World Domination (Figuratively Speaking)

[Geisha]

and if they happen to own a ton of bootlegs and you break the news to them they say "so... what's the difference? I still own the cd right?"

For some people it is all about themselves. They consider themselves fans but in reality they don't really care about the bands. The way they see it the bands are ripping them off by releasing "overpriced" CDs and DVDs and by downloading and buying cheap bootlegs instead of original releases they are only taking what they feel they have a right to. Never mind that it costs money to record and release CDs and that the price of the "overpriced" CDs they buy from importers includes shipping charges from Japan.

 

[Dix Infernal]

We know. I believe Kame was eleborating on how people buy bootlegs without caring that no support goes to the artist, and act like they're still huge legitimate fans because they own (illegal) CDs.

"Nice try" would be how I would reply back to those people but seriously, explaining to them that buying the official merchandise is best would be my initial solution. . .

I admit that my first jrock songs were downloaded mp3s, and that part of my collection still is. But as a fan, I owe it to the bands to support them. Thus, whenever I have the money, I buy a cd. I currently have two MM, 1 M10M, 1 Dir en Grey, 2 Gackt, 1 Blood, and a stack of miscellaneous singles...it's expensive, so I can't get them often, but I'm working on it. It's just when your in high school with a minimum wage job, it gets kind of tough.

I don't condone bootleg footage at all though. Why bother downloading (or in some cases, paying for) a bootlegged concert of clip when it's not even the official release? It's almost always bad quality, bad sound, no extras, and really bad subbing (if there is any at all). Why go through all the trouble when you could just order the dvd from CdJapan?

But I suppose it's $65.00 and three business days compared to no cash and ten minutes.... :?

And besides, why would you want it on your computer? A dvd you can take with you, a movie clip you cannot.

(Umm....am I the only one who thinks that much (not all of) the downloading fanbase are thirteen year old girls? The kind that go, "OMG, its teH Gackt! Vanilla Live!!!")

 

[Kyuketsuki]

Yea, I only have two burned cds and they've got a lot of different people on them and some of the tracks are instrumentals from anime. However, The burned ones are really useless to me because they don't play in my car (heck, some of my russian cds that *aren't* burned don't play in my car), so I've automatically got the urge to willingly spend lots of money on originals just so I can play them in my car and annoy other drivers with loud Japanese music. XD

If anyone is ever hesitant about spending the money on the cds, here's my advice:
1) pick a day when you're really depressed
2) go online, browse on Yesasia/cdjapan
3) find something that makes you think "If only I had this right now, I'd be in a much better mood!"
4) think "why the hell not!" and stick it in the shopping cart
5) go ahead and pay for it.

The therapy for the depression is that all day you can brag to strangers about how you've just bought an awsome cd that's gonna come in the mail any day now. And then, the next day when you're happy again, there's nothing you can do about the money because they've already sent it off! ^-^

As crazy as this sounds, this is what I did last month at school so now I'm $60 in the hole, but it's okay! -.^ I got Diabolos and Merveilles outta it! Yay for feeling depressed!!!

~ketsu

p.s.: Yes, I know its a bit strange, but it's a lot easier to buy things when you're in a 'screw it all' mood, ne?

 

[Layz]

I would buy alot more music online if I only had a credit card (2 months until I am age of majority )

 

[frenchii]

I'm aware that people have troubles getting the original stuff due to lack of money, can't use credit card, and so on but I didn't want to say this to disencourage people. Personally, I found out about many Japanese artists that I like through mp3s too so hurray for internet!

p.s.: Yes, I know its a bit strange, but it's a lot easier to buy things when you're in a 'screw it all' mood, ne?

Perhaps that's one of the ways of comforting oneself. I tend to lean on others to cheer me up or otherwise I start to clean my room compulsively o_o Afterwards, my room will be sparkly clean and clutter-free! I feel better already

 

[D]

PLC in Virginia (where the hell did that come from)?

 

[nekoi]

PLC in Virginia (where the hell did that come from)?

Thinking about it.. that is odd! You think they'd go somewhere much more popular like Otakon. ._.;;

 

[D]

PLC in Virginia (where the hell did that come from)?

Thinking about it.. that is odd! You think they'd go somewhere much more popular like Otakon. ._.;;

I'm glad they came to Virginia though, they were my first VK concert *_______*

 

[Kyuketsuki]

I'm aware that people have troubles getting the original stuff due to lack of money, can't use credit card, and so on but I didn't want to say this to disencourage people. Personally, I found out about many Japanese artists that I like through mp3s too so hurray for internet!

p.s.: Yes, I know its a bit strange, but it's a lot easier to buy things when you're in a 'screw it all' mood, ne?

Perhaps that's one of the ways of comforting oneself. I tend to lean on others to cheer me up or otherwise I start to clean my room compulsively o_o Afterwards, my room will be sparkly clean and clutter-free! I feel better already

Yea, basically. XD I have my mother's bad habit of spending money I don't really have to spend on stuff I want when I'm in a bad mood... ^_^;;; I can't clean, though...that *would* be a better habit, not to mention a *lot* cheaper.

~ketsu

 

[DDRSENSEI]

Okay well I have a reason why mana would not come to america yet. It would be too much money to do a tour that far and it would probably ruin the band and the recording companies budget.

Also Europe is more open and very internationally wide known (especially germany) for its underground Goth,metal,punk rock scenes and it is much closer to japan.

Another thing, do not lose hope that mana and moi di xmois would never come to america. HMmm...Well as you can see Anime is becoming more and more mainstream every month through adult swim, Shonen jump and many other publications. And as these publications mainstream anime, Jpop and jrock will surely get noticed since it is in correlation with anime for its music. artists such as ayumi hamasaki, Utada hikaru and Puffy are getting very very popular within anime and mainstream society...since japanese influence is becoming a widely influential thing anime, jpop, jrock and all I bet moi dix mois would get more and more attention until the fanbase grows Really large then Moi dix mois would have to come here.

