The official HIGH and MIGHTY COLOR thread!
 

HIGH and MIGHTY COLOR is (from left to right):

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v7...ndmc_group.jpg

Kazuto (guitar)
mACKAz (bass)
Markie (vocals)
Yuusuke (vocals)
SASSY (drums)
MEG (guitar)

They debuted in January with their single PRIDE, and released a remix single for the same song. They have a new single, OVER, coming out 4/20.

If you haven't heard them, they're a bit hard to describe. Actually, quite hard to describe. The short answer is that they're a rock group, but I'd actually recommend you go ahead take a listen for yourself; you can listen to samples at their page on Sony Music Japan's site. (I'm going to order their two existing singles soon, then maybe I can post a full MP3 sample or two.)

I myself am still trying to find more information about them since there are virtually no English resources for them (I plan on making a fansite eventually, actually). So, if anyone has anything to add, please do!

I only recently discovered this band, but I love them! I'm so curious about this band, and I'd love discuss, but I find I can't find any other fans! So...has anyone else heard of the band, and is anyone else a fan? Or are you reading this right now, and listening to the snippets on Sony's site and becoming interested? Please, share your thoughts! :yes

Well since they released PRIDE I quite liked that tune, and am getting interested in what they may release next. I saw the PV for over and it was okay... but not as good as PRIDE :)

I prefer "PRIDE" to "OVER" also. "OVER" is good, but "PRIDE" is just...better. :laugh But after all, "OVER" was actually their indies single. I guess they just decided to redo it and release it again.

I also like "all alone" a lot, but that's only from the sample on the Sony site. (It's a c/w on the "PRIDE" single.) I can't wait to hear the c/w's on the "OVER" single! :yes

Isn't 'PRIDE' used as an anime theme or something?

Yeah. It's the second opening theme for Gundam SEED Destiny, I believe. :)

They make me think of a Japanese Evanescence.


I like them, not bad vocals at all, and its a good play against my idol material lol

They remind me of Evanescence too! Except, Yuusuke, the way he talks/raps/shouts, he reminds me of Linkin Park for some reason. :laugh

Anyway, yeah, the vocals are definitely pretty good...I can't believe Markie is only 17. :thud

I love them. When I first watched OVER, I didn't know what to expect and was blown away. I'm 100% positive that I'm buying their first album. They're amazing. The vocalists looks different in PVs and covers. She looks like ELT's Mocchi in my avatar (OVER single cover), but she looks way different in the PV. The PRIDE single's also really good.

*desperately wants an mp3 of OVER!!*

Well, I first discovered them thanks to the PRIDE PV airing on our local international channel, AZN TV, on a music show called "Revolution"...I was instantly hooked, and went running to the computer to find out more. I'm also definitely getting their album, whenever that surfaces. Yeah, Markie reminded me a lot of Mocchi too, and she does look different on cover art than the PVs (at least, more so for OVER than PRIDE) - but I think she looks nicer in the PVs.

I tried to make an MP3 from my copy of the OVER PV earlier, but it wouldn't convert properly and sped up and such. And, after all, that wasn't the most spotless quality either. So...I guess we wait until April 20th.

I'm still dying to get my hands on the singles. I want to hear the c/w's sooooo badly...not to mention the ones on OVER which we don't even have samples for yet. Insomnia ('INSOMUNIA') is intriguing to me. :yes


EDIT: Now all of my posts are billboards for HandMC. :laugh *points at the new siggy and avi*

Yeah when I looked at BanFan's avatar I thought she was Mocchi too. Japanese Evanescence? Never thought of that :P

Hehe, yeah. Honestly, among the few people that seem to know them, the Evanescence comparison tends to fly around a lot. When I really focus on Markie's voice when she holds a note in "PRIDE", or even just the "all alone" sample, I can see where the comparison came from. :yes It's definitely a good thing, ne~

Yeah, it's from Gundam SEED Destiny. :) I really like "PRIDE" but I have yet to see the "OVER" PV...

I downloaded the PRIDE single because of the comparisoms with Evanescence, but I actually didn't find much simillarities :( Evanescence sounds far more depressing and melancholic and the songs from "HIGH and MIGHTY COLOR" sounded a lot like typical anime JPOP or the japanese band "move". I haven't listened to OVER yet though. Not criticizing though, they do sound promising, and I liked what I listened to ;)

Hey guys, I upped "Over" PV for those of you haven't seen it here.

