This image. My last year of high school during the summer, this image was posted in a forum thread to the question of which artists are the greatest stage performers. No replies, no acknowledgement. I haven't really been enthralled or curious to the level of seeing this kind of thing. I had to check it out. Going back and rewatching her last performances again made me want to share it a bit. Still to this day, I've never seen or heard the kind of energy Goto radiates. Here's a short post about my eternal love and appreciation for Gotou-san and Midori.
Before Midori, there was Usagi. A hard rock take on the scene with ghostly tingling vocals with overdriven guitars that dance around the 2 vocalists Yuko Matsumoto and Goto.
After leaving Usagi, Goto and Usagi's former bassist formed a 4-piece band from Osaka with Goto on lead vocals. There's little like them (385 is one). A jazzy noise punk fusion band where you're barraged with abrasive and passionate sonics. Pitter-pattering of piano keys, boomy cello that rings with every pluck, percussion that always follows behind the piano carefully until it all explodes. Gotou-san's live performances are always absolutely insane and tear-jerking. The band disbanded after 7 years in 2010, giving fans Midori's last performance at the iconic Liquid Room in Shibuya.
Gotou-san still releases solo music to this day (2023) from "299792458" in 2012 to "Love from Gainsbourg". Some of my favorite songs reside in her solo albums. Give some of these a listen if you're into Japanese noise rock/pop. Here's her official site https://www.510yavai.com if you're interested in checking it out or supporting it.