Protomen - the Comm ~ View topic

Joined: 02 Dec 2008 Posts: 2195 Location: The City

As the title states. What about the Protomen makes you hold them dear to your heart? What about them is so magical for you?

As for myself, I can say without a doubt that the Protomen truly changed my life. They awakened my ears to music in a way I wouldn't have dreamed of, and thanks to them my musical tastes have broadened considerably. I find myself actually listening to the music my parents listen to, and some of it's pretty good Smile

They also motivated me to make changes in my own life rather than watching it pass me and letting others run it for me. They also got me rereading 1984 again, and alerted me to 1984-ish stuff in the world today.

Plus they made and awesome robot rock opera based on a game series I liked before, but never really played until I got into the Protomen. Now I beat Megamans 1-9, am working on the X and ZX series, and beat some of the Battle Network games, too.

Thanks, Protomen! You changed my life! ^_^

Joined: 07 Mar 2009 Posts: 59 Location: Nash Vegas?

I don't know that I consider them 'magical' per se, but I do know that they're music kicks ass and makes me dance and sing really loud when I'm drunk at their shows. They're really fun live and that means a lot to me especially with all the shitty bands out there who just stand still and play like they're practicing in a garage and don't care what people think. So the fact that they care and put so much energy into creating and playing is probably what makes me like them. It makes them memorable.

Oh and they cover Kenny Loggins. If they were to become a K Log cover band, then I might call them magical. And if they cover Tina Turner. You know what song I'm talking about.

Joined: 09 Apr 2007 Posts: 214

I believe in music as a storytelling medium, plain and simple.

Movies can rely too much on visuals and sideline character and plot for shots that look cool in trailers, and books lack a certain level of participation, but music allows you to set a mood, tell about a story and its characters, imply visuals, etc., all without overloading the audience.

Particularly with The Protomen, the level of enjoyment you get out of listening depends on the level you invest yourself in their world. On the surface it's solid music in a relatively unexplored genre, but if you dig deeper and take the time to learn about the members, the mission, and everything they've presented, you get much more out of it than 35 minutes of distortion and midi-influenced drumming.

Joined: 04 Feb 2009 Posts: 362 Location: Maine

I love them because it is impossible to watch them without realizing that they pour everything they have into their story, even though a rock opera about Megaman might seem like a silly thing.

Because there story shows the ugly side of humanity, makes no attempt to shield the listener from the fact that mankind is a race of cowards who would rather live comfortably than courageously but at the same time reminds that the one indescribably beautiful thing about humanity is their ability to hope. And with this hope we can change, we can prove to ourselves that bravery and integrity are not just concepts we created in order to give stories happy endings but things that are entirely within our grasp so long as we have the fortitude to pursue them.

I love The Protomen because they inspire me.

Joined: 10 May 2007 Posts: 474

It started as a love for a band that did original songs about Megaman, because Megaman is very dear to me. Then as the album sunk in more, as a read and reread the lyrics and actions, the sheer power of the story began to take hold. The meanings behind the actions, the tie-ins to real-life events, the amazing quality of the music itself, all of it made itself clear. I was already tired of the current run of music in the recent years, mostly listening to the songs of old, and The Protomen were a breath of fresh air.

In the last half of my senior year of high-school, I became a full on soldier. Wearing the Protomen messenger bag everywhere I went, trying to get people to listen to the album, trying to explain the deeper meanings. After my time as a Proto-missionary, I did some self examining of my actions. Why AM I so enthusiastic about this? Why do I feel the need to go and spread the word, other than the reason being "Its fucking awesome"? I proposed a social experiment.

I asked 20 people around the school of varying social cliques what their favorite bands were. I was greeted with the expected various answers, GWAR, Slipknot, Bullet for my Valentine, Gwen Stefani, 50 cent, Dir En Gray, and so on. The next part of the experiment was the crucial part. I asked them what made that band their favorite. I was startled, as all 20 people gave me a response along the lines of "I dont know, Other people like it, so it must be good."

That was when it clicked. These people are sheep, Just like the people under Wilys rule. They have no reason for liking anything other than the social kickbacks of it. Not only that, but they were so bland about it. No thought in their answers, no shine in their eyes when they talked about their favorite, just a lifeless shrug as they lazily said "I dunno...". There was no passion, and if they could not find any emotion in music, then what is left to feel?

Seeing the energy and passion The Protomen put into thier songs and music is astounding, something people should try to attain for themselves. Not something to keep from being idle, or social status, but something to live for, something that you put your soul into. Doing something for the pure love of doing it. It was clear that most people are lacking that. The Protomen were the ones that made it click in my head, and that, I suppose, Is why I hold them dear.

