How An American Teenager Fell In Love With X Japan – 英会話・英語 アミック
2018/04/20
My students often laugh when I tell them my favorite Japanese musical artist is X Japan.
When I was 15 years old, my cousin showed me a video he had downloaded (this was pre-YouTube) of what looked like a Western glam metal band in concert. I quickly learned the band, called X Japan, was actually Japanese, and their visual kei style was unlike anything I had ever seen or heard. I was immediately drawn to their extravagant costumes, the relentless energy of drummer Yoshiki, and songs like “Kurenai” that transitioned from emotional ballad to driving power metal right in the middle of the track.
At the time, I figured I was the only 16-year old in Midwestern America listening to a burnt copy of X Japan’s The Last Live album while driving around town. But in 2014, X actually performed at and sold out New York’s Madison Square Garden. While I was unable to go, a documentary called We Are X was made about the concert and is now available on NetFlix. In addition to teaching me more about the band’s history, the film made me realize I was not the only American that grew up a fan of Yoshiki, Toshi, Heath, Hide (RIP) and all the rest.
Long live X!
–Andrew
