"Babymetal's
music is like fusing Sake with Sweet Bubblegum"
Can you imagine this: The Poppy Bubblegum J-Pop Idol Music
fusing with Hard-Hitting Heavy Metal Music? Sounds impossible, right?...Wrong!
As of late, three teenage Japanese girls are taking on the music scene by giving a unique spin to Heavy Metal Music - fusing it with Japanese Teen Pop. Now, that is one hell of a take on one established genre don’t you think? This group’s name is “Babymetal.”
As of late, three teenage Japanese girls are taking on the music scene by giving a unique spin to Heavy Metal Music - fusing it with Japanese Teen Pop. Now, that is one hell of a take on one established genre don’t you think? This group’s name is “Babymetal.”
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| As "Kawaii" as this trio look, they definitely Rock! |
Honestly after that, I was
like “WTF did I just watched?” I didn’t know what to think of the group at
first. A trio of teenage girls doing the Japanese Idol music thingie with Heavy
Metal? That is definitely weird and not
the “Metal” music I have listened to before while growing up. Actually, it
bothered me (a little) while watching it.
However, after watching a few more videos, especially the two above (Megitsune and Gimme Chocolate!), I started getting the idea. The initial shock of seeing teenage kids getting freaky with metal music has dissipated and the whole picture is starting to get clear. I then said to myself that J-Pop and Heavy Metal fusion does make sense after all! It is like a Daddy’s Heavy Metal Music meeting Daughter’s Teeny Pop Music kind of affair, and even though Metal Music and Pop Music are like opposite ends of the spectrum, they surprisingly blend well (in my opinion) if you listen to how Babymetal’s Music delivers it.
Upon more research, I learned that Babymetal is a "manufactured band." Manufactured, meaning the band members were recruited and trained to do a specific proposed music theme by a producer - a norm for Japanese idols and singers (in South Korea, I believe, this is also the norm for their Girl and Boy Groups). However, upon inspecting the final product - which is an unworldly mash-up of Idol Pop and Metal - you gotta think that whoever is responsible for this idea is some mad scientist who just happened to spilled out a tank of “PX-41” to three little girls.
Now, who is Babymetal? The Pop-Metal trio is composed of lead singer Suzuka Nakamoto, known as “Su-Metal”, a 16-year-old girl who has, to her credit, good vocal range (which is rare for a girl at that age bracket) and being older, she also stands as the leader of the group. She portrays the badass of the group as well. In contrast to the other two members, she has the most serious tone of them all (almost always with a stoic face). The other two members are Yui Mizuno (“Yui-Metal”) and Moa Kikuchi ("Moametal"), both 15-year-old girls, who portray the lively ones in the group (which stays true to their Idol roots) and also serve as the group's background singers, occasional rappers, and dancers. (Yes man, No typo there…DANCERS)
Speaking of dancers, the signature characteristic of Babymetal is their well-choreographed dance moves/routines (as you can see in their videos). It is just regular fanfare to J-Pop Idol fans, but definitely a BIG and jaw-dropping change for the metal purists to easily digest. These dance routines are then incorporated and fused to their metal-themed music, which I gotta admit, look really cool (who ever thought someone or somebody can put legit choreography into metal music, huh?!) and is really a game-changer. The steps are perfectly synced to match the music and they even include headbanging to their dance routines, mind you. In my opinion, the dance routines is the most important thing that makes the whole Babymetal formula work.
Now, when it comes to the lyrics of the songs, it is really an odd thing when you hear metal music talking about waking up in the morning, defiance to bullying, doing girl things, fox spirits, or even Chocolates, but one thing about Babymetal - as their name suggests - is that they are cute metal or more appropriately, “Kawaii Metal”, so underneath the metal theme and gothic Lolita outfits that the trio sport are still teenage girls who flashes cute and charming smiles and even throw up “fox signs” instead of the defining metal signature – the sign of the horns. Judging by how young these girls are, the lyrics of the songs become understandable, besides, it is hard to imagine girls their ages singing about blood, rock and roll, and even sex, right? That will be downright awkward.
Okay, for sure you may think it is still odd and unworldly, but come on, we are talking here about three little girls singing METAL, and that counts as Awesome in my book! If you add their well-choreographed dance routines, their gothic Lolita costumes, and legit “Kawaii”-ness to their surprisingly talented backing Heavy Metal band and heavy-hitting metal music, what you get is “A darn good Live Performance” and to be honest, a lot of Metal bands out there “CANNOT” provide that.
How do they sound and look when performing Live? They recently performed at Sonisphere 2014, a metal festival which features metal legends like Iron Maiden, Anthrax, Slayer, and Metallica to name a few. Here is a compilation video of their performance there (This is a long video, but it is worth it as it showcases how a live Babymetal performance looks, sounds, and feels like):
By the end of the day, Babymetal’s appeal is that they can give the crowd a good and fun time (which again, not all Pure Metal bands can give). It is really awesome to see how these teenagers from the land of the rising sun captured the attention, if not the hearts, of metalheads around the world. Let us put it this way, Babymetal did what other established J-Pop idol groups cannot and that is be an international phenomenon, and to put into consideration that they experimented on a whole new kind of music, that is awesomeness! As odd as the fusion of music they did, you just can’t help but be amazed how Babymetal (the girls up front and the band behind them) clearly makes a blast out of it. They are living a dream and are awesome doing it.
