Why did BECK become a 'life-changing manga'? A thorough explanation of its impact on the music scene
Hello everyone.
In this article, I will explain the impact that Harold Sakuishi's masterpiece manga 'BECK' has had on the music scene and youth culture.
I'm sure many of you were inspired to start a band because of BECK.
In fact, this work is not just a coming-of-age manga; it is a work that has influenced Japanese music culture itself.
Today, I will delve into the specific reasons why.
BECK is a music manga that was serialized from 1999 to 2008.
It is the story of the protagonist, Koyuki, who meets the genius guitarist Ryusuke and grows as part of the band 'BECK'.
What makes it distinctive is its incredibly 'realistic' depiction.
・Talk about equipment
・The atmosphere of live music venues
・Interpersonal relationships within a band
・The grit and struggle of trying to make it big
These aspects are depicted thoroughly.
And the musical genres are also quite broad, including punk, grunge, alternative, and hip-hop.
In other words, BECK is a work that serves as both an 'entry point for those who don't know music' and a work with 'a reality that satisfies music lovers'.
First, this is the biggest impact.
'I started a band after reading BECK'
This is truly common.
Especially in the early to mid-2000s, the existence of BECK was behind the Japanese band boom.
Why was it so influential?
The reason is simple: it felt 'attainable'.
For example, NANA has too much charisma.
But BECK is different.
- You don't get better even if you practice
- You fail at live shows
- You clash with band members
It properly shows that kind of reality.
That's why readers think:
'Maybe I can do this too'
This 'realistic distance between success and failure' is what drove many young people to music stores.
Another important point about BECK is that it is not major-label oriented.
In the story,
- The overseas indie scene
- DIY spirit
- Self-production
- Emphasis on live performances
These values are strongly depicted.
This had a significant impact on Japanese music listeners.
For example, at the time,
・Nirvana
・Red Hot Chili Peppers
・Oasis
BECK functioned as a gateway to these overseas bands.
Furthermore,
'Selling well doesn't mean it's right'
'Coolness is found in the live scene'
Spreading these values was also a major factor.
It was a pioneering work that spread the sense of indie-orientation and DIY culture, as we call it today, through manga.
BECK is often called a 'manga you can hear'.
Even though no sound actually plays, the intensity and groove of the live scenes come across.
This is due to Harold Sakuishi's expressive power, but also largely because it stimulated the reader's 'imagination'.
In other words, BECK is,
a work that expanded the 'experience of listening to music'.
It was later adapted into an anime and a live-action film, but many still say 'the original is the best' because of this room for imagination.
This is a point that sets it apart from other music manga.
Its influence was significant not just in music, but also in fashion.
・Tattered T-shirts
・Vintage clothing
・Rugged street style
The so-called 'unpretentious rock style'.
This spread through BECK.
Also, the homages to real-life bands and cultural references that appear in the work are important.
More people started digging into things like, 'What is the original source of that logo?'
In other words, BECK functioned as a gateway to culture.
To summarize, there are four major impacts of BECK.
・It increased the number of people starting bands
・It popularized an indie-oriented mindset
・It established the expression of a 'manga you can hear'
・It also spread to fashion and culture
And above all else,
not just 'music is cool' but
'a life spent playing music is cool'
It made people think that.
This is the reason why BECK continues to be talked about even today.
So, in this article, I have explained the influence that the manga 'BECK' has had.
Here, I share in-depth stories about music and culture.
See you next time.
