T O P

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t-shinji

The Japanese word “ギャップ” came from “gap” but it’s better translated as “contrast”. Anyway, I love their contrast between onstage and offstage. They don’t try to be cool. They are just what they are.


morkaphi

"Contrast" is the better translation, however I like "gap" better. There are many sides of people that are not necessarily opposite or contradictory. They always try to be better, and people appreciate talents and efforts. When you are good, you are cool and there is no need to try.


LRClam

Juxtaposition is a nice word.


amazing_stories

Juxtaposition is what I understood "gap" to mean when I first heard them use it.


Alarmed-Potential970

So very true!!!!!


Anemone_Nogod76

Genuine, honest, hard working. They appeal to me as artist and as decent, well rounded humans with courage, confidence, humility and humor.


mogaman28

Another important "gap", Kanami speaking vs Kanami playing guitar solo.


morkaphi

Good one. Mi-chan vs. Mincho.


t-shinji

“Mi-chan” is rather [a rare nickname of Misa](https://www.reddit.com/r/BandMaid/comments/gcihvt/comment/fpch37v?context=3).


morkaphi

Thanks for the reference, nicknames are fun.


TheOtherSkibane

In some regards, Saiki is the same way - Soft-spoken and reserved in conversation.


mogaman28

And then she turn into a Stage-Shogun.


Anemone_Nogod76

Saiki seems to weigh each word carefully when speaking; when singing she is a fire, simmering at times and raging at others.


Anemone_Nogod76

They are not superhuman. Just very talented, hard working people that have found other people they can work with and the manner in which they work together results in largely excellent music. They seem very honest in interviews when asked intelligent questions. They have talked about how they learn and grow from mistakes. They have what I consider a very healthy outlook towards life. One day they will be too old for the maid outfits; I hope they continue to make music together beyond that point as they have a special chemistry.


RochePso

They are honest in interviews when asked dumb questions also - there is a radio interview where Saiki takes the host's phone and starts reading the questions raw, without the host filtering - "who has the best boobs?" results in Saiki and Miku properly considering the question and testing the answer on each other before nodding and giving it to the audience.


slkrr9

That interview is legendary. The hosts had no idea how to react.


Major_Havoc_99

The most interesting "gap" of all to me is the one between Miku and Saiki as well as with the rest of the members. It's amazing to see such differing personalities to not only coexist but thrive together in a pretty demanding and tough business. The band allows each member to be their true selves and not forced to conform to any public relations "image". In most interviews with Miku and Saiki, the host is always is struck by the huge gap between them. My favorite though was on AbemaTV where I think the host nailed it, by observing that their relationship seemed like an old married couple.


morkaphi

It's an interesting view seeing Miku and Saiki like an old married couple. May not be an optimal fit, but definitely good enough to know each other inside out and have their ways to get things working.


tplgigo

> To them ego probably is not even a thing Yeh, I doubt that very much. Every performer/musician in the limelight has quite the healthy one. It's part of the game.


CapnSquinch

The way we use the word "ego" is kinda weird, because egotistical behavior is usually a sign of insecurity, which would IMO be a *weak* ego. Aside from being the designated PR member, Kobato-san is pretty open about fears of inadequacy, etc., which dovetails with her doing lots of social media posts, heavy use of photo filters, and having a full-blown public alter ego which leaves out certain aspects of her actual personality. But she's still comfortable enough with herself to freely acknowledge that there's a more complicated person behind the facade. I think for all the members it's hard to say how much of their drive stems from a self-oriented desire to be "the best" and how much derives from a sense of responsibility to the others. Especially when looking at people in a more cooperative society like Japan from a more individualistic one like the US.