Again, as I said before, Babymetal proves that J-Pop and Heavy Metal music fusion does make sense (especially if you keep an open mind to a variety of music possibilities). Babymetal's music is more fun-driven than angst-ridden (which most metal songs are) and this happy stuff is a breath of fresh air to Metal music. Babymetal's music is like fusing Sake with Sweet Bubblegum, it may taste odd, but still has the same strong effect, and is still Kick-Ass.
Babymetal's music may or may not appeal to all, but one thing is for sure, the fusion of Pop and Metal that they bring to the table, is one that is Awesome and Infectious at the same time.
Bring out the horns..eer, I mean, “Fox Signs” people!
Until next time,
Ciao!
To know more about Babymetal you can:
Visit their Website
Have a look at their Facebook page
Follow them on Twitter
*The videos are from Babymetal's official YouTube Channel except for the Sonisphere Compilation which is uploaded and owned by YouTube user 23bousure.
*Images are from Babymetal's Website.
Upon more research, I learned that Babymetal is a "manufactured band." Manufactured, meaning the band members were recruited and trained to do a specific proposed music theme by a producer - a norm for Japanese idols and singers (in South Korea, I believe, this is also the norm for their Girl and Boy Groups). However, upon inspecting the final product - which is an unworldly mash-up of Idol Pop and Metal - you gotta think that whoever is responsible for this idea is some mad scientist who just happened to spilled out a tank of “PX-41” to three little girls.
Now, who is Babymetal? The Pop-Metal trio is composed of lead singer Suzuka Nakamoto, known as “Su-Metal”, a 16-year-old girl who has, to her credit, good vocal range (which is rare for a girl at that age bracket) and being older, she also stands as the leader of the group. She portrays the badass of the group as well. In contrast to the other two members, she has the most serious tone of them all (almost always with a stoic face). The other two members are Yui Mizuno (“Yui-Metal”) and Moa Kikuchi ("Moametal"), both 15-year-old girls, who portray the lively ones in the group (which stays true to their Idol roots) and also serve as the group's background singers, occasional rappers, and dancers. (Yes man, No typo there…DANCERS)
Speaking of dancers, the signature characteristic of Babymetal is their well-choreographed dance moves/routines (as you can see in their videos). It is just regular fanfare to J-Pop Idol fans, but definitely a BIG and jaw-dropping change for the metal purists to easily digest. These dance routines are then incorporated and fused to their metal-themed music, which I gotta admit, look really cool (who ever thought someone or somebody can put legit choreography into metal music, huh?!) and is really a game-changer. The steps are perfectly synced to match the music and they even include headbanging to their dance routines, mind you. In my opinion, the dance routines is the most important thing that makes the whole Babymetal formula work.
Now, when it comes to the lyrics of the songs, it is really an odd thing when you hear metal music talking about waking up in the morning, defiance to bullying, doing girl things, fox spirits, or even Chocolates, but one thing about Babymetal - as their name suggests - is that they are cute metal or more appropriately, “Kawaii Metal”, so underneath the metal theme and gothic Lolita outfits that the trio sport are still teenage girls who flashes cute and charming smiles and even throw up “fox signs” instead of the defining metal signature – the sign of the horns. Judging by how young these girls are, the lyrics of the songs become understandable, besides, it is hard to imagine girls their ages singing about blood, rock and roll, and even sex, right? That will be downright awkward.
Okay, for sure you may think it is still odd and unworldly, but come on, we are talking here about three little girls singing METAL, and that counts as Awesome in my book! If you add their well-choreographed dance routines, their gothic Lolita costumes, and legit “Kawaii”-ness to their surprisingly talented backing Heavy Metal band and heavy-hitting metal music, what you get is “A darn good Live Performance” and to be honest, a lot of Metal bands out there “CANNOT” provide that.
How do they sound and look when performing Live? They recently performed at Sonisphere 2014, a metal festival which features metal legends like Iron Maiden, Anthrax, Slayer, and Metallica to name a few. Here is a compilation video of their performance there (This is a long video, but it is worth it as it showcases how a live Babymetal performance looks, sounds, and feels like):
By the end of the day, Babymetal’s appeal is that they can give the crowd a good and fun time (which again, not all Pure Metal bands can give). It is really awesome to see how these teenagers from the land of the rising sun captured the attention, if not the hearts, of metalheads around the world. Let us put it this way, Babymetal did what other established J-Pop idol groups cannot and that is be an international phenomenon, and to put into consideration that they experimented on a whole new kind of music, that is awesomeness! As odd as the fusion of music they did, you just can’t help but be amazed how Babymetal (the girls up front and the band behind them) clearly makes a blast out of it. They are living a dream and are awesome doing it.
Again, as I said before, Babymetal proves that J-Pop and Heavy Metal music fusion does make sense (especially if you keep an open mind to a variety of music possibilities). Babymetal's music is more fun-driven than angst-ridden (which most metal songs are) and this happy stuff is a breath of fresh air to Metal music. Babymetal's music is like fusing Sake with Sweet Bubblegum, it may taste odd, but still has the same strong effect, and is still Kick-Ass.
Babymetal's music may or may not appeal to all, but one thing is for sure, the fusion of Pop and Metal that they bring to the table, is one that is Awesome and Infectious at the same time.
Bring out the horns..eer, I mean, “Fox Signs” people!
Until next time,
Ciao!
To know more about Babymetal you can:
Visit their Website
Have a look at their Facebook page
Follow them on Twitter
*The videos are from Babymetal's official YouTube Channel except for the Sonisphere Compilation which is uploaded and owned by YouTube user 23bousure.
*Images are from Babymetal's Website.
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