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citruspeel · 6 years

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to gold be the gory

How Golden Kamuy Outshines Competition

A Review

“GORUDEEEEEEN KAMUUUUUUY!”

That’s how I first heard of Golden Kamuy – a male voice screaming its title in around 2-minute intervals. I was busy slurping ramen in the communal eating tent in Odori Park when it blared in my ear. All through the day, they played its trailer on the tent TVs over and over again. It seemed interesting, and it was quite apt to see it being promoted there - after all, we were surrounded by snow, in Hokkaido, where the story was set. I kept seeing it in bookstores and its artwas eye-catching. But as soon as I was back on home soil, my interest was gone.

Life caught right back up with me, so I forgot about Golden Kamuy completely. Not until I saw some artists I follow post amazing fan art of it on Twitter. They were all singing it praises and the official art was beautiful, so I thought, ‘aw heck, why not?’

Let me tell you: there are no reasons not to.

SUGIMOTO, THIS ISN’T SHOUNEN ANYMORE

I’m what you call a…sporadic manga reader. I’m not up to speed with manga trends and it can take me a while to catch up. I read stuff that get my attention and when they’re recommended by my friends (I still haven’t touched Boku no Hero Academia or Shokugeki no Soma, though). I also don’t limit myself to just one genre. There are months that I devour shoujo/josei manga, like Hana Nochi Hare and Dame na Watashi ni Koi wo Kudasai. Then I’d switch over to read through volumes upon volumes of shounen manga (hi, Gintama, Haikyuu). Then there are periods wherein I just don’t read at all, devoting my time to other activities instead.

Golden Kamuy, brainchild of artist Noda Satoru, is probably my first real foray into the seinen manga territory. The art, the storyline, the comedy, the stakes – every page told me that I wasn’t reading shounen anymore. Dick jokes weren’t dealt with caution. Gore was done with no shame. Raw Japanese scans didn’t have the hiragana reading aids. Strangely enough, it brought me back to all the titles I used to read when I was young. It made me realize all the stuff I was reading back then were very edgelord-esque and middle-school-syndrome-ish - the stuff of nightmares. Body horror, violence, gore, debauchery – CLAMP and Kaori Yuuki had primed my teenage self for all of them.

But at least, now, the edginess was dealt with a more mature hand.

Hence it was no surprise that Kamuy ignited a sense of familiarity. I had mellowed down when I grew up (it saddens me that I really am quite a grown-up now) and, in turn, settled for fun, cheerful, romantic manga (to keep the dreariness of everyday life away, I guess haha). I got used to leisurely pacing and lighthearted comedy. Reading Golden Kamuy felt like I skydived into the unforgiving arena I had left – an arena that had been made fresher, better.

SO FRESH, YOU’RE EATING IT RAW

What makes Kamuy an instant hit is its interesting combination of rarely-used elements. Post-War, Meiji-Era historical, early 1900s, hunting, Hokkaido, Ainu culture: can you really find another title that uses said mix? It’s no wonder people are attracted to the series.

It also helps that the art is just spectacular. Noda’s artistic skill shines through every page, chapter, and volume cover. His poses are dynamic, his coloring brave. Sometimes the color combinations he uses just scream modern, serving as nice contrasts to the story’s historical, traditional setting. His character designs are unique and fresh – more so their personalities. Sugimoto’s facial scars are refreshing to the eye; Tsurumi’s half-corrupted face paired with a metal plate is a design I’ve never seen before. His art style brings out his designs to life in a way only he can – we’ve all seen cross-dressing men and shaved-bald convicts before, but still he was able to make Ienaga and Shiraishi look striking.

The research that he has done to make the story believable is commendable. He even has his own Ainu and Russian language consultants. Each detail he adds in shows that every page is a product of hard work. He even features real buildings in Hokkaido and Otaru (I’ve also been to Otaru and it was nice to see it in the manga!). The information we learn from Noda’s usage of the Ainu culture, hunting practices, and military details – all of this, weaved in with an intricate, explosive plot, give us a series that feels…whole. Complete.

Kamuy also spreads word about the Ainu culture in a fun and entertaining way. I haven’t heard a lot about them in the series I’ve encountered – I’ve only heard of them through Rurouni Kenshin. Nothing since then. To see them in the spotlight is a breath of fresh air. Even the Ainu themselves feel the same way – apparently they told Noda that they didn’t want to be portrayed as discriminated anymore. They wanted strong Ainu characters, and boy, did Noda deliver.

