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Babymetal

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Babymetal
From left to right: Yui Mizuno, Suzuka Nakamoto, Moa Kikuchi
From left to right: Yui Mizuno, Suzuka Nakamoto, Moa Kikuchi
Background information
OriginTokyo, Japan
GenresJpop, death metal
LabelsJūonbu Records (2011–2013)
BMD Fox Records (2013–)
(both are subsidiaries of Toy's Factory)
MembersSU-METAL
MOAMETAL
YUIMETAL
Websitehttp://www.babymetal.jp/

Babymetal (stylized BABYMETAL) is a Japanese metal vocal and dance group, consisting of Suzuka Nakamoto, Moa Kikuchi and Yui Mizuno. The three teenaged girls and their group are managed by the Amuse talent agency. They released their debut album of the same name last February.

History

2010-2012: Origins and formation

The group was initially formed as a subunit of the female idol group Sakura Gakuin under the concept of a "fusion of metal and idol [music]".[1][2][3] None of the three members knew what metal music was before the inception of the band.[4] Su-metal once said in an interview to MTV 81, "The first time we heard the idea for BABYMETAL, we were like “What the?!”".[5][6]

Babymetal's first indie CD single, titled "Babymetal × Kiba of Akiba", ranked 3rd in the Oricon weekly indie chart and number one in the Tower Records Shibuya weekly indie ranking.[7] The band's major debut single "Ijime, Dame, Zettai" sold 19,000 copies in its first week and debuted at number 6 in the Oricon Weekly Singles Chart.[1]

2013-present: Debut album and growth in popularity

Main article: Babymetal (album)

In the spring of 2013, Suzuka Nakamoto graduated from junior high school and therefore had to "graduate" from the group Sakura Gakuin (that consists of girls of up to junior high). However, their management decided that Babymetal would not dissolve and would continue its activities as a band.[2] The group released its next single, titled "Megitsune" on Wednesday, June 19.[8] On November 20, 2013, Babymetal released its first live DVD/Blu-ray Disc. The disc contains three different concerts.[9] The Blu-ray Disc version debuted at seventh place in the weekly Oricon Blu-ray Disc charts (and at the second place among music Blu-ray Discs).[10]

On August 10 and 11, 2013, Babymetal performed at the "Summer Sonic 2013" rock festival which was held in Tokyo and Osaka.[11] Reportedly, Metallica members came to watch their show.[12][13] It was Babymetal's second time playing at the festival; in 2012, they became the youngest artists ever (with the average age of 12) to perform there. Later, in October 2013, Babymetal also became the youngest artists ever to perform at the Heavy Metal Music Festival, Loud Park.[14] In November 2013, Babymetal released a promo video for the Japanese premiere of Metallica's movie Through the Never.[15]

On February 26, 2014, Babymetal released it first, self-titled album. It contained 13 tracks and was also available in a limited edition that included a DVD with music videos and live footage.[16][17] The album was very well received by music critics[18] as well as the public, selling over 37.000 copies in Japan on its first week and debuting at number 4 in Oricon[19] and number 2 in Billboard Japan.[20] It also topped metal iTunes charts in the US, UK and Germany and on March 22 reached 187th position on US Billboard 200, something (entering the chart) that very few Japanese artists have achieved.[21][22]

On March 1 and 2, 2014, the band gave two concerts at Budokan. With the average age of 14.7, they became youngest-ever female act to give a show there. The two concerts were attended by 20,000 people. At the March 2 concert, a European tour, to take place in the summer, was announced.[23][24]

Babymetal will make their debut appearance in the United Kingdom at the Sonisphere Festival 2014. They are scheduled to perform on the main Apollo stage on July 5.[25][26] Babymetal is also going to be the opening act to five Lady Gaga's concerts in her tour "artRAVE: the ARTPOP ball".[27][28]

Musical style

The music group are often associated with the genres death metal, heavy metal, jpop, symphonic death metal and idol pop, being dubbed as Kawaii metal by their record label.[29][30][31][32][15][33][34]

Repercussion in social networks

The dance group gained major popularity and became viral over the internet's social media websites such as Twitter, Facebook and YouTube, with celebrities such as former Megadeth guitarist Marty Friedman[35], Matt Heafy from the band Trivium[36], Pete Wentz from the band Fall Out Boy[37], the band Garbage[38], Lzzy Hale from the band Halestorm[39] and Kelly Hu[40] all commented on the group via their social outlets.

