Home Creators Posts Import Register Favorites Logout

Content

This was super fun to do! Although after editing, I don't know if I felt like I said enough about what I heard, so if you don't mind, I am going to give you even more here because I had the opportunity to listen to it again with fresh ears:

As I have said a thousand times in this video, Miku's voice is lighter and bright in comparison to her band mate Saiki.

🕊️ The studio recording gives us the cleanest version of her tone with some fun effects here and there. I used this version as my "control" during this project.

🕊️ The live version that Ohrenje lovingly compiled is where I heard Miku's voice in a slightly different light. What I am about to say might come across like I am saying her singing here isn't her best, but that's not it. A lot of people who go to concerts sometimes expect their artist to sound just like the studio recording...and yeah, sometimes they do but it's because they are using a studio track underneath their singing. Anyway, Miku's voice here sounds different here, and it's not a bad different. It's the kind of different that "makes your heart excited to listen" different. The best way I can describe the sound of her voice is emotionally raw. You can see she's excited. You can see she's having fun. This is her moment and she's taking it all in! Her excitement makes her have a little bit of a shaky voice and maybe her pitch isn't fully centered, but from watching the live performance, it is so apparent that this is all from her having so much fun! Besides, the next video proves her pitch center is on point.

🕊️ This leads me to the final listen of the acoustic Christmas set. This performance is so intimate and cozy that it is hard not to feel the love coming from the screen. This version is so vulnerable. You can hear it in the style that Miku decided to sing it in. She could've played it similar to the studio version and used her most powerful version of her voice, but she chose a more reserved tone that created a soft little hug for my ears. The way she easily moves in and out of her chest and head voice proves that she is a well seasoned veteran. If this version doesn't give you goosebumps on your arms, legs or head then I don't know what will!

🕊️ My final thoughts are that Miku should sing more often on studio tracks. I would love for her to have at least one song per album where she takes vocal lead. Her color brings such joy to the rock and roll scene. Plus, imagine having Miku take lead and Saiki singing harmony if she wanted to? The opportunities are endless with this band. Of course, Miss Kobato probably wants to stick to the task at hand and continue her backup singing and guitar playing, but all I know is that I am 100% a fan of the pigeon herself. ぽ!

Files

Comments

Bandmaidfanatl

Kanami is a magician. It's all in /4, but you can hear it in 2/4, 3/4, 4/4, 5/4, 8/4, 12/4 or 24/4. I have determined that this is part of the reason that I can listen to Band-Maid without it becoming stale. That, and you can listen to each individual instrument, 2 together, the whole ensemble ... I actually hear that part in 3/4, 3/4 & 2/4. Depends on your brain and your mood.

Bandmaidfanatl

Actually, it have heard her sing as high as mezzo-soprano all the way down to contralto bordering on tenor.

Chalfo

Thank you, but I'm sure I'm not the only one that stayed until the end. My analogy is that Saiki's voice is like the paint job on a ferrari, Miku's is the wax on top. It always strikes me how difficult the phrases either of them have to sing - there are so many songs that they seem to have to stay in the higher portion of the scale (not a musician, not sure) which must take so much energy and lung power and Miku's final high note here (which she says was an 'own goal') comes after a really energetic 8(?) lines, as well as playing rhythm and bouncing around - that's tough! couple of other things - more often than not she does have a song on each album, Kanami writes one to suit her voice specifically (and includes a guitar solo for her too - to aid her development) Akane says this is the hardest song for her to play from Unseen World (which is a surprise to many considering some of the utterly mental tracks on it) because of the time signature changes.

Bandmaidfanatl

Other Miku songs are "Rock in Me," "Time," and "Beauty and the Beast."

