I always thought it went like:

Sawao writes the lyrics and the chords for the song, shares it with the rest of the band. After that, Manabe, Jun and Shin are on their own.

Of course, there might be a few times when there are exceptions to this... but I thought this was the formula for a good chunk of pillows songs. Now... as for whether or not Sawao composes ALL of the pillows songs... I'm not sure. But once you have the vocals, it's melody, and a somewhat good rhythm section, it's a lot easier to build from there. That's why I think Sawao's name is on a lot of the pillows music. He writes the lyrics and the root chords, and then everything else (especially the lead, since it is technically for embellishment purposes), comes next.

Not saying that it's always like this... but since Sawao is the rhythm guitarists and the leader of the band (and the fact that he has said in interviews that he writes most of the songs, if I remember correctly), I'd say that's how a good chunk of their songs are.

Someone should interview them on the subject.

Yeah, I second that motion Tidus, Except they should have it translated to english

[quote="Tidusauron12"]especially the lead, since it is technically for embellishment purposes[/quote]

I'm in huge disagreement here, but the rest sounds right.

I would just like to say, the pillows, as a whole, kick ass.
And, each member, Including the bassists, is to be credited.
And, I find this talk about the dispensibility of the members really, really nauseating, not to offend any of you.

AND, this is a 9/16 thread, about the formation of THE PILLOWS, not Sawao and the band, not Kenji and the band, not Yoshiaki and the band, and not Shin-chan and the band, BUT the band.

[quote="ThankYouMyTwilight"] I find this talk about the dispensibility of the members really, really nauseating, not to offend any of you.
[/quote]

I think about it this way, Sawao conceives the song, shares it with the rest of the band, and they improve upon it.

[quote="Tidusauron12"]I always thought it went like:

Sawao writes the lyrics and the chords for the song, shares it with the rest of the band. After that, Manabe, Jun and Shin are on their own.

Of course, there might be a few times when there are exceptions to this... but I thought this was the formula for a good chunk of pillows songs. Now... as for whether or not Sawao composes ALL of the pillows songs... I'm not sure. But once you have the vocals, it's melody, and a somewhat good rhythm section, it's a lot easier to build from there. That's why I think Sawao's name is on a lot of the pillows music. He writes the lyrics and the root chords, and then everything else (especially the lead, since it is technically for embellishment purposes), comes next.

Not saying that it's always like this... but since Sawao is the rhythm guitarists and the leader of the band (and the fact that he has said in interviews that he writes most of the songs, if I remember correctly), I'd say that's how a good chunk of their songs are.

Someone should interview them on the subject.[/quote]

I could have sworn I read an interview that addressed this. and in the interview sawao said something along the lines of.

"we have tried lots of ways to write songs, we dont really have a formula."

I dont recall which interview it is

[quote="Tidusauron12"]I always thought it went like:

Sawao writes the lyrics and the chords for the song, shares it with the rest of the band. After that, Manabe, Jun and Shin are on their own.

Of course, there might be a few times when there are exceptions to this... but I thought this was the formula for a good chunk of pillows songs. Now... as for whether or not Sawao composes ALL of the pillows songs... I'm not sure. But once you have the vocals, it's melody, and a somewhat good rhythm section, it's a lot easier to build from there. That's why I think Sawao's name is on a lot of the pillows music. He writes the lyrics and the root chords, and then everything else (especially the lead, since it is technically for embellishment purposes), comes next.

Not saying that it's always like this... but since Sawao is the rhythm guitarists and the leader of the band (and the fact that he has said in interviews that he writes most of the songs, if I remember correctly), I'd say that's how a good chunk of their songs are.

Someone should interview them on the subject.[/quote]


Thats exactly how I saw it. Sawao writes the root chords and lyrics for a song,
introduces it to Manabe and Shin-chan in order to gain their opinions of how the
song should sound in lead and beat from Sawao's chords, and formulate a demo.
After the demo is approved by all the members, it is recorded.

Everyones saying "who gets the credit?" Fact is, a band needs to be open
to all opinions in order to have a strong understanding of who stands where.
The credit goes to every member of the band, because each member contributes
an equal share for every song. Sawao is just the spark of fire that develops into a burning
blaze of creativity, which is fueled by Manabe, Shin, and Jun's contribution.

I like how everyone has an opinion on how the pillows write songs without substantiating it with anything at all.

Lawl at this thread.

[quote="sheerheartattack"]I like how everyone has an opinion on how the pillows write songs without substantiating it with anything at all.[/quote]

Newsflash:

THERE IS NO PROOF.

No one has any. Conjecture is as far as it goes. If there is any proof to be had here, then it is all between the band members themselves. That why I said someone should interview them on the subject.

[quote="sheerheartattack"]I like how everyone has an opinion on how the pillows write songs without substantiating it with anything at all.[/quote]

opinions shouldnt have to be substantiated, its not a fucking debate. It's shooting the shit.

but since you asked so nicely.

http://www.jame-world.com/au/article.php?id=2700

In general, how are your songs created? Do you have an idea in mind and work from there, or do you just start playing something and see where it will take you?

Yamanaka: Creating music is not a special thing to me, it's like something I do in daily life. I can't exactly tell you how I make songs in general, because I start working on them with every possible method.



take that for what it's worth.

[quote="Camio"]
http://www.jame-world.com/au/article.php?id=2700
[/quote]
For some reason I like WUx3 a bit more now

It's doesn't matter how "the band" creates music, because "the band" doesn't create music. Sawao creates music and tells the other members what to do. So in essence, no, the other members don't need to be credited because they didn't do anything but follow orders.

You guys keep thinking that the pillows and every other Japanese band are like American bands, but they're not. Japanese values are different than ours are. You can't assume that the band in a whole or the individual members hold any resemblance to you or any American band because they don't.

The proof is in the inserts. They don't say "Written by the band", they say "[i]MUSIC and LYRICS[/i] written by Sawao Yamanaka".

End of fucking discussion.

I don't think it's a question of values, its just a question of how they prefer to run things. In this case, Sawao is the driving force behind the band. Some groups are like that.

[quote="Camio"][quote="sheerheartattack"]I like how everyone has an opinion on how the pillows write songs without substantiating it with anything at all.[/quote]

opinions shouldnt have to be substantiated, its not a fucking debate. It's shooting the shit.
[/quote]

False. Opinions on tastes, feelings, preferences - these do not need to be substantiated. Opinions on real, objective things most certainly do. You all are saying the equivalent of, "I think the Eiffel Tower is in Italy." Even if you say, "No, I think it's in France," your opinion is worth naught unless you can point out why you believe it is so.