Popular YouTube series YouTubers Reacts featured popular YouTube Stars reacting to the dance group's music videos, with one of the Fine Brothers, Benny, quoting: “It’s truly epic music... The girls are incredible performers.”[41]

Visual style and concerts

The band's theme colors are red and black.[42] Instead of the sign of the horns, the band uses the sign of the fox.[43]

File:Kami-Band2013.jpg
Kami Band, 2013

In their concerts, Babymetal are assisted by a backup band, which is either a mime band (a pretend band who just act like they are playing instruments) called Babybone (men dressed like skeletons)[44] or a live band called Full Metal Band (also known as the "Gods of Metal" or "Kami Band").[12][13][45] The first time they performed with a live band was in May 2013.[46][47] There is also a backup dance group called Sisterbone that may join them on stage.[48]

File:BLACK BABYMETAL.jpg
Moametal and Yuimetal as Black Babymetal

In addition, MOAMETAL and YUIMETAL make up a group called BLACK BABYMETAL, which performs two songs: "Onedari Daisakusen" and "4 no uta".[49][50]

Origin of the band name

According to Kobametal (the band's producer), Babymetal's name came to him by revelation (as a "divine message"). It is a play on the words "heavy metal". "Baby" may indicate cuteness, "metal" – intensity. Also, he has come to like interpreting it as "newborn metal".[51] In an interview for Razor TV while in Singapore in late 2013, the band members also used the latter interpretation. They stated their brand of metal was a newborn genre, and that was what "baby" in "Babymetal" stood for.[4]

Members

  • Suzuka Nakamoto (as Su-metal (SU-METAL)) - vocals, dance
  • Moametal (as Moametal (MOAMETAL)) - vocals, screams, dance
  • Yuimetal (as Yuimetal (YUIMETAL)) - vocals, screams, dance

Discography

Babymetal discography
Studio albums1
Singles5
Video albums1
Music videos7

Studio albums

Title Album details Peak chart positions
JP US
Babymetal
  • Released: February 26, 2014 (2014-02-26)
  • Label: BMD Fox Records
  • Format: CD, digital
 2 187

Singles

Title Year Album Peak chart positions
Oricon[52]
"Doki Doki Morning"
(ド・キ・ド・キ☆モーニング) 		2011 Babymetal
"Ii ne!"
(いいね！) 		2012 46
"Headbangeeeeerrrrr!!!!!"
  (ヘドバンギャー!!) 		20
"Ijime, Dame, Zettai"
  (イジメ、ダメ、ゼッタイ) 		2013 6
"Megitsune"
  (メギツネ) 		7

Music videos

Title Year Album Director Type Link
"Doki Doki Morning" 2012 Babymetal Unknown Performance [1]
"Ii ne!" [2]
"Ii ne!" (Live in Tokyo 2012) MIKIKO Live performance [3]
"Headbangeeeeerrrrr!!!!!" Unknown Narrative [4]
"Ijime, Dame, Zettai" [5]
"Megitsune" 2013 Performance [6]
"Gimme Chocolate" 2014 [7]

Video albums

Title Details Peak chart positions
Oricon
Weekly
Live: Legend I, D, Z Apocalypse
  (LIVE ～LEGEND I、D、Z APOCALYPSE～)
  • Released: October 19, 2013 (2013-10-19)
  • Label: BMD Fox Records
  • Format: DVD, Blu-ray, CD, digital
 7[53]

