Hmmm, it's funny you should say that because I like the second song of 6 one of the best off the album.
... I think they have quite their own identity in 6, even if it is more like their 'older' sound slightly. But they surprise us again with the gentler sound of Ryuusei, so... who knows?!
Yeah I wish I could go see them in America as well...
You will have a really great time!
Glad you had a good time at the Diru, Pjusk!
That's interesting Kotchiro... I wish I could read Japanese so I could read it....
Me too I really love the 2006 version of Daikirai! It works well on Ryuusei single with the two gentler songs.
Well, I said I would translate the interview, and I have done it... I didn't make a word-for-word translation but made it make sense in the English language, and put some bits (signed like "- K") to try and explain.
I'm not sure if copy-paste from Word will work on this forum because sometimes it mangles letters
but I will try it...
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It was a rainy day when we met MUCC in their hotel for an interview.
Tanja : Firstly, hello everyone.
Some fans feel that 6 is a synthesis of all your work; do you agree?
Miya : In fact, 6 is more like a B-side of Houyoku.
Reyep : Have your travels abroad influenced your music?
Miya : There are a great number of things that we couldn't have known before coming to Europe. It has taught us a lot of things and also opened our eyes. Because of this, we've progressed a lot.
Tanja : The cover of the regular version of 6 is a parody of the poster for your first concert in the Budokan; is that a publicity thing or your decision? [She uses the word "délire" which is actually a mental agitation like a delirium
, maybe it's a more informal meaning I don't know of! – K]
Tatsurou : 6 is a different type of album than what we've done before; we had tried to make a noteable design with a particular cover which is a change from what we've done up until now. When you have a concert at the Budokan, in the same breath you are inspired to make a photo as a poster for the Budokan. It's a blink of the eye which points up the original. [I can't find a better way to translate it. It's like he's saying that it somehow emphasises the original, but it won't translate exactly. – K]
Tanja : Indeed, the Budokan is a big, well known venue, almost mythical; what were your feelings/impressions before the big evening?
Tatsurou : We'd already played there for events. But the fact of being able to play alone in that big venue, having already seen it full for other very well-known groups, impressed us. We'd seen these images since we formed the band, and to finally be there, it was a great event for us. [I was a bit confused by that sentence; I think someone meant to write "sens" instead of "sans", it makes more sense that way. – K]
Reyep : You can hope to play at the Tokyo Dome one day!
(The band laughs at the comment)
Tanja : Besides the Budokan, have you chosen a standing or seated concert? [She uses the word "fosse" which means "pit", but I doubt she was referring to the pit only. – K]
Tatsurou : All seated.
Reyep : At the start of your career, you were more visually orientated. Where did the change come from?
(Long pause, Tatsurou thinks for a long time)
Tatsurou : hmmm… Before, we gave more importance to our costumes, but at the same time we had to adapt to the evolution of our music. At the moment, perhaps we give more importance to the creation of our music. At the same time, we have felt the need to refine our style and not use so much makeup.
Tanja : You talk a lot during your photoshoots; is that also the case in life?
Tatsurou : When you're not working, you mess about a lot [can also be translated like as "talk rubbish" – K], but otherwise, when you're working you're serious.
Tanja : On your official site, you can see a short clip of footage where we can appreciate your talents as actors. Are you going to work in drama?
(Laughter)
Tatsurou : The person who made the Budokan into a hit in the video, is the young girl at the bottom (he points out to us a young Japanese girl in the corner of the picture).
Tanja : You're talented, though!
(They shake their heads)
Tanja : Why do you play barefoot?
Tatsurou : In the first place, it's a lot more practical for moving about on the stage. Then, at first I wore boots to go with my stage costume. But in a live, because of pressure, stress, movement, it wasn't practical and I ended up taking them off. In fact, I'd prefer to wear sneakers, but we're not really a group that wears sneakers. So we stayed barefoot.
Reyep : But there are bands like Nirvana, grunge bands, who sing songs as dark as yours, and they wear jeans and sneakers.
Tatsurou : You see us as like Nirvana?
Reyep : No, not really [That translates kind of throwaway and casual; he could equally have said, "Actually, no", or "Honestly, no". – K]
(NLDR: Notice that at the concert YUKKE wore a T-shirt that said GRUNGE in big letters…)
Reyep : What did you think of the event at the Klub?
Tatsurou : It was very nice and the cosplay was interesting, too.
Reyep : What do you think of fans who live on the other side of the world and who dress like you in your earlier days?
Tatsurou : Oh! It's funny, I ask myself: "Hmmm… But where do they find their inspiration and the photos?!"
Reyep : After Otakon (American convention), you go to play in the US. What are your feelings?
Tatsurou : Yes, we'll go there in summer. At the moment, we're still not fully aware of it [In the way of meaning that it hasn't fully sunk in. – K], so we'll see when we get there, but we've already had the experience of playing in Europe. So, we'll have a different approach from our first concerts in Europe. We'll go there and do well!
