They're WILDLY different! BAND-MAID - Puzzle Live/Acoustic | REACTION
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- čas přidán 2. 10. 2023
- My blind reaction and comparison of the live and acoustic versions of the song Puzzle by the Japanese rock band BAND-MAID.
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The lyrics are about falling in love with a married man and all the deceit and heartbreak that brings. Saiki sings the rock version with anger and derision. She sings the acoustic with heartbreak. Same song, same lyrics, two feelings. Astounding! Both are awesome. One makes me dance. One makes me cry.
Yep the power of B-M to make us dance and cry to the same tune, what a band 👍🍻
This is the best description of the song Puzzle. The rock version and the acoustic, both are excellent but each versions brings something different to the listener.
This is absolutely why we love this band!!
Kanami is a genius at breaking down her own crazy creations. The Xmas acoustic showed it off even more 😉
Kanami doesnt give herself enough credit, i LOVE her backing vocals as well.
And they _all_ did backing vocals at some point during the Christmas acoustic. They are all very very good.
Spot on 👍🍻
The plan is to do the whole Xmas set as a reaction. For Xmas. As a wee present for you guys
@@markabusireactions I have the Xmas set on my flash drive and I watch it very often.
your in for a treat with that show. because you will see something very rare, all 5 ladies at various points singing. Yes, even Akane and MISA singing backing vocals. it truly is one of the best acoustic shows i have ever seen!!! @@markabusireactions
Puzzle electric live is so massive it melts your face. But acoustic live melts your heart. Which version is better depends on the mood you're in
Or just what part of you needs melting 😬. Joking aside you're 💯 percent right.
One thing about Kanami is that she has perfect pitch. You can find video of Miku tuning her guitar to Kanamis voice. She has a beautiful singing voice but just prefers not to most of the time.
That was Tony Visconti's 12 string she was tuning I seem to remember.
That's the thing about this band - some really cool music royalty gather in the wings during their gigs. Their breakout is almost inevitable as mapped out by the pigeon some time ago. Covid filled her with doubt but they kept themselves and their fans together (and links with other artists like "The Warning" online) and hit the ground running.
“From now on” - an instrumental, used as “Saiki’s pee break” in live concerts, is an absolute banger and needs to be dissected. It is so good they actually made a video to accompany the track.
I'm Japanese so I can understand the lyrics.
The rock version is filled with her unstoppable love and deep sadness at not being able to accomplish anything. Saiki's singing voice also screams out the passion of her love and helpless sadness. The lyrics are very well written and I think it shows Miku's talent, and I think the entire arrangement of the song expresses the main character's heart.
It's the best song.
You know what, my Japanese is limited to at least 20 words so basically I know nothing. But when I listen to Puzzle, Anemone or Sayonakidori the way how Saiki or Kobato sings the songs just tugs my heart! You don’t need to learn Nihongo to know what they’re singing about, they just convey such raw and intense emotions that I am almost immediately compelled to shed a tear.
If a band can do this effectively then it means they are a great band. They connect through their music which transcends language barriers.
If you look closely at Saiki when she sings, you can see from her body language and face that she really feels the lyrics she is singing. For me this is one of the reasons why I love this band so much. Everything is real. Obviously all five of them are geniuses in their field and Kanami once said that it's so easy to play acoustic with Saiki because she has such a good sense of the rhythm of the lyrics. All she have to do is follow her singing.
Saiki is underrated, formerly also by me. She doesn’t always sound like the most technical singer, but the music she has to sing with is insane, with the tempo and octave jumps and crap. In Puzzle, the amount of breath control required is nuts. Like, listen to it again and think about when you’d have time to breathe. And any technical stuff she lacks, she makes up for with being so emotive, and an amazing front woman.
Also, I stole this from a comment I saw somewhere else, but if you can get past the obvious stuff that’s going on with the music, you might notice that Saiki has great legs.
Splendidly done, sir! Pairing these two versions in one reaction is an absolutely golden review that must be shared.
I can’t tell you how many times I’ve read comments about these two versions of “Puzzle,” yet the reactions to both are exceedingly rare. (I’ve seen two?)
The musical differences between these two performances are as dramatic, in my opinion, as Eric Clapton’s “Layla.” Instead of a softer, less aggressive version of a song, the acoustic has become almost its own unique, standalone song.
Your next one ought to explore another facet of these magnificent Maids: their instrumentals. What sort of expressions can they convey without lyrics? Without Saiki?
“From Now On,” official music video is where I send all my musician friends. You thought Kanami’s backing vocals were lovely here in “Puzzle,” so why not hear what she says when she speaks with her fretboard?
That actually was my plan lol
I love the electric versions of Puzzle, it's a great rock song, but the acoustic version just tears my heart out every time. Thanks for reacting to both.
MEMORABLE is a BAND-MAID song that was written for their US fans during their 2022 tour. The lyrics express appreciation and, dare I say, love for their fans. You might want to react to this song, sir. And, as always, love your reaction to every BAND-MAID song you have done.
You don’t need to call me sir, we’re more casual than that by this point. I shall answer to sexual panther, or toots ☺️
@@markabusireactionsFor some reason that's funnier when I imagine it said with a Scottish accent.
