The Sudden Rise of BABYMETAL (industry plants?)

[@ThePunkRockMBA]

Thanks to Ekster for sponsoring! Use my code PUNKROCKMBA to get up to 45% off: partner.ekster.com/ThePUNKROCKMBA

[@michealrosen]

So many butthurt baby metal fans 😂 great job Finn love the content as always

[@rafalskoczkowski4104]

Baby Metal is honestly a band that's grown on me over the years. Their first few albums were abit all over the place and could never really get into. But as the band has matured their albums have gone from strength to strength. And their 2023 album was an absolute banger, Ending up amongst my favourite albums of the year alongside Sleep token, within temptation, Polaris and katatonia. And completely agree, I'm excited to see where they go from here. Something I honestly wouldn't think I'd ever have ever said 5 years ago.

[@xavierwalko4175]

You're calling a J-pop group "industry plants?" I watched an Ultraman Tiga video and know nearly all J-pop groups are industry plants. So, you're not wrong.

[@Lucien86]

Today there's an pretty huge and lively metal scene in Japan and I think a lot of it has something to do with Baby Metal. One example Jiluka is a totally different take on the Death Metal thing combining it with the genre of Visual Kei. Or this - Gravity - kzbin.info/www/bejne/bYaznJWwfbiFjck Or this - Attack on Awake - kzbin.info/www/bejne/r4W6koVrl9qFjLs

[@albertogarcia9250]

Very good video, but just to clarify one detail, this last album was not the first time that the singers contributed lyrics to a song, that had already happened since the first album, in the song Yon no uta.

[@Kaylakaze]

"I'm excited to see what their next move is" One week later: BabyMetal and Electric Callboy release THE party song of the summer

[@bmcshane80]

The PERFECT Combination! The Gods have Blessed us! RATATATATA!!!

[@williammccullough2466]

God that song is awesome. If you’d have told me ten years ago I’d be jamming out to a combination of EDM, metal, and J-pop, I’d have looked at you like you had a toe growing out of your forehead….yet here we are…lol

[@SeveredLegs]

@@williammccullough2466 I'm with you...5 years ago, I was a standard rock and metalhead, yet here I am, listening to REOL, Ado, ZUTOMAYO, etc.

[@BardovBacchus]

♫ Boom Boom Boom ♫

[@spellfireforge]

@@BardovBacchus *bun bun bun!

[@Serenade314]

Sudden rise? They’ve been at it for over 14 years now, and are finally starting to get the recognition and appreciation that they deserve.

[@asuraXTC]

Yeah but they were doing stadiums in 2014 ? Explain they’re plants lol

[@zeroskaterz92]

@@asuraXTC Stadiums in 2014? Wtf are you even talking about?

[@asuraXTC]

@@zeroskaterz92u maybe not in America but 2014 they did Japan stadiums they’re literally plants are you denying they are ? How long do you think they been around because not sure why all you kids think they started in 2016

[@zeroskaterz92]

@@asuraXTC Japan stadiums? Be specific. It's like you don't know wtf you're talking about here and just thrown random words hoping for it to stick. The fact that you couldn't even bring up the location is hilarious. They've been around since 2010, not 2014. Wtf are you even on about? lmao

[@jayzonedc6474]

@@asuraXTC Who cares if they are "plants"? They're talented musicians and make good music. I don't think they have ever claimed to be completely organic and not a product of a company/producer.

[@emptymonkey]

I think there are a lot of metalheads like me that have always been turned off by the toxicity of many metal scenes. There's none of that at their shows. Everybody just rocks out and gets to dance with no judgement or egos.

[@MetalGildarts]

That’s how it should be for any band/scene.

[@Icipher353]

Babymetal is metal with all the tryhard edginess shaved off and replaced with pure fun. They take metal back to the days when it didn't take itself quite so seriously.