:laugh It's okay, I'm not going to slaughter you if you don't agree about the Evanescence thing. But look at it this way...they're more like Evanescence than a lot of J-Rock bands, right?

However...please don't compare them to "move"! :thud "move" is SO J-Pop compared to HandMC...not that J-Pop is bad, definitely, it's just that I just don't care for move's style. Like, at all. :conhuh And I wouldn't really say HandMC is "typical anime JPOP" either. Typical anime J-Pop to me is epitomized by artists like Nami Tamaki, TM Revolution, and Maaya Sakamoto. Not-so-typical anime tracks, IMO, are ones like PRIDE, and L'Arc~en~Ciel's "READY STEADY GO!" for Full Metal Alchemist. :yes

Though, you said you've DLed the PRIDE single. So...given "Hikaru Kakera", I guess I can see where you're coming from with the pop idea. I still haven't heard full versions of either of the c/w's, but "all alone" didn't sound any more poppy than "PRIDE", which IMO isn't much.

"OVER", on the other hand...well...take a listen. :laugh Not too pop either.

And thanks for the PV upload Biscuit, you just saved me a ton of time uploading. (I was going to upload it, but I'm on *dial-up*. Yes, pity me. :laugh)

Ohmygosh I'm so dumb.

I was thinking... "What the heck is HandMC?"

Now I know lol... High and MIGHTY COLOR *slaps head*

move because they have a rapper and the way the rapper interrupts the song is almost exactly like what happens in "move". Plus I actally found PRIDE to be kinda poppish and not that rockish at all (the guitars are pretty much drawn back - sorry I can't explain it well, something that usually happens with guitar infused pop).....maybe it was because I saw that it was a theme for GUNDAM, so the anime images wouldn't stop flashing in my mind while listening to it. But it's still to early for me to have an opinion...will await for their next single or their debut album.

Anime can poison the mind like that. :laugh (On a side note, I haven't seen the Gundam SEED Destiny OP with PRIDE, so I've been spared from AIS. [Anime Image Syndrome] :laugh) But yeah, I suppose it is early for much judgement, seeing as there's only really 4 different songs out now. Besides, we all probably have different personal definitions for music genres, so what's rock to me is more pop to you. And the rapper thing I hadn't even really noticed, so more power to you. :D

@ PsyGen: :roflmao Understandable. But who would want to write out "HIGH and MIGHTY COLOR" all the time?

All of that aside, I have some random tidbits of goodies. Two, actually.

The first is this Oricon interview from January. It's in Japanese, but it's also got a video clip you can stream with a comment from the band.

The second thing is another streaming clip available from this particular one of their official sites. (They have three. :think) You'll see it on ther right panel, below the OVER single information and above the PRIDE Remix information. You can stream it at 56k or 500k, and it includes a 15 sec. CM for the OVER single, clips from the PV, and a comment from the band. :yes

I was listening to my move best album, and the rapper interrupts a lot more, and is a lot more annoying, I think the HandMC rapper isn't so annoying, I don't mind him so much...

CREA, I have the whole 'PRIDE' single if you want it. :D

True the rapper in move interrupts way too much -_-;;;;;;;

*Imagines how good move would be with less rap. The music and Yuri are wonderful, but that rapper's got to go, or at least be a little less interrupting...><;

I think the only song where he doesn't bother me is 'come together', my favorite move song. ^_^

I first discovered this band back from last year.
I heard their pride song from the Gundam Seed Destiny anime.
I fell in love with them from then on.

I think they will have a very bright future ahead of them.

I heard the full song before seeing the OP, so only a few images pop into my mind when I hear it now.

