#034 Band Theory ⑥ | Kuroyume
This time, it's Kuroyume.
When I say Kuroyume, I am only referring to their first active period from 1994 to 1999.
(I have listened to their material after they resumed activities, but it didn't really strike a chord with me...)
When I was in middle school, Kuroyume's popularity was off the charts.
Kiyoharu (hereafter Kiyosan), who was also a fashion leader), was particularly popular, and many of my friends were heavily influenced by him.
Everyone wore used clothes & rubber soles! From that day on, I loved wearing those white rubber soles everywhere I went!
I was aware of Kuroyume's existence through places like BEAMS, but
I got hooked after borrowing "1997 10.31 Live At Shinjuku Loft" from my classmate Kyo-chan, whose father owned an electronics store.
When I heard it for the first time, I thought, "Wow, what is this? It's so cool!" and I bought it immediately. Kyo-chan used to draw a dog holding a knife and saying "YA!" on his desk. I think those who know, know!
And I remember listening to "CORKSCREW", released in '98, more than any other CD that came out that year.
That was Kuroyume, but the following year in '99, they suspended activities! Many punk kids were left in tears.
In my circle, Kuroyume was a rare existence at the time that was listened to by both Visual Kei fans and punk fans.
Let's talk about Kuroyume today.
BEST 10 Kuroyume songs that strike a chord
10th place: MASTURBATING SMILE
This is a punk number that opens the aforementioned 6th album, "CORKSCREW".
The drums and bass in the intro are already cool, but it's simple from start to finish!
Simple is punk, and the band score is thoroughly just one guitar.
And above all, the connection from this song to the next, FASTER BEAT, is cool. It's like two songs in one.
And furthermore, the punk numbers that follow in a barrage—SPOON&CAFFEINE, Aftereffect, CANDY—are incredibly exciting.
As an aside, when this song came out, a local friend of mine with a low IQ called it "Monster Batting Smile" lol
9th place: Aftereffect -aftereffect-
And then there's Aftereffect. This song was used in commercials and such, so I'm sure many people know it.
Anyway, this song is all about the intro. The intro (and outro) is insanely cool.
I think the tour members Taketomo Sakashita & Eiji Mitsuzono were the best during this period, so Eiji's insane drumming in the intro of this song is truly incredible! It's the best!
8th place: Unlearned Man 1998 Crazy Fire Version
I think what's so crazy about this song is summed up in the phrase "1998 Crazy Fire Version".
Crazy Fire lol
Anyway, this Crazy Fire Version, as the name suggests, is about three times the speed of the original and is just cool.
You can't help but shout "MARVELOUS!!!!" at the beginning.
7th place: BARTER
This song is amazing!Sarcasm, sarcasm & sarcasm!
It completely criticizes the music industry of the era when this song was released (mid-90s).
Well, he sings about "feeding them bait to raise them," "songs are second-hand," "disposable," "too fast rotation", and in the end, Kiyosan says, "Someday I'll smash it to pieces" lol
Anyway, he's criticizing the family lol
Anyway, interpretation is free, but it's just so cynical and cool.
Well, the song title is "Barter," after all...
6th Place: Kamakiri 1997 Burst Version
And this next songcriticizes the record company they belong to lol
Kiyo-san had nothing to fear in those days! That's what makes you swoon! That's what makes you admire him!
He even calls the record company that takes care of them"idiots who wield financial power" lol
Hitoki's bass in this song is just cool from start to finish.
I tried to copy it myself, but my hands seriously felt like they were going to cramp. Brutal!
5th Place: LAST PLEASURE
This is the final track on the masterpiece album CORKSCREW.
Anyway, this whole album is full speed from start to finish, but this song is also incredibly fast. And brutal!
Above all, Kuroyume was broadcasting their tour live on WOWOW during this peak period, and I watched that Umeda HEAT BEAT concert like a madman, and that LAST PLEASURE was super intense.
And my friend from college who grew up watching this same concert, who is like a brother to me, also loves this song, and when we go to karaoke, we belt it out in this Umeda HEAT BEAT version lol
4th Place: LIKE A ANGEL
Here is the first single to appear. The eternal final number of Kuroyume's concerts. I only saw Kuroyume once, but even then, the last song was of course this one. And naturally, I belted out "Shoki shoudou ni~" (To the initial impulse~). I put my heart into it.
A memory I have of this song is that a classmate in my first year of high school was covering it for the school festival, and it was just solame lol
3rd Place: FAKE STAR
And this is it! FAKE STAR!
I had heard the original version of this song, but after hearing it at about four times the speed on "1997 10.31 Live At Shinjuku Loft," I slowly became captivated.
And this song also features a brilliant, scathing irony toward the music industry.
"Eyesore systems obstructing the charts," "Crushing buds through seniority," "Ridiculous attention, priority based on money" and so on. In short, the music industry is crap, and Kiyo-san is going to escape before he gets brainwashed and tainted by such an industry.
"If being a foreigner-wannabe is excellent, then I am a FAKE STAR full of lies" he says.
By the way, the theory that this "foreigner-wannabe" refers to B'z is very strong lol
The lyrics are great like that, but above all, it's the song's sense of speed. Hitoki's bass solo in the middle is also top-notch.
2nd Place: BAD SPEED PLAY
And then there's this song! Every Kuroyume fan must love this one.
It's BAD SPEED PLAY! It makes no sense, right? lol
SPEED is probably that thing, you know...
Anyway, this song also fiercely criticizes peers in the industry.
"A wooden puppet good at stealing," "A drag queen praised by a blind woman"and so on; it fiercely criticizes artists who were dominating the scene at the time lol
And when experts sing this song at karaoke,
at the end they shout,"Give me the drugs!" "Give me the drugs!"lol
Also, I like the bass solo in the final part because it sounds like RANCID.
1st Place: Shonen
And for 1st place, it has to be this one without any twists. When you think of Kuroyume, you think of Shonen, and when you think of Shonen, you think of Kuroyume. Personally, I think Kiyoharu-san's coolness peaked around this music video.
A man who looks good in just denim and bare skin—Kiyoharu-san.
And although this isn't a heavy song, thesuper-duper undulatingbassline in the intro is supreme.
The melody is great, and the lyrics are good too. The final "BOY!" is perfect. It will surely be a rock anthem passed down forever!
That's all, next up is BOOWY!