are going more mainstream than they think they are... If you compare Ruki back in 2004 and Ruki now... you might not even recognize him. It's not only about the looks, but also the way he sings too. He'd lost his... "old GazettE" voice, and now is singing in his normal voice. What I meant by "old GazettE" voice is that he doesn't sound like other Jrockers. Visual Kei is a style of singing also, but Ruki doesn't have that sound. He's unique <3 Kinda why I fell in love with him. What you said about how the vocalists sounding like each other is so true! I can not tell if that was Yuuki ( Lycaon ) or Kouki ( D=out ).
I am hoping that the GazettE will bring back Visual Kei, but in a new style. I honestly kinda don't want the old VK back... it had died along with Hide. We should not bring it back, but start something new. I certainly hope the GazettE will make a "revolution" along with the help of other great artists such as Miyavi ( even though he turned pop-ish... ), Versailles , and Alice Nine, Born,...etc...
Yah..Visual Kei did turn mainstream hadn't it? :/

Oh and I also wanted to say that Dir En Grey is also another great band alongside the GazettE.
Ahh...I feel so proud. The GazettE have gone so far.

Western influences doesn't make a band mainstream. The west has it's own set of mainstream music, but simply being influenced by other mainstream music doesn't make a band or genre mainstream.

Hi! I think that there are in VK, like all the others musical genres, some good bands and many others that suck. If you will search for some good band i'm sure you will find them. But like always, when a musical genres becomes popular, lot of poser band appear.
Sorry for my bad English, I hope you have understood.

The indie/underground scene that VK used to be never changed. But the more popular the bands become, the more mainstream the labels demand them to be. It happened to Vidoll, the GazettE and Dir en Grey when they went major, and I reckon it'll happen to any band that increases in fame on the same level.