More than only a bunch of complicated ideals and aesthetics, however, Visual Kei is a social stage upon which we are all acting out a role we have created for ourselves. It'south not just looks; information technology's nearly playing the function.

Traditional Kabuki makeup

Having discovered Jrock and Visual Kei after already having a basic understanding of traditional Japanese culture, my starting time thought when I started watching videos of Visual Kei bands was This is Kabuki, if information technology was put on by a French opera visitor played out by metal-bands. I was surprised to find that Tiffany Godoy, the writer of the photo volume Japanese Goth took the same approach. There is no doubt about it: Visual Kei is a descendant of the Noh and Kabuki theaters of traditional Japan. Merely instead of acting out a play with a script, the bands are acting out scenes and characters with their costumes, personalities, and music.

Versailles~ Philharmonic Quintet (tertiary Gen.)

Each member is using costume, makeup, and personality (whether natural or affected) to play out a particular role, within the ring as well as within the music itself. This is perfected in the afflicted personas of idols such every bit GACKT (ex-Malice Mizer), who says that he is a Vampire born in the 16th century, and Mana (Moi dix Mois, ex-Malice Mizer) who dresses entirely in Gothic Lolita and refuses to speak, claiming that the only modes of expression he needs are that of his music.

Gackt, Mizerable era (1999)

This "function playing" carries over into the topic covered in the "Manpires" post, where many of the vocalists and frontmen for Visual Kei bands assume a part of a protagonist or hero effigy. This "hero" is often depicted every bit being the ideal man, repeat: like a character out of a historical romance novel. This part-playing and literal acting of the part selected, is part of what creates the allure and allure around these rockers. They are like a palette onto which yous tin can project whatever ideals y'all have, and your dreams will never exist crushed, nor fulfilled.

Mana (MDM) by FallenAngel1973

Mana (MDM) by FallenAngel1973

Mana-sama, formerly of Malice Mizer, and currently leader and guitarist of "solo" project Moi Dix Mois, mentor to Lolita-rock rising star Kanon Wakeshima, founder of Elegant Gothic Lolita style label Moi Meme Moitie, and prince of gothic Visual Kei, is hailed as 1 of the most difficult cosplays to get right. Y'all really take to have the natural physiology for information technology– a certain facial construction that makeup can't alter. This Elegant Gothic Blueblood version, done with roots in the MDM era, is pretty much spot-on. Bank check out FallenAngel1973'due south page to see more Mana cosplays, equally incredible as this i.

acce_main ~Sources and Tutorials that may or may not help you accomplish the perfect Mana Cosplay~

xxfullmoonxx's makeup tutorial for a Gothic Lolita Bible-inspired Mana

Mana Wannabe's Versailles-era inspired Mana makeup tutorial

and a few videos that may help yous get the signature lips and pilus downwards pat….

And remember…personality….is everything:

Ha..ha..become it? AAAACzViJZYAAAAAAB1LVA

Ruby-red leaves are starting to fall, and rockers far and wide are excavation up corsets, frock-coats, and implements of chains to identify with the gloomy change in atmospheric condition.

The other day I was talking nearly how Halloween is coming up, and how I will be spending it at a con. I promise the rest of you have interesting plans for the gloomy un-holiday. I at least hope that you have a party to attend, where much Malice Mizer will be blaring. Martha Stewart suggests complicated green curries cooked in gutted pumpkins, and acrylic-nail application parties for Les Halloween '09. But we're a long way from Connecticut, Visualists…

nail-art081

Visual style has wormed its fashion into the apple of rocker mode. Most Visualists are rooted strongly in their individuality and creativity, hacking their own look into the earth of Visual style. However, because of the nature of Visual style and the ascent popularity of Visual Kei as a mainstream genre, it has also transcended personal fashion and gone into the, shall we say, ring-male child-band-girl and/or cosplay modes of expression. A lot of people who capeesh Visual Kei style and music experience that cosplay and band-fan-dom is a way of forging a closer bond to their favorite artists and bands.

