When it comes to Japanese rock, nobody rocks harder than Taka, Toru, Tomoya and Ryota. Collectively known as One OK Rock, these guys are probably the hottest export from Japan since, I don't know... perhaps, Japanese manga and animation...?
Probably like most non-Japanese person out there, I got my first taste of Japanese music from anime and dramas. Although, I didn’t pay that much attention to the background music playing whenever I watched them. Every now and then, I would come across some really awesome opening theme song or ending theme song from an anime or a drama, Google it, download it and that’s about it. I never really became a huge fan of the artists. For a while, I got into groups like Arashi, KAT-TUN, SMAP and Kanjani8. But not like a real ‘fan’ fan. I listened to a handful of songs, watched some interviews, and downloaded one or two albums. My growing interest in J-POP and J-ROCK didn’t really stick. At that time, K-POP was much more “my style”. Eventually, my addiction with the Japanese anime “Bleach” pulled me back into the world of J-ROCK. I got acquainted with awesome music from the likes of UVERworld, Orange Range, Beat Crusaders, Asian Kungfu Generation and Aqua Timez.
To be honest, I can’t remember exactly how I first learned about One OK Rock. I guess it was more like, if you know one or two J-ROCK bands, then, sooner or later, you’ll come across One OK Rock. They are THAT popular. After Googling these boys, I found out that they have been together for almost a decade now. The band was started by guitarist Toru Yamashita who recruited the others one by one. Unfortunately, the band hit a few bumps along the road early on; with one member’s sexual harassment case and another member leaving due to personal problems.
After a long, rough road, the band had finally made their way to the top of the Japanese rock music scene. They made hit after hit, establishing their spot at the Oricon Charts and headlining music festivals with other famous bands here and there. I guess what made their popularity skyrocket into the stratosphere was the song “The Beginning”, which was the original soundtrack of the immensely popular live action movie adaptation of the “Rurouni Kenshin” manga/anime. I remember having no idea that it was One OK Rock singing that song, back when I watched the movie at the theater. I was just sitting there, watching the ending credits roll and banging my head to the kickass music playing. I had a gist that it might be them, but I wasn’t sure.
With the release of their latest, and first all-English, album “35xxxv” earlier this year, in which the band worked with renowned producer John Feldmann (the genius behind The Used and Good Charlotte), they have announced a U.S. and Asia album tour. And I’m delighted to say that my country, The Philippines, is included in that tour.
Of course, I wouldn’t miss that for the world. I already have tickets.
In preparation for that concert, I watched their 2014 Mighty Long Fall concert at the Yokohama stadium in Japan. I have to say, after watching an hour of hyperactive, loud, adrenaline-rushing and electrifying performances, all I can say is – Taka’s voice is BEAUTIFUL. There is no other way to describe it. Now I don’t have intensive knowledge of rock music or rock bands and I don’t claim to be an expert on this topic. I’m just saying that the words ‘beautiful’ and ‘rock’ are not exactly a perfect combination. Whether he’s showcasing his off-the-hook vocals in one of those headbang-inducing, hard-rock songs like “Answer Is Near” and “The Beginning” or showing off his mellow and acoustic side with “Heartache” and “Be The Light”; all that I could think of was that “HIS VOICE IS BEAUTIFUL”. I was definitely tearing up after his rendition of Vanessa Carlton’s “A Thousand Miles” during that concert.
What makes this band click, in my opinion, is the fact that they can rock it out hard, but they can also show off their mad skills and pure talent through songs that would give your heart a little pinch. They are not afraid to take it slow and go acoustic.
In an interview with altpress.com, vocalist Taka Moriuchi admitted that ever since he was young, it has always been his dream to go to the United States and perform with his band. Despite his broken English, Taka confidently answered the interviewer’s questions and shared about the band’s experience working with Feldmann and Sleeping with Sirens frontman Kellin Quinn. That was another thing about One OK Rock that just drew me to their music. They have thrown in more than a few English lines in most of their songs, usually at the beginning or in the chorus, and with Taka’s good pronunciation and mellifluous voice, it always sounds like the whole song is in English when in fact, there are more Japanese lines.
The Mighty Long Fall concert definitely gave me a sneak peek of their much anticipated concert here in my country and I am now more pumped up than ever.