@@Kevin6059 because I’m bloody hilarious mate
@@markabusireactions You are, actually. A breath o fresh air from the usual banality or buffoonish blighteroo.
@@Kevin6059 I watched a video earlier mate, and the guy was like… wandering around the room screaming, and then covered himself with a cushion pretending he had an erection, and I was like… mate you’re listening to a tune, calm the fuck down 😂😂
When Kanami first picked up a guitar the Rock Gods layed theirs down smiling in their hearts. What a fcken band Po 👍🍻
I think the song is about being in love with a married man. So the acoustic version really does deliver the message more powerfully. And how about Kanami's vocals. She was working at being a singer-songwriter when she joined Band Maid as lead guitar (and eventually songwriter). She doesn't want to sing but when she does, it fits her songs perfectly. Check out the Different and Manners acoustic set.
The weird thing for me was that the lyrics are angry and almost rebellious in the live version. But the acoustic makes those same lyrics have a pleading, hopeless sentiment to them. Saiki has I think become even better since this at expressing the emotion of a song. All of them can sing well, especially backing vocals as came up in other acoustic songs.
Yeah I really liked the conflicting styles, it was a good approach for the stripped back version!
They've evolved their vocal style a lot. It's a lot more harmonies recently. Saiki is still the lead vocal, but the Band-Maid vocal sound is largely defined by Saiki and Miku singing together now, and they're being more assertive in using Miku for additional effects, like that descending ah ah ah bit in Manners. I'll gesture again towards Corallium.
The logical conclusion is Miku has to learn to beatbox, but we'll see what happens.
@@daaaaaave only a matter of time really, let em cook
@@daaaaaave Miku has always been 'the heart ' of a song. Personally Daydreaming is a song made emotional by that simple Miku backing. Saiki is now a wonderful front and centre singer. But I agree that Miku's and Saiki's harmonies have become more important and effective. As long as they leave off any 'Growling' they can do anything.
@@russellpotter7294 If they added growling, I bet I’d like it, just because I trust their taste.
The song is about a "good girl" who had her life puzzle almost perfected when she meets "the final piece of the puzzle" that is going to make her life complete. They had a short flirt, but then she finds out that he is married, and her life puzzle can never be completed.
AHHHHH. I mean, other than the whole marriage thing, I was close!
@@markabusireactions Miku use anything as inspiration. Movies, books or whatever. Everything might not be spelled out in the lyrics, but I read somewhere that this was the story she was inspired of.
What an awesome song. Both versions are exquisite🔥
The rhythm section is definitely monstrous, but one reason it dominates so much in their recordings, even their live ones, is that the lead guitars is usually pushed back in the mix. That's not a problem when you hear them in person where you're stunned by how much Kanami plays. At least I was. It's also not a problem in their instrumentals. You should react to the studio MV for From Now On. Also the live recording for Onset. The three of them, Kanami, Misa, and Akane are really strong in these songs. I heard From Now on in person last spring and they killed it. Just like the acoustics give you a proper appreciation for Saiki, the instrumentals give you a real understanding of how good the three key instrumentalist really are. From Now On is my favorite song right now, from any band.
From Now On is my instrumental pick as well. Very guitar heavy. But if you want that direct comparison, they have those white room instrumentals for some songs. Giovanni is a good showcase there, where you almost can't believe how apeshit Kanami is going until you see it without the vocals.
At some point, Mark was talking about the endurance of the guitarist from Gojira tapping stuff, and it made me think of Onset.
Well seeing as my comment has gone from this morning i'll say "Don't You Tell Me" live at Zepp, Tokyo, 2018. Idk why.🤷♂️ P.S "Please" :)
Yeah that confused me too, I dunno where they went, still said I had comments, and when I clicked on the video, nothing
Same with your previous video "Daydreaming". I had to repost afterwards...
You are right about the rhythm section overshadowing the vocals. I mean, the KAM core (Kanami-Akane-MISA) is a power trio right up there with the best ever. One of the things they do is make complicated and elaborate things sound simple and they change up the way they play simple things. If you notice, she changes the way she plays the chords in the second verse of the acoustic version. It's not drastic but it keeps your attention.
I love how they change up the emotion of the song. It strikes me as a song about, to quote Alanis Morissette "... meeting the man of my dreams, and then meeting his beautiful wife." The "but that's fine with me" lyric is angry sarcasm in the rock version, heartbroken acceptance in the acoustic version.
Reduce it down to the bare bones and you've got a beautiful and beautifully structured song. In the rock version, Kanami plays a blistering and accusatory guitar solo, in the ballad version you get Kanami's ethereal backing harmonies. Which one is better? Uh, define "better."
For what it's worth, I looked up "ballad" in the online etymology dictionary. It says:
*ballad (n)*
late 15c., from Old French _ballade_ "dancing song" (13c.), from Old Provençal _ballada_ "(poem for a) dance," from _balar_ "to dance," from Late Latin _ballare_ "to dance" (see *ball* (n.2)). Originally a song intended to accompany a dance; later "a short narrative poem suitable for singing" (17c.).
