Recommendation: Visual Kei
Gazekei recommends…
Visual Kei
style, culture
style, culture
Visual kei refers to a movement among Japanese musicians, that is characterized by the use of striking make-up, unusual hair styles and elaborate costumes, often, but not always, coupled with androgynous aesthetics. This picture is of the band An Cafe. They don’t make gender outwardly obvious but they also dont try to disguise their own. Most people involved in visual kei also use names that aren’t too masculine or feminine.
Posted by Zory on November 5th, 2009 at 08:00 am
Category: music, recommendations 6 comments »
November 5th, 2009 at 9:25 am |
I used to be obsessed with Mana from Malice Mizer. Dir en Grey was pretty sweet to. It was too hard keeping up with Japanese bands while I was living in the United States though. I was paying an arm and a leg for import CDs and magazines!
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November 5th, 2009 at 12:13 pm |
I’ve developed a slightly unhealthy obsession with visual kei bands. As a gay guy (basically) with a thing for androgynous/girly guys, I think it’s basically the best thing ever. ;x
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November 5th, 2009 at 2:46 pm |
I love visual kei. The members of An Cafe are all bio-male include Bou (the blonde in the middle). Sadly, he left the band a couple of years ago. They are an awesome band!
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November 5th, 2009 at 4:43 pm |
Actually, the members in the picture are (L to R) Yuuki, Kanon, Miku, Takuya, and Teruki. Bou’s not in the picture at all. :)
Good bands of the visual kei persuasion:
12012
AN Cafe
D’espairsray
d=out
daizystripper
Dir en grey (prior to 2003 – after that they’re still very good, just not visual kei)
kagrra
kannivalism
lolita23q
merry
miyavi
Sadie
SuG
zoro
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November 6th, 2009 at 4:21 pm |
Plastic Tree.
Tumetai Hikari.
Ryuutarou in an androgynous photo.
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November 26th, 2009 at 12:47 pm |
I am totally hooked on VK. My favorite artist is definitely Mana-Sama, though Hizaki and Versailles are also good. Mana just more closely matches my personality expression wise. The guy is also a cool person over all. (am part of his fan club so I get to read of his off stage antics).
I so wish the west would adopt visual kei and get away from the violence imbued music we have now a days. Not saying there aren’t good artists in the states, Green Day is a great political and thinking group, along with others.
I just like the styles of VK more than traditional Western styles.
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