Musicians react to hearing BABYMETAL- Karate (Budokan 2021 Live) for the first time!

[@Grington300]

Great reaction. 'Karate' was the lead single for the second album in 2016, so it is maybe a bit more "radio friendly" than many of their songs. They did watch a lot of martial arts movies to get ideas for the choreo - they wanted it to look as authentic as possible (but they are not martial artists, so karate experts may not be completely impressed). You got the general idea right - 'Karate' is about getting up when life knocks you down, when you are crying, unable to stand and everything seems too hard. They are saying to keep on fighting, help each other through the hard times. They used karate to illustrate this as it is a Japanese martial art, so it reflects their culture - and like the song it is about always moving forward. The official video is very good at illustrating exactly what the song is about through the visuals. Moa and Momoko (and Yui before her) wear Dr Marten boots - they dance hard and need good boots. Su generally has a boot with a small heel and no laces (there was a time when she could not tie shoe laces or ride a bike ... but that is a bit of a deeper dive into their history than even the BABYMETAL guide will give you).

[@autohmae]

Interesting how this wasn't performed on the world tour, a very popular song. I wonder if they want to give the Babymetal fans and Momometal time to used to the new situation before she joins performing the singing...?

[@Grington300]

@@autohmae Maybe, I'd guess they decided to include more of the new songs and this was the song that made way rather than Megitsune, GC or Road of Resistance.

[@autohmae]

@@Grington300 On the 8 world tour 2013 shows, 0 Metal Resistance songs, it's a crazy choice.

[@Grington300]

@@autohmae Road of Resistance is from Metal Resistance (it was only a bonus track on the re-release of BABYMETAL.)

[@IAMisLove]

There was a video with picture that Moa had change her boots on the Sabaton tour. Sorry, but that is a Foxhole too deep for me to chase right now.

[@road-runner]

Great reaction, thanks! As it's been said during the 10 BABYMETAL Budokan concerts in 2021, crowds were not allowed to shout and they were required to wear two masks: their own face mask and another provided by the organization. Actually, they were only allowed to clap and kick the floor. The strict restrictions included to reduce the venue capacity to the half. The "crowd noise" was actually played through the sound system live at the venue and it was from previous performances of each song (I wonder how they made it for "From Dusk Till Dawn"...). It may sound weird but it's very difficult to do and I guess that all people there appreciated it (just imagine playing in a silent arena). And it shows their extreme attention to the detail. To me, it doesn't make it worse since the situation was what it was. And yes their crowd control is out of the charts. It's part of Moa and Momoko's work (and Yui's at the time). And here is a great example (this time with real crowd noise, haha...): "Headbanger" (Live at legend 1997): kzbin.info/www/bejne/h3bWgJSDl7N5rdk Until next time!

[@jakemuller8626]

5:15 Reaction start _Ossu!_ 🦊🤘🥋 Last June 20th was YuiMetal's birthday and this song is from 2016 so you can find a lot of versions of this song when she was still in the group before 2017 of course. You can come back next July 4th with something special for MoaMetal's birthday, you can check it out: - MoaBanger which is Headbanger!! live at Legend M 2019 MoaMetal 20th birthday, she sings the second part of the song. Budokan 2021 marks their 10 years anniversary celebration and seal the Metal Resistance chapter along with another seal for the group, fortunately that seal is already broken since last year they're releasing new singles and kick start of their new era, get ready for a new BM side we've never seen before. Ending January, they held two live concerts marking their return after almost two years since these Budokan live concerts. They fought against many enemies on this road and many more battles, but they manage to get through all of it, and this song is one of those strong weapons they had, to fight and conquer every metal heart that don't believe in them, you probably already know Road Of Resistance if not I highly recommend to check it out. Budokan is just a name for general martial arts place, there are other Budokan throughout Japan but this one in Tokyo is the most important and is big, this is the place any artist wants to reach when you're over the top, and they did it already in 2014 when they were even younger and having many struggles so they needed a revenge to pull away those ghosts from the past. Sadly this 2021 live concerts is a half capacity due to restrictions all over the world and safety measures (guess you already know why), the crowd wasn't allowed to mosh'sh, crowd surfing or shout without face mask, instead they can stomp their feet, clap their hands or doing a human wave, at least they can do something to participate in this epic and memorable event. Momoko Okazaki was the _avenger_ or third backup dancer filling the third spot in all these 10 live concerts as well at Makuhari Messe 2023, she's now MomoMetal, an official member. Karate lyrics is about keep fighting despite the obstacles but always looking for your friends help, that's why you see them helping each other in the bridge section, although if you look for the official MV you'll see revealing that there's no harder enemy than yourself. Try also to look for live at Download Festival 2016 version, is even more beautiful during the bridge and with the full original trio. Next suggestion: - Headbanger!! live at Legend 1997, held in 2013. Gans Tomas got this clip safe to react under Head Bangya title. - Akatsuki live at Budokan 2014, "BM Fans Ecuador" got this. And after that: - Amore live at Wembley Arena 2016. You can find all these songs from Wembley and Tokyo Dome 2016 with watermarked logo safe to react at Reactor Resource (BMRR), check "Future Plans" vid and follow instructions to get all of them. See you next time and always put your kitsune up! 🦊🤘🥋

