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BAND-MAID, Puzzle, 3 way comparison! (Patreon)

Published:
2024-04-28 15:00:11
Edited:
2025-06-14 03:01:59
Imported:
2026-06
Tags:

Content

Just a little note about the message at the beginning:Like I mentioned, I want to do right by BAND-MAID and their audience. I have purchased my prime account and I have Spotify Premium. We are going to continue to have fun (legally)!

I actually compared the 3 different versions in the video this time so I don't need to leave a paragraph here!Also, I think I have figuered this out:

🕊️All BAND-MAID...good BAND-MAID.

🕊️...but live BAND-MAID...best BAND-MAID.

Files

Comments

liam ward

I wish Kanami would sing more, but shes said she doesnt like to. Her and Saiki play different in the christmas concert and kanami sings the harmonies.

frantaf

One part of Christmast concer was Saiki and Kanami with surprising Shut up moment :). Version with commentary is interesting. There is a lot of content on Prime for you, so it is money well spent. I've tried severall times to save money with free Spotify, but always went back to premium witin days

Glenner7

Thank you for this great reaction. A couple of things. They recently did an acoustic okyu-ji in a relatively small venue (tickets only available for fan club members) - we're all hoping they release it on Prime or a DVD. Also, they made a CD of the Christmas acoustic show - it was a limited pressing for fan club members only, and is unfortunately not currently available. The lyrics warrant a good read, too, because this song tells a powerful story. If you'd like some external context, I'd suggest you take a look at Julia Nilon's YT reaction to the acoustic version - she has some great vocal commentary and loses her mind when she looks up and reads the lyrics aloud.

NittPicc Reacts

I wish she would too. Her voice is such a lovely color!

Bandmaidfanatl

Other than the full 2021 XMas acoustic and the recent full acoustic show in Japan, they have played a few acoustic songs in other large venue concerts, like this and Anemone, a couple at Studio Coast (both Zepp and Studio Coast full concerts on Prime), and a couple at Yoyohama, including solo Saiki on piano.

Bandmaidfanatl

Live great, studio great, acoustic great, instrumental great...I have come to the conclusion that there is no better, just Different. Also, yes, a continual "complaint" of Band-Maid's mixing, though overall great, is that Kanami is, many times, lighter in the mix than many prefer, both studio and most notably the Line Cube Shibuya live concert. But Mincho seems to continually defer to her band mates when it comes to garnering attention.

Eno L

Enjoyed your reactions a lot as usual... Funny how these ladies can repeatedly blow your mind, melt your brain and wrench your heart out with the same song. But they're Band-Maid. Kinda expected. ... It's not your headphones, the studio recordings are kinda overly compressed and sound muddied. Which is such a shame. ... In some songs, Misa solos throughout the song. Just need to pay attention to that sneaky assassin maid. ... Lastly, Akane's technique is insane. It's world class stuff. I hope you'll get to check out some of the instrumental songs with a drum cam. She plays double bass ( sometimes triple bass ) with a floating single right foot. And all the while with a huge smile

Charles Coleman

I like how you are handling the "behind the paywall" content. You are doing the right thing. I dearly love this band. The last thing I want to do or see others do is to steal from them. Even if it's done with good intent. And they share so much with us anyway. Good call, NittPicc!

Badllama

This is not a complaint, but an observation from an old dude. I am always amazed why we have to have a "favorite" version LOL. Folks ask who your favorite band is, which do you like best... why can they both/all be my favorite? That is why my standard answer is "whichever I am listening to or playing right now" is my favorite. Let's just say the album version is my favorite album version, the live is my favorite live version, and the acoustic is my favorite acoustic version. 😊You would know a bit more about Kanami's singing from the Orenje Documentaries (part 2 is Kanami... hint). Guess I might need to "level up" here and request them. 🤔 And thank you so much also for the intro and supporting them like that. In the era of dvd rips, etc. I much prefer legit sourced stuff! :) It is fun tagging along with your journey with all these fine artists. I learn something each time.

NittPicc Reacts

I love what you said about “favorites.” When I say I have a favorite…I have a ton of favorites. I chalk that up to me being easily excitable.

picti_pixie

Loved this - amazing job, as always! I was really excited for this, purely for the live version (not acoustic). This live of Puzzle is infinitely more powerful in delivery and beautifully tragic in the emotion from Saiki as she unfolds these heavy lyrics. I'm glad you appreciated it as well 🤍

Charles Coleman

Just FYI NittPicc, the live version was shot at the Tokyo Garden Theatre. It holds 8000 people. They sold it out!!!