I've started just referring to every song of theirs as a ballad in protest.
@@daaaaaave Ah, ha ha ha!
The acoustic version of "Puzzle" made me a fan of Saiki😲😍💕💕
The struggle is real, trying to take in all that Band-Maid do on a first listen.
I can say that the more I listen to each song and "get past" the instrumental surprises, the more mental space I have for things like meaning and the subtleties of each of the parts, including appreciating Saiki's voice with all the nuance she puts in.
Top, top reaction again, Mark. Loving the work.
Thanks mate, I appreciate it! ☺️
Kanami, their lead guitarist actually has a beautiful voice for this acoustic version. Its fun hearing her do it rather than Miku.
Agreed!
I like them both because they major on different strengths of the band: instruments -- Puzzle Live -- and singing -- Puzzle Acoustic. And both display Kanami's skill at composing and rearranging. See the Christmas acoustic concert for more of Kanami's rearranging handiwork. But for emotion, maybe "About Us" -- a love song to the fans they couldn't see because of Covid.
The Christmas concert, I’m holding off on doing for reasons ☺️
Awesome!! Love both versions….my favorite is whichever one is playing at that moment….”From Now On” or “Blooming” are my 2 favorites.
Regarding Kanami's way of playing the electric solo, I think Band-Maid's motto for song writing is "how can we make this more difficult to play?" 😊
She knows better than me, so I can’t say a word really lol
I believe she's getting a bit of a slur effect by using the same string. I think it's coming from the briefly open string as she moves. Not sure but it's definitely for effect.
@@thisismadness6962 possibly a slight slide as she gets to it? Or maybe it’s so that when she hammers off it gives that open note rather than the string below.
Great reaction. This is Band-Maid doing what Band-Maid does best and they do just about everything they attempt very well.
Notice that in the amplified version every riff either sounds like an emergency vehicle siren or an alarm going off. Their use of a backing track is expertly done: the synth is barely noticeable but a true enhancement and Misa has added some Deep Booming Bass pedals into the mix. It's not that much different from the studio version but somehow BETTER. Maybe it's Miku's guitar? The amplified version personifies "Hell Hath No Fury..." and is a great example of what a woman means when she says "Well. That's Fine With ME!"
Your recording of the acoustic version foreshortened the "music box" intro that sets a very childlike and innocent mood. Saiki sounds as if she burst into tears at any moment.
The song is about a woman who has met a man who, in her mind, completes her and she engages him in an intimate relationship.. But all too soon she finds out that he is married and cheating on his wife, not only with herself but with multiple other women. She is angry with him but is more angry with herself for desperately needing to forgive him and to continue what she knows is a toxic relationship that will never be what she wishes for. She knows it isn't going to end well and regrets that the "Puzzle" is falling apart.
_what a woman means when she says "Well. That's Fine With ME!"_
This needs a Ron Howard voiceover - "It was not fine with her."
You'd love the 14 song acoustic set from Dec 2021, where Kanami adapted all the songs featured in the set to acoustic versions. It's on the same channel as where you found the acoustic version of Puzzle. There's also the song they performed at this gig after Puzzle, Anemone, which is sublime and heart-wrenchingly beautiful.
I plan on doing the acoustic set for Christmas! ☺️
@@markabusireactions Appropriate as they released it on xmas day 2021. They dressed in what they called "reindeer brown and santa red" clothes for it!
When you take into account that all\most of BAND MAID songs start out on either an Acoustic Guitar or a Piano you then have to wonder how they come up with all those fills - with drums, bass and guitar - never mind the vocal changes. The emotion that SAIKI pours into this version (along with KANAMI's backing vocals) is absolutely - genuinely - heart melting.
if you like the Band-Maid acoustic sound, I'd totally recommend Sayonakidori, which has Miku as lead singer! That's one of the songs that always gets me emotional.
Miku ROCKS, and Akane haa some really nice backing vocals.
The acoustic version never fails to make me cry 😢
They also sang Anemone acoustic after this, which is even more emotional for me anyway. Saiki looked as if she had watery eyes at the end. Anemone (original) is my favourite song of theirs but you'll have to get the studio audio as the only live versions are fancams. There is also a Band Maiko version 'Ansan'. Saiki has called Anemone a ballad.
You guys love your ballads lol
Love to hear a double reaction to the studio Anemone and the acoustic.
@@markabusireactions I think it's because of what you pointed out during the acoustic, Saiki's vocals really shine more in the slow to mid tempo songs.
The only Maid I have never seen doing backing vocals is MISA, and the way she plays bass it would be difficult, but I wouldn`t be surprised if she could sing too. These ladies are all amazing !!!
MISA does a bit of group backup vocals in the XMas acoustic, and her Band-Maiko counterpart does "sing" in Secret Maiko Lips.
@@bandmaidfanATLTook the words right out of my mouth. On Page from that show they all sing in the "chorus."
MISA was actually the lead singer in her old band which apparently was very well received, so yeah, MISA can definitely sing.
Saiki’s first good microphone was MISA’s Sennheiser.
