BABYMETAL Makes Their U.S. Television Debut
April 6, 2016 1:32 AM Subscribe
Babymetal (previously) have released their second album (Metal Resistance) on april first (dubbed Fox Day). To promote the release they appeared on the Late Show with Stephen Colbert yesterday.
Bonus link: music video of the first single of the album: Karate.
Bonus link: music video of the first single of the album: Karate.
I think their second album is great! It has a lot of different styles, so my favourite song changes all the time.
posted by Pendragon at 2:25 AM on April 6, 2016
posted by Pendragon at 2:25 AM on April 6, 2016
My Dad once asked me if he should go see Babymetal.
I thought about how he used to play Black Sabbath really loudly to wake us up in the morning. How he'd watch Iron Chef on Channel 18 from time to time. How he got hooked on Pokemon because it was on in the mornings when he got in from work. How he used to take me to Primus shows and Siouxsie & The Banshees shows and Nine Inch Nails shows and Oingo Boingo shows and Lollapalooza not just because I wanted to see them but because he really wanted to see them.
I told him "You really really want to see Babymetal."
I don't know if he's gone yet, but I think I found him his new favourite band.
posted by Katemonkey at 2:40 AM on April 6, 2016 [32 favorites]
I thought about how he used to play Black Sabbath really loudly to wake us up in the morning. How he'd watch Iron Chef on Channel 18 from time to time. How he got hooked on Pokemon because it was on in the mornings when he got in from work. How he used to take me to Primus shows and Siouxsie & The Banshees shows and Nine Inch Nails shows and Oingo Boingo shows and Lollapalooza not just because I wanted to see them but because he really wanted to see them.
I told him "You really really want to see Babymetal."
I don't know if he's gone yet, but I think I found him his new favourite band.
posted by Katemonkey at 2:40 AM on April 6, 2016 [32 favorites]
They need to make a low-budget movie where they investigate a murder in an amusement park.
posted by Ivan Fyodorovich at 2:58 AM on April 6, 2016 [29 favorites]
posted by Ivan Fyodorovich at 2:58 AM on April 6, 2016 [29 favorites]
wut ?
posted by Pendragon at 3:01 AM on April 6, 2016 [2 favorites]
posted by Pendragon at 3:01 AM on April 6, 2016 [2 favorites]
I love some high energy thrash metal but too often I'm repulsed by the lyrics. Can someone that knows a little Japanese reassure me it's okay to love this?
posted by adept256 at 3:08 AM on April 6, 2016
posted by adept256 at 3:08 AM on April 6, 2016
No repulsive lyrics in sight. Link to an unofficial translations blog.
Lyrics for Gimme Chocolate!!:
[[ Give me chocolate! ]]
[[ Give me chocolate! ]]
Atatata taata taatatata zukkyun.
Watatata taata taatatata dokkyun.
Zukyun. Dokyun. Zukyun. Dokyun.
I won't. Won't. Won't. Won't. Never. Never. Never.
Check-it-out chocolate. Can I have a bit of chocolate?
But my weight worries me a bit these days.
However, chocolate. Can I have a bit of chocolate?
But wait a while! Wait a while! Wait! Wait! Wait!
[[ Give me! ]]
[[ Give me chocolate! ]]
Atatata tatata taatatata zukkyun.
Wadadada daada daadadada dokkyun.
Zukyun. Dokyun. Zukyun. Dokyun.
Yet. Yet. Yet. Yet. Never. Never. Never.
Check-it-out chocolate. I can have a bit of chocolate, can't I?
But my weight worries me a bit these days.
However, chocolate. I can have a bit of chocolate, can't I?
But wait a while! Wait a while! Wait! Wait! Wait!
[[ Give me! ]]
Parappappappaa rappappappaa rappappappaapaa papapapaa.
Too, too late. Too, too late. Too, too. Please! Please! Please! Come on!
[[ Give me chocolate! ]]
Atatata tatata taatatata zukkyun.
Wadadada daada daadadada dokkyun.
Zukyun. Dokyun. Zukyun. Dokyun.
I won't. Won't. Won't. Won't. Never. Never. Never.
I did it very very hard. I did my very best.
So, a bit (heart). I ask you just a little bit.
Quickly chocolate. Please give me chocolate quickly!
Pass me chocolate! Chocolate please!
Check-it-out chocolate. I can have a bit of chocolate, can't I?
I think so, don't you? It's so good. I'll be so happy and can work hard.
So, chocolate. I can have a bit of chocolate, can't I?
I think so, don't you? Just a little bit. I'll eat just a little bit of chocolate.
Parappappappaa rappappappaa rappappappaapaa papapapaa.
Too, too late. Too, too late. Too, too. Please! Please! Please! Come on!
Parappappappaa rappappappaa rappappappaapaa papapapaa.
Pappappaa pappappaa pappappaapaa papapapaa.
posted by Pendragon at 3:20 AM on April 6, 2016 [9 favorites]
Lyrics for Gimme Chocolate!!:
[[ Give me chocolate! ]]
[[ Give me chocolate! ]]
Atatata taata taatatata zukkyun.
Watatata taata taatatata dokkyun.
Zukyun. Dokyun. Zukyun. Dokyun.
I won't. Won't. Won't. Won't. Never. Never. Never.
Check-it-out chocolate. Can I have a bit of chocolate?
But my weight worries me a bit these days.
However, chocolate. Can I have a bit of chocolate?
But wait a while! Wait a while! Wait! Wait! Wait!
[[ Give me! ]]
[[ Give me chocolate! ]]
Atatata tatata taatatata zukkyun.
