I was seated in the balcony basically over stage left. Best part for me was during Megitsune when Su has the mask blocking her face from the audience. No super silly faces this time, but just the pure, utter happiness in her smile to Moa and Momoko. I truly believe they enjoy every minute of what they are doing. That smile was for no one other than herself and the others on stage with her. This was my third concert (Atlanta 2018 before this and the RHCP tour before that). Each one is special in its own ways.
I went to one of the shows, while I was going through a rough time, dealing with trauma. It sounds really cheesy but watching them with thousands of other fans was a real healing process, something which therapy doesn’t provide. From the bottom of my heart I thank Babymetal and the whole team.
I am in my late 60's and a Babymetal fan of a little over a year. I have been a rock and metal guitarist and singer since the late 70's and had tired of the metal scene in the U.S. I stopped playing several years ago and after seeing BM on YT was suddenly and completely re - energized to play and delve into music again. Babymetal saved my life and I feel a fierce protectiveness of them and their reputation. I contend that they are a global force that equals or exceeds the arrival of the Beatles to America - which I watched as an 8 year old and had the direction for my life set from then on. I said all that to say this. I don't understand Babymetal's management where the USA is concerned. They should be booking large arenas in large cities. If they feel they can't fill these then that should tell them they need to step up their marketing in the west. Instead, official merch is hard to get. They book them in smaller clubs and pair them with the Metal equivalent of the Archies - only darker. What are they thinking pairing Babymetal's message with that kind of band? BM's stage show is designed for the large stage in a large arena. Smaller stages affect everything from movement to sound. I've played on every stage size and the smaller the stage gets the more the band compromises. They have no choice. While I understand there is a certain intimacy in a smaller venue, much is compromised for that intimacy. My son and I discussed going to see a concert in Chicago but he wanted to go to see Deathklok. He is a metal guitarist himself but is into the darker stuff I decided was not for me. I figured then that it would at best be a mixed crowd. Not wanting to be disappointed in the response to Babymetal, I decided not to see them this tour. On my bucket list is to see them in Japan for the first time. BM is a band above and beyond the rest and just like the Beatles in the 60's, every band out there is playing catch up with them every time they perform, whether on stage or in the studio. Yet their management allows them to go to the West and books them as a carnival sideshow band. My contention is that Babymetal is the most important band since the Beatles because they have all the elements present that defined Beatlemania. They took existing genre's and combined them into something totally new and fresh. They altered everything from clothes to look to message and came out swinging. Every album released shows maturity and growth. With only 4 albums they have outdone the Beatles where live performances are concerned and lasted twice as long. There are many more elements that define Babymetal's importance in the history and growth of Rock but I'll leave it there. I love your channel. Your deep dives into the songs as well as lore is utterly fascinating and most welcome to someone playing catchup like me. lol. Thank you.
Babymetal is working up to it, this is the first tour after the covid-19 debacle and they ALWAYS make dawn sure as much merch as possible sells out as much as possible and that every venue sells out, because everything else is a loss. Babymetal fans have noticed: seeing them in a big venue is amazing, but seeing them in a small venue is amazing too. As BOH ones said; Babybmetal live in a big venue is an amazing achievement, but not because of the big production.
I agree they could be playing much larger arenas and stadiums, but I guess there is a risk to that, but there is the other side where I don't think they like the idea of playing shows where people can't see them other than the big screen they thrive off the energy of the fans and I personally believe because of the no fan interaction other than when they are performing policy, they look forward to seeing us as much as we do them, you definitely get that impression when you see how happy they look when they come back after a break
My pleasure, and thanks. I have often been a bit baffled by the tour pairings and venues, but I will say that being in a smaller venue like this and getting close to the stage was hugely satisfying for me. Like you, I'd love to do one of the big spectacle shows in Japan, but the proximity we got here was really special. Thanks so much for the comment. I'm delighted that you find this channel worth your time!
I saw DEATH performed with YUI some 10 years ago, this year I saw DEATH again with MOMO. Those are the only two Babymetal concerts I went to. They don't come to my part of the world very often. The first one was when they were so small that they need a pedestal to stand on stage, having fun with DOKI DOKI MORNING and IINE, smiling ear to ear. Now they are in all black, standing tall, proudly blurting lines from BxMxC and MAYA. I shed tears of joy on both occasions, just can't help it. Haters doubters say what they want to say, I don't care, both occasions are profoundly meaningful moments to me.
This was my first BabyMetal concert and I was so excited when I got tickets. I just thought how amazing it would be. Then I started think it just as a concert, and maybe not that special. This went back and forth for awhile, knowing that I wasn't going to miss the show and how great it would be, then worried that I was propping it up too much in my mind. But, it was everything that I could have hoped it would be, except for Mirror, Mirror, or even if it was Maya. Those just never hit me properly, but I enjoyed them. From the very beginning of BabyMetal Death, I was hooked. The show was everything I thought about in my most excited moments. Now, for the length of the concert, of course I would have loved a 2 hour plus concert, which is almost what I expect from concerts these days. I was even heavily disappointed when Heart only did like 1 hour and 35 minutes, I thought it was too short. But I knew what BabyMetal was, and when it was over, I felt as happy as if it was 2+ hours. And, I feel the same way about DethKlok. They are not the type of band I'd ever have listened to if I had a choice, and even seeing them live did nothing for me, but everyone has their tastes. I listen to music that a lot of the people I know wouldn't be caught dead listening to. But, they didn't fit. To show you how determined I was to see this concert, I worked from 8am Saturday until about 5pm, then worked from 1:00am Sunday until about noon. I did get SOME sleep and went off to the concert. Waiting in line in what seemed to be 175 degree heat, I actually passed out and fell on the ground. I was helped up, moved to shade, and sat there while security got me some water and stayed with me. It took about 40 minutes for me to get my strength back to stand up and get into the arena, which I was close to saying I would go to the emergency room. But, I survived the concert and BabyMetal made the whole experience worth it! I am fine, not feeling any issues because of that (except for maybe the rambling and possible incoherence of my thoughts above *wink* ) I can't wait for them to return!
I'm so glad that you are feeling ok and that your passing out didn't stop you from seeing the show! Would have been so sad to miss. And thanks for the thoughtful and supportive comment. Much appreciated.
"Yeah, it was great!" I like the simplicity of that final statement because it conveys how you received it emotionally. Even though you're not 15, I guess to you, Headbanger makes even more sense now: you won't forget that concert and you'll hold on to that memory forever.
I have definitely seen BABYMETAL drink on stage, usually they have a couple little tables set up with bottles with straws they sip out of between songs. Usually it's dark so it's not really visible to most members of the audience but at festivals and other venues where they can't bring the lights down for whatever reason you can see it.
My man, I was at the Atlanta show too and like you, it was my first Babymetal concert experience. I was at the railing stage left! Basically on stage. You absolutely are not not alone in the feeling of having a "quasi-magical" experience! It was indescribable yet so easy to talk about at the same time - the paradox of Babymetal. The lasting effect of their performance. I'm seeing them again in Boston next week - like you referenced, I'm concerned about not being able to recreate that same magic from last Sunday BUT I have the opportunity to go and I have a feeling that this time around, since I know what to expect, I can let loose a little more and enjoy the show! 🤘🔥
Professor, I had the same experience in both Houston and Dallas (Las Vegas is coming up!). I have been a fan since seeing them on Colbert but have never had the opportunity to see them live, until this tour. They were as impressive and perfect as I had expected. What an experience this was! To me, it was like the first time that I saw Peter Gabriel in concert. It was almost a religious experience that stayed with me for a long time.
Hi Professor, this is a great video as usual, and it seems we had some similar experiences in our first time at a Babymetal concert. First, I agree fully with your feelings about not being able to explain to others who had not been at the show, just how good it was. As you said, any description of good, awesome, fantastic or spectacular, just seem inadequate to explain the depth of my experience of the show; I agree that it was almost spiritual. I actually thought I was weird feeling that way, but it seems that I might not be alone in getting that feeling. I saw Babymetal on 8 June in Brisbane, Australia where the show ran 82 minutes including encores. The opening act was a band called Relica and I thought they were a solid band and served as a really suitable opening act. The band members were dynamic, good instrumentalists and the lead singer had really strong vocals. It didn't hurt when the singer told the crowd that they were super-excited at being able to open for Babymetal, that it was a dream come true. They seemed genuinely thankful to be the opening act and openly asked the crowd on a couple of occasions to give up some noise for Babymetal, because they were in the building and could hear the crowd. So, my experience of the opening act was first rate. I want to talk about two other points from your video that were practically identical experiences that we seemed to share, at different times and in a completely different country. You mentioned that you were never a huge fan of BxMxC, but after seeing the song performed live, you came to appreciate the song more. I had a similar experience, but for me, the song was Shanti, Shanti, Shanti. I had never been a big fan of that song, to me it seemed a bit contrived and bordering on cultural appropriation. However, when Babymetal performed Shanti, Shanti, it blew my mind. Su's vocals were flawless, but it was Moa that really sold the song to me. Moa's supporting vocals and harmonizing ululations were on another level. Also, to see the choreography performed with such precision and attention to detail just made me respect everyone on that stage even more (musicians included because what they did with Shanti, Shanti was breathtaking). The final point I want to pick up on was the way the girls engage the audience in the breakout sections where they interact with the crowd by smiling and waving to sections of the audience. Su and Momo have their own presence, but I now feel that Moa is the master of engaging the crowd with eye contact. I was on a balcony that would have been about 6 feet above the stage level and right on the rail, up front, so I would have been about 15 feet from the left corner of the stage. From the first waving interlude, I felt as if Moa made eye contact with me and did so on each of the times that she came back to my corner. At one point the connection felt so strong while Moa was smiling and waving, I pointed to my chest and mouthed the word "me" and she nodded and seemed to smile and wave harder. Of course, Moa wasn't nodding and waving to me alone, I would have just been about one of 20 to 50 people in her line of sight (who, most likely, would have all been pointing to their chests). Moa is able to create the illusion that she is looking directly at you, while each time, the many people are in her line of sight are feeling the same connection, as if it is a personal gift to you alone (of course it isn't, though). Reading back over what I have written, it sounds a bit Moa-centric, however that wasn't my experience, if I have a favorite member of Babymetal, it would likely be Su, however, I try not to think of them in terms of favorites. I think what I experienced was a sudden deepening appreciation of the unique role that Moa plays in Babymetal. I simply think that I didn't give Moa enough credit previously. That will never happen again.
Nice. I'm glad to hear it's not just me. But then, I guess that's what fan experience does: it builds a sense of community, however momentary,. Very cool;. Thanks!
Agreed on how live performance can change your views on a song. For me it was PAPAYA. Did not think much of it when I happened to "hear" the song. @ Makuhari this January, I was twirling my muffler (didn't have a towel) like a madman. 🦊🦊🦊
@@lencooke944 good for you!!! In my case, I had a white shirt with a picture of a trout (I got the shirt the night before from my fishing club members), and planned on getting a BM shirt on site. Should have known better... not enough time to buy one, so I was the only one in the area in a white shirt with a maroon muffler....
Thank you for posting this. I'm really happy for you that you finally were able to see them live and so close to the stage! I enjoyed hearing your perspective on the whole event. I hope I get the chance to see them myself someday. Cheers!
So glad you enjoyed the show, it was great to meet you at the con and thank you again for signing my book. I saw you in the crowd from where I was standing but I was pretty much exactly front and center and it would have been very difficult to get that spot back. I was a little concerned for you guys considering how crazy it got where I was. Much more excitement from the crowd in general at this show compared to Charlotte 2018. I had a similar reaction to yours about all that at that 2018 show where I felt like people moshing were trying to make the performance about themselves in a way that I found offputting but after realizing that Babymetal encourages moshing I've softened my stance on it, Su calls for the Wall of Death in RoR and the circle pit in Distortion after all, although I do think it's important that we look out for the safety of fans that are not familiar with metal shows since BM draws a diverse crowd. I spent a significant amount of time doing just that since there were quite a few crowd surfers (some of them the same people multiple times which was a bit much). I will say that you should not miss seeing this band again given the opportunity, even if it's not like this show it may surprise you how different and energizing it could still be. I have to agree with you on being completely enamored with Su and her commanding stage presence and the feeling that I got from the girls at this show was so different from 2018. This time around they were 100% engaged and seemed to be having the time of their life on stage and it made me so happy to see that.
That's awesome and I'm really interested to hear the tonal difference between the two shows. And I get that the rowdiness is part of it. I just hate to see bystanders get hurt. And I really hope you like the book! If you do, please review, but don't say we met if you post on Amazon: they pull down any reviews they think might be rigged :) Weird. Either way, thanks for the support. It was great to meet you.
Your "Sakura" was perfect, great job! The first show is magic. I agree with you, it's a little surreal, like your favourite cartoon characters suddenly standing before you in the flesh. And then you think "Hey, Im a grown man, why am I susceptive to this, why am I affected just like a little fangirl?". But that is part of the magic. I have never been to one of those huge shows in Japan, but I'm sure that those cannot deliver that to the same effect, especially when you are effectively watching them on a screen after all. I sometimes wonder about the girls' smiles. I have absolutely no doubt that they are genuinely having fun on stage and those smiles are heartfelt. These can't be faked, right? But at the same time I also have no doubt that they are professional and talented (and kind) enough to fool me into thinking that, even if they were actually having a really bad day. So in the end I don't really know why I am so convinced that they are genuine. :-) But they are, right? No doubt. After my first show I also thought it would be a tough one to beat. But what can I say, they beat it the very next day. :-) I didn't know anything about Dethklok, so I watched the first few episodes of Metalocalypse. And although I get the humor to some extent, I agree that it doesn't fit BABYMETAL at all. Especially considering that there are quite a few children in their audience.
Excellent story of your 1st BabyMetal experience. I really enjoyed it . The first time I saw BabyMetal the same as you could not believe, they were real . What you say about Su I also experienced. Her voice was incredible, and looking at her, she looked amazing it was at an angle . Her hair was shining, and her eyes looked like they had stars shining in them . As you said, she commanded your attention. I will see them for the 4th and 5th time in November at the Roundhouse in London. I look forward to this as much as my first. Maybe because I now know what I will experience . ❤❤❤😁🤘🏼🦊🤘🏼
@AndrewHartley watching your report, I am sure it will be even better than the other times, especially now they are back to 3 . They look to be having a great time while performing. I think you were right about Moa . She did look really upset . 😁🤘🏼🦊
Hey hey hey! Is this a happy and decent conversation between two gentlemen who have experienced close and friendly contact with the girls on stage? That's not fair! 😱
@flugelhornoldman1362 how can I put this 🤔 Moa's and Momos smiles are beautiful so YES 😍 Did I also mention that Moa said something to me? I think she was asking if the kitsune I was doing was for her. I shouted yes, and she put her hands on her heart and smiled at me ♥️ is that to much info 🤣
Great stuff, Professor-metal! I saw them for the first time last week in Dallas. It was magical and went by so fast that it is just a blur in my mind. Thankfully, bits and pieces are slowly coming back. Your rants are pretty much exactly what is in my mind but, you put it much more eloquently and with way fewer curse words than I would. I totally get the whole thing about trying to explain the greatness to someone else. I actually ran into a fellow Babymetal fan yesterday (strangely enough while walking through the parking garage to my doctor's office) and mentioned I just saw them. He, ofcourse, asked how it was and I said it was awesome. That seemed so inadequate of an answer that I felt like I let Babymetal down, lol. Anyway, I am happy you finally saw them. It is such a great feeling! I have to see them in Japan now!! Kitsune Up!