The sister video to this acoustic is Anemone. It was played right after Puzzle at the same show and is also a phenomenal Kanami Saiki duet. Really hits you in the feels and worth a watch if you can find it.
They have a whole acoustic set list from 2021. It would be nice to see you react to acoustic and studio/live versions side by side🤧
I JUST MIGHT DO THAT
I just spent ALL my pocket money ordering the Limited Edition CD from the Christmas concert.
Regrets? Not one, except I wish I had been a fan at the time when I could have bought it from the B-M store.
Thanks Mark!
The first time I heard the acoustic version of puzzle my jaw dropped and hit the floor! What did this was the vocals…
Of Kanami!!!!! Boy oh boy what a beautiful voice coming from someone who does not like singing (supposedly!). Yes Saiki is wonderful but it Kanami who stole my heart with that angelic voice! Thanks!! Peace & Respect from Montreal🇨🇦
Kanami🥰
Great one, markabusi. You could do the same to No God. Official Live + Acoustic
You totally surprised me with this most beautiful duet, acoustic version from Zepp Live 2018. It was performed along with Anemone- Both are real gems. You may be surprised to find that the band made acoustic versions out of 14 of their songs for a live online performance in 2021 and CD in 2022. All completely re-arranged by the genius that is Kanami, who also has a great voice.
I AM surprised to hear that!
To see what the other 3 members can do acoustically and hear some beautiful backing vocals by Akane, the drummer, check out their performance of Sayonakidori from the same show. Also, seeing Miku take over the lead in both vocals and guitar and totally nail it is something special to behold..
Thanks again for another great reaction!
🤘🤩🤘
I’m planning on doing a double bill of that song, after I’ve done an instrumental from them!
my #1 song by band maid is puzzle acoustic, and consider how much i love their music is saying something.
thanks for these..you have essentially got me into band maid !
Since she is the outside wiman in love with a married man you can hear anguish in her voice and it comes out even move in the acoustic. Was waiting for you to pick up that thats the lead guitarist doing backup this time lol
Kanami, without exception, writes such a strong musical skeleton that it handles being stripped butt naked or laden with the heaviest drums, guitar and bass riffs without buckling an inch. It is a joy to behold at current times when producers "hide the crimes" with massive production being absolutely necessary to glue the so-called "compositions" together.
I’ve always firmly believed that you start basic and build the complexity on top. It’s really the only way for the song to function imo
Agree. The other great example of Kanami"s composition is YOLO. An intricate banger as the full electric version. A beautiful melody in the solo piano version by Kanami. And of course, the entire Christmas Acoustic set was a real eye opener.
@@DAVID-io9nj I still need to check that out
@@markabusireactions Yeah, you Scottish are historically known for your simple music ... after all, what is Pibroach except a 9 note song with 20 million 'ornamentations'?? :-)
@@RetiredInThailand I mean, I’ve never heard of it lol, so… you tell me 😂
For something else a bit different from Band-Maid you should check out 'Gion-Cho'.
The story behind this song is that a few years ago they were doing yearly 'April Fool's Gifts' for their fans (release some surprize every April 1st.) This sonf was one of those April Fool's Gift songs.
They usually dressed up in Traditional Gisha apprentice (Maiko) outfits, rename the band to 'Band-Maiko' and did a cover of one of their Band-Maid songs with traditional instrument sounds thrown in for effect.
This 'joke' resulted in a whole EP full of Band-Maiko doing Band-Maid covers ... but one of their Band-Maiko songs was really unique, the only "original' Band-Maiko song of the bunch (Gion-Cho!) A musical and cinematic masterpiece!!
Now, if that wasn't enough, this was also a little bit after Band-Maid had started writing their own songs, and up till around that time any original song writing was mostly handled by Miku doing the lyrics and Kanami writing and arranging the music (Miku was already considered a great lyricist in Japan, and especially in the art of using English words in the lyrics in a meaningful way, and not just as random throw away words, and Kanami was always Kanami, the Mozart of modern Rock. **See note at end)
Kanami had decided that not only was she going to teach Miku how to play guitar but she was going to start getting the rest of the girls to help a lot more with the music writing and arrangements (not because she was getting tired of doing all the work, but to help all the girls reach their potential beyond just being great players of other people's music.)
Gion-Cho was one of the first attempts at this kind of collaboration, where all the girls contributed to the music writing and arrangements as well as taking more leading role with their instruments and voices and not just by doing solos, but by providing the main 'theme' for the music and not just their regular (awesome) rhythm (you might notice that in most Band-Maid songs Kanami usually lays down a complicated chord 'comping' progression that forms the real basis for the song's melody, in this case though she left that duty to Akane and MISA, and boy oh boy did they shine.)
So in this song Kanami basically took a break, she does not do any solos ... personally one of my favorite things about Band-Maid is Kanami's consistently tasteful solos, she is my favorite Maid not just for her playing (I consider MISA & Akane to be better technicians of their instruments than Kanami, but Kanami takes a backseat to no one in terms of tasteful music expression), but for her musical writing, arranging and mentoring abilities ... but Gion-Cho, without Kanami doing much of anything (in terms of guitar playing for the song) has become one of my top 2 or3 Band-Maid songs and increased my admiration for Kanami even more for her ability to 'play' a beautiful song without actually doing hardly any 'playing' at all!
