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Official HIGE DANdism Get Their Big Break, What Is So Great About Them?


Source: Joshi SPA, Girls Channel

Official HIGE DANdism Get Their Big Break, What Is So Great About Them?


Have you heard of Official HIGE DANdism*, the band that has been getting tremendous support from people in their 20s? Official HIGE DANdism, nicknamed HIGEDAN, is four-piece band from Shimane. You may have heard their song, "Shukumei", which was used as the theme song for this year's Netto Koshien.**
*Official Moustached Dandy Men. **Netto Koshien: TV program that airs in August alongside the Japanese High School Baseball Championship (Koshien). It provides a digest of the Koshien matches.

Official HIGE DANdism monopolise the top 2 spots on Billboard.

Starting with Fujihara Satoshi on vocals and keyboard, the members—who are graduates of Shimane University and Matsue National College of Technology—are all talented musicians who can play multiple instruments. Without a leader, the members openly communicate their ideas. The result is pop songs with fun arrangements that instantly sweep the charts. "Shukumei" and the band's second single "Pretender" have hogged the top 2 spots on the Billboard Japan Streaming Chart for two weeks in a row. It has caused a "HIGEDAN" sensation.

MTV was playing one day. "Pretender" came on, and the author [of this article] says he was knocked down in one shot.


"I was shocked that the performance, song, music, and lyrics were high level yet balanced.
Having said that, the song isn't particularly original. It doesn't sell anything new, nor does it use knowledge or theories to give listeners a lesson. It's just a pop song, in a good way. To the ears of those familiar with J-pop, there will be phrases here and there that will strike a chord. In that respect, you could say this is a band that you can listen to with ease.

But if you play it back again, you'll notice that something is of a different quality. Every single word, from the first note to the last, the technique is at a whole other level."

"Pretender" is the first hit song of the Reiwa era.

The author listened to "Pretender" thirty times on repeat. He wrote a detailed analysis of the song.

HIGEDAN will be releasing their album Traveler on October 9.


1. [+612 / -30]
[Link to article]
[Excerpt]

2. [+1199 / -20]
I like slightly husky voices

3. [+1690 / -19]
He's good at singing

4. [+1204 / -96]
Frankly speaking, they have bad naming sense

12. [+812 / -32]
>>4
I was taken aback by Sekai no Owari and Gesu no Kiwami's names too at first but I eventually got used to them. If these guys keep at it, we'll get used to their name too.
Human adaptability is incredible.

158. [+152 / -1]
>>4
My workplace has the radio on all day.
I hear the song Pretender every day whether I want to or not.
The lyrics, melody and voice turned me into a fan.
The interlude is also good.
Goodbye 🎵*
*Pretender lyrics

But seriously, if you only hear the band name, you would think that they're some weird comedian group.

159. [+59 / -2]
>>4
There's also a band called Hige* so it's confusing.
*Mustache/Beard

253. [+69 / -4]
>>4
I like their name.
It's really unique. Higedan

5. [+891 / -16]
His singing is good

6. [+556 / -8]
The "todoke--♫" band, right?
*Shukumei lyrics

7. [+801 / -30]
If only their name was slightly different w

24. [+273 / -6]
>>7
Lots of people might decide they don't like them without listening to their music.

8. [+105 / -141]
Sorry, I don't see what's so great about them

9. [+926 / -24]
The Koshien theme song was good! It matched!

10. [+393 / -7]
I like Pretender too but I got addicted to the coupling? song Amazing and listen to it everyday.

11. [+25 / -126]
I bet they sleep around

13. [+815 / -24]
Boku ni totte kimi wa nani?
I like these lyrics.
*"What are you to me?" - Pretender

15. [+424 / -10]
His voice is pretty
I only know the Koshien song though

16. [+601 / -14]
I love HIGEDAN!!
I'm happy that they've gotten popular but sad that I couldn't get concert tickets this time 😂

62. [+69 / -1]
>>16
I was okay for the tour this time but I've accepted the fact that I might not be able to buy tickets next time. I'm happy that they're getting more exposure but I'm sad that I won't be able to go to their tours anymore.

17. [+166 / -7]
Hearing a lot about them lately

18. [+37 / -85]
There's a strong sense of gorioshi, but seeing that the gorioshi is actually paying off makes me think, 'bands that can write catchy songs are pretty strong.'

23. [+378 / -20]
>>18
It's not gorioshi. They're getting popular, that's why you keep hearing about them.

88. [+12 / -22]
>>18
I'm 90% positive that FM radio has been gori-oshi-ing them since a few years back

Anyway, the song that had a lasting impression on me because the radio kept playing it was Hata Motohiro's debut song.
Moriyama Naotaro is also promoted often.
As expected, songs recommended by the radio are good.

89. [+103 / -1]
>>88
I heard No Doubt* on the radio too and thought OH?! looked it up, and got hooked.
*Official HIGE DANdism song

91. [+53 / -3]
>>88
I hate the word gori-oshi. It sounds like people who get to appear even though they have no talent just because of the power of their agency.

19. [+527 / -11]
It might be because of their inconspicuous appearance and their melodies.
Good or bad, if you give off an impression that you're cut above the rest, you'll have both people who worship you and people who hate your guts.

I love them!

20. [+681 / -17]
Even if you become popular don't become like the vocalist of back number

21. [+147 / -8]
I watched them properly for the first time yesterday at Utacon*. His singing was good.
*NHK music program

22. [+2 / -57]
No one agrees with me but doesn't his voice sound like DISH//'s?

26. [+19 / -2]
>>22
Huh? I like them both but they sound nothing alike

39. [+6 / -22]
>>26
Really?... l||l(›à¬³Ð´à¬³‹)l||l
They sound so similar I thought it was the same person.
I see. I was wrong, huh.
Sorry.

25. [+25 / -26]
No idea who they are

28. [+95 / -6]
>>25
If you like, have a listen. You might like the song.

27. [+26 / -48]
The music is very good but there's no s*x appeal.

29. [+596 / -10]
They'll probably make their first appearance on Kohaku this year!
And king guu too (^^)

124. [+16 / -34]
>>29
Do you mean King Gnu?
Or some other new band?

133. [+149 / -1]
>>29
I don't think KPOP is going to appear this year because of politics so they should invite lots of Japanese bands.

151. [+164 / -3]
>>29
King gnu is good too!

I hope that Kohaku only has Japanese people this year.

30. [+21 / -4]
It hasn't been that long since they debuted, right?

31. [+11 / -56]
He sounds like Suga Shikao

32. [+1 / -19]
>>31
Kind of sounds like him but kind of doesn't

33. [+14 / -54]
>>31
I've heard him sing live before and thought he sounded like ONE OK ROCK's vocalist. Is it the singing style?

94. [+10 / -1]
>>33
There are lots of downvotes but I get you!
Their voices sound similar for some reason!

327. [+3 / -0]
>>33
Their voices are similar.
He became a singer because he was a ONE OK ROCK fan and looked up to Taka, apparently.

332. [+3 / -0]
>>327
Huh...? I heard he was in a THE BAWDIES cover band so I was under the impression that he was a fan of THE BAWDIES.

36. [+507 / -4]
There's a good balance between simplicity, good singing, easy to listen melody and the feeling of heartbreak.

38. [+382 / -5]
I listen to their songs everyday.
I love predenter.

41. [+413 / -17]
To be honest, I think their band name is hurting them.
If their song wasn't used for Koshien, I get the feeling that I would have avoided them because of their name and would have never listened to their songs.

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