Thank you for sharing. Babymetal was in Orlando just the next show after this one and im only an hour north. But i couldn't make it. Im hoping for anther chance in the future. Happy to hear you had a good time.
Thanks for the video, finally you got to go, great to hear ! The Babymetal live experience is something I want every Babymetal fan to experience and I wish anyone to become a fan. Glad you got near the front, it's an experience like nothing else. What I understand Dethklok is kind of meant to be a parody, so as much as Babymetal kind of metal with a wink, so is Dethklok. My impression for the, let's say, rowdiness, is that for Babymetal shows, the Europe shows are kinder than the US and Japan is kindest. It's sad when these things happen, I've heard of such things in European shows a lot less, especially the violent part. What is odd is also the 2 people talking. I don't understand it. Something else which seems less in Europe is the phones. They can't do without Babymetal Death, it is needed: to introduce the new Babymetal. Yes, I think a LOT of Babymetal fans know this feeling of: it's real !? I'm really here, some are even doubting themselves for a moment. You can maybe even feel the excitement of the crowd when Babymetal Death starts. It's funny when you say they have this setlist and their are no bad songs in the show and their are many songs they could have performed and would be just as well received. I remember 2016 when Tokyo Dome was going on, a Babymetal fan made 2 UA-cam videos every time the show was performed in Japan, reveiling the setlist and doing a 'reaction' on that. And the first video he posted, reveiling each song: "oh, that's a banger." "and this is awesome !" for each song "man, what an amazzing setlist !", the next day wasn't different. But then you remember: they performd all their songs of the first 2 albums, so which songs are/would be bad songs for a live performance ? The conclusion can only be: their aren't any (especially live) ! It's really remarkable. It's an inherit (?) quality of Babymetal to always deliver something amazing. Moametal's heart is on her sleeve, she just can't hide her emotions. It's kind of extreme in a way. Her reaction, to me, seemed to be: ohh, shit, this could have gone badly wrong ! A moment of shock & realization. That professionalism, is in a way, kind of shocking in itself, especially because they were already that way when they were just 13 and 14/15 (is when I noticed a change, but they've always been that way to a large extend). It's not just the professionalism, it's also the passion to perform. You could also see the same thing when you see videos of Sakura Gakuin perform at Tokyo Idol festival, they stand out as better performers than their elder peers. Babymetal is a machine, in the good well-oiled way and they are amazing at adapting to unexpected situations. Moametal in a some what recent interview said (paraphrasing): we train until it becomes automatic and then we train more to got passed the point of automatism. First of all how much training do they need to do !? Kind of in awe of just that. And then I'm speachless, because through sheer hard work they've reached a point to be able to describe what they do and find a way to that well oiled machine, but not act like one. You say she is Su-metal and always in control and not Su-chan, but actually in recent years she is both more in control AND we get to see more of Su-chan at the same time. Kind of a mind-blowing relevation when you think about it. I feel Su-metal 'the character' was almost, in the past, as a manifestastion of a type of stress-induced schizophrenia. The stress of being in this world wide phenomenon (Babymetal had put the bar very high for themselves, they have to reach it every time they perform and in her case with a changing body because at her age and growth and thus probably adapting her vocals over time, often struggling in the in-between times). Yes, I've seen other fans who said: I saw Babymetal live, I was in the middle of the stage and couldn't take my eyes off of Su-metal, at times forgetting about Moametal and Momometal and the Kami band need our focus too and you want to see them perform as well ! A vocal coach in a UA-cam video reaction ones mentioned: 'they are vocal athletes'. And I think the performance as a whole is like athletes as well. That's how trained and passionate they are. One of the amazing things about Suzuka is (other than her ingraned talent), she started in the spotlights at age 3, this means those 2 facts combined make it as close to natural for her as humanly possible (or metal godessly, if that's a word and that fits here), because it's her whole life ! Even Kobametal has said, in an interview in 2014, they have something god-like about them, he also feels in awe about them when they are on stage. Saying Babymetal live is awesome, amazing, etc. is still an understatement. I've been to multiple shows, the Babymetal magic is very real, it doesn't wear off, they do everything to deliver it. The only show where I felt less satisfied, was in 2018. Because Babymetal wasn't the Babymetal as I knew them, it wasn't because of anything they do, but it was just in my mind (also the absence of Mikio was on my mind). Luckily for me they performed 2 days in a row at the same venue and I was there again the the next day and crowd erupted like in Atlanta, this strange feeling was gone and everyone was there just to have fun regarless of the altered circumstances. Now I wish to hear a full review of the book by George Takei. :-) Because I assume he should be very much able to connect with it. Again thank you for the video.
@@chrisharris1522 I see it more as: she is required to create these personas to fill the roll in what she does. (Karen Girl's, Babymetal and to some extend Sakura Gakuin). She said she has a different mental image of each song.
Congrats on your first concert by BM おめでとうございます ❤。 Speaking of the feeling you had with the first encounter, I had the same feeling when I met you for the first time at the hotel lobby in Tokyo. I thought "Oh! that is the real Prof. Hartley. He is moving (like an elephant and lion)" 🤣. Yeah! At venues (even in Japan), I experience some annoying incidents caused by overexcited guys who are not qualified as credible supporters to the bands they love. They are just trying to relieve their own twisted stress, I guess. I also love to see the faces of unmasked Kamis including the new bassist Mr. Ryan Neff. Although I understand that the BM have already grown up into experienced artists and divas then the Band can turn into a kind of orchestra box in Opera, I am still impressed by their skills and performance that are the parts of the show. They are anyway respectable Samurais (East) and Knights (West) to protect our queen and princesses. BM performance is amazing. Metali is another detonator to the audience with Momoko's solo part. I heard you and someone do calls, Sakura-ya or other call, in different venues. I will do it when BM come back to Japan. Another happy thing about recent performance, the twin-propeller on both sides of Su-metal come back in Headbangeeerrr. I see Momometal swing her one pigtail and stretch her both tails as Moa does (and Yui did). She did not do it as an Avenger. One thing I am jealous of you. I witnessed BM shows 16 times at various venues. I have yet to have chance to gain eye contact from the girls on stage. That is not fair !! 😡😄
Ha! I hope you get that chance some day. Maybe you will have to come to a US show :) I will now bask in the glory of being compared to a lion or an elephant... :) Thanks, as ever.
I don't have much to say yet (Saturday is my Babymetal day)... but it certainly has me excited. I do think one thing I will say is that from everything I have seen from Babymetal... it is a concert only in so far as songs are being played. The theater analogy always seemed more apt to me which is why I never was particularly upset when the Kami band went to a mask as opposed to face paint. The band is there to provide the backing for Su, Moa and Momoko... and while all the players are obviously excellent players... that's not the reason one should be going to the show. But, I guess, I'll find out on Saturday.
Johannes of the band Avatar who opened for Babymetal in 2018 compared it to Cirque du Solei. Which is probably more from the physical perspective, but definitely needs highlighting too !
Yes Monochome was my high moment when I saw them in Stockholm. When Su said something of that dreadful day. Well My thoughts went to the victims from the A bombs and had tears in my eyes. I so wish that those bombs never will be used on human kind again!
Sugoi! Excellent review, appreciated! Saw BABYMETAL in 2019 and will see them again this Sunday at Blue Ridge Rock Festival. Can't wait! Arigatou! 🦊🤘 #notacult #shingeki #justsmile
Just wanted to say I've been watching you for several months but my first time commenting. I appreciate and look forward to your takes on these ladies and their songs. It's really been a useful tool in my Babymetal journey and my growing admiration. I was at the Nashville show Tuesday and on the rail in front of Moa's natural position and feel like we had the same experience. My 1st live show, the surreal feeling of seeing them in the flesh and dealing with all the idiot jackwagons. Had an altercation with a couple idiots and thought I was going put them over the rail to security myself. Wasn't going to let them ruin this amazing experience. The only difference we have is the part of monochrome that gets me. "At the dusk of ragnarok what are we to see.....no matter how long the night, the day will come"......gets me Every....Single.....Time. Keep up the good work, good sir 🤘🦊🤘
That was wonderful, thank you. I first saw Babymetal many years ago, as an already dedicated fan, and it was a very uncanny experience for me. As I said at the time and on a few later occasions my _perception_ of them, what I seemed to be seeing looking up from the crush on the GA floor maybe a dozen feet from the edge of the stage, was performers who were literally, somehow, eight to ten feet tall. I was well aware that this was not the case, they were even tinier then than now, but I couldn't shake what I "saw" in the moment and it lasted well after the concert. I've seen them live five times total over the years, including one large-scale show. I didn't regret any, and one of them - in the same type of small-capacity venue as the first - did surpass that first concert for me. But there hasn't been one which replicated the surreal sense of my first. One other quick thing is I want to thank you for including the first clip from Monochrome. It starts @19:59 and Momoko's movement in the first section is _gorgeous._ Genuinely beautiful. I stopped and replayed it a bunch of times.
Thanks. And yes, totally agree about their scale on stage. Amazing. I have more of that Monochrome video because I knew it would be a highlight for me.
Like you, I saw BABYMETAL for the first time on this tour. Houston. It was so good! I would have loved for them to have played IDZ… my only disappointment from this great show. I was closest (for the most part)to Momo… met some nice people. Monochrome was my favorite… did my part to help Su to shine some light into this dark, dark world. 😉
I saw a fancam recorded Koba was smiling so happily as he pulled his phone during Monochrome (I don't remember which show), the guy forgot to turn on the light though xD Despite many fans have a grudge with the way Koba managing things, esp merchs and stuffs (me too) I find it heartwarming seeing how much passion he still has for this BM project
and he does listen to what we have to say and when appropriate tries to give us what we ask for, probably the latest example of this was we asked for Metalverse to perform at summer sonic and he made it happen, not just the food court like we asked he got them on stage.@@autohmae
My first show was watching them in Japan where there was absolutely no video recording so no handphones up, there was no crowdsurfing, moshing was very polite, mainly running in spiral and noone is speaking or singing over Su. So I got an optimal experience. But I’ve been to other shows and people are also mostly very nice. I’m sorry there were some negatives in your experience, but I’d say its not normally like that in their solo shows.
I know the feeling I’ll be seeing them on the 25th for the second time . The first time was 10 feet away this time I’m in the last row of balcony I’m nervous the experience won’t be as “ spiritual “ this time around It’s been 4 years and I can still feel the impact of that first show
Your thoughts on Su-Metal immediately made me recall her graduation interview from SG. Specifically with the gentlemen at Tower Records at 15 years old. I was so incredibly impressed by her maturity and leadership skills. I really don’t think she noticed it as she appeared to be speaking from the heart and not as scripted as many interviews. I have worked with and for so many, “supervisors,” both in the civilian and military worlds that weren’t anywhere near her level. Su-Metal is really a once in a generation person. Thank you for the video.
I myself have watched her SG graduation several times. Listening to the words of her mates and mentors just solidified my admiration and shows just how she was truly destined for greatness
This makes me want to badly see them live. But sadly, im not capable of flying abroad just to watch them live. All I can do for now is hope that one day they'll visit my country and perform.
I discovered Babymetal back in 2013, at that time I didn't give it any importance and I never saw anything from them again. 2 years ago I casually saw "Syncopation" and I liked it, I really liked it and I started researching and watching the old videos, and came to appreciate the Band, the Girls and the Musicians. I regret wasting so much time, but I'm already a fan and I hope to see them live at some point. I was hoping that Yui would come back... but Momoko has joined the band, as if she had been a part of it from the beginning... I follow him and I hope to see other videos of his soon... Greetings. 🦊🦊🦊
Great review - and you must go to see them again if you get the chance ... no you will not recreate this experience, don't even try. What you will do is create an entirely new experience. It may be better, it may be worse, there is no way of knowing - what you can be sure of is that it won't be the same, it will be new and it will be great and then you will have both experiences to look back on. I'm with you on your rants at the start, especially crowd surfers and the people holding their phones etc up for the whole show ... put the phones down, live in the moment, watch, join in, be part of something special - be part of making it something special and not just a sea of phones with nobody dancing, jumping, pumping their fists, singing along etc. Loved your thoughts on the Kami Band, Moa, Momoko and Su ... yes they really are real, they do exist and they were there, in person ... and they are amazing.
@@AndrewHartley Really? I can't imagine how, I 'm reading through the comments (there are a lot of them and I'm a slow reader) and all I've seen so far is appreciation ...
@@AndrewHartley Ah, good thinking - I don't get some people at all. For what it's worth I loved your review and agree with your rants. I'm so glad you finally got to see them live and had that same sense of "oh, they are real" that I think most of us had when we were finally in the same big room.
DethKlok is a Gorillas-esque, Spinal Tap-esque metal band I'm not sure if all the members are voice actors but I know the lead singer is the voice actor for the animated series Metalocolypse which is where the band Detklok is derived from I was excited when I heard they would tour together Introducing BabyMetal to more hardcore metal fans I was also worried that BabyMetal and their fans may get disrespected by the metal elitist that you would think might be Dethklok fans Like with their recent collaborations Lil Uzi and Tom Morello BabyMetal is bridging the gaps between music genres
Totally fair. And I think if I had a clearer sense of that going in my experiencer would have been different. But the irony didn't play for me, so I missed it. But yes, I'm all for BM bridging genres.
This was my first Babymetal concert as well. They are such a presence on stage. The proshots, although amazing, don't do their skills at performing justice.
You said it - words can't do it justice, but you certainly gave it a noble attempt, better than most of us could! Two points resonated with me the most, and they are things I definitely felt as well when I was lucky enough to see them in June; the "Safari" analogy, as well as "Sprezzatura" (such a lovely word) They really do have a sense of "otherworldliness" to them, like Disney princesses come to life. I assume that in part is a reason for the continued offstage secrecy to avoid breaking the illusion, which I think works fairly well. Oh, and to anyone else reading in the comments - I highly recommend picking up AJ's new book "Hideki Smith", it really is very well-written and entertaining; I finished it in one evening because I just had to!
@@AndrewHartley I am italian and I didn't know this word. I think it's a very uncommon word,maybe used only in academic contexts. And yes, now that i know the meaning, it's the perfect word to describe them.
@@AndrewHartley I can't post on Amazon because I don't buy enough there regularly; are there other places where I can post a review that would be helpful?
The thing you mentioned about Su communicating. When we see Su leading the band, some people don’t get to see that she does this even behind the performances, the girls take the lead from her and she takes on the leading role both as a singer and as “senior” Its no surprise that she has great crowd control and pressence, she’s a natural leader through and through.
Andrew, to say that I am jealous that you witnessed the BabyMetal greatness is an understatement. It is my dream to go and see BabyMetal, but I fear that dream will stay a dream (my wife hates BabyMetal, which makes me love them even more). I must admit that the whole Dethklok/BabyMetal combo is a strange one, as they are polar opposites - I guess opposites attract. I've heard a few Dethklok songs through the Batmetal series on UA-cam. I'm on the fence about them, although I liked those tracks. The part with Moa in it, she looked so upset that she had hit the guard, even by accident and really looked like she was going to burst into tears. Stay safe, stay smiling
I think MomoMetal has been a perfect addition. I think she is just right for the direction Babymetal is going! i want to see them both in a smaller venue and in Japan one day! I find Dethklok kind of a wasted opportunity, if that makes sense. cartoon bands have been done before, but i dont know that there has been a metal one like them. its a neat idea w lots of potential and i feel like they just dont execute it well. being animated opens so many potentially interesting doors and i feel like they just fall back on tired tropes imho. i do totally get why some people do love them and i genuinely love anything that makes people geek out. just not for me. if they went in a different direct w band lore/animation i would def be interested in trying again! as far as the connection to Babymetal, I think its likely because they are both...like "new" concepts (kinda). like metal w the dance routines is new and there arent many (or any) groups doing it, and there certainly aren't a lot of animated bands, so they prob thought together it would make a really interesting show. plus Babymetals use of visuals is also fairly unique. other than massive stadium shows, lots of metal bands are your standard club 5 guys on stage w a banner style show. plus if they are going in a more mature direction or wanting to shake off a bit of the kawaii metal thing (especially w metal galaxy coming in) touring w dethklok is away to do that. it certainly is something to point to if anyone attempts to crit them for having a sanitised sort of image, which ive seen
Nice. Congratulations on your first show. Mikiko said it best in an old interview when she said Yui and Moa love to play parts and put on someone's face when they perform. Su doesn't act like someone during a performance, she is someone on stage. The performances are special, and a reason why so many fans attend multiple shows.