Gion-Cho is a must listen for any real Band-Maid fan.
**Note: About Miku's writing ... Japanese songs often have a lot of English words thrown in. This is not just some cringy mostly meaningless SOP to the Western fans (although in the majority of case that's what it seems to be due to the writer not really understanding English) there is also a good lyrical reason doing this. Japanese is a language that can be best described as words consisting of the shortest syllables possible, all ending in a vowel sound ... Japanese words, and syllables very seldom end with a 'consonant' sound (example: even a short word like 'make' would be pronounced 'ma ka' in Japanese) so they use English words to break up the 'monotony', lack of variety and technical 'deficit' of using only Japanese words .... but not everyone can mix the two languages together and still come out with a coherent sound while keeping the result 'poetic' ... Miku is great at doing this, and is recognized for this skill in Japan, and many of her fans in the West.
"That backing vocal was....perfection"
Kanami's mantra is "I must do my best".
She made me realise that I had slipped in this regard...
I try to do better now.
That was fast....still we are on the same island.
These two versions of this song are so different that it is very difficult to compare them. It is, however, very easy to contrast them. Still, they each stand on their own as phenomenal pieces of music.
I didn’t think it would be that difficult tbh to compare them. Until I then listened to the acoustic and realised they’re massively different 😂
Anemone acoustic was also performed acoustic from the same show. Should check them out as well
💯
Being one of those who do (try) pay attentions to the lyrics (it's an education of course) - you've got to love a language that has a specific word for "the act of a snake shedding its skin", i.e. "nekugara. One also has to love a lyricist who uses this for effect - "Kimi no nekugarasa", i.e. "This is the skin you have shed" - but this continues to be effed up by a translation that insists instead.on "Memento's of you". I get that popular music lyrics don't necessarily gets treated like poetry, but this is an instance where this kind of imagery would sit well among the other metaphors of fx Tomas Tranströmer. Kobato does a fair amount of this kind of thing, and so gets accised of poetry.
Puzzle btw also sharers familiarities with the opening track of their "Domination" album: "I can't live without you".
You’re right, I would prefer it if the translation got across the more poetic aspects of the writing!
This is one of their easiest to translate songs because the English and Japanese lines are segregated, but it’s still not easy because it’s poetic. Their songs are also full of references and stuff that you’d need a ton of footnotes for. Captions are always going to fail you with them, unfortunately.
Nice contrast between the two versions 👍👍
Got me thinking when you mentioned it being a love song,,, another love song by Band Maid is “Choose Me”.
The lyrics would make any man weak at the knees, (actually more a song about lust than love)
Hahahaha
👍🇦🇺🤘
It’s a masterpiece of writing and interpretation.
It is very very good, I agree!
Converting it to acoustic is like hiding bodies. I just trust my Maids.
You should do this same thing with their song Different. Official version vs. Acoustic.
Great reaction love when those versions are compared as you did. Nice!
Thank you!!
Both versions are epic, large. The acoustic version is a tear jerker. Lol
MISA MISA MISA!!!!! the Thawed Princess and the Gentle Breeze the Thawed Princess and the Gentle Breeze the Thawed Princess and the Gentle Breeze!!!!!
Great work Mark, I appreciate your comments and stories.
Thank you!
The nuances of SAIKI’s vocals are clearly audible in every track. You just haven’t been paying attention.
I’ve seen them live threes times now, and each time I was looking forward to seeing MISA, KOBATO, and KANAMI doing their things, but in the end, to my surprise, I was completely entranced by SAIKI.
This bootleg live video was the first time for me to hear MINCHO sing. Her haunting backing vocals here are the perfect complement to SAIKI’s powerful voice.
These days, I’m obsessed with the song “I’ll,” from the ULEASHED EP. It sounds like no other BAND-MAID song. There’s no video, but you should be able to find an audio only link. If that fails, try SENSE or BLACK HOLE. All three are examples of the Progressive sound they’ve developed over the past two years. There’s so much going on that it takes several listens to start digesting it all, but those pieces become more and more rewarding each time.
You know I only get one shot at hearing them, yeah? 😂
What is next?
How about Sayonakidori Acoustic live? It has the other 3 members of Band-Maid doing their own acoustic 😀
That one will be happening, but next up is gonna be an instrumental! I kinda wanna experience everything that maids have to offer!
About Us a love song to the fans is a must.
Time to give some love to Miku as a vocalist. Try the two versions of Sayonakidori.
They never disappoint
I go into every reaction with the lowest expectations possible, just to be on the safe side
I love Miku's backing vocals -- her sustained notes. Both Miku and Saiki have great breath control. Oh, and Saiki has a great rasp -- she uses it in Domination near the start -- only once but it spices up the song. Kanami's soft high voice works so well in the acoustic version -- no drowning out Saiki, just supporting her.
It’s genius from the mind of Mincho.