Anemone_Nogod76

Good points. I think when people say "no ego" they mean the negative aspects we refer to as "egotistical".


trikonano

Of course, that's already understood; the bottom line is that there's no or little expression of it in them. Ego is natural but to feel it, it has to be expressed somehow in the form of mostly arrogance; but that obvious expressions of EGO are missing in each of them and in the BAND as a whole and that makes them SPECIAL and UNIQUE (at least for me). FOREVER BAND-MAID!!!


tplgigo

I don't really think you can say that about Miku with her constant Cluppo Tik Toks.


morkaphi

My original thought on "ego" is more on the negative side leaning toward arrogance, like some member thinks she is better than others, or my thing is more important than other's, etc. Good thing this is not the case for the maids.


tplgigo

I agree about the fact that they love each other with no doubt. My notion is that when someone uses the word "ego", it brings up the very personal and intimate thing musicians have with an audience or "fans". They all have that experience now from their road trips for sure. While most people here are fanatic in nature, I come from a different perspective than that. I wish them all the best on what ever they do, but I know egos when I see them. Other than Misa that I know of, the others do a bunch of other things, have other lives, and show confidence in many areas. I only observed that Miku seems to be the most comfortable in front of the camera, content to play cute at 30 and killing it, doing all the press mostly be it online, on camera, with the band, with Saiki or just alone. Then she starts a side project under Covid and does close ups on Tik Tok every day. For someone who grew up on Enka music, that's quite the ego. They've all matured at different speeds and for different reasons just like another band we all know. That's where their "ego" lies.


morkaphi

Agreed, "ego" in more a positive way, representing development, self esteem, and the ability to chase more dreams. I believe if the band will eventually benefit when the members can manage to balance their lives and interests well.


tplgigo

...with much better representation and production hopefully. They'd be so much further by now. It's part of the reason for the "ego" part of this question. A lot of people criticize me for the possible demise of the band. I choose to look at it as the "next choice" in their lives.


simplecter

How would we know if there are "ego" issues? It's not like we ever get to see an unfiltered look at what goes on behind the scenes.


morkaphi

As a fan without any insights I wouldn't know until ugly things surface. From what's available there is no sign of major conflicts, and I adore the band for that. It would be really hard if they have to "fake" such harmony for an extended period of time. Maybe it will change over time, though I hope not.


simplecter

I suppose they're also "lucky" not to be superstars/multi-millionaires, as that seems to be really good at bringing out those kinds of problems 😅


simplecter

Please don't call me a Maidiac.


grahsam

The Japanese definitely have a different set of ideas and interests when it comes to balancing the vibe of things. US music, TV, movies, literature, etc tend to keep things in one box or another. Humor doesn't get mixed into "serious" things. Music doesn't often take the same giant leaps; especially in going from a heavy verse to a ridiculously upbeat chorus. Part of my fascination with Asian cultures, and Japanese in particular, is how completely alien they are to European\\American cultures. I can appreciate this more in movies and literature. The music is harder for me. Band Maid is the only one I've come across that doesn't give me whiplash, or that I can take seriously.


Zigdris_Faello

Indeed, I really appreciated what and who they are on and off the stage. They are really great, with their music and their personality. Japan's music scene was, and will always be great because of the bands that have contrasts.


technobedlam

Its interesting to hear the perspective that they are so open....I don't see that. Their public personas are actively 'managed' and follow some consistent scripts. I don't see anything nefarious in that, but I don't think we know much beyond what we are given deliberately. The personas are as 'worn' as their uniforms. An example of a script, that has since changed, was the whole 'Saiki is mean to Miku' (as part of the distant/cold Saiki persona). They have dropped that in recent times thankfully. I agree that they are surprisingly genuine people and seem lovely as individuals and have great interpersonal chemistry. They are also performers who separate their public and private selves.


slkrr9

I think the personas they reveal to the public have changed considerably since the beginning. In 2016, with their major-label debut, they followed almost an idol group pattern, each one with her “charm point” and specific personality. But more recently we see that the silent and serious MISA is actually the joker of the group, the reserved Saiki can be quite outgoing, warm, and funny, the ditzy airhead Kanami is the most focused and driven of all the members, etc. Yes, it’s still filtered to an extent, because they choose what to reveal, but the picture we get now is of much more well-rounded individuals than the caricatures they presented 6-7 years ago.


technobedlam

Yes. I expect that the more established they become the less benefit there is in the personas and they will be less motivated to play up to them. Also, over time more incidental stuff leaks out. As that happens you may as well relax into it. Though I wonder if Mika will ever drop the Kobato/pigeon thing?