Sweet Mystery...

[Soul of ZONE]

I think it's great trying to spread the ZONE love using social media sites like Twitter & Facebook.  (I happen to be a member of both - long story.... )

A while back I found a bunch of ZONE groups (one with a link to here, and one even by who I think is Hello! Online's akinix), and of course I joined all of them.  I even found a "4n01" on Twitter!

  ....I just lost my train of thought....Sorry!

[4n01]

Haha you caught me, Soul of ZONE. That's me on Twitter... although I don't use it that much these days. Maybe I should?

I think that there's a difference between a person who loves J-Pop, and a J-Pop lovin' person... if you catch my drift. I really don't feel like my love for ZONE and their music defines who I am... it's more like part of my life that I have these feelings for. I'm still me... I just happen to adore ZONE, is the difference.

I think that, too many times, people in Western culture get their identity from the music they listen to, and the people who make it. For some reason, J-Pop doesn't seem to work that way. Yeah I'm on Facebook, as me... and I'm not shy to talk about my feelings for ZONE, or any of my other favorite J-Pop artists. I guess I've come to realize that I'm not very interested in convincing others to like them, because it's kind of my personal feelings.

Don't get me wrong... I'm so grateful to meet and talk with other fans. And spreading the word about ZONE and their music always feels great. I'm always happy to find out that someone else has grown to love them, too. It just feels wrong to try and explain to others, why they should love them. Mainly because I wouldn't know what to say, to be able to do that. I think that people just need to find out for themselves.

[Soul of ZONE]

I completely understand where you're coming from, 4n01.  I read somewhere on here that your love for ZONE is like a personal one.  I know how that is.  I actually feel like I grew up with them, watching the girls from afar. (Quite literally, I might add.) They are a part of myself, my very being.  A precious gift from God that I will always cherish. 

I've seen the effects of people taking in a culture and trying to make it fit into themselves.  Some are seemingly successful (I guess these are what "self-proclaimed otaku" are?), while others come off as poseurs. 

I get inspired by various things, but I always alter things to fit my personal tastes.  My personal identity.  A little street, a little geek, and a touch of visual-kei, I guess.   ZONE is a part of that for me....

I agree that it's hard to explain the magic of ZONE to people who don't know them.  It just doesn't feel right to try to force someone to like something just because we do.  It's probably best to give a few suggestions, and recommend YouTube or something as a sample.  That, and a little hope that ZONE has another fan in the making!

Ah, that was a great talk....Well, read....  
Mind if I follow you on Twitter if you decide to continue with it?

[Helixius]

I guess I've come to realize that I'm not very interested in convincing others to like them, because it's kind of my personal feelings.

Don't get me wrong... I'm so grateful to meet and talk with other fans. And spreading the word about ZONE and their music always feels great. I'm always happy to find out that someone else has grown to love them, too. It just feels wrong to try and explain to others, why they should love them. Mainly because I wouldn't know what to say, to be able to do that. I think that people just need to find out for themselves.

I fully agree with the above quotes, 4n01. It's exactly how I feel recently. Well, I do recommend some songs to my friends, and do say that I really like certain singers. But that's about it. I wouldn't try to convince or push them anymore than that. It's best if they can realize themselves how great the artists are, and even if they don't, I understand that different people may have their own preferences.

[4n01]

On a slightly different note, I've been kind of interested in this site called Grooveshark (which you probably already know about if you've read my Twitter page). I'm not ready yet to recommend it to anyone, because the site has been having troubles with web browser hijack advertising. But still, I go there anyway.

So over the last couple of nights I've been playing songs that aren't J-Pop, trying to see if I could create a decent playlist. Well... I couldn't. I'd play six or seven songs by different artists that I used to like, and give up. Then I'd go back to listening to ZONE or GAO or Ai Otsuka, and I'd remember...

I really AM so much happier playing my J-Pop collection!

What was I thinking? 

 

[Soul of ZONE]

4n01,

I know that feeling well!! 

A while back, maybe a few years ago, I wanted to put on some music, but the only cd's I had on hand at the time was some American artists.  I haven't listened to them for a long time (several years, I assume), so I decided to play them. 

While it was great for the moment, I realized why I love J-Pop so much....It just seems to strike a chord with my biorhythm much better than anything else, in my experience. 

I believe Kamijo from the band VERSAILLES said it best.  In an interview, he said that Japanese music is different from American music or any other, really, because of the way the lyrics are written to form the basis of the melody of the song. 
In my opinion, that may be why I feel that J-Pop & J-Rock have become a part of me.  It seems to flow so much more smoothly.