[@Erawk]

you wouldn't think a BABYMETAL crowd and a DETHLOK crowd would mix, but I can say from experience, they totally do and it's a thing of beauty.

[@PrimetimeBJJ]

​@@ErawkI wanted to go to the babyklok show in Boston so badly but I was broke. That would've been my first concert ever. Richardsons a beast too

[@frankvandorp2059]

I've never encountered a toxic metal scene.

[@roofy3075]

Sudden rise? They've been huge for over a decade now...

[@BlasianLynn]

Yea. Title is wild disrespectful

[@yankeesrule587]

rise into pop culture, i just literally discovered them today on KZbin music with RATATATA

[@TheDr3bunny]

@@yankeesrule587 they did a song with BMTH 4 years ago. It's totally cool for people to just be discovering them, but i really don't think it can be called a sudden rise

[@kevinw2592]

I'm not even a fan of theirs and I know this.

[@blitzofchaosgaming6737]

@@yankeesrule587 Are you saying you are the sole gatekeeper of pop culture?

[@capngeeoff]

I think an important part of being an "industry plant" is the perception of being deceived. Being idols is a key part of BabyMetal's identity and it is not something they hide. I suppose perhaps the language barrier adds a layer of "deception" for non-Japanese audiences

[@Daneelro]

Actually, from what I hear, they are a _subversion_ of the whole concept of industry plants. Kobemetal, the producer who created Babymetal, is an old metalhead who suffered from metal being so unpopular in Japan that most musicians could not earn a living. While managing an idol TV show - a mix of reality TV and talent show where young girls perform to be in an idol group - he had the idea to mix the two. He begged the production company to let three of the girls do a side project, and then got his metalhead friends together to do the music themselves. From there on, Babymetal took off way more than anyone expected (and this was well before thw Megitsune stage noted in the video), so the production company let Kobemetal continue with the girls as a permanent formation (though they still had to take part in the TV show for years), and eventually could hire good metal musicians as back-up band. In short, Babymetal was the creation of a metalhead slaving away as producer and three teenage girls giving 110% effort even if they had no idea what they got themselves into, using the industry system.

[@liselotters]

Yeah that's how I feel too. I always thought "industry plants" would try their hardest to deny it and make themselves come across as something they're not and pretend they have a different background than they actually have. With baby metal it was/is well known and not hidden at all nor did they pretend to be something they're not.

[@BadEnd98]

>Get investment to make success? No. >Make success to get investment? Yes. I remember the interview where the guy asked if they had any input in making music and without hesitation they innocently shake the head and said "no!" with bright smiles 😂 as 10-12 year old girls they didn't even know Metal before too, but now they're legitimately spent more than half their lives and grew up with metal 🤘

[@amythistxue1]

@@BadEnd98 and even as they got older and had been doing this longer they would still typically say that they are trying to do something different, to create their own sound and genre rather than fit into the mold of groups that have come before them

[@PolCoolguy]

About the idol thing I feel like it was only that at the beginning, after the first album they're pretty much a band and nothing more. Being an idol is usually associated with fan meet and greet events, media appearances, etc. but babymetal just does music and just a lot more merch than the average band.

[@Hayakoneko]

The Japanese idol industry is huge. It's a topic that deserves it's own research for anybody that's interested. For instance there's even anime about idol music groups. We all know k-pop, but it was heavily inspired by Japanese idol groups.

[@apoplexiamusic]

And the idol thing gave rise to one of the best Japanese films ever: Perfect Blue, which Darren Aronofsky constantly references in his films

[@pakxenon]

They're making full on 5 piece rock bands too, since 2016.

[@ToveriJuri]

The idol industry feels really fucked to be honest.

[@ksbrst2010]

@@Hayakoneko Well the industry itself has a huge share of problems. It was simply build around the idea of making use of the workpower of people as cheaply available as possible. For some time there were real interests behind it, but today it is more like a hunting ground for managers to get as much Cash out of the pockets of everyone as possible.

