Home Idol Group Experience BABYMETAL’s Performance?

Experience BABYMETAL’s Performance?

[APMAs 2016 Performance: BABYMETAL perform with ROB HALFORD of JUDAS PRIEST]

BABYMETAL is a Japanese metal idol band. Their line-up consists of Suzuka Nakamoto as “Su-metal”, Yui Mizuno as “Yuimetal”, and Moa Kikuchi as “Moametal”. The concept of the group is a fusion of the heavy metal and Japanese idol genres. Their vocals are backed by heavy metal instrumentation played by the Kami Band. Babymetal released their eponymous debut album in February 2014. Their second album Metal Resistance was released worldwide on April 1, 2016.

The band defines its style as a new genre called “kawaii metal” (“kawaii” meaning “cute”) and clarifies that it is “a mix of J-pop idol and heavy metal”. In the music press, the group is most commonly associated with the genres death metal, speed metal and J-pop. Before the trio formed, they previously had no experience of the metal genre. Yuimetal admitted that beforehand the concept of heavy metal actually scared her, but later stated that “It’s fun and I see why people enjoy it so much! I still don’t completely understand it, but I’m interested.” Kobametal, the band’s producer, aimed to create a fusion of heavy metal genres and mix them with Japanese idol music, quoting “At Amuse, we have this group called Perfume and I really like them. But I thought, if I’m gonna make a group, how would I do it? I really like metal, so I figured I’d try mixing metal and idol music.”

Besides dancing, the trio all perform vocals. Su-metal is the main vocalist, credited on Babymetal’s official site with vocals and dancing, while Moametal and Yuimetal are credited with scream and dance.

Babymetal’s costumes take a variety of cues from the popular Japanese Gothic and Punk Lolita styles, with an emphasis on red and black.

As well as dancing, the trio all perform vocals. Su-metal is the main vocalist, credited on Babymetal’s official site with vocals and dancing, while Moametal and Yuimetal are credited with scream and dance.

Babymetal’s costumes take a variety of cues from the popular Japanese Su-metal, the tallest of the three, is typically choreographed in the center, with the other two members positioned either side. In addition, Yuimetal and Moametal make up a sub-group called “Black Babymetal” (stylized as BLACK BABYMETAL). The dancing is choreographed by the trio’s dance teacher Mikiko Mizuno, owner of the dance company ‘Eleven Play’ and known for her choreography with various groups including the Japanese band Perfume.Gothic and Punk Lolita styles, with an emphasis on red and black. Since 2014, the trio has usually worn a variation of their now trademark costumes, first introduced in their Ijime, Dame, Zettai music video. With the 2015 release of new promotional artwork, a dramatically different, Samurai-inspired costume design was introduced, seemingly inspired by the armour of historical Japanese figure Gamo Ujisato.

Instead of the sign of the horns, the band uses the hand gesture of the kitsune to symbolise the band’s supposed divine inspiration.

Lyrical themes found in Babymetal’s music focus on real-world issues and also typical idol-pop topics such as encouraging young teens to accept and stand up for themselves, the pressure put on teenage girls to remain thin and also bullying while they also sing about what it’s like going to your first concert, the concept of an “ideal woman” and chocolate, subjects critics say are a step away from typical lyrical styles used by most metal bands.

-Members