Miku rewrote the Secret Maiko Lips in old Kyoto dialect which was more formal so there are more syllables in everything. Saiki had challenges learning it as it sounds different and there were words that Saiki had no idea how to pronounce or what they meant. Top marks for Miku going to that depth to rewrite the lyrics at that level of detail for an April Fool's joke.
The fact that you said this was the last song (possibly) that Saiki recorded before her surgery made me think. Is this Miku's ode of sympathy for Saiki's pre-surgery fears? The lyrics, at least to me, seem to bear that out. (Selected excerpts) Oh baby, I want to look away The heart that is clearly visible behind the words Oh baby now I want to forget I can't get it out of my head Wa-ah-ah-ah... Will anything change? Cover up the overflowing weak sounds Secret room that feels sensitive Whisper in your pillow Carve out the pain before the night dawns Oh baby now I'm about to be crushed Don't leave me Wa-ah-ah-ah-ah. Oh baby in this pitch darkness What should I do I can't move Oh baby now I don't want it to end My thoughts and this voice too It doesn't reach anyone Decide that it won't come true without accomplishing anything All I do is lament I'm just jealous Struggling the most My heart and words can't be healed In a world that is being destroyed Even the invisible future Live with sparkling colors
Miku had throat surgery too! In an interview with Rolling Stone on 12/17/2019 when CONQUEROR was released, MIKU talks about her throat surgery. Excerpts from that interview: ─Listening to this album, I thought that SAIKI's expressive ability has really improved. SAIKI: When I made my major label debut, my throat was in such a state that I could barely sing for two hours straight. I had surgery the summer before last. I worked on muscle training and other physical improvements to prevent the same thing from happening again, and I also worked on building a body that could better support my voice by doing things such as myofascial peeling. So you had throat surgery. SAIKI: I had a polyp on my vocal cord, and I had to be completely silent for a week, and I was not allowed to sing for a month. Did you change the way you sing after that? SAIKI: I had never sung hard rock before, so I was singing in a way that was the worst for my vocal cords because my throat was not able to keep up. I am taking lessons to avoid that way of singing, and I am also doing muscle training. Kobato: Kobato also had surgery. What kind of surgery? Kobato: Kobato doesn't have voice polyps, but I had to remove a nodule in my throat that was caused by overuse and strain. She became the Kobato we know today (laughs). (laughs) - I guess you are taking a lot of strain from your stoicism in your musical activities. Kobato: Since our major label debut, we have become especially fast-paced. We have been running hard for a long time, and it feels like we have been whipping ourselves into shape for a long time. SAIKI：We didn't do much physical training at first, but we had to do a lot of strenuous live performances and travel by plane and van for long hours on overseas tours, so we felt we had to. We all learned muscle training and stretching, and even started going to our favorite osteopath (laughs). KOBATO: Each of us has our own way of taking care of ourselves. AKANE: In my case, after I started twin-pedaling on the drums, the faster the phrases got, the harder it was for my left side to keep up. Recently, my muscles have finally built up and become more stable, but if I'm not careful, I could get a hernia. I wonder how you feel about the fact that the appearance of your maids does not convey the stoicism with which you work so hard. Kobato: Thankfully, I can hide it with my maid's uniform! So it's a very nice outfit (laughs). Don't you wish your hard work would be conveyed more? SAIKI: Being serious and stoic fits the personalities of the five of us, so I think people will understand that when they see our releases or when they see us serve you. KOBATO: I think it will come across.
The Maids are not only masters at genre melding, transitions, riff production, structure and execution... they are also masters of cultural melding. Maidiacs are MAIKOACS, too! 😆 Thx, Chan!
During my younger days I never paid attention to drums and bass even though I was friends with people who played them. Now in my retirement there comes into my life two amazing musicians that have made me start listening to drums and bass. Akane and Misa have brought so much enjoyment to me. I now listen to all the members of Band-Maid as they all bring something special to every song. Thank you for this review. This is a great song.
I think the same was true for me, 90% of the time... I was much more likely to listen to the lead singer (because I fancied myself a bit of a singer when I was incredibly naive) and the lead guitar, which just sounds amazing. But also, going back for a listen, some of my old favorite songs simply didn't have very good bass or drum parts. (There ARE exceptions, but...) a ton of them would be dreadfully boring if only the bass and drum tracks were played. (Several AC/DC songs, for example, when I went back to them after Band-Maid, included shockingly boring/simple basslines and drum parts.) So maybe that's why I didn't pay attention to them? But Akane? And MISA? Now I listen to every part of a song. :-)
Hi Chan. Thanks for the reaction and comments. I’ve exhausted all known superlatives to convey my love and adoration for these ladies a long long time ago. They are the best rock group I’ve ever heard. With your effort, along with others on RUclips, I hope more people will get a chance to experience the kind of joy that only Band-Maid can serve up time and time again. Cheers!
