# English-singing Japanese Bands **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [January 25, 2007, 1:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/english-singing-japanese-bands/389355 "2007-01-25T01:43:27Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![indierock82](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/f14d63/32.png) [@indierock82](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/indierock82)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2007, 5:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/english-singing-japanese-bands/389355/21 "2007-01-25T17:27:35Z")
I have a bit of an underground example that I’m most certain has never been heard of by you guys: Buddhiston. As a guitar player and a fervent indie music advocate, I was blown away by these guys. ---
**Author:** ![Finagle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/b19c9b/32.png) [@Finagle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Finagle)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2007, 5:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/english-singing-japanese-bands/389355/22 "2007-01-25T17:48:57Z")
As a slight tangent to the OP, I’ve been wondering lately why no (or at least very few) Japanese bands have ever charted in the US. Although my experience is largely limited to listening to the soundtracks to anime on Adult Swim, it sure seems as though Japanese pop is catchy and melodic enough to make some kind of splash. And certainly foreign bands have often done well here (e.g. Abba, Nena, Ofra Hazra, and Johnny Clegg and Savuka). Why no breakout Japanese rock or pop bands touring in the US? ---
**Author:** ![Indygrrl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/58f4c7/32.png) [@Indygrrl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Indygrrl)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2007, 5:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/english-singing-japanese-bands/389355/23 "2007-01-25T17:55:09Z")
There’s an awesome Japanese metal band called \*Church of Misery \* who sing in English. They are into serial killers and have a bunch of songs that relate to the topic. Very good, stoner-metal type of songs. ---
**Author:** ![yanceylebeef](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yanceylebeef/32/12290_2.png) [@yanceylebeef](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yanceylebeef)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2007, 6:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/english-singing-japanese-bands/389355/24 "2007-01-25T18:00:51Z")
Just another quick note on Guitar Wolf, They were in a move called [Wild Zero](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0267116/) in 2000, I think. It’s an awesome Zombie Rock and Roll Armageddon Love Story as only the Japanese could do. also, look up Teengenerate, The Mops, and Modernette. ---
**Author:** ![Kokopilau](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/5f8ce5/32.png) [@Kokopilau](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kokopilau)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2007, 6:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/english-singing-japanese-bands/389355/25 "2007-01-25T18:49:58Z")
Maaya Sakamoto has done a lot of english songs as well. In “Vector” from a few years ago, she has only a barely-noticable accent. ---
**Author:** ![Necros](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/necros/32/11086_2.png) [@Necros](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Necros)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2007, 6:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/english-singing-japanese-bands/389355/26 "2007-01-25T18:59:53Z")
I am a big fan of **B’z**. They have a couple songs in English. Track down a copy of “Brighter Day” for a good example. On the poppy side, **Utada Hikaru** was born in New York, I believe, and she has an entire album (Exodus) that was realeased in the US with all English lyrics. For hiphop goodness, **Heartsdales** has quite a bot of English in their songs. ---
**Author:** ![pretend\_my\_name\_is\_witty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/b9e5f3/32.png) [@pretend\_my\_name\_is\_witty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pretend_my_name_is_witty)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2007, 11:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/english-singing-japanese-bands/389355/27 "2007-01-25T23:11:07Z")
Not a Japanese/Japan doper, but I’m a fan of The Mad Capsule Markets who sing in a Japanese/English (with very confusing lyrics) mix. Good electro/metal mix, need to be in the right mood to listen to them though! Surprised no-one else has mentioned them yet. ---
**Author:** ![psycat90](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/7ea924/32.png) [@psycat90](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/psycat90)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2007, 2:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/english-singing-japanese-bands/389355/28 "2007-01-26T02:16:57Z")
I’m also a fan of Shonen Knife and the 5678s. If you like horror punk [Balzac](http://www.balzac308.com/main.htm) isn’t too bad. I’ve seen them open for The Misfits a couple of times and have a few songs of theirs. Decent stuff. ---
**Author:** ![Fiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e274bd/32.png) [@Fiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fiver)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2007, 3:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/english-singing-japanese-bands/389355/29 "2007-01-26T03:44:36Z")
[QUOTE=Miller] I rather like Pizzicato Five. Their song “Baby Love Child” was featured in the _Futurama_ episode about Leela’s parents. [/QUOTE] That’s where I discovered them! I now own that album, and love it. ---