NO-PARDON PLOTTING

Because of its seinen status, you can tell that Noda has no qualms about plotting and story structure. We’re given heavy-hitting story elements right off the bat: war vet undertakes a legendary treasure hunt to help the (stolen-by-his-friend) love of his life, requiring him to track down 24 of the most dangerous insane criminals to have ever walked Japan. It’s throwing punches right from the get-go. Kamuy doesn’t baby anyone (except for bear cubs). With its pacing, convoluted plot and bevy of interesting characters, it challenges the reader to not just enjoy, but to keep up. It’s unapologetic in everything that it does – character, story, and art.

CHARACTERS

Immortal War Vet, Morality Pet Minority Action Girl, Escape Sweet-tooth King, and so forth. They somehow fulfill stereotypes but at the same time, Noda manages to twist things to a whole new light. His milieu, too, aids in solidifying the characters he writes – the setting itself makes them unforgettable.

It is also in his cast that we see how unapologetic Noda is. Considering that Sugimoto is to track 24 of the most dangerous criminals in the country, Noda doesn’t shy away from showcasing every kind of evil that can exist within humans. We tackle lust, greed, wrath, and avarice with a dash more reality compared to the caricatures we often see in shounen manga. Those faint of heart and innocent countenance will have a hard time stomaching Noda’s cast as it unfolds. The more I read, the more I believe Noda probably has a subscription to the Crime Investigation channel (which isn’t necessarily a bad thing). Truth be told, humans are very much capable of evil, and I’m not surprised that some of his villains are actually modeled after real-life criminals.

Notable characters:

IENAGA - a cross between Erszebet Bathory (a countess who was known to kill virgins and bathed in their blood to remain beautiful) and of H.H. Holmes, a real-life owner of an actual murder hotel in the US during the 19th century. Ienaga’s first dungeon appearance made me flashback to some of mangaka Kaori Yuki’s ornate gorefests such as Count Cain, Angel Sanctuary, and Ludwig Revolution. Noda felt no shame when he drew each and every one of Ienaga’s murderscapes.

HENMI KAZUO – this one really made me blink when I was reading it. Serial killer Henmi Kazuo is an exploration of the depths of human depravity. Imagine, being stimulated by gore and the act of clinging to life the same way his brother did when a bear ate him. Damn, writing that sentence made me realize Noda just straight up doesn’t baby his audience. This is the stuff Netflix series Mindhunter would kill to have. This also would really need some real guts (pardon the pun) to execute.

SHITON – he also made me stop in my tracks. Shiton, a full-on bestiality-practicing scientist, was something I’ve never read about in any other manga at all. I’ve read about murderers and criminals and incestuous personalities (Kaori Yuki and George RR Martin weren’t shy about it at all), but this character was just sick. He’s a special type of crazy (although to be perfectly honest I am sure that somewhere in the world some sick human is partaking in stuff like this), and for Noda to actually use him in his manga just takes courage. He just has the balls to make you think twice, but hey, when you’re in seinen territory, everything seems to be a free-for-all. And let’s be real frank here – there’s just another level of human debauchery in real life that most people won’t even be able to stomach hearing about.

TSURUMI – Tsurumi is the stuff of legend. He reminds me the most of Col. Hans Landa in Quentin Tarantino’s Inglorious Basterds, but with his insanity turned up into eleven. He also has shades of Leonardo’s character in Django Unchained, as well as other manic-type ‘villains’ that we’ve seen in other series. But his impulsiveness and flamboyant nature places him a cut above the rest. Noda also draws him so dynamically (seriously!) that whenever he appears, your eyes are just drawn to him.

Plus, I have to say that I’m really impressed with the level of real-world research that Noda uses in developing his characters. Tsurumi says that he has lost a part of his frontal lobe, which in turn affects his temper and his violent tendencies. This is actually true in real life, and has been seen in a high-profile murder case involving a famous football player in the United States. Because of the repetitive head injuries that the player received playing the sport, his own personality/temper had changed, and resulted him in killing his girlfriend in cold blood.