Although I personally believe in Visualism and Jrock equally a life-source, not to mention life-style, I also believe in cosplay  every bit legitimate means of expression and appreciation of bands and idols. Even if you lot decide to practice a simple cosplay, and can't notice all the Moitie accessories to glam up your Mana-sama, cosplay well, (and this goes for everyone across the board—) and cosplay with integrity. There'southward nothing less beholden of a band or specific band member than half-assing your depiction of them. If you're short on time, greenbacks, garb, gear, or all of the to a higher place, consider simplifying your effigy past focusing on several very characteristic traits (hairstyle and makeup, for example…whatever the personality is really defined by.) and toning downwardly the other elements. For example, Kanon Wakeshima? Broke? Full-time job (yup, they do go together)? Con in a week? Simple solution! Focus on the pilus and makeup and any accessories you can manage, and and so endeavor and emulate the experience and sentiment of her outfit without actually recreating it in total! This is much more appropriate than buying a $xiv cheesy prom dress from Salvation Army and hauling a cello around.

kanon-wakeshima…and remember…next year, start making the costume right after the convention, not right before. (To be fair, I tried this and failed miserably. Wish me luck that I don't return a hypocrite….Non that you'd know  either way :D).

Whether you're seeking to amend your own Visual style, or because cosplaying your favorite band-member, here is something that may help along the fashion– and remember, do your best, and have fun! ganbatte ne!:

If you're totally dark-green to Visual style, only desire to go the whole nine yards, a DVD was released in September called Visual Makeup Lesson. The DVD has a variety of lessons to show Visualists how to do typical Visual Kei style makeup. Japanese language with English language subtitles. Learn it from the best– and by that I mean, of course, acquire it from the Japanese…

Visual Makeup Lesson (English Subtitles) / Special Interest

Mana Speaks

I've been watching a lot of VERY early Malice Mizer videos. I really respect MM's solidity of appearance and attitude. They decided who they wanted to be, and didn't sway from that for anyone.

Something that I discover really entertaining when watching MM interviews is that Mana-sama won't speak. He has said –or signed, or however he went almost articulating information technology– that his music is his voice, and then he has no need to express himself through speaking. Therefore whenever the band goes to an interview, Mana-sama either answers a question with a gesture that's either manifestly a 'yes' or 'no', or if information technology's obscure so a band fellow member will try and translate information technology. If the answer is elaborate (har har, as if) and so Mana-sama will whisper the respond to 1 of the band-members and they will answer for him.

I watched a hilarious video of them doing a pre-performance television appearance. The commencement question all of the girls ask is "shaberenai??" (he won't talk?) and Gackt, the spokesman, says "un, shaberenai." (That'southward right, he doesn't talk.) The girl asked if Mana-sama did sign, and Gackt said that he did, and either Gackt or Kozi translated it. The girl tested past request Mana-sama ii questions. Gackt guessed the offset ane, and and so had to laugh at the second and say, "chotto…wakarenai kedo." (actually…I don't really know what he said.)

The video is of a very, very early on MM appearance on Hotwave in '96 where Mana-sama slips and accidentally introduces himself! Very funny– he catches himself and refuses to respond through the rest of the interview. :)

"What is 'human'?"

…"Nothing but a being of malice and misery."

-Malice Mizer

malicemizer

Malice Mizer, Gackt era. From L-R, ba: Yu~Ki, Gu: Mana-sama, Vo: Gackt, Dr: Kami, 2d Gu: Kozi

I know that you're all probably itching for me to really start talking almost some Visual Kei bands, rather than but waffling on about the themes and aesthetics and whatsoever. Don't worry– I will. In fact, tonight I think we can pickup with one of the most influential bands in Visual Kei history– yup, you guessed it, Malice Mizer.

Now permit's become ane thing straight before we begin. When I say that MM is the godfather-band of Visual Kei, I do not hateful at all that they invented Visual Kei. (In fact, MM is part of the 2nd generation Visualist bands that appeared afterwards the other venerable bands already started the motion.) Rather I mean that MM really brought Visual Kei into popular civilisation and made it cool and stylish. In keeping with our concluding post'due south topics, they likewise made Visual Kei a way movement. You may exist wondering now, who is Malice Mizer? (Or maybe you're non. MM is known to savor–or non every bit the case may be– some small fame even in the dreary West).

