Why do people hate Japanese Jazz?

[bassdrum]

Question:
so I like Jazz(kinda, only certain songs) and I love Japanese songs(than-kyu AmonDerevex and lordxwillie ^_^) but all of my friends think this is a bad combination.
so im asking you guys.
why?
whats wrong with it?
just a guilty pleasure^_^

topic so I dont get reported:
do you guys like music that people hate?
what type of music?

The problem with the music you presents as 'Japanese Jazz' is that it isn't really jazz (not being a snob here, that's just not jazz).

Spoiler: This is more what jazz tends to sound like

I'm not trying to be close-minded, it's just that the song you presented as jazz was closer to rock.

On the discussion topic: most of my friends make fun of my music (although they seem to like it). I generally listen to music which I haven't found a genre name for yet--although I've heard the term Trip-Hop thrown around--by artists such as Bonobo or Blockhead.

 

[Tdc2182]

I honestly didnt know that it existed. But now that I listen to it, I can understand why it isn't liked. Probably because nobody can understand what it is saying.

 

[Crimsonsniper]

whats wrong with it?

Well, for starters, there are parts where the piano and guitar comp at the same time. It clashes. Badly. Speaking of the guitar, why is he using distortion? In an old-style big band thing like this it should be clean. And with 18 gauge strings. The distortion makes the whole thing sound dirty and slightly off, jazz should be right on. Also the beginning is out of time, though that might be because I'm not used to listening to Japanese. Also it should be with an acoustic piano and upright, acoustic bass. It also has the same problem that a lot of Japanese jazz does, it swings too much. Usually on faster things your swing straightens out a bit, and on slower things it's more exaggerated. Also, it had no dynamics. Also it sounds overly simplistic, more like ska than proper jazz. Which is the major complaint with Japanese jazz (for the most part), it's more ska than jazz.

And why is the guitar player the only one with a solo? No trombone? Saxophone? Piano? Not even a nice vocal solo? She's a good singer, I'd like to hear her improvise.

And the ending kind of made me die inside, it was so cliched.

(You asked what was wrong with it.)

Im conflicted
I dont know wheather to laugh my ass off or lose faith in humanity

I know I just lost my faith in humanity, but not because of anything Berethond said. It's the fact that you make a thread to ask people's opinions and why they feel that way, but then shoot down Berethond's viewpoint because you disagree with it is pathetic. You've already made your choice on this music, now its time to start respecting other peoples opinions.

 

[NoblePhilistineFox]

The problem with the music you presents as 'Japanese Jazz' is that it isn't really jazz (not being a snob here, that's just not jazz).

I'm not trying to be close-minded, it's just that the song you presented as jazz was closer to rock.

On the discussion topic: most of my friends make fun of my music (although they seem to like it). I generally listen to music which I haven't found a genre name for yet--although I've heard the term Trip-Hop thrown around--by artists such as Bonobo or Blockhead.

yeah, I ask a question about predjudice and you 1-up me, thats nice./sarcasm

Ooooo I like that. It's catchy, like a combination of jazz, showtunes and modern rock. (or something like that, i'm no music expert ) - I guess to be fair not everyone has the same musical tastes. I don't care for most rap or country although I don't think there's anything wrong with either genre really.

thats all I wanted, thank you.

 

[Revolutionary]

Thats not jazz really..... Jazz was a specific cultral revelation during the depression...its a genre that is highly context sensitive. without the original sound quality (style of instruments etc) and historical context this shit sounds very plastic and shallow.

Besides : not brassy enough

 

[NoblePhilistineFox]

whats wrong with it?

snip

Im conflicted
I dont know wheather to laugh my ass off or lose faith in humanity

I know I just lost my faith in humanity, but not because of anything Berethond said. The fact that you make a thread to ask people's opinions and why they feel that way, but then shoot down berethonds viewpoint because you disagree with it is pathetic. You've already made your choice on this music, now its time to start respecting other peoples opinions.

I laughed my ass off because of the last line, and I said the "lose faith in humanity" thing because he was willing to take the time to put such an intricate summary of the flaws of the song together, not because he was dissing the song.
and does humanity even HAVE hope anymore?

 

[Crimsonsniper]

whats wrong with it?

snip

Im conflicted
I dont know wheather to laugh my ass off or lose faith in humanity

I know I just lost my faith in humanity, but not because of anything Berethond said. The fact that you make a thread to ask people's opinions and why they feel that way, but then shoot down berethonds viewpoint because you disagree with it is pathetic. You've already made your choice on this music, now its time to start respecting other peoples opinions.

I laughed my ass off because of the last line, and I said the "lose faith in humanity" thing because he was willing to take the time to put such an intricate summary of the flaws of the song together, not because he was dissing the song.
and does humanity even HAVE hope anymore?

Ok, now I'm curious. How does the length of one's response have anything to do with faith in humanity's future?

 

[NoblePhilistineFox]

Ok, now I'm curious. How does the length of one's response have anything to do with faith in humanity's future?

its like
"wow, you were willing to spend ten minutes just to 1-up me and make a joke on a forum community, thats sad..."
type deal.
did that explain it a bit better, or just screw up your thought process?

