Although “virtual singer” Hatsune Miku is a household name and beloved character in Japan, she hasn’t exactly entered the American mainstream. So it was quite a surprise when it was announced that she’ll be performing as an opening act for Lady Gaga during the North American leg of her upcoming world tour. It makes a certain kind of sense that Gaga, who is notorious for her love of the strange and experimental, would want to include a hologram with a synthesized voice in her stage act, but netizens seem convinced that the distinctly Japanese phenomenon of a virtual idol won’t go over so well among foreign audiences.
What do you think – will you be buying tickets?
From MY NAVI News:
Hatsune Miku to Appear as Opening Act on Lady Gaga’s Tour
Crypton Virtual Media has announced that virtual singer Hatsune Miku will participate in Lady Gaga’s tour as an opening act in 16 North American locations between May 6 and June 3.
Starting with Atlanta’s Philips Arena, Hatsune Miku will open for Lady Gaga at all 16 venues which comprise this portion of Lady Gaga’s world tour, named “Lady Gaga’s artRAVE: the ARTPOP ball.” Hatsune Miku has performed numerous 3DCG concerts in the past, but this will be her first time participating in an artist’s concert tour.
Although Lady Gaga’s world tour schedule includes plans to perform in Japan in August, nothing has been announced regarding Hatsune Miku’s participation in those concerts. However, there are high hopes that she will appear during the Japanese concerts as well.
Comments from 2ch.net:
名無しさん＠１３周年＠＼(^o^)／:
She’s getting the Drifters treatment
名無しさん＠１３周年＠＼(^o^)／ :
Opener w
名無しさん＠１３周年＠＼(^o^)／:
Can Miku sing in English?
名無しさん＠１３周年＠＼(^o^)／ :
the audience will be too different ww
名無しさん＠１３周年＠＼(^o^)／:
It’s a suitable combination of two cut from the same cloth, isn’t it?
名無しさん＠１３周年＠＼(^o^)／ :
A North American tour?!!!!! Isn’t it more suited to Japan?
名無しさん＠１３周年＠＼(^o^)／:
I guess the westerners won’t scream and rave over her, huh?
名無しさん＠１３周年＠＼(^o^)／:
I don’t really like Sega’s Miku, but I wonder if that will be better for foreigners.
名無しさん＠１３周年＠＼(^o^)／:
And afterwards, I bet Gaga will appear in Miku cosplay, I’m sure
名無しさん＠１３周年＠＼(^o^)／:
Foreigners have probably never seen a CG idol with a synthesized voice before, right? They’re probably trying this out of curiosity. But I don’t think she’ll really take hold there.
名無しさん＠１３周年＠＼(^o^)／:
I wonder if there are Vocaloid fans who follow Miku over there?
名無しさん＠１３周年＠＼(^o^)／:
Even though she’s peaked out, I guess they’re trying to promote her now
名無しさん＠１３周年＠＼(^o^)／ (in response to above):
peaked out w Human performers deteriorate as time passes, but characters in the digital world improve year by year!
名無しさん＠１３周年＠＼(^o^)／:
This is the first I’ve heard of either of them in a long time. Aren’t they both old news?
名無しさん＠１３周年＠＼(^o^)／ :
Seems like she comes cheap now, huh
名無しさん＠１３周年＠＼(^o^)／:
Gaga’s fans like new things, so they probably won’t oppose it. It looks like this won’t be geared towards otaku at all though, and that’s what’s really interesting.
名無しさん＠１３周年＠＼(^o^)／:
At the Miku concert I saw, people came out as the openers, and it really depressed me.
名無しさん＠１３周年＠＼(^o^)／:
I can’t believe Miku agreed to be an opener, and I was surprised that it was Gaga too. (confusion)
名無しさん＠１３周年＠＼(^o^)／:
Won’t foreigners be weirded out by Miku? Is this ok?
名無しさん＠１３周年＠＼(^o^)／ (in response to above):
She’s really suited to otaku, but this time she’ll probably sing along with Gaga’s songs, so it seems like it will be a totally different experience.
