(09-19-2009, 07:25 PM)VAMPkito Wrote:

Quote:i disagree with the "hyde's support musician" idea...he is not and never was.

um... yeah, he was. K.A.Z even says himself.

K.A.Z.: Though I didn't consider myself as part of his support band when I was playing for HYDE's solo project, I feel I can brace myself with the name VAMPS.

I think he's saying the contrary ^^'. Actually, i partly based myself on this interview.

Quote: But um... I don't think anyone's actually seeing where I'm going with this, so I'm probably just going to shut up and ask an Admin to lock this before I get myself in deep shit. I'll try explaining again, but I suck at it. I'm not referring to K.A.Z or the unity of VAMPS. I'm referring to how many people have grown used to referring to HYDE's side project -as- VAMPS. Maybe it's just me, but I'm hoping I'm not alone in the people who still accidentally type "hyde - insert name here here" when a VAMPS release is announced. The many times I've accidentally typed "hyde - sweet dreams" looking for the PV to come out is uncanny. It's not that I don't like the thought of K.A.Z or VAMPS or anything like that. I'm just not used to it. It's not just when looking for a new song though. A number of VAMPS-related activities, I accidentally type "hyde" instead of "VAMPS." Again, not because I don't like it, but because I haven't adjusted to typing it because I'm used to drooling mostly on HYDE. Old habits die hard as they say.

It's OK *pat* *pat*
Like i said, i've been there: when i was planning my trip, i told everyone i was going to see "this japanese singer, hyde". I'm sure i'm not the only one who started to really appreciate K.A.Z + support musicians, when I attended one of their shows.
Then again, before VAMPS, i was mostly a Laruku and Roentgen-hyde fan...so to me "hyde" has always been a singer and not a band with Kaz, Jin, Hiroki, Furuton, etc. So the name change to VAMPS made a lot of sense to me.

(09-19-2009, 08:14 PM)MadSerena Wrote: [quote='VAMPkito' pid='8613' dateline='1253402739']
I think he's saying the contrary ^^'. Actually, i partly based myself on this interview.

Looking back on it now, I do see that I did misread that. Though he was often noted as a support member, so yeah. .-. - Though HYDE said that although VAMPS refers to just the two of them, they're all one band on stage. I tend to think the same on HYDE's solo work. As I said, the other support musicians get visible credit and plenty of screen time. I don't think I've ever heard HYDE refer to anyone in his band as "support musicians" or "backup members" or anything like that now that I actually take some time and think about it. Lawl.

Quote:It's OK *pat* *pat*
Like i said, i've been there: when i was planning my trip, i told everyone i was going to see "this japanese singer, hyde". I'm sure i'm not the only one who started to really appreciate K.A.Z + support musicians, when I attended one of their shows.
Then again, before VAMPS, i was mostly a Laruku and Roentgen-hyde fan...so to me "hyde" has always been a singer and not a band with Kaz, Jin, Hiroki, Furuton, etc. So the name change to VAMPS made a lot of sense to me.

Well, I don't mind the name change. In a way I sort of liked it. One reason I love HYDE so much is because we have very similar interests, so the name VAMPS kind of kicked in as pleasant sounding as opposed to the other names I could have imagined HYDE thinking of. "We are The Mysterious Flashy Women. Please come see our show~" - The main thing I was scared of was, since it is a band, I wouldn't be able to see much of HYDE's true personality anymore, and thus it would be more difficult for me to relate to it. I love L'Arc~en~Ciel, but it's not quite as easy for me to relate to all of it with an exception of a few songs, where as with HYDE I've always been able to relate to his solo music. But HYDE and K.A.Z proven me wrong in that fear. It's just getting used to some of the changes implemented. It's not that I don't like it and can't adjust to it, but some of the changes have a bit interfered with some things regarding HYDE.

For example, the fact that news is no longer posted on HYDEIST, it's left to VAMPSXXX, which annoys me because I can't stand the bright colors. I know I've made this complaint numerous times, but it's an almost impossible to endure problem on the flash site. It gives me a headache. Not only that but the Flash player is fucking huge and tends to freeze older computers up. So I can't view it on my father's laptop or on my previous Windows 98 computer.

But yeah, over all the name change didn't bother me, just disorient me.

(09-19-2009, 07:55 PM)VAMPkito Wrote: Okay, since I'm the only one who goes through this. . . An admin can close this topic if they want or something. I don't know. Is it just me or is that whenever I start a topic on music-based forums I can't make a simple thing without people misunderstanding and getting either extremely defensive or causing a ton of controversy? *hintz the title* =x Not to say that's the community's fault or anything. If I thought someone was trying to insult my VAMPS, I'd be all, "GO TO HELL!" ... okay, no I wouldn't. But you know what I mean. But yeah. I dunno. I give up on this topic. I don't think it's really going to benefit on this forum at all. Lawl.

