Comments on: Name that J-pop tune

Question: Name that J-pop tune

quibx — Mon, 06 Mar 2006 06:55:41 -0800

Identify this J-Pop band from the following vague description.

Walking through Nakano Broadway in Tokyo last weekend, I heard a great song playing over the speakers in Mandarake. Not knowing any Japanese, I couldn't ask who it was. It sounded new - very heavy metal riffs with a sweet little Japanese girl vocal over it, then erupts into screaming. All Japanese language, and it didn't sound like the usual suspects (Ayumi Hamasaki etc...)

Does it ring a bell? I think i also heard it blaring from a shop in Akihabara, so it may be a new release..

I know it's a vague question, but any hints would be appreciated.

By: macdara

macdara — Mon, 06 Mar 2006 07:21:14 -0800

It wouldn't be Melt-Banana, would it? From your description it sounds like their song 'Free the Bee'.

By: shoepal

shoepal — Mon, 06 Mar 2006 08:21:50 -0800

Girly voice screaming in Japanese generally = Melt Banana, as macdara said. Mummy the peepshow, maybe? (this site might help)

By: mediareport

mediareport — Mon, 06 Mar 2006 08:54:08 -0800

Sudden changes in tempo and lots of stop-starting also = Melt Banana. The official site (which resizes your browser window) has some sample tracks under the "eye and ear" section.

By: shoepal

shoepal — Mon, 06 Mar 2006 09:01:43 -0800

Oddly, I don't think Melt Banana are very "big" in Japan. Maybe I'm wrong. Though, they seem to be only slightly less fringe there than in the states, so the fact that you heard the song twice in the same day in different parts of town seems unusual and might mean that what you heard was something recently released (as you suspect).

Then again, they did just release a two song single on Feb 20, 06.

By: quibx

quibx — Mon, 06 Mar 2006 09:57:23 -0800

I'm familiar with Melt Banana - it's not them. This was more polished - more radio friendly. Think the band "Kittie" only in Japanese.

By: shoepal

shoepal — Mon, 06 Mar 2006 12:41:25 -0800

Maybe Jean Snow knows.

By: jeditanuki

jeditanuki — Mon, 06 Mar 2006 13:39:34 -0800

Closest I can think of might be Shiina Ringo...