Great song, also full of little things that you only notice after listening to it 4 or 5 times. With Fami you always have to remember that she is just getting started. Up until now she has only managed Miho's extraordinarily great bass playing without damaging the songs. No fan is outraged by her small respectful changes. She did it incredibly smartly. They are just not her basslines. But now her real creative time is starting. These new songs are now really Fami's songs, her basslines. Her heart and soul are in them. It feels very different for her. There is probably another 10% more enthusiasm involved. you always have to see how invisible many other bassists are in other bands, it's just very different with Lovebites, everyone plays a leading role, I've only found a few bands so far where I admire every single musician (Nemophila, Hanabie, Band Maid, Unlucky Morpheus, Gacharic Spin....) usually someone is always lagging behind, even in Metallica, I like them all but L... is rather weak as a musician 😏😉😁 sorry L... I would replace him in a heartbeat with, for example, uhhh🤔.....Juna 😗......., but she's busy at the moment, ok L... you can stay for once 😂
It's a great song. It's really catchy, which is in keeping with many songs from their back catalogue, contrary to what some people seem to feel, and it's infused with a little bit more of a modern feel and some extra energy. It's classic Lovebites in many ways, and yet still a step forward. Is it in my top five Lovebites songs? No. Can I get it out of my head? No.
This track has pretty much everything - a seamless and innovative blend of AOR/heavy rock, speed-power metal, and a bit of thrash thrown in at the breakdown before the solos. At the same time, it's got a catchy hook to make this an awesome LIVE song in the making. To enjoy an even greater appreciation of this song, one has to understand the historical context of their first EP "The Lovebites EP" and the 'sequel "Lovebites EP II". You can also see the deliberate glimpses from the MV of the opening track from that first EP "Don't Bite the Dust" sprinkled inside the "Unchained" MV (opening track of their latest EP and that's by design). I argue that the part of the chorus "be free. Anywhere you want" is more bluesy/gospel than 'poppy', and that's also by design to optimize Asami's R&B background.
Hey Boyzyu, thanks for the comment. I like the way you put that with how seamless and innovative the blend of the different genres. I hear what you mean about the bluesy gospel, which gives it that floaty sound. Very cool
When evaluating the popularity of Unchained, you need to compare new music video releases to each other, so comparing it to Judgement Day and Stand and Deliver.
I hear what you're saying. While I don't need to compare it in that way, I did compare the new music video to new recent releases as they are, well, new releases of fan favorite tracks. If we are to compared unchained to the latest actual music video, then we're talking Stand and Deliver from a year ago. That is a pretty big time gap. Currently Stand and Deliver and judgement Day have about 1.3M views. We'll see where Unchained is from a year from now
To me Unchained was made to reach a wider audience, but seems to fail at that (so far), while not being as appealing to the more hardcore base either; it’s left somewhere in an uncomfortable middle. I would rather it be more like their older stuff, or something new (like maybe Fami influences with a bass solo), which to me would be a more interesting experimentation. Instead, it seems like they just dipped their toes a bit into commercial. I did mention before that I thought Lovebites should try to increase their fanbase a bit by focusing on more catchy choruses, but I believe that I was wrong to think that, insomuch as I now feel Asami doesn’t likely have that kind of mass appeal anyway, either from her English, or just her general vocal sound, and so focusing more heavily on her with a catchy chorus, but not growing their fanbase anyway, isn’t playing to their strengths as a band, and might actually hurt them. My opinion now is that I would like them to try a pure instrumental song, or something more in that direction, which plays into their appeal as a band. See how that works.
The first half of your post reflects my initial thoughts of this song when I first heard it, and even now, as much as it has grown on me, I would rank it somewhere in the lower half of their discography. But I don't think Asami has any negative effect as far as any kind of barrier or detriment to potential wider worldwide appeal of the band. If anything I think she is a positive. I think the lack of marketing combined with the younger audience out there being into stuff that is not what LOVEBITES does has much more to do with it. There doesn't seem to be much convincing needed when I talk to folks my age, (I'm 56) about LOVEBITES, but when talking to people in the 18-30 age range it is like pulling teeth to even get them interested in a general discussion about them much less get them to try giving them a listen. Had they been around in say 1985, they would have been big fast, but not to the level of Judas Priest or Iron Maiden at the time. The country of origin seems to be a weird barrier for many people even though it should not be. Either back then or now it seems like bands from more what Americans might think of as exotic places for their bands of choice just don't seem to compete in their minds as well as more familiar countries. I think this has improved somewhat in recent years with K-pop, J-pop stuff gaining a lot of ground, but for less commercial music like heavy metal, there just is too lean of an audience among young folks for a band like LOVEBITES unfortunately, and the lack of good marketing does not help with these issues. Heck even among the LOVEBITES fanbase there doesn't seem to be a whole lot that give a rip about the many other excellent Japanese bands out there outside of Nemophila, Band-Maid and maybe one or two others. I always believed that as long as the music is good, that is what matters most, but unfortunately there are other factors involved, and so far things are the way they are and we just need to keep word of mouth going, and support the band and reactors whenever we can. LOVEBITES will get a bigger base over time, but maybe at a snails pace, I just don't know.