Wadadada daada daadadada dokkyun.
Zukyun. Dokyun. Zukyun. Dokyun.
Yet. Yet. Yet. Yet. Never. Never. Never.
Check-it-out chocolate. I can have a bit of chocolate, can't I?
But my weight worries me a bit these days.
However, chocolate. I can have a bit of chocolate, can't I?
But wait a while! Wait a while! Wait! Wait! Wait!
[[ Give me! ]]
Parappappappaa rappappappaa rappappappaapaa papapapaa.
Too, too late. Too, too late. Too, too. Please! Please! Please! Come on!
[[ Give me chocolate! ]]
Atatata tatata taatatata zukkyun.
Wadadada daada daadadada dokkyun.
Zukyun. Dokyun. Zukyun. Dokyun.
I won't. Won't. Won't. Won't. Never. Never. Never.
I did it very very hard. I did my very best.
So, a bit (heart). I ask you just a little bit.
Quickly chocolate. Please give me chocolate quickly!
Pass me chocolate! Chocolate please!
Check-it-out chocolate. I can have a bit of chocolate, can't I?
I think so, don't you? It's so good. I'll be so happy and can work hard.
So, chocolate. I can have a bit of chocolate, can't I?
I think so, don't you? Just a little bit. I'll eat just a little bit of chocolate.
Parappappappaa rappappappaa rappappappaapaa papapapaa.
Too, too late. Too, too late. Too, too. Please! Please! Please! Come on!
Parappappappaa rappappappaa rappappappaapaa papapapaa.
Pappappaa pappappaa pappappaapaa papapapaa.
posted by Pendragon at 3:20 AM on April 6, 2016 [9 favorites]
I saw BabyMetal at HEAVY MTL a few years ago, and when they hit the stage -- following something like, I don't remember, but fairly "metal metal", there was an awesome wash of confusion through the thousands of people in the crowd, then a small outflux of some metalheads who clearly realized that this was not for them, and then a MASSIVE surge of energy as all the remaining metalheads thought "fuck it" and started to rock the fuck out to BabyMetal.
So it was a couple of thousand people who were all there to see basically Metallica but wound up losing their minds to BabyMetal and three adorable Japanese schoolgirls singing about chocolate and socks and warm summer mornings. It was transcendent.
posted by Shepherd at 3:20 AM on April 6, 2016 [30 favorites]
So it was a couple of thousand people who were all there to see basically Metallica but wound up losing their minds to BabyMetal and three adorable Japanese schoolgirls singing about chocolate and socks and warm summer mornings. It was transcendent.
posted by Shepherd at 3:20 AM on April 6, 2016 [30 favorites]
I told him "You really really want to see Babymetal."
Unless they've upped their act, he'll fall asleep in the middle. They're fun, and some of the hits are energetic enough, but there's a lot of filler, ranging from just "meh" to "now our studio musicians will play a guitar solo".
There's also a major "wait, am I a creep?" factor from watching a couple of 16-year olds in gothic lolita outfits pretend they're half their age :-/
posted by effbot at 3:30 AM on April 6, 2016 [8 favorites]
Unless they've upped their act, he'll fall asleep in the middle. They're fun, and some of the hits are energetic enough, but there's a lot of filler, ranging from just "meh" to "now our studio musicians will play a guitar solo".
There's also a major "wait, am I a creep?" factor from watching a couple of 16-year olds in gothic lolita outfits pretend they're half their age :-/
posted by effbot at 3:30 AM on April 6, 2016 [8 favorites]
Parappappappaa rappappappaa rappappappaapaa papapapaa.
"With this line Babymetal refers to Russian Winnie Pooh, and hinting towards how eating chocolate is, in fact, bourgeois."
...I should annotate their songs on Genius.
posted by bigendian at 4:07 AM on April 6, 2016 [4 favorites]
"With this line Babymetal refers to Russian Winnie Pooh, and hinting towards how eating chocolate is, in fact, bourgeois."
...I should annotate their songs on Genius.
posted by bigendian at 4:07 AM on April 6, 2016 [4 favorites]
I didn't think Gothic Lolita.I thought armor clad schoolgirl crossed with basement ductwork... Which kinda de-accented the schoolgirl outfit aspect enough to enjoy the kabuki masked bedsheets fellows in the back. Totally not kidding - until they sang I didn't realize the group was asian and then I realized their hair was all pretty awesome too.
Maybe I spend too much time in our basement looking at our plumbing...
posted by Nanukthedog at 4:17 AM on April 6, 2016
Maybe I spend too much time in our basement looking at our plumbing...
posted by Nanukthedog at 4:17 AM on April 6, 2016
Unless they've upped their act, he'll fall asleep in the middle. They're fun, and some of the hits are energetic enough, but there's a lot of filler, ranging from just "meh" to "now our studio musicians will play a guitar solo".Bit harsh. Previous to this tour, they had one album, and played it as the whole set list. It was ordered to give some rest time for the girls, and there were only two "solo" sections - one of which was just an extended intro to Catch Me If You Can.
Now though, with two albums, they're a lot less reliant on playing everything to pad out a proper show, and only the extended intro has been kept. But then, most decent bands play some sort of solos/recognition piece for the musicians.
posted by Auz at 4:26 AM on April 6, 2016 [2 favorites]
There's also a major "wait, am I a creep?" factor from watching a couple of 16-year olds in gothic lolita outfits pretend they're half their age :-/
I don't know, maybe that's just you ? Gothic, yes, but lolita ? Come on.
