Tawain's Typhoon vs Japan's Gackt: Vanilla or not?

I know there is an online debate about this new Taiwanese band. For those who wants to about the group Typhoon, here is the picture of them taken from here. As the picture shows, the band has 3 members called Toro, Darren and Xiao-Zhu. I can only identify Toro (middle) for you because he used to be in another Taiwanese band called Energy. The website from which the picture was snitched, vaguely mentions about Toro's background and his ideals for this band. The only significant line to note would be:

台风”标榜自己走的是华丽摇滚，有人说他们像日本视觉系艺人，但孙德荣对“视觉系”这顶帽子相当排斥，孙总说：“Toro 、Darren、小村都是美型男，他们五官都长得很好，绝非视觉系。”

The passage translate to say that many people think they are imitating visual artiste hailing from Japan. However, the group's manager says that the band hate to be classified or liken to Japanese visual artistes. He adds that the 3 are all pretty boys and have good facial features, so they are unlike visual bands. This quote above is incomplete from the actual interview actually, because according to the Singapore newspapers the manager further said that unlike visual bands who smeared their faces with makeup, this group does not have to because they have nothing to hide. He further insinuated that he thought it ridiculous that males have to wear makeup and these boys have the clean look that many girls like.

Of course, if you note, I think they are all wearing like makeup. Esp Toro with his eyeliner.
In addition, isnt it ironic that while they try to shun away from the label or association with Japanese groups, Toro is packaged to look like Gackt, The fellow on the left to look like Hide and the one on the right to look like You? No? Please refer to the website given above to see the other 2 more pictures. You would also note that they package themselves to look like GacktJob in a way with their dressing(swords?), poses.

But the controversy would be about the song 狂愛戰隊 which translate into Crazy Love Brigade.

Many have pointed out that this song sounds like Gackt's Vanilla. The LJ discussion can be found here. Provided by ruji, the link when opened in IE will give you the preview of the whole song in question. The singing isnt any good but if you must, listen to find the similarities in tune.

The important question whether the band has rights to the song Vanilla and are only doing a cover of it, is answered in these 2 websites:
1) http://gb.udn.com/gb/stars.udn.com/star/StarsContent/Content6902/
2) http://www.libertytimes.com.tw/2005/new/dec/23/today-show2.htm

From the first site, the important line is "TORO表示歌曲是他自己创作的，并没有任何抄袭 "
It translate to say that the lead Toro asserting that HE wrote the song himself and there is NO copying.

The second site's important line is "這兩首歌的原曲大不相同，會被大家誤會，只是因為編曲上有日本味道及某些音樂因素是相同的而已。" where Toro says that the 2 songs are different in tune and the only reason people get confuse is because the tune sounds like Japanese pop.


In case, you wanted more information on the song, here is a site that gives you the lyrics and people involved in the producing. By the way, the lyrics in Chinese is bad. I mean the Chinese used is bad, the imagery from the words is horrible. The lyrics translated:



OS: Wait lead broadcaster, it should be my turn! Yes.. this station's news time. First we bring you this emergency warning: The local seaside region has been invaded by unidentified object. It is coming towards the city and it might be a monster which has great damaging powers.
The world is already on high alert, and we have already sent out the strongest team: Typhoon.
Citizens please stay home behind closed doors and windows. There is nothing to worry. Dont go out and leave everything to us newscasters.

How can I ever see you leave again?
Let the proud bright colors of your armour fade with its energy
The birds' curses of "Wah wah wah" are making my body gear up
Dear little princess of the rainbow, actually you are my life

The black pressuring clouds cover all our roofs
The evil rider of folk-lore obstructs my path
You are entangled with crystal tears as you skim pass the black forest
Giving me a heart filled with pure love, which provides me with super powers

Oh baby oh baby, no matter how hard and difficult the road before me lies, God give me strength.
Oh baby oh baby, no matter how hard and difficult, God "powerを貸してください " (dunno what is this)

Dont say goodbye my love. Use both hands to change our future
Goodbye my love, I will make your wait worthy with our fighting
Goodbye my love, use both hands to change our future.
Goodbye my love, please dont wipe out my existence with bright red lipstick.

A glass of red wine feeds their ambition
You must never second-guess and be angry becauseI will come to save you
gathering all my strength to overcome all obstacles
a celebration is waiting for us.

OS: Yes! Latest news for you!
After a day of grueling battle, our team Typhoon has fulfilled all the people's expectations and are back victorious!
The world has recovered its peace. AS they say, the good beget good (from karma), the bad begets bad, it is all a matter of time...



Like how bad are the lyrics?
But go decide by yourselves whether this is a rip-off of Gackt's Vanilla.