Of course we have the holy trinity of Sugimoto (classic lovable romantic badass war vet protagonist), Asirpa (butt-kicking girl-child) and Shiraishi (adorable slinky/comic relief), all gems in their own right. Noda has endeared them to us with the heartwarming dynamic between Sugimoto + Asirpa, plus Shiraishi’s antics. Character-wise, they seem to follow a specific trio formula that works in almost anything. Harry-Hermione-Ron, Gintoki-Kagura-Shinpachi, Naruto-Sakura-Sasuke. While his main character trio wins people over, his supporting cast can also shine bright on their own. Some great examples that come to mind are Ogata, Tanigaki, and Monkey-Scream Guy Otonoshin (even Tsukishima is memorable! He even has the Voldemort nose, doesn't he?).

Noda’s principle of mixing reality with caricature is also evident in his character designs. With every cast member we meet, it’s clear that Noda is far from being a sufferer of the six-faces-only syndrome. His designs do sometimes border on the impossible (Monkey-Scream guy’s eyebrows, really?), but it’s not a bad thing. If anything, it makes the visual experience of reading the comic even more worthwhile.

THE ART

Noda is a great manga artist. Let’s start with that.

Just look at these covers!

This coloring + color schemes!

This character design!!

I’ve been raving about his character designs for a few paragraphs now but it’s just really that good. I love his eye for composition and his impeccable framing for action and comedy. I’ve always thought that framing comics need special planning – especially action + comedy ones. You have to ensure that the first thing the reader sees in the next panel will make the action/joke understandable and clear. It takes great skill to decide what the reader sees and doesn’t see. Through Golden Kamuy’s 158 chapters, he makes use of this skill to make us laugh whenever Asirpa’s badgering them to make citatap, or when there’s a new animal part to eat, or when Tanigaki’s out showing nudes of himself to people. If the pages weren’t framed well, the jokes would’ve fallen flat. Let’s also not forget his adeptness in drawing facial expressions. This manga just does faces so well.

(Just look at Asirpa! collage c/o the Golden Kamuy reddit)

His fight scenes are also top-notch. You just know that Noda, as a mangaka, isn’t knocking about. The flow of action in every page is just downright superb. It also shows his mastery of human anatomy – and his courage when it comes to gore. His use of crisp blacks and whites, solid lineart, thick, expressive color give us pages that are fresh and clean...I’d be a fool to dismiss his technique, because his (and his studio’s, I guess?) skill just shines through every page.

He’s also not shy when it comes to details – which is admirable. After all, it takes some great dedication for someone to give his main character distinct facial scars that will require repeated drawings in almost every single page (and give his heroine a detailed headband). It makes me wonder just how he does it with a weekly schedule. His color pages look like they were done digitally, but I still have doubts whether or not he does his chapters by hand.

THE HEART

It took me just a few days to wolf down Kamuy. It was a romp right from the start – nail-biting, stomach-clutching, hair-raising. A truly entertaining piece, if you will. But if there’s one thing I’ve noticed with Kamuy, it’s that it somehow lacks heart.

Don’t get me wrong – it’s great! I love it. It’s superbly crafted, beautifully drawn, amazingly detailed. It’s one of the rare titles that I’m actually thinking of collecting. But it’s also a title that seems to drip technique. Like the author made it for the sake of drawing an intense, gripping title, but somehow solely for that purpose. It’s a career-conscious showcase of ability, a manufactured adventure in the truest sense. I couldn’t see the earnestness I found in Sorachi Hideaki’s Gintama, or the relatability of Nakahara Aya’s Dame na Watashi wo Koishite Kudasai. Full Metal Alchemist showed Arakawa Hiromu’s passion for muscled men, her interest in alchemy, and views on family, while Haruichi Furudate’s love for volleyball, sportsmanship and camaraderie is undeniable in Haikyuu!!. While I do like the backstory that Sugimoto is somehow based on his real-life war-vet grandfather, I find it a bit sad that it seems to lack that personal touch I’ve always liked seeing in other manga.

But it doesn’t mean that it’s not great. I will still recommend it to everyone I know. Awesome story, great art, refreshing comedy. By all means, read it! (Not sure about the anime, but I keep hearing reviews that we’re better off with the manga). Golden Kamuy is a title of both style and substance – whether it’s about the gore or the gold, I’m sure you won’t be disappointed.

Then let me know if you agree with my upcoming post, an analysis of Sugimoto and Asirpa.

Photos c/o reddit + our lovely scanlators + Satoru Noda

#Golden Kamuy #Sugimoto Saichi #Sugimoto the Immortal #Asirpa #Noda Satoru #Manga #Review

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banesoka · 7 years

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Untitled Pirate AU Fanfic

Part Two!