I linked to this before on the blue. No, it's not weird to like Babymetal.
posted by Pendragon at 4:27 AM on April 6, 2016
I don't know, maybe that's just you ? Gothic, yes, but lolita ? Come on.
I linked to this before on the blue. No, it's not weird to like Babymetal.
posted by Pendragon at 4:27 AM on April 6, 2016
Ok, I made it to the bottom of the thread and I have no idea what's going on or whether I'm being trolled. Holy shit, this is what middle age feels like.
posted by nevercalm at 5:15 AM on April 6, 2016 [8 favorites]
posted by nevercalm at 5:15 AM on April 6, 2016 [8 favorites]
Makes me want to dig out some Melt Banana.
So I have.
posted by Devonian at 5:28 AM on April 6, 2016 [9 favorites]
So I have.
posted by Devonian at 5:28 AM on April 6, 2016 [9 favorites]
Never been a metal fan, but I went though a J-Pop phase in college. Listening to Babymetal feels a bit like someone did a mashup of a generic metal song with a J-Pop song. A very good mashup, but a mashup none the less.
It's not bad! I'm probably not going to dive deeper, but I have no regrets about watching. It's just not for me.
Though I have a sudden urge to go digging up my Puffy AmiYumi MP3s again.
posted by SansPoint at 5:38 AM on April 6, 2016 [4 favorites]
It's not bad! I'm probably not going to dive deeper, but I have no regrets about watching. It's just not for me.
Though I have a sudden urge to go digging up my Puffy AmiYumi MP3s again.
posted by SansPoint at 5:38 AM on April 6, 2016 [4 favorites]
Pendragon: "gothic lolita" is a particular fashion/aesthetic thing, not just a weird mash up of phrases effbot invented.
posted by dismas at 5:50 AM on April 6, 2016 [7 favorites]
posted by dismas at 5:50 AM on April 6, 2016 [7 favorites]
Seemed overlong by at least half. I can't imagine an entire album or concert.
posted by You Should See the Other Guy at 5:51 AM on April 6, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by You Should See the Other Guy at 5:51 AM on April 6, 2016 [1 favorite]
also sanspoint i think i have to agree that this sounds like a (pretty good) mashup.
this is not my thing but i'm all in favor of putting weird shit on TV
posted by dismas at 5:52 AM on April 6, 2016 [2 favorites]
this is not my thing but i'm all in favor of putting weird shit on TV
posted by dismas at 5:52 AM on April 6, 2016 [2 favorites]
This is one of those artists that I can't see stretching it out beyond two, maybe three albums before the novelty wears completely thin and/or the participants move on to other things, but they are fucking glorious until that happens.
HEAD-OH-BANG-AHHHHHHHHHH!
posted by delfin at 6:25 AM on April 6, 2016 [1 favorite]
HEAD-OH-BANG-AHHHHHHHHHH!
posted by delfin at 6:25 AM on April 6, 2016 [1 favorite]
So are Babymetal part of the whole Japanese pop idol industry or are they outside of it? How independent are they? That would probably go a long way towards answering any longevity questions.
posted by charred husk at 6:45 AM on April 6, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by charred husk at 6:45 AM on April 6, 2016 [1 favorite]
Wikipedia says they're a spin-off of another idol group so they're probably not independent at all.
I just like having newer music I can listen to together with my kids. Something that doesn't need a radio edit, but is also intense and has decent musicians is perfect. I hope it lasts a while longer.
posted by mattamatic at 6:54 AM on April 6, 2016
I just like having newer music I can listen to together with my kids. Something that doesn't need a radio edit, but is also intense and has decent musicians is perfect. I hope it lasts a while longer.
posted by mattamatic at 6:54 AM on April 6, 2016
Whoa, it's like if Metalocalypse had an opening anime theme.
posted by kittens for breakfast at 7:07 AM on April 6, 2016 [3 favorites]
posted by kittens for breakfast at 7:07 AM on April 6, 2016 [3 favorites]
Too baka for this gaijin. But the rest of you continue to enjoy.
Now where did I put that Jethro Tull album...
posted by Splunge at 7:23 AM on April 6, 2016
Now where did I put that Jethro Tull album...
posted by Splunge at 7:23 AM on April 6, 2016
>I just like having newer music I can listen to together with my kids.
the 16 yr old and I are going to see Tacocat next week (album review here), Santigold next month, and when the college kid comes back, Lucius in June (album review from NPR). Catchy indie feminist singalong anthems, yaass!
posted by PandaMomentum at 7:32 AM on April 6, 2016 [4 favorites]
the 16 yr old and I are going to see Tacocat next week (album review here), Santigold next month, and when the college kid comes back, Lucius in June (album review from NPR). Catchy indie feminist singalong anthems, yaass!
posted by PandaMomentum at 7:32 AM on April 6, 2016 [4 favorites]
BABYMETAL's new album (in addition to the new Tacocat album PandaMomentum mentioned) is my favorite of the year so far and it's not even close. It's so in my wheelhouse it feels like it was engineered in a lab somewhere specifically to appeal to me.
posted by sc114 at 7:43 AM on April 6, 2016 [3 favorites]
posted by sc114 at 7:43 AM on April 6, 2016 [3 favorites]
Since I first saw the Gimmie Chocolate video sometime last year I've been a huge fan. Loved their first album and need to get the second. Everyone that I've talked to who has seen them live has raved about their live show.
Sadly their last show here sold out stupid fast so I have not had a chance to see them yet. I'm glad they are getting more exposure and have been able to do more than a one off novelty album.
posted by MrBobaFett at 8:14 AM on April 6, 2016
Sadly their last show here sold out stupid fast so I have not had a chance to see them yet. I'm glad they are getting more exposure and have been able to do more than a one off novelty album.
posted by MrBobaFett at 8:14 AM on April 6, 2016
I somehow missed the post from a couple years ago. Wow.
