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| ], an example of visual kei during the 1990s.]] | ], an example of visual kei during the 1990s.]] | ||
| Visual kei (ヴィジュアル系) which means "Visual System" in Japanese <ref>http://eow.alc.co.jp/系/UTF-8/</ref>, refers to a sub-genre of rock music, originating from Japan in the late 1980's. | |||
| {{cite web | |||
| | title = International Music Feed feature "J Rock" | |||
| | work = imf.com | |||
| | url = http://www.imf.com/link_player.html?video_id=2283 | |||
| | accessdate = 2007-07-31 | |||
| }} | |||
| </ref><ref name="amg_dir_en_grey"> | |||
| {{cite web | |||
| | last = Monger | |||
| | first = James Christopher | |||
| | title = All Music Guide biography of Dir en grey | |||
| | work = allmusic.com | |||
| | url = http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=11:w9ftxql0ldde~T1 | |||
| | accessdate = 2007-07-31 | |||
| }} | |||
| </ref> that is characterized by the use of eccentric, sometimes flamboyant looks. This usually involves striking ], unusual hair styles and elaborate ]s, often, but not always, coupled with ] aesthetics.<ref name="nytimes_matsumoto"> | |||
| {{cite web | |||
| | last = Strauss | |||
| | first = Neil | |||
| | title = "The Pop Life: End of a Life, End of an Era" | |||
| | work = nytimes.com | |||
| | date = ] | |||
| | url = http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9D00EFD7103DF93BA25755C0A96E958260&sec=&spon=&pagewanted=all | |||
| | accessdate = 2007-07-31 | |||
| }} | |||
| </ref><ref name="grammy_kabuki"> | |||
| {{cite web | |||
| | last = Reesman | |||
| | first = Brian | |||
| | title = "Kabuki Rock " | |||
| | work = grammy.com | |||
| | date = ] | |||
| | url = http://www.grammylive.com/Latin/News/Default.aspx?newsID=2278 | |||
| | accessdate = 2007-08-07 | |||
| }} | |||
| </ref> | |||
| ==Characteristics== | |||
| These looks have enjoyed popularity among ] underground projects, as well as artists achieving ] success, with influences from Western phenomena, such as ], ] and ].<ref name="grammy_kabuki" /><ref name="blistering_deg">{{cite web | |||
| | last = Mascia | |||
| | first = Mike | |||
| | title = Dir en grey feature interview | |||
| | work = blistering.com | |||
| | url = http://www.blistering.com/fastpage/fpengine.php/link/1/templateid/12842/tempidx/5/menuid/3 | |||
| | accessdate = 2007-08-07 | |||
| }} | |||
| </ref> The music performed encompasses a large variety of ], i.e. ], ] and ].<ref name="jmf_jrock" /><ref name="grammy_kabuki"/> Magazines published regularly in Japan with visual kei coverage are ''Arena 37°C'', ''Fool's Mate'' and '']''. Noted bands who at least at some point sported a visual kei theme include ],<ref name="amg_dir_en_grey" /> ]<ref name="ymusic_luna_sea"> | |||
| {{cite web | |||
| | title = Luna Sea at Yahoo Music | |||
| | work = music.yahoo.co.jp | |||
| | url = http://music.yahoo.co.jp/shop/p/12/14750 | |||
| | language = Japanese | |||
| | accessdate = 2007-08-21 | |||
| }} | |||
| </ref> and ].<ref name="ymusic_malice_mizer"> | |||
| {{cite web | |||
| | title = Malice Mizer at Yahoo Music | |||
| | work = music.yahoo.co.jp | |||
| | url = http://music.yahoo.co.jp/shop/p/12/15645/ | |||
| | language = Japanese | |||
| | accessdate = 2007-08-21 | |||
| }} | |||
| </ref> | |||
| Visual Kei musicians are characterised by their unusual hair styles, elaborate costumes, and feminine make-up. While the music itself is often a mix between ], ], and ]. | |||
| Popularity and awareness of such groups outside of Japan is sparse, but has seen an increase in recent years. While the successful ] launched an attempt to enter the international market as early as 1992,<ref name="billboard_x_92> | |||
| {{Citation | |||
| ==History== | |||
| | last = Duffy | |||
| | first = Thom | |||
| In the late 1980's, various bands helped form what is now known as "Visual Kei", the band ] is credited with inventing the term "Visual Kei", which drummer ] described as "Visual Shock" <ref>http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9D00EFD7103DF93BA25755C0A96E958260&sec=&spon=&pagewanted=all</ref>. The band Colour is often regarded as influencing much of the femininity associated with modern Visual Kei, along with the bands D'erlanger, and Dead End. | |||