Loving the wild animal analogy. Like many wild animals , seeing Babymetal in the wild can be painful.😂 Mosh pits and crowd surfing looks fun on video, but at a certain age , it definitely isn't. 😂 🦊🦊🔥🦊🦊
Thank you so much for your, as ever, wonderfully eloquent words. For me at least, and I know for a fact many others, you cannot talk too much! I totally recognised and understood the “BABYMETAL” ear-to-ear grin on your face on the thumbnail for your video, that’s exactly how I looked throughout my first BM concert. If you are worried about going to another one, don’t be…you will feal the magic EVERY TIME!!!! And will have that exact same grin on the way home. The spell they cast ALWAYS works. Shame about the minority of party spoilers but that does seem to be a bit of a norm these days. Although I do have to say the last time I saw them was with Sabaton at Wembley Arena. I queued up a couple of hours or so in my carefully hand painted “Onedari” bones hoodie, probably outnumbered about 1000 to 1, and couldn’t have had a more positive experience. Even when they were being a bit sniffy about our girls they were still really respectful, and once BM hit the stage it instantly became clear that there were huge numbers of Sabaton BABYMETAL fans. Admittedly there is a connection between the bands so why not the fans too? Judging by some of the conversations at the bar BM gained many new converts too. The behaviour of the crowd was exemplary and overwhelmingly friendly and supportive, I remember thinking “how BABYMETAL”. Kudos to Sabaton fans! Clearly, sadly, not universally true amongst SOME metal fans. BTW, I thought the new costumes were astonishing too. Light and colour seems to explode out of the girls, a truly breathtaking effect that I can only think some people have judged without experiencing it for themselves. And oh yes, I did have that smile for days afterwards. You will and must see them again…see how long you resist when tickets next go on sale. I predict maybe two seconds if you’re feeling a bit dubious. Thanks again for such a lovely and emotion rekindling description of the concert. Damn I love those girls! 🦊🦊🦊
Your point about the characterhood is interesting, and I think it's important to note that unlike traditional stage actors, Su and Moa particularly have been playing these characters for over a decade, and in particular they grew up playing these characters. So when you say that Su is both playing the character and expressing herself and her own personhood, I think for most people anything that you've been doing for 10+ years becomes a part of yourself and a part of your own person. So in a way I think you could even say that Su is not just playing the character of Su-Metal, but that the character of Su-Metal is probably a part of her as an individual - even if it is in a very real way not the same as Su probably is in her private life.
@@AndrewHartley Mikiko about Su in 2013: "I’m talking about Suzuka again, but she never tries to dance like someone. Once music is on, she is someone. She is natural, and her being so natural rubs off on Yui and Moa. I think so, very much, though I don’t think the two are aware of Suzuka’s influence. And Moa and Yui love to assume someone else lol"
I enjoyed your story. Like you, due to my Job and other issues, I have never had the opportunity to get to a Babymetal show and, unlike you, is one of those things that I think will pass me by before I will be able. I'm 60 now and started watching the girls when I was 49...so its been a while and my personal history tells me not to expect it to happen. C'est la vie. But I do get to enjoy hearing the stories of others, such as yours, and enjoying all I can consume through UA-cam and other Social Media so its not a complete tragedy!! LoL! Thanks again and as always.... Put your Kitsune UP!! Po!
You never know. I'm 60 next year, and had kind of thought the same about BM and several other Japanese bands, all of whom I will have seen by the end of this year! Fingers crossed, Kitsune :)
Babymetal is magic. Each show you go to it becomes even more magical. Don't worry, I'm going to my 5th show and each have been more magical then the next.
Great review. I agree with your analysis of babymetal. Unlike other artists, SU-METAL gets into the world of poetry. Andrew should experience BABYMETAL live in Japan sometime! I'm sure you'll enjoy the show!🤘🦊 Sometimes tears flow when I listen to BABYMETAL's songs, even though they are not sad songs. I don't know why.😅
Really enjoyed your in-depth analysis of the concert and the ladies and band performance. So very eloquent with a strong intellect throughout, you validate BM's existance as a unique cultural force- something I find to be lacking elsewhere. An most enjoyable watch. Top stuff. And as a fellow Brit, I also enjoyed listening to your accent weave between British and American. 😀
Ha! Thanks. Yeah, I've lived in a lot of places and my accent is now a mess. Everywhere I go, including the place I grew up, I get that "you aren't from round here" look :) Cheers.
@@AndrewHartley Most welcome! Dogging further into your channel, I now look forward to listening to your other BM commentaries. Keep up the good work! Subscribed.
I think they recognised you, I don't think it is typical to get lot's of eye contact, once or twice if you are lucky. There is no way they haven't seen your video and you are quite recognisable. I love hearing fans first time concert impressions. I flew from New Zealand to see them in Melbourne in June and it was worth every penny I paid, I had my minimum expectation and my maximum figured out beforehand they met the maximum and exceeded it. to me they performed exactly as they would have if it had been a huge show in Japan there was no hint that they were just going through the motions. I know how you felt about it suddenly being real, it is almost like a spell is broken and then a new spell is cast over you where watching DVDs and UA-cam aren't enough anymore, although I still watch them lol
This was a really fun watch. I can tell it meant a lot to you to finally see them live. While I never personally encountered the word sprezzatura before this, I've been practicing a particularly potent form of martial arts for nearly ten years now, one which has fundamentally seeped all the way in to the very core of who I am. My teacher often says of the material, "this is not something you do, it's something you become", and, yeah, that idea of sprezzatura... I've felt it firsthand in my own practice. It's nice to finally have a name for that feeling :) Also, I feel a little bit bad for a previous comment on another video of yours about how you seem to be more into the band than I am. In hindsight, I felt like that could've come off as passive aggressive in some way, but I honestly just meant to convey, "hey you've opened my eyes to new aspects of this band I had missed before", and yeah, you've continued to do that here. Cheers!
Thanks for sharing your experience! The experience of my first BM concert, 11 weeks away, will be different as I will be standing far away from the stage, in the back (can't be in crowds), just enjoying the music. So it's a pity that they don't project live camera footage of the stage on the big screen as they do in the huge shows. Had been listening to many Metari fancams to find out if the audience picked up the "Sakura-ya" after the Kabuki part and only heard it once. So that must have been you. Sidenote: there's now "Burning Shakespeare" in the house. I gave it to my wife who finished it in a short time. I have to wait until the kindle version is available over here.
Awesome. I hope you enjoy the show (I'm sure you will). I hear a few others have been shouting Sakura-ya our versions thereof, but it's hard to hear over the crowd. I don't know that a non US Burning Shakespeare ebook is on the cards any time soon because of licensing issues. I'll look into it.
Hi so I have been lucky enough to see them 3 times (twice seated and once standing in 2019/2020). In part I chose in 2020 for Manchester (seated) and the next day London (standing) as it gave me two different views of the show. My one standing was right at the barrier in front of Su. On the upside I was right in front of Su - the downside was mostly the constant (and I mean every 5 minutes) having someone crowd surf over my head and a boot slamming into the back of my head. I have since learnt the positioning rules. Middle centre is Mosh Pit territory - if you want to avoid the worst of the crush then left or right sides are far better. At the end of the day it IS a metal concert. If you are right at the front (3-4 rows) the speakers are aimed further back and you find you do not even need earplugs there. Phones yeah HATE them at concerts (and it is all concerts). Sure the odd pic I took but the constant filming is a pain. Of course Moa would look upset. We all know this is a woman who her whole career has worn her heart on her sleeve. She is not called the Angel of Love for nothing. And yes I agree 100% they are moving Moa and Momoko sides. We have always known Moa was superb at that audience contact, and Momoko has the same ability. we all live for the moment Moa makes eye contact at a concert because you know she has SEEN you. And if you get that smile... :D On the drinking onstage I have seen at the concerts I saw they all had water bottles and did drink from them (usually the stage is darkened and they are at the back with the back to the audience) Her stage presence and control is total. And that 15+ years of stage experience shows (along with Moa) and she will direct and position them as needed. And you can see she always knows exactly where they both are. She was born to be on stage. Did you feel her larger than life? We know how slim and small Suzuka is yet on stage she appears so much bigger/larger. But I would disagree about her being 100% SU-METAL. Sure in the old days she was this ice persona - but in recent years I would say Suzuka sneaks out (you see it in the smile, the sudden little movement / shake of pleasure that is 100% Su coming out and enjoying the moment)
Totally agree. I didn't mean to suggest that the SuMetal persona is all death stare. I think of her persona as including the fun and playful too, esp in the lighter songs. I just meant she is in character throughout, but that character is quite complex and layered, as you suggest. Thanks for the comments.
Team Babymetal will have bottles on every stage, multiple even. They almost never use it, as he said, but when they do: it's really hot weather and normally outside. Possible a festival, with limited area on the side of the stage they can use to disappear.
I’ve just watched your review Professor and it was both fascinating and informative,closed it on my iPad and I’ve just seen the thumbnail, do you realise that you’re starting to look a bit like Paul McCartney? 😂
Me alegro mucho que hayas podido ver en vivo a BABYMETAL!!! Me encantan tus videos y análisis. Por ahora no he visto a BABYMETAL en vivo (espero un día se me cumpla ese sueño), pero coincido en todo lo que comentas y entiendo como te sientes. Me transmitiste tus sentimientos totalmente. También comparto las cosas que te molestaron del show. Creo que tenemos una forma parecida de ver las cosas. God, siempre que veo algún video de BABYMETAL por YT, me imagino como me comportaría yo si estuviera ahí mismo y creo que no podría dejar de ver a Su-Metal, su presencia es demasiado grande como para apartar la mirada por unos segundos 🤣. Me encantaría poder ver todo lo que pase y también participar de los mosh-pit pero creo que sería imposible 🤣. Muchas gracias por tus videos!! See you 🤘🦊 🤘
Muchas gracias. ¡Estoy usando una traducción automática así que me disculpo por el mal español! Realmente aprecio su apoyo. ¡Mis mejores deseos, y espero que llegue a ver BM pronto!
My sister offered to take me to see Chris Stapleton, but I have never seen a fancam from a Chris Stapleton concert that wasn't overpowered by people just having random, loud, unrelated conversations *while* the songs were playing, and I was like...tickets cost too much for my experience to be ruined by inconsiderate fans. I do not understand people like that at all. Also, I expect Dethklok to be something I'm just willing to endure to get to BabyMetal on the other side. Traveling with chronic illness will be less than fun, and the whole experience will be an ordeal, honestly, so I'm approaching it like a quest. XD I WILL OVERCOME THE HARDSHIPS TO EARN THE PRIZE. I would even venture the floor, but can't have a cane in gen admission, so a balcony it is. (Speaking of chronic illness, it's making reading difficult, unfortunately. Not long ago, I could read a novel in a single sitting, but lately, I only get a few pages in before things turn to word soup and I have to take a break. Also, after a few pages, I was inspired to sit down and write on my own stuff. :p So that one's on you. XD But even just the opening paragraph was *chef's kiss* I was like, 'Oh, okay. So we've got a talented storyteller on our hands here.' Sorry the book went to someone with permanent fibro fog, but I will get through it slowly but surely.)
I hurt my lower back a few days before the show and was very worried if I wouldn't be able to stand the queueing and standing for over two hours in the venue but with the help of codeine and the adrenalin I was able to get through without it bothering me too much, I couldn't jump around but I was able to put my kitsune up and shout along at all the right times.
@@chrisharris1522 Glad you had fun. 🤘And that's all I need, too. I do not tolerate pain meds well, but I think a couple of shots of vodka might do me. XD But even if I knew they would have to carry me out on a stretcher after, there's no way I'd miss this show. :p
I very much agree that Dethklok seemed so far from connected to Babymetal. Not my first metal concert but definitely that mosh pit wasn't like any that I have experienced. Normally people respect that not everyone wants to mosh. I was about one row behind you just stage left of center. I had to leave the floor fairly early in as well because of getting hit and needing to check for a bigger injury. The Babymetal performance was absolutely magical. Su, Moa and Momo were just so spectacular.
Seeing BABYMETAL live is, in my opinion, nothing less that extraordinary. Perhaps I can assuage your fears regarding seeing them again. I saw them twice in Australia earlier this year; once in Sydney and then I flew down to Melbourne to see them again. I think I appreciated them even more so in the second show. The atmosphere in the Melbourne show was particularly amazing. In both shows the crowds were enthusiastic but chaotic and I would have liked to have seen some more of the (is proper the right word?) crowd responses, especially in the stands where I was. I felt a bit alone in my various chants up there. Nevertheless, suffice to say if they do a world tour finale in Japan next year, I’ll be trying to get tickets!
Very interesting and enjoyable. Thank you for everything. Live concerts in Japan are inevitably held in large venues, so even if I buy the best ticket, I can only see a minute or two in total, as I am quite far away from my position and there are many people there. The girls are also a little more formal when the cameras come in for video productions, so they do not have the freedom they have when performing abroad. I envy your live shows abroad. I think music videos are fine as they are, but I always want video works to be released with fixed-point images. I prefer fan cams that allow me to see BM live, rather than the footage the video creators want to show. From Japan🦊
Several points I've been writing as I watch the video... -Yeah I also felt that way when I saw them for the first time this spring in London. I thought I was going to get emotional but the feeling was more strange, a bit shocked and felt a bit uncanny. I was around the same place you were, 2nd/3rd row a bit more to center in front of Suzuka slightly to the left. Great spot if you ask me xD -On people getting violent I do not know, I didn't see that on the two shows I went (London, Vienna), but we were few Babymetal people that time. I had heard around the community that there had been problems in the mosh pits in Orlando, but I had not heard anything about Atlanta. -They have been changing the song from TOO that is not Monochrome. Maya the first two shows, Mirror Mirror the two next ones, and they are doing Believing now. It was similar during the Sabaton tour in Europe, were they were alternating Mirror Mirror, Divine Attack, Metalizm, Metal Kingdom and Maya between shows. -To me how Moa worries about the security guard speaks of the work culture they have going on in that team, the enormous respect they have for all the people helping them doing their thing. The security guard, the guy in the lights, the tour bus driver, the guys who build the stage...you know, everyone involved. A lot of artists would not give a f about the guard, that explains to me there is a work culture that's been going on inside that team for years. -There is something that feels special when you get acknowledged. As I said I remember in London that we were like 1 to 4 between Babymetal people and Sabaton people, no one was doing the Pa Pa Ya dance, and for a moment you could see a shade of sadness in Su's face. Not really because she is in control always, but something in her eyes. I remember she looked to me jumping around there alone for less than a second and she looked more happy after that. It seems stupid but I do not think I'll forget that, then it felt like we were a team and I was doing my part as a fan. Yeah, I will always deny I feel like that if someone asks in real life. -Yeah Su is an enormously talented person, as I see it this whole wave of attention japanese metal is getting is carried on the shoulders of this woman. We are immensely fortunate to have her doing metal. Be careful Andrew because going to their shows becomes addictive xD I feel like I wrote a lot to say nothing, so sorry, and I am happy you saw them at last!