[@mikeat2637]

@jakemuller8626 As usual, a great and informative comment.

[@mltdwn5415]

Great reaction, guys, and thanks for putting in the effort to get videos out to us. I think generally babymetal fans have no problem with changing the video size or using other methods to avoid being blocked, as it is the norm with Amuse. Karate is about fighting your inner demons and to keep going no matter the obstacles. To get you out of the Budokan for 5 mins, I recommend the song Headbanger!! LIVE at Legend 1997 . "ferr" has a high-quality version. 🤘🦊🤘

[@yolandria]

Fun facts: Moa and Yui began training the crowds since day one. They are/were the cheerleaders. Now it's Moa/Momo to teach the next gen.

[@Guysm1l3y]

Yep, they're described as being "scream and dance" but in English I think "cheer and dance" is more descriptive of what they do in the live shows, they're like hype-women on stage.

[@stevechevy3382]

Nice reaction. Su's vocals always give me chills on this song. You were close on what the song was about. Lyrics talk about how things can beat you. And when you're down hurt and bleeding. Get up and go forward in life as that is all you can do. Yup your friends can help too. A united front is a strong one. Babymetal has taken some hits for being what they are over the years. They used the philosophy of karate to help them through it. Strong is Babymetal and now they use that to help others get through their hard times in life. When they walk together with a limp it always reminded me of something. I just realized what it is. An image from my youth of the spirit of 76. It was a drummer and flute player and a flag bearer beat up and wounded. But marching on together. For those who don't know 1776 is the year the US broke away from England. The bigger stronger England everyone thought would just win the war. The 13 colonies got beat up and hurt bad. But fought the good fight and won their independence from England. It was ugly and a struggle but by staying together and rallying their strength they became the first 13 states of the USA. Seems like Babymetal is making a statement that everyone can do this. United Babymetal stood and overcame the odds against them. And here at the Budokan celebrating 10 years of struggle that for them will end. Now they have become a legendary band themselves. With a history that is beyond belief. Today they've moved into a new era for Babymetal with a new member to carry on with. The foxhole is deep and full of surprises.

[@tonygriffin_]

The best Metal song ever about martial arts...but mostly about friendship, love, standing up for oneself and for each other. PositiveAF, basically. 🦊🤘🤘🦊 Their choreographer got them to watch a bunch of martial arts videos to get ideas for their choreography. In the utterly brilliant MV, Moa used a well-known move of Mr Miyagi from The Karate Kid but subverted it to show her kind heart - well worth a watch/react, as is their excellent Download 2016 performance of it. We're all fine with you reacting to all 3 as they all have a unique magic and performance! 🦊🤘🤘🦊

[@christopherjq7414]

Whether it's the Eastern (Japanese) or Western(American)Kami Band they are a force to be reckoned with. As far as the different shoes they wear, Su's outfits are always slightly different than what Moa,Yui and Momo would wear

[@stevechevy3382]

Yui and Moa's outfit matched. Moa's outfit for this tour that ended with the ten shows at the Budokan is different than both Su's and Momoko's outfit. Moa's has a solid gold trim on the skirt. I think part of the chest design is also slightly different as well. I would have to check their more recent performances to see if Moa still has the solid trim. It's a small detail but it set her apart from the avenger dancers. Besides just the hair style being different. From the back of the crowd, it's hard to see these things anyway. But as we know Babymetal pays attention to detail. Please feel free to correct me on some of this. Yava as they say.

[@russellward4624]

Su has always worn heels to make her taller than the dancers.

[@antoniomoreno3865]

One that isn't from the Budokan show would be the song "Kagerou" which showcases the Kami West band. It's a proshot put together from three different shows. And it has subtitles, which is always a plus. kzbin.info/www/bejne/fpLQhaOBqLiAmcU

[@yankeedude252]

I just want to say, I previously watched a video from you guys where the original video was obscured... Thank you for simply changing the video rather than putting it on Patreon or some paywall service like that.