BUT IT AT LEAST GOT THE DAMN BOARDS MORE ACTIVE THAN IT'S BEEN FOR THE PAST WEEK. GOD. BEFORE, IT WAS FUCKING DEAD. SO YOU SHOULD ALL PRAISE ME FOR MAKING A TOPIC THAT GOT REPLIES LIKE THIS. *killed*

I didn't get the wrong idea and I kind of liked this topic I hope my post didn't gave you that idea. I really don't see a controversy in the topic it self I've asked what you just posted myself as well. I love Hyde but I acknowledge he's not the only musician worth praising, specially after meeting him and realizing he's as human and dorky as any other person just hotter

Haha of course there's to be contraversy~ as u yourself stated... and i kept at it ^^ XD

I guess there's just many ways to look at a post ne and we all have diff points of view so I think regardless of what we speak of they'll be misunderstandings, and yes THANK YOU for getting ppl to post more heck i dont remember last time I posted here @_@

LOL... ok i'm out for another while~ until another contraversy is started

(09-20-2009, 02:28 AM)Jazmin Wrote: Haha of course there's to be contraversy~ as u yourself stated... and i kept at it ^^ XD

I guess there's just many ways to look at a post ne and we all have diff points of view so I think regardless of what we speak of they'll be misunderstandings, and yes THANK YOU for getting ppl to post more heck i dont remember last time I posted here @_@

LOL... ok i'm out for another while~ until another contraversy is started

Offtopic but I love ur bunny ~

I was kinda getting tangled up in all of the responses, and I can't really come up with an answer that would communicate what I'm really thinking, so I'm not going to respond about VAMPS, but as for this:

Quote:Is it just me or is that whenever I start a topic on music-based forums I can't make a simple thing without people misunderstanding and getting either extremely defensive or causing a ton of controversy?

I think it's because words are so effing hard lol. And communicating your thoughts over text is much harder because we can't hear the tone of your voice or see your body language which can change things dramatically. Also, because this isn't a face-to-face conversation we can't interrupt you in between and ask you to clarify. So, we read and reply based on our understanding of what was written. You read and reply based on your understand of what was written and clarify any misunderstandings that may have occurred. It's a slow process.

But as for this thread, yes, there may have been misunderstandings, but no, I don't think it has turned into a controversy. Everyone has simply spoken their take on the subject, but I don't see anyone overreacting. This topic as a whole though, is pretty interesting. Although the live reports and the other OMG VAMPS are AWESOME posts are fun because we can flail freely, it's also nice to sit down and think about the band and hear people's opinions on it other than "they're awesome." Because we all know they're awesome! That's why we're gathered here!

In the beginning I talked always about the new HYDE project. Some people had misinformed me, saying that VAMPS was the reason why L'arc-en-Ciel would split, so I received VAMPS with teary eyes but opened arms. Then I realized that was not true :-p

In the beginning I talked about HYDE and didn't like the fact that he refused his name, because I thought they'd be more popular if they kept HYDE in the name like: HYDE & VAMPS or something like that, specially because they were a duet, not a whole band.

I'd make the mistake over and over. And talked about HYDE's new song... with VAMPS. Or about "the other vamp" when talking about K.A.Z, but eventually the name rooted into my heart and mind, as did K.A.Z ... and Ju-Ken! Arimatsu and Jin in a minor scale... and -J! Now when I think "VAMPS" I think of the whole band, performing live, of them acting crazy in MV pictures, of -J's controverted posts in MySpace, etc. Now I'm more than used to VAMPS :-)

This topic is interesting...and very important. In the course of promoting VAMPS, Ai decided that it would be best to go with the "HYDE" angle because it would supposedly catch more people's attention that way. Granted, we were on a time crunch and were trying to promote VAMPS as much as we could, in addition to try to introduce them to as many people as we could. It's hard to say how successful our efforts were...but at any rate, one of the reasons for doing so, as I was told, was because "Hyde was much better known among American audiences." Of course, this is debatable and subjective, but this is what the promotional staff felt.

Since I started the street team, though, I tried to promote VAMPS as "VAMPS," not as "HYDE" or "HYDE'S solo band." There were times when I did have to resort to saying "Ok, this is HYDE's new solo project" because many were like, "Huh? VAMPS who?" Since the tour has ended, I've been working harder at trying to promote VAMPS as a whole, VAMPS as "HYDE AND K.A.Z' new project." There will still be many who will associate VAMPS with HYDE and only HYDE. That's fine and I can't change everyone's opinion, nor do I want to. I hope, though, VAMPS' popularity will continue to increase because they themselves are extraordinary musicians and make incredible music, as opposed to being popular simply because of who is actually in the band. We'll see what happens and I hope you guys will continue to help support VAMPS (as a whole). ;)

(09-21-2009, 03:22 AM)VAMPS + American Street Team + Wrote: This topic is interesting...and very important. In the course of promoting VAMPS, Ai decided that it would be best to go with the "HYDE" angle because it would supposedly catch more people's attention that way. Granted, we were on a time crunch and were trying to promote VAMPS as much as we could, in addition to try to introduce them to as many people as we could. It's hard to say how successful our efforts were...but at any rate, one of the reasons for doing so, as I was told, was because "Hyde was much better known among American audiences." Of course, this is debatable and subjective, but this is what the promotional staff felt.