Bane was always there at the front, helping his crew pillage the mansion and take all they wanted. The last place they stormed was the kitchen. Everyone grabbed the expensive luxurious food until the kitchen was completely empty, then brought out crate after crate of alcohol. All three ships were filled with the loot while the townspeople could only look on too afraid to do anything. Then the remaining soldiers on shore who were still alive were cut down.

Finally, Sabine led the crew to set the mansion ablaze. As the flames began to rise to the second floor, Bane led the pirates back to the ship, pleased with how the night went. They had stolen enough goods to last them many moons on sea. Back on Sleight of Hand he ordered them to make for safe waters at once.

“And as a reward for your good work, tomorrow night we will have a large feast. Food and drinks and whores for everyone!” he announced to the crew.

The crew cheered and held their weapons high in pride as they watched the burning pillaged port slowly vanish from view. Bane’s first mate, Embo, leaned over to speak to him quietly.

“The girl is in your quarters. I thought she would be safest there.”

Bane nodded in thanks.

“Rest well tonight boys and girls and everyone else. I will be in my quarters.” With that he left Embo in charge for the evening and went to his quarters to see the princess. Sure enough he found her tied up on his bed, dress torn, struggling against her bonds. When he approached her eyes widened and she let out a muffled cry against the gag.

“Hello there,” he said in a mockingly sweet tone of voice, tipping his hat at her.

She glared at him, fire in her eyes.

His tone suddenly turned cold.

“Now listen up, I'm only saying this once. As long as you're on good behavior no harm will come to you. You can cooperate while you're here and not stir up any trouble, and you'll be treated well. But if you choose to fight back, well, let's just say you can forget about all the simple comforts a spoiled brat like you is used to. Understand?"

She nodded slightly.

“Smart girl. I like that.” He approached her and sat on the side of the bed. She flinched expecting him to hurt her. Instead he gently removed the gag from her mouth. “Now, you have the option of sleeping in a cell or in the guest quarters next to mine.”

"I'll take the guest quarters I guess.”

He untied her ankles and wrists. She still stared at him in fear, holding her breath. When she was free she rubbed the marks on her wrists.

“Tell me your first name, princess.”

"You kidnap someone with out knowing their name?”

“Oh, I know your family name. You’re not the only princess around, you know.”

“Ahsoka. Ahsoka of the Family Tano last of the line and first born next in line for the crown of Kiros.”

"Congratulations," he muttered. "Now it's only fair I tell you my name. I'm Captain Cad Bane. This is my fleet, Sleight of Hand, Xanadu Blood, and the Justifier."

“I wish I could say it was a pleasure to meet you, but it isn’t,” she scowled up at him.

"Aye, I get that a lot." He grinned. “Guest quarters are this way, follow me.” He led her to the room next to his. It wasn't much, just a small tub, desk, and a bed in the corner and a little window looking out to the endless sea. Ahsoka turned to face him.

"I'm assuming these are the only clothes I have?” she asked. “It may not look it but this dress is her uncomfortable especially to sleep in, and I’d prefer to have a change in outfit.”

“We took a lot from your wardrobe. Selling one of them would feed us all for a week,” he said with a slight disdain in his tone that did not go past Ahsoka.

“Can I have any of it or are you going to sell every single one?” Ahsoka did not really mind losing her dresses but having them stolen and sold off to feed sea rats was what made her angry.

“Hmm. I could let you pick two,” Bane said.

“Thank you.”

He called in Sabine and asked her to bring in Ahsoka's wardrobe they stole. Once they arrived Bane laid out the dresses for her. He picked up a silky purple dress and held it to his face, smelling the perfume still on it. As he did he gave her a slight sly smile. “Wonder how expensive this perfume was too.”

She snatched it from him with a look of disgust on her face. She could not believe this pirate scum. On top of kidnapping her now he had the nerve to admire her clothing and perfume like she was some lady of the night.

“That’s my favorite dress!” Ahsoka snapped at him.

"I can see why. You’ll have to show us how you look in it sometime.”

She tried to ignore him as he watched her hover over her dresses, trying to decide which ones to save. The second one she chose was a slightly more practical outfit she used when practicing her fencing. It would have to do and she really did not want to part with this one either.

“Interesting choices.” Sabine came back later to take away the rest of them and her and Bane whispered a few things to each other, stealing glances at Ahsoka. Sabine seemed very curious to look over the royalty on board. Then she left and Bane took off his hat. “Well, since I've had a long day, I'll be retiring now. Sleep well, princess.”