Personally, I consider HandMC to be in the pop-rock genre. They're part pop, part rock. :)

Thanks for the offer BanFan, but I finally placed my order for the singles today, so I'll just wait a few days and hear it all from the CD itself. ^_^ *is ecstatic*

And true, Yuusuke's rapping is much less abrasive than a lot of others, move's rapper included. I also don't mind him at all, and I actually think he sounds pretty cool in OVER, in which he has a much larger role than in PRIDE. :yes

Welcome to the thread baby_cinnamon! :sheyhey

@ Mirai Noah: So you heard the song before seeing the opening, and also before the PV? Since I saw the PV first, if I ever see the opening, I'll still probably invision the PV forever. :laugh And if music genres are like crayons, I'd lean more towards "rock-pop" personally. (That was a stupid reference at Crayola colors like orange-yellow and yellow-orange, don't mind that, I'm weird.) My *only* gripe with that is that they call Ayu pop-rock a lot, and if you throw Ayu next to HIGH and MIGHTY COLOR, it looks more like (IMO) pop to pop-rock (Ayu), and rock (HandMC). But like I said, we all have different opinions about genres. :yes

I say there Video Pride last night ! And I feel in love with the song!

I saw the live version of pride and thought it was pretty good.. the pv didn't do anything for me, though.

the pv was great never seen it live though!

The live can be found here. :yes

The live is pretty good. littlefairyfromnam, when you say that the PV did nothing for you, do you mean you didn't care for the PV version of the song, or that the PV itself was kind of blah?

does anyone have to song or the single ? I really wanna put them on my Ipod looks like I will be buying there first Album!

damn this band is fricken awesome, one of my fav j-rock bands.

As for the Evanescence comparison, their image and their overall music styles aren't really similar. Like someone mentioned, Evanescence has a more depress sound and HandMC is more active or happy. But the riff in All Alone reminded me of Going Under and Haunted. :D

As for the rapper, that guy is so out of place!! he's even more annoying in live performances than on the cd versions of the songs. so much "wahh wahh wahh," basically screaming with a high pitch, and the Engrish lyrics are a joke. Most of the time, I couldn't make out what he says. And don't compare this guy to Motsu from move. AT least Motsu could rap clearer, faster and he's a way better lyricist than this guy but then, he studied in the U.S. and the HandMC guy didn't....still Motsu is better.

Yeah and im not really into JRock to be honest only Jrock band I listen 2 is Luna Sea!

Congratulations to HIGH and MIGHTY COLOR for their OVER single, released 4/20, which debuted at 9 on the Oricon charts! *waves little flags* :laugh

Source: http://www.oricondd.com/ranking/daily_single.php

In other news, my PRIDE and PRIDE Remix singles SHOULD be coming today (YesAsia is so slow), and OVER should be following soon.

I'm making a fanlisting for H&MC as well! It's about 2/3 done with the basics, and I've already been approved by thefanlistings.org. Yay. ^_^

The OVER single isn't that great, I'll wait for the album...

I love OVER itself personally. Are the c/w's not that great? I'm indifferent with them, judging by the samples...change sounded all "genki!" and INSOMNIA sounded depressing. :laugh

Hmmm... I like OVER, but not as much as PRIDE.

^ Agrees :) Gratz on HandMC's first week sales. Hopefully their album will do just as good. Can't wait :yes

Update: OVER is still hanging in there at 13 on the Oricon charts. ^_^

http://www.oricondd.com/ranking/daily_single.php

I like PRIDE better than OVER too, but OVER has a certain fun quality to it that I like too. It seems like it should be more of a summer single to me.

My singles did come (except OVER of course)...I was looking at the lyrics to "all alone", it's so depressing. o_o;

Oh, have any of you heard anything from the PRIDE Remix single? The H/\L's MIX 2005 is awesome. *.* (Not all the remixes are awesome though... *hides from the Real Latin Players Mix* :laugh)

Can anyone upload some of their stuff (I know they're kinda new so there isn't much).

I saw the OVER single yesterday and I like the cover.

I'm in the process of uploading PRIDE and the H/\L's MIX 2005, but in 64 kbps WMA. Suck it up, I'm on dial-up. :P I'm trying YouShareIt for the first time so hopefully it'll work...I'll be back when and if it does. :yes

EDIT: Here's PRIDE.

EDIT #2: And here's PRIDE ~H/\L's MIX 2005~.

Yeah, OVER's wonderful, but the c/ws were a lot better on the first single..*waits patiently for 3rd single or 1st album*

HIGH and MIGHTY COLOR's 3rd single:RUN☆RUN☆RUN

http://www.sonymusic.co.jp/Music/Arc...4/jacket_m.jpg
On Sale:2005.6.22
Price:1,223 Yen

Tracklist:
1.RUN☆RUN☆RUN
2.Hopelessness
3.RUN☆RUN☆RUN (inst.)

