Yesterday, I wrote a blog about what it really means to be live these days. I referenced the semi-holographic performance of Tupac Shakur at Coachella this past weekend. I pondered about what could really come from that. A few pointed out to me that this was not new technology – which I realized before I’d written the blog – but I didn’t think it had really been used in quite the same context. Sure, we’ve had Natalie Cole sing Unforgettable with her father (as well as Lisa Marie Presley sing with her father, Elvis), but this was different, and it’s technology that could really lend itself to the future concert scene quite well. Scarily so, actually. Then this morning I stumbled upon something that is bound to give me nightmares for a while.
Have you met Hatsune Miku? She is Japan’s holographic pop idol, and no – I am not kidding. She’s not only holographic, but she’s completely fictional. She was created in 2007 by a company named Crypton Future Media. Miku has performed live for audiences reaching 25,000…and they PAY to see her. She’s a HOLOGRAM!! (I hope you feel my outrage and shock, and I’m even a little embarrassed to admit that I’m shocked.) There are some pretty amazing parts to this Miku puzzle for me that I’m just beginning to wrap my middle-aged brain around, but basically – the fans create her content using a program called Vocaloid 2 (Toshiba). They create songs, and out pops flawless vocals using the sampled voice of Saki Fujita. These songs are uploaded to YouTube, and still other fans remix the songs, and eventually everything goes viral…and for at least THIS rockstar, those viral numbers translate into sold concert tickets. And we wonder why Duran Duran doesn’t have commercial success from album sales?? Insanity, I tell you.
Fans love her because she’s not real. Not “flawed” in the same sense that humans can be. There’s no drug problem. There’s no retirement. There’s no sudden illness to keep her from performing. No scandal, no drama. For that matter, there’s no confirmed personality and naturally – she doesn’t give interviews. How boring, right?? I’m obviously too old to embrace this nonsense.
If that weren’t enough, and Duran fans – brace yourselves – just last month she sold out 4 shows in Tokyo (10,000 capacity – EACH!) at $76.00 a ticket. How dare we complain about our ticket prices to see the real deal on stage. Shock, horror AND awe.
Here’s a video from one of her concerts…watch it and marvel as I did…
A while back I dared to tout the brilliance of wahwah.fm here on the blog, and was even more bold in suggesting that John Taylor try it out. It’s really rare when I’m right about something – or even on the right track for that matter – which is why I’m probably going to be kept up late at night thinking about the possibilities here.
Just this morning I’ve read several articles commenting that this is the next greatest money making deal for bands, although the key is tweaking the wahwah.fm concept so that it becomes a branded app. It gets complicated as to how it all makes money, but basically the brand is going to pay the band for allowing them to place ads on the app. The app itself would be free to consumers. I like that part, and I’m not going to lie, although I might whisper that I would even be willing to pay for an app like that.
Whether or not you’re on board with a band making money that way, the concept itself isn’t a bad idea. They just need to get it to Android so that John Taylor can play along. I’d go for the app immediately because I want to know what John likes – he has way more time to find new music than I do, that much is certain. I love it when John posts what he’s bought on Ping or even posts what he’s listening to on Facebook, but the reality is that I can’t always remember to try it out later on. This would eliminate that step.
So, who is going to create THAT app for Duran Duran? Any takers??
I’m off to consider what it might really be like to attend a holographic Duran Duran concert. Would I still scream?? What about security? Would people still fight over front row?
Endless ponderings.
-R
It's like bringing Second Life to the concert stage! I think Nick would be highly interested and would want Hatsune Miku as his next girlfriend. Holographic Barbarella? It's only a matter of time! 😉
*laughs* I wouldn't be a bit surprised to read that Nick was all over this holograph idea, which both makes me cautiously curious AND scared at the same time. ;D -R
Hmmmm. There's a live band there in the dark, from what I can tell, 10, 000 fans with light sabers who sing the words to the song, and act like it's a life concert. They pay the same I do for a ticket to DD, and I bet there are fan communities, a parallel blog for the holograph fans (parallel to dailyduranie), and VIP packages (or enhanced merch), M&G, backstage passes…..etc. Another universe indeed. She moves better than how I've been able to dance in Second Life, so it's really advanced technology.
But it really is hard for me to wrap my brain around why in the hell people would do this in response to the equivalent of an anime character come to life singing and dancing in holographic form, in front of an audience.
And it is equally difficult to imagine why this character has become a phenomenon? How people react as if it is real. It is surreal. It is unreal. For real.
In re: to my opinion on the whole thing and DD, not my thing. I could see the younger versions of themselves playing with them on stage, but not in place of.
I guess I know I'm over the hill when I don't get things like this.
Let me pose a question: Do people go to Duran Duran concerts just to see the band play live? Yes, obviously, that is a big part of it but is that the only reason? Are the shows really that different that forces some of us to go to more than one during any given tour? I would argue that going to shows for a lot of Duranies is about being in a community, being with other people who understand a passion, a significant issue. How much is that motivating these people?
Just pondering…
-A