"Thank you, pirate.”

"That's Captain Bane to you.” He bared his fangs with coldness in his eyes.

"Thank you... Captain Bane,” she managed to spit out.

“That’s better." He smiled and with that went to his bed which was in the back of his quarters and surrounded by a thick curtain that had clearly been stolen from another royalty. He shut the curtains and Ahsoka could hear him undressing.

She kept half an eye on the curtains as she changed; she could see his shadow against the candlelight. It was a relief to be out of that uncomfortable dress so at least she had that going for her. Bane blew out the candle beside his bed and took a couple swigs from a bottle of rum before he went to sleep. On the dining table in his quarters Ahsoka saw utensils still left out; a plate with a bare turkey leg bone and some bread crust, a large silver goblet, and a large cutting knife.

For a while Ahsoka lay in her bed. There was no way she would get any sleep. All she could hear were the cries of her people being slaughtered and watching their possessions being stolen from them. Her aunt probably had not survived the attack either. Who knew how many had died tonight? Ahsoka felt hot tears run down her cheeks but she could not stop them from coming. Her chest ached with grief. And she clenched her fists in fury at the man lying just in the other room.

When she had calmed down she waited a while longer to be sure the captain was fast asleep. She then got up and scooped up the knife on the table without a sound. Ahsoka moved as slow and as quietly as she could across the room towards his bed. Her heart pounded in her montrals. Finally she pushed the curtains back.

The captain appeared to be fast asleep, eyes shut, chest rising and falling slowly. From the moonlight reflection Ahsoka could see his bare arms and chest and that they were covered in tattoos. His back was scarred as if he had had been lashed. Ahsoka could not help but stare. This was the most naked man she had ever seen, excluding art, and she had to admit she liked what she saw.

She shook herself and regained focus. On her purple slinky dress, she raised the knife and struck down at his neck.

A hand suddenly grabbed her wrist just as the blade was inches from his neck. His glowing red eyes shot open.

“Did you really think I'd be that stupid?” Bane asked.

Ahsoka stared in terror but managed to make a snarky reply.

“Is one stupid if they are asleep?”

“I never sleep when a new prisoner is on board." He sat up, still holding her wrist tight, twisting it slightly. "I left that knife out on purpose, of course. First to see if you were clever enough to notice it. Second to see if you were stupid enough to try and use it. So you're both clever and stupid."

"Ahhh..." She winced in pain and let go. The knife fell from her hand. “Thank you?"

"You won’t be thanking me tomorrow. Embo!”

In seconds the first mate was in his quarters.

"Yes, captain?"

"Take her to the cell and shackle her. She still has a lesson that needs to be taught. Give her water in the morn but no food."

“What!” Ahsoka cried. “No, please! Don’t! I'm sorry I won't try anything again! Please Captain Bane I'll do anything!” She knew it was useless to beg for mercy from a pirate no less but she could not help herself. The thought of spending the night in a cold dark cell terrified her.

"Sorry, princess, but we had an understanding and you broke the rules," he said coldly.

Embo grabbed her and began dragging her away below deck.

“No! Please!” She kicked and thrashed.

Embo put one large hand around her throat, not hurting her, but showing her that he could break her neck in an instant. "Quiet, girl, or the captain will worsen your punishment."

She nodded and didn't make another sound but was still shaking. Embo took her below deck to where they kept the cells and pushed her inside, shackling her ankles to a lock on the wall so she could only stand up and walk around a couple paces. The cell was smaller than her closet back at the mansion, and it was very musty. The walls were covered in filth and grime, and she could hear rats in the dark corners. With that Embo locked the door and left her there in pitch darkness.

Crying softly, Ahsoka huddled in the darkness and hugged herself. Just hours ago she had been safe and comfortable in her mansion back home. Now all of that was gone and she was chained up like a slave, at the mercy of a terrible pirate. She buried her face and wept for all the dead and for fear of what would happen to her. Eventually she decided she would need sleep to get some strength back, that is if she wanted a chance at getting out of this alive. She tried her hardest to sleep but she could barely close her eyes all night.

When morning came the cell began to grow very warm with the heat of sunlight. Her throat was parched. Her whole body ached from sitting on the hard floor all night. She felt that she would really like a bath too. Ahsoka leaned against the cell wall, rustling the chains. Finally, Embo brought her a canteen of water. Her head pounded as she chugged back the whole canteen.

“Captain wants you back in his quarters come noon,” Embo said.