Thanks! I totally agree with all that. I'm sorry to hear Su felt a little less supported on the Sabaton tour. I didn't get that here at all, which is great!
We'll be releasing a translation of the PMC interview very soon, and you will be very happy to note that Su specifically talked about how happy she was to see people like you on the Sabaton tour!
Thank you for sharing your thoughts and experience. May I ask you, what did you wife think about that Babymetal show? I always wonder what Japanese people think about Japanese groups sing in Japanese to non-japanese audience.
Though I met my wife in Japan, she is Japanese American (nisei). But I have also sent video to my Japanese mother in law who is fascinated by BM :) My wife had a blast, though she was sometimes anxious about the crowd.
Great review video. My wife and I saw them in Nashville for the first time. Baby Metal are amazing. It was everything we hoping for. We got Believing instead of Maya. We didn’t care for Deathlok that much. They were way to loud and you couldn’t hear vocals at all. Baby Metal’s sound was perfect. We sat all the way stage left first row. We could see them when they went back to get drinks. They were being silly and having a lot of fun. Best moment was during Road of Resistance, Moa came to our side and I waved at her. She waved back and gave us the heart. Totally Amazing. Can’t wait to see them again. Thank you for your videos over the years for explaining the meanings of the videos. PS our Ultimate goal is to go to Japan and see one of the Big Shows. Hope to see you there.
That's awesome. I love that you got to glimpse them backstage. Very cool. And thanks for the note on the previous videos. This is a small channel, so I really appreciate the positive response.
Being such a great fan, its awesome to see you finally make it to a Babymetal concert. Never heard of Dethlock, but I think the recent collab with Lil Uzi Vert and now touring with Dethlock, Koba is making questionable choices in trying to spread Babymetal out to a wider audience? I'm not sure if that is why he's doing it, but Lil Uzi Vert is strange enough coming out of nowhere (there was like no talk of this collab until the song dropped).... And with the way you described Dethlock... ehhhhh, not the image I think BM should be cultivating/associating with.... I'm still wishing BM can tour with bands like Within Temptation, Nightwish, Halestorm or to be a bit edgier In This Moment... I was at their concert in Hong Kong for the first time in May, and for an Asian concert, I was surprised how few cameras were out... I got mine out to catch a few moments, and then it was put away for some serious jumping around.... pretty much everyone was doing the same, only some fans way up in front had their cameras out for most of the show.... At least I can cross Babymetal concert off my bucket list.... Though going to one of their Japanese mega shows, will be forever a dream I'll have. 😁😁😁😁🤘🦊🤘
Yeah, I'd love to see them in Japan at a big venue and get the full stage effect. As someone else said, maybe these odd pairings are a deliberate effort to give them a hard edge which doesn't actually impact their own material? Maybe. Cheers.
@@AndrewHartley I'm currently working on a few recently published interviews, where they discuss the collaboration with Lil Uzi Vert in a bit more detail! I'm sure after this tour they will also have some content talking about Dethklok as well. Koba's mind works in mysterious ways, but sometimes the answer is more straightforward than we might have imagined!
My wife and I tried so hard to get into Dethklok at our two shows. We had the same issues. Just wasn't for us. And yeah the crowd seemed way more rough than what I was led to believe about Babymetal metal concerts. I don't think it's a good pairing at all and hope next time they have someone else. I'm in the same "get off my lawn" mentality haha does that mean we're getting older? Never 😂. Babymetal themselves were an out of body experience for me. Now, I just need to see them as often as I can. Edit: I had the exact same feeling during Gimme Chocolate too, it was surreal. "Oh they're actually real?"
Yes, I expect we're in the minority, but I'd like to see them perform with bands that were a bit closer to them in tone. Maybe it's a conscious choice of something to fire up the crowd and play off, but it's not for me.
@@AndrewHartleyyeah I bet part of the decision was that they are a sort of cinematic act that has lore and story and is tongue in cheek which is similar to Babymetal. Also the fan crossover, I've heard of a lot of Dethklok fans that didn't know who Babymetal was and now love them. Also to me it sort of breaks the fourth wall a little. We always think of Babymetal and their branding being so innocent and wholesome but, possibly they get a kick out of crazy stuff like Dethklok haha, showing they are normal people kinda. Or I could be completely wrong and crazy haha
I like what they did in Australia, they chose a young up and coming local band and gave them a chance to show what they can do in the spotlight, and I thought they did great too. The young lady fronting the band did amazing considering, to be fair the crowd wasn't giving them much to work with.@@AndrewHartley
A good question. Hard to say. In line, I would have guessed more DK than BM fans, but when we got inside, that seemed less true. Where I was at the front the BM fans seemed to outnumber the DK fans, though some were fans of both. Certainly I didn't see people leave before BM came on. If I had to guess, I'd say 60-40 BM/DK, but other people may have a different impression.
In your part starting at 33:53, it reminded me of something Su said in an interview not too long ago. I do not remember the exact interview but I screen shot and saved her words. I thought it was interesting; "And so it feels to me that this existence known as Su-Metal is a totally different type of personality that is completely out of the ordinary, you see. So when I attempt to deal with this character as just another human being because she is so far removed from myself we get into fights with each other. So, rather than deal with Su-Metal in that manner if I let her have some space away from me I am able to look upon her from an objective position and even cheer her on - I am able to give her advice and support you could say. If we were one of the same person, I think I would be afraid to make mistakes." You mentioned earlier about having that sense of realizing they are actually real. The first time I saw them, for the first moments I had could not shake the feeling that I was watching a video but it was just a really large screen. It took me a bit for my mind to comprehend that I was watching them face to face in real life. It was a very strange but wonderful feeling when I was finally able to process it.
@@funnytoss Thank You! I thought it was much more recent than that. You would certainly know since I'm sure it was your translation I was almost certainly reading.
Congratulations on your first BABYMETAL concert! 祝： 赤子金属 初参戦 Another great analysis! I was especially happy to learn how it affected you personally. 🦊 My very first BABYMETAL live was this January @ Makuhari. Although I was far away from the stage, they had so much charisma that they totally overtook my emotions. And those "wall-to-wall" jumping fans - don’t see that very often… crazy. Until then, the 2017 Total Solar Eclipse was at the top of my list of "wow" moments (not including personal events like our first baby, etc.) but this was dethroned by this first live concert. How is it that they can make me and many around me cry and smile at the same time? 🦊 I have a daughter that lives in Durham, NC which is an hour’s drive from the Blue Ridge Rock Festival, but when I asked her to let me stay at her place, her answer was, ”There is no way I am letting my 75-year old Dad get injured. Please don’t go.” I told her I ran in the circle pit @ Makuhari, but she as well as my other daughter both said,” Those pits in Japan are tame.” 😖
@@AndrewHartley I envy that your wife enjoyed the show!!! My wife, who does not like BM, did finally agreed to go to a live show with me. But the "BAIT" cost me... It is in Barcelona (Dec.10) 😆 🦊🦊🦊
I saw them for the first time in Houston. I completely agree with you about Deathklok. It almost tainted the whole experience for me. And despite the length of the show, when BM came out, and this might sound cliched, I completely forgot about all of the ache in my feet and back. I did record their whole set, but I used a phone gimbal so the recording would be steady and I could focus on the stage instead of my phone. I am not posting the recording, though, as I feel that is akin to theft. Thank you for articulating how it felt to see them live for the first time. I too, had the though of "Oh wow, they're really real!", but I felt silly thinking it. With your review, I don't feel silly anymore. Finally, in regards to this experience being one of a kind and not wanting to "ruin" the memory of it, I look at this way: this experience was unique, but so will the next one be. I get to see them for the first time all over again! Thanks again for your thoughts, and I look forward to your next BM video!
As both a Dethklok and Babymetal fan(I was mostly there for Babymetal), I have to agree about the Dethklok criticism. It was not a great pairing. The clips on the screen were all from the cartoon than was the origin of Dethklok, and the brutality and stupidity of it is tongue-in-cheek in MEtalocalypse. It is mocking that same mindless brutality that some metal glorifies. That said, in the context of that show, there was very little humor to it, and it was a stark contrast to Babymetal, and I think was out of place and inappropriate for an all ages show that had a fair number of children. I was actually right next to you at the show, and the couple with their young daughter on the father's shoulders disturbed me with the sex and nightmare images on screen.
Are you one of the guys I spoke to before the show? Did you see if the guys who had to leave were OK? Yes, I understand from what others have also said that Deathklok is supposed to be tongue in cheek, and that makes me think differently about them, but I just didn't get that in the moment. And yeah, if that guy had been showing that cartoon to his kids at home, someone would be calling child services... Anyway, great show.
@@AndrewHartley We didn't speak at the show. I didn't know about you until this video popped on my feed and I said "Hey! I was right next to that guy at the show!" As far as I know the two people they pulled out were both ok. I have heard that one of them watched the rest of the show from the back, and the other one I think I saw in the seats nearby later. Even when I saw the original concert announcement it seemed like an odd pairing, but I was into both bands so I liked it. It didn't even occur to me that Dethklok would have the graphic imagery from their show on behind them. Someone should have thought about that ahead of time though, and realized it wasn't a good idea.
When I first saw a video of the "turn on all your lights" moment during Monochrome, I loved it but I was worried it would become something they would always do when they played that song live a bit like when Su talks to the audience during Karate. I thought it would lose it's authenticity and impact if it was just something pre planned that they always did. However despite them always performing that moment during Monochrome, it still stirs my emotions. In fact even watching the clip and seeing AJ talk about it in this video caused me to have to wipe a few small tears away.
Yes, I thought the same. It's doubly hard because their shows are tightly constrained in terms of time so they have to stick to what was rehearsed, and speaking in English means Su tends to use the same call outs to the audience (which is totally understandable: if I had to speak Japanese to thousands of people I'd definitely be on script). Even so, it still feels special.
I'm taking my granddaughter to see them in December. CAN'T WAIT!!!!!
I was seated in the balcony basically over stage left. Best part for me was during Megitsune when Su has the mask blocking her face from the audience. No super silly faces this time, but just the pure, utter happiness in her smile to Moa and Momoko. I truly believe they enjoy every minute of what they are doing. That smile was for no one other than herself and the others on stage with her.
This was my third concert (Atlanta 2018 before this and the RHCP tour before that). Each one is special in its own ways.
Excellent. It's funny how full shows come down to single moments that lodge in your mind forever. Thanks for sharing!
I went to one of the shows, while I was going through a rough time, dealing with trauma. It sounds really cheesy but watching them with thousands of other fans was a real healing process, something which therapy doesn’t provide. From the bottom of my heart I thank Babymetal and the whole team.
You are not the only one. Cheers!
I am in my late 60's and a Babymetal fan of a little over a year. I have been a rock and metal guitarist and singer since the late 70's and had tired of the metal scene in the U.S. I stopped playing several years ago and after seeing BM on YT was suddenly and completely re - energized to play and delve into music again. Babymetal saved my life and I feel a fierce protectiveness of them and their reputation. I contend that they are a global force that equals or exceeds the arrival of the Beatles to America - which I watched as an 8 year old and had the direction for my life set from then on.
I said all that to say this. I don't understand Babymetal's management where the USA is concerned. They should be booking large arenas in large cities. If they feel they can't fill these then that should tell them they need to step up their marketing in the west. Instead, official merch is hard to get. They book them in smaller clubs and pair them with the Metal equivalent of the Archies - only darker. What are they thinking pairing Babymetal's message with that kind of band?
BM's stage show is designed for the large stage in a large arena. Smaller stages affect everything from movement to sound. I've played on every stage size and the smaller the stage gets the more the band compromises. They have no choice. While I understand there is a certain intimacy in a smaller venue, much is compromised for that intimacy.
My son and I discussed going to see a concert in Chicago but he wanted to go to see Deathklok. He is a metal guitarist himself but is into the darker stuff I decided was not for me. I figured then that it would at best be a mixed crowd. Not wanting to be disappointed in the response to Babymetal, I decided not to see them this tour. On my bucket list is to see them in Japan for the first time. BM is a band above and beyond the rest and just like the Beatles in the 60's, every band out there is playing catch up with them every time they perform, whether on stage or in the studio. Yet their management allows them to go to the West and books them as a carnival sideshow band.
My contention is that Babymetal is the most important band since the Beatles because they have all the elements present that defined Beatlemania. They took existing genre's and combined them into something totally new and fresh. They altered everything from clothes to look to message and came out swinging. Every album released shows maturity and growth. With only 4 albums they have outdone the Beatles where live performances are concerned and lasted twice as long. There are many more elements that define Babymetal's importance in the history and growth of Rock but I'll leave it there.
I love your channel. Your deep dives into the songs as well as lore is utterly fascinating and most welcome to someone playing catchup like me. lol. Thank you.
🤘🦊🤘
Babymetal is working up to it, this is the first tour after the covid-19 debacle and they ALWAYS make dawn sure as much merch as possible sells out as much as possible and that every venue sells out, because everything else is a loss. Babymetal fans have noticed: seeing them in a big venue is amazing, but seeing them in a small venue is amazing too. As BOH ones said; Babybmetal live in a big venue is an amazing achievement, but not because of the big production.
I agree they could be playing much larger arenas and stadiums, but I guess there is a risk to that, but there is the other side where I don't think they like the idea of playing shows where people can't see them other than the big screen they thrive off the energy of the fans and I personally believe because of the no fan interaction other than when they are performing policy, they look forward to seeing us as much as we do them, you definitely get that impression when you see how happy they look when they come back after a break
My pleasure, and thanks. I have often been a bit baffled by the tour pairings and venues, but I will say that being in a smaller venue like this and getting close to the stage was hugely satisfying for me. Like you, I'd love to do one of the big spectacle shows in Japan, but the proximity we got here was really special. Thanks so much for the comment. I'm delighted that you find this channel worth your time!
@@chrisharris1522 Thank you. This is a perspective on the stage size I had not considered. If they are happy then I'm happy for them.
So glad to hear your comments on the show. I am going to be at the Sacramento show during Aftershock 23 in a few weeks. Should be epic.
Should indeed :)
So pleased that you have managed to catch a live show! Great retrospective on your Babymetal "experience" :)
Thank you!
I saw DEATH performed with YUI some 10 years ago, this year I saw DEATH again with MOMO. Those are the only two Babymetal concerts I went to. They don't come to my part of the world very often. The first one was when they were so small that they need a pedestal to stand on stage, having fun with DOKI DOKI MORNING and IINE, smiling ear to ear. Now they are in all black, standing tall, proudly blurting lines from BxMxC and MAYA.
I shed tears of joy on both occasions, just can't help it. Haters doubters say what they want to say, I don't care, both occasions are profoundly meaningful moments to me.
I completely understand why both shows would resonate for you in profound but different ways. Thanks!
Awesome you finally got to see them! I just went to my first show in Orlando the day before!
Nice!
I was at the Houston show. Bebymetal was fantastic. It was my first Babymetal show. I want to see them in Japan.
Agreed. Good luck!
I was there too. 🤘🦊🤘😊
Ha ha love the rant AJ! I'm seeing them in NYC for the first time
Have a great time!
This was my first BabyMetal concert and I was so excited when I got tickets. I just thought how amazing it would be. Then I started think it just as a concert, and maybe not that special.