[@whatbreaksthesilence8508]

The baby metal experience 1st listen: “this is pretty weird, let’s listen to another one” 2nd listen: “yeah, this might not be for me” 3rd listen: “chocoreto chocoreto” Edit: OMG thank you for the 666 likes

[@spanishbaldman]

chocoreto.

[@perlundgren7797]

@@spanishbaldman ​What's he supposed to say? Unless google is lying to me, that's what it's called (spelled "chokoreeto", but still).

[@AxeMain]

​@perlundgren7797 he's saying chocolate like a Japanese would. チョコレート is chocolate, but pronounced with Japanese accent

[@perlundgren7797]

@@AxeMain Yeah, that's why I don't get the point of the first reply. It'd be one thing if he was making fun of them for not being able to pronounce it or something, but as far as I can tell it's just a loanword.

[@kristyna1312]

@whatbreaksthesilence8508 🤣🤣

[@Not_Ferrari]

When these women perform they put out a TON of energy, and they have the biggest smiles on their faces while they do it. I don't think a plant, or someone that wasn't truly enjoying what they're doing could keep that up the whole way through a tour the way Babymetal does. Personally I love them. The music is good and the performances are entertaining.

[@paulbenwell3560]

Seen them live at least half a dozen times. Honestly never seen 3 people more alive and having fun on stage as those three. Yet also some of the most totally professional performers. They put 110% in every single show. No going through the motions for them.. they even change out the songs every night of a tour. Saw them 3 days in a row. Each night had a different set (usually 2-3 songs swapped out in the middle of the order).

[@bigyodatheman]

I mean, they can truly enjoy it and still be the result of manufacturing.

[@nikushim6665]

You don't think they are plants?.... My man all J Idols are plants, that's how the industry work there its all corpo marketing.

[@anthonyricher]

They're not for me, but I think they're a cool innovation and all the more power to whoever does enjoy them. We need to stop gatekeeping shit that isn't just burly men growling about mutilation.

[@butHomeisNowhere___]

Based take 🤘

[@marcmacinnis6610]

I agree completely. It's lke the musical version of cilantro. Just because you don't like it and think it tastes like soap, millions do like . They confuse "I don' like it" with "That's not good and must be destroyed". Dude, just don't eat the cliantro and move on.. ;)

[@sigiligus]

Anyone who ever brings up being against gatekeeping is exactly the type of person who needs to be kept out

[@robdurfee6861]

@@sigiligusman, shut up

[@kidneystonermusic]

You're a hero

[@leemccarthy6]

I'm 40, I've seen A LOT of bands live. Babymetal are easily one of the tightest, energetic and fun bands I've ever seen.

[@zackamania63]

I’m 40 as well, and I agree!

[@robdurfee6861]

@@zackamania63hell I’m 48 and I agree too. My 10 year old daughter loves them and her listening to them has made her want to check out more of the metal records in my collection. She picks by album art mostly and definitely not everyone is for her but she digs Slipknot, some Iron Maiden, Sleep Token and she loves Knocked Loose (mostly because she thinks Bryan sounds like a pissed off Spongebob and it cracks her up but she still loves to do the Arf Arf callout with me) she really wants to go to Lorna Shore this fall with me, I’m still debating on that lol

[@zackamania63]

@@robdurfee6861 do it!! It would be an awesome bonding experience!!

[@herryhubert2706]

I am 60 and I agree

[@chrilad]

I'm a metalhead going back to 1986 and I absolutely love this group. They have shown such a progression from their first cd to the latest. They may have been put together by a corporate entity, but they have also grown up in the Metal industry and have gained the respect of many within the genre. They were a huge injection of something different and have opened the gates for many to follow.

[@Default78334]

For all the hate that idol units get, is it really all that different from the classical music scene were musicians audition to join an ensemble where they will exclusively perform music written by others?

[@emptymonkey]

and Mahler is metal af!

