Failure to Launch?

TLRS 3rd single and theme song for the world’s most popular fighting game (Tekken 8) is possibly dropping 1/26 (Fri) 2024.

Strangely, Tekken 8 preview footage or TV spots do not feature the track.

If you are a gamer you might be thinking ‘just patch the song in on launch day’.

And you might be right!

See you next week where we find out!

Fun fact: MASTERY may be the 1st song in history to be patched into a game and not be on the retail disc. Why not?

An album : by deduction

 As a follow up post on Angel, fans got what they wanted. Toshl vocals, mixed with a full band arrangement.

But you don’t have to scroll far down the comments section to see demands for an album.

In the worst case scenario and an official album never materializes, just think about this:

What songs are left that have not already been released?

An album by deduction, if you may:

1. The Last Song (intro): If we never get it, it’s not really a new song.
2. Beneath the Skin: People complained it was a repurposed SKIN song. Be careful what you wish for… I guess?1. 1. Rockstar: There is a theory that Toshl is not the main vocalist. On niconico new year Sugizo mentioned the song, yoshiki tried to shut him up by saying to ToshL: you hated the song, didn’t you? Around the same time an article mentions Marilyn Manson is ‘helping the band finish its album’. And Yoshiki reveals prior to Coachella that there are some surprise guests on the album. One more thing: TLRS debut single is the same song as rockstar argument, which Yoshiki has refuted, yet some have tried to prove (using a tiny insatgram clip) it’s the same melody line.
3. Hero: Originally for VUK (both Katie and now Jane Zhang have recorded vocals on it, and Beverly has sung it live a tone. (Again, careful what you wish for).
4. That just leaves the big one…Kiss the Sky. This would be borderline criminal if not released with all its 1000s of your voices weaved into it.

Let the above sink in, and here’s your Album…by deduction:

1. Miracle (as an intro) (or not, up to you)
2. IV
3. SCARLET LOVE SONG
4. JADE
5. BTBF
6. WITHOUT YOU (acoustic)
7. LA VENUS (acoustic)
8. ANGEL

43 mins of *new music

*All released/recorded post reunion.

The last stretch

According to a recent interview on Nico Nico after the Nagoya Japan Tour Final show, YOSHIKI confirmed that the album must be turned in sometime during January.
The deadline is set, but is still being kept a secret.

I decided not to publish the above, and took a break. Since then we find ourselves here:

- Some brainiac decides it’s a good idea to record XJAPAN songs without ToshI’s vocals on them.

- Red Swan is released.

- ToshI’s official statement is that he’s disappointed.

- Follows up with  ‘don’t worry’ things with Yoshiki are rosey.

- YOSHIKI performs at LUNA FES, media sighting unreasonably large sums of money requested by ToshI’s side, preventing XJAPAN from performing.

- Articles surface with industry insiders claiming ToshI didn’t renew a contract with the band and has to be contracted anytime XJAPAN do anything.

- Adding to the flames another insider claims HYDE has a more internationally marketable voice hence why he’s on Red Swan. (Something about more vibrato…).

- ToshI changes his stage name and removes all mention of XJAPAN from social media and his official website,

- ToshI releases 3 cover albums I AM A SINGER 1, 2 and 3. And ceases performing XJAPAN covers on TV.

- ToshI becomes a staple on music and variety shows, mysteriously show hosts stop bringing up XJAPAN.

- YOSHIKI lays low during COVID, promising the release of multiple Movie projects.

- Underthesky the COVID inspired music collaboration project - shelved.

- YouTube Originals - yoshiki the life of a rockstar- shelved.

- Deathwish, Yoshiki’s version of WE R X, in development hell.

- The 1 film project that does get released (ok other than the disney one), has ToshI footage removed at the last minute at the request of ToshI/management. We then learn yoshiki and Toshl speak via lawyers now.

…. Sounds rosey.

End of 2022 we learn that RED SWAN was not only the end of XJAPAN (for now) but also  the start of TLRS. A new beginning of sorts.

Is it a new beginning?

Or just another V2 or S.K.I.N.

Are fans wrong to be skeptical despite positive initial TLRS shows?

And why won’t either Toshl or Yoshiki be upfront with fans about XJAPAN.

We can draw clues from the film WE R X.

Where it is bluntly pointed out, XJAPAN is a big business. Maybe too big for its own good.

We also learn years after YOSHIKI does a PR world tour for WE R X, that not only did ToshI not want to be in the film, he did not even want to watch it, but was convinced to by YOSHIKI.

So there’s plenty of reasons we can come up with for the kind of animosity it takes for a SUMIREGUMI communication shut down of this magnitude.

Let’s add in that ToshI required a cane on stage and a wheelchair backstage on XJAPANs domestic tour.

How about Pata and Heath then?

