The band currently consists of Suzuka Nakamoto 中元すず香 (aka Su-Metal), Moa Kikuchi 菊地最愛 (aka Moametal), and Momoko Okazaki 岡崎 百々子 (aka Momometal). These girls and their group are managed by the Amuse talent agency.
Before Momoko Okazaki was announced as a member for BABYMETAL, Yui Mizuno 水野由結 (aka Yuimetal) was in BABYMETAL, before it was announced that she had left the group due to health issues.
They first appeared on the debut Sakura Gakuin album, さくら学院 2010年度 〜message〜 performing ド・キ・ド・キ☆モーニング.
Babymetal's first indie CD single, BABYMETAL × キバオブアキバ, released jointly with キバオブアキバ, ranked 3rd in the Oricon weekly indie chart and number one in the Tower Records Shibuya weekly indie ranking. The band's major debut single, "Ijime, Dame, Zettai" (イジメ、ダメ、ゼッタイ), sold 19,000 copies in its first week and debuted at number 6 in the Oricon weekly singles chart.
In the spring of 2013, Suzuka Nakamoto graduated from junior high school and therefore had to "graduate" from the group Sakura Gakuin (that consists of girls of up to junior high). However, their management decided that Babymetal would not dissolve and would continue their activities as a band. The group released its next single, titled "Megitsune" (メギツネ) on June 19.
Babymetal attended SUMMER SONIC 2013 which was held in Tokyo and Osaka on August 10 and 11, 2013. It was their second time performing at the festival; in 2012, they became the youngest artists ever (with the average age of 12) to perform there. Later, in October 2013, Babymetal became also the youngest artists ever to perform at the LOUD PARK heavy metal music festival. In November 2013, Babymetal released a promo video for the Japanese premiere of Metallica's movie, Through the Never.
The group announced a two-day live concert at Budokan, scheduled for March 1 and 2, 2014, and a debut album, released February 26, 2014. The album contains 13 tracks and is also available in a limited edition version containing a bonus DVD with music videos and live footage.
Babymetal made their debut appearance in the United Kingdom at the Sonisphere Festival 2014, performing their set in the Bohemia tent on July 6, 2014.
In 2016, the group released Road of Resistance featuring Dragonforce Herman Li and Sam Totman as a guitar playing. This song was featured in their second album Metal Resistence which was released the same year.
In 2017, Babymetal supported multiple bands during their tours: Metallica, Guns 'N Roses (as the opening act), the Red Hot Chili Peppers and Korn. During October that year Babymetal were officially revealed as the performers of the "Unikitty Theme" for the Unikitty! TV series from Lego. On December 30, 2017, Kami Band guitarist Mikio Fujioka fell from an observation deck and died from his injuries on January 5, 2018.
In 2018, Babymetal announced they were starting a record label called Babymetal Records. Later on that year, Yui Mizuno left Babymetal due to poor health, but also announced that she may pursue a solo career in the future. The same day as the announcement Babymetal released a new single, Starlight.
In 2019 Babymetal announced their third album, Metal Galaxy. They also performed at Glastonbury, making them the first Japanese band to play on one of the festival's main stages. The album was released on October 10th the same year.
In 2023, Babymetal’s official accounts announced that former Avenger, Okazaki Momoko, is now officially a member, by the stage name Momometal (Scream & Dance).
According to Kei Kobayashi (aka Kobametal, the band's producer), Babymetal's name came to him by revelation (as a "divine message"). Babymetal (ベビーメタル, "bebiimetaru") is a play on the Japanese pronunciation of "heavy metal" (ヘヴィメタル, "heaviimetaru"). "Baby" may indicate cuteness and "metal" intensity. He has also come to like interpreting it as "newborn metal." In an interview for RazorTV while in Singapore in late 2013, the band members also used the latter interpretation. They stated their brand of metal was a newborn genre, and that was what "baby" in Babymetal stood for.