Entropy

Loved this - more comparisons please. As to your point that Miku should have more studio tracks - she does! - she has a track on nearly every Band Maid Album - : Big Dad - MAID IN JAPAN Beauty and the Beast - New Beginning TIME - Just Bring it Rock in me - World Domination Sayonakidori - Unseen World

Entropy

MIku also does all of the really high stuff and screams - she has a really healthy set of lungs on her - see the intro of Why Why Why on the Unseen World album as a classic example :)

Glenner7

Great reactions! Of course I stayed until the end, and I expect I'll be watching it all over again quite regularly. I think we all love Miku. I really noticed this time in the live compilation how happy Kanami is during this song. Kanami sensei is so proud of her pigeon student. And in the acoustic, I was wondering when you would notice that Akane was singing. This is very rare, and in the band-commented version she explains how she was nervous about singing, and how she went to Saiki's house to practice, and how Akane discovered that her lyric sheet originally didn't match what Miku was singing. MISA is playing completely in finger style in the acoustic, which is also relatively rare. Thank you NittPicc!! Now go get some sleep!

Entropy

Lastly - you gotta do more Cluppo - I guarantee you are going to absolutley love it! Peace& Love

Charles Coleman

NittPicc, I can tell you that when they perform Sayonakidori live, everyone goes crazy when Miku hits that high note near the end of the song! Even us non-musical knuckle draggers can tell how difficult it is to pull that off. Miku is one amazing little pigeon, po!

Lord Vorador

Glad you enjoyed Sayonakidori! It's my favorite BAND-MAID "Miku song" 🥰. Miku does get a solo vocal song on nearly every album BTW, on 5 of their 7 studio albums to date. She has a new one they've been playing live recently too called "Brightest star" that most likely will be included in the upcoming album they're releasing this summer. I recommend "Time" off the Just Bring It album & "Rock in Me" of the World Domination album for your next "Miku song" to check out.

P in D

MIKU gets one song per album.

Bandmaidfanatl

The Pigeon gets what the Pigeon wants, Po. 🕊️

Charles Coleman

Great and fun reaction as always! Thank you and arigato! And yes, I am one who watched the whole way through. I did have to top off my tea, though. You are always fun and entertaining as well as educational to watch and listen to. Thank you!

Carlos Garcia

And the newest song they've played on tour, Brightest Star, which will probably be on the new album in the summer.

Daniel Morgan

You can do the same 3-way reaction for No God- studio, live, and acoustic

Roy C. Russell

Great reaction. I stayed until the end. This song has grown me more than any other song. I was initially a bit lukewarm on it until I heard the instrumental and could fully hear Kanami's solo. It pulled it all together for me.

Juan San

Fantastic job!. Sayonakidori is a huge song, the first written by Kanami for Miku, who asked her teacher for a challenge. A song that Miku couldn't play and with a note that she couldn't reach. Years later, of course, she is a much better guitarist and singer. The story of these five girls is a continuous challenge to try the "most difficult thing yet." As curious notes: - The backing vocals in the rock version are from Kanami and in the acoustic version from Akane. - The arrangements of the acoustic version are by Miku (except the bass, NO ONE TELLS MISA HOW TO PLAY, not even Kanami) - In the disc record version the bridge contains some verses from Shakespeare, "My bounty is as boundless as the sea... My love as deep The more I give to thee... The more I have, for both are infinite" by Romeo and Juliet (the inspiration for Miku's lyrics is quite eclectic) - Miku has more range in her voice and more stamina than Saiki so the "war cries" in the songs are done by Miku. In Saiki's words "I have things that she doesn't have and she has things that I don't have." - and Of course This is not a music band, it is a miracle. Thank you!!

Bill Hallisey

Princess Nittpicc, Do you realize that you and Kanami possibly have something in common. The story of why Kanami wrote Sayonakidori as a way to push Miku to improve her breathing while singing (as well playing guitar). Being a sensei to each of her bandmates at times. I bet she's like another music teacher I know (hint,hint) and uses some passive aggressive approach to getting the best from her students by giving them something that gets them out of their comfort zone and gives them some positive encouragement to improve themselves. Am I wrong?! You teachers rock the world!