She says I know we cant be together because you have a good girl waiting for you
And that’s fair enough, but what about our love Paul? Doesn’t that stand for something??
Whenever I watch the acoustic version I half think this is a song about Kanami’s unrequited love of Saiki :P
Great video as always, they have a great acoustic set that’s worth checking out. MISA cheats and plays her actual electric bass for chunks of it, but it works great.
I always enjoy your videos, the random tangents are good fun, the musical breakdowns are insightful and I learn things. Thanks for continuing on!
Aww thank you!! That means a lot to me!
@@markabusireactions If Evil Ducks like you Mark then you're doing something right....Oh i know what it is, you're not one of those "WOW" to everything fake channels :)
@@GaryHolloway-810 WOW 😂
@@markabusireactions Yeah that's what i mea....HEEEY!🤨
@@GaryHolloway-810 you need to promise me that if I continue doing this channel, and you ever see me heading in that direction, you give me a sharp reality check. Cause I REALLY don’t wanna go that route lol
May we suggest that you do exactly the same twin reaction to 'Sayonakidori'. The live in concert version, and the Acoustic version from the Christmas livestream. I think you will love the acoustic version of that one too. You will be surprised.
The Christmas acoustic concert is something you should definitely visit.
I’m going to… at Christmas lol
As for a recommendation, try Sayonakidori acoustic.
Manners might be my favorite BandMaid song and they have an acoustic version If not that than Sayonakidori or Catharsis
Lighters I don't use, Glasses in line, Even new clothes. The saddest three lines ever when you look at the implications.
Miku is a genius at saying so much is a few words. He's not keeping his distance, he comes round! He is everything to her, she is just a booty call to him; and the new clothes are the one's she 's bought vainly hoping to one day be seen out with him.
I should do deeper dives into the lyrics, but it’s really difficult on a first pass. Especially with so much happening musically.
Kanami doesnt like to sing she said. I think she has a beautiful voice and dead on harmonies.
She should sing more, she has a great voice!
I'm glad you were able to listen to them back to back. Really a case of the same song having two different personalities. The studio version is an argument. The acoustic version is a lament.
You are really going to appreciate the Christmas acoustic concert….
Never really listened Band-Maid before, but need to do that now.
Have you seen/heard cover by Disturbed of ”Sound of Silence”? Its gone around CZcams quite a lot during past years, but still surprisingly few people have heard it. It is very unexpected from the band.
I have not I don’t think? I will have a look
Nice reaction. Check out the "ballad": 'About Us'. Written for the fans.
It’s on the list!
First, may I suggest you check out Miku’s song, “Sayonakidori” both the live version, and the live acoustic Christmas show version (which she rearranged herself), based on your reaction to “Puzzle” I’m sure you will be impressed😮
Thanks for the great “double” to reaction to both versions of one of my all-time favorite Band-Maid songs😮😊
“Puzzle” was the first acoustic Band-Maid song I heard when I first discovered them almost 2 years ago and it was a total “OMG, these amazing ladies can do it all” moment for me that showed me how just how versatile and talented they really are 😮
I can’t do anything from the acoustic Xmas show sadly. I have big plans for that show lol
You’re in for a treat Mark, the Christmas acoustic concert is quite amazing and beautifully done. 😮
Hmmm, I’m not quite sure what plans you have for the acoustic show, but I hope you can do some more double reactions because the originals would certainly give you a lot of points of reference for your commentary on the acoustic versions..
Whatever you do end up doing I’m looking forward to it.
Thanks for your entertaining reactions Mark , I’m enjoying your journey into the Band-Maid “pigeon hole” (it’s a Miku thing 😉)
PS.. No sure if anybody has told you yet, but Band-Maid has a site called Band-Maid Prime that has all of the Christmas concert, Christmas concert with band commentary, and tons of other historical content, including concerts, interviews, and individual performances..
If you enjoy Band-Maid and are looking for all kinds of content to view or comment on their site is a blast and full of great information and entertainment..
Cost for me is about $12 (CAD) a month
@@steveleathers2630 I got married recently and so I am dirt poor haha, but if the channel ever takes off (and I’ve set up a patreon to maybe try and help me out a little lol), then that’s absolutely an expense I would shell out for!
And thank you, I appreciate the kind words! I’m just stumbling my way through this tbh, so it’s nice to hear that people appreciate it!
Smile….acoustic version is sweet….they really should do this more often, not necessarily this song but any one of their amazing acoustic versions at every show
Great reaction man. Love both versions but you are right, the acoustic version carries more emotion. Saiki is a fantastic vocalist but there is just something about Kanami's pure almost ethereal vocals here that just gets me in the "feels", I almost feell like crying, and I am a guy from the North East of Scotland not renowed for showing our emotions.
