It’s no secret that robots will eventually overtake and rule over humanity. In fact, the takeover has already begun. Can you guess where they started? Yeah, that’s right: the music industry.
Vocaloid was developed by Yamaha in 2000, in Barcelona, Spain. The first Vocaloid was released in 2003. Vocaloid is a program of synthesized voices that a person would use to create different songs. The synthesizers are based off of vocal samples provided by singers. Vocaloid, at first, was just an analysis of a human voice, created by the people of the program itself. Of course, Japan took up the opportunity of the voice synthesizer and in around 2007, Crypton Future Media created the new Vocaloid, which, at first had two voices to represent them: Kaito and Meiko.
However, the software only became popular when they released Vocaloid 2, with a singer by the name of Hatsune Miku (in America, we say Miku Hatsune, because we do first name, last name). Video sharing website, Nico Nico Douga helped make the software popular. One of the first songs Hatsune Miku sang was "Ievan Polkka," a Finnish song originally created in 1930. This video spurred users of Nico Nico Douga to original songs for the Vocaloids and to add 2D or 3D animation to create a music video for their song.
Other companies decided to join in on this craze and made their own Vocaloids. Internet Co., Ltd. created Gumi and Gakupo. There are even Vocaloids from other cultures and languages, such as the Korean SeeU, the Spanish MAIKA, and the Chinese Yanhe. While there are many other Vocaloids today, the most popular ones are still Crypton's, including Rin and Len Kagamine, a set of twins with child-like voices, Luka Megurine, an bilingual woman with a deeper voice, and of course, the ever popular Miku.
Over the years, Vocaloid has grown into more than just a voice synthesizer. These virtual idols have been featured in concerts. By projecting the image of the idol on a mostly transparent screen, it makes it appear that Miku and her friends are dancing and singing on stage. Her first concert was in 2009 and there have been many more since then, even overseas. Her first concert in North America was held in Los Angeles in 2011.
Another facet of the franchise are games. Hatsune Miku: Project DIVA is the series of rhythm games involving the Vocaloids and the songs created for them. There are currently five games in the main series, the most current one being Hatsune Miku: Project Diva F 2nd. However, a new one is set to come out in 2016, which features over 200 songs. If you're having trouble trying to get into Vocaloid, then the games may be an easy way to ease you into it. It is a little bit confusing after all.
All in all, Vocaloid is an amazing thing to discover (even at an early age of 12, as in, the weeaboo age). You can listen to some songs or play a couple of the games if you feel like it's your style; not everybody is Vocaloid friendly because they believe it's "anime" or "foreign." We encourage you all to open your eyes and your mind up, because you never know if you might like it.
BONUS! Suggested songs by the writers-
Whitney suggests:
When The First Love Ends (Hatsune Miku), Drop Pop Candy (Megurine Luka and Kagamine Rin), Interviewer (Megurine Luka), Cut-off Line (Gumi), You and beautiful world (Megurine Luka), WAVE (Lily), Cantarella (Kaito), Things I Want You to hear (Hatsune Miku), Shutter Chance (IA)
Miranda suggests:
Cendrillon (Hatsune Miku and Kaito), Suki Kirai (Kagamine Rin and Len), Meltdown (Kagamine Rin), Last of Me (Megurine Luka), Pomp and Circumstance (Hatsune Miku, Kagamine Rin, Megurine Luka, Gumi, IA), Two Breaths Walking (Hatsune Miku), Pair of Wintry Winds (Kaito and Meiko), Destroy, Destroy (Meiko), Blackjack (Megurine Luka), See the Lights (IA)
