It’s been a couple of months since I watched BECK back when I was in Japan. I needed something to help me kill time on those long train rides, especially the 7 hours from Hakata to Tokyo, and I randomly uploaded BECK into my iPod Touch. Before BECK, never had I come across anime series of the music genre, except for Nodame Cantabile which I’ve heard of but yet to watch or read.
I finished the series way before my trip ended, and ended up watching it over again, not because I had nothing else better to do on the train rides. Rather, it was because I found myself enjoying the band’s performance, especially their epic live at Greatful Sound in the last few episodes. Ever since then, I had always wanted to write about BECK, but the idea somehow got lost along the way.
While it’s of no doubt that the anime series does have some rather glaring flaws, such as the poor quality animation, it does bring across the hype that one would feel at a live performance. Although there are dashes of Engrish all over the place, be it the grammar or accent, it can’t really be faulted simply due to the fact that this flaw lies in many other series that originate from Japan too.
While I’ve never been a fan of Japanese artistes performing in Engrish, I eventually found myself grabbing a copy of the BECK’s OST 1 in Akihabara, just before I left Japan. It contained songs that made an appearance in the anime. For the first time, despite the Engrish, I actually liked most of the songs. Wow.
A week ago, I began watching BECK for the third time again, to possibly find some inspiration and lessen my frustration. Sad to say, it seems that no matter how I practice, I’m still lagging behind everyone in guitar lessons. While my other classmates can strum properly and change chords smoothly, I still find myself stumbling over the basic open chords despite practicing more than an hour daily. I wished I had just a little more sense of rhythm and musical talent within me.
Also, I began reading the manga a few days back after my second re-watch. I would have done so earlier if I could lug all 34 volumes back home last year, but travelling alone had its’ limits. Currently, I’m near the end of the series, and it’s been an extremely moving experience reading it. It’s a pity that the anime ended with their tour in the U.S.A. It would be really cool if there would be a new season of BECK which continues from where the anime left off, and this time, with higher quality animation. I’m certain that a slickly animated Avalon Fest would claim the title of the best animated stage performance ever. If only Madhouse would get down to working on a continuation of it…
There’s the theme of the power music possesses, and I’d have to agree with that. While it may lack the mind-blowing power to save the galaxy as featured in the Macross franchise, it does have the ability to change lives and inspire people. There was one scene in the manga that preserved itself rather vividly in my mind. Eddie was telling Ryuusuke about how they would be doing drugs and stuck behind bars if it wasn’t for music, and it’s pretty much the truth.
BECK is indeed an inspiring series, and I don’t really see how anyone would deny it as one, especially if you have a love for music, be it playing or listening. You might laugh at this, but BECK was a catalyst that helped me make up my mind regarding picking up an instrument.
Here’s something in the manga (chapter 98) to end off this post. This really made my day as a BUMP fan.
The parody of The Living Dead featuring Chiba
And the original album cover of BUMP’s 2nd album
Just this one image alone left me fascinated for a couple of minutes.
BECK is inspirational alright. It also accurately portrays the highs and lows of being in a band, except for the gangster bit. I don’t mind sloppy artwork since the music and raw performances carry their own weight.
As for your guitar lessons, you could try using Kouyuki’s method. (Just need to find a perverted, tough-love uncle with a musician background) But also keep in mind that we can’t always be good at everything we set out to accomplish
I have been meaning to pick up Beck for sometime but I have been lazy with it.
MrMayat > I guess the gangster portion was to add more interesting drama to the plot.
Dan > You should really watch/read it. It’s mind blowing stuff!
I feel for you man, I learnt Guitar too and found everyone doing it better than me. Though in my case it might be a lack of regualr practice. I suppose the only cure for this is persistance.
when you enter army, you got all the time in the world to learn guitar if you find it hard doing it now.
Anyway when i first watched beck few years back i wasn’t interested in it. I only watched it through last year and yes found it to be really great. Don’t know why i didnt like it before though.
o.O how does “when you enter army, you got all the time in the world to learn guitar” work out? Did it work for you???
I’m quite amazed. Most people sell their guitars BECAUSE they enter army and have no time to play it.
i myself had always loved music (and anime) and finding Beck was great. i find beck…
“inspirational”, as MrMayat would put it. the instrument animtaion is something i just find awesome and some of the rhythms just sound so good. the series’ lay-out, animations and sounds deserve to be held in praise. 14 year old perspective, nice touch. it speaks to teens alright.
