LoVendoR thread, aka Reina's in a Rock Band

[eri]

This song is terrible. Reina looks good in the mv at least.

[Elpis]

I like the song less and less every time I listen to it. 

[Meikochi]

Iin janai ?'s verses aren't great but I like the chorus.
And I quite like the recording of Futsuu no Watashi Ganbare so I'm waiting for the full song now.

[JPope]

The song is not bad, but I wish the arrangement would have been more stripped-down rock and roll. Doing away with every synth would improve this recording ten-fold.

[star]

Fuutsu no Watashi Ganbare PV
​I think its quite cute and I'm definitely ripping some gifs from it.

[Elpis]

I'm liking the MV for it too. The song seemed fairly okay even after listening to it a couple of times. It's definitely my favorite out of the two A-sides.

[TicTacAnyone]

It really bothers me they translate the title into "Ordinary me, let's give it a try!"... isn't it about working hard even though you're ordinary? Don't you think "This ordinary me will try their best" or something (maybe a little better put, but to this meaning) fits more?? I mean you're not trying to be higher class but you're trying as your ordinary self in your ordinary life.

[JPope]

So LoVendoR has officially morphed into an idol group. That's fine. Although I was excited for Reina-fronting-a-rock-band, having an idol group with competent singers is nothing to sneeze at. 
 
I'm down with the "Le Freak" homage and the overall funkiness of this song. It's fun, and both girls sound great on it. 
 
Listening to this song has made it apparent to me why they never added a rhythm section to the group, and I'm kind of embarrassed that it just now occurred to me: bass and drums are the two parts of a band that you can't just slide by with sub-optimal talent, not if you want a truly "pro" sound, anyway. You can cover guitar deficiencies pretty easily -- and sloppy guitar playing can actually add to a performance so long as it's not overwhelming. Bass and drums need to be on fucking point, though -- you can't fake that funk. I would imagine it would be difficult to find a pro-level female rhythm section of the right age and with the necessary temperament, looks and desire to be an idol, even in Japan.

[Anderei]

I don't think that's it. There's a lot of female fronted bands in Japan that are similar to Lovendor that didn't skip out on a rhythm section. And if they were just idols and not a ~real~ band, they wouldn't have cared if their drummer and bassist sucked to begin with.


Covers:

[Elpis]

Since they're pretty much the equivilant of an idol group at this point, I wonder why they don't give them member colors. It'd make the concerts look a lot more interesting than having all the glowsticks being light blue.

[Anderei]

There's no point when they're not wearing custom costumes. Groups like Scandal don't bother with the colors either. Nor do any other similar bands.


And the reason the crowd is all blue to begin with is because that was Reina's color in MM.

[TicTacAnyone]

Doesn't Marina have purple or something? I feel like the crowd is usually 85% blue 15% purple. I never knew why though lol...

[Zoe]

Do we really have to pigeon-hole them as idols? Why can't they just be pop?

[momoirosaya]

They're J-Rock/J-Pop like SCANDAL.

[Anderei]

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="TicTacAnyone" data-cid="188843" data-time="1434492632">
Doesn't Marina have purple or something? I feel like the crowd is usually 85% blue 15% purple. I never knew why though lol...</blockquote>


No. She's just said purple is one of her favorite colors.

[JPope]

[quote="Anderei"]
I don't think that's it. There's a lot of female fronted bands in Japan that are similar to Lovendor that didn't skip out on a rhythm section. And if they were just idols and not a ~real~ band, they wouldn't have cared if their drummer and bassist sucked to begin with.
[/quote]
 
If they want the music to sound professional they absolutely would care.
 
Which bands similar to Lovendor are you thinking of?

[JPope]

[quote="Saya"]
They're J-Rock/J-Pop like SCANDAL.
[/quote]
 
I don't think they're like SCANDAL at all, not at the moment, anyway. They're way less rock and way more idol than SCANDAL, who has maintained a consistent sound from their inception. I was hoping they'd be like SCANDAL, but instead they've been style-hopping from the beginning, going from classic rock covers, to melodic rock and now straight-up idol pop.
 