Where do you get that it failed to reach a wider audience while not being appealing to the base? It has elements of older songs like Don't Bit the Dust and Golden Destination in it, which are two awesome songs. I read your comment. Thanks for the share, but I just have to disagree with that. Take it easy.
@@rantandchill9503 I said “not as appealing”, meaning that the impression from comments is that it is less appealing than many of the older songs, particularly in relation to the typical comments or excitement right after a new song is released. I think if you mainly read comments from your own channel (which is not at all unreasonable BTW), you may have missed some of that discussion.
@@rodhamm8484 “I don't think Asami has any negative effect as far as any kind of barrier or detriment to potential wider worldwide appeal” When someone is singing in the same language, there comes a certain expectation people have to understand it. This expectation itself creates a barrier. I think also, that a barrier is created just by the lack of emotional impact in conveying a message to people who are used to hearing it sound differently (sound differently; not just in what they can understand). I think we can do a comparative example, like what do you think Kristin Starkey doing a cover of both “Twilight Force” and “Tonight We Ride” on RUclips, and would she do well as the singer for a band as skilled as Lovebites? I used her as an example, because I don’t think she is as well known as some of the others, but still provides an example for comparing sound, and the ability to understand her words. I think too, that although many Japanese bands very much excel in the instrumentals, they do lack somewhat in the vocals, like when compared to certain Western singers. Lovebites is my favorite band, but I’m just being honest here.
Great song, also full of little things that you only notice after listening to it 4 or 5 times. With Fami you always have to remember that she is just getting started. Up until now she has only managed Miho's extraordinarily great bass playing without damaging the songs. No fan is outraged by her small respectful changes. She did it incredibly smartly. They are just not her basslines. But now her real creative time is starting. These new songs are now really Fami's songs, her basslines. Her heart and soul are in them. It feels very different for her. There is probably another 10% more enthusiasm involved. you always have to see how invisible many other bassists are in other bands, it's just very different with Lovebites, everyone plays a leading role, I've only found a few bands so far where I admire every single musician (Nemophila, Hanabie, Band Maid, Unlucky Morpheus, Gacharic Spin....) usually someone is always lagging behind, even in Metallica, I like them all but L... is rather weak as a musician 😏😉😁 sorry L... I would replace him in a heartbeat with, for example, uhhh🤔.....Juna 😗......., but she's busy at the moment, ok L... you can stay for once 😂
I think it's a great song, and a great MV. I have no reason to nit-pick it. I really like it. ☺
It was hard to find something to complain about.
It's a great song. It's really catchy, which is in keeping with many songs from their back catalogue, contrary to what some people seem to feel, and it's infused with a little bit more of a modern feel and some extra energy. It's classic Lovebites in many ways, and yet still a step forward. Is it in my top five Lovebites songs? No. Can I get it out of my head? No.
Thanks for the comment, Paul. I like the way you phrased that.
Awesome track, more commercial but still really well written! The synths is a bit too loud, other than that have no complaints! 🤘🔥
Glad you like it!
🔥🤟🏻⛓️🐺⛓️🤘🏻🔥
LOVEBITES ES ARTE
Es un temazo, y me gusta mucho que hacen tantos estilos y suena tan bien, xq es Lovebites solo ellas saben hacerlo
This track has pretty much everything - a seamless and innovative blend of AOR/heavy rock, speed-power metal, and a bit of thrash thrown in at the breakdown before the solos. At the same time, it's got a catchy hook to make this an awesome LIVE song in the making. To enjoy an even greater appreciation of this song, one has to understand the historical context of their first EP "The Lovebites EP" and the 'sequel "Lovebites EP II". You can also see the deliberate glimpses from the MV of the opening track from that first EP "Don't Bite the Dust" sprinkled inside the "Unchained" MV (opening track of their latest EP and that's by design). I argue that the part of the chorus "be free. Anywhere you want" is more bluesy/gospel than 'poppy', and that's also by design to optimize Asami's R&B background.
Hey Boyzyu, thanks for the comment. I like the way you put that with how seamless and innovative the blend of the different genres. I hear what you mean about the bluesy gospel, which gives it that floaty sound. Very cool
🤘🐺🔥
thank you.
but I love this track.
dunno why,
it just reminds me of iron maiden track,
bring your daughter to the slaughter.
keep it up, lovebites.