[4n01]

I believe Kamijo from the band VERSAILLES said it best.  In an interview, he said that Japanese music is different from American music or any other, really, because of the way the lyrics are written to form the basis of the melody of the song. 
In my opinion, that may be why I feel that J-Pop & J-Rock have become a part of me.  It seems to flow so much more smoothly.

That is a fascinating piece of information, Soul of ZONE!

I always thought it was because the songs were probably written more on keyboards instead of guitar, giving the melodies a little extra sweetness, but what you've said really makes sense. It's also interesting to me how I can just play one of my favorite songs over and over again without getting tired of it. I've done that on many different nights, with many different songs. All of them J-Pop, of course!

I've already got my iPod loaded up with my favorite albums, and tonight I'm loading up my laptop. So I will have ZONE with me wherever I go... And lately Sotsugyou has been like, my favorite song of theirs. It's always a different one every week...

[revsfan98]

I think that there's a difference between a person who loves J-Pop, and a J-Pop lovin' person... if you catch my drift. I really don't feel like my love for ZONE and their music defines who I am... it's more like part of my life that I have these feelings for. I'm still me... I just happen to adore ZONE, is the difference.

I think that, too many times, people in Western culture get their identity from the music they listen to, and the people who make it. For some reason, J-Pop doesn't seem to work that way.

I've thought about this before too.  When people are first getting to know each other, the question "What kind of music do you listen to?" always seems to be one of the first asked, with huge importance placed on the answer.  Especially among younger people, social groups can often break down along musical lines.  But that has always seemed sort of silly to me.  Two people could like very different kinds of music, and yet make very good friends.  Or, two people could like the same band, but for vastly different reasons.  Even with ZONE, there are different types of fans... though I have to admit if I did find out someone else was into them, I might immediately assume we would share other things in common somehow... which sort of contradicts what I was saying before... but... umm... sweet mystery, we'll never understand it, even though we keep on trying every few months or so 

[4n01]

I have to admit if I did find out someone else was into them, I might immediately assume we would share other things in common somehow... which sort of contradicts what I was saying before...

It's not really a contradiction though, revsfan98, although the things that ZONE fans have in common are seemingly unrelated to music at all. I've seen lots of courtesy, good manners, respect for others, and an unwillingness to harm others or even argue with others as common traits among ZONE fans, wherever they are. An interesting question to follow that, then, would be... does the music cause people to feel that way, or are people who feel that way drawn to a certain kind of music?

Personally, I wasn't drawn to music at all until I found ZONE. I was trying to, but it wasn't working very well. Looking for something to love in everything from country to pop to dark dance music. Then I found ZONE and it was like... "That's what I wanted!"... or should I say "needed"? I'm a long way from being a really nice guy, though... but like Jules said in Pulp Fiction: "I'm tryin' real hard" haha...

Maybe we've all got a long way to go. But I can unequivocally say that ALL of us are doing our best. That's the gift that ZONE gave to us. Reassurance, perhaps, that there is indeed a value to kindness.

Well I'll get off my soapbox now. Sorry. Please continue...

[Soul of ZONE]

I have to admit if I did find out someone else was into them, I might immediately assume we would share other things in common somehow... which sort of contradicts what I was saying before...

It's not really a contradiction though, revsfan98, although the things that ZONE fans have in common are seemingly unrelated to music at all. I've seen lots of courtesy, good manners, respect for others, and an unwillingness to harm others or even argue with others as common traits among ZONE fans, wherever they are. An interesting question to follow that, then, would be... does the music cause people to feel that way, or are people who feel that way drawn to a certain kind of music?

I noticed that too....ZONE fans seem to be, in general, a kind group of people.  Everyone wants to help each other out, like a family, I guess.  That may be a part of the "Magic of ZONE."  Another "Sweet Mystery," if you will....
I think that both the music and the people go hand-in-hand.  We come together in our love for one thing. (OK, now I got the Beatles playing in my head! )
ZONE's music just seems to bring out the best in some people, and that, in turn, seems to draw them in deeper.  Well, if that makes sense to anyone besides myself....

Ah, before I forget, I would like to apologize if I offended any otaku or anyone else earlier.  I forgot to say it the last time I was here, but I don't have anything against otaku.  In fact, some of them are kinda cool...!  Sorry, anyway!