Honestly, I'd be happy if they stuck with this sound for good, because I think it suits the makeup of the group better than rock does. Reina naturally owns this type of up-beat power-idol-pop more so than any other style I've heard her sing, and it keeps the guitarists sort of relevant. Might as well stick with what the front-girl does best.

[Anderei]

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="JPope" data-cid="188859" data-time="1434522761"><blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Anderei" data-cid="188836" data-time="1434464842">

I don't think that's it. There's a lot of female fronted bands in Japan that are similar to Lovendor that didn't skip out on a rhythm section. And if they were just idols and not a ~real~ band, they wouldn't have cared if their drummer and bassist sucked to begin with.</blockquote>


If they want the music to sound professional they absolutely would care.


Which bands similar to Lovendor are you thinking of?</blockquote>


You're basically saying that the reason they couldn't find a good bassist and drummer is because none of them would want to join an idol band, right? If they were just supposed to be an idol band, they wouldn't have cared one bit if the bassist and drummer were good anyway. And the other vocalist would have probably never been chosen.

[JPope]

[quote="Anderei"]
 
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="JPope" data-cid="188859" data-time="1434522761">
 
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Anderei" data-cid="188836" data-time="1434464842">

I don't think that's it. There's a lot of female fronted bands in Japan that are similar to Lovendor that didn't skip out on a rhythm section. And if they were just idols and not a ~real~ band, they wouldn't have cared if their drummer and bassist sucked to begin with.
</blockquote>


If they want the music to sound professional they absolutely would care.


Which bands similar to Lovendor are you thinking of?</blockquote>


You're basically saying that the reason they couldn't find a good bassist and drummer is because none of them would want to join an idol band, right? If they were just supposed to be an idol band, they wouldn't have cared one bit if the bassist and drummer were good anyway. And the other vocalist would have probably never been chosen.
 
[/quote]
 
No, that's not at all what I'm saying, basically or otherwise.

[Farrah]

There are definitely hot girls out there that play drums and bass more than well enough to be in this band, but I'm not sure how many of them would be lining up to audition for a group under UFP, a company that's crowning glory is an idol group that hasn't had mainstream success in ten years.  You can't walk two steps in Japan without tripping over the latest girl band attempt.  And it's true, you really can't cut corners when it comes to your rhythm section.  Sloppy guitar can be worked with, sloppy drums or bass easily spoil the entire song.  You don't realize how important bass is until you sit through a set from a band with a shitty bassist.
 
Although they all happen to be cute girls,  I wouldn't really classify Scandal as an idol group since they weren't even put together by a label.  They met each other naturally via dance and music school.  Hell, their band name comes from the porno store next to their old practice space LOL.  Overproduced, yep.  Pop-rock, yep.  Idols? To me, not really.

[momoirosaya]

I don't consider SCANDAL to be idols at all, but I feel like Lovendor is going for the same genre. Well, was. They're a bit more idolly now. But that's what happens when your lead has been an idol for more than half her life.

[WonderBuono]

I think UFP just doesn't know how to promote non-idols. LoVendoR and Bitter&Sweet seem like they're trying to go for more of an "artist" image, yet UF has them performing at Tokyo Idol Festival every year.

[JPope]

[quote="Farrah"]
There are definitely hot girls out there that play drums and bass more than well enough to be in this band, but I'm not sure how many of them would be lining up to audition for a group under UFP, a company that's crowning glory is an idol group that hasn't had mainstream success in ten years.  You can't walk two steps in Japan without tripping over the latest girl band attempt.  And it's true, you really can't cut corners when it comes to your rhythm section.  Sloppy guitar can be worked with, sloppy drums or bass easily spoil the entire song.  You don't realize how important bass is until you sit through a set from a band with a shitty bassist.
 
