Vocalo Kyoku
Discovering Japan.icon "ボカロ曲" (Vocalo Kyoku, Vocaloid Music) in Japanese refers to songs created using Vocaloid software. Vocaloid is a type of voice synthesizer software that allows users to input lyrics and melodies to generate singing by virtual singers or "Vocaloids." These virtual singers are often represented by anime-style characters. The software has become popular worldwide, leading to a vast array of Vocaloid songs across various music genres. Vocaloid songs, or ボカロ曲, have a unique place in Japanese music culture. They are known for their creative freedom, as anyone with the software can create a song, share it online, and potentially gain a large following. This has led to the emergence of many popular Vocaloid producers and songs, some of which have influenced mainstream music and media in Japan and beyond.
The community around Vocaloid music is vibrant, with fans creating and sharing music videos, artwork, and remixes of their favorite songs. Concerts featuring holograms of Vocaloid characters performing live on stage have also become popular, showcasing the significant impact of Vocaloid music on both digital and live entertainment spheres.
nishio.icon Refer ニコニコ動画 and 初音ミク
Discovering Japan.icon
"ニコニコ動画" (Nico Nico Douga) is a popular Japanese video-sharing website known for its unique commenting system where user comments fly across the screen while the video is playing. This platform has played a significant role in the spread and popularity of Vocaloid music, especially songs featuring "初音ミク" (Hatsune Miku), the most famous Vocaloid character. Hatsune Miku, developed by Crypton Future Media, is represented as a 16-year-old girl with long, turquoise pigtails. She quickly became an icon in the Vocaloid community and beyond, partly due to her distinct voice and character design. Miku's voice is synthesized from the voice of Saki Fujita, a Japanese voice actress, and she has been featured in thousands of songs created by musicians worldwide. Nico Nico Douga became a breeding ground for Vocaloid producers to share their works, with Hatsune Miku songs often rising to the top of the charts. The platform allowed for immediate feedback from viewers through its commenting system, contributing to a lively and interactive community. Many Vocaloid songs that first gained popularity on Nico Nico Douga have since crossed over to mainstream media, with some even being performed at large concerts featuring hologram versions of Miku and other Vocaloid characters.
Together, Nico Nico Douga and Hatsune Miku have significantly influenced the digital culture in Japan and the global music scene, fostering a creative community that continues to innovate and expand the possibilities of music and entertainment.
nishio.iconAt present, there are over 400,000 Vocaloid songs produced and freely available for listening.
The characteristic of being Vocaloid songs rather than specific music genres has led to the emergence of intersecting interest groups.
This has created a melting pot of music, with elements flowing in from diverse music genres.
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