“Is that soon?” she asked hopeful, anything to get out of this hell.

"Not for a few more hours," he said smugly.

"Can I see him now? Please?” she begged, grabbing the bars.

"Why do you want to?"

"To apologize again. To show him how sorry I really am for what I did.” Of course she did not feel sorry about it. Not yet anyway. She was just sorry she had not succeeded.

"The captain is busy but I'll see if he has time to see you.” Embo left and was gone for nearly fifteen minutes before he came back with Bane who looked down at Ahsoka in the cell with curiosity.

"Captain Bane! I'm sorry! I won't do anything like that again.”

"Had enough of a punishment already?"

"Yes sir,” she said with out even thinking. Clearly killing him wasn’t her way out of this. She had to find another strategy in order to survive.

He nodded. "Very well. Embo, take her back to the guest quarters and give her a little to eat. Tonight you will dine with me at the feast, and you'll wear that favorite dress of yours."

"I understand.” She nodded, now knowing better than to question him.

Embo unshackled her ankles and helped her up. Bane was about to leave but stopped.

"Oh, and give the princess a bath before the feast as well," Bane ordered before he left.

With that Embo walked her up to the guest room and started a nice hot bath. She hoped bane wouldn't come in while she bathed but the hot water felt so good that once in she completely forgot about him. She closed her eyes and laid back enjoying the smell of the fine oils she put into the water.

While her eyes were closed, Bane entered his quarters to look over the map on his desk. Almost instantly he saw the naked Togrutan girl appearing asleep in the bath. At first he thought to look away but found himself examining her round breasts, dark nipples, slender hips and thighs. She was so relaxed and almost asleep she didn't hear him enter, nor noticed him watching her. He watched her a little longer until his guilt took over and he cleared his throat.

She jumped awake and covered herself. Blood rushed to her cheeks.

"Captain!"

"My apologies."

"Wait really? You apologize?"

"Yes, I do. Now finish bathing.”

She nodded waiting for him to turn around or leave. No one save for the maids who used to help dress her had seen her naked body before. Had he been staring at her just now? How long? Bane had turned his back on her and was studying the map again but Ahsoka still felt very shy and exposed. Her face would not stop burning. She finished washing herself then quickly scampered across the room to fetch her towel.

'How old are you?” Bane suddenly asked.

“Seventeen, why?"

"Ah. Just curious."

“For that last year my parents were trying to marry me off.”

"Aww. Poor thing."

She rolled her eyes and ignored him.

“I'm not a child you know. I am a woman.”

"And I'm in the Royal Navy,” Bane said.

“I'm serious. Most girls my age are already on their second kid. Part of the reason I was sent here in the first place was to find a nobleman to be betrothed to. But I guess that will not be happening anytime soon.”

"I'm aware of that."

"So then why laugh?"

"It's just so ... different."

"From what?"

"From what I know.” His eyes were still fixed on the chart. He made a few notes and rubbed his lip with his thumb. Ahsoka watched him. Now she was the one who felt curious.

"What do you know?” she inquired.

That seemed to be an inappropriate question at least for the moment. Bane glanced over at her and ordered coldly,

"Finish bathing then get dressed."

"I will... Sir.” Ahsoka blushed again at having been reminded that she was naked under the towel.

#cad bane #ahsoka tano #cadsoka #banesoka #tcw #star wars #star wars fanfiction

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tune-collective · 7 years

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The 15 Best Justin Bieber Songs

When it comes to pop reinvention, Madonna may be queen, but Justin Bieber is an undeniable king. He started as the cherub-faced heartthrob of your tweenage dreams, quickly grew up into public cultural enemy number one, and somehow rebounded as someone hipsters, dance fans, pop kids, and R&B lovers could agree on.

Throughout his many phases, the one thing that’s remained constant is the music. If anything, the quality has exponentially increased. Love or hate him – and most people love him now – Bieber is a talented singer, songwriter, musician, and dancer. He’s the total package, and his choice in collaborators is more than impressive. Here we go through our picks for the 15 best Justin Bieber songs from the start of his career to now. Enjoy.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Z5-P9v3F8w

15. Justin Bieber – “Never Say Never” feat. Jaden Smith

Will Smith is one of Bieber’s ultimate mentors, so of course he and son Jaden Smith got together in the studio when young Smith’s remake of Karate Kid needed a soundtrack. “Never Say Never” still has a bit of young cheese, but it went on to be one of Bieber’s defining early career moments. It was originally written as an adult song called “Sexy Together,” but writers changed the message to reflect one of great courage and confidence, a much more important message for kids to hear, and in 2010, the great majority of Bieber’s fans were still young tweens.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R4em3LKQCAQ