[@cliveklg7739]

To see just how good the lead sings, you should watch their "Monochrome" piano ver. First Take" performance. And the studio version of Monochrome rocks too.

[@AldoGuerraALDO-METAL]

Karate is a song about fighting on and getting back on your feet after being knocked down, or heart broken, tough times in life. The lyrics repeat themselves. Now, as for suggestions. Have you done anything off their new album, The Other One, yet? I'd like to recommend DIVINE ATTACK. It is actually the first song with lyrics written by Su-Metal. As most Babymetal fans know, their songs are written by a team of ghost writers and the producer. Only two songs so far have been written by the actual members of Babymetal. 4 No Uta/Song 4 written by Yui and Moa, and Divine Attack written by Su-Metal. So I'd suggest both those songs. DEVINE ATTACK 4 NO UTA

[@celioleitao7303]

Awesome reaction

[@ratfink5035]

I know you guys don't do do overs but you might want to with this one. The 2016 UK Download Festival is probably where they had their best performance of this song. In this video you'll see Su go into Freddie Mercury mode and take complete command of the crowd,all while performing in a downpour of rain. Su has pointed to this show as one of the highlights of their career because of the obstacles they faced in pulling off this show at a high level without any accidents or injuries

[@TheFoxholeYoutube]

6:20 glad I’m not the only one interested in what boots they’re wearing 😂

[@boshiken4914]

One of a kind

[@IAMisLove]

Great reaction, Subscribed: BABYMETAL is best live because the audience (The One) is part of most performances. But the “Karate” MV is a must see as it fully explains the song and message. 🖖❤

[@tarantularavenblood1982]

I’ve been to a lot of concerts in Japan and their audiences all do the same choreography for different songs and different bands. You want a good workout, goto a live in Japan. I went and saw a 3 hour one man live of Goldenbomber.. I was in pain the next day for how intense the choreography was for their live events.

[@jonabitstream]

the lyric is about fighting/defeating one's inner demons, and the importance of friends.

[@labpedro]

I noticed the different shoes a few years ago. My thought is that Su has more traditional ankle boots with a heel as she does the majority of the singing and not so much zooming about on the stage, whereas Moa, Momo (and formerly Yui) have grippier shoes as they are all singing, all dancing, but doing more running about so they need to not slip. Of course I'm probably wrong and it's just an "I wear the heels, I'm in charge" thing lol. Also, that last note from Su is amazing.

[@tackle47]

Su was not big on tying her shoes back in the Sakura Gakuin days, so no lace boots are a must.

[@icarushedoban3536]

If you're going to react to more early BM then I would suggest Catch Me If You Can(any live version) and Headbanger from the Legend of 1997 Apocalypse concert. Those songs are about as pedal to the Kawaii metal as they get

[@alucard0712]

11:10 After long high note Su's face like 'I DID IT!!!!!!` Super nice!

[@cheetor1010]

Su wears heels, since she has less choreography. It make look taller and more powerful. Because she's actually very very small. Like 5'2". Another fun fact, she usually practicing her singing while on a treadmill. To basically prep herself for exertion of the stage performance.

[@mikeat2637]

I'll have to go and check your BM playlist, but if you haven't done it already, react to the official music video, which is a thing of beauty and the live version from 2016 at the Download Festival, which was a big coup for them. To me it's the best live performance of Karate when you factor in everything. 65,000+ fans in the rain singing along just like at Budokan, but in that particular British way.

[@jonbutcher9805]

They are performing what I'd describe as Kabuki karate. Momoko is very proficient in the art.

[@MalmsteenSVK]

This song is just BRUTAL!!!!! :)

[@Filboid2000]

You should give the official music video a look - a work of art.

[@noelsan6369]

actually there is a live version that is even better than live budokan 2021. namely KARATE live tokyo dome. but it's very difficult to get it on KZbin, you have to search on social media

[@charleslatora5750]

Must watch the mv.