I’ve always had a love for music (though I never had enough money to buy an instrument :P) And this story really made me push to just ask someone if i could borrow a guitar and practice on it for a while - which ended up essentially changing my life (Dont laugh at me for this.) I made friends on the subject of Music after moving to Seattle, because i had started learning after borrowing a friends guitar because i had the guts too and the will to after watching this series, i progressed quickly - and now its been 5 months, i have new friends because of it and I am even in a ‘just for fun’ band with a few professional musicians i met. Pretty crazy, huh? all from beck - i love this series for helping me to do this - funny how life works eh?
dude your right!beck is really inspiring!
as of your guitar playing
you should practice more and more just like kouyuki
i’m trying to be better in playing the guitar though i know i’m already good.(i’m not trying to be boastful)
:D:D:D
by the way i’m just thirteen
and i think i’m a better bassist than a guitarist
(not to be boastful again)
:D:D:D:D
Wat up all. I just finished watching Beck and I must say it is inspiring. It shows how ordinary people like me can be big one day in whatever profession I choose. The anime is another testament to the fact that anyone can be big. I hope madhouse produces another season.
Its funny that you say this show was in insperation for you to pick up an instrument.
Because after watching it I can say the same exact thing about myself.
this show is the worst piece of shit since the acoustic/electric guitar. this mostly forgettable show ripped off the name Beck (Beck Hansen) whom is one of the greatest idiosycratic musicians of the late 20th century and early 21st century. this show is retarded i even did a parody of moon on the water (which is on the 2009 demo) by doing random distortion guitar and singing about crack and whores if antone here has a the right lobe of their brain functioning they should check out his early work which has been put on Youtube. this show is not inspiring and anyone who thinks it is has never been in an actual band, try having a fatass scream and yell at you and blow smoke inyour face while drinking vodka and you friend can’t do anything because his fat little brother won’t stop messing with his microphone and the bassist can’t actually play bass. that’s why i went solo and i do a few covers and duets with my friend so far i got farther than i evr did in that band. all you people suck! big fat syphilitic vaginas (and to you virgins that isn’t a good thing).
Let me give you a taste of Beck Hansen’s talent,
Heartland Feeling by: Beck Hansen, Steve Hanft available on Golden Feelings. year: 1993.
Alright, what we’re talking about here is a kind of a, it’s a heartland feeling. Mellencamp, you know, kind of a Mellenfeeling. OK, what you got to get together is some heartland folk singer, we’re gonna need it real quick…John Cougar Mellencamp, Bruce Springsteen, Bob Seger, that type of feel…a Mellen-feeling. A real powerful, approving music of a heartland quality, uh just powerful, straight forward music and if you can’t get just the right type of feeling, find someone who’ll pass and change them.
Old Man Johnson got his head in his hand
Making his way across state in a fiddlin’ band
With hair all down in his eyes
And a microphone all covered with flies
When he gets done playing, goes back to his room
Climbs into bed in his cowboy boots
And he picks up a magazine, turns on the tv
Lights a cigar as he’s falling asleep
Well, he’s only a person who doesn’t know shit
Yeah, nothing happening, that’s about it, yeah
Well, little Rosanna came from Texarkana
Had fourteen dollars wrapped in a bandana
Came into town not looking for much
Well, she found a hound dog and she named him Dutch
She got a job at the arcade taking quarters
But she was never too good at taking orders
So one night, she stopped giving out change
She kicked the boss in the shin and unplugged the games
She’s only a person who doesn’t know shit
Nothing happening, that’s about it, ooh yeah yeah yeah
Sam got canned at the cannery
He punched out the clock that night
His knuckle was bleeding as he walked home
He was cold and he had a headache
Well, his wife was cooking canned beans
He took out all the money out of his jeans
And he set it on fire in the kitchen sink
As his wife handed him a drink
He was only a person who didn’t know shit
Nothing happening, that’s about it, yeah huh
Smiler was looking for handouts
Sleeping in an abandoned lighthouse
Down at the minimall, shaking his hat
Washing windows with his bare hand
He found a sports car with the keys
In the ignition, it just seemed so easy
He took a joy ride, drove it into a hedge
Came out with a steering wheel wrapped around his head
Well, he’s only a person who doesn’t know shit
Nothing happening, that’s about it, ooh ooh yeah
Well Jane was born in a small town
Everybody just standing around
They had bingo games and a raffle
Everybody chewing tobacco
Well, she grew up kind of restless
All her boyfriends wanted to be dentists
‘Til she got a job at the truck stop
And she got old fast and never did what she want
She’s only a person who doesn’t know shit
Nothing happening, that’s about it, oh yeah… ooooh
once again if anyone still thinks it’s on Youtube. Retards.
i totally agree with Lone Wolf that mongolian chop squad is uninspirational and sucks huge aids infested cock. i’ve checked out Heartland Feeling on youtube and this is THE BEST FUCKING SHIT EVER! fuck chop squad and Beck Hansen kicks so much ass!
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^ Must be a K-On! fan