I agree... I keep saying "really impressive" in these videos, but only because I can't think of new ways to describe how good they are, how much they move me.
True! Although I think I slightly prefer the original when actually listening to the tracks, if I try to *imagine* the song in my head, I hear the MAIKO version. :-)
They had to reshoot the MISA's scream scene many times because she laughed every time she screamed. I believe it was the filming of Gion-Cho MV, but I'm sure that MISA also laughed many times for shooting of the scream scene on this MV...probably😏
Band Maiko had different names credited thus proving that it isn't Band Maid at all. Umemisa is credited with playing Bass. Hatoko played guitar and vocals, Fujiki was the main singer, KANOEMI played main guitar, Akatsuki played drums. So much work went into this 'new band'. I love the echo vocal of Miku during the Band Maid version as well. Now if we ever see Band Maiko and Band Maid and Cluppo on the stage at the same time. That would be something to see. Either that or I need to up my medication. As always, fun review.
I mean, upping one's medication is always a solid plan, isn't it? ;-) (As for the credits, I don't have that album yet, so I couldn't check immediately -- but the CD is in transit currently, somewhere between Japan and Texas...)
This song is really jis-jointed and messy. It's like three songs tacked together. And it it's one of the best songs I've ever heard. You think you know where it's going then it changes! And again. It's a masterpiece of composition! And It's glorious live, believe me. . Band-Maiko - Funny you said about them keeping straight faces when MISA howled. When she did Akane farted and the whole group cracked up!. (There was a making of documentary). Not different words, Secret My Lips is in standard Japanese. Secret Maiko Lips (and all Band-Maiko) is in Kyoto dialect. It's very different. Just for those who don't know the story: A Maiko is a trainee Geisha from Kyoto. This was an April fools joke by the band. On April 1st 2018 the Band-Maid website and You Tube channel was taken down and replaced by Band-Maiko. All music was removed and replaced with this MV. They stated this was their new direction. They also don't sing in normal Japanese dialect, they sing in Kyoto dialect. Check out the original "Secret My Lips" for the difference. They also changed their names: Saiki became Fujiki Miku became Hatoko Kanami became Kanoemi MISA became Umemisa Akane became Akatsuki In 2019 they did it again on April 1st releasing the MV to "Gion-Cho" - the only Band-Maiko original. They also released a seven track EP of Band-Maid covers with added traditional instruments plus "Gion-Cho" "Secret Maiko Lips" (Band-Maids "Secret My Lips") "Akasimahen" (Band-Maids "Awkward") "Ansan" (Band-Maids "Anemone") "Tora and Tora" (Band-Maids "One and Only") "Yolosiosu" (Band-Maids "YOLO") "Screaming" (Band-Maids "Screaming") "Gion Cho"
Thanks for the backstory (I'd heard bits of it before, but never hurts to have a list.) :-) As for "messy" and "disjointed", those wouldn't be my descriptors... Certainly it changes direction a few times, but I felt like each change felt perfect, clean, and precise.
No question MISA is up to the task of solo accompanist. That combo is probably more common than we realize, except with a standing double acoustic bass. There was a popular duo in my state of Hawaii. They would do that on the occasional song, or segment of a song.
Good point! (About the standing bass.) I suppose I've seen that on occasion, though I'm rarely in any location classy enough to feature such a thing. :-)
@@Chan_Fry The duo I cited were two brothers who performed Hawaiian music. Their family could be considered part of the top tier of Hawaiian performers. They themselves were just good ole boys.
I've always loved the juxtaposition of traditional kimonos and modern rock instruments in the Secret Maiko Lips vid. They must have had a really hard time figuring out how to move with the instruments and how to keep the sleeves out of the way. Thanks for a great review, Chan!
Thanks! Yes, I don't think those outfits were designed for ease of movements; certainly the traditional folk who came up with it would be shocked into comas if you took them to a Band-Maid concert. :-)
Oh hey band maid. Thats a pretty awesome song you got there , be ashamed if someone stole it n made it a thousand times better, signed the maikos , unmisa howl!
After recording this video, I realized I messed up... Other Band MAIKO songs include remakes of "YOLO" and "Awkward", which I've already reviewed, so I can't quite pair them... (Sad face.) But I'll get to them when I catch up to 2018. :-)
@@Chan_Fry I was gonna say something about Ansan but after I listened to it and Anemone and then the rest of World Domination I forgot what I was gonna say. LOL They are so damn good!!!
