1/18/2007

A four boys’ band caught my attention with the name GLAY, it’s just one letter away from…being happy. Anyway, this band originiates from Hokkaido, the land of awesome creamy seafood noodles. Yumz. GLAY primarily composes songs in the rock and pop genres, but they have also composed songs using elements of different styles such as reggae and gospel. Although virtually unknown outside Asia, they are one of the most successful bands in Japan.

Apparently the name Glay was a deliberate mispelling for Gray….uhm…it’s no different from how trying to be witty can turn out to be either silly, funny or even ridiculous - esp with names :P

“We know it’s not how you spell the color in English, but it’s our way of being different.” - GLAY (Time Magazine, March 9, 1998)

Yes well, R and L are often mispronounced by Asians especially Japanese, Koreans and Chinese who are not english native speakers.

The band was formed in 1988 by TAKURO and TERU. HISASHI joined shortly after, when his band ARI broke up. The band became popular in their hometown. In 1990, when the members gratuated from highschool, they headed down to Tokyo to try and push their career even further.

However, things were difficult in Tokyo. The band performed for very small audiences, sometimes for only one person. They had to work very hard to be able to keep themselves and the band. It was not until JIRO joined the band, in 1992, that things started to change.

In 1993, YOSHIKI watched one of their performances and signed them under his label, EXTASY RECORDS. Since then, they’ve been very successful, doing remarkable events like the GLAY EXPO’s (they’ve done three editions so far), which always gather hundreds of thousands of people, releasing many #1 hits, million selling singles and albums and breaking some records.

I’m sorry, i just have to share that i couldn’t stop laughing reading “Glay Expo” for some reason….ROFL. Just for the record, I have nothing against homosexuals, my very good friend is gay and I LOVE HIM TO BITS. Okay back to GLAY.

Anyway, I thought maybe their videos and songs will amend things that their name commands, here’s some to share:

:)

I have to admit, they’re pretty good and not gay like the cookie cutter boybands/girlbands that America is generating these days. Their music is mostly a cross between alternative and rock - sounds like AFI/POD/Japanese culture all combined…bravo!

Source: Wikipedia