Joined: 05 Jul 2006 Posts: 653 Location: King George, VA

Joined: 03 Sep 2008 Posts: 76

personally I love the whole intimacy of of being into a relatively obscure band, I got a PM from Heath Who on last.FM once, that was unbelievably awesome.

not that I'm a hipster "popular now it sucks" guy.
hell, I RELISH the growth of the protofandom.
the bigger it gets the more likely it is that they'll be able to tour overseas.
which is the downside of small bands, you have to live near them to witness the fury.

all this is aside from the fact that the music is EVERYTHING modern music is lacking, namely verity and copious amounts of awesome.

also i'm a progfag so i love consept albums.

god, i feel like a fanboy

I randomly showed up to one of their shows once and basically was impregnated with awesome.

9 months later I was reborn or something...

Okay, not really. That was weird.
Uhhh, though I did randomly show up to their show thinking I was going to see a "electronic rock band" of sorts. Luckily for me, they were badass and I remember watching them in awe and I don't think I moved one bit through the show nor did my mouth close. Also, I'm pretty sure I made a huge fool out of myself because I basically couldn't stop talking to the guys about how amazing they were and how that show changed my life and stuff. Oh wait, I do that all the time. </fangirl>

Seeing them definitely changed my life though because later that year I moved over here to the Boro and life has been awesome since. Also the fact that they helped break down my musical barrier between me and more of the nerdy jamz like chiptunes, video game influenced bands, ect. Definitely a good, good thing.

However, the point where my love for them was sealed forever was after they released the MU&VS remixed album.

I remember being so incredibly intoxicated with happiness because two of my favorite things had been combined in one: The Protomen and chiptunes.

Since then me and The Protomen have had a rather healthy relationship and I will follow them to the end of the world... maybe.

Oh, and I agree with the whole story-telling idea as well.
Most bands I get really into tell stories. Crazy ass stories that rock.
Fo'sho.

Joined: 07 Mar 2009 Posts: 59 Location: Nash Vegas?

www.youtube.com/user/karmakimmy7

Why I love the Protomen, is because they are the band that inspires me time, and time again. Sure, I love the Dropkick Murphys, Yes I love my good old Jimi Hendrix, and of course, my Yngie, but I will always love the Protomen.

When I first heard act I, my brain nearly exploded. It was something that I was looking for as a musician. Something New, something out the main stream, something that was not exactly in my comfort zone, but not way out there.

Then when I heard the lyrics I looked around the people that surrounded me and realized, They are sheep. Well Most of them. That they would sell out the person that they considered a friend if the cops came knocking on their door. They would be the ones who said, we are the dead.

But I also realized the hope, of Protoman's dying words. "If these people, tell this story, to their children, as they sleep, maybe someday, they'll see a hero, is just a man, who knows he's free." I feel so pumped at that line. That Humanity has hope of freeing themselves of their self-imposed shackles.

Joined: 24 Jul 2006 Posts: 113

i only like it cus they talk about megaman in some of their songs and he's cool

Joined: 13 Jun 2008 Posts: 1364

everyone has pretty much said everything there is to be said. The protomen's music is more than just a series of notes with some catchy lyrics, theres more substance in those 30ish minutes than in 90% of the acts these days. their music has pulled me back from some of the darkest places i've ever been. they're one of my only true escapes.

I started listening to them at a really bad time in my life. i was in my second apartment with the worlds worst room mate, and i wasn't taking very good care of myself. i was getting caught up in a lot of shit that i didn't want to have any part in, but did. i hated myself, hated what i was doing, but the one thing that made me feel happy was the protomen. the music, the mythos, the message, the fans; it was all so surreal. i never remembered feeling that in touch with any music before. It was the first time since i was a kid where i could put one album on repeat and enjoy it the same amount every time. i was floored by the way they were able to make their lyrics mean so much, and fit so well with every other aspect of their world. i had never been a huge music junkie, i was in choir and musicals and stuff in high school, but never had i had such a love for any song(S). they made me happy, they gave me hope, and made me believe in the power of thought again. They really pulled me back from the edge. and when said roommate was arrested and got us evicted i packed up my shit, carefully took down my three signed proto-posters, popped act 1 on my cheap ass sansa mp3 player, and never looked back.

they inspire the hell out of me, they make me laugh, they make me cry, they make me want to get up in the morning and go to sleep at night. but most of all they reminded me who i was. i owe my life to these guys.

/fanboy for life (and /progfag. Caress of Steel FTW!)