歌ってみた

What is 歌ってみた?

歌ってみた (utatte mita) literally means "I tried singing [it]" and refers to a genre of user-generated cover videos. The format originated on Niconico Douga around 2007 and has since spread to YouTube and other platforms.

Grammar Breakdown

The phrase uses the て-form + みる grammar pattern:

• 歌って (utatte) - te-form of 歌う (to sing)
• みた (mita) - past tense of みる (to try doing)

This pattern means "tried doing ~" and is commonly used to describe attempting something.

Cultural Impact

歌ってみた has launched many successful music careers in Japan. Artists like まふまふ (Mafumafu), そらる (Soraru), and 天月 (Amatsuki) started by posting covers on Niconico before becoming professional musicians.

Related Formats

The "〜てみた" format has spawned many variations:

• 踊ってみた (odotte mita) - "tried dancing" dance cover videos
• 弾いてみた (hiite mita) - "tried playing" instrument cover videos
• 描いてみた (kaite mita) - "tried drawing" art timelapse videos
• 作ってみた (tsukutte mita) - "tried making" DIY/craft videos

Where to Find

• Niconico - The original platform
• YouTube - Search for "歌ってみた" or "utaite"