Although they all happen to be cute girls,  I wouldn't really classify Scandal as an idol group since they weren't even put together by a label.  They met each other naturally via dance and music school.  Hell, their band name comes from the porno store next to their old practice space LOL.  Overproduced, yep.  Pop-rock, yep.  Idols? To me, not really.
[/quote]
 
Yes to all of this. And especially this: "You don't realize how important bass is until you sit through a set from a band with a shitty bassist." Unfortunately, I've been in that band, lol!

[Farrah]

[quote="JPope"]
 
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Farrah" data-cid="188956" data-time="1434808841">
<div>
There are definitely hot girls out there that play drums and bass more than well enough to be in this band, but I'm not sure how many of them would be lining up to audition for a group under UFP, a company that's crowning glory is an idol group that hasn't had mainstream success in ten years.  You can't walk two steps in Japan without tripping over the latest girl band attempt.  And it's true, you really can't cut corners when it comes to your rhythm section.  Sloppy guitar can be worked with, sloppy drums or bass easily spoil the entire song.  You don't realize how important bass is until you sit through a set from a band with a shitty bassist.
 
Although they all happen to be cute girls,  I wouldn't really classify Scandal as an idol group since they weren't even put together by a label.  They met each other naturally via dance and music school.  Hell, their band name comes from the porno store next to their old practice space LOL.  Overproduced, yep.  Pop-rock, yep.  Idols? To me, not really.
[/quote]
 
Yes to all of this. And especially this: "You don't realize how important bass is until you sit through a set from a band with a shitty bassist." Unfortunately, I've been in that band, lol!
 
</div>
</blockquote>
 
Yeeeah, I didn't want to say it but... so have I LOL. Or more, the "bassist who thinks he's better than he is and perpetually tries to play parts he can't actually do live". 
 
I think UFP not knowing how to promote non-idols is definitely a big part of it, plus it seems like they were definitely aiming for something between idol and artist to begin with and when it didn't work, have decided to attempt moving all the way over to the other end of the spectrum.  Their place right now kind of reminds me of early Zone, back when they were much less of a band.  It's not an inherently bad thing but I have to wonder how the non-Reina members feel, considering most of them seem to be into, like, metal LOL.  I feel like this brand of idol power pop would probably appeal to your average metalhead much less than traditional idol music.

[Shoujo Q]

Performance Idols is the term I think UF wants you to use to describe their girl groups. 

[Meikochi]

Futsuu no Watashi has a fun MV and I really the song but the other A-side has grown in me. Reina's beautiful as usual but they all got my attention so good single to me.

[JPope]

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Farrah" data-cid="188999" data-time="1434879850">
<div>
I think UFP not knowing how to promote non-idols is definitely a big part of it, plus it seems like they were definitely aiming for something between idol and artist to begin with and when it didn't work, have decided to attempt moving all the way over to the other end of the spectrum.  Their place right now kind of reminds me of early Zone, back when they were much less of a band.  It's not an inherently bad thing but I have to wonder how the non-Reina members feel, considering most of them seem to be into, like, metal LOL.  I feel like this brand of idol power pop would probably appeal to your average metalhead much less than traditional idol music.
 
</div>
</blockquote>
 
They feel even more idol than early ZONE to me, but I get your point. The bad part about that, for me anyway, is that they reached this point by dialing back the rock to a more idol sound, as opposed to the other way around. Like I said, I actually like both of these songs for what they are, but I'm bummed that we're not getting more of <a class="bbc_url" href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8NcIOBreZpc">this</a>.

[aine]

LoVendoR got some love from Takayoshi Ohmura (of BABYMETAL fame, among others):

[Anderei]

They'll be releasing their 2nd single on 2/24. It's a double a-side "Takaramono / Itsuwari".


Reina wrote the lyrics and Yuki composed.

[JPope]

I'm intrigued, and also excited. I'd forgotten that LovendoR existed.