14. Justin Bieber – “As Long As You Love Me” feat. Big Sean

Who’s ready for some Bieb-step? It’s like dubstep, except it’s Justin Bieber. You get it. This song tries to be a bit dark, but it’s more pink sugar than it is black coffee. It’s still one of the highlights of any Justin Bieber set. The Big Sean feature isn’t the rapper’s best work, but it gives the song a bit of added bite, and who doesn’t enjoy a few verses from Big Sean?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LXUSaVw3Mvk

13. Justin Bieber – “One Less Lonely Girl”

You know why you can’t help loving this Justin Bieber song? Because Usher wrote and produced it. That and the angelic voice of 14-year-old Bieber is sweeter than honey on vanilla ice cream. While a lot of the baby Bieber tunes are overly saccharine and don’t necessarily translate into our adult lives, “One Less Lonely Girl” is one of those kiddy pop songs that transcends your tweenage puppy love.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ys7-6_t7OEQ

12. Justin Bieber – “Beauty and a Beat” feat. Nicki Minaj

Remember when Justin Bieber’s “computer was stolen” and someone threatened to release the personal footage contained within? The world waited with baited breath (some of us, anyway) for the juicy details, but in the end, it was just a ploy to drum up excitement for this Bieber video. It is a good jam, though, and it represents Bieber’s first strong step onto the dance floor. It’s produced by Zedd and Max Martin, which explains that crunchy synth breakdown I love so much. It was originally written for someone else, but it was Bieber’s idea to put Minaj on the track. Well done, sir.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gdx7gN1UyX0

11. Justin Bieber – “Company”

Love in the 21st Century is hard. You want to get to know someone, but you have to keep a healthy distance. It’s the game we’ve created for ourselves, and though none of us really wants to play, them’s the rules. “Company” is a beautiful take on modern romance, a sweet invitation to come closer while maintaining the perfect veil of coy casualty, and it’s just a damn good pop song.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4GuqB1BQVr4

10. Justin Bieber – “Boyfriend”

I know Bieber’s reinvention campaign really kicked off with Jack Ü and the Purpose album, but for me, the turning point from teenage hearthrob to adult-ready pop star was “Boyfriend.” That darker sound, that whisper intro, it’s so sexual it almost hurts – even though he still looks like a cherub. Many comparisons have been made to Justin Timberlake’s step-out solo single “Girlfriend,” from the obvious title mirroring down to the similar parking lot pimpin’ music video treatment. This was Bieber stepping out into his “swag” trap ish, and if we listen closely, we can hear the incoming dance music production partnerships coming a mile a minute.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JC2yu2a9sHk

9. Justin Bieber – “All That Matters”

Sunday slow jam me so hard with this song. This is some slinky, bluesy, babe magic. The acoustic guitar mixes with the harsh electronic beat perfectly, creating a modern R&B sound that can bridge audiences and age gaps. The lyrics were written during a “happy time” in Bieber and Selena Gomez’ relationship, which is kind of heartbreaking but adorable at the same time. Play this at my wedding, and then again at the honeymoon when no one is watching.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=47YClVMlthI

8. Justin Bieber – “Confident” feat. Chance the Rapper

This was another one of those music videos that pulled Bieber into the world of awkward adult lust. These dance moves are too cute, as is our boy. That he teamed up with Chance the Rapper only solidified my strange, building love for the Biebs, and this was before Chance had the Kanye co-sign. “Confident” is beat-heavy with a playful, wonky melody that sticks in your brain and won’t let go. Definitely some feel yourself music.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kffacxfA7G4

7. Justin Bieber – “Baby” feat. Ludacris

Justin Bieber is actually 16 on this song, though he looks and sounds like he could be 12. At that tender teen age, he stole our hearts with a saccharine hook that actually really stands the test of time. “Baby” may have been your tweenage little sister’s favorite jam and your dad’s least favorite song of 2010, but in retrospect, it’s an effing great pop tune. His childlike voice is so earnest and clear, and the fact that Ludacris co-signs a teenage heart throb is more than enough to tell you, this kid is up to something.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DK_0jXPuIr0

