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I admit I'm a bit of a B'z elitist. It doesn't mean I'm not nice to casual fans/newbies. But it bothers me when people don't really know all that much, yet act like they do. Even worse is when they spread MISINFORMATION.
Most of the time, I laugh. And I'm sure B'z would laugh at some of the following comments and situations too. Anyways, I'm going to make like Tak "Complain King" Matsumoto here. But it's tongue in cheek, so if you're somehow quoted, don't get too mad! So, here we go! 1. People who do not consider B'z as Japanese rock. That one never fails to amaze me. B'z are adept at a lot of styles, but even they classify themselves as a rock band. Aerosmith think B'z are a rock band. Yahoo music thinks B'z are a rock band. Jrock does NOT equal visual kei, kids! 2. Hypothetical comment based on things we've seen: "B'z came out on stage...he was wearing a tight black top." What's wrong with this statement? Well, it's reflective of... ...People who refer to B'z as "he!" Ok, KoKo looks very nice. Believe me, I understand. But he's only half of B'z. The leader is Tak! 3. This line of thought: When Tak's on his solo, everyone can go buy $3 coke or use the bathroom and refresh themselves before Koshi comes back on! No! No! This is a very poor choice! Don't make the mistake of pulling a Kumamoto! Also, Tak is truly one of the top guitarists around. Even if you don't know much (anything) about guitar, like yours truly, if you get a precious chance to see Tak play, watch the master at work. You won't regret it. Now, when Tak's on his short solos, Koshi often stands just off to the side of the stage, if he doesn't need to change outfits. Is Koshi seizing the opportunity to use the bathroom, or check out hot girls? No! He is carefully watching Tak and nodding along to the beat (although he will spare you a wave and cute smile). Follow Sensei's example! 4. Here are some gems we unearthed recently. "B'z sucks. I bought one of their albums because I liked the song "Atsuki Kodou no Hate." I could've used that money to buy the Kikaida Volume 2 DVD and a bag of Cheetos." This is one of my favorite offenses. It is an actual quote. The "bag of Cheetos" kills me. XD I gotta say, this is a really creative insult! Tak!! You deprived someone of snack foods! "I hate the entire Ballads Albumn. *burns it* >.> if I hear one more crappy cover of "Itsuka no Merry Christmas" I'm going to wretch. Like the original wasn't bad enough." Ok, even I was a little shaken by this. Not only by the use of wretch as a verb. This person wants to burn Calling. Home. Everlasting. Time. Plus he would like to eradicate Japan's favorite Christmas song. It's ok. We'll just send Gackt to settle the score. You do know Gackt loves Itsuka, is responsible for 2 performances of it, is an assassin by night, and knows deadly martial arts right?  "B'z are the 2 most uncreative bungholes in the universe" In the immortal words from Spirit Loose, "Ah ahw you wan, ahs haw." 5. Comments like this: "Tak Matsumoto, he is old." "Are B'z dead yet?" "Are B'z still together?" No, they are alive. Tak is 42 and Koshi is 39. They are in the prime of life and are probably in better shape than you. Again, I must send Gackt back out to show you the real meaning of old...400+ years old. I must say, this one makes me -__-. B'z are arguably the #1 band in Japan and they're always ripping up the sales charts. What do you mean, are they still around?! Hllz yeah! 6. Spelling their names and song titles incorrectly whilst attempting to sound very knowledgeable. I know it's tough if our Japanese isn't great. But I'm just talking about the ENGLISH song titles. Plus, Tak's and Koshi's names are in English on every B'z album and on their official website. i don't understand ur offenses page. are u telling me their names AREN'T konshi inabbi and takashiro natsumattu? Nope! But please check them before you get everyone else calling them by the wrong name too. Plus it just looks bad if you are proclaiming you are a big fan. Keen-chan found this one. At SongSearch cd store online, B'z are referred to as "Takaniro Matsumoto and Kohsni Ikaba." Kohsni Ikaba...hahaha!! 