This went back and forth for awhile, knowing that I wasn't going to miss the show and how great it would be, then worried that I was propping it up too much in my mind.
But, it was everything that I could have hoped it would be, except for Mirror, Mirror, or even if it was Maya.
Those just never hit me properly, but I enjoyed them.
From the very beginning of BabyMetal Death, I was hooked.
The show was everything I thought about in my most excited moments.
Now, for the length of the concert, of course I would have loved a 2 hour plus concert, which is almost what I expect from concerts these days.
I was even heavily disappointed when Heart only did like 1 hour and 35 minutes, I thought it was too short.
But I knew what BabyMetal was, and when it was over, I felt as happy as if it was 2+ hours.
And, I feel the same way about DethKlok. They are not the type of band I'd ever have listened to if I had a choice, and even seeing them live did nothing for me, but everyone has their tastes. I listen to music that a lot of the people I know wouldn't be caught dead listening to. But, they didn't fit.
To show you how determined I was to see this concert, I worked from 8am Saturday until about 5pm, then worked from 1:00am Sunday until about noon.
I did get SOME sleep and went off to the concert. Waiting in line in what seemed to be 175 degree heat, I actually passed out and fell on the ground. I was helped up, moved to shade, and sat there while security got me some water and stayed with me. It took about 40 minutes for me to get my strength back to stand up and get into the arena, which I was close to saying I would go to the emergency room.
But, I survived the concert and BabyMetal made the whole experience worth it!
I am fine, not feeling any issues because of that (except for maybe the rambling and possible incoherence of my thoughts above *wink* )
I can't wait for them to return!
I'm so glad that you are feeling ok and that your passing out didn't stop you from seeing the show! Would have been so sad to miss. And thanks for the thoughtful and supportive comment. Much appreciated.
"Yeah, it was great!" I like the simplicity of that final statement because it conveys how you received it emotionally.
Even though you're not 15, I guess to you, Headbanger makes even more sense now: you won't forget that concert and you'll hold on to that memory forever.
I will :)
初ライブ参戦おめでとうございます！素敵なレビューでした。
ありがとう！本当に嬉しかった。
I yelled Sakura with you .. I could hear mine in that video too!
Awesome!
I have definitely seen BABYMETAL drink on stage, usually they have a couple little tables set up with bottles with straws they sip out of between songs.
Usually it's dark so it's not really visible to most members of the audience but at festivals and other venues where they can't bring the lights down for whatever reason you can see it.
Fair enough :) In this case, they went off.
My man, I was at the Atlanta show too and like you, it was my first Babymetal concert experience. I was at the railing stage left! Basically on stage.
You absolutely are not not alone in the feeling of having a "quasi-magical" experience! It was indescribable yet so easy to talk about at the same time - the paradox of Babymetal. The lasting effect of their performance.
I'm seeing them again in Boston next week - like you referenced, I'm concerned about not being able to recreate that same magic from last Sunday BUT I have the opportunity to go and I have a feeling that this time around, since I know what to expect, I can let loose a little more and enjoy the show! 🤘🔥
Awesome. We probably saw each other. Have fun in Boston!
Professor, I had the same experience in both Houston and Dallas (Las Vegas is coming up!). I have been a fan since seeing them on Colbert but have never had the opportunity to see them live, until this tour. They were as impressive and perfect as I had expected. What an experience this was! To me, it was like the first time that I saw Peter Gabriel in concert. It was almost a religious experience that stayed with me for a long time.
That's an interesting comparison. I've seen footage of Gabriel concerts and understand why they might have a similar effect. Enjoy Vegas!
BRAVO!!!!❤
Hi Professor, this is a great video as usual, and it seems we had some similar experiences in our first time at a Babymetal concert.
First, I agree fully with your feelings about not being able to explain to others who had not been at the show, just how good it was. As you said, any description of good, awesome, fantastic or spectacular, just seem inadequate to explain the depth of my experience of the show; I agree that it was almost spiritual. I actually thought I was weird feeling that way, but it seems that I might not be alone in getting that feeling.
I saw Babymetal on 8 June in Brisbane, Australia where the show ran 82 minutes including encores. The opening act was a band called Relica and I thought they were a solid band and served as a really suitable opening act. The band members were dynamic, good instrumentalists and the lead singer had really strong vocals. It didn't hurt when the singer told the crowd that they were super-excited at being able to open for Babymetal, that it was a dream come true. They seemed genuinely thankful to be the opening act and openly asked the crowd on a couple of occasions to give up some noise for Babymetal, because they were in the building and could hear the crowd. So, my experience of the opening act was first rate.
I want to talk about two other points from your video that were practically identical experiences that we seemed to share, at different times and in a completely different country. You mentioned that you were never a huge fan of BxMxC, but after seeing the song performed live, you came to appreciate the song more.
I had a similar experience, but for me, the song was Shanti, Shanti, Shanti. I had never been a big fan of that song, to me it seemed a bit contrived and bordering on cultural appropriation. However, when Babymetal performed Shanti, Shanti, it blew my mind. Su's vocals were flawless, but it was Moa that really sold the song to me. Moa's supporting vocals and harmonizing ululations were on another level. Also, to see the choreography performed with such precision and attention to detail just made me respect everyone on that stage even more (musicians included because what they did with Shanti, Shanti was breathtaking).
The final point I want to pick up on was the way the girls engage the audience in the breakout sections where they interact with the crowd by smiling and waving to sections of the audience.
Su and Momo have their own presence, but I now feel that Moa is the master of engaging the crowd with eye contact. I was on a balcony that would have been about 6 feet above the stage level and right on the rail, up front, so I would have been about 15 feet from the left corner of the stage. From the first waving interlude, I felt as if Moa made eye contact with me and did so on each of the times that she came back to my corner. At one point the connection felt so strong while Moa was smiling and waving, I pointed to my chest and mouthed the word "me" and she nodded and seemed to smile and wave harder.
Of course, Moa wasn't nodding and waving to me alone, I would have just been about one of 20 to 50 people in her line of sight (who, most likely, would have all been pointing to their chests). Moa is able to create the illusion that she is looking directly at you, while each time, the many people are in her line of sight are feeling the same connection, as if it is a personal gift to you alone (of course it isn't, though).
Reading back over what I have written, it sounds a bit Moa-centric, however that wasn't my experience, if I have a favorite member of Babymetal, it would likely be Su, however, I try not to think of them in terms of favorites. I think what I experienced was a sudden deepening appreciation of the unique role that Moa plays in Babymetal. I simply think that I didn't give Moa enough credit previously. That will never happen again.
Nice. I'm glad to hear it's not just me. But then, I guess that's what fan experience does: it builds a sense of community, however momentary,. Very cool;. Thanks!
Agreed on how live performance can change your views on a song. For me it was PAPAYA. Did not think much of it when I happened to "hear" the song. @ Makuhari this January, I was twirling my muffler (didn't have a towel) like a madman. 🦊🦊🦊
@@htusda1 I bought a towel for their concert just in case they played PAPAYA and I was stoked when they did, the towel was straight up and twirling
@@lencooke944 good for you!!! In my case, I had a white shirt with a picture of a trout (I got the shirt the night before from my fishing club members), and planned on getting a BM shirt on site. Should have known better... not enough time to buy one, so I was the only one in the area in a white shirt with a maroon muffler....
Thank you for posting this. I'm really happy for you that you finally were able to see them live and so close to the stage! I enjoyed hearing your perspective on the whole event. I hope I get the chance to see them myself someday. Cheers!
My pleasure, and good luck. Worth the wait.
So glad you enjoyed the show, it was great to meet you at the con and thank you again for signing my book. I saw you in the crowd from where I was standing but I was pretty much exactly front and center and it would have been very difficult to get that spot back. I was a little concerned for you guys considering how crazy it got where I was. Much more excitement from the crowd in general at this show compared to Charlotte 2018. I had a similar reaction to yours about all that at that 2018 show where I felt like people moshing were trying to make the performance about themselves in a way that I found offputting but after realizing that Babymetal encourages moshing I've softened my stance on it, Su calls for the Wall of Death in RoR and the circle pit in Distortion after all, although I do think it's important that we look out for the safety of fans that are not familiar with metal shows since BM draws a diverse crowd. I spent a significant amount of time doing just that since there were quite a few crowd surfers (some of them the same people multiple times which was a bit much). I will say that you should not miss seeing this band again given the opportunity, even if it's not like this show it may surprise you how different and energizing it could still be. I have to agree with you on being completely enamored with Su and her commanding stage presence and the feeling that I got from the girls at this show was so different from 2018. This time around they were 100% engaged and seemed to be having the time of their life on stage and it made me so happy to see that.
That's awesome and I'm really interested to hear the tonal difference between the two shows. And I get that the rowdiness is part of it. I just hate to see bystanders get hurt. And I really hope you like the book! If you do, please review, but don't say we met if you post on Amazon: they pull down any reviews they think might be rigged :) Weird. Either way, thanks for the support. It was great to meet you.
Your "Sakura" was perfect, great job!
The first show is magic. I agree with you, it's a little surreal, like your favourite cartoon characters suddenly standing before you in the flesh. And then you think "Hey, Im a grown man, why am I susceptive to this, why am I affected just like a little fangirl?". But that is part of the magic. I have never been to one of those huge shows in Japan, but I'm sure that those cannot deliver that to the same effect, especially when you are effectively watching them on a screen after all.
I sometimes wonder about the girls' smiles. I have absolutely no doubt that they are genuinely having fun on stage and those smiles are heartfelt. These can't be faked, right? But at the same time I also have no doubt that they are professional and talented (and kind) enough to fool me into thinking that, even if they were actually having a really bad day. So in the end I don't really know why I am so convinced that they are genuine. :-) But they are, right? No doubt.
After my first show I also thought it would be a tough one to beat. But what can I say, they beat it the very next day. :-)
I didn't know anything about Dethklok, so I watched the first few episodes of Metalocalypse. And although I get the humor to some extent, I agree that it doesn't fit BABYMETAL at all. Especially considering that there are quite a few children in their audience.
Here is one way to think of it: very likely Moa(metal) can't fake her emotions
Moa said just recently how happy she is with her life, she has no need to fake it@@autohmae
Yeah, I'm with you on all that. Thanks!
Excellent story of your 1st BabyMetal experience. I really enjoyed it .
The first time I saw BabyMetal the same as you could not believe, they were real . What you say about Su I also experienced. Her voice was incredible, and looking at her, she looked amazing it was at an angle . Her hair was shining, and her eyes looked like they had stars shining in them . As you said, she commanded your attention. I will see them for the 4th and 5th time in November at the Roundhouse in London. I look forward to this as much as my first. Maybe because I now know what I will experience . ❤❤❤😁🤘🏼🦊🤘🏼
That's very cool. I hope it's a great sure, and am confident it will be :) Enjoy.
@AndrewHartley watching your report, I am sure it will be even better than the other times, especially now they are back to 3 . They look to be having a great time while performing.
I think you were right about Moa . She did look really upset .
😁🤘🏼🦊
Hey hey hey! Is this a happy and decent conversation between two gentlemen who have experienced close and friendly contact with the girls on stage? That's not fair! 😱
@flugelhornoldman1362 how can I put this 🤔 Moa's and Momos smiles are beautiful so YES 😍
Did I also mention that Moa said something to me? I think she was asking if the kitsune I was doing was for her. I shouted yes, and she put her hands on her heart and smiled at me ♥️ is that to much info 🤣
@@martinmetal7481 I can hardly hear you. I am afraid we have bad conne .....
Great stuff, Professor-metal! I saw them for the first time last week in Dallas. It was magical and went by so fast that it is just a blur in my mind. Thankfully, bits and pieces are slowly coming back. Your rants are pretty much exactly what is in my mind but, you put it much more eloquently and with way fewer curse words than I would. I totally get the whole thing about trying to explain the greatness to someone else. I actually ran into a fellow Babymetal fan yesterday (strangely enough while walking through the parking garage to my doctor's office) and mentioned I just saw them. He, ofcourse, asked how it was and I said it was awesome. That seemed so inadequate of an answer that I felt like I let Babymetal down, lol. Anyway, I am happy you finally saw them. It is such a great feeling! I have to see them in Japan now!! Kitsune Up!
Thanks! Glad my ramblings resonated for you, and that you also had a great time at the Dallas show! Kitsune up indeed :)
Thank you for sharing. Babymetal was in Orlando just the next show after this one and im only an hour north. But i couldn't make it. Im hoping for anther chance in the future. Happy to hear you had a good time.
I hope you get to see them soon!
Thanks for the video, finally you got to go, great to hear ! The Babymetal live experience is something I want every Babymetal fan to experience and I wish anyone to become a fan.
Glad you got near the front, it's an experience like nothing else.
What I understand Dethklok is kind of meant to be a parody, so as much as Babymetal kind of metal with a wink, so is Dethklok.
My impression for the, let's say, rowdiness, is that for Babymetal shows, the Europe shows are kinder than the US and Japan is kindest.
It's sad when these things happen, I've heard of such things in European shows a lot less, especially the violent part.
What is odd is also the 2 people talking. I don't understand it.
Something else which seems less in Europe is the phones.
They can't do without Babymetal Death, it is needed: to introduce the new Babymetal.
Yes, I think a LOT of Babymetal fans know this feeling of: it's real !? I'm really here, some are even doubting themselves for a moment. You can maybe even feel the excitement of the crowd when Babymetal Death starts.
It's funny when you say they have this setlist and their are no bad songs in the show and their are many songs they could have performed and would be just as well received.
I remember 2016 when Tokyo Dome was going on, a Babymetal fan made 2 UA-cam videos every time the show was performed in Japan, reveiling the setlist and doing a 'reaction' on that.
And the first video he posted, reveiling each song: "oh, that's a banger." "and this is awesome !" for each song "man, what an amazzing setlist !", the next day wasn't different.
But then you remember: they performd all their songs of the first 2 albums, so which songs are/would be bad songs for a live performance ? The conclusion can only be: their aren't any (especially live) ! It's really remarkable. It's an inherit (?) quality of Babymetal to always deliver something amazing.
Moametal's heart is on her sleeve, she just can't hide her emotions. It's kind of extreme in a way. Her reaction, to me, seemed to be: ohh, shit, this could have gone badly wrong ! A moment of shock & realization.
That professionalism, is in a way, kind of shocking in itself, especially because they were already that way when they were just 13 and 14/15 (is when I noticed a change, but they've always been that way to a large extend). It's not just the professionalism, it's also the passion to perform. You could also see the same thing when you see videos of Sakura Gakuin perform at Tokyo Idol festival, they stand out as better performers than their elder peers.
Babymetal is a machine, in the good well-oiled way and they are amazing at adapting to unexpected situations. Moametal in a some what recent interview said (paraphrasing): we train until it becomes automatic and then we train more to got passed the point of automatism. First of all how much training do they need to do !? Kind of in awe of just that. And then I'm speachless, because through sheer hard work they've reached a point to be able to describe what they do and find a way to that well oiled machine, but not act like one.
You say she is Su-metal and always in control and not Su-chan, but actually in recent years she is both more in control AND we get to see more of Su-chan at the same time. Kind of a mind-blowing relevation when you think about it. I feel Su-metal 'the character' was almost, in the past, as a manifestastion of a type of stress-induced schizophrenia. The stress of being in this world wide phenomenon (Babymetal had put the bar very high for themselves, they have to reach it every time they perform and in her case with a changing body because at her age and growth and thus probably adapting her vocals over time, often struggling in the in-between times).