I was not really into metal when death metal and nu metal became popular. And J-Pop doesn't always work for me, though sometimes it really does. This is just the best.
How do I get to be the (American?) guy in Ladybaby? Because that's all I really want to do with my life now.
posted by krinklyfig at 8:20 AM on April 6, 2016
I was not really into metal when death metal and nu metal became popular. And J-Pop doesn't always work for me, though sometimes it really does. This is just the best.
How do I get to be the (American?) guy in Ladybaby? Because that's all I really want to do with my life now.
posted by krinklyfig at 8:20 AM on April 6, 2016
From time to time a band comes along with an album (or two, or three), who just seem to work for me. I don't care if it's manufactured , or if everyone else in the world hates it (which is obviously how it should be).
I saw them at Sonisphere in 2014, between Alestorm - coincidentally another of those "totally works for me" bands, and Chas n Dave. Similar to above, half the crowd had no idea what was going on, but enough people had heard about them beforehand to know and enjoy it for what it is. Later on in the same day there was Anthrax, Slayer, Deftones, Sisters of Mercy and Iron Maiden, but that earlier line-up was just as good for me.
My 5 year old daughter loved Gimme Chocolate from the minute she heard it (as she also did with Keelhauled, above), and now she's 7, I *really* wish I'd taken her to the show the other night at Wembley Arena, and in fact, I even felt guilty telling her I went without her.
I also always had a soft spot for Mad Capsule Markets, too, which may or may not help with some of the tracks (Gimme Chocolate/Adawama Fever).
posted by thingonaspring at 8:20 AM on April 6, 2016 [2 favorites]
I saw them at Sonisphere in 2014, between Alestorm - coincidentally another of those "totally works for me" bands, and Chas n Dave. Similar to above, half the crowd had no idea what was going on, but enough people had heard about them beforehand to know and enjoy it for what it is. Later on in the same day there was Anthrax, Slayer, Deftones, Sisters of Mercy and Iron Maiden, but that earlier line-up was just as good for me.
My 5 year old daughter loved Gimme Chocolate from the minute she heard it (as she also did with Keelhauled, above), and now she's 7, I *really* wish I'd taken her to the show the other night at Wembley Arena, and in fact, I even felt guilty telling her I went without her.
I also always had a soft spot for Mad Capsule Markets, too, which may or may not help with some of the tracks (Gimme Chocolate/Adawama Fever).
posted by thingonaspring at 8:20 AM on April 6, 2016 [2 favorites]
I saw Babymetal live at Wembly last Saturday.
They had one job, to rock the arena.
They came, they ROCKED THE FRACK OUTTA THE ARENA, whilst also doing a livestream to 10,00 fans in Japan.
Job Done.
posted by Faintdreams at 8:27 AM on April 6, 2016 [10 favorites]
They had one job, to rock the arena.
They came, they ROCKED THE FRACK OUTTA THE ARENA, whilst also doing a livestream to 10,00 fans in Japan.
Job Done.
posted by Faintdreams at 8:27 AM on April 6, 2016 [10 favorites]
I have tickets to see them in Silver Spring, MD. I'm pretty psyched. I have no idea what to expect, I think the crowd is going to be just as entertaining as the show.
The Colbert performance was neat - it was awesome to see them play in such a small setting and actually see the band performing the music. I'm so used the huge videos they have.
Anyway: two things I want to mention:
My taste in metal leans towards some brutal stuff. But i'm just mega-excited to go see Babymetal. Hell, Megitsune is an epic tune. This show is gonna be fun and I really have no idea what to expect. I assume the crowd is gonna be a little weird too.
Also, I tend to go to a TON of shows. And I can say that this one is getting the most requests I have gotten in quite some time to "pick me up a shirt!"
posted by punkrockrat at 8:30 AM on April 6, 2016 [1 favorite]
The Colbert performance was neat - it was awesome to see them play in such a small setting and actually see the band performing the music. I'm so used the huge videos they have.
Anyway: two things I want to mention:
My taste in metal leans towards some brutal stuff. But i'm just mega-excited to go see Babymetal. Hell, Megitsune is an epic tune. This show is gonna be fun and I really have no idea what to expect. I assume the crowd is gonna be a little weird too.
Also, I tend to go to a TON of shows. And I can say that this one is getting the most requests I have gotten in quite some time to "pick me up a shirt!"
posted by punkrockrat at 8:30 AM on April 6, 2016 [1 favorite]
In case you're wondering, yes, there is a Dragonforce connection.
posted by schoolgirl report at 8:31 AM on April 6, 2016
posted by schoolgirl report at 8:31 AM on April 6, 2016
This is amazing. I'm a dabbler when it comes to both metal and J/K-pop. These bands are taking two things I like okay and making something amazing. I'm almost glad I'm home sick today, because I probably would have glossed over this at work. Thanks for the post.
posted by Caduceus at 8:33 AM on April 6, 2016
posted by Caduceus at 8:33 AM on April 6, 2016
Worth noting, they're doing a tour, and it's not just a few stops. I plan on actually seeing them in Seattle.
posted by emptythought at 8:46 AM on April 6, 2016 [2 favorites]
posted by emptythought at 8:46 AM on April 6, 2016 [2 favorites]
I'm going to see them at Fortarock. First time they perform in the Netherlands. I can't wait!!
posted by Pendragon at 8:55 AM on April 6, 2016
posted by Pendragon at 8:55 AM on April 6, 2016
Babymetal can also get a little proggy, as in this 7-minute number from the new album.