I think it’s a Scottish thing, trying to avoid being called a fanny 😂
@@markabusireactions Yeh think your are right,
just goes to show... Kanamis' brain doesnt work like us mere mortals, she is a f'in musical genius, and Saikis' vision of how to change the timimg and cadence of the lyrics isnt far behind, so like i've said many times to many reactars, this is band maid doing band maid things
full band brings out the frustration and anguish in the lyrics.. acoustic brings the sorrow to the fore. my $0.02
You need to look up their Christmas concert. It’s not Christmas music, it’s an acoustic concert
😁
Dammit i won't be here at 5pm. So i'll pre-empt what i think you said Mark. "I'll tell you's noo, as an advocate of 12 fret bass slides that bassist is fu**in' amazing & the rest of us can f**k off home". Am i close, huh, huh?
Not even slightly! I don’t even think I mention the bass at all in this one 😂
If it helps I also won’t be here at 5pm cause I’m working lol, dunno why I’ve even made this a premiere 😂
@@markabusireactions Haha. So you're not even here for your own premiere, seems a bit of a weird thing to do but done with style.😌
@@GaryHolloway-810 I’ve seen it already mate. It’s good! 😂 okay I’ll take the premiere off, I suppose…
Anyone who likes Band-Maid, or is a fan of Band-Maid, or is a certified Maidiac, owes it to themselves to experience IN FULL, both 2017 Shinkiba Studio Coast AND 2018 ZEPP concerts. (Puzzle is better there than the Garden concert, imo.) But none are better than those two concerts -- even counting the awesome 2021 Shibuya concert -- for sound, atmosphere, performance and song list! Thx Mark, for bringing us these two great Puzzle performances.
You’re welcome!!
@TomClark-Futoura Do you know where I can purchase these two concerts? I Don’t want to join Band-Maid Prime just want to own those concerts on DVD.
@@ziggyphoto Yeah, it's hard to find those two concerts on DVD/BD. If you can, it'll cost many hundreds of dollars. I get my Japan media from CDJapan. But for only about $80 / year, you can get those two concerts streaming in good quality, plus all the other existing and new stuff on bandmaidprime.
If you can't stream or cast to your current TV... might be the time to upgrade. ;-) I use my laptop with headphone plugged into a Focus Scarlett 2i2 preamp so I can't blast the Maids to my head. 🤘🤯
I think in the song 'Before Yesterday', Saiki-san's rasp is the most obvious. But since then she's had surgery so it has disappeared. Although now, she's able to sing higher octaves without strain.
That’s weird, the exact opposite happened to Bjork!
You actually absorbed a shockingly large amount of the song's meaning for a first pass. My understanding of the lyrics (which could be wrong) is that it's more or less a love song from the perspective of the mistress. It's about stumbling into a relationship that completes you but that you also know is inherently ephemeral and not wanting to give that up. Also it's about accepting the reality that there's nothing you can do. Trying to be more would ruin your lover's life and you'd lose them; meanwhile accepting less would be a significant loss for you, so you're just kinda stuck in limbo in perpetuity. It's one of my favorite songs by them because I can't relate to it AT ALL, but I completely receive the feeling it's trying to convey.
Anyway you also stumbled into Band-Maid's best kept secret, which is that their lead guitarist, Kanami, can also sing (she does the backing vocals on the acoustic version while Miku, the rhythm guitarist, does the backing in almost all other situations). The only other backing vocals I can recall Kanami doing are on Different, but I'm sure she sneaks in from time to time.
Since you're willing to do these double features, my vote for the next Band-Maid reaction would be to just cash in and do the live version of Manners + Black Hole featured on their official youtube channel.
Mark already did Manners + Black Hole, FYI.
WATCH MORE OF MY VIDEOS 😂
Shit, I did watch it, I even commented on it. Sorry, fake fan over here, I'll see myself out...
Uh, I guess if my fake fan vote still counts it'd go back to The Dragon Cries or Forward (acoustic).
EDIT: I even forgot to leave a like, this isn't my morning boys.
@@bbobjs you don’t need to leave a like lol, it thank you! And don’t worry, I would forget watching me too 😂
You almost got the gist of the lyrics, but what you missed is that the other party here is married.
Sneaky!!
Aw yeah. Getting into it now.
I'm going to ignore the Enter Shikari comment. Not because you compared them to BM, which you didn't, but because I had just about managed to scrub them from my memory.
😂😂😂 I remember buying their album. Put it on in the car. 2 minutes later, threw it out the car window lol
I think if you go back and focus on the lyrics, it’s a little clearer that it’s about falling in love and wanting a relationship she can’t have, because they chose to be with someone else. How they have to be like nothing in public, and her kind of lying to herself about being fine with it, trying to move on, but she keeps falling for them again.
The different versions are cool, because they have different emotional takes on the lyrics. The acoustic is more sorrowful and longing. The album version is more scornful. But they both fit.
Nice catch on Kanami’s playing. It’s easy to lose track of how incredibly busy she is throughout, and she plays pretty weird. Guitarists who try to learn their songs get tripped up by her choices. I can’t say why she makes them, but they are really serious musicians. Misa will go up and down the neck a lot, when she could just play a different string, because she prefers the tonal quality of one string over another, and it might be that with Kanami as well.
Tbf I used to do that a lot too, if a note sounded differently from how I liked it in one string, I would just move to another string with the corresponding note. Like, 3rd fret on the A string always sounds better than the 8th fret on the low E, in my head anyway. Even though, same bloody bite
@@markabusireactions Are you saying this to communicate that you don't have to be that serious of a musician to do that, or to communicate that you were a serious musician?
