VocaJazz – After-School ChocoCup

I meant to set up a weekly reminder to post a VocaJazz item every Saturday evening until Spring, but didn't – so here it is tonight instead.

Miku here performs After-School ChocoCup, which lyric-wise seems to be in the same broad vein as those occasional Manhattan Transfer nonsense songs, as the supplied English captions show (note: captions not subtitles, so you'll need to ensure that player option is left switched on).

The YouTube page for this says that it was composed by Chae-P (music) and Ryootai (lyrics); but another version says it is from OSTER project, whose former name was Fuanari-P, so there is some confusion here. The song does appear in the OSTER project entry at the Vocaloid Wiki, at number 34 in the song-list there, under the slightly different title After-School Chocolate Cup Show. It is the same song, though, without the opening count-in in that other version.

It is difficult, by the way, to find VocaJazz videos with an English translation provided, which is why (for example) I haven't yet featured any Meiko items. Meiko's mature voice is good for jazz, so I shall keep looking.

In the meantime, this is pleasant enough, quite relaxing in fact, and a good choice for this rainy day. Who couldn't do with a choco-cup right now?

VocaJazz – Stamp by Gumi

We've never had Gumi in the VocaJazz slot before, so although there are no English words with this, it's just so pleasant and relaxing that I think most people will enjoy it just as is.

There are some small images that appear from time to time, but I have no idea how they relate to the song(!) Perhaps one day I'll find out and be able to explain it all...

Honey Sweet

Now that the clocks have been changed (here in Blighty, anyway) and Hallowe'en is over for another year, it's time to resume my VocaJazz programme for these dark, atmospheric evenings.

Here is Miku with Honey Sweet, which suits her voice quite well – though if I were doing the sound mix I'd raise her voice channel about four decibels. Sadly there are no English words with this, but it is still very enjoyable just as a musical experience, and to get us all back in the mood for the new season of VocaJazz...

Saturday VocaJazz – 30 March 2013

Another of those Miku efforts that work better than one might have expected in the jazz genre is our song for this evening: Moonlight Transfer. With the change to summer time, I think it is right to end this season of VocaJazz tonight; but I plan to begin the next season in late October.

I think it's very good, with a nice part for the Hammond organ and a light percussion effect that suits this number to a tee. 'Interesting' Miku artwork too...

Saturday VocaJazz – 23 March 2013

It's Saturday evening again, and a good way to wind down is with some not-too-lively jazz. This is called Held by the Sea of Ressentiment – an unusual title (which I suspect isn't quite correct!), an unusual ending, and a new singer on this 'blog, Iroha Nekomura, whose voice turns out to be very good for jazz vocals such as this.

Now, with a name like that (Nekomura means 'cat village'), it is unsurprising that Iroha is often depicted with cat-like characteristics, including a Hello Kitty badge (and there's a whole story behind that), but not this time. Cats really don't appreciate being immersed in water anyway...

VocaJazz – Trick Art

Rin displays her (largely unsuspected, I imagine) vocal versatility again with Trick Art, which has a cool but slightly uptempo style, and works particularly well with Rin's younger-than-the-vocaloid-norm voice.

By the way, with the coming of Spring and next weekend's clock change to summertime, I shall probably make next Saturday's the last in this VocaJazz season, which suits the winter season best, though I might continue until the end of the month. We shall see.

I shall start a new season in the autumn, when the clocks change back again.

I do hope it has been a worthwhile extension to what I post here, providing material that probably none of my visitors had ever encountered before, including this evening's offering...

Saturday VocaJazz 9 March 2013 – Star Light Rose

For the very best VocaJazz performances, we need someone like Luka, who here demonstrates that superlative quality and sheer versatility of hers in Star Light Rose. There are no animations of any kind this time, just the music without distractions.

Luka's vocal style here really adds to the feel of being at one of those (probably in a basement) small and intimate jazz venues, up close and personal, as the saying goes. The instrumental side doesn't precisely match that mood and feel, but it hardly matters on this occasion and most listeners probably wouldn't even notice.

So: just sit back, relax, and be impressed. I was...

Saturday VocaJazz 2 March 2013 – Starry Sky

As if to show that even Miku's normal voice can do jazz, here's Starry Sky which has a relaxing style that is reminiscent of the US scene back in the 'fifties.

It is easily good enough to be included in my 'VocaJazz Saturday' series, and shows that it can be done with Miku, unlike with several other efforts that I have had to pass by...

Saturday VocaJazz 23 Feb 2013 – Miku Can Sing Jazz

Saturday evening means it's VocaJazz time!

Now, if you were to look for examples of Miku singing jazz, most of what you'd find really doesn't work with her normal voice.

Here, though, with what I assume has been very careful 'tuning' of the voice-bank source for this, it does work and very well too! I was very pleasantly surprised at just how well her Catnap works in this style and with her voice thus finely-adjusted, using the controls available to users of the Vocaloids' composition software.

There's even a bonus afterward, with about half of a similarly jazzy version of Electric Angel, so do keep playing the clip right to the end...

Saturday VocaJazz – 16 February 2013

It's VocaJazz time again, people, and this week we're back with Luka, but this time with a markedly changed tempo and mood.

As with Rin last week, this is in Japanese with no English subtitles, but do enjoy it anyway. The words are nowhere near as vital as the vocal and instrumental textures; and here Luka gets the opportunity to try out a whole range of techniques and tricks, in three octaves. It's a very good outing for her.

The song is Marionette; and in the video the song finally ends at just over four minutes in. I think the purpose of the repeated visuals that follow is to give vocaloid fans a chance to concentrate on identifying the depicted musicians without the music present, but others can just as easily (and sensibly) stop at that point...

Saturday VocaJazz – 9 February 2013

Saturday evening means it's jazz time. Continuing my now-weekly series of what some are calling VocaJazz (a term I intend to use here), this week we have Rin trying her vocal talents in this genre.

It works well, and better than I thought it might. Rin isn't, technically, as good a voice for jazz as are Yuzuki Yukari and Luka Megurine, but her higher pitch and different tonal character suit this song.

This is Summer Shadows, is in Japanese, and without subtitles – nor have I been able to find the English words, so it's just a musical experience this time. There aren't that many words anyway, and much of the track is purely instrumental...

Luka sings Jazz

It's Saturday evening, and time for some cool jazz.

This is a very good effort, and shows that Luka could very well be a close second choice to Yuzuki Yukari for vocaloid jazz singing. Most of the English is clear and understandable, but there are a few moments where the subtitles come in handy(!)

I believe this song was written specially for her, though I can't (yet) be certain of that...

One Room, All That Jazz !

It's now the middle of a winter Saturday evening as I post this, and for a change of mood I am switching to some jazz, with a surprisingly good and well-suited vocal by one of the lesser-known Vocaloids, Yuzuki Yukari, who is particularly good for this genre of jazz vocals.

Although the voice was apparently sourced originally from Miku's 'Dark Lib' (library), the result for Yuzuki has a completely different character. I don't know the full story behind this...

On top of this, her attempts at English (while working with just a Japanese voice-bank!) are very good, if imperfect, and always understandable in those parts, I found. I can't find any English words, but here are the Japanese lyrics.

There's no live visual performance this time, just some simple, moody graphics to set the tone. I think it is just right for this (mainly uptempo) number, and just right for this time of day too...