They were featured in the short lived GREE smartphone game….

YOSHIKICHANNEL toyed with fans by inviting HEATH on a yoshiki bday special where not only was he not announced as being in TLRS (who famously lack a bassist), but it was revealed that HEATH still practices and trains so he can perform at a moments notice.

Theepicwait ironically now extends beyond the fan base to include the XJAPAN alumni as well.

And what of VIOLET UK?

You know the project that according to YOSHIKI’s own YouTube is coming 2013-

In truth, new music is all I really care about.

And in fairness. We got some. We may get some more. We may not get what we want.

But we’ll always have what we have.

Wait… go to Apple Music or iTunes in Japan.

If you Purchased LA VENUS and WITHOUT YOU, you may be interested to know they’ve been delisted entirely. There is a work around though, go to purchases, press the hidden tab and you get access to the apple digital master. The losseless version is at least in the land of the rising sun, gone.

Fast forward to May 15th.

The fans finally got something. The announcement that ANGEL, XJAPAN’s 1st single in 8 years is ‘scheduled’ to be released July 28th 2023.

Following up, Yoshiki adds that this version features: guitars, drums and ‘everything’.

What remains unknown, does ‘everything’ in 2023 include Toshl’s vocals?

So Elation now comes with 2 months of 2nd guessing. 

There are a few alternatives if Toshl doesn’t sign off on this release: 

1. Hyde

2. Marilyn Manson (check his Twitter, he tweeted on May 15th, that he’s got something he wants us to hear, coincidence?’) 

3. Beverly (YOSHIKI’s new go to vocalist for solo gigs).

4. Katie (featured on the VUK 2005 album that was shelved)

5. Vocaliod!!!…No joke, there is footage taken by NHK of The Last Rock Stars where Hyde’s vocal line is laid out in a female vocal sample to guide him before they replaced it with Hyde’s (heck, even without you was said to have male guide vocals before Toshl laid down his take).

Stab me in the face, if nothing else, this band will always bring with it DRAMA!

YOSHIKI music related Q&A

Yoshiki does Q & A 's occasionally, however many mysteries about music and lyrical content remain...a mystery.

If you had the chance to ask YOSHIKI about his music, what would you ask?

Here's a couple off the top of my head:

- Which Classical piece are you most proud of; Amethyst, Red Christmas or Miracle?

- Have Blind Dance and the Otherside been officially canned?

- Will we ever see the real PV for Jade? Or is the footage owned by Sankyo?

- Does the poem written for Without You feature on the studio version?

- Are the acoustic guitar parts in City of Devils played by you?

- How long in minutes is Art of Life Part 2 at this stage?

- Finally, X singles REMASTER sounds really great. Will we be able to buy the upcoming XJAPAN album in Hi-Res format?

XJAPAN New Album title

I've been thinking about this a lot lately.

In the past YOSHIKI mentioned the album would be titled JADE and that JADE would be the 1st single.

That would have made sense, 

had the album launched shortly after JADE hit iTunes.

Ok...so Dahlia was performed live 

long before Dahlia became an album title.

However, we now have another option that molds well with what X JAPAN is trying to achieve.

I'm talking about doing something that no Asian band has ever done.

Becoming a 'household' name in America. To clarify, the kind of exposure that would mean if you randomly surveyed people walking down the street, 2/3rds of them would know what an X jump is.

With that in mind, wouldn't BENEATH THE SKIN be a fitting title?

As I see it, there are 2 issues that stand in the way of this happening.

i) Historically album titles have been songs where both music and lyrics are composed by YOSHIKI

ii) Beneath the Skin musically may not be    representative enough of X JAPAN.

The song is amazing, don't get me wrong. It has quickly became my favorite of the new tracks...but unlike Dahlia or JADE, it is less representative of X JAPANs overall sound.

As a bold catch phrase that invites the listener to look beneath the skin and experience the melody, the drama, the brilliance of X, without judging whether the band is from Japan or from time to time singing in a language that they don't understand.... It's brilliant.

I guess it will be a choice YOSHIKI has to make. Will he allow SUGIZO to take some of the limelight. 

He obviously really likes the song. 

He literally brought it back from the dead where S.K.I.N's memory lays dormant.

He also cleverly used it in the MSG promo video ontop of that Press conference footage from the Rocker feller centre.

3. Now on to the wild card...

a self titled album... X JAPAN.

For the sake of art, I sincerely hope there is a real title. Self titling is a boring, lazy practice that does not suit X.

4. IF (depending on your perspective) you consider blue blood their major debut as their 1st album and you do not consider Art of Life as their 3rd post debut studio album... Then IV might be viable. The 4th? Album? ....It is also the song that launched their reunion... 

I think Jade has more of a chance, 

but I'll leave it as a IVth option.

