Japanese songs may hit Rock Band soon

by Andrew Yoon { May 22nd 2008 at 5:00AM }

Did you notice the European invasion in this week's Rock Band DLC updates? Don't expect this to be a one-shot novelty. International tracks will continue to pour into the peripheral-laden music game, a Harmonix developer told us at last night's Rock Band party in NYC. When one person brought up the possibility of seeing Japanese rock music in the game, we were told to wait "a little over a week" for an official announcement regarding plans for future DLC. We don't know exactly what we'll see, but we do know that Rock Band will become an even more "international" affair. What could future DLC updates include? TM Revolution? Malice Mizer (pictured)? Any excuse for us to dress like Japanese rock stars at our next Rock Band gathering will make us quite happy. Stay tuned.

Tags: harmonix, jpop, jrock, rock-band

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)

kihadat @ May 22nd 2008 5:09AM

I dunno how "in" Brilliant Green or Do As Infinity are anymore, but I used to listen to their music a lot. It'd be kickass to see them on RB.

therpham @ May 22nd 2008 5:25AM

The Brilliant Green have a certain vibe that I think would adapt well to Rock Band.

Actually, there was a version of Call My Name on Guitar Freaks, I think maybe 4th Mix?

Yeah, I'd definitely buy some Buriguri tracks for Rock Band.

(Oh God, did I just say "Buriguri"?)

Anthony @ May 22nd 2008 11:56AM

The Brilliant Green are awesome! They just came out with a new album fairly recently, and their lead singer's solo career has been pretty successful, so I'd say they're still relatively "in".

Do as Infinity broke up a while back though. Sad :(

What we really need is some Hysteric Blue! I know they broke up too, but they were simply my favorite Japanese band. Their songs would be great for Rock Band, drums especially, they had some great drum tracks.

Ender @ May 22nd 2008 5:10AM

So the Japanese cloned Marilyn Manson?

Its going to be interesting to see what kind of music Harmonix brings to the table if they start pulling songs from other countries.

Polka anyone?

kihadat @ May 22nd 2008 5:55AM

Malice Mizer predates Manson (and kicks Manson's ass, too). And the polka "joke"? Goddamn, that's lame.

psyborg @ May 22nd 2008 6:50AM

Mizer predates Marilyn Manson? No they don't.

They aren't a copy though; Goth, Glam; amd Punk styles predate both bands.

NATO_Duke @ May 22nd 2008 10:47AM

Manson did start a little earlier, but their first album wasn't until 1993 - the same year that Malice had their first release. (I remember when we got a copy of it because my friend did music reviews)

Either way, the bands are from the same time period and probably had no idea of the others existance.

Zoesch @ May 22nd 2008 11:55AM

Both bands lifted their style heavily from Sisters Of Mercy, KMFDM, Christian Death and Rosetta Stone so it's more a case of coincidence from similar influences than copying one another.

But in any case KMFDM > Malice Mizer > Marilyn Manson

Ender @ May 22nd 2008 3:22PM

Don't be hating on polka rock.

psyborg @ May 23rd 2008 8:01AM

I used to dig KMFDM/MDFMK until I realized all of their songs sound the same.

J @ May 22nd 2008 5:14AM

If Rock Band got The Pillows, that would be epic.

alex @ May 22nd 2008 5:28AM

epic. beyond epic.

Raikage (LDF CRAB BATTLE!!!) @ May 22nd 2008 5:51AM

I was just thinking to myself... all the Japanese music I've heard sucks... then I remembered FLCL...

I love The Pillows...

Aeikozz @ May 22nd 2008 9:45AM

indeed beyond epic the pillow are crazy

mr nimblewick @ May 22nd 2008 10:24AM

It would CRAAAAA-ZZZZY SUNSHIIIIINNNNNEE! Who can get enough?

brandon_r87 @ May 22nd 2008 12:34PM

Ride on Shooting Star! Just give us all the songs from FLCL.

Jonathon @ May 22nd 2008 3:41PM

There's even a few Pillows songs that are completely in English. I've been wishing for this for a very long time.

Even some that are partial Japanese lyrics should be considered. Hell, "Call Me" by Blondie has French in it, so why not?

dustandechoes91 @ May 22nd 2008 5:26PM

I was going to comment that, but i see that i share the same dream with many others.

dkffiv @ May 23rd 2008 1:25AM

Scarecrow is one of the Pillows' newer tracks and I think one of their best. Would definitely be awesome in Rock Band:

http://youtube.com/watch?v=0va9HVKdZJM

J @ May 23rd 2008 6:07PM

Yea, they've been around since 1989 and have like 16 albums, not including the FLCL soundtracks.

I think some fun ones would be Runner's High, Curly Rudy, Funny Bunny, Carnival, and Come Down. Oh and you couldn't get away with not including Little Busters. Even though it's repetitive, it's one of the most catchy songs ever.

Zsavior @ May 22nd 2008 5:21AM

Wouldn't mind hearing some Larc En ciel.

