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Laura on TOKIO vocals
Don't worry, I'm still into TOKIO in an unnatural and excessive way. :D I was just thinking about how much I like the voices of everyone in TOKIO. It's kind of weird. Especially for a JE group. XD Maybe it's because I usually prefer a less polished sound, a Joe Strummer rather than a, say, Ohno Satoshi. I was trying to find a Western equivalent but I couldn't think of anyone quite right. XD
So, starting at the beginning - and keep in mind that this is just my impressions and I don't really have much musical knowledge. So this mostly just what I like.
Nagase. First and foremost, I love a good falsetto. See Richard Manuel, in my icon. Nagase has one of the best falsetto's I've heard. It's incredible, it's so effective, it sounds great. Love it. But I also adore his singing all the time. I think he has a voice that's quite unusual for Johnny's, it's very rock. It's strong and it sounds great without being smooth. He certainly can falter live, but somehow there's a real feeling of security with Nagase's vocals. When he's there, he is powerful. And. . . wow, weird organ music just started coming from somewhere? Possibly my downstairs neighbors? Anyway, uh. Wow, that pretty much derailed my train of thought. XD I guess something about, compared to some of JE's other good/main singers, it doesn't feel like Nagase needs to try to get his voice to do what it does. He gives more of a feeling that this is just what happens when he opens his mouth and starts belting. Like I think if I just start singing, my voice is really high, but if I concentrate, I can lower it (and it sounds much nicer). Nagase's singing voice is what it is. And it has such a distinctive sound, it's so unique and so him. And it suits TOKIO's music - or TOKIO's music suits it.
Yamaguchi. He also can rock a falsetto. XD Yamaguchi's voice doesn't have the power of Nagase's and I think he's inclined towards flatness occasionally? But I LOVE his voice. I was making a collection of clips of his solos from various songs but I got distracted. XD I'm so with Miyake Ken - it's sweet! There's such a beauty and sweetness to his voice. It's an amazing contrast to Nagase's, as well, that just works so perfectly. I love hearing him sing. I listen to his solo in Jibun no Tameni over and over and over. :D I think when he builds up and puts a lot of energy into his voice, it's so incredibly moving, somehow. Yamaguchi's voice makes me fall in love with him (even more so than usual).
Taichi. I love Taichi's little man-voice! I think it's great. I mean, it is great, he's got a good, solid singing voice. But I also think it's great that Taichi has the deepest voice and sings all the low harmonies (I am addicted to him recording Ambitious Japan - just as I'm addicted to Yamaguchi recording sugar!) when he's the tiniest little bit of fluff. But yes, Taichi can also rock me out of my chair with a good solo! And again, the contrast is fantastic. They're just so well-balanced. :D When I first heard Fantastipo I was like "whoa! can that be Taichi singing?" because I was quite a new fan and hadn't really heard many of his solos or anything. It's funny that in TOKIO a singer like Taichi is doing back-up. They have a really deep bench.
Leader. Yes, I like even Leader's voice! Unlike the three above, I don't think I'd want to hear an entire song by Leader that much, or that regularly. But he sounds so great doing back-up. Again with the blending and the contrast and the balance. :D He rocks his high harmonies. I really do love the way Leader sounds! He's a good singer. Oh, TOKIO.
Mabo. So, apparently Mabo isn't crazy about his own voice? His singing voice is fine, if a bit inconsistent. His solos on J-friends songs are adorable. But, of course, Mabo likes to describe himself as the guy who says "yeah, yeah, yeah" in Uwasa no Kissu (yay yay yay, perhaps?) and I believe that is where his true skills lie! I actually love that part of the song, especially when performed live. I hope that on the new Mabo - Higashi - Ohkura single, it's all Mabo doing little call-in shouty parts. He is awesome at them!! XD Yay, Mabo. Owning constantly.
So, yeah. I'm relaxing this afternoon - I was supposed to be hanging out with Katie but I ended up getting a ride back to Brooklyn early which actually works out quite well. The apartment is empty, which is amazing! And I can relax and go into work from here tomorrow. I'm taking advantage by playing Cadence and Reply and singing along loudly, which is what brought on this entry. It is lots and lots of fun. :D I'm also eating fruit snacks and reading smut so it's basically just an awesome afternoon all round!