Yes, I've seen other fans who said: I saw Babymetal live, I was in the middle of the stage and couldn't take my eyes off of Su-metal, at times forgetting about Moametal and Momometal and the Kami band need our focus too and you want to see them perform as well !
A vocal coach in a UA-cam video reaction ones mentioned: 'they are vocal athletes'. And I think the performance as a whole is like athletes as well. That's how trained and passionate they are.
One of the amazing things about Suzuka is (other than her ingraned talent), she started in the spotlights at age 3, this means those 2 facts combined make it as close to natural for her as humanly possible (or metal godessly, if that's a word and that fits here), because it's her whole life !
Even Kobametal has said, in an interview in 2014, they have something god-like about them, he also feels in awe about them when they are on stage.
Saying Babymetal live is awesome, amazing, etc. is still an understatement.
I've been to multiple shows, the Babymetal magic is very real, it doesn't wear off, they do everything to deliver it. The only show where I felt less satisfied, was in 2018. Because Babymetal wasn't the Babymetal as I knew them, it wasn't because of anything they do, but it was just in my mind (also the absence of Mikio was on my mind). Luckily for me they performed 2 days in a row at the same venue and I was there again the the next day and crowd erupted like in Atlanta, this strange feeling was gone and everyone was there just to have fun regarless of the altered circumstances.
Now I wish to hear a full review of the book by George Takei. :-) Because I assume he should be very much able to connect with it.
Again thank you for the video.
Su has said she creates these personas for whatever she does but although they are different people they are all Su
@@chrisharris1522 I see it more as: she is required to create these personas to fill the roll in what she does. (Karen Girl's, Babymetal and to some extend Sakura Gakuin). She said she has a different mental image of each song.
Thanks so much for that thoughtful response! I'm glad it's not just me who gets rhapsodic :)
Thanks for sharing. Really enjoyed. Looking forward to seeing them in Inglewood.
Glad you enjoyed it. Enjoy the show!
Congrats on your first concert by BM おめでとうございます ❤。 Speaking of the feeling you had with the first encounter, I had the same feeling when I met you for the first time at the hotel lobby in Tokyo. I thought "Oh! that is the real Prof. Hartley. He is moving (like an elephant and lion)" 🤣.
Yeah! At venues (even in Japan), I experience some annoying incidents caused by overexcited guys who are not qualified as credible supporters to the bands they love. They are just trying to relieve their own twisted stress, I guess.
I also love to see the faces of unmasked Kamis including the new bassist Mr. Ryan Neff. Although I understand that the BM have already grown up into experienced artists and divas then the Band can turn into a kind of orchestra box in Opera, I am still impressed by their skills and performance that are the parts of the show. They are anyway respectable Samurais (East) and Knights (West) to protect our queen and princesses.
BM performance is amazing. Metali is another detonator to the audience with Momoko's solo part. I heard you and someone do calls, Sakura-ya or other call, in different venues. I will do it when BM come back to Japan.
Another happy thing about recent performance, the twin-propeller on both sides of Su-metal come back in Headbangeeerrr. I see Momometal swing her one pigtail and stretch her both tails as Moa does (and Yui did). She did not do it as an Avenger.
One thing I am jealous of you. I witnessed BM shows 16 times at various venues. I have yet to have chance to gain eye contact from the girls on stage. That is not fair !! 😡😄
Ha! I hope you get that chance some day. Maybe you will have to come to a US show :) I will now bask in the glory of being compared to a lion or an elephant... :) Thanks, as ever.
Great review!!!
Glad you enjoyed it
I don't have much to say yet (Saturday is my Babymetal day)... but it certainly has me excited.
I do think one thing I will say is that from everything I have seen from Babymetal... it is a concert only in so far as songs are being played. The theater analogy always seemed more apt to me which is why I never was particularly upset when the Kami band went to a mask as opposed to face paint. The band is there to provide the backing for Su, Moa and Momoko... and while all the players are obviously excellent players... that's not the reason one should be going to the show.
But, I guess, I'll find out on Saturday.
Yes, I understand that now in ways I didn't before the show. Enjoy!
Johannes of the band Avatar who opened for Babymetal in 2018 compared it to Cirque du Solei. Which is probably more from the physical perspective, but definitely needs highlighting too !
@@autohmaeI'd describe Cirque Du Solei as "theatre meets circus".
Yes Monochome was my high moment when I saw them in Stockholm. When Su said something of that dreadful day. Well My thoughts went to the victims from the A bombs and had tears in my eyes. I so wish that those bombs never will be used on human kind again!
Sugoi! Excellent review, appreciated! Saw BABYMETAL in 2019 and will see them again this Sunday at Blue Ridge Rock Festival. Can't wait!
Arigatou! 🦊🤘 #notacult #shingeki #justsmile
Have fun! I'm sure it will be a blast.
Just wanted to say I've been watching you for several months but my first time commenting. I appreciate and look forward to your takes on these ladies and their songs. It's really been a useful tool in my Babymetal journey and my growing admiration. I was at the Nashville show Tuesday and on the rail in front of Moa's natural position and feel like we had the same experience. My 1st live show, the surreal feeling of seeing them in the flesh and dealing with all the idiot jackwagons. Had an altercation with a couple idiots and thought I was going put them over the rail to security myself. Wasn't going to let them ruin this amazing experience. The only difference we have is the part of monochrome that gets me. "At the dusk of ragnarok what are we to see.....no matter how long the night, the day will come"......gets me Every....Single.....Time. Keep up the good work, good sir 🤘🦊🤘
Thanks for saying that. I really appreciate it. And I'm glad we had similar experiences!
That was wonderful, thank you. I first saw Babymetal many years ago, as an already dedicated fan, and it was a very uncanny experience for me. As I said at the time and on a few later occasions my _perception_ of them, what I seemed to be seeing looking up from the crush on the GA floor maybe a dozen feet from the edge of the stage, was performers who were literally, somehow, eight to ten feet tall. I was well aware that this was not the case, they were even tinier then than now, but I couldn't shake what I "saw" in the moment and it lasted well after the concert. I've seen them live five times total over the years, including one large-scale show. I didn't regret any, and one of them - in the same type of small-capacity venue as the first - did surpass that first concert for me. But there hasn't been one which replicated the surreal sense of my first.
One other quick thing is I want to thank you for including the first clip from Monochrome. It starts @19:59 and Momoko's movement in the first section is _gorgeous._ Genuinely beautiful. I stopped and replayed it a bunch of times.
Thanks. And yes, totally agree about their scale on stage. Amazing. I have more of that Monochrome video because I knew it would be a highlight for me.
Like you, I saw BABYMETAL for the first time on this tour. Houston. It was so good! I would have loved for them to have played IDZ… my only disappointment from this great show. I was closest (for the most part)to Momo… met some nice people. Monochrome was my favorite… did my part to help Su to shine some light into this dark, dark world. 😉
Great! I would have liked IDZ too, but then I would have loved some odd balls choices (Kagero anyone? :))...
Exactly so :)
I saw a fancam recorded Koba was smiling so happily as he pulled his phone during Monochrome (I don't remember which show), the guy forgot to turn on the light though xD
Despite many fans have a grudge with the way Koba managing things, esp merchs and stuffs (me too) I find it heartwarming seeing how much passion he still has for this BM project
Let's be very clear: a bunch of fans have suggested, he also wants the criticism to go to him, never the ladies, kami band, etc.
and he does listen to what we have to say and when appropriate tries to give us what we ask for, probably the latest example of this was we asked for Metalverse to perform at summer sonic and he made it happen, not just the food court like we asked he got them on stage.@@autohmae
@@chrisharris1522 'we' asked for this ?
I have a lot of respect for Koba. Without him, we have none of this.
My first show was watching them in Japan where there was absolutely no video recording so no handphones up, there was no crowdsurfing, moshing was very polite, mainly running in spiral and noone is speaking or singing over Su. So I got an optimal experience. But I’ve been to other shows and people are also mostly very nice. I’m sorry there were some negatives in your experience, but I’d say its not normally like that in their solo shows.
I have always said about Su that she is on a par with Freddie Mercury…… she is a force of nature
babymetal 初ライブ、おめでとう㊗ 興奮しましたか？🤣うれしい。またライブ参戦してください。今後もbabymetal応援お願いいたします!🦊🦊🦊🇯🇵 see you👋
絶対にそうするよ！
thank you 教授 baby metalライブは楽しくなる！🦊🦊🦊see you👋
I know the feeling
I’ll be seeing them on the 25th for the second time . The first time was 10 feet away this time I’m in the last row of balcony
I’m nervous the experience won’t be as “ spiritual “ this time around
It’s been 4 years and I can still feel the impact of that first show
Hopefully it will hit differently but still with real impact. Good luck!
@@AndrewHartley thanks. I’m sure it will still be a impactful experience but man that first time…..
@@k-popplayinklown5473 Yeah :)
Your thoughts on Su-Metal immediately made me recall her graduation interview from SG. Specifically with the gentlemen at Tower Records at 15 years old. I was so incredibly impressed by her maturity and leadership skills. I really don’t think she noticed it as she appeared to be speaking from the heart and not as scripted as many interviews. I have worked with and for so many, “supervisors,” both in the civilian and military worlds that weren’t anywhere near her level. Su-Metal is really a once in a generation person. Thank you for the video.
My pleasure. Thanks!
I myself have watched her SG graduation several times. Listening to the words of her mates and mentors just solidified my admiration and shows just how she was truly destined for greatness
ライブに行く事で色々な面が見れたり、観客とのやり取りがその時々で色々あったりで、何よりも熱量を肌で感じ取れて直接観る事は特別ですね。ましてやBlu-ray Discとかはいつでも観る事が出来ますが、実際にその場にいるという体験はその時しか味わえないですからね。
素晴らしい経験をされた事、それをシェアしてくれた事に感謝します。
ベビメタの３人がそれぞれにハイライトがあって良いショーだったようで。
MOAMETAL は相変わらずいつも 旗 と戦っていますね(笑)
武道館でのSu -METAL の旗をやり投げのように投げ返したシーンとの対比で面白かったですね。ステージ上でのSu -METAL らしいと言えばらしいですし、MOAMETAL はMOAMETAL らしく可愛らしい一面が見れたりで。
MOMOMETAL もすっかり馴染めて自分のストロングポイントを知ってもらえる良い楽曲にも出会えて。
Su-METAL に関しては振り付けのMIKIKO 先生も昔仰ってましたが『彼女が手をただ前に差し出すだけで人の心を揺さぶる？』的なコメントをしていたように動きや立ち居振舞い(指の先々まで意識が行き届いた日本舞踊のよう)にカリスマ性があって、実際私には24歳23歳20歳の娘が居るのですが、私の娘と同年代にも関わらず、いつもSu -METAL には圧倒されてしまいます。
この存在感は年齢とは関係無いのでしょうね。
次は日本でのビッグショーでの鑑賞を体験出来ると良いですね。
大掛かりなセットもですし、日本のライブでは何かしら独特な雰囲気が有りますし、是非体験して頂きたいですね。
ありがとう。日本のファンの声を聞くのはいつもいいことだ。私もいつか日本の大きなショーでBMを見たいと思っています。よろしくお願いします！
Absolutely felt the same way at the Philly show😊❤
This makes me want to badly see them live. But sadly, im not capable of flying abroad just to watch them live. All I can do for now is hope that one day they'll visit my country and perform.
I wish you good fortune
These cute little foxes are guaranteed fun...they always deliver 100% professionalism...it's worth every penny
I discovered Babymetal back in 2013, at that time I didn't give it any importance and I never saw anything from them again.
2 years ago I casually saw "Syncopation" and I liked it, I really liked it and I started researching and watching the old videos, and came to appreciate the Band, the Girls and the Musicians.
I regret wasting so much time, but I'm already a fan and I hope to see them live at some point.
I was hoping that Yui would come back... but Momoko has joined the band, as if she had been a part of it from the beginning...
I follow him and I hope to see other videos of his soon... Greetings. 🦊🦊🦊
Thanks, and welcome. I hope you get to see them live soon!
My memories of every BABYMETAL concert only last about 2 weeks.
It seems I am... under a spell that makes me want to go to concerts again... ☺️
That is a very natural phenomenon. Many BM fans say that even the next day, every thing seems like a dream.
Great review - and you must go to see them again if you get the chance ... no you will not recreate this experience, don't even try. What you will do is create an entirely new experience. It may be better, it may be worse, there is no way of knowing - what you can be sure of is that it won't be the same, it will be new and it will be great and then you will have both experiences to look back on.
I'm with you on your rants at the start, especially crowd surfers and the people holding their phones etc up for the whole show ... put the phones down, live in the moment, watch, join in, be part of something special - be part of making it something special and not just a sea of phones with nobody dancing, jumping, pumping their fists, singing along etc.
Loved your thoughts on the Kami Band, Moa, Momoko and Su ... yes they really are real, they do exist and they were there, in person ... and they are amazing.
Thanks! I seem to have pissed some people off, which I don't get, so thanks for the support!
@@AndrewHartley Really? I can't imagine how, I 'm reading through the comments (there are a lot of them and I'm a slow reader) and all I've seen so far is appreciation ...
@@Grington300 I get rid of the unproductively poisonous stuff as soon as I see it. Otherwise I dwell...
@@AndrewHartley Ah, good thinking - I don't get some people at all. For what it's worth I loved your review and agree with your rants. I'm so glad you finally got to see them live and had that same sense of "oh, they are real" that I think most of us had when we were finally in the same big room.
@@Grington300 Thanks!
Prof, you nailed it. 👍
Thanks!
Wonderful, profound assessment as always , Andrew !
Glad you enjoyed it
DethKlok is a Gorillas-esque, Spinal Tap-esque metal band I'm not sure if all the members are voice actors but I know the lead singer is the voice actor for the animated series Metalocolypse which is where the band Detklok is derived from I was excited when I heard they would tour together Introducing BabyMetal to more hardcore metal fans I was also worried that BabyMetal and their fans may get disrespected by the metal elitist that you would think might be Dethklok fans Like with their recent collaborations Lil Uzi and Tom Morello BabyMetal is bridging the gaps between music genres
Totally fair. And I think if I had a clearer sense of that going in my experiencer would have been different. But the irony didn't play for me, so I missed it. But yes, I'm all for BM bridging genres.
This was my first Babymetal concert as well. They are such a presence on stage. The proshots, although amazing, don't do their skills at performing justice.
Agreed.
You said it - words can't do it justice, but you certainly gave it a noble attempt, better than most of us could!
Two points resonated with me the most, and they are things I definitely felt as well when I was lucky enough to see them in June; the "Safari" analogy, as well as "Sprezzatura" (such a lovely word)
They really do have a sense of "otherworldliness" to them, like Disney princesses come to life. I assume that in part is a reason for the continued offstage secrecy to avoid breaking the illusion, which I think works fairly well.
Oh, and to anyone else reading in the comments - I highly recommend picking up AJ's new book "Hideki Smith", it really is very well-written and entertaining; I finished it in one evening because I just had to!
Sprezzatura! Yeah, Sprezzatura. Lovely words.
Thank you! And you're right about 'sprezzatura' :) I'm so glad you enjoyed the book. If you get chance, please post a review :)
@@AndrewHartley I am italian and I didn't know this word. I think it's a very uncommon word,maybe used only in academic contexts. And yes, now that i know the meaning, it's the perfect word to describe them.
I've heard the Disney princesses analogy before, in the UA-cam video with id: nVU3coU5vt4
@@AndrewHartley I can't post on Amazon because I don't buy enough there regularly; are there other places where I can post a review that would be helpful?