Worth noting, they're doing a tour, and it's not just a few stops. I plan on actually seeing them in Seattle.
Yay! SF in July!
posted by kurumi at 8:56 AM on April 6, 2016
Worth noting, they're doing a tour, and it's not just a few stops. I plan on actually seeing them in Seattle.
Yay! SF in July!
posted by kurumi at 8:56 AM on April 6, 2016
Here's a translation of BOH's (Babymetal's bassist) blog about the Wembley gig: http://babymetalfanclub.com/bohs-blog-update-about-wembley-english-translation/
posted by Auz at 9:04 AM on April 6, 2016 [2 favorites]
posted by Auz at 9:04 AM on April 6, 2016 [2 favorites]
Thank you.
This is the Shadowrunnyest thing I've seen since Katy Perry rode an animatronic elephant at the Super Bowl.
... adds to gamenight playlist...
posted by butterstick at 9:19 AM on April 6, 2016 [5 favorites]
This is the Shadowrunnyest thing I've seen since Katy Perry rode an animatronic elephant at the Super Bowl.
... adds to gamenight playlist...
posted by butterstick at 9:19 AM on April 6, 2016 [5 favorites]
The actual singing reminded me of the Brazilian kid pop singer XuXa (shoe-sha)
posted by sammyo at 10:18 AM on April 6, 2016
posted by sammyo at 10:18 AM on April 6, 2016
I completely love the two Babymetal albums, totally unironically. There's still something there when the novelty wears off, which I also found with Kyary Pamyu Pamyu - Nakata Yasutaka is a god as far as I'm concerned. He also does the more obviously pop Perfume, though their performance last year or the year before was sonically one of the heaviest things I've encountered recently. It's really just a question of accepting what's going on in good faith.
I kind of resent the snide insinuations that enjoying these records must mean one is some kind of paedophile (any more than someone could only enjoy a Notorious B.I.G. track because they were into fucking overweight black guys).
posted by Grangousier at 10:41 AM on April 6, 2016 [4 favorites]
I kind of resent the snide insinuations that enjoying these records must mean one is some kind of paedophile (any more than someone could only enjoy a Notorious B.I.G. track because they were into fucking overweight black guys).
posted by Grangousier at 10:41 AM on April 6, 2016 [4 favorites]
Colbert's comment "I'm not sure what I'm about to see" kind of summed up my feelings as well before clicking "play." But then they started singing about chocolate and the music started rocking and it was fun! Definitely makes you want to dance.
posted by Kevin Street at 10:56 AM on April 6, 2016
posted by Kevin Street at 10:56 AM on April 6, 2016
I've greatly enjoyed Babymetal since a friend of mine introduced me to their music a bit over a year ago. There's something about J-pop + metal that works for me. Their new album's streaming on Amazon Prime music for anyone who wants to give the whole thing a listen without hopping around YouTube.
A friend of mine in graduate school used to put on Metallica when he was grading student papers. It kept him energized but with an edge.
Babymetal is like that for me, except instead of making me angry productive, it makes me happy productive.
posted by sgranade at 11:17 AM on April 6, 2016
A friend of mine in graduate school used to put on Metallica when he was grading student papers. It kept him energized but with an edge.
Babymetal is like that for me, except instead of making me angry productive, it makes me happy productive.
posted by sgranade at 11:17 AM on April 6, 2016
Reminds me of another Brazilian act, Toyshop. Their songs are pop songs, very 50’s-60’s a la the Ramones, but they can’t help but play everything like metal guys, because they are. They were from the late 90’s but I just found they did something newer and they’ve grown up.
posted by bongo_x at 11:37 AM on April 6, 2016
posted by bongo_x at 11:37 AM on April 6, 2016
That... was fun. I don't too often seek out new music (pass my Beatles box set, hon), but when I fall across it, it's fun to see what the kids are up to, especially outside of North America.
Shall we have a pool for which candy bar company licences "Gimme Chocolate" and when?
posted by Artful Codger at 12:26 PM on April 6, 2016
Shall we have a pool for which candy bar company licences "Gimme Chocolate" and when?
posted by Artful Codger at 12:26 PM on April 6, 2016
I'm actually enjoying this more and more as I go look up translations to lyrics from the new album. "Karate" is about as metal as their lyrics get:
posted by Mayor West at 12:36 PM on April 6, 2016 [3 favorites]
Even if our tears will fall we'll keep standing and fighting!So, a fastball right up the middle between "Fight For Your Right (To Party)" and "Tubthumping." Glorious.
We will fight with all our heart more with our fists, and more with our hearts with a fully keen spirit!
Much more we fight even when we are disheartened even when we can't stand up anymore
posted by Mayor West at 12:36 PM on April 6, 2016 [3 favorites]
Anyone who knows Babymetal should realize I am obviously a fan :)
I love both J-Pop and metal, so obviously when I found Babymetal on YouTube a few years ago I was pretty excited. I'll be seeing them in concert again this summer, they were in LA 2 years ago and the show was packed and quite good. Pretty interesting mix of metalheads, idol/anime otaku, and random other people who had heard of them online in the first wave of press.
From the old album, my favorites are Megitsune (linked by punkrockrat above) and Headbanger. Still absorbing the new album, I don't know the songs back and front the way I do the first album yet.
I wish I could find a video of the opening they did in the 2014 concert which was pretty great, but this video shows a bit of their "mythology" (another metal aspect of them).
