The World of Virtual Singer Hatsune Miku

The existence of "Hatsune Miku" cannot be ruled out when talking about social phenomena that represent the end of 2000 to the beginning of 2010. I was completely addicted to listening to her from junior high school to high school. I remember that the "Nico Nico Douga" at that time had its own page, and it was a time when I continued to enjoy new rankings and new songs.

Some people, like me, listened to many VOCALOID songs, as well as secondary creations (sung and played) and tertiary creations (sung in English, MMD). I think there are many people who have heard the main song. I think that the existence of such a wide range of arrangements may have led to the VOCALOID category and the eventual VOCALOID movement. This time, I would like to go back a little and look at the songs from "Hatsune Miku", and try to unravel the changes of each era.

◇ About Hatsune Miku songs
As can be said for VOCALOID as a whole, the songs and images of "Hatsune Miku" songs have changed over time. It is very interesting to dig back from the point of view of the song, and it is one of my favorite points because it is also a feature of VOCALOID songs. Since I have summarized the generations and the characteristics of the movement, please apply it to the age you were listening to the music and read it! For the sake of my personal research, there are many songs that are from this area, but please take a look at the overall flow. In addition, some songs other than "Hatsune Miku" will also be introduced.
*Most of the release dates in parentheses are the dates the songs were uploaded to "Nico Nico Douga".

▷ 2007～ Music mainly based on the character “Hatsune Miku”. Music like a character song

August 31, 2007 "VOCALOID2 Hatsune Miku" released

CRYPTON / CV01

TThere was a lot of experimental music, and people were still using Hatsune Miku as a "tool". Also, there was more techno-pop than rock, and it seems that many of the users were recording at home.

Mainly from [Hatsune Miku] to [VOCALOID users]

Reference song
Otomania / 『VOCALOID2 初音ミクに「Ievan Polkka」歌わせてみた』 (2007年9月4日) ※1
OSTER project / 恋するVOC@LOID (2007年9月13日)
ika_mo / みくみくにしてあげる♪【してやんよ】 (2007年9月20日)
https://www.nicovideo.jp/watch/sm1097445

▷ Late 2007～ Using “Hatsune Miku” as an idol, the role of “Vocalo P” is born

Hatsune Miku herself is the main character, but not the main intention of users who purchased it, and at this time we were beginning to see a new aspect – the "vocalo song". It may be considered as the birth of the culture of the so-called Vocalo P (VOCALOID producer).

Mainly from [Hatsune Miku] to [Audience]

Reference song
supercell / メルト (2007年12月7日)
cosMo@暴走P / 初音ミクの消失 (2008年4月8日)
halyosy / Fire◎Flower (2008年8月2日)　※CRYPTON / Kagamine Ren
https://www.nicovideo.jp/watch/sm1715919

▷ 2009～ An expression of "the composer's own view of the world" using "Hatsune Miku". From idol to singer

2April 30, 2010 Released "MIKU APPEND"

CRYPTON / 33030

The number of songs from later voice libraries including "samfree / Luca Luca★Night Fever (February 12, 2009)" and "Dixie Flatline / Just Be Friends (July 4, 2009)" increased at this time. The impression was that there were many songs (like indie bands) that convey what the composer wanted to convey rather than expressing the character of Hatsune Miku.

From the perspective of the composer or story to the audience or the parties involved in the story

Reference song
ハチ / お姫様は電子音で眠る (2009年5月20日)
wowaka / 裏表ラバーズ (2009年8月30日)
ジミーサムP / Calc. (2010年9月9日)
https://www.nicovideo.jp/watch/sm8082467

▷ 2011～ A song with "Hatsune Miku" as the mediator of the story. Closer to a storyteller than a singer

Personally, I feel this was the peak of VOCALOID. "164 /Ten no Jaku(May 28, 2011) " and INTERNET / Megpoid (commonly known as GUMI) songs were coming out. These feature well-known singers who want to make their appeal through the song. It may be that the development and spread of the Internet made it possible to do this easily. The spread of the Internet can be seen from the fact that the number of unique Google users exceeded 1 billion in May 2011.

The line of sight of the music is mainly from [speaker (Hatsune Miku) and characters] to [listener or story character]

Reference song
ピノキオP / 腐れ外道とチョコレゐト (2011年1月10日)
黒うさP / 千本桜 (2011年9月17日)
じん / カゲロウデイズ (2011年9月30日)
https://www.nicovideo.jp/watch/sm15630734

▷ Late 2011～ The movement is back around 2009. Returning to being a singer again, there are also many songs with the role of storytellers

Once again the virtual singer aspect is highlighted. Simple, cool songs are more popular than the so-called "nerdy temperament" songs. In the ranking of the number of plays, songs using “INTERNET / Megpoid" and “1st PLACE / IA” were dominant.