[@davidg405]

Alrighty, first comment was from 6:15. While this was probably canned because of COVID, you need to experience a Japanese baseball game. Live. It is non-stop chanting/singing/organized cheering the entire time. They have freaking bands for each team that blow whistles that lets the appropriate team's fans know what song they are supposed to sing next. It is absolutely amazing and worth checking out. Also, there is no booing, jeering, or insults without you being thrown out and possibly banned. Got to go to a Tokyo vs Yamato game. At one point, the bases were loaded, dude got a home run, and all of fans started a chant/song that ended in "banzai, banzai, banzaaaaiiiiiiiiii" Edit: the crowd looks real, they are real fans, and they know what to say when they need to say it. Edit 2: Yep, @9:35, the crowd is totally into it as usual. Their concerts and participation look considerably different than what we experience in the USA with yells and whistles. @10:39

[@Icipher353]

A lot of videos are from Budokan because it was ten concerts that took place over three months in January through to April of 2021 to celebrate the tenth anniversary of Babymetal, and they played a number of songs that they don't play live very often. The lineup of the Kami band isn't fixed, but there are musicians that appear very frequently. The regulars that appear most of the time are Takayoshi Ohmura (sparkly pink guitar), BOH (six string bass), and Hideki Aoyama (drums); they have appeared as the Kami band at the vast majority of Babymetal shows since the Kami band became a permanent fixture in 2013. Over the years, the second guitarist position has been the one that has varied the most. In the past, it was mostly Mikio Fujioka (RIP Kogami) or Leda Cygnus, but more recently it has been ISAO (Isao Fujita). There have been a few other musicians that have filled in over the years, but they are the main ones. When you go to a Babymetal show, everyone knows what to chant and when to do the actions, as most Babymetal songs have specific parts for the fans to do. An important part of the experience of going to a Babymetal show is the audience participation; the fans are part of the show.

[@evil.baker23]

🤘

[@kitkat6407]

🤘🦊♪

[@zahidurrahman2869]

the song is about fighting your inner demon. the music video of this song (karate) shows it really well. 🙂

[@ゆりざべす-z8o]

BABY METAL🔥🤘🦊🤘🔥

[@emb5091]

Great reaction.

[@antivanti]

That at the end actually isn't them doing the metal horns. It's a fox 🦊

[@josephdoo]

😁😁😁🤘🤘🤘

[@しーちゃんの使徒]

When this song starts, their pose is 'K'. So, It is the 'K' in 'KARATE'.😁

[@RaXXha]

Audience participation isa big thing with Babymetal, and it's quite common with J-POP in general, so that's probably where that came from. 🙂

[@totalparanoia1008]

They don’t really train their crowds they just always have the same fan chants like in kpop were the fans are just used to singing the same parts together

[@omneil]

Great reaction. To play Budokan you have to be invited you can’t book it.

[@fernandoloya6325]

That made me feel -break boards -Karate😮

[@autohmae]

Interesting enough... this is one of the most popular Babymetal songs, was not performed on the world Tour this year.

[@Hymnodic]

The eastern Kami band has been with them since 2013 (before but they weren't officially the Kami band yet and there were others at the time) and are: ISAO (Guitar) Takayoshi Ohmura (Guitar) Leda Cygnus (Guitar) Fujioka Mikio † (Guitar) [Passed away in 2018] BOH (Bass) Aoyama Hideki (Drums) The western Kami band which as been with them since 2019, and seems to be largely a permanent fixture except a few shows is: Chris Kelly (Guitar) C.J. Masciantonio (Guitar) Clint Tustin (Bass) Anthony Barone (Drums)

[@ars4455]

11:29 yeah, I know I'm very good singer

[@alastairmcintyre4752]

It will probably help you understand the song better if you watch the official music video

[@mikeperkins3469]

The song is about fighting their own demons. The monsters were themselves. The studio music video was much better. Check it out. 👍

[@moonbod8623]

The audience couldn’t sing at this show because of COVID. It’s canned noise. Download 2016 is the one to react to with the crowd singing along in the rain. It’s amazing not that this version isn’t. Check it out as a comparison!

[@Hymnodic]

No one cares. Budokan 2021 is to date the best audio quality of any of their concerts outside of the most recent ones which aren't on YT to react to.

[@road-runner]

Yes, but the effort they did to produce the "crowd noise" live in concert is just amazing. I don't take it as a bad thing at all.

[@BadEnd98]

​​@@road-runnerI think they took their real crowd sound from other concerts that's why it's so good. Nonetheless the crowd did participate wholeheartedly in BDK21 despite the fake sound

[@seregamolodets5286]

🍅💀🍅 🤘🏼🦊🤘🏼 Ossu!Ossu!

[@marcoskazu_]

🦊🦊🦊

[@rah2287]

👍 👍 On your own, if you wish (or as an additional reaction) you might want to view the version of this song performed LIVE at 2016 Download Festival in the UK where 60,000+ British metal heads came in cue with parts of the song just like this one and sand along with the girls. BabyMetal calls the UK their second home. The LIVE performance features the original three girls and The Eastern Kami’s without the masks. Also Suzuka shows her amazing stage presence and vocal range. Until next time.

[@Sirotan.666]

Yeahh 🤘 Amuse is very terrible😄