An alternative idol (also known as an alt-idol or anti-idol) is a term used by overseas

J-pop J-pop (often stylized in all caps; an abbreviated form of "Japanese popular music"), natively known simply as , is the name for a form of popular music that entered the musical mainstream of Japan in the 1990s. Modern J-pop has its roots in trad ...

fans to describe idols that differ from the traditional

Japanese idol An is a type of entertainer marketed for image, attractiveness, and personality in Japanese popular culture, Japanese pop culture. Idols are primarily singers with training in other performance skills such as acting, dancing, and modeling. Idol ...

scene typically by having a darker image and performing heavier genres of music. Alternative idols came about in the early 2010s after the formation of Bis popularized mixing

alternative rock Alternative rock (also known as alternative music, alt-rock or simply alternative) is a category of rock music that evolved from the independent music underground of the 1970s. Alternative rock acts achieved mainstream success in the 1990s w ...

with typical idol pop music.

History

2010s–2020s: Origin of alternative idols and rising popularity

Japanese girl group Bis were the first major alternative idols to debut in Japan. Created by

Pour Lui is a Japanese singer known for her work as the founder and leader of the alternative idol group Bis. Pour Lui started her career in November 2009 as a solo singer, being promoted as a "new age rock icon". She released her debut album, ''The W ...

and managed by Junnosuke Watanabe under Tsubasa Records, Bis introduced an image much darker than that of the traditional J-pop idol, initially seen as controversial they soon became known as the pioneers of the alt-idol scene. Seiko Oomori, who debuted in 2012 and has a musical style influenced by idol culture and

punk rock Punk rock (also known as simply punk) is a rock music genre that emerged in the mid-1970s. Rooted in 1950s rock and roll and 1960s garage rock, punk bands rejected the corporate nature of mainstream 1970s rock music. They typically produced sh ...

, is also considered a pioneer of the scene. Known for utilizing

shock value Shock value (or shock factor) is the potential of an image, text, action, or other form of communication, such as a public execution, to provoke a reaction of sharp disgust, shock, anger, fear, or similar negative emotions. In advertising Sho ...

early in her career and touching on hard-hitting subjects in her lyrics Oomori's music has an appeal different from the music of mainstream idols. This style of music led by the likes of Bis and Oomori gave way to the more popular genre of

Kawaii metal Kawaii metal (also known as cute metal, J-pop metal, or kawaiicore) is a musical genre that blends elements of heavy metal and J-pop that was pioneered in Japan in the early 2010s. The genre combines both Eastern and Western influences that appe ...

and began a surge in popularity for the sub-culture of alternative idols. In 2014, after the disbandment of the first generation of Bis and the formation of Pla2me, former Bis manager Watanabe established WACK, a music production company specialising in alternative idols. To date, they have debuted a second and third generation of Bis, re-debuted Pla2me as

Gang Parade , stylized as GANG PARADE (formerly known as Pla2me (プラニメ) and POP (ピオピ)) is a Japanese alternative idol girl group formed in 2014. In 2020, Gang Parade split into two groups: Go to the Beds and Paradises. They resumed activities i ...

, which had previously split into

Go to the Beds Go to the Beds, stylized as GO TO THE BEDS was a Japanese alternative idol girl group formed in 2020 after the split of Gang Parade. The group ceased activities as Go to the Beds and resumed activities as Gang Parade at the beginning of 2022. Hi ...

and

Paradises Paradises, stylized as PARADISES was a Japanese alternative idol girl group A girl group is a music act featuring two or more women in music, female singers who generally vocal harmony, harmonize together. The term "girl group" is also used i ...

, formed

Bish Bish, stylized as BiSH, was a Japanese alternative idol girl group who was founded in 2015 by their manager Junnosuke Watanabe. The group was conceived as a successor to Bis, an idol group managed by Watanabe that disbanded in 2014. They dis ...

who disbanded at the end of 2023,

Empire An empire is a political unit made up of several territories, military outpost (military), outposts, and peoples, "usually created by conquest, and divided between a hegemony, dominant center and subordinate peripheries". The center of the ...

(now ExWhyZ), Mameshiba no Taigun, ASP, and the now disbanded Carry Loose. WACK's most successful group, Bish, the successor of the first generation of Bis, achieved two number one singles with "

Paint It Black "Paint It Black" is a song by the English rock band the Rolling Stones. A product of the songwriting partnership of Mick Jagger and Keith Richards, it is a raga rock song with Indian, Middle Eastern and Eastern European influences and lyrics ...

" and " Bye-Bye Show", and two number one studio albums with '' Letters'' and '' Going to Destruction''.

Characteristics

Generally alternative idols distance themselves from mainstream J-pop by venturing into heavier genres of music and making use of a darker and more unconventional onstage image to garner more attention. Alternative idols often venture into genres other than pop and

alternative Alternative or alternate may refer to: Arts, entertainment and media * Alternative (Kamen Rider), Alternative (''Kamen Rider''), a character in the Japanese TV series ''Kamen Rider Ryuki'' * Alternative comics, or independent comics are an altern ...

, such as

rock Rock most often refers to: * Rock (geology), a naturally occurring solid aggregate of minerals or mineraloids * Rock music, a genre of popular music Rock or Rocks may also refer to: Places United Kingdom * Rock, Caerphilly, a location in Wale ...

, heavy metal, EDM and new wave.

Notable artists

* ASP * Billie Idle * Bis *

* Carry Loose *

CY8ER CY8ER (pronounced as "cyber") was a Japanese alternative idol girl group. Formed by Ichigo Rinahamu and Nicamoq as BPM15Q in 2015, the group expanded and had five members by the time of their dissolution in January 2021. Their music was chara ...

* ExWhyZ *

* HO6LA * Inuwasi * Maison Book Girl * Mameshiba no Taigun * Migma Shelter * Necronomidol * Neo Japonism *

* Phantom Siita * Piggs * Seiko Oomori * Sora tob sakana * Uijin * You'll Melt More! * Zenbu Kimi no Sei da. * ZOC

References

{{Music of Japan J-pop Japanese idols Japanese popular culture 2010s in Japanese music 2020s in Japanese music 2010s in music 2020s in music

History

2010s–2020s: Origin of alternative idols and rising popularity

Characteristics

Notable artists

See also

References