Charles Coleman

I love both versions, live/studio and the acoustic version. Both are beautiful, powerful songs. But the acoustic version coupled with the 2nd acoustic song from that Okyu-ji - Anemone - is the first time that Band Maid made my eyes leak. Kanami's soulful guitar and her angelic singing with the magic that Saiki is weaving was just too much. Just wonderfully emotional and perfectly performed. This is a miracle band.

Charles Coleman

This may be helpful. The Christmas Acoustic CD sometimes gets put up for sale when they do new merch releases, so keep an eye out for that. It's a great album, I totally love it and I wasn't that big of an acoustic fan before hearing it. I am now!! Also, many people who were at the recent acoustic show said there were a lot of cameras there, so there is a pretty good chance they will make available a DVD/Blu-ray of the show or at least put it on Prime eventually. The Christmas Acoustic was such a hit with the fans, so they know a new one would sell well. I would definitely buy it!

Charles Coleman

Yes, this is a common complaint in live shows, too. I've seen them live 5 times - Misa side each time - and often it's hard to hear Kanami unless you are on her side of the venue.

Chalfo

Believe me... they will know who you are. They're fans of reaction channels (they know that's what's grown their fan base). Here's tham recognising Mr. Rock and Roll (they knew he was going to be there): https://www.youtube.com/shorts/CEs5xvYQsIs Here's his take (with somone else's footage from another angle) mins 21:00 to about 24:00 https://youtu.be/e1csm7_E41Q?t=1263 ... and here he's recognised again on a later concert https://www.youtube.com/shorts/lhBfc9g7kM8 As far as your ethical approach - spot on and Doubt you'll have any issues with what you propose as (as above) they repect what reaction channels have done for them. But some do take the piss (there's already a couple of postings, not from the reactors per se, from the stream from last night). I have fallen out of favor with Mr R&R as despite being a huge fan, I doubt he's bought any of their product since. Or some become 'poacher turned gamekeeper' but htat's for them to square with themselves. As you say, it's how the band would view you ... and you'll be a favorite, no doubt!

Chalfo

You do need to do the rest of the documentaries. You will fall in love with Kanami, then you will fall in love with Akane, then MISA will once again become your favorite and then you will have love like no other for Miku (she'll astound you)

frantaf

One of my favourite solos. I am always looking forward for this song when i listen to this album.

Roy C. Russell

Love this! The live version sounds angry almost cynical while the acoustic version is heartbreak

Juan San

Hey NittPicc, what a nice trip today. Well, they say that they compose with the live performance un mind so I think they really know how to elevate their music to eleven in front of their beloved fans. This band is tremendously versatile, they are capable of reaching you emotionally in different ways with their music without changing the message. As in Puzzle. The lyrics are the same (a clandestine love destined for defeat that the protagonist bitterly accepts) but the band is capable of emotionally transmitting anger or sadness depending on the version. There are different combos of versions of their songs that usually leave me dumbfounded. Their best versions for my taste are Awkward (live in 2017, acoustic at the Christmas Concert and in the Maiko version under the name Akasimahen) and Anemone (on the World Domination album, the acoustic version from Yokohama Arena in 2023 and the Maiko version with the name Ansan). Thanks teacher!

Xenos

Totally agree with the paywall stuff, really appreciate supporting the band in that way. One of my all time favorite songs by them is the instrumental Without Holding Back, but sadly there is no official non-physical release version of the video so I never suggest it because of that, so I'm right there with you. They also definitely have an acoustic album, just basically the Christmas concert released as an album. They only ever sell it in their fan club shop though when they have merch drops (and not every time).

Minchorules2809

I agree, you do what feels right, I'm sure everyone here is good with it 🤘

Eno L

I may be wrong, but I vaguely recall from somewhere that Kanami's too shy and not confident with singing. She had coaching from Saiki. Someone correct me if I remember wrongly.

Vlad the Maidiac

By the way, since you mentioned the score book. I have scanned it some time ago, and the scans are available here: https://1drv.ms/f/s!AlMGoXSGX5qdou8ma_QDFZTF8rwglg?e=Evjrqw I did it for myself, since I cannot really read paper books, they are so uncomfortable. I don't know what are your relationships with the paper books, but at least you may check the scores until you buy the book.

