AFPHologram pop star Hatsune Miku on a stage in Paris in 2020
NOS Nieuws•vandaag, 17:16
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Menno Adelaar
editor Domestic
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Menno Adelaar
editor Domestic
She travels all over the world and will perform in an almost sold-out hall in Amsterdam tonight: the Japanese hologram phenomenon Hatsune Miku. Her name means “the voice of the future”. The singer does not really exist, but is drawn and can be seen as a hologram.
In 2007, Hatsune Miku was developed by a software company. Then she was just a voice for people to use when composing music. By entering text into the software you can make Hatsune Miku sing. About two hundred thousand songs have already been made with her voice.
Since 2014, the virtual 16-year-old girl in school uniform has also been performing with her electronic voice. Now she is celebrating her 10th anniversary with a tour around the world. Miku was also in the Netherlands in 2020.
Weird concept
Rin Boutestein is a Hatsune Miku fan and was there in the Netherlands at the time. Boutestein understands that it’s a strange concept: “Even though Hatsune Miku isn’t a real person, it feels like you’re watching a real person during a performance.”
The performances attract many people who are fans of anime (Japanese animation) and manga (Japanese comics). Hatsune Miku is drawn in those Japanese styles. Dressing up plays a major role among fans of this. Many visitors tonight will be dressed as ‘cosplay-figures’.
In Japan it is already more common for people to bond with virtual artists or cartoon characters.
Close-knit community
Mariëlle Salh is a volunteer at an anime festival in the Netherlands and knows a lot about the culture. She explains why Miku has so many fans: “Because people can make music with her voice, fans feel extra connected. That creates a close-knit community.”
Thijs Pepping is trend analyst and author of the book Real/fake. Apart from the successes, he also sees dangers in the popularity of non-existent figures. “It’s a sliding scale. With Hatsune Miku it is very clear that the character is fake, but those differences are becoming smaller and smaller. You now also have influencers who have online messages answered by a chatbot. Followers then think they are talking to their idol, when that is not the case.”
Pepping says that people who enter into a relationship with a computer person have a one-sided relationship. “The computer program cannot meet the expectations that we as people have in a relationship. This can have major mental consequences for people.”
Collaboration with Lady Gaga
Hatsune Miku’s successes resulted in collaborations with major fashion companies and artists. For example, she has been the support act for Lady Gaga and collaborated with the fashion brand Louis Vuitton.
Tonight, visitors in Amsterdam will look together at a screen showing Hatsune Miku, but not everything is virtual. The band does consist of real people. The tickets are just as expensive as those for concerts with artists who actually exist. The hologram phenomenon can also be seen in Europe after tonight in Berlin and Düsseldorf.
The Holographic Phantom: Hatsune Miku Takes the Stage
Ah, the magical world of holograms—where the line between reality and fiction blurs, much like my attempts to make social interactions less awkward! Enter Hatsune Miku, the Japanese pop star who isn’t merely a product of a tech glitch but a phenomenon that has captured hearts (and wallets) worldwide. Performing tonight in Amsterdam, this virtual sensation promises a show that’s quite literally non-stop, because—you guessed it—she doesn’t need to sleep!
For those unfamiliar, Hatsune Miku is not your run-of-the-mill pop star; she emerged onto the scene in 2007 as a software tool for would-be music creators. You feed her text, and she spits out a melody with all the charm of a teenager who just discovered auto-tune. Let’s be honest, she’s like the 21st-century version of a karaoke machine, but with impeccable graphic design—a bit like Bumble when it’s been given a stylish makeover.
A Unique Charm
Despite the clear observation that she is a digital doodle—the virtual 16-year-old in her school uniform—audiences flip their wigs when she appears. Some might say, “Isn’t this a bit odd?” but one insightful fan, Rin Boutestein, quips that “it feels like you’re watching a real person during a performance.” I guess that’s what you call the magic of animation—or possibly a minor concussion.
Hatsune Miku’s performances are like a massive anime party, where attendees don their best cosplay outfits and journey into a land where cartoon characters reign supreme. This isn’t just a concert; it’s an entire community, a bizarrely happy congregation of fans, bonding over their shared love of a holographic teenager who sings about emotions most of us have never felt. What a weirdly relatable experience!
