Japanese Visual Kei

MyGen Profile GeneratorThis is an unofficial fanpage for visual kei music . Although the emphasis will be on visual kei bands from japan other japanese music performers will be listed from time to time . This page is currently still being built and will forever be under construction . All music files belong to the artists as mentioned .Songs will be changed on a 2 - 4 week basis .At said time a bulletin will be posted so if you have set your profile song to one from this page it will simply dissapear.As i build this page please feel free to ask any questions or answer any of my own absurd questions.Also please if you have any suggestions on things you wish to see or corrections concerning content please bring them to my attention . The inspiration for this profile is due to the sudden and overwhelming interest in japanese culture in America and worldwide.With that being said on to the bands . Japanese music as of any nation comes in absolutely all forms . From rock to rap to sappy love stuff . Though i have yet to hear japanese country. In the specifics of visual kei however the range of style is no less prevalent.The aspect that sets visual kei apart from other japanese bands is mainly the theatrics. All bands wear elaborate costumes and makeup.Often times these theatrics will run along the lines of elements specified through the content of their lyrics and musical content .Such as the stage shows and themes.Many bands will each take on their own act according to their style wich can range from all aspects of sound.These styles can change from one album to the next or even many times within one single album . There are no boundries.Bands such as Psycho le cemu or Aikaryu will even designate one or two members as being the "girl" in the band .Wich forms the next topic , there are no women in visual kei.There are women in japanese music yes but in visual kei all the members are men. Albeit very very beautiful men but men nonetheless.To the knowledge of most people visual kei performers are most often heterosexual , at times bisexual and sometimes even gay. But the sexuality of the performers has little or nothing to do with the costumes they wear music they make or lifestyle they lead.If one reaches back into japanese history they will find tales of kabuki. Japanese theater.In the realm of kabuki all the women were always portrayed by male performers.As can be said with visual kei.There is much controversey over who started it all.Many will say that it was X Japan.Though this may make sense seeing as they have been around forever.Yet there may as well have been bands dating farther back or presently who were on the scene that did not have such high recognition. The answer may never be known. Punks have always argued over the origins of their scene .Some will say it was the Sex Pistols in britain , others say the Ramones in New York while few will argue it was the Germs in California. In any case it is apparent that such concepts have always existed through history.At present though many of us may enjoy modern japanese performances in their rawest and most extravagent of states.As of currently it cannot be denied that Dir en Grey is most prominent in the world market of japanese music.Reguardless of your prefferences or favorites Dir en gre have been around for quite some time and were discovered by X Japan.Though their popularity may be mostly due to intense promotion it is nonetheless to this day most prominent. In the past year Dir en grey Debut on american soil with three sold out shows in march 06. D'espairsRay did two rounds earlier in 06 and even ealier still in the fall of 05 .Many other bands from the visual kei persuasion have come to america as well as other nations in about the same time frame of the past two to three years . Yet it is unfourtunate that they are often stereotyped as being followed by the fans of anime/manga and are thus made to perform at conventions and similar events as opposed to playing a solid concert. There will be more on this issue to come in the future . As for now though i still have much work to do on this profile . the help of all the fans will be needed and desired in order to help maintain diversity and accurate information. Between me . you . The bands and of course all the others on myspace who operate band profiles it will hopefully support the interest in japanese music enough to develope a following outside of japan.