[@Ms666slayer]

Yes it is, becuase marketability is everything in the idol industry, on an ensamble the best musician gets the role, on an idol group that's not teh case, you can be the best singer and dancer but if you are seen as ugly or are old you will never get selected for an idol group, unless they made a gimmick group of old and "ugly" women. I'm sure that no one in Babymetal was selected because they were the best singers, dancers, they were seleted because on that time they filled the role of being "cute" perfectlt to make a contrast with the agressive music like "just see all of these young and cut girls singing super agressive music, is adorable" remember none of the member were even 15 when the group started, and also Babymetal wasn't supposed to last that long it was just a one off project that would most likely stop after the first album if it wasn't for the reason that it became massive. It started as a surbgroup of another idol group named Sakura Gauking, which that stuff is not uncommon in idol groups and is made for numerous reasons, like you have new members that you don't believe are ready to perform, well you made a sub unit and use it to help the members to practice and be ready when they upgrade to the main unit, or you have some members on the group that are super popular and you decide to make a sub group with only those members, a lot of time those sub units just make on album and a few shows before disbanding, unless they become really big, which is what happened to Babymetal it became so popular that it eclipsed the original group which doesn't even exist anymore.

[@intakoyaki9576]

@@Ms666slayer well su metal was selected because of her vocals and then moa and yui metal were selected because they look similar and to be "little angels dancing around su as she sang". sumetal was also apart of the "sweet sisters" (which became mini pati in sakura gakuin) which was formed by koba also. so he really did like su's vocals and stage presence

[@NeverlandSystemPunkGirlChloe]

Or worse the bands that only fit record label formulas and designed sounds... so only that ONE vision is allowed?

[@ksbrst2010]

@@NeverlandSystemPunkGirlChloe Exactly this was one of the problems. For a long time idols were a good machine to produce cheap talents for certain purposes. Then came the overqualification time and then a huge drop of quality in every aspect

[@Q1776Q]

Sudden rise??? They've been pounding it out for over 10 years

[@kloroform1681]

That's what she said. (Sry I HAD to)

[@Q1776Q]

@@kloroform1681 🤣

[@davidlisteresq]

I just left almost this exact same comment.

[@archstanton1628]

14 years in December.

[@7Lace77]

I think he means the sudden rise when everyone noticed it, even if that was years ago.

[@raycollins511]

what else is amazing about Babymetal is the fact that for the most part they are not played on the radio or even xm like some bands here are played. to understand their following is basically from KZbin and word of mouth. what i love about them is when you go to a show to see them live you will all ages and ethnic groups. this appeals to a lot of people. last year they did almost a 100 shows traveling the world. how many bands here will do that many? whether a small 3000 person show to a stadium show they put 100% into the performance. they love their fans and it shows. a short video like this does leave out a lot of information but it is done good enough to have new people look harder into them.

[@texascpa]

I hear BM on LiquidMetal every so often. In fact, first time I heard BabyMetal Death was on LM. I'm sure it kills Jose Mangin to play them, but he does every so often.

[@raycollins511]

@@texascpa yes i have heard them on there but they are not in rotation like other bands is what i was saying.

[@texascpa]

@@raycollins511 Point taken. And it's a shame. More a shame that LM doesn't focus on other Japanese metal bands, as well. So many good ones.

[@ThrashXumer]

Idk here in spain at least I learned about them due metal magazines. They received a lot of sudden attention outta nowhere

[@DuduPochi]

And now, I can't wait for their collab with Electric Callboy! 🤘 Edit: song is already available and BABYMETAL's premiering the music video later 11pm. Let's daaance, new workout song unlocked lol can't stop head boppin'

[@benjamineer3045]

I think this might break the universe and I am totally down for it. They have met on their last US Tour, so it is not impossible

[@zsoltontube]

​@@benjamineer3045 that collab song coming will be all sorts of epic.