I really like it, I hope their album comes out soon or I might have to buy this from impatience... :)

I hope your right

Right that the new album's out soon?

It better be out by Fall or sometime in December so I can get it for Christmas. So far their singles (A-sides) have been really good, and I also liked the 2nd B-side on the Pride single so I'm expecting a really good album..:D

RUN☆RUN☆RUN is such a summer song, I love it, so energetic. :yes

I'm hoping for an album by Christmas also...BanFan, I pretty much second everything you said there. :laugh The A-sides are all good and I love the 2nd B-side on PRIDE ("all alone"). The other B-sides weren't bad, but they didn't match up to the A-sides or "all alone".

I'll need to pre-order this single, I think. :) (That is...if I'm not broke from over Miyavi-ing myself. :laugh)

you heard the song

Exactly. :laugh Still a bit early for a leak, ne?

Still, it's really nice (and pretty long) for a preview... ^_^

huh ?

Thanks for the preview CREA. Very energetic indeed :yes

Don't thank me, thank BanFan. ^^;

This single needs to come out...like, now. :laugh Why do they have to put out the sample so early and torture us?

Oh, and Akurei, why are you confused?

Don't thank BanFan, thank J-poop.com for providing the link w/o all that Javascript stuff...:D

:laugh

I could have posted the link (since I downloaded the stream), I just got beaten to it. :P So thank BanFan for being faster...and J-poop.com for allowing him to be faster. Or something. :D

If anyone wants the downloaded stream for the sample, I can upload it... :)


EDIT: Uploaded the sample anyway, because I seriously had nothing better to do. :D

http://www01.megaupload.com/?d=6T6BEE

RUN☆RUN☆RUN PV!!! (Site Stream)

I like it a lot, but it's not worth buying the single, so I'll still wait patiently for the album...><;\

The PV seems really similar to OVER, the way she's filmed up-close and looks all around...

BanFan, you're wonderful. I didn't think there would be a video out yet...haven't checked Bestyz in ages... *.*

Loading it up now...I'm such a hacker, I always get the file for the video out of my temp files folder when I watch things on Bestyz...for some reason, the video saves on your computer as a text file. >_O

Anyway, thanks again, I'll pop back once it loads. Curse dial-up.

does anyone know where I can get the "over" pv from ? And look like her eyes changed colors or something in this pv , I think the song could have been better to soft for me.

I think the OVER PV is on Bestyz.com too, try browsing through the JPop section.

I still haven't gotten to load the whole RUN*RUN*RUN PV because I keep getting sidetracked and my computer is dumb. :raincloud Hopefully later...

*Hopes this will be the tracklist for the album* :D

-PRIDE
-OVER
-RUN☆RUN☆RUN
-all alone
-One More B-side (change or Kakera Hikaru!)
+Maybe 7 or 8 Album Tracks

Looks like SONY isn't giving them OS versions, hopefully for the album though...

Im kinda mad cause I know RUN☆RUN☆RUN is gonna be on the album I think the song could have been better !To simple

so far I am disappointed at their production

Since Sony is a big record company, you'd expect their sound would be good but the quality of the sound of Sony artists in America sound a lot better than their Japanese counterparts. ie. The drums sound really faint and you can't really hear the bass drums.

actually I think a lot of Japanese bands/artists are like that.

I just listened to RUN☆RUN☆RUN. It's alright, kinda puts a smile on your face lol

I've heard the PV rip of "RUN☆RUN☆RUN"! I like it!

yeah but the song isn't too good !

^ Bah, I think the song is amazing. :shimmy I haven't been disappointed with HaMC yet.

I really like the new song! <3 It's so fun and it makes me wanna get up and dance stupidly around the room. XD Hehe, can't wait for the single to come out.

I wonder what Hopelessness will sound like. From the title I guess we can sort of logically guess it, but sometimes artists trick you, though I doubt it this time...

*sits more waiting for album news*

Hee, I did dance around stupidly while listening to it! ;)

Me too, perhaps they will do a slower song for once? Or is it not their style? I dunno :P

I finally had time to sit down and properly watch the RUN☆RUN☆RUN PV. A very simple one, but I guess it sort of goes well with the song.

I like Markie's hairstyle in the video, suits her well :yes Seems to have stuck since OVER.

