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Difference between revisions of "Visual-Kei"

(Created page with ''''Visual Kei''' is a style of band, which started with Japanese rock music, referring to bands which have the dressing and appearance of the members as one of their p...')
 
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'''Visual Kei''' is a style of band, which started with [[J-Rock|Japanese rock music]], referring to bands which have the dressing and appearance of the members as one of their primary focuses of interest. Inside [[Japan]], their fans are almost exclusively teenage girls, and as such they can be somewhat considered a uniquely [[Japanese]] version of a [[boy band|boy band]]. In other countries, the small quantity of [[Japanese]] ''visual kei'' followers is equally comprised by male and female adolescents and young adults. A notable difference between ''visual kei'' and [[boy band|boy bands]] is that boy bands usually are prefabricated and start with a strong marketing campaign, while there are a lot of cash-less indie visual kei bands that won't get promoted unless they first gain popularity.
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'''Visual Kei''' is a music style, which started with [[J-Rock|Japanese rock music]], referring to bands which have the dressing and appearance of the members as one of their primary focuses of interest. Inside [[Japan]], their fans are almost exclusively teenage girls, and as such they can be somewhat considered a uniquely [[Japanese]] version of a [[Boy Band|boy band]]. In other countries, the small quantity of [[Japanese]] ''visual kei'' followers is equally comprised by male and female adolescents and young adults. A notable difference between ''visual kei'' and [[Boy Band|boy bands]] is that boy bands usually are prefabricated and start with a strong marketing campaign, while there are a lot of cash-less indie visual kei bands that won't get promoted unless they first gain popularity.
  
Members of ''visual kei'' bands often wear striking makeup, style their hair with disparate but meticulously done dyes, and wear elaborate costumes. A look that recently has became popular within this trend is called [[Gothic Lolita]]. Although the whole appearance can appear feminine, almost all band members are male. ''Visual kei'', being based upon visual style, is a [[genre|genre]] of band but not a genre of [[music|music]].
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Members of ''visual kei'' bands often wear striking makeup, style their hair with disparate but meticulously done dyes, and wear elaborate costumes. A look that recently has became popular within this trend is called [[Gothic Lolita]]. Although the whole appearance can appear feminine, almost all band members are male. ''Visual kei'', being based upon visual style, is a genre of band but not a genre of music.
  
Western observers sometimes confuse visual kei bands with [[gothic|gothic]] bands because of the makeup and clothing, but most Japanese goths do not consider ''visual kei'' to be gothic, and there is very little cultural crossover between Japanese ''visual kei'' fans and Japanese goths.
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Western observers sometimes confuse visual kei bands with [[Gothic|gothic]] bands because of the makeup and clothing, but most [[Japanese]] goths do not consider ''visual kei'' to be gothic, and there is very little cultural crossover between [[Japanese]] ''visual kei'' fans and Japanese goths.
  
 
This trend was almost single-handedly started by [[X Japan]] in the 1980s and became popularized by 1990s bands like [[Malice Mizer]].
 
This trend was almost single-handedly started by [[X Japan]] in the 1980s and became popularized by 1990s bands like [[Malice Mizer]].
  
==<span class="mw-headline">External links</span>==
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==External Links==
 
 
 
* [http://www.midi-nette.com Midi:Nette] - Record company started by [[Mana]] that produces Visual-Kei bands.
 
* [http://www.midi-nette.com Midi:Nette] - Record company started by [[Mana]] that produces Visual-Kei bands.
 
* [http://www.visunavi.com/index_pc.html VISUNAVI] - A [[Japanese]] site that has an extensive list of Visual-Kei bands with other information.
 
* [http://www.visunavi.com/index_pc.html VISUNAVI] - A [[Japanese]] site that has an extensive list of Visual-Kei bands with other information.
 
* [http://www.jmignited.com/ J-Music Ignited] - Your source for information on Visual Kei bands and reviews.
 
* [http://www.jmignited.com/ J-Music Ignited] - Your source for information on Visual Kei bands and reviews.
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[[Category:Dictionary]]

Latest revision as of 15:11, 31 May 2009

Visual Kei is a music style, which started with Japanese rock music, referring to bands which have the dressing and appearance of the members as one of their primary focuses of interest. Inside Japan, their fans are almost exclusively teenage girls, and as such they can be somewhat considered a uniquely Japanese version of a boy band. In other countries, the small quantity of Japanese visual kei followers is equally comprised by male and female adolescents and young adults. A notable difference between visual kei and boy bands is that boy bands usually are prefabricated and start with a strong marketing campaign, while there are a lot of cash-less indie visual kei bands that won't get promoted unless they first gain popularity.

Members of visual kei bands often wear striking makeup, style their hair with disparate but meticulously done dyes, and wear elaborate costumes. A look that recently has became popular within this trend is called Gothic Lolita. Although the whole appearance can appear feminine, almost all band members are male. Visual kei, being based upon visual style, is a genre of band but not a genre of music.

Western observers sometimes confuse visual kei bands with gothic bands because of the makeup and clothing, but most Japanese goths do not consider visual kei to be gothic, and there is very little cultural crossover between Japanese visual kei fans and Japanese goths.

This trend was almost single-handedly started by X Japan in the 1980s and became popularized by 1990s bands like Malice Mizer.

External Links

  • Midi:Nette - Record company started by Mana that produces Visual-Kei bands.
  • VISUNAVI - A Japanese site that has an extensive list of Visual-Kei bands with other information.
  • J-Music Ignited - Your source for information on Visual Kei bands and reviews.