References

  1. ^ a b "TOP10入りデビューするライブ重視の個性派アイドル～Cheeky Parade、BABYMETAL". ORICON BiZ online (in Japanese). Oricon. 2013-01-21. Retrieved 2013-04-18.
  2. ^ a b " [BABYMETAL] The end was the beginning of the new story of BABYMETAL. It has begun at that night. Here is the report from the night at Zepp Tokyo!". Kawaii Girl Japan. 2013-02-14. Retrieved 2013-11-15.
  3. ^ "12～13歳女の子の「ヘビメタアイドル」 「さくら学院 BABYMETAL」に世界が大注目" (in Japanese). J-CAST. 2011-12-16. Retrieved 2013-04-18. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |trans_title= ignored (|trans-title= suggested) (help)
  4. ^ a b "BABYMETAL: 'Cutest Headbangers On The Planet'". Razor TV (in Japanese and with subtitles in English). Singapore. December 2013. Retrieved 2014-01-18.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unrecognized language (link)
  5. ^ Note: Her words are translated from Japanese, so she didn't actually say "What the!?", didn't actually say it like this in English.
  6. ^ "Headbanging with BABYMETAL at Rock In Japan 2013 - Interviews - MTV 81". MTV 81. 2013-08-26. Retrieved 2014-05-14.
  7. ^ "女の子3人組のメタルダンスユニット"BABYMETAL"、初の単独シングル発売決定". De View (in Japanese). Oricon. 2012-04-27. Retrieved 2013-04-18. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |trans_title= ignored (|trans-title= suggested) (help)
  8. ^ "BABYMETAL To Release "Megitsune" On June 19th". Japanverse. 2013-04-16.
  9. ^ "Japan-Metaller Babymetal Live-Aufnahme von 'Catch Me If You Can' – METAL HAMMER". Metal Hammer. 2013-11-29. Retrieved 2013-12-07.
  10. ^ "【オリコン】BABYMETAL、初ライブBDがTOP10入り". Oricon Style (in Japanese). 2013-11-27. Retrieved 2013-12-07. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |trans_title= ignored (|trans-title= suggested) (help)
  11. ^ "BABYMETAL ： 2度目のサマソニ参戦が決定 今年は大阪にも降臨！" (in Japanese). Mantan-Web. 2013-05-18. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |trans_title= ignored (|trans-title= suggested) (help)
  12. ^ a b Kawaii Girl Japan (2013-10-04). "[Kawaii girl Japan]BABYMETAL is off to the Top Metal Festival in Japan! Performance at LOUD PARK 13 Confirmed". Retrieved 2014-05-14.
  13. ^ a b "METALLICA movie x BABYMETAL, "Gods of Metal" collaborative commercial released". Barks (in Japanese). 2013-11-21.
  14. ^ "BABYMETAL Live in Singapore 2013". Retrieved 2013-12-07.
  15. ^ a b "Metal-Wahnsinn in Japan Babymetal werben für Metallica". Metal Hammer (in German). 2013-11-20. Retrieved 2013-12-07. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |trans_title= ignored (|trans-title= suggested) (help)
  16. ^ "1st Album「BABYMETAL」発売決定DEATH！！". BABYMETAL.jp (in Japanese). BABYMETAL. 2014-01-24. Retrieved 2014-01-31. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |deadurl= (help); Unknown parameter |trans_title= ignored (|trans-title= suggested) (help)
  17. ^ "日本武道館2DAYS決定！！オフィシャルHP先行がスタートDEATH！！12月24日（火）23時59分まで！！". BABYMETAL.jp (in Japanese). BABYMETAL. 2013-12-21. Retrieved 2014-01-31. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameters: |deadurl= and |trans_title= (help)
  18. ^ Kazumi Namba (2014-02-10). "BABYMETAL". Rolling Stone Japan Edition (March 2014). Atomics Media: 103.
  19. ^ "2014年02月24日〜2014年03月02日のCDアルバム週間ランキング（2014年03月10日付）". Oricon. Archived from the original on 2014-03-05. Retrieved 2014-05-14.
  20. ^ "Billboard Japan Top Albums│Charts│Billboard JAPAN". Billboard Japan. Retrieved 2014-03-06.
    "週間アルバムチャートでうたプリ1位に、武道館実現のBABYMETALも善戦". Billboard Japan. Retrieved 2014-03-06.
  21. ^ "The Billboard 200". Billboard. 2014-03-13. Archived from the original on 2014-03-16. Retrieved 2014-05-20.
  22. ^ "BABYMETAL to perform at a British rock festival for the first time with the likes of Metallica and Iron Maiden". Barks. 2014-04-16. Retrieved 2014-05-20.
  23. ^ "[Concert Report] BABYMETAL's Does Legendary Performance at Budokan, Announces Europe Tour". Barks. 2014-03-16.
  24. ^ "BABYMETAL、武道館単独公演で史上最年少記録". Oricon. 2014-04-03. Retrieved 2014-05-14.