The line of sight of the music is mainly from [speaker (Hatsune Miku) and characters] to [listener or story character]

Reference song
kz / Tell Your World (2011年12月16日) ※2
40mP / サリシノハラ (2012年10月4日)
れるりり / 脳漿炸裂ガール (2012年10月19日) ※Megpoid(GUMI)とのデュエット
https://www.nicovideo.jp/watch/sm19133907

▷ Mid 2013～ Increased exposure to the media, active beyond the Internet. The role of the singer became stronger

September 26, 2013 "Hatsune Miku V3" released

CRYPTON / MIKUV3B

Many users liked the VOCALOID2 sound even when V3 was released at the time, and some contributors even dared to divide song titles into “VOCALOID2” and “VOCALOID3”. The “Hatsune Miku” boom is at its peak in the main culture, including the concert “Magical Mirai” and the “Wagakki Band” version “Senbonzakura”. However, the latest songs were not as popular and I get the impression that the songs from 2010 to 2012 were featured. In fact, songs like idol pop from 2007 was what was being talked about at “Nico Nico Douga” and was also favored, coupled with techno pop and idol boom.

The line of sight of music is mainly from [Hatsune Miku or composer] to [parties, characters in the song, viewers]

Reference song
Mitchie M / ビバハピ (2013年7月16日)
40mP / 恋愛裁判 (2014年6月10日)
ナユタン星人 / アンドロメダアンドロメダ (2015年7月1日)
https://www.nicovideo.jp/watch/sm21443197

▷ 2016～ The former VOCALOID composer returns. Conflict with the new one million posters

August 31, 2016 "Hatsune Miku V4X" released

CRYPTON / MIKUV4X

Sharuru / Baloon (October 12, 2016) ※the era of diversification by other VOCALOID4 library music vflower and so on. Although the songs haven't changed much since 2013, the impression that J-rock music was simple and cool again was featured after the boom and come-back around 2011.

The line of sight of music is mainly from [Composer or overhead] to [Audience]

Reference song
DECO*27 / ゴーストルール (2016年1月8日)
ナユタン星人 / エイリアンエイリアン (2016年4月5日)
押入れP / 脱法ロック (2016年6月19日) ※鏡音レン
ハチ / 砂の惑星 (2017年7月21日)
wowaka / アンノウン・マザーグース (2017年8月22日)
https://www.nicovideo.jp/watch/sm31606995

▷ 2018～ A new direction that integrates fashion genres. The number of songs that singers can sing rather than narratives

I think at this time, punk rock, which seem to be “vocalo songa” are beginning to be replaced by EDM and post rock. As a new direction, the 2009 movement that used VOCALOID as one instrument rather than VOCALOID music seemed to be continuing.

The line of sight of the song is mainly from [composer or bird's eye view] to [viewer or story character]

Reference song
みきとP / ロキ (2018年2月27日) ※鏡音リン
八王子P×Giga / Gimme×Gimme (2019年10月26日) ※鏡音リンとのデュエット
かいりきベア / ルマ (2019年11月23日)
https://www.nicovideo.jp/watch/sm35866152

※1 Finnish folk song cover
※2 CM tie-up song by Google. The release date was based on the CM distribution start date.

In this way, many songs that were symbols of the “Hatsune Miku” subculture of the time, had been sublimated into one virtual singer, "Hatsune Miku". This can be said to have been an achievement created on the foundation of Internet culture as a precursor to Vtubers and video posting sites that have become popular in recent years.

And, "Hatsune Miku" has evolved again and will lead the times.

○ Hatune Miku NT

CRYPTON / MIKU NT / BOX

A new era Hatsune Miku　was released on November 27, 2020. This time, Hatsune Miku does not actually use VOCALOID, but uses a new vocal engine made by CRYPTON to synthesize the voice. The voice quality is not much different from earlier versions, but the expressiveness has improved. When I listened to the demo song, I felt it was close to the voice of Hatsune Miku of VOCALOID2, and it is still exciting. Depending on the tone, it may be possible to achieve a singing style that is very close to humans. The editor uses the dedicated "Piapro Studio NT" (VST, AU, standalone). It's a familiar editor for Hatsune Miku V3 and V4X users. Unlike the earlier Piapro Studio, you can directly edit the pitch curve on the piano roll and adjust the length of consonants and the speed of pronunciation. I am looking forward to seeing what kind of music will be released in the future!

DEMO Movie

○ Hatsune Miku V4X

Everyone knows VOCALOID "Hatsune Miku". With the included Piapro Studio and Studio One 5 Artist, you can make your debut on the same day it arrives at your home! Sound House is also releasing contents for beginner Vocalo P’s as well. Please also check this out!

→ https://www.soundhouse.co.jp/material/vocaloid/

CRYPTON / MIKUV4XB

This bundle is a 5th voice library installed in Hatsune Miku V4X, as well as English voices added. If you want to speak fluent English like Gimme x Gimme, this is for you!

Did any of the songs I introduced today bring back memories? Would you like to take this opportunity to make your Vocaloid P debut? In addition to Hatsune Miku, we have many VOCALOID voice libraries. Please choose your favorite singer and create a song that will leave a mark on the history of future Vocaloid songs!

→ DTM・DAW SOFTWARE / VOCALOID

See ya！