Enjoyed the review! I hope you still post your listen and comments on the Band-Maiko album and the DVD showing the making of these videos. There is not English close captions but it’s an interesting watch. You can find translations. 🤘🕊️🦍🥷👸🏻👀PO
The magic of Miku's lyrics and Akane's kick drum.
Band-Maiko was the best series of April Fools pranks in the history of music!
Very inventive, that's for sure.
Miku rewrote the Secret Maiko Lips in old Kyoto dialect which was more formal so there are more syllables in everything. Saiki had challenges learning it as it sounds different and there were words that Saiki had no idea how to pronounce or what they meant. Top marks for Miku going to that depth to rewrite the lyrics at that level of detail for an April Fool's joke.
At this point, if I ever caught Miku half-assing anything, I'd be shocked. That woman knows how to *work*.
I'm pretty sure that a Maiko is an apprentice Geisha.
The fact that you said this was the last song (possibly) that Saiki recorded before her surgery made me think. Is this Miku's ode of sympathy for Saiki's pre-surgery fears? The lyrics, at least to me, seem to bear that out.
(Selected excerpts)
Oh baby, I want to look away
The heart that is clearly visible behind the words
Oh baby now I want to forget
I can't get it out of my head Wa-ah-ah-ah...
Will anything change?
Cover up the overflowing weak sounds
Secret room that feels sensitive
Whisper in your pillow
Carve out the pain before the night dawns
Oh baby now I'm about to be crushed
Don't leave me Wa-ah-ah-ah-ah.
Oh baby in this pitch darkness
What should I do
I can't move
Oh baby now I don't want it to end
My thoughts and this voice too
It doesn't reach anyone
Decide that it won't come true
without accomplishing anything
All I do is lament
I'm just jealous
Struggling the most
My heart and words can't be healed
In a world that is being destroyed
Even the invisible future
Live with sparkling colors
Wow, I think you might be onto something…🤔
Miku had throat surgery too! In an interview with Rolling Stone on 12/17/2019 when CONQUEROR was released, MIKU talks about her throat surgery.
Excerpts from that interview:
─Listening to this album, I thought that SAIKI's expressive ability has really improved.
SAIKI: When I made my major label debut, my throat was in such a state that I could barely sing for two hours straight. I had surgery the summer before last. I worked on muscle training and other physical improvements to prevent the same thing from happening again, and I also worked on building a body that could better support my voice by doing things such as myofascial peeling.
So you had throat surgery.
SAIKI: I had a polyp on my vocal cord, and I had to be completely silent for a week, and I was not allowed to sing for a month.
Did you change the way you sing after that?
SAIKI: I had never sung hard rock before, so I was singing in a way that was the worst for my vocal cords because my throat was not able to keep up. I am taking lessons to avoid that way of singing, and I am also doing muscle training.
Kobato: Kobato also had surgery.
What kind of surgery?
Kobato: Kobato doesn't have voice polyps, but I had to remove a nodule in my throat that was caused by overuse and strain. She became the Kobato we know today (laughs).
(laughs) - I guess you are taking a lot of strain from your stoicism in your musical activities.
Kobato: Since our major label debut, we have become especially fast-paced. We have been running hard for a long time, and it feels like we have been whipping ourselves into shape for a long time.
SAIKI：We didn't do much physical training at first, but we had to do a lot of strenuous live performances and travel by plane and van for long hours on overseas tours, so we felt we had to. We all learned muscle training and stretching, and even started going to our favorite osteopath (laughs).
KOBATO: Each of us has our own way of taking care of ourselves.
AKANE: In my case, after I started twin-pedaling on the drums, the faster the phrases got, the harder it was for my left side to keep up. Recently, my muscles have finally built up and become more stable, but if I'm not careful, I could get a hernia.
I wonder how you feel about the fact that the appearance of your maids does not convey the stoicism with which you work so hard.
Kobato: Thankfully, I can hide it with my maid's uniform! So it's a very nice outfit (laughs).
Don't you wish your hard work would be conveyed more?
SAIKI: Being serious and stoic fits the personalities of the five of us, so I think people will understand that when they see our releases or when they see us serve you.
KOBATO: I think it will come across.
Wow. I guess that's possible... Certainly there had to be tons of stress as she considered the future surgery so early in her life and career.