| | title = Home and Abroad: Warner Marks X from Japan for Int'l Success | |||
| | newspaper = Billboard | |||
| In 1992, ] launched an attempt to enter the European and American markets, but it would take another 8 years until popularity and awareness of Visual Kei bands would extend worldwide. <ref>http://www.grammylive.com/Latin/News/Default.aspx?newsID=2278</ref> | |||
| | pages = p. 46 | |||
| | date = ] | |||
| Back in 1989, Colour vocalist "Dynamite Tommy" formed his record company ], which has been a major contributor in spreading Visual Kei awareness outside Japan. | |||
| }} | |||
| </ref> it would still take another decade until live concerts and regular domestic releases by visual kei themed bands in Europe and North America came to pass. | |||
| In the mid 1990's, Visual Kei received an increase in popularity throughout Japan, when album sales from Visual Kei bands started to reach record numbers. The most notable bands to achieve success during this period included, ], ], ], and ], however a drastic change in their appearance, accompanied their success. | |||
| During the same period, bands such as ], ], and ], gained mainstream awareness, although they were not commercially successful. | |||
| By 1999, mainstream popularity in Visual Kei was declining, ] had disbanded, and the death of lead guitarist ] in 1998 had signaled what many called the end of Visual Kei. It wasn't long before ] decided to disband in the year 2000, and ] went on a hiatus the same year. | |||
| It was not until 2007, when annoucements that ], and ] would reunite, that Visual Kei bands would see a boost in popularity again, which has been labeled as "Neo-Visual Kei" <ref>http://www.oricon.co.jp/news/confidence/23842/</ref>. | |||
| ==See also== | ==See also== | ||
| * ] | * ] | ||
| * ] | |||
| * ] | * ] | ||
Revision as of 12:42, 8 September 2007
Visual kei (ヴィジュアル系) which means "Visual System" in Japanese , refers to a sub-genre of rock music, originating from Japan in the late 1980's.
Characteristics
Visual Kei musicians are characterised by their unusual hair styles, elaborate costumes, and feminine make-up. While the music itself is often a mix between Pop music, Hard Rock, and Heavy Metal.
History
In the late 1980's, various bands helped form what is now known as "Visual Kei", the band X Japan is credited with inventing the term "Visual Kei", which drummer Yoshiki Hayashi described as "Visual Shock" . The band Colour is often regarded as influencing much of the femininity associated with modern Visual Kei, along with the bands D'erlanger, and Dead End.
In 1992, X Japan launched an attempt to enter the European and American markets, but it would take another 8 years until popularity and awareness of Visual Kei bands would extend worldwide.
Back in 1989, Colour vocalist "Dynamite Tommy" formed his record company Free-Will, which has been a major contributor in spreading Visual Kei awareness outside Japan.
In the mid 1990's, Visual Kei received an increase in popularity throughout Japan, when album sales from Visual Kei bands started to reach record numbers. The most notable bands to achieve success during this period included, X Japan, Glay, Luna Sea, and L'Arc~en~Ciel, however a drastic change in their appearance, accompanied their success.
During the same period, bands such as Kuroyume, Malice Mizer, and Penicillin, gained mainstream awareness, although they were not commercially successful.
By 1999, mainstream popularity in Visual Kei was declining, X Japan had disbanded, and the death of lead guitarist Hideto Matsumoto in 1998 had signaled what many called the end of Visual Kei. It wasn't long before Luna Sea decided to disband in the year 2000, and L'Arc~en~Ciel went on a hiatus the same year.
It was not until 2007, when annoucements that X Japan, and Luna Sea would reunite, that Visual Kei bands would see a boost in popularity again, which has been labeled as "Neo-Visual Kei" .
See also
References
- http://eow.alc.co.jp/系/UTF-8/
- http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9D00EFD7103DF93BA25755C0A96E958260&sec=&spon=&pagewanted=all
- http://www.grammylive.com/Latin/News/Default.aspx?newsID=2278
- http://www.oricon.co.jp/news/confidence/23842/
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