1. Blue Blood

2. Jealousy

3. Dahlia

4. IV

12

12 songs, all new recordings...
"Say it again.... We have a T-REX!" (excuse my excitement)

1. The Intro

Right now it's Last Song.
But which version will be on the album?
Keeping in mind "all new recordings".....
Three options are:

i)   2008.3.28 Night of Destruction (live)
ii)  English Short Intro (Grammy Museum Ver.)
iii) The ending piano part of the Single Ver.

You can arrange these into any order you prefer.
There are good reasons both historically, musically and
business-wise for either of these to take first honours.

Let's explore each briefly below.

2008.3.28 Night of Destruction (live Ver.):-
- It is the bridge between the Last Live and the renuinted X JAPAN we know and love
- It is the 1st time many fans from around the world fulfilled their dream of seeing X JAPAN live
- That incredible scream from the fans when Toshl's silhouette becomes visible behind the stage curtain ;)

English Short Intro:-
- It's in English
- It sounds like an intro and would still be considered an "all new recording"
- YOSHIKI already previewed it with Katie, so the lyrics are done

The ending piano part of the Single Ver.:-
- It makes artistic sense
- It would be original and innovative
- Fans would appreciate it, and new comers would oneday discover the genius behind it
- A fourth and final thought.... YOSHIKI likes leaving pretty awesome Easter Eggs in his music

2. The Album

So far Jade / Beneath the Skin / Hero and what looks like either an I or an L has been teased for Track 11. Some people say it must be IV. Other's hope it is the mysterious 'Larme', which no one knows much about other than that it was meant to be a song for VIOLET UK, and it ended up as the name of YOSHIKI's brand of Perfume (not sure which idea came first).

Let's assume it is IV for now..Can you imagine the 1st new single not making the album?
Let's also assume that Born to Be Free will make the album.
It never got a single release, but is catchy and has been apparently worked on
(despite no one ever hearing a studio version with real drums)

3. Without You / Scarlet Love Song

These are the only 2 new songs that are almost completely in Japanese.
They are the only 2 new ballads.
I don't think YOSHIKI has written an English version of either. 

So I guess it will be a choice between pleasing the fans, or pleasing the US market who might not like 2 songs in full Japanese (hey don't shoot the messenger...).

I've seen an interesting theory that Without You will not be on the album,
however it will be released later as a sort of compilation mini album, featuring:-

Without You
Without You (live)
Without You (classical)
Without You Promo Video... a project where fans submitted photos to the Record Company

The person who suggested this theory, likened the idea to the multiple versions of Tears/Forever love, and has the most thoughtful analysis of any X JAPAN blogger in Japan.
I can see the logic behind that idea.
It would leave room for future releases after the album.

4. Pata / Heath / ToshI / Sugizo Instrumental
12 Tracks is a lot of material.
Sure we may see an X JAPAN version of HELLO HELLO (aka the Hello Kitty Theme Song).
But wouldn't it be awesome if we got some solo spots to showcase the talent of the other members?
Wouldn't it be awesome if all 3 of them did even just 1 instrumental track together for the album?
Wriggle II anyone?

5. Ending : aka Art of Life II
I can't see them reusing Art of Life again for this album.
They already put it on the World Best album.
It has also been remastered too, as far as I am aware.

Art of Life II was revealed to be in the works, so it's a possibility.
If this is X JAPAN's final studio album, it would make sense to go all in.

The key here I think will be... Time constraints.
Can it be performed live this Summer?
Can the song be recorded to perfection in time?
Is there room for another release after this album?

6. Unreleased Material
Tears (English Ver.)
It has never been released....
and even though the song is over 20 years old, it has aged well.
The lyrics are some of the best YOSHIKI has ever written.
The Recording has been done to some extent (we hear it at the end of most post-renuion concerts).

In Closing
The album has changed forms already a few times.
It began as a compilation. 50% new songs, 50% old songs.
It supposedly almost turned into 2 mini-albums (thank g-d that never happened).

Putting out 12 songs at once shows real commitment.
I really hope the band is given the budget it needs to push this album.

Summer is when most bands start Touring.
It is when the biggest festivals are.
Momentum would be seriously affected again if the Summer 2015 window is missed.

Let's hope YOSHIKI's Mind / Body / Spirit and Soul all make it through to the end.
and then maybe with a bit of luck...the next post can be an Album review!

X JAPAN japan gig announcement incoming?

6th August there will be an announcement regarding X JAPAN.

If it were something related to new material I can assure you the announcement of the announcement, and the time the announcement is scheduled for would not be in Japanese.

Nor would the announcement be geared for the Japanese time zone.

Hence, leading me to believe that this will be a Japanese concert related announcement.

Either way, any news is good news

from a band that has been dormant for 3 years.

Peace