At least, that is what the metal group Babymetal wants to create.
Babymetal is a j-pop idol schoolgirl trio set against the demonic riffs and imaginary that defines metal. The outlandish whiplash mix reminds me of hair metal from the 1980s. I feel guilty admitting it, but from the videos I have watched, I kinda like the whiplash.
Suzuka Nakamoto (17 years old), Moa Kikuchi (15 years old) and Yui Mizono (also 15) played at the largest heavy metal festival in North America: Heavy Montreal. Babymetal shared the same festival as Metallica, Anthrax, and other well known metal bands. Babymetal also is the youngest group to perform at two of Japan’s largest music festivals: Summer Sonic in 2012 and Loud Park Festival in 2013 (Moh, 2014).
Many metal heads complain that Babymetal is contrived, according to NPR (Begrand, 2014). Yes, National Public Radio, the radio station known as boring, covers metal and hard rock. However, Begrand makes a good point, metal has always been contrived. If anyone has seen Dio and Black Sabbath play against their outlandish fantasy stage sets, you know what Begrand means. Begrand (2014) comments that during one Babymetal riff, the mosh pit descended into a thrashing melee of smiles. Unlike Slipknot shows, the mob was joyful in the peppy upbeat demonic rhythms of Babymetal rather than the usual aggressive and angry mosh.
Alexis Stephens (2014) shows concern about the authenticity of Babymetal and doubts the novelty of the group will be sustainable. Stephens accounts interviews with band members that suggest they are forcing the image. Although I wonder: aren’t most metal images forced?
Babymetal provides an interesting mix of syrup J-pop and American metal. Will Babymetal provide an inlet for more Japanese artists to make it to the US? Possibly. It depends on the metal fans. It is too soon to tell. The girlish sweetness of kawaii will turn some metal fans off. That is certain. However, as Begrand (2014) writes, Babymetal injects a bit of fun into the contrived darkness that characterizes the world of metal today.
References
Begrand, A. (2014). Deal with It, Headbangers – Babymetal is Here. http://www.npr.org/blogs/therecord/2014/09/04/345778225/deal-with-it-headbangers-babymetal-is-here
Blabbermouth (2014). Babymetal wants to start new musical genre called ‘Cute Metal.’ http://www.blabbermouth.net/news/babymetal-wants-to-start-new-musical-genre-called-cute-metal/
Goh, M (2014). Kawaii! Babymetal, teenage girls with a love for metal music. http://www.thestar.com.my/Lifestyle/Entertainment/Music/News/2014/04/18/Kawaii-Babymetal-teenage-girls-with-a-love-for-metal-music/
Stephens, A. (2014). Are Japan’s Death Metal Teenyboppers Babymetal Okay? http://www.mtviggy.com/blog-posts/are-japans-death-metal-teenyboppers-babymetal-okay/