EDIT: GUYS. GUYS. You all say this photo of Kamisen, right? It basically 100% broke my brain. GO. VIEW. I cannot discuss it with people who have not seen it!
So, starting at the beginning - and keep in mind that this is just my impressions and I don't really have much musical knowledge. So this mostly just what I like.
Nagase. First and foremost, I love a good falsetto. See Richard Manuel, in my icon. Nagase has one of the best falsetto's I've heard. It's incredible, it's so effective, it sounds great. Love it. But I also adore his singing all the time. I think he has a voice that's quite unusual for Johnny's, it's very rock. It's strong and it sounds great without being smooth. He certainly can falter live, but somehow there's a real feeling of security with Nagase's vocals. When he's there, he is powerful. And. . . wow, weird organ music just started coming from somewhere? Possibly my downstairs neighbors? Anyway, uh. Wow, that pretty much derailed my train of thought. XD I guess something about, compared to some of JE's other good/main singers, it doesn't feel like Nagase needs to try to get his voice to do what it does. He gives more of a feeling that this is just what happens when he opens his mouth and starts belting. Like I think if I just start singing, my voice is really high, but if I concentrate, I can lower it (and it sounds much nicer). Nagase's singing voice is what it is. And it has such a distinctive sound, it's so unique and so him. And it suits TOKIO's music - or TOKIO's music suits it.
Yamaguchi. He also can rock a falsetto. XD Yamaguchi's voice doesn't have the power of Nagase's and I think he's inclined towards flatness occasionally? But I LOVE his voice. I was making a collection of clips of his solos from various songs but I got distracted. XD I'm so with Miyake Ken - it's sweet! There's such a beauty and sweetness to his voice. It's an amazing contrast to Nagase's, as well, that just works so perfectly. I love hearing him sing. I listen to his solo in Jibun no Tameni over and over and over. :D I think when he builds up and puts a lot of energy into his voice, it's so incredibly moving, somehow. Yamaguchi's voice makes me fall in love with him (even more so than usual).
Taichi. I love Taichi's little man-voice! I think it's great. I mean, it is great, he's got a good, solid singing voice. But I also think it's great that Taichi has the deepest voice and sings all the low harmonies (I am addicted to him recording Ambitious Japan - just as I'm addicted to Yamaguchi recording sugar!) when he's the tiniest little bit of fluff. But yes, Taichi can also rock me out of my chair with a good solo! And again, the contrast is fantastic. They're just so well-balanced. :D When I first heard Fantastipo I was like "whoa! can that be Taichi singing?" because I was quite a new fan and hadn't really heard many of his solos or anything. It's funny that in TOKIO a singer like Taichi is doing back-up. They have a really deep bench.
Leader. Yes, I like even Leader's voice! Unlike the three above, I don't think I'd want to hear an entire song by Leader that much, or that regularly. But he sounds so great doing back-up. Again with the blending and the contrast and the balance. :D He rocks his high harmonies. I really do love the way Leader sounds! He's a good singer. Oh, TOKIO.
Mabo. So, apparently Mabo isn't crazy about his own voice? His singing voice is fine, if a bit inconsistent. His solos on J-friends songs are adorable. But, of course, Mabo likes to describe himself as the guy who says "yeah, yeah, yeah" in Uwasa no Kissu (yay yay yay, perhaps?) and I believe that is where his true skills lie! I actually love that part of the song, especially when performed live. I hope that on the new Mabo - Higashi - Ohkura single, it's all Mabo doing little call-in shouty parts. He is awesome at them!! XD Yay, Mabo. Owning constantly.
So, yeah. I'm relaxing this afternoon - I was supposed to be hanging out with Katie but I ended up getting a ride back to Brooklyn early which actually works out quite well. The apartment is empty, which is amazing! And I can relax and go into work from here tomorrow. I'm taking advantage by playing Cadence and Reply and singing along loudly, which is what brought on this entry. It is lots and lots of fun. :D I'm also eating fruit snacks and reading smut so it's basically just an awesome afternoon all round!
EDIT: GUYS. GUYS. You all say this photo of Kamisen, right? It basically 100% broke my brain. GO. VIEW. I cannot discuss it with people who have not seen it!