The Digital Divide
Of course, such fandom has its pros and cons. Thijs Pepping, an astute trend analyst, points out that while Miku is clearly a synthetic superstar, the lines between reality and illusion are increasingly nebulous. Chatbots interacting with fans, influencers pretending they care about your latest brunch photo—it’s like the romantic comedy no one asked for, and yet here we are! You’re not dating your idol, people; you’re chatting with a glorified algorithm. Good luck with that long-term!
Fame & Fortune: The Virtual Collaboration
A shining example of Miku’s digital prowess? Her collaboration with real-life icons such as Lady Gaga and fashion powerhouses like Louis Vuitton. Apparently, virtual or not, she can still command quite the presence—and ticket sales comparable to flesh-and-blood entertainers! If only we could all sidestep reality’s responsibilities through CGI glitz and glamorous holograms, right?
The Future Awaits
So, as Amsterdam gathers to gaze at a screen featuring the electrifying Hatsune Miku—who, let’s hypothetically assume, does not have any backstage requests other than more pixels—one thing is crystal clear: her story is a sign of the times. A minds-melding blend of humanity and technology, pointing us toward a future where relationships, fandom, and identity might just get stranger! But until the robots start making hit singles about heartbreak, we can rest easy that Hatsune Miku is serving as our holographic distraction from an otherwise mundane existence.
Who knew a holographic concert could turn into a deeper commentary on our connections to both music and each other? Cheers to the digital age, where, apparently, one doesn’t need a physical form to steal the spotlight!
Tonight, the iconic Japanese hologram sensation Hatsune Miku will mesmerize audiences in Amsterdam, performing in an almost sold-out venue. Dubbed “the voice of the future,” this virtual pop star tantalizes fans with her ethereal presence, despite being a digital creation.
Crowning her 10-year journey since debuting on the music scene, Hatsune Miku has evolved from a simple software voice, first introduced by Crypton Future Media in 2007, into a global phenomenon, amassing a staggering repertoire of about 200,000 songs created by artists who harness her software to compose music.
The unique allure of Hatsune Miku lies not only in her futuristic image—depicted as a 16-year-old girl in a charming school uniform—but also in her vivid holographic performances, which began in 2014. Fans were introduced to her captivating stage presence during her previous tour in the Netherlands in 2020.
Rin Boutestein, a devoted Hatsune Miku enthusiast who attended one of her performances in the Netherlands, finds the concept both fascinating and bizarre. She notes that “Even though Hatsune Miku isn’t a real person, it feels like you’re watching a real person during a performance.” This immersive experience transpires largely due to the visual and auditory effects that bring her to life on stage.
The hologram phenomenon draws anime and manga fans, who love to dress up in elaborate costumes to celebrate their favorite characters, with many attendees tonight likely adorned in fabulous cosplay outfits. This vibrant community has embraced Hatsune Miku as a crucial part of contemporary Japanese pop culture.
Mariëlle Salh, a volunteer at an anime festival in the Netherlands, speaks to the deep connections fans foster with Miku. She explains, “Because people can make music with her voice, fans feel extra connected. That creates a close-knit community.” Miku’s empowering presence encourages a sense of belonging among her supporters.
Trend analyst Thijs Pepping, who authored the book Real/fake, highlights a growing concern regarding the rise of virtual influencers. He warns, “It’s a sliding scale. With Hatsune Miku it is very clear that the character is fake, but those differences are becoming smaller and smaller.” This ambiguity raises questions about the authenticity of relationships formed with non-existent figures.
Final thoughts from Pepping urge awareness of the potential dangers in bonding with computer-generated personalities, stating, “The computer program cannot meet the expectations that we as people have in a relationship. This can have major mental consequences for people.” The stakes of interaction in the digital realm resonate deeply in today’s society.
In her ascent to stardom, Hatsune Miku has partnered with renowned artists and fashion labels, including a notable collaboration as a support act for Lady Gaga and a creative alliance with luxury brand Louis Vuitton. These ventures exemplify her cultural significance and influence in both the music and fashion industries.
As night falls in Amsterdam, fans will gather to witness the enthralling spectacle of Hatsune Miku on screen—not entirely virtual, as a live band of real musicians accompanies her. Ticket prices mirror those of live performances by traditional artists, reinforcing the legitimacy of this holographic experience, which will next enchant audiences in Berlin and Düsseldorf.