KARATE
BABYMETAL Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
セイヤ セ セ セ セイヤ
ソイヤ ソ ソ ソ ソイヤ
ソイヤ ソ ソ ソ ソイヤ
(押忍!) 涙こぼれても
(押忍!) 立ち向かってゆこうぜ ひたすら
セイヤ ソイヤ 戦うんだ
全部 全部 研ぎ澄まして (wow wow wow)
まだまだ セイヤ ソイヤ 戦うんだ
悲しくなって 立ち上がれなくなっても
Ah 押忍！ 押忍！
セイヤ セ セ セ セイヤ
セイヤ セ セ セ セイヤ
ソイヤ ソ ソ ソ ソイヤ
ソイヤ ソ ソ ソ ソイヤ
(押忍!) 心折られても
(押忍!) 立ち向かってゆこうぜ ひたすら
セイヤ ソイヤ 戦うんだ
拳をもっと 心をもっと
全部 全部 研ぎ澄まして (wow wow wow)
まだまだ セイヤ ソイヤ 戦うんだ
悲しくなって 立ち上がれなくなっても
(wow wow wow)
(wow wow wow)
セイヤ ソイヤ 戦うんだ (wow wow wow)
全部 全部 研ぎ澄まして (wow wow wow)
セイヤ ソイヤ 戦うんだ (wow wow wow)
全部 全部 研ぎ澄まして (wow wow wow)
ひたすらセイヤ ソイヤ 戦うんだ
拳をもっと 心をもっと
全部 全部 研ぎ澄まして (wow wow wow)
まだまだ セイヤ ソイヤ 戦うんだ
悲しくなって 立ち上がれなくなっても
走れ
セイヤ ソイヤ 戦うんだ (wow wow wow)
走れ
全部 全部 研ぎ澄まして
(Wow wow wow)
(Wow wow wow)
(Wow wow wow)
(Wow wow wow)
The lyrics of "Karate" by BABYMETAL express the idea of fighting and standing up for oneself, even if one feels defeated or broken. The title itself, "Karate," refers to a form of martial arts, which involves discipline and focus, and those values are reflected in the lyrics. The repetition of "セイヤ" and "ソイヤ," along with the chanting of "押忍" (meaning "osu," a kind of salute among martial artists), creates a feeling of unity and determination among the performers and the audience.
The song encourages the listener to keep fighting, to keep refining one's skills and strengthening one's heart, even when faced with sadness or despair. The しぶい guitar riffs are reminiscent of heavy metal bands who also chant their own lyrics. This reflects the mixing of genres in BABYMETAL's music, which includes elements of J-Pop and metal music, as well as the use of traditional Japanese instruments. Furthermore, the song's powerful vocals give a sense of empowerment and motivation to the listener.
Taken altogether, "Karate" is a song that emphasizes perseverance and inner strength, drawing inspiration from martial arts and the spirit of fighting. BABYMETAL's signature blend of heavy instrumentation and catchy melodies makes the track stand out and energizes the listener into feeling confident in their own abilities to keep moving forward.
Line by Line Meaning
セイヤ セ セ セ セイヤ
Preparing for battle, with focus and agility
セイヤ セ セ セ セイヤ
A chant of confidence and readiness to fight
ソイヤ ソ ソ ソ ソイヤ
A call to enact the moves, and attack with might
ソイヤ ソ ソ ソ ソイヤ
To strike with full force into the fray
(押忍!) 涙こぼれても
Despite tears falling, still pushing forward with great determination
(押忍!) 立ち向かってゆこうぜ ひたすら
Continuing to stand up and enduring the fight
セイヤ ソイヤ 戦うんだ
A command to fight with power and might
拳をもっと 心をもっと
To strengthen both the body and mind to win the fight
全部 全部 研ぎ澄まして (wow wow wow)
Sharpening every skill and ability to the highest degree
まだまだ セイヤ ソイヤ 戦うんだ
Ready and willing to keep fighting with more to give
悲しくなって 立ち上がれなくなっても
Even when sad, still ready to rise up and face the foe
Ah 押忍！ 押忍！
A battle cry of determination to win
(wow wow wow)
Emphasizing that the fight has just begun
走れ
Run with all speed
セイヤ ソイヤ 戦うんだ (wow wow wow)
To fight with all power and full force
ひたすらセイヤ ソイヤ 戦うんだ
With dogged determination, continue to fight with focus and the will to win
全部 全部 研ぎ澄まして (wow wow wow)
To perfect every move and skill to win the fight
まだまだ セイヤ ソイヤ 戦うんだ
Ready and willing to keep fighting with more to give
悲しくなって 立ち上がれなくなっても
Even when sad, still ready to rise up and face the foe
走れ
Run with all speed
セイヤ ソイヤ 戦うんだ (wow wow wow)
To fight with all power and full force
全部 全部 研ぎ澄まして
To sharpen every skill and hone every ability to emerge victorious in the fight
(Wow wow wow)
Echoing the resolute spirit of the fight
(Wow wow wow)
A reminder to keep pushing forward relentlessly
(Wow wow wow)
To battle with all might and soaring confidence
(Wow wow wow)
To use every skill and tactic that one has to win
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Takehiro Mamiya
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@mikoyb.1291
WHY THE HELL I JUST DISCOVERED THEM TODAY?!?!?!? Well, it's not too late to support them right?
@TheLeomarti
It's never too late
@nekorina9011
Definitely not!! Their music is amazing!
@iristhemistress9810
ME TOO
@-t3ddyb3ar-84
Nah I found out about them yesterday-
@athyzkyh
it's never late and never will
@rodneywear7501
I am a huge music fan of all genre's. I am very sad that I only now found this amazing band in 2022.
@AL1CE_
Have you heard of foreground eclipse?
@rodneywear7501
@Yuuki Konno I just looked them up. Listed too From under cover. They are good I will have to look into more of them. Ty for the suggestion.
@itsPeach.
Same same