Vlad the Maidiac

- When you were working as a singer/songwriter, did you sing while playing the acoustic guitar? Yeah, for the most part, but when I wanted to play as a band, I asked for some help. I rearranged the songs for a band and I would sing, play the electric guitar, and solos. At that time, I had gone to a lot of auditions, and I auditioned in the form of a band. - While playing in those two styles, was there a reason you thought performing solo was better than performing in a band? Bands are more difficult because all the members need to have the same level of motivation and have similar directions that they want to take the music. So, I chose to work alone. I thought that I would compose and arrange the songs myself, so I also studied DTM (NOTE: this is a Japanese word that is in English, desktop music, which is used to mean digital musical composition). However… I didn’t like the act of singing that much. - Really? That means you went to voice training not because you liked singing, but because if you had to sing, you wanted to do it properly...and? That’s right. At any rate, I thought that it wasn’t good to have low singing ability. At that time, I wanted to at least become a professional musician. I had gone to a regular university because my parents wanted me to go. I really wanted to enroll at a vocational school like Akane and Misa, with the intention of becoming a professional musician. So, I asked my parents, “When I finish university, please allow me to pursue my own interests.” I guess, perhaps, my parents were seeing if the 4 years of university would lead me to give up the music path. So conversely, I thought that I had to do extra well to show that I was serious. I studied economics and management at university, so I was able to learn how to market and promote myself as a singer/songwriter. After that, I had to go to voice training to strengthen my singing skills, build a soundproof room in my home, and… other various training methods.

Vlad the Maidiac

It's a difficult question how many reactors the Maids watch. I would not be overly enthusiastic about it. Their English is still not very good, and I'm sure they don't watch the reactors who are mainly talkers. Mr Rock-n-Roll is not a talker, he is an emotional actor, that's probably why even Akane watches him — there is not so much you need to understand from his English phrases.

Vlad the Maidiac

Regarding "pirating," I personally try to be very relaxed about it. People often talk about "stealing" when talking about reaction videos, but to me it sounds like a very wrong idea. If someone watches a movie or listens to a song, the author does not lose anything, right? He may not even know that someone saw his/her creation. It's like taking a photo of a painting and then showing it to your friends and discussing how beautiful it is. If you are not going to pay money to the artist — for example, you don't like this painting that much, or you just don't have extra money — the artist will not get anything from you, whether he shows his painting to you or covers it with a piece of cloth, not letting you to see it. It's rather logical to think that if you have seen the painting or heard the song, it increases the probability you will fall in love with it and pay for it, right? So, I believe in love as a reason for paying 😉 I may say for myself. Very often when I get excited from listening to BAND-MAID, I just go to their official channel, find one of the videos which they monetize (like THRILL, for example), and click on that 🖤$ symbol, thanking them for their amazing work. I'm buying merch, although I already have so many of their T-shirts that I will probably not be able to wear them off until the end of my life. But if a person does not like BAND-MAID that much, you will not make him pay by withholding BAND-MAID music from him. To me this idea seems really strange. This person will rather listen to something else for free, or buy some other music from the band he REALLY loves. So, I think that whatever reactors watch and comment upon, it's always fair use. Let them watch Prime, or bootlegs, or whatever they feel inspired to watch. Everyone will benefit from this, BAND-MAID including, since it will increase their fame.

Glenner7

Wow, that must have been a lot of work. I have the UW scorebook, but the print is so small and I don't want to damage the book - I'll certainly refer to your files. Thank you!

Vlad the Maidiac

I bought like three or four books in the end — I tend to overdo such things 😂 Then I disassembled one, and scanned the pages separately, to make it easier. (I discovered in the end that it's possible to melt the glue of the book's spine, and it's the easiest and the neatest way to disassemble the book).

Chalfo

HI Vlad, first point about reactors they're likely to watch - well that's fair enough, just as a matter of time available as well as about the language/the big talkers. But you're also somewhat implying that they're not so good at reading facial expressions - I think they'll separate the wheat from the chaff pretty quickly/easily and if they see Nittpicc (sure they would have) they'll recognise the integrity. Their English is probably more down to confidence in direct communication than anything else so without the pressure they probably understand more than it appears. Also with Nittpicc being a professional musician, that's the feedback they'll want to see (as well as being lovely and very expressive) re second point: there's some deep discussions in here that'll take some thought and way too much time so not going to go into much depth - although I do get your point and if everyone was as honest and generous as you, this world would be great. The painting analogy isn't a great one though as there is a 3D element to the layers of paint appied ... the comparison would actually be to for reactors to take something like Dean's MIDI versions and extrapolate how good the song is from those (a crude argument but illustrating the loss of one dimension). Also the fact of paintings being a one time only physical thing that only one person can have in their possession at a time - an obvious point that doesn't apply to music. Physical copies aren't the same thing as the original but a computer file is a computer file. I am torn athough as a reaction channel was how I was introduced to Band Maid (and extrememly grateful), but is the proliferation of them really helping the band (anymore) ? I'm not sure it's that significant anymore (Although Roger Chance is doing a great job at the moment!!) ... most viewers are existing fans and it's very very rare that I see new comers in the comments and BMs subcriptions aren't inflating at any great rate. I also think that Band Maid have sort of turned into a gateway band for the (here's my cynical side :) ) less sophisticated listener into the Asian music scene, so they're sort of skipped over. But that's still a thought in it's infancy, but I get that impression. Anyway that's my brain dump for the moment Cheers and have a good evening