Well, she is sort of right, I think. I've actually talked to people who know nothing about Japanese rock, but when I say, "My favorite musician is this guy named HYDE" after a minute or two of describing they'll say, "OMG I know who you're talking about!" ... And then I have my spirits raised in anticipation that I may just have a RL friend that loves HYDE just as much as me... and then they'll be ruined when they say, "Nah, I'm just not into that kind of music." :( ... And occasionally, "HYDE DOES NOT AGREE WITH MY RELIGION, THEREFORE HE IS A SATANIST HEATHEN THAT WILL BURN IN HELL." ... Yeah. Don't shoot the messenger please.

Quote:Since I started the street team, though, I tried to promote VAMPS as "VAMPS," not as "HYDE" or "HYDE'S solo band." There were times when I did have to resort to saying "Ok, this is HYDE's new solo project" because many were like, "Huh? VAMPS who?" Since the tour has ended, I've been working harder at trying to promote VAMPS as a whole, VAMPS as "HYDE AND K.A.Z' new project."

I typically try to call it "HYDE's new SIDE project," but sometimes I accidentally say "HYDE's new solo project" as well, which in some ways isn't so much bad since sometimes people refer to a "solo project" as any project aside from the main band, L'Arc~en~Ciel in this case. Going back to the Moi dix Mois example, even though it is a band, it's often referred to as Mana's solo project. However, it is important that people know that the band would not be possible if not for the musicians that make up the band; the same goes with VAMPS. Again, I usually -try- to remember to call it HYDE's SIDE project as opposed to solo project.

(09-21-2009, 05:02 PM)VAMPkito Wrote:

(09-21-2009, 03:22 AM)VAMPS + American Street Team + Wrote: This topic is interesting...and very important. In the course of promoting VAMPS, Ai decided that it would be best to go with the "HYDE" angle because it would supposedly catch more people's attention that way. Granted, we were on a time crunch and were trying to promote VAMPS as much as we could, in addition to try to introduce them to as many people as we could. It's hard to say how successful our efforts were...but at any rate, one of the reasons for doing so, as I was told, was because "Hyde was much better known among American audiences." Of course, this is debatable and subjective, but this is what the promotional staff felt.

Well, she is sort of right, I think. I've actually talked to people who know nothing about Japanese rock, but when I say, "My favorite musician is this guy named HYDE" after a minute or two of describing they'll say, "OMG I know who you're talking about!" ... And then I have my spirits raised in anticipation that I may just have a RL friend that loves HYDE just as much as me... and then they'll be ruined when they say, "Nah, I'm just not into that kind of music." :( ... And occasionally, "HYDE DOES NOT AGREE WITH MY RELIGION, THEREFORE HE IS A SATANIST HEATHEN THAT WILL BURN IN HELL." ... Yeah. Don't shoot the messenger please.

Quote:Since I started the street team, though, I tried to promote VAMPS as "VAMPS," not as "HYDE" or "HYDE'S solo band." There were times when I did have to resort to saying "Ok, this is HYDE's new solo project" because many were like, "Huh? VAMPS who?" Since the tour has ended, I've been working harder at trying to promote VAMPS as a whole, VAMPS as "HYDE AND K.A.Z' new project."

I typically try to call it "HYDE's new SIDE project," but sometimes I accidentally say "HYDE's new solo project" as well, which in some ways isn't so much bad since sometimes people refer to a "solo project" as any project aside from the main band, L'Arc~en~Ciel in this case. Going back to the Moi dix Mois example, even though it is a band, it's often referred to as Mana's solo project. However, it is important that people know that the band would not be possible if not for the musicians that make up the band; the same goes with VAMPS. Again, I usually -try- to remember to call it HYDE's SIDE project as opposed to solo project.

---------

Wow...that's pretty intense. ;) I believe "HYDE's side project" is also appropriate. Yeah...regardless of what we call it, though, I feel that we still have a long way to go in terms of promoting VAMPS. I appreciate all your hardwork thus far. I, too, get the occasional "o.O" when I mention the phrase "Japanese" or "They're from Japan," it's entertaining, mind you. However, it still serves as a reminder to me that we've definitely got some major obstacles and hopefully, someday, we'll overcome them. Good luck to you and kudos for starting such a thread.

Much VAMPS-love,
H.P.