We've seen the headliners of BABYMETAL perform with just their vocals in the previous two videos. But the true BABYMETAL experience is when they are commanding an entire arena, giving their all in a theatrical extravaganza. Yes, behind the trio that is the face of the band, there is an entire theatre company that puts the whole show together. From staging, lighting, and pyrotechnic design; to sound production; to camera work; to the incredibly talented metal band -- when they're playing for BABYMETAL, they're called the Kami band -- that drives the merciless metal machine powering the girls' relentless performance onstage; to the participation of the audience 10s of thousands strong; it looks like no expense is spared in making each show a cherished life experience that I wish I could buy a ticket to.
Probably the best intro to the phenomenon that is BABYMETAL is this performance of 'Headbanger!' This performance was in 2013 (the video was released in 2014) making SU-METAL 16 years old while MOAMETAL and YUIMETAL would be 14, assuming my math is correct.
The title of the song refers to the instinctive movement of nodding or bobbing one's head vigorously to a metal beat. Constantly innovating, BABYMETAL headbangs side-to-side instead of the usual up-and-down, and it's genius for the show. The girls get to keep their kawaii faces turned to the audience at all times. Even their hair is cut and pinned back such that it never covers their faces while headbanging. It's also a trademark move, unique to the band.
Small details like these keep the audience constantly engaged, with every stimulus designed to enrapture the senses of sight and sound, and even touch as sonic waves of this intensity are highly tactile as they pass though the body over and over again, often in rapid succession.
The lore of this song is a little confusing for me, but apparently, it's about a girl who has just turned 15 attending her first metal concert and either experiences a night she will remember forever, or a night that will never come again for her because it was so transcendent.
The performance itself features BABYMETAL's characteristic high energy dance delivered with precise synchronicity, but more importantly, with so much infectious joy from the girls who are living their best lives, doing what they were born to do. If only we could all be so blessed.
There is also a little extra bit thrown in at the end of the song that we didn't ask for but they generously gave, anyway, The girls are clearly, and understandably, very tired after all that running around, headbanging, giving their everything to the music and the dance. The audience would not begrudge them a rest, but instead they turn that rest time into high drama with the slow and painful ascent up the peak for SU to strike the gong, ending the song. It's not an Oscar-winning performance, but it's a way to get the audience involved and invested, cheering the girls on to complete this last important mission, while the girls themselves get a well earned breather.
One last thing: SU-METAL's death stare. So fierce.
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