The thing you mentioned about Su communicating. When we see Su leading the band, some people don’t get to see that she does this even behind the performances, the girls take the lead from her and she takes on the leading role both as a singer and as “senior” Its no surprise that she has great crowd control and pressence, she’s a natural leader through and through.
Totally agree. Thanks!
Andrew, to say that I am jealous that you witnessed the BabyMetal greatness is an understatement. It is my dream to go and see BabyMetal, but I fear that dream will stay a dream (my wife hates BabyMetal, which makes me love them even more). I must admit that the whole Dethklok/BabyMetal combo is a strange one, as they are polar opposites - I guess opposites attract. I've heard a few Dethklok songs through the Batmetal series on UA-cam. I'm on the fence about them, although I liked those tracks. The part with Moa in it, she looked so upset that she had hit the guard, even by accident and really looked like she was going to burst into tears. Stay safe, stay smiling
Thanks. You too! And I hope you get to see them soon.
thanks for reporting! And for very good footage
Thank you too!
I think MomoMetal has been a perfect addition. I think she is just right for the direction Babymetal is going! i want to see them both in a smaller venue and in Japan one day! I find Dethklok kind of a wasted opportunity, if that makes sense. cartoon bands have been done before, but i dont know that there has been a metal one like them. its a neat idea w lots of potential and i feel like they just dont execute it well. being animated opens so many potentially interesting doors and i feel like they just fall back on tired tropes imho. i do totally get why some people do love them and i genuinely love anything that makes people geek out. just not for me. if they went in a different direct w band lore/animation i would def be interested in trying again! as far as the connection to Babymetal, I think its likely because they are both...like "new" concepts (kinda). like metal w the dance routines is new and there arent many (or any) groups doing it, and there certainly aren't a lot of animated bands, so they prob thought together it would make a really interesting show. plus Babymetals use of visuals is also fairly unique. other than massive stadium shows, lots of metal bands are your standard club 5 guys on stage w a banner style show. plus if they are going in a more mature direction or wanting to shake off a bit of the kawaii metal thing (especially w metal galaxy coming in) touring w dethklok is away to do that. it certainly is something to point to if anyone attempts to crit them for having a sanitised sort of image, which ive seen
All good points. Thanks!
Momo is a perfect addition. She brings lightning to the stage.
Regarding animated bands: Try Raise a Suilen => they bring much from their animated selves.
@@htusda1 oh amazing ill check them out! thanks for the rec!
I’m seeing them for the third time in Seattle!!! Can’t wait!!
I'm sure you'll have a blast. Enjoy!
I was at the Atlanta show as well! It was awesome and the Baby Metal show went by way to quickly.
Indeed.
Nice. Congratulations on your first show. Mikiko said it best in an old interview when she said Yui and Moa love to play parts and put on someone's face when they perform. Su doesn't act like someone during a performance, she is someone on stage. The performances are special, and a reason why so many fans attend multiple shows.
That's cool. Thanks.
Loving the wild animal analogy.
Like many wild animals , seeing Babymetal in the wild can be painful.😂
Mosh pits and crowd surfing looks fun on video, but at a certain age , it definitely isn't. 😂
🦊🦊🔥🦊🦊
Ha. Indeed.
Thank you so much for your, as ever, wonderfully eloquent words. For me at least, and I know for a fact many others, you cannot talk too much!
I totally recognised and understood the “BABYMETAL” ear-to-ear grin on your face on the thumbnail for your video, that’s exactly how I looked throughout my first BM concert. If you are worried about going to another one, don’t be…you will feal the magic EVERY TIME!!!! And will have that exact same grin on the way home. The spell they cast ALWAYS works.
Shame about the minority of party spoilers but that does seem to be a bit of a norm these days. Although I do have to say the last time I saw them was with Sabaton at Wembley Arena. I queued up a couple of hours or so in my carefully hand painted “Onedari” bones hoodie, probably outnumbered about 1000 to 1, and couldn’t have had a more positive experience. Even when they were being a bit sniffy about our girls they were still really respectful, and once BM hit the stage it instantly became clear that there were huge numbers of Sabaton BABYMETAL fans. Admittedly there is a connection between the bands so why not the fans too? Judging by some of the conversations at the bar BM gained many new converts too. The behaviour of the crowd was exemplary and overwhelmingly friendly and supportive, I remember thinking “how BABYMETAL”. Kudos to Sabaton fans! Clearly, sadly, not universally true amongst SOME metal fans.
BTW, I thought the new costumes were astonishing too. Light and colour seems to explode out of the girls, a truly breathtaking effect that I can only think some people have judged without experiencing it for themselves.
And oh yes, I did have that smile for days afterwards. You will and must see them again…see how long you resist when tickets next go on sale. I predict maybe two seconds if you’re feeling a bit dubious.
Thanks again for such a lovely and emotion rekindling description of the concert.
Damn I love those girls! 🦊🦊🦊
I'm really glad to hear that they won over some Sabaton fans and that the crowd was respectful. Thanks so much for the comment!
Your point about the characterhood is interesting, and I think it's important to note that unlike traditional stage actors, Su and Moa particularly have been playing these characters for over a decade, and in particular they grew up playing these characters. So when you say that Su is both playing the character and expressing herself and her own personhood, I think for most people anything that you've been doing for 10+ years becomes a part of yourself and a part of your own person. So in a way I think you could even say that Su is not just playing the character of Su-Metal, but that the character of Su-Metal is probably a part of her as an individual - even if it is in a very real way not the same as Su probably is in her private life.
Yep, good point.
@@AndrewHartley Mikiko about Su in 2013: "I’m talking about Suzuka again, but she never tries to dance like someone. Once music is on, she is someone. She is natural, and her being so natural rubs off on Yui and Moa. I think so, very much, though I don’t think the two are aware of Suzuka’s influence. And Moa and Yui love to assume someone else lol"
I enjoyed your story.
Like you, due to my Job and other issues, I have never had the opportunity to get to a Babymetal show and, unlike you, is one of those things that I think will pass me by before I will be able. I'm 60 now and started watching the girls when I was 49...so its been a while and my personal history tells me not to expect it to happen. C'est la vie.
But I do get to enjoy hearing the stories of others, such as yours, and enjoying all I can consume through UA-cam and other Social Media so its not a complete tragedy!! LoL!
Thanks again and as always....
Put your Kitsune UP!! Po!
You never know. I'm 60 next year, and had kind of thought the same about BM and several other Japanese bands, all of whom I will have seen by the end of this year! Fingers crossed, Kitsune :)
Babymetal is magic. Each show you go to it becomes even more magical. Don't worry, I'm going to my 5th show and each have been more magical then the next.
Good to hear.
👍👍👍👍 🖖❤
Great review.
I agree with your analysis of babymetal.
Unlike other artists, SU-METAL gets into the world of poetry.
Andrew should experience BABYMETAL live in Japan sometime! I'm sure you'll enjoy the show!🤘🦊
Sometimes tears flow when I listen to BABYMETAL's songs, even though they are not sad songs.
I don't know why.😅
I'd love to see them in Japan too. One day...
Really enjoyed your in-depth analysis of the concert and the ladies and band performance. So very eloquent with a strong intellect throughout, you validate BM's existance as a unique cultural force- something I find to be lacking elsewhere. An most enjoyable watch. Top stuff.
And as a fellow Brit, I also enjoyed listening to your accent weave between British and American. 😀
Ha! Thanks. Yeah, I've lived in a lot of places and my accent is now a mess. Everywhere I go, including the place I grew up, I get that "you aren't from round here" look :) Cheers.
@@AndrewHartley Most welcome! Dogging further into your channel, I now look forward to listening to your other BM commentaries. Keep up the good work! Subscribed.
Awesome. Thanks. Hope you find some of the others interesting or entertaining :)
Very interesting, thank you so much.
Glad you enjoyed it!
Good for you, sensei! 😀
Thanks! 😃
It is the day after the babyklok concert 110% agree. Also another less mosh and more squish at the seattle concert.
Hope you had a great time! I'm sure you did.
Awesome. I was there in ATL also on the main floor
Nice.
I think they recognised you, I don't think it is typical to get lot's of eye contact, once or twice if you are lucky. There is no way they haven't seen your video and you are quite recognisable. I love hearing fans first time concert impressions. I flew from New Zealand to see them in Melbourne in June and it was worth every penny I paid, I had my minimum expectation and my maximum figured out beforehand they met the maximum and exceeded it. to me they performed exactly as they would have if it had been a huge show in Japan there was no hint that they were just going through the motions. I know how you felt about it suddenly being real, it is almost like a spell is broken and then a new spell is cast over you where watching DVDs and UA-cam aren't enough anymore, although I still watch them lol
Absolutely. A magical feeling. I'd be amazed if they knew who I was though :)
教授、初めてのBabymetal ライブ参戦おめでとうございます。🎉
貴方が仰るように映像で観るのとは異なりライブで観る彼女たちは特別です。特に普段、普通の少女(もう立派な女性ですが)にしか見えない彼女たちとステージ上の彼女たちが同一人物だとは信じられません。su-metalは以前インタビューで普段出来ないことでもsu-metalになることでどんなことでも可能になると言っていましたがこれは貴方が仰るようにペルソナ、つまり憑依という事なのでしょう。しかしそんな時でもふとステージ上で見せる素の表情はファンにとって至福の瞬間です。
どうか何回でもチャンスがあれば彼女たちのライブに参加してください。その度に新たな感動があるはずです。
本当にありがとう！皆さんのような日本のファンからの応援や励ましをとても嬉しく思います。
BABYMETAL アトランタ公演初参戦おめでとうございます㊗️ メタり最高に盛り上がりましたね ! 演出構成が見事でした✨🦊✨
そうだね。 ありがとう！
This was a really fun watch. I can tell it meant a lot to you to finally see them live.
While I never personally encountered the word sprezzatura before this, I've been practicing a particularly potent form of martial arts for nearly ten years now, one which has fundamentally seeped all the way in to the very core of who I am. My teacher often says of the material, "this is not something you do, it's something you become", and, yeah, that idea of sprezzatura... I've felt it firsthand in my own practice. It's nice to finally have a name for that feeling :)
Also, I feel a little bit bad for a previous comment on another video of yours about how you seem to be more into the band than I am. In hindsight, I felt like that could've come off as passive aggressive in some way, but I honestly just meant to convey, "hey you've opened my eyes to new aspects of this band I had missed before", and yeah, you've continued to do that here. Cheers!
Excellent! It is a great word, isn't it? Thanks!
Thanks for sharing your experience!
The experience of my first BM concert, 11 weeks away, will be different as I will be standing far away from the stage, in the back (can't be in crowds), just enjoying the music. So it's a pity that they don't project live camera footage of the stage on the big screen as they do in the huge shows.
Had been listening to many Metari fancams to find out if the audience picked up the "Sakura-ya" after the Kabuki part and only heard it once. So that must have been you.
Sidenote: there's now "Burning Shakespeare" in the house. I gave it to my wife who finished it in a short time. I have to wait until the kindle version is available over here.
Awesome. I hope you enjoy the show (I'm sure you will). I hear a few others have been shouting Sakura-ya our versions thereof, but it's hard to hear over the crowd. I don't know that a non US Burning Shakespeare ebook is on the cards any time soon because of licensing issues. I'll look into it.
just saw my first Babymetal show in Orlando....they lived up to everything i expected!
Hi so I have been lucky enough to see them 3 times (twice seated and once standing in 2019/2020). In part I chose in 2020 for Manchester (seated) and the next day London (standing) as it gave me two different views of the show.
My one standing was right at the barrier in front of Su. On the upside I was right in front of Su - the downside was mostly the constant (and I mean every 5 minutes) having someone crowd surf over my head and a boot slamming into the back of my head.
I have since learnt the positioning rules. Middle centre is Mosh Pit territory - if you want to avoid the worst of the crush then left or right sides are far better. At the end of the day it IS a metal concert.
If you are right at the front (3-4 rows) the speakers are aimed further back and you find you do not even need earplugs there.
Phones yeah HATE them at concerts (and it is all concerts). Sure the odd pic I took but the constant filming is a pain.
Of course Moa would look upset. We all know this is a woman who her whole career has worn her heart on her sleeve. She is not called the Angel of Love for nothing.
And yes I agree 100% they are moving Moa and Momoko sides. We have always known Moa was superb at that audience contact, and Momoko has the same ability. we all live for the moment Moa makes eye contact at a concert because you know she has SEEN you. And if you get that smile... :D
On the drinking onstage I have seen at the concerts I saw they all had water bottles and did drink from them (usually the stage is darkened and they are at the back with the back to the audience)
Her stage presence and control is total. And that 15+ years of stage experience shows (along with Moa) and she will direct and position them as needed. And you can see she always knows exactly where they both are. She was born to be on stage. Did you feel her larger than life? We know how slim and small Suzuka is yet on stage she appears so much bigger/larger. But I would disagree about her being 100% SU-METAL. Sure in the old days she was this ice persona - but in recent years I would say Suzuka sneaks out (you see it in the smile, the sudden little movement / shake of pleasure that is 100% Su coming out and enjoying the moment)
Totally agree. I didn't mean to suggest that the SuMetal persona is all death stare. I think of her persona as including the fun and playful too, esp in the lighter songs. I just meant she is in character throughout, but that character is quite complex and layered, as you suggest. Thanks for the comments.
Team Babymetal will have bottles on every stage, multiple even. They almost never use it, as he said, but when they do: it's really hot weather and normally outside. Possible a festival, with limited area on the side of the stage they can use to disappear.
Sooo can't wait for Babymetal in the 'Burgh tomorrow night
Dethklok, too
Enjoy!
I’ve just watched your review Professor and it was both fascinating and informative,closed it on my iPad and I’ve just seen the thumbnail, do you realise that you’re starting to look a bit like Paul McCartney? 😂
Ha! If only I could write songs like him :)
Me alegro mucho que hayas podido ver en vivo a BABYMETAL!!! Me encantan tus videos y análisis. Por ahora no he visto a BABYMETAL en vivo (espero un día se me cumpla ese sueño), pero coincido en todo lo que comentas y entiendo como te sientes. Me transmitiste tus sentimientos totalmente. También comparto las cosas que te molestaron del show. Creo que tenemos una forma parecida de ver las cosas.
God, siempre que veo algún video de BABYMETAL por YT, me imagino como me comportaría yo si estuviera ahí mismo y creo que no podría dejar de ver a Su-Metal, su presencia es demasiado grande como para apartar la mirada por unos segundos 🤣. Me encantaría poder ver todo lo que pase y también participar de los mosh-pit pero creo que sería imposible 🤣.
Muchas gracias por tus videos!!
See you 🤘🦊 🤘
Muchas gracias. ¡Estoy usando una traducción automática así que me disculpo por el mal español! Realmente aprecio su apoyo. ¡Mis mejores deseos, y espero que llegue a ver BM pronto!
My sister offered to take me to see Chris Stapleton, but I have never seen a fancam from a Chris Stapleton concert that wasn't overpowered by people just having random, loud, unrelated conversations *while* the songs were playing, and I was like...tickets cost too much for my experience to be ruined by inconsiderate fans. I do not understand people like that at all. Also, I expect Dethklok to be something I'm just willing to endure to get to BabyMetal on the other side. Traveling with chronic illness will be less than fun, and the whole experience will be an ordeal, honestly, so I'm approaching it like a quest. XD I WILL OVERCOME THE HARDSHIPS TO EARN THE PRIZE. I would even venture the floor, but can't have a cane in gen admission, so a balcony it is.