Markie need those Grays back se looks better with them.

how many singles do u think there gonna have before a album is out? I mean they have many b-sides you know.

If I was to take a stab, I'd say maybe one more single in August/September and then an album by Christmas. They could fit two more singles if they wanted to, but that's really pushing it I think.

just wondering, why do people call her Markie? from the looks of her name in katakana, it's Maki.

Because of the extra little " - " there that makes the syllable longer or something. Maa kii sounds like Markie. I thought it was Maki at first, but the "-" must change it or else it'd just be Maki, and the Maa would be pointless...

Her real name is Maki, but in katakana her stage name is indeed Maakii.

Besides, if you go here and look at the properties for Markie's image, you'll see it says "markie" in the file name. There you go. :yes

thanks hopefully by Christmas, But thats soo far away. Im soo shocked I like them cause im not into Jrock.

They're more like J-pop/rock in my opinion...:)

They do have the rock, but they're stuff's kind of upbeat and even 'OVER' has a little bit of pop/upbeat feel to it though it's pretty hard...o-o;

Did anyone catch the Gundam SEED special on 'OUR MUSIC' last December? It had TM Revolution (ignite, INVOKE, Zips), Nami Tamaki (Reason) and HIGH and MIGHTY COLOR (PRIDE)? I was wondering if all the songs were given a lighter arrangement, because I can't image HandMC with a piano arrangment or something. It'll repeat in 10 weeks on KSCI so I can't wait to see it! :D

PRIDE didn't have a different arrangement. It was like a normal performance. I was rather disappointed -_-

well it doesn't matter to me pop,rock or pop/rock I still like em

Same here :)

Though im still think there Rock buy the instrumental Pop rock has a certain feel you know.

I just heard PRIDE and saw the PV for RUN☆RUN☆RUN and...wow! I really like them. Hopefully, I can get their album when it comes out!

I've always thought that actually, so you're not alone. Just my opinion but, I think HandMC is great just with Markie. Though I guess that rap thing he does is just an extra... a bit like for MOVE

Surprisingly enough, I've grown to like both rappers (move's and the guy in HandMC).

The guy in move has a lot more solo stuff, he gets entire verses a lot, and at first he annoyed me but he's not that bad, especially in 'come together', my favorite move song!

And the HandMC guy may be a little um...I don't know how to describe his voice, but I think it's kind of cool. The whole "twin vocals" concept is sort of nice...:)

I think it's inevitable that Yuusuke would be kicked out of the band once they become popular.

Then why have a drummer if all they're going to do is drum? :laugh

Well, it's a matter of taste, sure, but Yuusuke does have his nice little niche as rapper. Sometimes I think he lays it on a bit thick, but most of the time I think it sounds really cool. To each his own as far as Yuusuke goes, I suppose.

Just to inject a random bit of opinion in here, I think it's great to have a girl and a guy out front in the group. I don't think that happens enough personally...it seems like it's almost always girl groups (Hello! Project), boy groups (Johnny's Entertainment), or plain bands that are usually unisex either way (L'Arc~en~Ciel, ZONE, and what have you). I don't know, I get excited whenever I see a mixed group, I think it's nice. ^^;

rofl nah I don't think so. His role would possibly be part of their sucess.... I suppose... still really doesn't do it for me though.

I agree with PsyGen; plus I kinda like the screaming vocals ^^" Pride wouldn't sound as good without it

Well, once again, why does a drummer only drum then? :laugh It's each single person with (usually) a single role that makes a band a band. Markie sings, and only sings. Yuusuke raps, and only raps. The rest play their respective instruments, and they all compose and write the lyrics.

So, technically, Yuusuke does lyrics and composition as well. ^_^ H&MC is a group effort, ne?

Well I guess so but there still Cool! And I love Markie Style of clothes :thumbsup :thumbsup

http://www.sonymusic.co.jp/Music/Info/HandMC/

Hopelessness sample's up now. The single's out tomorrow! :D

The stream is spazzing for me though and I can't get it to play yet, it's been loading for a long time... :irked

ooh, I can't wait to hear the full version of Hopelessness!

Hm...*Needs to go to his friends' house to try the sample on their faster computer* ><;

I think imma hold off the sample and wait for the full version :yes

^ not bad at all