きつねだお!
posted by thefoxgod at 2:29 PM on April 6, 2016 [2 favorites]
I love both J-Pop and metal, so obviously when I found Babymetal on YouTube a few years ago I was pretty excited. I'll be seeing them in concert again this summer, they were in LA 2 years ago and the show was packed and quite good. Pretty interesting mix of metalheads, idol/anime otaku, and random other people who had heard of them online in the first wave of press.
From the old album, my favorites are Megitsune (linked by punkrockrat above) and Headbanger. Still absorbing the new album, I don't know the songs back and front the way I do the first album yet.
I wish I could find a video of the opening they did in the 2014 concert which was pretty great, but this video shows a bit of their "mythology" (another metal aspect of them).
きつねだお!
posted by thefoxgod at 2:29 PM on April 6, 2016 [2 favorites]
Babymetal can also get a little proggy, as in this 7-minute number from the new album.
So before, Babymetal was kind of a fun thing I knew about but didn't care a ton about, like the music's not bad and the angle is hilarious but I don't know if I'd buy an album and I'm not really into metal.
"The One" is EMOTIONALLY AFFECTING ME and I was not prepared for this at all. What have you done.
posted by chrominance at 3:44 PM on April 6, 2016 [3 favorites]
So before, Babymetal was kind of a fun thing I knew about but didn't care a ton about, like the music's not bad and the angle is hilarious but I don't know if I'd buy an album and I'm not really into metal.
"The One" is EMOTIONALLY AFFECTING ME and I was not prepared for this at all. What have you done.
posted by chrominance at 3:44 PM on April 6, 2016 [3 favorites]
I'm a fan also, was at the London gig, and definitely in the "It's so in my wheelhouse it feels like it was engineered in a lab somewhere specifically to appeal to me" camp ( thank you sc114 ).
I think the key to enjoying them is to bring the attitude they bring - there is no irony here, just confidence and joy, there is no "we put two incongruous things together, isn't that wacky"; just an apparent "we like metal, we are also Japanese teenage girls, we see no reason why these are incompatible". If it's only a gimmick or completely manufactured then it's executed well enough to fool me, if you're lucky you'll be fooled too.
For the creepiness point of view, no, I don't see it - and I like to think I'm easily capable of pretty standard and sporadically impressive levels of creepiness; I don't recall a suggestive or sexual move or wiggle or, well, anything. Effbot, I think you might be confusing "acting half their age" with accepted ways of behaving in Japanese culture... but my experience of Japanese culture comes from occasionally watching the wonderfully relaxing NHK World, so I'm not speaking from a position of authority ;)
At the end of the gig was I attracted to them? No. Would I have followed them into battle to defend the Fox God across time and space? I would have paused only to admire one of my fellow warriors in the 12000 strong battalion, a magnificently bearded Australian dressed as Elsa, before launching myself into the fray...
posted by DancingYear at 3:44 PM on April 6, 2016 [5 favorites]
I think the key to enjoying them is to bring the attitude they bring - there is no irony here, just confidence and joy, there is no "we put two incongruous things together, isn't that wacky"; just an apparent "we like metal, we are also Japanese teenage girls, we see no reason why these are incompatible". If it's only a gimmick or completely manufactured then it's executed well enough to fool me, if you're lucky you'll be fooled too.
For the creepiness point of view, no, I don't see it - and I like to think I'm easily capable of pretty standard and sporadically impressive levels of creepiness; I don't recall a suggestive or sexual move or wiggle or, well, anything. Effbot, I think you might be confusing "acting half their age" with accepted ways of behaving in Japanese culture... but my experience of Japanese culture comes from occasionally watching the wonderfully relaxing NHK World, so I'm not speaking from a position of authority ;)
At the end of the gig was I attracted to them? No. Would I have followed them into battle to defend the Fox God across time and space? I would have paused only to admire one of my fellow warriors in the 12000 strong battalion, a magnificently bearded Australian dressed as Elsa, before launching myself into the fray...
posted by DancingYear at 3:44 PM on April 6, 2016 [5 favorites]
I don't know, maybe that's just you ?
Could be. Or maybe I look around me at the show and go "so given how kids friendly this is, why are there barely any kids in the audience" and "what's up with those guys over there". And then I click over to Wikipedia and learn that one singer's favourite food is tomatoes. And clicking a bit more, trying to find more information about the musicians, I end up on a fan site where I learn that another band member loves to collect stickers, and people are gushing over someone's dimples. A fan site run by some dude in his thirties, where the band is treated as a bunch of pre-schoolers.
And then there's the whole bit where they're part of an idol industry that gobbles up young girls and assigns them to different projects and "clubs" based on how cute they are, and then kicks them out when they reach 18 and can no longer be considered children (but I guess that'll probably not happen with this band now when they've gotten big in the US).
And add to that this thing with how female artists are generally treated by the metal scene, and you start wondering if the way around that is to be as infantile as possible and pretend you're a pre-teen and thus completely harmless (but alright, there's probably limited overlap between e.g. the trve crowd that went ballistic when they found out who was behind Myrkur and the crowd that gets excited by Japanese baby dimples, but I'm a lot less sure about some of the folks ranting about how women should get the fuck out of their straight white male scene on reddit).
But sure, hopefully nobody involved in this project is a Gottwald, and there's nothing wrong with a bit of silliness now and then, so you can of course ignore those bits and just go for the show.
posted by effbot at 3:45 PM on April 6, 2016 [1 favorite]
Could be. Or maybe I look around me at the show and go "so given how kids friendly this is, why are there barely any kids in the audience" and "what's up with those guys over there". And then I click over to Wikipedia and learn that one singer's favourite food is tomatoes. And clicking a bit more, trying to find more information about the musicians, I end up on a fan site where I learn that another band member loves to collect stickers, and people are gushing over someone's dimples. A fan site run by some dude in his thirties, where the band is treated as a bunch of pre-schoolers.