Chalfo

oh yeah ... I was going to say something regarding the motivation of those 'pirating' but brain is fried and it's a fairly obvious crtitisism about being for their own benefit yada yada yada.... and also, if people do react to Prime (for example) where does the money go (from YT views)? Cheers

Glen Kelley

Nice review. Most of the fans wish the studio versions of most songs would turn up Kanami's parts a little more, but that's just her personality, she's not one to take the spotlight. That's why we like the live videos as the mix puts her more in the front. There's a lot of songs on the "Unseen World" where you can just barely hear her (Kanami likes to have a lot of layered guitar parts). The Dec. 2021 Christmas acoustic show had 14 songs (there is a CD version available) but Puzzle is not one. They also had a full acoustic show this past March 20th, 14 songs but not Puzzle, we've been wishing that they release a Bluray for that show.

Juan Lee

Hey NittPicc, catching up to your BM posts.....so the ubiquitous Puzzle, so when I joined the BM fandom world in 2018 this was a song that was known as popular with the Japanese fanbase and was hardly played outside of Japan. But it's a great song and grew in popularity, I read at the time that it was a somewhat "controversial" song in Japan because of the subject matter an affair with a married man and is dark (by Japanese standards). Miku I read was asked in a radio or television interview promoting Just Bring It about Puzzle and basically how did she reconcile this moment in her life (lol!!) and she clarified to them that she does not write her lyrics from her personal experience, she reads a lot of books and manga and watches a lot of movies and gets her lyric ideas from all of those coalescing in her head....she also added that several of her friends called her after Puzzle came out and asked if she was ok, lol. Oh and she added to the interviewers that if she did write from her experience it would be much darker, lol....gotta love our Pigeon!!

Rick

Your ethics are spot on. I admire you even more. I avoid viewing stuff that has been ripped. So, for me to see the stuff not on their Youtube channel, I have Band Maid Prime too, or have purchased DVDs etc. All five of them can sing. In their acoustic concert, there is a song near the end where they do a five-part harmony. Also, during their rock versions, you will sometimes see Kanami join Miku on backing vocals (I guess for a fuller sound). But, the cameras rarely catch it. But I have seen it in person.

Bill Whitaker

If you liked the acoustic version of Puzzle, check out the acoustic version of Anemone from the same concert. If you do, have a full box of tissues handy.

MrMette

I don't think there is anything wrong with the acoustic version being your favourite. It's mine as well (and one of my favoure tracks by them) and I come from listening to mainly harsher metal genres for a long time before discovering the Japanese rock and metal scene. Their Christmas acoustic album is probably my favourite album by them as well and I generally am not a huge fan of listening to live albums either (I prefer watching those on video). As far as your ethics goes, I completely understand, nothing wrong with that either. Although in the case of this specific DVD, this one has been sold out from before I even knew about them. That's not to say it's ok to upload it online obviously, but it does mean it's difficult to see it legally nowadays (although I think Band-Maid Prime has most of their old performances now). I do agree with your decision though even if I do think Band-Maid should put this acoustic version on their main channel with how good it is. Edit: btw, Kanami was a singer/songwriter before she got into Band-Maid, but apparently she doesn't like her voice for some reason, so she doesn't really like to sing from what I have heard. It's always a treat when you hear her sing imo.

Bill Whitaker

You have said on your Patreon or Youtube channel that you have a Band-Maid Prime account. While all 3 of these versions of Puzzle are great, you really need to do yourself a favor and watch the 2017 Shinkiba Studio Coast concert. It is on tab 9 on Band-Maid Prime in 2 parts (2017 Autumn -Winter Tour). The entire concert is amazing. Both the cinematography and audio are some of the best I've seen and heard. The versions of Puzzle and Moratorium (which you reacted to on Youtube) are beyond belief. Whether you react to some of this concert or not is up to you, but you need to watch it for yourself.

David Cook

MISA MISA MISA!!!!! MISA MISA MISA!!!!! Sai-chan Mincho Sai-chan Mincho Sai-chan Mincho! This is my FAVOURITE song PERIOD not just Band-Maid song. The full Band ver is "Angst" while the Acoustic is "Pain/Sorrow"