6. Justin Bieber – “What Do You Mean”

First of all, this music video is freaking amazing. John Leguizamo is a national treasure. Bless him for co-starring in this totally insane clip. Why does Bieber think faking an attempt to kidnap is a good date idea? As if falling into a skate park rave makes the trauma go away. That being said, Bieber’s tropical house follow up to Jack Ü breakout “Where Are Ü Now” is a fanciful, fun-loving breath of fresh pop air. He’s back in the studio with Skrillex and Diplo on this cut, which is turns out was not a solitary experience in any way imaginable. Skrillex is all over the Purpose album, and this is one of the best take-aways.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fMvIARf_SUU

5. Major Lazer – “Cold Water” feat. Justin Bieber & MØ

Bieber’s third phase career as one of the leading dance music vocalists continues to amaze. This collaboration with Major Lazer is a great follow-up to the work he did with Jack Ü, and the addition of MØ’s instantly-recognizable rasp is as bolstering as the bright horn work on the hook. It’s got a bit of that dancehall flavor Major Lazer is known for, but it’s still one of the poppiest works from the trio to date. Put this tune on when you’ve got a friend who needs a life saver and a night on the dance floor.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=euCqAq6BRa4

4. DJ Snake – “Let Me Love You” ft. Justin Bieber

Once Bieber found such success with Skrillex and Diplo, the dance producer flood gates were opened. DJ Snake had to get his own Bieber-assisted super hit, and “Let Me Love You” is one of those pop songs you hear and instantly want to hear again. It’s got that same wonky horn synth from “Lean On,” and it’s got all the dreamy falsetto a young heart can handle. It’s one of the best tunes from DJ Snake’s debut LP Encore, and it was one of the biggest moments of his recent Main Stage closing set at 2017’s Ultra Music Festival in Miami. We can’t help thinking Bieber had a huge part in the song’s success, because, well, he always does, right?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oyEuk8j8imI

3. Justin Bieber – “Love Yourself”

I hereby nominate “Love Yourself” as being the Justin Bieber song with the best lyrics. First of all, opening your track by berating someone for using your name to get into clubs is a clutch superstar move. Also, a chorus all about how your mom likes everyone except your ex is absolutely brilliant. We’ve got to give a nod to Ed Sheeran to the songwriting assist, but we are pretty sure we here honest Bieber all over this. It’s an overly-simple tune, mostly just Bieber and an acoustic guitar with a bit of trumpet thrown in for good measure. It’s incredibly raw, when you think about it, but it plays like a celebratory pop anthem. It’s quite vulnerable for mainstream radio, and Bieber pulls it off with grace and the gusto of a man who knows exactly what he’s doing.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fRh_vgS2dFE

2. Justin Bieber – “Sorry”

The Bieb’s big reinvention LP Purpose is, at its core, all about forgiveness. We as fans needed to forgive him for that weird period where everyone decided he was the worst – or the best, depending on how you feel about young, famous tricksters. He needed to forgive himself for making an ass of himself publicly, and of course, there’s the whole romantic notion of Bieber apologizing to the women (cough Selena Gomez cough) he may have hurt along the road to maturity. “Sorry” is, in that sense, the peak of the Purpose album. Thinly veiled as an amorous apology, he’s just laying it all out over an infectious rhythm with a hook that can’t be denied. Oh Justin, when you come into the room looking like this and singing like that, we just can’t help but forgive you.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nntGTK2Fhb0

1. Jack Ü – “Where Are Ü Now” ft. Justin Bieber

I once saw Bieber’s famous manager Scooter Braun give a talk at P. Diddy’s Revolt Music Conference, and he said the moment he knew they had won the Bieber reinvention campaign was when he took the stage at Ultra Music Festival Miami with Skrillex and Diplo, and nobody boo’d. Bieber greeted the Main Stage and performed this song live with the Jack Ü crew, and it was straight glorious. The work with Jack Ü helped solidify Bieber’s new sound as an adult pop star. It’s more grown-up, but it’s still got that sheen of candy-colored fantasy. The pitched-up vocal line in the hook is instantly recognizable and was certainly a game changer in the pop and dance production world at the time. “Where Are Ü Now” is truly a milestone in the pop-dance crossover canon, and it will remain on of Bieber, Skrillex, and Diplo’s best songs for perceivably the rest of the trio’s career.

This article originally appeared on Billboard.

https://tunecollective.com/2017/04/27/the-15-best-justin-bieber-songs/

#15 #bieber #critics #justin #picks #Songs

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