(05-14-2010, 06:29 PM)VAMPkito Wrote: I don't think they were labeling them as Visual Kei, just stating that they're popular amongst fans of the genre, especially to fans who don't even know what V-Kei is and use it as a stupid excuse for whenever a band does something extraordinarily different, weird, or actually interesting. (Ex. A GUY IS JUMPING OFF A BUILDING IN THE 'DIVE TO BLUE' PV. THAT MAKES IT VISUAL KEI!) Besides, they seemed very educated in L'Arc's rejection of the label. - Also, I don't think HYDE was saying that people ONLY like L'Arc because of their looks; what he means is that their looks play a large part in how people perceive them. It's a "Good Looks + Good Music" relationship, not a result of one or the other, where as with VAMPS it's a "Good Music" sort of relationship. No bonuses like extremely good looks. (To be honest, though, I like the visual style better in VAMPS)

Though as much as I sort of agree with HYDE on L'Arc being an idol band (in a way, not entirely), I think he misses the fact that the style of L'Arc and the style of VAMPS is different. L'Arc has been around for 19 years and has since performed approximately the same style (musically) with little change. VAMPS, on the other hand, is a compilation of different genres, ranging from things that are like L'Arc as well as hard rock among others. Because VAMPS is relatively new (only two years old, but if you want to count K.A.Z's collaboration with HYDE as part of their history, then technically seven), people have developed expectations. When they hear HYDE's voice, they expect it to sounds like it does in L'Arc~en~Ciel, not punk, metal, and whatever else HYDE has in mind. If L'Arc~en~Ciel were more like VAMPS and vice-versa, then VAMPS would probably be the preferred artist.

Actually the article IS referring to them as visual-kei which is stupid and disrespectful of L'Arc~en~Ciel's rejection of the label. Which they reject because they are NOT visual kei.

Also I don't think Hyde misses that the two bands styles are different. I think he knows Vamps is completely different from L'Arc ... I think that's the point. ;)