And then there's the whole bit where they're part of an idol industry that gobbles up young girls and assigns them to different projects and "clubs" based on how cute they are, and then kicks them out when they reach 18 and can no longer be considered children (but I guess that'll probably not happen with this band now when they've gotten big in the US).
And add to that this thing with how female artists are generally treated by the metal scene, and you start wondering if the way around that is to be as infantile as possible and pretend you're a pre-teen and thus completely harmless (but alright, there's probably limited overlap between e.g. the trve crowd that went ballistic when they found out who was behind Myrkur and the crowd that gets excited by Japanese baby dimples, but I'm a lot less sure about some of the folks ranting about how women should get the fuck out of their straight white male scene on reddit).
But sure, hopefully nobody involved in this project is a Gottwald, and there's nothing wrong with a bit of silliness now and then, so you can of course ignore those bits and just go for the show.
posted by effbot at 3:45 PM on April 6, 2016 [1 favorite]
I don't think there's any significant difference with how these girls act and how any other J-Pop group acts, so I don't buy that there's some special "infantalizing" going on because metal or something. Its fair to criticize the J-Pop industry as a whole, of course, but thats a huge topic on its own.
I saw a lot of teenagers in the audience in Los Angeles. I think it depends on the show ---- many of their concerts are at metal festivals, so the audience is primarily a hard-core metal audience. They've done comparatively few standalone shows in the US and Europe, and the audience there was much less "metal" at least at the LA show. I saw quite a few younger girls in cosplay, for example.
My wife (who is about my age and Japanese) likes them too, and just thinks they are really cute. To me they are so "cute" that it's not really sexual in any way (which actually makes them less "creepy" than some J-Pop groups which do more overt sexualizing of the girls, although this varies widely by group --- I think AKB is much worse about this than, say, Momoiro Clover Z).
posted by thefoxgod at 3:54 PM on April 6, 2016
I saw a lot of teenagers in the audience in Los Angeles. I think it depends on the show ---- many of their concerts are at metal festivals, so the audience is primarily a hard-core metal audience. They've done comparatively few standalone shows in the US and Europe, and the audience there was much less "metal" at least at the LA show. I saw quite a few younger girls in cosplay, for example.
My wife (who is about my age and Japanese) likes them too, and just thinks they are really cute. To me they are so "cute" that it's not really sexual in any way (which actually makes them less "creepy" than some J-Pop groups which do more overt sexualizing of the girls, although this varies widely by group --- I think AKB is much worse about this than, say, Momoiro Clover Z).
posted by thefoxgod at 3:54 PM on April 6, 2016
I think the "is this creepy?" thing probably stems in part from what Japanese idols looked like for a couple of years to the rest of the world: AKB48. The concept is basically "let's get 48 Japanese schoolgirls hoping to make it big in showbiz, make them appear romantically available to an audience of older men, and play up their availability by having handshake sessions where hyperfans buy tickets and line up for the chance to shake hands with their favourite idol. Oh, and also sometimes they wear bikinis and frolic with each other in our videos."
A whole lot of bad stuff got flung out of the AKB48 machine. Every year, there's an election where people "vote" for their favourite idol by buying multiple copies of thOne idol, when caught in a relationship with some other random dude, was forced to beg for forgiveness by shaving her head and posting the video online. At one handshake event, some of the idols were attacked by a man with a saw. And that's ignoring the general skeeviness around Japanese idol culture, which sees women and girls put through a hell of a ringer professionally in order to cater to their audience: rigorous work schedules, restrictions on what they can and cannot do, and top-down management that treats the idols very much like replaceable parts.
This is a good summary of modern-day idol culture and the growing backlash. Babymetal are definitely part of that system, but by virtue of not being part of the 48-band insanity, probably don't suffer as much from its indignities. It probably also helps that they're wildly successful internationally. It's a bit notable, for example, that Babymetal aren't sexualized at all. They also don't seem to do as many "idol activities" as other bands, or at least I haven't seen it. There's no Babymetal variety show where the members perform ridiculous challenges on TV, for example. I don't think there's a Babymetal radio show where the three girls talk about being an idol and playing their own music. I'm 90% sure there are no Babymetal meet-and-greets or handshake events.
posted by chrominance at 4:01 PM on April 6, 2016 [2 favorites]
A whole lot of bad stuff got flung out of the AKB48 machine. Every year, there's an election where people "vote" for their favourite idol by buying multiple copies of thOne idol, when caught in a relationship with some other random dude, was forced to beg for forgiveness by shaving her head and posting the video online. At one handshake event, some of the idols were attacked by a man with a saw. And that's ignoring the general skeeviness around Japanese idol culture, which sees women and girls put through a hell of a ringer professionally in order to cater to their audience: rigorous work schedules, restrictions on what they can and cannot do, and top-down management that treats the idols very much like replaceable parts.
This is a good summary of modern-day idol culture and the growing backlash. Babymetal are definitely part of that system, but by virtue of not being part of the 48-band insanity, probably don't suffer as much from its indignities. It probably also helps that they're wildly successful internationally. It's a bit notable, for example, that Babymetal aren't sexualized at all. They also don't seem to do as many "idol activities" as other bands, or at least I haven't seen it. There's no Babymetal variety show where the members perform ridiculous challenges on TV, for example. I don't think there's a Babymetal radio show where the three girls talk about being an idol and playing their own music. I'm 90% sure there are no Babymetal meet-and-greets or handshake events.
posted by chrominance at 4:01 PM on April 6, 2016 [2 favorites]
adept256: "I love some high energy thrash metal but too often I'm repulsed by the lyrics. Can someone that knows a little Japanese reassure me it's okay to love this?"
