X JAPAN

・Overview

X JAPAN is a Japanese visual rock band. The band’s former name and nickname was X.

The band was formed in 1982 in Tateyama City, Chiba Prefecture, Japan by YOSHIKI and TOSHI, who were high school students at the time.

Their flamboyant make-up, upswept blond hair, and flamboyant live performances gave birth to the genre known as “V-Rock,” and they became pioneers of this genre.

・Musical style

X JAPAN’s musical style is influenced by American and British glam metal and heavy metal, and is characterized by speed metal/power metal songs with symphonic elements and emotional ballads.

・MEMBER

• Yoshiki – drums, piano, keyboards, bandleader(1982–1997, 2007–present)
• Toshi – lead vocals, acoustic guitar (1982–1997, 2007–present)
• Pata – rhythm guitar, backing vocals (1987–1997, 2007–present)
• Heath – bass guitar, backing vocals (1992–1997, 2007–present)
• Hide – lead guitar, backing vocals (1987–1997, died 1998)
• Sugizo – lead guitar, violin, backing vocals (2009–present) as a touring musician (2008–2009)
• Taiji– bass guitar, acoustic guitar, backing vocals (1985, 1986–1992, died 2011)

・Author’s personal opinion

X JAPAN’s musical style was very diverse, which was unusual for a Japanese band at the time.

This helped to create a base for listeners to easily accept other bands when they released songs with various styles.

I still remember the shock I felt when I first heard Kurenai on the radio in elementary school.

I’ve never heard a song with such an intense, screaming voice! I thought.

When I first heard about X JAPAN, Hide was about to pass away and X JAPAN was no longer active, but now when I see them releasing new works and holding concerts, I feel like it’s like history for me.

Basically, I love intense music, but I think I’ve come to love both sensitive music because I’ve listened to a wide range of bands like X.

They are an important band to me.

・Spotify

・Recommended YouTube videos and English translation of lyrics

紅/KURENAI

I could not look back,

you'd gone away from me

I felt my heartaches,

I was afraid of following you

When I was looking the shadows on the wall

I started running into the night to find the true in me

In the crowded street

The shadow of the days hide your heart You are bringing down the heart of the night

You're standing all alone Keeping everything off As if something gonna force you Tell me why you leave me alone

Now you're running into the storm Can't you see I'm always on your mind

When I was gonna be losing you on my mind found my heart in soil I'm looking back the days

These are gonna break my heart

But I can't never hold back

All of you in my memory is still shining in my heart Now you're wearing the mysterious lights

It keeps me sticking into my heart

My heart has been gonna dye deep red with all of pain

There's no one to cure my pain only with out you

How I try to shout, How I try to run

There's nothing I can do The wall hiding my heart is never broken again How I try to break

As if something gonna force you

Now you're running into the storm

Can't you see I'm always on your mind Tell me why you leave me alone

My heart has been gonna dye deep red with all of pain There's no one to cure my pain only with out you

How I try to shout, How I try to run

There's nothing I can do

The wall hiding my heart is never broken again

How I try to break

My heart has been gonna dye deep red with all of pain There's no one to cure my pain only with out you

Cry in deep red...

DAHLIA

DO NOTHING BUT CRY

even if it turns out to be a pretty lie...

ALL ALONE

DAY AND NIGHT

In between the past and the future

Unchanging feelings

I'll embrace the tears that flow in the boundless night sky...

Once again, OH MY DAHLIA, the grief that wets my heart becomes a constellation that can't be counted.

YOU DON'T KNOW

WHERE YOU'RE GOING TO

lonely wings, when you cross the sea of tears

I spread it out in the midst of my doubts

you'll see blue sky

I don't care if it's a formless dream

Hold it up to tomorrow's wind

I'll flap my wings... Now

TIME AFTER TIME

YOU TRY TO FIND YOURSELF

In the flowing times

Embracing the unceasing hurt

I'll dance in the wind of sadness

DREAM ON YOUR LEFT DEAD ON YOUR RIGHT

embrace the blue night

Asking about tomorrow

In a heart full of contradictions... DEAD OR LIVE

In one second of eternity

Don't decorate my tears... Never again

OH MY DAHLIA

The rain that flows on the scars of everyone's heart...

TIME AFTER TIME In the night sky

The meaning of birth, I ask

The river of unceasing tears

Until it shines in silver

Blown by the cold wind

The birds that can't fly away

Embracing their own dreams

In the sky at dawn...

TIME AFTER TIME YOU CRY IN REALITY

Stop the flowing time

The trail of tears shed

The flower of fantasy blooms