  25. ^ "LINE UP POSTER". Sonisphere Festival UK. 2014-05-07. Retrieved 2014-05-09.
  26. ^ "BABYMETAL World Tour 2014 Live Schedule". BABYMETAL.jp. BABYMETAL. Retrieved 2014-05-09.
  27. ^ "BABYMETAL レディー・ガガの米ツアーに大抜擢、LAワンマンも - Daily News - Billboard JAPAN" (in Japanese).
  28. ^ "Lady Gaga Artrave US Tour 2014: Babymetal Confirmed As Opening Act". KDramaStars.com. 2014-06-18. Retrieved 2014-06-18.
  29. ^ "BABYMETAL – ヘドバンギャー！！- Headbangeeeeerrrrr!!!!! (Full ver.) – YouTube". Toy's Factory. 2012-11-08. Retrieved 2013-11-12.
  30. ^ "Headbanging with BABYMETAL at Rock In Japan 2013". MTV 81. 2013-08-26. Retrieved 2013-11-15.
  31. ^ "Babymetal: Verrückter Metal-Trend aus Japan". Metal Hammer (in German). 2012-06-13. Retrieved 2013-11-12. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |trans_title= ignored (|trans-title= suggested) (help)
  32. ^ "Are Japan's Death Metal Teenyboppers Babymetal Okay?". MTV Iggy. 2014-03-07. Retrieved 2014-06-12.
  33. ^ "BABYMETAL「SUMMER CAMP 2013」に爆音生バンドを従え登場" (in Japanese). Musicman-NET. 2013-07-17. Retrieved 2013-12-07. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |trans_title= ignored (|trans-title= suggested) (help)
  34. ^ "アイドルとメタルの融合BABYMETALが、「メタル女子会」イベントに参戦". Barks (in Japanese). 2013-01-10. Retrieved 2014-05-14.
  35. ^ "Have you heard BABYMETAL yet? They are one of the many great exports from Japan!". Facebook.
  36. ^ "These kids rock!". Twitter. 2014-03-06.
  37. ^ "Trust me on this one". Twitter. 2014-03-02.
  38. ^ "Pure sick genius weirdness". Twitter. 2014-03-06.
  39. ^ "This video will change your life". Twitter. 2014-03-01.
  40. ^ "I can't enough of this band". Facebook.
  41. ^ Dawn, Randee. "Hard Rock, Pop Sweetness Combine in Teen Band Babymetal". nbcnews.com. NBC News. Retrieved 19 June 2014.
  42. ^ "BABYMETAL、「扇風機ヘドバン」「土下座ヘドバン」が舞い踊るミュージックビデオが完成". Barks (in Japanese). 2012-06-21. Retrieved 2014-05-13.
  43. ^ "「アイドルとメタルの融合」ヘヴィメタル・ダンスユニットBABYMETALのCDの全貌が明らかに". Barks (in Japanese). 2012-02-09. Retrieved 2014-05-14.
  44. ^ "テキストリポート【アイドル横丁祭!!】℃-ute、SUPER☆GiRLS、BABYMETALなど豪華７組が出演した【アイドル横丁祭!!】をリポート！楽屋コメント＆撮りおろしのライブ写真とたっぷりとお届けします！動画は随時更新していくよ！". Kawaii Girl Japan. 2012-04-18. Retrieved 2014-05-14.
  45. ^ Kawaii Girl Japan (2013-07-26). "[Kawaii girl Japan/ Concert Report] BABYMETAL Performed a New Song at NHK Hall Solo Show.". Barks.
  46. ^ "BABYMETAL Newly Announces Explosive Metal Band Style 'Training' Live Tour". Barks. 2013-04-16. Retrieved 2014-05-14.
  47. ^ "BABYMETAL - 7,000 people go wild at BABYMETAL Training Tour with Live Band! Plus Summer Sonic 2013 appearance is set and scheduled 2 years in a row". Barks. 2013-03-30. Retrieved 2014-05-14.
  48. ^ "[BABYMETAL] Report from the live at Akasaka BLITZ where they've created new legend!". Kawaii Girl Japan. 2012-12-28. Retrieved 2014-05-14.
  49. ^ "BLACK BABYMETAL". BBC Online. Retrieved 2014-06-16.
  50. ^ "Details on CD info and newest artwork for 'festival metal', BABYMETAL's 'Megitsune' revealed". http://www.en.barks.jp. 2013-05-19. Retrieved 2014-06-16. {{cite web}}: External link in |website= (help)
  51. ^ "異色メタルアイドル「ベビーメタル」はなぜ人気？ "仕掛け人"を直撃！". Nikkei Trendy Net (in Japanese). 2013-10-31. p. 2. Retrieved 2014-01-20. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |trans_title= ignored (|trans-title= suggested) (help)
  52. ^ "ＢＡＢＹＭＥＴＡＬのCDシングルランキング、ＢＡＢＹＭＥＴＡＬのプロフィールならオリコン芸能人事典". Oricon Style (in Japanese). Oricon. Archived from the original on 2013-06-11. Retrieved 2013-06-11. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help); Unknown parameter |trans_title= ignored (|trans-title= suggested) (help)
  53. ^ "2013年11月18日〜2013年11月24日のBlu-ray総合週間ランキング（2013年12月02日付）" (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved 2013-12-07. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |trans_title= ignored (|trans-title= suggested) (help)[dead link]
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