Could be! The cool thing about poetry (including good lyrics) is that different context clues give different meaning to the text. :-)
The Maids are not only masters at genre melding, transitions, riff production, structure and execution... they are also masters of cultural melding. Maidiacs are MAIKOACS, too! 😆 Thx, Chan!
Ha. Very true.
During my younger days I never paid attention to drums and bass even though I was friends with people who played them. Now in my retirement there comes into my life two amazing musicians that have made me start listening to drums and bass. Akane and Misa have brought so much enjoyment to me. I now listen to all the members of Band-Maid as they all bring something special to every song. Thank you for this review. This is a great song.
I think the same was true for me, 90% of the time... I was much more likely to listen to the lead singer (because I fancied myself a bit of a singer when I was incredibly naive) and the lead guitar, which just sounds amazing.
But also, going back for a listen, some of my old favorite songs simply didn't have very good bass or drum parts. (There ARE exceptions, but...) a ton of them would be dreadfully boring if only the bass and drum tracks were played. (Several AC/DC songs, for example, when I went back to them after Band-Maid, included shockingly boring/simple basslines and drum parts.)
So maybe that's why I didn't pay attention to them? But Akane? And MISA? Now I listen to every part of a song. :-)
Hi Chan. Thanks for the reaction and comments. I’ve exhausted all known superlatives to convey my love and adoration for these ladies a long long time ago. They are the best rock group I’ve ever heard. With your effort, along with others on RUclips, I hope more people will get a chance to experience the kind of joy that only Band-Maid can serve up time and time again. Cheers!
I agree... I keep saying "really impressive" in these videos, but only because I can't think of new ways to describe how good they are, how much they move me.
No matter which version of this song I listen to now, I hear shamisen in head. Permanent ear worm. I'm sure that I'm not the only one ;)
It is quite unavoidable!
True! Although I think I slightly prefer the original when actually listening to the tracks, if I try to *imagine* the song in my head, I hear the MAIKO version. :-)
They had to reshoot the MISA's scream scene many times because she laughed every time she screamed. I believe it was the filming of Gion-Cho MV, but I'm sure that MISA also laughed many times for shooting of the scream scene on this MV...probably😏
I'm glad they kept trying until they got it. Because it's priceless. :-)
Band Maiko had different names credited thus proving that it isn't Band Maid at all. Umemisa is credited with playing Bass. Hatoko played guitar and vocals, Fujiki was the main singer, KANOEMI played main guitar, Akatsuki played drums. So much work went into this 'new band'. I love the echo vocal of Miku during the Band Maid version as well. Now if we ever see Band Maiko and Band Maid and Cluppo on the stage at the same time. That would be something to see. Either that or I need to up my medication. As always, fun review.
I mean, upping one's medication is always a solid plan, isn't it? ;-)
(As for the credits, I don't have that album yet, so I couldn't check immediately -- but the CD is in transit currently, somewhere between Japan and Texas...)
Completely agree this is their best work up to that point. And somehow they kept getting better!
Really looking foward to World Domination.
This song is really jis-jointed and messy. It's like three songs tacked together. And it it's one of the best songs I've ever heard. You think you know where it's going then it changes! And again. It's a masterpiece of composition! And It's glorious live, believe me. .
Band-Maiko - Funny you said about them keeping straight faces when MISA howled. When she did Akane farted and the whole group cracked up!. (There was a making of documentary).
Not different words, Secret My Lips is in standard Japanese. Secret Maiko Lips (and all Band-Maiko) is in Kyoto dialect. It's very different.
Just for those who don't know the story:
A Maiko is a trainee Geisha from Kyoto.
This was an April fools joke by the band. On April 1st 2018 the Band-Maid website and You Tube channel was taken down and replaced by Band-Maiko. All music was removed and replaced with this MV. They stated this was their new direction.
They also don't sing in normal Japanese dialect, they sing in Kyoto dialect. Check out the original "Secret My Lips" for the difference.
They also changed their names:
Saiki became Fujiki
Miku became Hatoko
Kanami became Kanoemi
MISA became Umemisa
Akane became Akatsuki
In 2019 they did it again on April 1st releasing the MV to "Gion-Cho" - the only Band-Maiko original. They also released a seven track EP of Band-Maid covers with added traditional instruments plus "Gion-Cho"
"Secret Maiko Lips" (Band-Maids "Secret My Lips")
"Akasimahen" (Band-Maids "Awkward")
"Ansan" (Band-Maids "Anemone")
"Tora and Tora" (Band-Maids "One and Only")
"Yolosiosu" (Band-Maids "YOLO")
"Screaming" (Band-Maids "Screaming")
"Gion Cho"
Thanks for the backstory (I'd heard bits of it before, but never hurts to have a list.) :-)
As for "messy" and "disjointed", those wouldn't be my descriptors... Certainly it changes direction a few times, but I felt like each change felt perfect, clean, and precise.