(Speaking of chronic illness, it's making reading difficult, unfortunately. Not long ago, I could read a novel in a single sitting, but lately, I only get a few pages in before things turn to word soup and I have to take a break. Also, after a few pages, I was inspired to sit down and write on my own stuff. :p So that one's on you. XD But even just the opening paragraph was *chef's kiss* I was like, 'Oh, okay. So we've got a talented storyteller on our hands here.' Sorry the book went to someone with permanent fibro fog, but I will get through it slowly but surely.)
I hurt my lower back a few days before the show and was very worried if I wouldn't be able to stand the queueing and standing for over two hours in the venue but with the help of codeine and the adrenalin I was able to get through without it bothering me too much, I couldn't jump around but I was able to put my kitsune up and shout along at all the right times.
No worries on how long it takes you to get through the book. I hope you enjoy it. And I also hope you are victorious in your quest :)
@@chrisharris1522 Glad you had fun. 🤘And that's all I need, too. I do not tolerate pain meds well, but I think a couple of shots of vodka might do me. XD But even if I knew they would have to carry me out on a stretcher after, there's no way I'd miss this show. :p
I very much agree that Dethklok seemed so far from connected to Babymetal. Not my first metal concert but definitely that mosh pit wasn't like any that I have experienced. Normally people respect that not everyone wants to mosh. I was about one row behind you just stage left of center. I had to leave the floor fairly early in as well because of getting hit and needing to check for a bigger injury.
The Babymetal performance was absolutely magical. Su, Moa and Momo were just so spectacular.
Ok, so I wasn't massively over reacting :) Thanks!
Seeing BABYMETAL live is, in my opinion, nothing less that extraordinary. Perhaps I can assuage your fears regarding seeing them again. I saw them twice in Australia earlier this year; once in Sydney and then I flew down to Melbourne to see them again. I think I appreciated them even more so in the second show. The atmosphere in the Melbourne show was particularly amazing. In both shows the crowds were enthusiastic but chaotic and I would have liked to have seen some more of the (is proper the right word?) crowd responses, especially in the stands where I was. I felt a bit alone in my various chants up there. Nevertheless, suffice to say if they do a world tour finale in Japan next year, I’ll be trying to get tickets!
Excellent. Good luck getting a ticket for Japan. That would be awesome.
Very interesting and enjoyable. Thank you for everything.
Live concerts in Japan are inevitably held in large venues, so even if I buy the best ticket, I can only see a minute or two in total, as I am quite far away from my position and there are many people there. The girls are also a little more formal when the cameras come in for video productions, so they do not have the freedom they have when performing abroad. I envy your live shows abroad.
I think music videos are fine as they are, but I always want video works to be released with fixed-point images. I prefer fan cams that allow me to see BM live, rather than the footage the video creators want to show.
From Japan🦊
Interesting. Thanks. I do wish I had shot more video, but I was "in the moment" :)
Several points I've been writing as I watch the video...
-Yeah I also felt that way when I saw them for the first time this spring in London. I thought I was going to get emotional but the feeling was more strange, a bit shocked and felt a bit uncanny. I was around the same place you were, 2nd/3rd row a bit more to center in front of Suzuka slightly to the left. Great spot if you ask me xD
-On people getting violent I do not know, I didn't see that on the two shows I went (London, Vienna), but we were few Babymetal people that time. I had heard around the community that there had been problems in the mosh pits in Orlando, but I had not heard anything about Atlanta.
-They have been changing the song from TOO that is not Monochrome. Maya the first two shows, Mirror Mirror the two next ones, and they are doing Believing now. It was similar during the Sabaton tour in Europe, were they were alternating Mirror Mirror, Divine Attack, Metalizm, Metal Kingdom and Maya between shows.
-To me how Moa worries about the security guard speaks of the work culture they have going on in that team, the enormous respect they have for all the people helping them doing their thing. The security guard, the guy in the lights, the tour bus driver, the guys who build the stage...you know, everyone involved. A lot of artists would not give a f about the guard, that explains to me there is a work culture that's been going on inside that team for years.
-There is something that feels special when you get acknowledged. As I said I remember in London that we were like 1 to 4 between Babymetal people and Sabaton people, no one was doing the Pa Pa Ya dance, and for a moment you could see a shade of sadness in Su's face. Not really because she is in control always, but something in her eyes. I remember she looked to me jumping around there alone for less than a second and she looked more happy after that. It seems stupid but I do not think I'll forget that, then it felt like we were a team and I was doing my part as a fan. Yeah, I will always deny I feel like that if someone asks in real life.
-Yeah Su is an enormously talented person, as I see it this whole wave of attention japanese metal is getting is carried on the shoulders of this woman. We are immensely fortunate to have her doing metal.
Be careful Andrew because going to their shows becomes addictive xD I feel like I wrote a lot to say nothing, so sorry, and I am happy you saw them at last!
Thanks! I totally agree with all that. I'm sorry to hear Su felt a little less supported on the Sabaton tour. I didn't get that here at all, which is great!
We'll be releasing a translation of the PMC interview very soon, and you will be very happy to note that Su specifically talked about how happy she was to see people like you on the Sabaton tour!
Thank you for sharing your thoughts and experience.
May I ask you, what did you wife think about that Babymetal show? I always wonder what Japanese people think about Japanese groups sing in Japanese to non-japanese audience.
Though I met my wife in Japan, she is Japanese American (nisei). But I have also sent video to my Japanese mother in law who is fascinated by BM :) My wife had a blast, though she was sometimes anxious about the crowd.
Great review video. My wife and I saw them in Nashville for the first time. Baby Metal are amazing. It was everything we hoping for. We got Believing instead of Maya. We didn’t care for Deathlok that much. They were way to loud and you couldn’t hear vocals at all. Baby Metal’s sound was perfect. We sat all the way stage left first row. We could see them when they went back to get drinks. They were being silly and having a lot of fun. Best moment was during Road of Resistance, Moa came to our side and I waved at her. She waved back and gave us the heart. Totally Amazing. Can’t wait to see them again. Thank you for your videos over the years for explaining the meanings of the videos. PS our Ultimate goal is to go to Japan and see one of the Big Shows. Hope to see you there.
That's awesome. I love that you got to glimpse them backstage. Very cool. And thanks for the note on the previous videos. This is a small channel, so I really appreciate the positive response.
Being such a great fan, its awesome to see you finally make it to a Babymetal concert. Never heard of Dethlock, but I think the recent collab with Lil Uzi Vert and now touring with Dethlock, Koba is making questionable choices in trying to spread Babymetal out to a wider audience? I'm not sure if that is why he's doing it, but Lil Uzi Vert is strange enough coming out of nowhere (there was like no talk of this collab until the song dropped).... And with the way you described Dethlock... ehhhhh, not the image I think BM should be cultivating/associating with.... I'm still wishing BM can tour with bands like Within Temptation, Nightwish, Halestorm or to be a bit edgier In This Moment... I was at their concert in Hong Kong for the first time in May, and for an Asian concert, I was surprised how few cameras were out... I got mine out to catch a few moments, and then it was put away for some serious jumping around.... pretty much everyone was doing the same, only some fans way up in front had their cameras out for most of the show.... At least I can cross Babymetal concert off my bucket list.... Though going to one of their Japanese mega shows, will be forever a dream I'll have. 😁😁😁😁🤘🦊🤘
Yeah, I'd love to see them in Japan at a big venue and get the full stage effect. As someone else said, maybe these odd pairings are a deliberate effort to give them a hard edge which doesn't actually impact their own material? Maybe. Cheers.
@@AndrewHartley I'm currently working on a few recently published interviews, where they discuss the collaboration with Lil Uzi Vert in a bit more detail! I'm sure after this tour they will also have some content talking about Dethklok as well. Koba's mind works in mysterious ways, but sometimes the answer is more straightforward than we might have imagined!
Your thoughts about BM connection with Dethklok, Is the same many fans feel with Bm collaboration with Lil Uzi Vert.
Glad you had a lot of FUN!! 😊
My wife and I tried so hard to get into Dethklok at our two shows. We had the same issues. Just wasn't for us. And yeah the crowd seemed way more rough than what I was led to believe about Babymetal metal concerts. I don't think it's a good pairing at all and hope next time they have someone else. I'm in the same "get off my lawn" mentality haha does that mean we're getting older? Never 😂.
Babymetal themselves were an out of body experience for me. Now, I just need to see them as often as I can.
Edit: I had the exact same feeling during Gimme Chocolate too, it was surreal. "Oh they're actually real?"
Yes, I expect we're in the minority, but I'd like to see them perform with bands that were a bit closer to them in tone. Maybe it's a conscious choice of something to fire up the crowd and play off, but it's not for me.
@@AndrewHartleyyeah I bet part of the decision was that they are a sort of cinematic act that has lore and story and is tongue in cheek which is similar to Babymetal. Also the fan crossover, I've heard of a lot of Dethklok fans that didn't know who Babymetal was and now love them. Also to me it sort of breaks the fourth wall a little. We always think of Babymetal and their branding being so innocent and wholesome but, possibly they get a kick out of crazy stuff like Dethklok haha, showing they are normal people kinda. Or I could be completely wrong and crazy haha
@@Psyggie I assume they will talk more about this co-headliner in the next series of interviews after the US/EU tour!
I like what they did in Australia, they chose a young up and coming local band and gave them a chance to show what they can do in the spotlight, and I thought they did great too. The young lady fronting the band did amazing considering, to be fair the crowd wasn't giving them much to work with.@@AndrewHartley
㊗️初・赤子金属観戦 ‼
Amazing review! I would like to ask, what was the percentage of attendees, i.e. BABYMETAL and Dethklok fans? Thanks from Japan.
A good question. Hard to say. In line, I would have guessed more DK than BM fans, but when we got inside, that seemed less true. Where I was at the front the BM fans seemed to outnumber the DK fans, though some were fans of both. Certainly I didn't see people leave before BM came on. If I had to guess, I'd say 60-40 BM/DK, but other people may have a different impression.
@@AndrewHartleyThank you for your reply.
Babymetal la mejor banda de metal año 2020 segun la revista británica metal hammer puesto 10 categoría todos los tiempos y saludos desde Lima Perú
In your part starting at 33:53, it reminded me of something Su said in an interview not too long ago. I do not remember the exact interview but I screen shot and saved her words. I thought it was interesting;
"And so it feels to me that this existence known as Su-Metal is a totally different type of personality that is completely out of the ordinary, you see. So when I attempt to deal with this character as just another human being because she is so far removed from myself we get into fights with each other. So, rather than deal with Su-Metal in that manner if I let her have some space away from me I am able to look upon her from an objective position and even cheer her on - I am able to give her advice and support you could say. If we were one of the same person, I think I would be afraid to make mistakes."
You mentioned earlier about having that sense of realizing they are actually real. The first time I saw them, for the first moments I had could not shake the feeling that I was watching a video but it was just a really large screen. It took me a bit for my mind to comprehend that I was watching them face to face in real life. It was a very strange but wonderful feeling when I was finally able to process it.
Great points. And thanks for that quotation. Makes perfect sense to me, particularly and a story teller/stage director. It's almost mystic.
That would be from Rockin'on 2016!
@@funnytoss Thank You! I thought it was much more recent than that. You would certainly know since I'm sure it was your translation I was almost certainly reading.
Congratulations on your first BABYMETAL concert! 祝： 赤子金属 初参戦
Another great analysis!
I was especially happy to learn how it affected you personally. 🦊
My very first BABYMETAL live was this January @ Makuhari. Although I was far away from the stage, they had so much charisma that they totally overtook my emotions. And those "wall-to-wall" jumping fans - don’t see that very often… crazy.
Until then, the 2017 Total Solar Eclipse was at the top of my list of "wow" moments (not including personal events like our first baby, etc.) but this was dethroned by this first live concert.
How is it that they can make me and many around me cry and smile at the same time? 🦊
I have a daughter that lives in Durham, NC which is an hour’s drive from the Blue Ridge Rock Festival, but when I asked her to let me stay at her place, her answer was, ”There is no way I am letting my 75-year old Dad get injured. Please don’t go.” I told her I ran in the circle pit @ Makuhari, but she as well as my other daughter both said,” Those pits in Japan are tame.” 😖
She may be right. If I go back with my wife again, we may be looking to sit :) Still, it was electrifying and I'm so glad we did it.
@@AndrewHartley I envy that your wife enjoyed the show!!! My wife, who does not like BM, did finally agreed to go to a live show with me. But the "BAIT" cost me... It is in Barcelona (Dec.10) 😆 🦊🦊🦊
Sería bueno un video del nuevo grupo Metalverse con las ex sakura gakuin de Japón y saludos desde Lima Perú
I saw them for the first time in Houston. I completely agree with you about Deathklok. It almost tainted the whole experience for me. And despite the length of the show, when BM came out, and this might sound cliched, I completely forgot about all of the ache in my feet and back.
I did record their whole set, but I used a phone gimbal so the recording would be steady and I could focus on the stage instead of my phone. I am not posting the recording, though, as I feel that is akin to theft.
Thank you for articulating how it felt to see them live for the first time. I too, had the though of "Oh wow, they're really real!", but I felt silly thinking it. With your review, I don't feel silly anymore.
Finally, in regards to this experience being one of a kind and not wanting to "ruin" the memory of it, I look at this way: this experience was unique, but so will the next one be. I get to see them for the first time all over again!
Thanks again for your thoughts, and I look forward to your next BM video!
Thanks. If I can make people less silly (than me), my work here is done :) Cheers!
As both a Dethklok and Babymetal fan(I was mostly there for Babymetal), I have to agree about the Dethklok criticism. It was not a great pairing. The clips on the screen were all from the cartoon than was the origin of Dethklok, and the brutality and stupidity of it is tongue-in-cheek in MEtalocalypse. It is mocking that same mindless brutality that some metal glorifies. That said, in the context of that show, there was very little humor to it, and it was a stark contrast to Babymetal, and I think was out of place and inappropriate for an all ages show that had a fair number of children. I was actually right next to you at the show, and the couple with their young daughter on the father's shoulders disturbed me with the sex and nightmare images on screen.
Are you one of the guys I spoke to before the show? Did you see if the guys who had to leave were OK? Yes, I understand from what others have also said that Deathklok is supposed to be tongue in cheek, and that makes me think differently about them, but I just didn't get that in the moment. And yeah, if that guy had been showing that cartoon to his kids at home, someone would be calling child services... Anyway, great show.
@@AndrewHartley We didn't speak at the show. I didn't know about you until this video popped on my feed and I said "Hey! I was right next to that guy at the show!" As far as I know the two people they pulled out were both ok. I have heard that one of them watched the rest of the show from the back, and the other one I think I saw in the seats nearby later. Even when I saw the original concert announcement it seemed like an odd pairing, but I was into both bands so I liked it. It didn't even occur to me that Dethklok would have the graphic imagery from their show on behind them. Someone should have thought about that ahead of time though, and realized it wasn't a good idea.
Congrats Professor on seeing a Babymetal concert and loving the review 🤘😎🤙
Thanks!
When I first saw a video of the "turn on all your lights" moment during Monochrome, I loved it but I was worried it would become something they would always do when they played that song live a bit like when Su talks to the audience during Karate. I thought it would lose it's authenticity and impact if it was just something pre planned that they always did.
However despite them always performing that moment during Monochrome, it still stirs my emotions. In fact even watching the clip and seeing AJ talk about it in this video caused me to have to wipe a few small tears away.
Yes, I thought the same. It's doubly hard because their shows are tightly constrained in terms of time so they have to stick to what was rehearsed, and speaking in English means Su tends to use the same call outs to the audience (which is totally understandable: if I had to speak Japanese to thousands of people I'd definitely be on script). Even so, it still feels special.