 

[Crimsonsniper]

Ok, now I'm curious. How does the length of one's response have anything to do with faith in humanity's future?

its like
"wow, you were willing to spend ten minutes just to 1-up me and make a joke on a forum community, thats sad..."
type deal.
did that explain it a bit better, or just screw up your thought process?

Personally I just think your full of it and making excuses up. He wasn't trying to "1-up you" as far as I could tell, he just dislikes that japanese jazz, and he told you why.

 

[NoblePhilistineFox]

Ok, now I'm curious. How does the length of one's response have anything to do with faith in humanity's future?

its like
"wow, you were willing to spend ten minutes just to 1-up me and make a joke on a forum community, thats sad..."
type deal.
did that explain it a bit better, or just screw up your thought process?

Personally I just think your full of it and making excuses up. He wasn't trying to "1-up you" as far as I could tell, he just dislikes that japanese jazz, and he told you why.

He was explaining more the song itself, rather than the genre.
like a critic to a movie.
only this had a hilarious ending (what? you told me to tell you)

 

[Crimsonsniper]

Ok, now I'm curious. How does the length of one's response have anything to do with faith in humanity's future?

its like
"wow, you were willing to spend ten minutes just to 1-up me and make a joke on a forum community, thats sad..."
type deal.
did that explain it a bit better, or just screw up your thought process?

Personally I just think your full of it and making excuses up. He wasn't trying to "1-up you" as far as I could tell, he just dislikes that japanese jazz, and he told you why.

He was explaining more the song itself, rather than the genre.
like a critic to a movie.
only this had a hilarious ending (what? you told me to tell you)

Well, alright then. As long as you respected his opinion, your views are fine by me.

 

[likalaruku]

Sounds fine to me. It just isn;t Jazz unless it's got a little horn it it. Don;t mean a thing if it ain't got that swing, & American modern Jazz doesn't have any.

 

[NoblePhilistineFox]

Ok, now I'm curious. How does the length of one's response have anything to do with faith in humanity's future?

its like
"wow, you were willing to spend ten minutes just to 1-up me and make a joke on a forum community, thats sad..."
type deal.
did that explain it a bit better, or just screw up your thought process?

Personally I just think your full of it and making excuses up. He wasn't trying to "1-up you" as far as I could tell, he just dislikes that japanese jazz, and he told you why.

He was explaining more the song itself, rather than the genre.
like a critic to a movie.
only this had a hilarious ending (what? you told me to tell you)

Well, alright then. As long as you respected his opinion, your views are fine by me.

I respect everyones oppinion, no matter how wrong they may be *giggle*
eh crimson-tan(just kidding)

 

[Hellz_Barz]

yeh japanese jazz is ok, But i much pefer japanese jazz hip-hop. Like nujabes! except he died recently.

Spoiler: heres a sample of his stuff(probably not his most jazzy sounding but my favourite song of his).

but lets see something i love that my friends hate. uuuuuuuuuummmmmmmmmmmm.....
probably my horrorcore rap and the more early 90s stuff i listen too.

 

[skabs]

I think I can provide a few insights that might help address the OP's original questions.

As both a musician and a big fan of Jazz, I can understand why old school Jazz purists (dear god, are there any left?) would dislike Japanese Jazz (which I will refer to simply as J Jazz from now on). Berethond really hit part of it on the head:

whats wrong with it?

it sounds overly simplistic, more like ska than proper jazz. Which is the major complaint with Japanese jazz (for the most part), it's more ska than jazz.

And why is the guitar player the only one with a solo? No trombone? Saxophone? Piano? Not even a nice vocal solo? She's a good singer, I'd like to hear her improvise.

The overall simplicity of the song, along with its lack of more traditional Jazz instrumentals, would cause a lot of Jazz purists to dislike it. Also, I completely agree that much of J Jazz is more akin to Ska than regular American Jazz, due to its borrowing of more modern (and often simplified) rhythmical devices usually found in Pop music.

On the other hand, J Jazz does use many musical devices that may cause people that enjoy more modern genres of music (ex: Pop, rock, metal) to view it with a bit of disdain. J Jazz's use of wind instruments as one of the driving forces of the song, lack of a catchy, repetitive chorus, and "swing" rhythm are all tools not often utilized in modern music.

All in all, what I am saying is that J Jazz is a bit of an awkward genre of music. Simply put, it is a mule. I believe that it attempts to combine elements of several different genres, and in the end, only manages to alienate purists from both camps. Basically, J Jazz is too Popish (coinage) and shallow for Jazz aficionados, and too old school and different for Pop fans.

Just my two cents worth on the topic!

 

[A random person]

I didn't know it existed.

Somewhat this. I mean, I knew that some people in Japan made jazz, but I didn't know that was prevalent or anything.

As for the song in the OP, I didn't mind it, but keep in mind that a song has to be really bad or dull for me to hate it.

Spoiler: Here's a superior and more well known example of Japanese jazz (though it is very western in style, so maybe not the best one).

 

[Mordwyl]

Would the original Lupin the Third's theme count? If it does I'm surprised at how it wasn't mentioned yet, or how old I am.