Over again, MM is role of what I call the "second generation" of core Visualist groups. They were founded in 1992 by guitarists Mana and Kozi. One of their unique characteristics is the utilise of dual guitars playing different melodies. It'due south a very unique sound, which I've noticed a lot of 'babe bands' picking upward lately. MM is infamous for undergoing many serious changes including their image, overall way, and vocalists. From '92-'95 they were fronted by vocalist Tetsu, about whom not a lot of fuss seems to be made. It's a bit tricky to find a watchable Tetsu video on the cyberspace. Despite the lack of fuss, permit none of united states disregard Tetsu. His singing style always struck me as kind of 'urgent'– very passionate and intense. He seemed to carry more than of the way that VK was just beginning to leave behind in favor of a smoother, more modern sound– he upheld the traditions of the earlier VK bands, in a fashion. In '95 Tetsu left the band to pursue a carve up career (although how information technology all went downward hints at some animosity being a gene here). His place was filled by performance-rock god Gackt. During the Gackt-era, MM changed slightly, on the same wave-length as Tetsu-era but emphasizing the opera-rock theme now. Their costumes were often VERY elaborate Rennaisance-period-esque ensembles. Occassionally Gackt would sport Phantom of the Opera masks to go with his human foot-long fingernails. Their audio was heavily influenced by French and Classical music, with a hint of goth, and was very melodic and pretty. Some fifty-fifty get so far as to say it was "pop". I don't know about that, but hey. Gackt left the ring due to "conflicts of involvement" in '99. He was writing the lyrics, and obviously wanted to take the lyrics and music into a dissimilar direction. The Gackt era is ofttimes dubbed MM'due south "Romance era".  Around the time Gackt fabricated his exodus, drummer Kami died of a subarachnoid hemorrhage and was never officially replaced. He was credited on every album as "eternal blood relative". O__O In 2000 MM recruited vocalist Klaha, and their image drastically changed. Their style went from Rennaissance-opera to Victorian funerary get-up, and their way shifted from opera-rock to Visual-kei. Their sound became very dark, with heavy-metal, electronica, and more core gothic attributes. The Klaha era lasted only a year. In 2001 the band went on indefinite hiatus. Klaha went on to a solo career (critics such as myself note a strong resemblance to Gackt's exodus. Gackt left MM and within a year released his massively successful single Mizerable. When Klaha left MM he, too, went solo and released an album with a sound very similar to Mizerable, called Marchen.) Guitarist and founder, Mana, went on to father the ring Moix des Moi, which seems to have been successful. He besides founded the fashion label Moi-meme-moitie.

Drag in Definition~ The mark Malice Mizer left on Visual Kei/farther notes on Vis Kei as a fashion motility

Despite an apparent run of misfortune during their years, MM was indeed one of the greatest Visual Kei bands. They found huge success not simply in Japan, but also in greater Asia, Europe, and the The states. Their advent marked a fourth dimension of transition from the 1st generation Visual bands to the 2nd generation. The genre became more settled, and MM decided a certain corporeality of precedence which bands do well to follow.