Reyep : Are there any other countries that you'd like to play in or meet artists that you like, like The Rasmus in Finland?
Tatsurou : Actually, we'd like to go to Finland. In Japan, we played with The Rasmus and we talked about eventually doing concerts with them in Europe.
Tanja : Are there any other countries you'd like to go to?
Tatsurou : England, Korea…
SATOchi : Northern Poland
Tanja : With polar bears and seals?
SATOchi : I'd really like to eat seal.
(Everyone bursts out laughing!)
Tanja : Have you found differences between the audiences in Europe, Japan, etc?
Tatsurou : They're always very different.
Reyep : Even between European countries?
Tatsurou : Yes, there are differences between Germany and France, and even in France, you can feel a difference between Paris and the country.
Reyep : What did you think about the other dates in France?
Tatsurou : There was an atmosphere of mania! [Insanity, madness, call it what you will… - K] The audiences were really into it. [He actually says "chaud" ("hot") but that doesn't translate easily at all. – K] We ask ourselves why no other Japanese group has gone to the south. They're really stupid not to have gone there! (Everyone laughs) [It's translated as to have said "cons" which is stronger than "stupid", as it has also the meaning of "****" etc. XD – K]
Tanja : People were crazy before you went on stage?
Tatsurou : People had their arms in the air, people were excited. [He actually said "on s'étire" which is like "stretched out", so I translated it as people having their arms in the air, in that context. – K]
Tanja : Have people tried to press you to release a 'best of' CD? [I can only translate "CD de reprises" like that… like a CD of old material… - K]
Tatsurou : Since we started doing concerts, each time we do a replay. And as we go along, as we do one different one each time, we end up with a repertoire of about 30 songs. We'd like to do an album of our old stuff, it doesn't matter when, but we've never had the time. And, when we do have, we're recording. Apart from releasing that kind of album in the time-honoured way, it takes time and it's complicated. Then, for the first time we might release it under one particular condition: to participate in a concert at the Budokan to present that album. [I'm not entirely clear whether that sentence is in the context of "might" or "would", so I'm erring on the safe side! – K]
Reyep : You've released loads of stuff, played lots of concerts, so, are you preparing more surpises for us for the second half of 2006 or are you going to rest?
Tatsurou : No, there won't be a break.
Reyep : No Japanese group has opened a fan club in Europe, in spite of holding concerts here. What do you think; would you like to open one?
Tatsurou : I think that if a fan club is necessary, why not? But if no group has done it at the moment, it's because they haven't taken account of whether it's necessary or not. Because we're at a distance and there's a language barrier, I think would be difficult to manage. We couldn't offer the same things as to the Japanese fans. But if there is someone who is a MUCC fan and who wants to start a company to create a fan club and is prepared to manage it, we wouldn't hesitate to meet with that person. [It's given as "se présenter" which is like to present oneself to, to report for duty or stand for office; that kind of context. – K]
Reyep : A lot of people would be happy to do that but we don't know who could do it.
Tatsurou : But even in Japan it's difficult… (The group laughs)
Tanja : Yes, because it's more practicable to have concert venues in Japan. It's effectively for a handful of people, but all the same it's very useful.
Tatsurou : We'd be happy. You don't want to do it?
Tanja : Err, why not… (Laughter). The bands come to France, but a lot of people come from Japan too, and it's not easy to find venues if you don't have someone in situe.
Tatsurou : It would be easier to give infos… Good, we'll have a meeting this evening!
Reyep : It's funny you should say that to Tanja, because she's a recent fan of MUCC. She didn't used to like Tatsurou's voice, but on this album, that changed. (NLDR: Tanja slumped down in her chair, and the band laughed…). You either like or dislike his voice, but it doesn't leave you indifferent.
Tatsurou : Sometimes there is a singer who's voice I don't like, but then, all of a sudden, I come to like it. I think that when you don't like a singer's voice, it already holds an interest for you and from that moment, there is the possibility of changing from "I don't like it" to "I like it". Rather then being indifferent to it. So I totally understand.
Reyep : Tatsurou, how do you convey such emotion, have you suffered previously?
Tatsurou : Last year, with the language barrier, I took into account that I have to put more feeling into my songs. If my lyrics are sad, I have to convey that feeling in the song, because the words aren't enough. I've worked very hard on that during this last year. And I'm happy that it's bearing fruit.
Reyep : I think that with titles like "Daikirai", you already convey a lot of emotion.
Tatsurou (in French) : merci
Reyep : Are you ready to go on an even bigger tour in France.
Miya : I wish that every time that we came we could play even more concerts, in even more places, we're up for it!
Here's to next year!
Thank you to Sxl and to Ayou for their valuable help.
Thank you to Sae, Fabrice, MUCC and their staff.
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The original interview is
here.