If you want to beanplate, "Give me chocolate" actually has meaning in Japan beyond literally "give to me sweetened food made from the cocoa bean": It was what the kids would say to the Occupation troops after the WWII. While the members of Babymetal themselves may be too young to know it, it would be pretty common knowledge for anyone over, say, 30 or so, so whoever wrote the lyrics certainly knew it.
Though I suspect it's simply that because of the historical background "Give me chocolate" has established itself as a set phrase, and Babymetal is just using it because it's a known set phrase, but with no deeper meaning. Like if someone says "Give me chocolate or give me death" they're just saying "I really like chocolate" and not making a deep allusion to declaring revolutionary war.
posted by Bugbread at 4:26 PM on April 6, 2016 [2 favorites]
If you want to beanplate, "Give me chocolate" actually has meaning in Japan beyond literally "give to me sweetened food made from the cocoa bean": It was what the kids would say to the Occupation troops after the WWII. While the members of Babymetal themselves may be too young to know it, it would be pretty common knowledge for anyone over, say, 30 or so, so whoever wrote the lyrics certainly knew it.
Though I suspect it's simply that because of the historical background "Give me chocolate" has established itself as a set phrase, and Babymetal is just using it because it's a known set phrase, but with no deeper meaning. Like if someone says "Give me chocolate or give me death" they're just saying "I really like chocolate" and not making a deep allusion to declaring revolutionary war.
posted by Bugbread at 4:26 PM on April 6, 2016 [2 favorites]
effbot: "There's also a major "wait, am I a creep?" factor from watching a couple of 16-year olds in gothic lolita outfits pretend they're half their age :-/"
I know where you're coming from, but the answer to the "am I creep?" factor is simply "No, I'm not a creep." The idol industry, as a whole, has a whole bunch of ick, but the amount differs from group to group. Babymetal is towards the low ick end of the spectrum. My wife really digs Babymetal, and I don't think "Wait, is my wife secretly a bisexual pedophile?"
posted by Bugbread at 4:40 PM on April 6, 2016 [3 favorites]
I know where you're coming from, but the answer to the "am I creep?" factor is simply "No, I'm not a creep." The idol industry, as a whole, has a whole bunch of ick, but the amount differs from group to group. Babymetal is towards the low ick end of the spectrum. My wife really digs Babymetal, and I don't think "Wait, is my wife secretly a bisexual pedophile?"
posted by Bugbread at 4:40 PM on April 6, 2016 [3 favorites]
Yeah, I think when J-Pop is sexualized it's creepy and doesn't click with me, but Babymetal isn't that. And sometimes J-Pop music isn't great and it's kind of a weak cliche of a style, and taste is still very personal, but Babymetal works for me.
posted by krinklyfig at 7:26 PM on April 6, 2016
posted by krinklyfig at 7:26 PM on April 6, 2016
How do I get to be the (American?) guy in Ladybaby? Because that's all I really want to do with my life now.
He's Australian, his name is Rick, and I trained with him as a professional wrestler in Hong Kong. AMA.
posted by milquetoast at 10:31 PM on April 6, 2016 [3 favorites]
He's Australian, his name is Rick, and I trained with him as a professional wrestler in Hong Kong. AMA.
posted by milquetoast at 10:31 PM on April 6, 2016 [3 favorites]
What SansPoint said.
The cure for this is Puffy AmiYumi
posted by humboldt32 at 1:16 AM on April 7, 2016 [1 favorite]
The cure for this is Puffy AmiYumi
posted by humboldt32 at 1:16 AM on April 7, 2016 [1 favorite]
So I just found out the stunning (to me) news that Marty Friedman is not involved in Babymetal. I mean, he's the former lead guitarist of Megadeth. He moved to Japan because he fell in love with J-Pop. He has appeared on TV a fair bit. He has played guitar with Momoiro Clover. This band is so up his alley it's like the alley was made for him, yet he's not directly involved (though the guitarist in his solo band is). It hadn't even really occurred to me that he might not be involved.
posted by Bugbread at 7:28 AM on April 7, 2016
posted by Bugbread at 7:28 AM on April 7, 2016
Bugbread: This article may interest you.
Don't read the comments, as usual with Babymetal articles, they are filled with tears from REAL METALHEADS, ugh.
posted by Pendragon at 8:09 AM on April 7, 2016
Don't read the comments, as usual with Babymetal articles, they are filled with tears from REAL METALHEADS, ugh.
posted by Pendragon at 8:09 AM on April 7, 2016
BABYMETAL: On Record: Matt Stocks conducts the bands first full UK TV interview as they talk about the new album Metal Resistance, their huge world tour and everything the Fox God has instore!
posted by Pendragon at 7:21 AM on May 3, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by Pendragon at 7:21 AM on May 3, 2016 [1 favorite]
everything the Fox God has instore
Hey, I told them to keep that a secret... next time I'll just have to keep my plans to myself.
posted by thefoxgod at 1:33 PM on May 3, 2016 [4 favorites]
Hey, I told them to keep that a secret... next time I'll just have to keep my plans to myself.
posted by thefoxgod at 1:33 PM on May 3, 2016 [4 favorites]
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In related news, Ladybaby has two new promising videos out as well!
posted by bigendian at 2:11 AM on April 6, 2016 [13 favorites]