@@daaaaaave both of those options sound wrong to me lol.
I don’t think you NEED to be serious musician to do it, if you’re playing by ear and going by what sounds nicer to you? But I also can see how a serious musician would consciously make those kinds of decisions?
I still think that Puzzle acoustic version is the best acoustic song they have!
So I shouldn’t listen to any more, got it! ☺️
You've done a fantastic job of breaking that down on first listen, kudos.
My suggestion would be to do a similar thing with the song 'Sayonakidori'. What's interesting about the song is you get to hear what Band-Maid could have sounded like, if they hadn't recruited Saiki for vocal duties. Miku sings the entire song. There isn't an official video for the original, but there is a video with English lyrics using footage taken from one of their online live concerts and an official acoustic video for the song on the Band-Maid channel, which I think would make for great comparison, as well as a bit of a twist on what Band-Maid usually do. 👍🤟
That’s a plan!
Hey dude just watched your Worm Sheperd reaction, personally im a big fan of them but i get its not for everyone, still thought your comments on it were hilarious haha
You said in that video that you liked bands like Sleep Token that have cleans and much more melody, so I highly recommend Rivers of Nihil, they're song 'The Void from Which No Sound Escapes' would be much more your style I think.
I’ll pop it on the list then! And thank you for not being too offended haha 😂
I think this was just before Saiki had throat surgery
Would you, yet again, like something a little different from them? Wonderland live. You're welcome in advance.
It’s already on the list!
The jist of the lyrics bluntly....its about being the "sidepiece" but falling for the guy....
Who hasn’t been there!
🤘🏳⚧(⚵⚶⚴𓁴⚳⚢⚸)🏳🌈🦘
This LIVE version of 'Puzzle' is good, but like 'Play' I prefer the original LIVE version better. BAND-MAID always play to Backing Tracks, except when the airlines losses the luggage with the computer in it, which has happened. Then they just rearrange their setlist. They were more worried about the sneakers they bought in L.A. But any keyboards, synths that Kanami played on the recording or loops, effects doubled vocals go on the Backing Track so the LIVE performance will sound more like the recordings. Yes, she could play that riff differently, but it wouldn't sound the same or have the same feel to it. And yes, Kanami can sing, she just doesn't very often. Usually it one of the chants, but those are often on the Backing Track as well. For the next reaction how about another Double Feature? You could do 'Secret My Lips' along with their BAND-MAIKO version 'Secret Maiko Lips'.
To be fair, sneakers are quite expensive these days
I think the meaning of the song is being in love with someone who is taken.
As for Saiki's voice, she did have surgery for vocal polyps in 2018, I believe it was after that concert (maybe?). She used to sing very passionately but without proper training and restraint, and recovery, so she was really damaging her vocal chords. I believe near the end she started sounding like a chain smoker, hence the rasp, and had to save her voice for concerts and recordings only. She has recovered nicely from surgery and now sings with more purpose and control and is very careful in how she manages and recovers after a concert. It was a bit of a wake up call for her as she realized her voice was her instrument and she had to take care of it.
Small fact: Kanami flubs the first bend in her solo in the live version of Puzzle in the Tokyo Garden concert. They "fixed" it in post for the official live video. At the time she was probably upset at herself but all the fans still adore her.
As for your comment on the vocals versus the instrumentation and what you listen to, it's a very common thing when people listen to Band-Maid. Fans of pop music will hear vocals first, and fans of rock/metal and musicians in general will tend to go towards the instrumentation. What's great about BM is that it brings these kinds of fans together. If you listen on the surface level, they write very good catchy songs, but if you want to dig deeper, there's a lot for musicians to nerd out about.
Next song, I think you have to do an instrumental of theirs. They only have like 5 or 6. The ones you can access on CZcams would be 'Onset' or 'From Now On'. From Now On is the newest. You'll find all their instrumentals have a similar structure, but are slightly different. If you were to listen to their first instrumental in order to their latest, you might see a sort of evolution.
Oh, if you like live harmonies, Saiki and Miku's voices sound great together in 'Freedom' and 'Wonderland', both official live videos on YT.
Saiki’s surgery was in summer of 2017, before the Studio Coast show in November 2017 and Zepp Tokyo show in April 2018.
@@HaroMatsuRestarted yeah definitely lots of wrong information out there. in the interview it seems like she said she made the decision in the summer of 2017 and it happened quickly after. 👍
Sorry, there is no "better" ... only BAND MAID and thats the BEST!
Says the person whose username is Panic! at the Disco 😂
@@markabusireactions ... we try to avoid disco-ing :p .
@@PANIC_aka_PinD 😂😂
oops. I kind of liked enter shikari as well... 😅
We were all young once!
So...... does this count as a ballad (finally)? 😜
Only the acoustic version lol
@@markabusireactions I think it's amazing how the same exact song can be translated into two different genres. Anyway, this is an excellent comparison video between the two versions of Puzzle.
@@RahimRahmat thanks dude