Keiichi @ May 22nd 2008 5:27AM

SOME l'arc~en~ciel? Come on... you KNOW they've got to put Ready Steady Go on there.

A bit of ZONE would be cool...

s256 @ May 23rd 2008 10:06AM

Ready Steady Go...

OMG YES

Squeek @ May 22nd 2008 5:44AM

BUMP OF CHICKEN.

You know you want to.

DrBanxon @ May 22nd 2008 5:51AM

X Japan FTW

Getter404 @ May 22nd 2008 6:19AM

Oh hell yes. My thoughts on J-rock in Rock Band can be summed up in one word: KURENAI.

Finally, making my guitar player look like 80s-era hide will be justified!

John Z @ May 22nd 2008 8:00AM

Only if I can sing the wrong lyrics to "Forever Love".

o/~ For-EVER song! o/~
o/~ It's for-EVER LONG! o/~

zero2dash @ May 22nd 2008 10:57AM

If they put Drain on there, I...I...I just don't know what I'd do. Drain would rule.

Bellerophon @ May 22nd 2008 6:13AM

ORANGE RANGE anyone? HIGH and MIGHTY COLOR maybe? They're okay I suppose.

Booxatron @ May 22nd 2008 10:14AM

Orange Range would be awesome. I'd love to see some Guitar Vader and POLYSICS too.

rowd149 @ May 22nd 2008 6:25AM

Specifically, I'm hoping for some "Ready Steady Go"(Larc En Ciel), "Pride"(High and Mighty Color), and... Oh, shit, they NEED "What's Up, People!?" by Maximum the Hormone. They NEEEEEED it.

rowd149 @ May 22nd 2008 6:28AM

And did I mention that I will cry if they don't give me some AKFG?

Okänd @ May 22nd 2008 11:00AM

That would be sweet. I just hope they don't censor anything. What's up People? contains the word fuck quite a lot so if that was changed it just wouldn't sound right.

rowdyone @ May 22nd 2008 4:23PM

What's up People...Maximum the Hormone....you sir or madam, are full of win.

mmxzero @ May 23rd 2008 7:45AM

Ooo, dont forget Koi no Megalover. Drums would be nuts in parts on that song o_O it would be awesome all around, I would probably buy rock band if that happened. Zetsubou Billy, too.

saiyan555 @ May 22nd 2008 6:25AM

despite the frankly ridiculous price of the uk version, this would definitely be enough to convert me to rock band!
would be great to see some asian kung fu generation or GO!GO! 7188 or HIGH and MIGHTY COLOR or SHAKALABBITS or frankly anything...

1234 @ May 22nd 2008 6:32AM

Get some Gackt and we're good!

Jigsaw @ May 22nd 2008 6:37AM

Holy crap, this is awesome news. I've played Guitar Hero and think it's a pretty fun game, but I could never really get into it as I don't know or like a lot of the music in it... I thought seeing Japanese music in either GH or RB was a complete pipe dream, but maybe not! Rock Band isn't out in this part of the world, and when it is, it'll cost an arm and a leg (or two), but I'm still really really excited about this.

OTAM @ May 22nd 2008 6:45AM

How would you go about the vocals,learn Japanese or sing horribly dubbed songs?

Setsu @ May 22nd 2008 9:44AM

Just don't suck. Japanese pronunciation is pretty easy.

John Z @ May 22nd 2008 8:18AM

I'd lay money that the karaoke lyrics would be transliterated. They'd still be in (technically) Japanese, but in the English alphabet.

Ishimaru @ May 22nd 2008 5:51PM

It's called Romaji, not "the english alphabet"...

colin @ May 22nd 2008 6:47AM

lol @ penny arcade ad ... anybody see that?

BPM [MKWii: 2578 3585 8392] @ May 22nd 2008 6:51AM

I'd love to see a rendition of Okkusenman. So that I can sing it, make a total ass out of myself, and everyone's cool with it.

BrennaCeDria @ May 22nd 2008 7:35AM

Oh god... X Japan, B'z, and TM Revolution would put me in heaven. Especially TMR, cause while the other two are technically better at what they do, his music is so much FUN. (Rocket punch, anyone? :D)

Sir Fidlious Wong (Justin T. McElroy Memorial Burn of the Day Award) @ May 22nd 2008 7:53AM

Mad Capsule Markets PLZ...

Zoesch @ May 22nd 2008 10:35AM

Hell yes! The world needs more MCM and also:

Envy
Boredoms
Zeni Geva
Melt Banana
Swarrrm

Roders @ May 22nd 2008 11:26AM

I'll see your melt bannana and raise you Mono and Boris.

Although RB would never do a fifteen minute instrumental song.

Zoesch @ May 22nd 2008 11:58AM

It'd be hilarious yet awesome if they were to add the Merzbow/Boris split or even some Masonna while they're at it (And some 324 to grindcore out the house)

People who say that Japan has shitty music need to stop watching anime and looking for other stuff.