[revsfan98]

I noticed that too....ZONE fans seem to be, in general, a kind group of people.  Everyone wants to help each other out, like a family, I guess.  That may be a part of the "Magic of ZONE."  Another "Sweet Mystery," if you will....
I think that both the music and the people go hand-in-hand.  We come together in our love for one thing. (OK, now I got the Beatles playing in my head! )
ZONE's music just seems to bring out the best in some people, and that, in turn, seems to draw them in deeper.  Well, if that makes sense to anyone besides myself....

That does make sense, and so does what 4n01 said about the qualities that he tends to find in ZONE fans.  But sometimes I wonder, is the way we feel about ZONE the same as what other people feel about other bands?  Stated somewhat differently, is every band somebody's ZONE?

Oh and 4n01, don't worry about your soapbox!    I think you used 2 key words that let me know you've felt what I felt.  The first is "needed," because it was almost like ZONE came into my life right when I needed them, without even realizing that was what was missing.  The second is "reassurance," because knowing there could be something so beautiful and true in life... well, it just makes living and striving for that truth and beauty in all that you do that much nicer doesn't it?  Like you're not alone, and not a fool for trying to think positively when there are so many other reasons to think negatively.

[DaCrow]

 

Revs said:    " But sometimes I wonder, is the way we feel about ZONE the same as what other people feel about other bands?  Stated somewhat differently, is every band somebody's ZONE?"


It's a shame we don't have a psychologist or psychiatrist on this board. I'm sure there is a clinical explanation for what makes people like what they like. There has to be a "trigger" that sets off some kind of pleasure chemical in the brain. This "chemical stimuli" can be very contradictive also.

If anybody has read any of my music comments you know I'm an aging punk rocker from days gone by. Zone music and j-pop in general is so diametrically opposed to what my musical taste has been for decades. Yet the first time I heard Zone the "chemical stimuli" kicked in and I love a musical style that I thought I never would have.

As for Revs question, look at all the Michael Jackson fans who dress like him and emulate his every move. I acknowledge that he was a great performer, dancer, vocalist, but I was never interested in any of his music or anything else he did. I never could understand what all the hype was about.

I do now, the fans "chemical trigger" was tripped. Just like Zone tripped mine and so many others.

[revsfan98]

here's just one more example of someone touched by ZONE: a youtube user from thailand called "loveyourpacket"

http://www.youtube.com/user/loveyourpacket

the title of the channel is "die for a zone s reunion" and the first comment this user posted to the page said "i dont want to remember anything in last year except i have fisrt time to listen to zone music.  i will never talk about political or religion or anything that hurt human s heart . good bye all black feeling . no more hate . i dont have a time for it "

[4n01]

Stated somewhat differently, is every band somebody's ZONE?

That is probably the most interesting question I've read on the web in years, revsfan98. Thank you for that!

I certainly agree with DaCrow about music affecting our chemistry. The simplest example would be how a really good rhythm can get somebody's adrenaline pumping. Then again, someone has to be in the mood to want to hear a really good rhythm, for this to work. I've also really liked a lot of bands over the years, and if I could go back in the past and see myself at a certain point in time, I'm sure I'd see a person who thought of themselves as a fan. What I have to say about that, is I didn't know any better. Literally.

I was thinking about making a post last night, about ZONE being the best band ever. Not because of anything in particular, other than the way they make me feel when I listen to them. If I look past who plays how good of a guitar, or who sings the greatest, or who has won the most fans or sold the most albums, it comes down to something that really matters the most to me. Only ZONE songs have ever really made me cry. Not for sadness, but for the beauty they portray. No other band or song has ever been able to do that for me. That feeling is what I've always hoped to find in a song, and only ZONE ever delivered that. Maybe it is the intention of music to make different people feel different ways. And maybe different people want to get different things from the songs they listen to.

Which brings us back to revsfan98's original question: "Is every band somebody's ZONE?"

I think that every band is somebody's something, but there will never be another ZONE.

 

[revsfan98]

As for Revs question, look at all the Michael Jackson fans who dress like him and emulate his every move. I acknowledge that he was a great performer, dancer, vocalist, but I was never interested in any of his music or anything else he did. I never could understand what all the hype was about.

I do now, the fans "chemical trigger" was tripped. Just like Zone tripped mine and so many others.[/left]

MJ devotion is something I've thought about in precisely this context DaCrow.  Like you, I didn't get it before, but after finding ZONE, it makes a lot more sense.