pohojisan

Hi, NittPicc, I have commented in BM-CD before on the very strange and unique beat changes in "Sayonakidori" that you were also puzzled by. How surprisingly, actually, on the official score, it (suddenly) shifts from 3/3 to 4/4 in the middle, not 3/4→5/4!!!!! (1st verse: 3/3 x 6 → 4/4 x 4, 2nd verse: 3/3 x 9 → 4/4 x 1) ┐('~`;)┌ LOL I know it is very long and difficult to read, but if you would like it, please refer to it. Also, the acoustic version sounds very stable and beautiful on the highest notes at the end because MIKU is singing half-step down and in falsetto, right? ―― In the normal version, when MIKU tries to sing the highest note in falsetto in rehearsal, SAIKI says, "You ran away!!??" So, in live performances, the falsetto is always unavailable and often collapses at the highest note. (×_×;) So, when this song starts, fans always listen to MIKU's song with a feeling of being on the edge of their seat and praying. I believe that this "Sayonakidori" is the very history of MIKU's challenge and also symbolizes the friendly competition among all band members.

Eno L

Akane did mention that she struggled quite a bit trying to get a handle on the lack of weight in those special drumsticks for the acoustic concert.

Vlad the Maidiac

If you want a specimen of Miku's incredible vocal abilities, here's her video on TikTok where she participated in a singing call-and-response challenge: https://www.tiktok.com/@kobatomikucluppo/video/7024466167100132610 Well, this was easy for her, of course. For a singer who started the band specifically with an idea of such dual vocals, it's like nothing. You may check FREEZER, one of their early songs, where she does the same thing together with Saiki: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x7G0VEpWd_A

picti_pixie

Thanks for this lovely analysis! The acoustic Sayonakidori is one of my favorites so I just loved your viewpoint on everything 🤍

Vlad the Maidiac

Thanks 😉 There was also a lyrics video somewhere... FREEZER has very good lyrics—that pain when the love disappears, and you want to freeze your emotions... Amazing song from whatever angle you look at it.

JimZ

For a change, I would love to hear Miku attempt Enka music since that's where she started on her grandmother's influence. Just once, for the experience of understanding how versatile she might be. In fact, I would love to hear Saiki sing Enka once as well. Wonder how these two awesome ladies will sound. They can always revisit their Band Maiko alter egos for the purpose. It's been a long time coming anyway. Time for the Maikos to emerge once more from their seclusion.

Glen Kelley

Bit late to the party, but did watch the whole review. Thanks for doing this one and most of the fans love the little pigeon, her persona and energy are what helps drive their live performance. From what I can hear, her voice has both a lower and higher range than Saiki and I also think she's had more voice lessons (at least prior to Saiki's vocal surgey in 2017 when they both starting working with a different vocal coach).

Rick

The song before this in the acoustic was "Time", another Miku song. It's the same three-Miku, Akane, and Misa. In the chorus all three are singing together.

Gary Ellis

The acoustic version had me tearing up the first time I heard it.

Bekka NoyB

the acoustic version is so beautiful! ♥

Vincenzo

Hi i'm the time signature man. The whole song is in 4/4 except for the pre chorus which is in 3/4. In some parts you can hear the song in 3/4 5/4 because Akane plays in 4/4 with the kick (the rest is syncopated) while the guitar is in 3/4 5/4. Hugs <3

Andrew Hellebrand

Misa's Black Cloud J5 Black Smoker bass that she's using in the acoustic concert may appear like it's battle-worn and been played to death, but it's actually what's called relic'd and comes artificially aged like that new from the luthier. This particular one she got in late January 2021, so hadn't even owned it for a full year when the Xmas Acoustic concert was filmed. IIRC she said of the finish colour that she requested something that looked like it'd done hundreds of gigs in smoky bars and become nicotine stained over time.

David Cook

MISA MISA MISA!!!!! From everything I have heard and seen from others Miku actually has a Broader range than Saiki she has a higher and lower pitch but lacks the power of Saiki, at the more demanding levels I would venture because as you yourself mentioned she has a strong enough voice in her comfort zone.