@@Chan_Fry Yeah, I was joking. I love it.
Yolo is a grower, the way the melody swell up beautifully. took a few listens , but love it now.
Agreed: I enjoy "YOLO" a little more each time I hear it (but I suspect it won't ever top some of the others for me). :-)
No question MISA is up to the task of solo accompanist. That combo is probably more common than we realize, except with a standing double acoustic bass. There was a popular duo in my state of Hawaii. They would do that on the occasional song, or segment of a song.
Good point! (About the standing bass.) I suppose I've seen that on occasion, though I'm rarely in any location classy enough to feature such a thing. :-)
@@Chan_Fry The duo I cited were two brothers who performed Hawaiian music. Their family could be considered part of the top tier of Hawaiian performers. They themselves were just good ole boys.
Band Maiko sing in a different dialect than Band Maid
Kyoto dialect, I think. Where the Maiko and Geisha are/were most prominent, I believe.
It *almost* sounded like a different language. :-) Like when I tried to converse with someone from southeastern Arkansas...
One of my fav still images from this video @18:12 Saiki's little *snarl face* ☺
I'm not seeing a snarl there, but she does have a very expressive face, which adds a lot to these videos. :-)
I've always loved the juxtaposition of traditional kimonos and modern rock instruments in the Secret Maiko Lips vid. They must have had a really hard time figuring out how to move with the instruments and how to keep the sleeves out of the way. Thanks for a great review, Chan!
Thanks! Yes, I don't think those outfits were designed for ease of movements; certainly the traditional folk who came up with it would be shocked into comas if you took them to a Band-Maid concert. :-)
It's cool too see both versions back to back. Both versions are fantastic! Love the Band-Maiko album!
Glad you enjoyed it. (Though I realized later that I missed the opportunity with "YOLO" and "Awkward"...)
@@Chan_Fry Those would have been awesome!
Can't get enough Band Maid. Thanks for the reaction
More coming soon! :-)
Oh hey band maid. Thats a pretty awesome song you got there , be ashamed if someone stole it n made it a thousand times better, signed the maikos , unmisa howl!
Ha. The MAIKO video is certainly better, but musically I think I prefer the original... (Probably depends on my mood at the time.)
@@Chan_Fry I love the original but I can't unhear it now w/o doing misa howl
I was hoping you would do these two together. I think it worked out great. Looking forward to more of the original + Maiko tracks.
After recording this video, I realized I messed up... Other Band MAIKO songs include remakes of "YOLO" and "Awkward", which I've already reviewed, so I can't quite pair them... (Sad face.) But I'll get to them when I catch up to 2018. :-)
@@Chan_Fry I was gonna say something about Ansan but after I listened to it and Anemone and then the rest of World Domination I forgot what I was gonna say. LOL They are so damn good!!!
Thanks for doing this dual review!!!
You're welcome! (I only wish I'd decided on the pairing sooner, so I could have got "YOLO" and "Awkward"...)
Band Maid = no verse same as the first 🤘
Been waiting for this 1 , my favorite song, n those damm maikos always stealing the band of maids shit
I can only assume the MAIKO got permission first. They seem like nice ladies. :-)
To be fair, didn't Band Maid do some Band Maiko songs at a couple of concerts?
Brilliant! Choosing to stray from your format to listen secret Maiko lips. Priceless! And very Band Maid like, choosing the unexpected. Cheers Chan!
Thanks! (Now I just wish I'd realized sooner that "YOLO" and "Awkward" could have gotten the same treatment...)
The acoustic songs have MISA as a lead bass especially in "Smile"!
I don't think I've seen an acoustic version of "Smile", but maybe I'll find one before I get to the "Bubble" single (which included "Smile").
@@Chan_Fry I would recommend for "Smile" doing the original version and the acoustic together to really appreciate the differences in them.
The only original Band-Maiko song is "Gion-Cho" btw. Miku write, "World Domination" at the start, btw.
Yes, I think I added an on-screen edit translating the kanji as "World Domination". :-)
Enjoyed the review!
I hope you still post your listen and comments on the Band-Maiko album and the DVD showing the making of these videos. There is not English close captions but it’s an interesting watch. You can find translations.
🤘🕊️🦍🥷👸🏻👀PO
I'm looking forward to it! Though I have a lot of ground to cover before that. :-)