 

[nekoi]

They don't HAVE TO come here. As I said before, Moi dix Mois has little to no connection with anime at all. :\ There's no reason for them to play at an anime convention, which would be their #1 best bet for "popularity."

 

[Kyuketsuki]

They don't HAVE TO come here. As I said before, Moi dix Mois has little to no connection with anime at all. :\ There's no reason for them to play at an anime convention, which would be their #1 best bet for "popularity."

No one is saying they HAVE to come here. We know they have nothing to do with anime. The point they were trying to make is that Japanese pop culture is gaining more and more ground in america, thus making it a little easier for bands to introduce themselves. And, when one starts to take a likeing to the bands that *do* do the themes for animes, then they begin to branch out and discover bands like Moi-Dix-Mois. That's how I got here, and also how a lot of other people are becoming fans of the bands that *don't* do anime. It's almost like a process...or maybe I'm thinking too hard about it...

~ketsu

edit:: A good example would be D'espairsRay that will be touring starting on 10/28. They haven't got a thing to to with anime.

 

[Sumire_hitsugi]

edit:: A good example would be D'espairsRay that will be touring starting on 10/28. They haven't got a thing to to with anime.

....aren't they gonna be at Sugoi-Con? :/

It's listed as one of their locations. And with "sugoi" in it, you can be sure it has all sorts of otaku are swarming around. ;/

 

[Monophobia]

edit:: A good example would be D'espairsRay that will be touring starting on 10/28. They haven't got a thing to to with anime.

....aren't they gonna be at Sugoi-Con? :/

It's listed as one of their locations. And with "sugoi" in it, you can be sure it has all sorts of otaku are swarming around. ;/

I think they meant that they'll be performing at an anime con, yet they have nothing to do with anime visually or musically. Like how Psycho le Cemu kind of fit performing at an anime con, whereas others just don't.

 

[Elec]

I don't think Japanese bands realize how damaging it is to play anime conventions... it's very, very alienating for any fanbase they could potentially had.
Edit: and I still lol @ "Sugoi Con".

 

[Illaparatzo-sama]

I dunno.. is it really that alienating?

Sure, it's beneath them, but why would someone turn away from a band just cause they heard that they played at an anime convention? That's rather moronic. If a band has something I like about it, I'm not going to change my mind if they play somewhere that I think they shouldn't.

 

[navate]

I dunno.. is it really that alienating?

Sure, it's beneath them, but why would someone turn away from a band just cause they heard that they played at an anime convention? That's rather moronic. If a band has something I like about it, I'm not going to change my mind if they play somewhere that I think they shouldn't.

It's not where they play, it what happens and who they attract because they play there.

Take Phantasmagoria's appearance at an anime con recently. Otaku fangirls lining up left and right, squeeing over meeting ZOMGhawt japanese rock stars kawaii ne?!?!?!, waiting to get an autograph and trying to figure out which two band members were even giving autographs.

Appearing at cons gives bands a less serious impression for more reasons than the inherent childishness of the con's anime association itself. They attract blind fangirls rather than real fans who like them for their music rather than their looks or the fact they are Japanese. Of course, not everyone at a con is a J-obsessed teenaged fangirl, but the percentage is high enough to give fans who like bands for the music great reason to ph34r.

 

[Geisha]

I don't think Japanese bands realize how damaging it is to play anime conventions... it's very, very alienating for any fanbase they could potentially had.
Edit: and I still lol @ "Sugoi Con".

That's something I have been wondering about for a while now. I can't imagine that a band who is aware of the stigma would still agree to doing it. I suspect the bands are told by their overseas promoters (who want to squeeze a few more bucks out of them) that they have to do it in order to succeed in the US. You cold argue that the promoters have a point but as more and more bands play abroad and become increasingly popular, we aren't seeing less of this kind of stuff happening, we are actually seeing more of it. I'm worried that it will end up becoming the norm and J-Rock will forever be dismissed as "anime music". I mean, would you ask a western Rock/Goth/Metal band to perform at a comic fair and sell their "services" on eBay? No, so why expect it from Japanese bands?

And "Sugoi Con"...

 

[faith]

I'm not worried...I don't see what's so wrong about linking them with anime :?
Sure, it's not ideal, but real fans won't care what their classification is, right? I got so sick of people making fun of me for "liking vis kei" in Japan when I DON'T anymore...but eventually I just started saying "sure, I like it." And when they asked me who I liked, I'd say Malice, Yusa Mimori, Soft Ballet, Kiyoshi Hikawa, Scanch, and the Anpanman Theme Song...and then they realized they had no idea what I was talking about and that was that.
Either way it'll all blow over, or they'll become commodified like Hot Topic. I'll still listen...like, boycot Hot Topic if you must, but they've got cheap techno/goth/metal CD's. That kind of thing. I'm just glad they're getting over here...

Besides, it seems like at least half of the vis kei fans in Japan are squealing 14 year olds. The others aren't. Whatever.

 

[Kyuketsuki]

edit:: A good example would be D'espairsRay that will be touring starting on 10/28. They haven't got a thing to to with anime.

....aren't they gonna be at Sugoi-Con? :/

It's listed as one of their locations. And with "sugoi" in it, you can be sure it has all sorts of otaku are swarming around. ;/

I think they meant that they'll be performing at an anime con, yet they have nothing to do with anime visually or musically. Like how Psycho le Cemu kind of fit performing at an anime con, whereas others just don't.

^-^ Glad you caught that! And I agree with faith. It *is* kind of their only outlet to promote themselves through, and if that's what it takes to become independant from it, who cares?

~ketsu