😊
Oh yeah. Daughter to the Slaughter... I can hear the similarities
🤘🐺🔆👸🤘
Asami's mispronounciations are more apparent in faster songs. She needs an English tutor 😄 but seriously.
When evaluating the popularity of Unchained, you need to compare new music video releases to each other, so comparing it to Judgement Day and Stand and Deliver.
I hear what you're saying. While I don't need to compare it in that way, I did compare the new music video to new recent releases as they are, well, new releases of fan favorite tracks. If we are to compared unchained to the latest actual music video, then we're talking Stand and Deliver from a year ago. That is a pretty big time gap. Currently Stand and Deliver and judgement Day have about 1.3M views. We'll see where Unchained is from a year from now
I meant the rate of growth after 1 month. I had commented on the Judgememt Day views after 1 month, so I suppose I can find that.
To me Unchained was made to reach a wider audience, but seems to fail at that (so far), while not being as appealing to the more hardcore base either; it’s left somewhere in an uncomfortable middle. I would rather it be more like their older stuff, or something new (like maybe Fami influences with a bass solo), which to me would be a more interesting experimentation. Instead, it seems like they just dipped their toes a bit into commercial. I did mention before that I thought Lovebites should try to increase their fanbase a bit by focusing on more catchy choruses, but I believe that I was wrong to think that, insomuch as I now feel Asami doesn’t likely have that kind of mass appeal anyway, either from her English, or just her general vocal sound, and so focusing more heavily on her with a catchy chorus, but not growing their fanbase anyway, isn’t playing to their strengths as a band, and might actually hurt them. My opinion now is that I would like them to try a pure instrumental song, or something more in that direction, which plays into their appeal as a band. See how that works.
The first half of your post reflects my initial thoughts of this song when I first heard it, and even now, as much as it has grown on me, I would rank it somewhere in the lower half of their discography. But I don't think Asami has any negative effect as far as any kind of barrier or detriment to potential wider worldwide appeal of the band. If anything I think she is a positive.
I think the lack of marketing combined with the younger audience out there being into stuff that is not what LOVEBITES does has much more to do with it. There doesn't seem to be much convincing needed when I talk to folks my age, (I'm 56) about LOVEBITES, but when talking to people in the 18-30 age range it is like pulling teeth to even get them interested in a general discussion about them much less get them to try giving them a listen.
Had they been around in say 1985, they would have been big fast, but not to the level of Judas Priest or Iron Maiden at the time. The country of origin seems to be a weird barrier for many people even though it should not be. Either back then or now it seems like bands from more what Americans might think of as exotic places for their bands of choice just don't seem to compete in their minds as well as more familiar countries. I think this has improved somewhat in recent years with K-pop, J-pop stuff gaining a lot of ground, but for less commercial music like heavy metal, there just is too lean of an audience among young folks for a band like LOVEBITES unfortunately, and the lack of good marketing does not help with these issues.
Heck even among the LOVEBITES fanbase there doesn't seem to be a whole lot that give a rip about the many other excellent Japanese bands out there outside of Nemophila, Band-Maid and maybe one or two others. I always believed that as long as the music is good, that is what matters most, but unfortunately there are other factors involved, and so far things are the way they are and we just need to keep word of mouth going, and support the band and reactors whenever we can. LOVEBITES will get a bigger base over time, but maybe at a snails pace, I just don't know.
Where do you get that it failed to reach a wider audience while not being appealing to the base? It has elements of older songs like Don't Bit the Dust and Golden Destination in it, which are two awesome songs. I read your comment. Thanks for the share, but I just have to disagree with that. Take it easy.
@@rantandchill9503 I said “not as appealing”, meaning that the impression from comments is that it is less appealing than many of the older songs, particularly in relation to the typical comments or excitement right after a new song is released. I think if you mainly read comments from your own channel (which is not at all unreasonable BTW), you may have missed some of that discussion.
@@rodhamm8484 “I don't think Asami has any negative effect as far as any kind of barrier or detriment to potential wider worldwide appeal”
When someone is singing in the same language, there comes a certain expectation people have to understand it. This expectation itself creates a barrier. I think also, that a barrier is created just by the lack of emotional impact in conveying a message to people who are used to hearing it sound differently (sound differently; not just in what they can understand). I think we can do a comparative example, like what do you think Kristin Starkey doing a cover of both “Twilight Force” and “Tonight We Ride” on RUclips, and would she do well as the singer for a band as skilled as Lovebites? I used her as an example, because I don’t think she is as well known as some of the others, but still provides an example for comparing sound, and the ability to understand her words. I think too, that although many Japanese bands very much excel in the instrumentals, they do lack somewhat in the vocals, like when compared to certain Western singers.
Lovebites is my favorite band, but I’m just being honest here.