**Author:** ![audiobottle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/bc8723/32.png) [@audiobottle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/audiobottle)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2007, 3:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/english-singing-japanese-bands/389355/30 "2007-01-26T03:53:38Z")
[QUOTE=indierock82] I have a bit of an underground example that I’m most certain has never been heard of by you guys: Buddhiston. As a guitar player and a fervent indie music advocate, I was blown away by these guys. [/QUOTE] I youtubed them and liked what I heard. Then I tried to look for their CD online. Where is it? How can I buy it? I think I finally found that the CD is called “Buddhist Tradition” or something like that. ---
**Author:** ![audiobottle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/bc8723/32.png) [@audiobottle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/audiobottle)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2007, 8:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/english-singing-japanese-bands/389355/31 "2007-01-26T20:25:25Z")
I’m going to bump this in the hopes that somebody can tell me where to buy this album. ---
**Author:** ![audiobottle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/bc8723/32.png) [@audiobottle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/audiobottle)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2007, 8:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/english-singing-japanese-bands/389355/32 "2007-01-26T20:33:27Z")
I just realized why it’s so hard to find. It’s Buddhist **s** on, not Buddhiston. Man. :smack: ---
**Author:** ![indierock82](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/f14d63/32.png) [@indierock82](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/indierock82)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2007, 4:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/english-singing-japanese-bands/389355/33 "2007-01-27T16:53:12Z")
Hehe, yeah buddhiston _not_ buddhistson. I got a few of their albums from a good friend of mine that has played with them a few times. Unfortunately it is hard to get a copy of it unless you order via the net. They have a site: [www.buddhiston.com](http://www.buddhiston.com) but it seems to be down for the moment. If you do plan on ordering it, I’d recommend their newest album that is self titled. ---
**Author:** ![indierock82](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/f14d63/32.png) [@indierock82](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/indierock82)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2007, 4:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/english-singing-japanese-bands/389355/34 "2007-01-27T16:55:31Z")
Hahaha… and there I go shooting my mouth off… Buddhistson \*\*_NOT_ what I wrote first. So the address is [www.buddhistson.com](http://www.buddhistson.com) I blame it on a night out partying last night =) ---
**Author:** ![indierock82](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/f14d63/32.png) [@indierock82](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/indierock82)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2007, 4:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/english-singing-japanese-bands/389355/35 "2007-01-27T16:56:48Z")
alternatively, [buddhistson | Listen and Stream Free Music, Albums, New Releases, Photos, Videos](http://www.myspace.com/buddhistson) ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2007, 7:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/english-singing-japanese-bands/389355/36 "2007-01-27T19:17:00Z")
“I would be a more _efficient_ Elvis!” Anyhoo, singing in English didn’t help Pink Lady, nor Jeff. ---
**Author:** ![Johanna](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johanna/32/8318_2.png) [@Johanna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johanna)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2007, 11:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/english-singing-japanese-bands/389355/37 "2007-01-27T23:12:07Z")
Sadistic Mika Band was my favorite Japanese band of all time. They existed back in the '70s, played a sharp, sexy sort of funk, and were available only as imports. I never thought I would find myself talking like a band snob, but I just thought they sounded truly brilliant and it’s a shame they’ve been forgotten. ---
**Author:** ![Johanna](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johanna/32/8318_2.png) [@Johanna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johanna)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2007, 12:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/english-singing-japanese-bands/389355/38 "2007-01-28T00:23:55Z")
…and if I ever saw anyone accusing **Anaamika** of being sadistic, it would take superhuman strength to resist the urge to go “Band name!” ---
**Author:** ![glee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b5a626/32.png) [@glee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/glee)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2007, 1:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/english-singing-japanese-bands/389355/39 "2007-01-28T01:25:03Z")
Wasn’t there just such a three piece female band in ‘Kill Bill’ (vol 1)? ---
**Author:** ![jovan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/0ea827/32.png) [@jovan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jovan)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2007, 1:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/english-singing-japanese-bands/389355/40 "2007-01-28T01:28:48Z")
[QUOTE=glee] Wasn’t there just such a three piece female band in ‘Kill Bill’ (vol 1)? [/QUOTE] Yes, the _5,6,7,8’s_ mentioned above. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/english-singing-japanese-bands/389355.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/english-singing-japanese-bands/389355.md?page=3)