The mark they left non only on Visual Kei but on all of Jrock is huge. Permit's look at that in a little more detail. On the subject of Mana…Where to brainstorm! His range of influence is so wide, I'm at a loss! For example, I went equally him for Halloween! Haha, I'm not kidding. I spent like half an 60 minutes on the center makeup. Yeah, you guessed it. The beautiful woman who looks similar Little Miss Muffet flake by a vampiric spider on her lace tuffet is actually a….. bing bing bing! It'due south a man! Earlier I mentioned the whole drag element in Visual Kei and Gothic Lolita mode. As far as I tin tell, that was set up in motion past Mana, who is the king of Gothic Lolita and Elegant Gothic Lolita (EGL). I think that by the time MM became actually pop, Mana had become a kind of…mascot? of a kind for the ring. For the virtually part I recall that Mana, especially with the nascence of brand Thou-1000-G, really made Gothic Lolita and EGL. I'll talk about Gothic Lolita subsequently, but for now I desire to focus on Mana and just what exactly he did. This is based mostly on my own assumptions, simply MM really set the foundation for what the "perfect Visual Kei band should look like" in a way. More so than more foundational Vis Kei bands such as X Japan and Luna: Ocean, MM seemed to hone and define the aesthetic, and specially they brought the opera-rock elements to the await— the victoriana and historical themes. And drag. They brought drag. Visualists may (but probably won't) contest that MM wasn't the first band to exercise drag (I accept no idea if they were or not, but as far as I tin tell, they were.) But if you think about how vital to their image information technology was that Mana dressed as a woman, and and so wait at Visual Kei and Jrock bands post-Malice Mizer, we tin can safely presume that MM brought elevate to Visual Kei. This may non seem like such a big deal, but it is– information technology's huge. Visual Kei is a genre dominated past all-male person groups (commonly when women appear in Visual Kei it is, understandably, every bit all-female Visual Kei groups [and as I mentioned earlier– they are profoundly terrifying]), so when yous realize that almost every Visual Kei band has one member sporting ringlets and a corseted apparel, you start to get where I'm going with this. Some of them even apply female person phase-names, and that's where it starts to get extremely confusing. It's funny. Almost like they sit effectually and the Ring Leader leans dorsum, running black-painted fingertips along the rim of his wine-drinking glass and goes "so, who's going to wear the dress?" What's really interesting, though, is that this phenomenon of gender-bending isn't specific to Visual Kei– rather, many Visual and Jrock bands have a member in elevate. For instance, the awesome popular/Oshare Kei group Antic Cafe had, until 2007, guitarist Bou Minisuka, who looked and dressed typically like an adorable girl. In the Winter 2009 copy of Gothic and Lolita Bible, in fact, at that place is an interview with Visual Kei/Lolita-stone Ali Project's vocalizer, Takarano Arika. At the stop of the interview, they ask if she has anything else she would like to say to her fans. She says basically that she believes that "what yous telephone call 'elevate'" is a very of import sub-sect of Visual Kei and Gothic Lolita, and that she really wants all the Gothic Lolita girls to exist very enlightened of drag and it's importance in the Lolita/VK scene. So there you go.

More than perspective on aesthetic~ the importance of a pretty face

And earlier I leave you lot in a coma, I merely want to make a few more notes on Visual Kei and its aesthetics. So we covered the whole drag thing. But at that place are other Vis Kei aesthetics, too. In fact, 50% of the importance of Visual Kei is the band's bodily epitome (which makes sense, considering the term used to describe it is not 'audible kei'.), with the other l% being their music. Jrock is the first time I've really encountered this utter self-consciousness around how people await. Most every successful Jrock group is fronted by a drop-dead beautiful vocalist. I'm non sure how they manage to get people with astonishing talent and amazing looks– but somehow they do. I hateful, granted the Japanese have the greatest concentration of gorgeous people on EARTH. All the same. Incomprehensible. Wonderful! Brand no mistake. Just incomprehensible. I don't get it at all. This is prevalent in all genres of Jpop/Jrock/Visual types etc, merely is well-nigh cocky-conscious and apparent in Visual Kei. I think this is because there is a strong theme of the vocalist being a character, the protagonist for a story, equally it may be. He becomes something like a fictional hero (or anti-hero), and in this style, he must be hot-damn beautiful. Or something like that, anyway. The interesting part is that other genres (goth, emo, and punk, typically) don't have the same pressure for a cute confront to be office of the label. Further evidence of the specifications of Visual Kei aesthetics and epitome. Simply whatever the example may exist, I think we should be enlightened of the importance of the "bishounen" or cute men in Visual-type rock and Jrock. If for no other reason than a meliorate awareness of the Japanese beauty-ideal at large.

And on that note, I'll leave y'all with a few wonderful pieces past Malice Mizer~

" Ma Cherie ", Tetsu era…

" Syunikiss ", Gackt-era…i of my all-time favorite MM pieces.

" Kioku to Sora ", Klaha-era… malicemizer-black

Detect the prototype modify. They take almost S&M style outfits, and along with Klaha's deep vocalisation, they've brought on the dark sound. Honestly, while I'm a fan of Klaha, I think that by that time MM had lost their verve.