7. Ignorant Koko Bashing... Takboss found this one on an Amazon review of Steve Vai's album (B'z worked with Steve Vai on the song Asian Sky and keep in touch through email). "But there's a hint of the problems to come on the CD's opening track - "The Blood and Tears." That's when we're introduced to vocalist Koshi Inabi, another in a long line of Vai sidekicks that make you long for the days of Diamond David Lee Roth, David Coverdale, Graham Bonnett and Johnny Rotten. The chanting and sped up jibberish is beyond annoying. There is no inner-peace to find here. What is Steve thinking when he works with artists, and I use the term loosely, of this nature?" Koshi Inabi? Ok, so this guy is obviously not a B'z fan. His opinion, ok, whatever. But the funny thing is, Koshi didn't even sing on the track this guy is talking about. An Indian woman was the vocalist on this track! Koshi sang on Asian sky. So, don't bash with ignorance, ok? Here's the next Amazon review to balance it out: "Highlights for me include "Asian Sky" (a collaboration with Koshi Inaba and Tak Matsumoto)- this song is simply breathtaking." 8. People who abuse "the true meaning of brotherhood" by posting only to request things. You shouldn't just show up, only demand things, and expect people to throw B'z goodies at you. Also sometimes if people would just read through posts carefully they'd find their questions are answered there. And after a while, if you've decided you like B'z, you should invest in an album(s). Sorry, that's just the way I personally feel. 9. This one is not really offensive, but it's not correct and we B'z fans are picky. Um, yeah. Ok, #9 is calling B'z "the B'z." It ain't The B'z. It's just "B'z." Now, this is one of the most commonly committed offenses around. I don't think Tak and Koshi really mind being called the B'z, seeing as how some of their colleagues have even so named them. I'm pretty sure Mr. Big called them The B'z on Music Station on that Giri Giri Chop talk and Tak was still giggling like a schoolgirl. Not to mention that his buddy Steve Vai's label put a sticker on the international release of Tak's album Hana that proclaims "Japan's Hottest Guitarist from The B'z." But, come on everyone! All together! "B apostrophe Z, B'z!" I also have to mention that Ian Thorpe, the Australian swimmer, found himself in a 15th anniversary B'z TV special this year. This was because Yasei no ENERGY was the Japanese theme song for the swimming championships in Barcelona, and Ultra Soul had been the theme for the previous championships in Fukuoka. In any case, Thorpedo, appearing slightly confused, good naturedly gave his take on Yasei and expressed willingness to watch a "Beezee" live sometime. 10. Asking who on earth would want to go see B'z in a small club venue in North America and whining about the ticket prices. This really refers to people who feel B'z are greedy and that charging $45 a concert ticket for such an "unknown group" is ridiculous. Those who express such opinions obviously do not know who B'z are. And no, that's not a crime at all, but since this is a section for complaints, I will address it. Japanese fans would kill to be able to see B'z clearly without the aid of binoculars. This IS Japan's top band. The fanatical devotion of the their fans is not to be underestimated. Besides, the ticket prices are cheaper than what you'd pay to watch the mighty B'z play at sold out stadiums in Japan. We are lucky, lucky, lucky. Again, bashing with ignorance. 11. Going to a B'z concert and breezily announcing completely erroneous things about the setlist. Example: Calling Arakure Change the Future. Example: Saying Banzai setlist contained mostly songs from GREEN and BIG MACHINE (only 5 songs from BM and 1 from GREEN). Or saying they did almost the whole BM album. They didn't even play Big Machine, the title track! Most egregious and entertaining example: Calling Giri Giri Chop, Girl Girl Pop. 12. "Koshi is supa sexy and I want to have his babies!!!!!XD OH YEAH!" Comments like this annoy me. Although this may be hypocritical of me, because part of that statement is true in essence, however inelegantly stated! 13. "B'z are for middle-aged people." This is a common myth. B'z fans are from a range of age groups. It's true, many middle-aged people enjoy B'z music. So do the 10-18 year olds who form the majority of one of the largest Japanese B'z BBS around, the B'z B'z B'z board. So do the fans in their 20s, who Japanese surveys show make up the largest group of B'z fans. |