[@GirtheAlienGoldfish]

Really excited for that one!

[@rebeccab-b1175]

Everyone in my house is freaking out about this!

[@Nummer176]

​@@benjamineer3045it has actually already been teased and is coming soon

[@MafuthaOne]

What got me was the performance on First Take doing a piano only version of Monochrome. Those voices are incredible & KZbin went crazy.

[@amythistxue1]

yeah Su-metal has been recognized as one of the best female vocalists to come out of Japan and that was back when she was still in her late teens

[@softcatmonster]

Su-metal killed that performance. That lady's sure got some pipes.

[@PhilippeArantesTina]

I saw them live once and at a festival. I can say that it was one of the biggest mosh pits that i ever seen sooo.... It looked prety metal to me.

[@butHomeisNowhere___]

I'm jealous. Looks fun as hell to see live, and I'm not even into anime or Japanese culture all that much!

[@PhilippeArantesTina]

@@butHomeisNowhere___ it IS fun!! And they sounded awesome!!! Haters only live on the internet. Everyone was having fun.

[@AxeSwipe2011]

Agreed. Saw them at a festival last year and non-fans were calling them the best act of the night afterwards.

[@TheDFGunner]

I remember seeing them at Rock on Range (Sonic Temple now) in 2018 and they by far had the biggest crowd and mosh pit on the side stage that year.

[@zackamania63]

I saw them twice last month in San Francisco. The most fun I’ve had at a concert!

[@StefanGeisler]

"seemingly over night"... That was one really long night since 2010.

[@tigemmy6319]

Now I want BabyMetal to put out an antology album called The Long Night lmao

[@bramvanduijn8086]

Yeah, just because you're not paying attention doesn't mean it didn't exist. Most people learn to project object permanence to the past before they're out of elementary school.

[@emospodermen2525]

With the metal scene being to stagnate at times, BABYMETAL is a breath of fresh air. The energy they bring to their music, live shows, and how new and exciting their songs are to the metal scene are unmatched. Their rise is well deserved. Good Music is Good Music regardless on how it's made.

[@Evilskyworshippers]

Lmao metal isn't stagnant at all if u look at bands that aren't industry plants. Its funny how unique ppl create unique sounds. And metal becomes stagnant BECAUSE of industry plants like this. Its a gimmick designed in a lab, and it actually made ppl think its a "breath of fresh air." Incredible. ALL big bands sound the same as they are puppets, it just takes awhile before the megacorps saturate each genre. Cute girl metal was immediately stale, it didn't do anything new except have cute girls. There's 30 ppl creating every kind of music, instead of 3 million and its insane how anyone can think stale music is fresh.

[@Evilskyworshippers]

Let me put it another way, this group would be awesome, if they weren't plants. They would've made something that sounded actually unique. But u think this band is fresh, when they are part of the same megacorp who created 10 million other bands. It sounds like everything else, but having sexual objects distracts from that.

[@PM-vv3uc]

@@Evilskyworshippers Tell me you have absolutely no idea without telling me you have absolutely no idea. To at least give you the opportunity: Just name me other fresh, newer bands trying new and innovative stuff from the last - let's say - 15 years from the rock and metal sector. There are currently hardly any new developments in metal that really excite people.

[@PM-vv3uc]

​@@Evilskyworshippers I cant even believe you said "it sounds like everything else" - like, c'mon...do you even believe what youre saying?

[@Evilskyworshippers]

@@PM-vv3uc ...do you even believe what youre saying? Its a generic idol group with generic metal controlled by music megacorps. Please explain how thats a "mind blowing revolutionary invention."

[@modiglian]

New Kids On The Block, Spice Girls, and others were prepackaged products that had a single purpose: Make Money Fast Thus they started with all the backing from a big producer, all the money and all the slots in the FM radio and MTV. But behind the pretty faces and fake smiles there was nothing, so they last 5 or so years and then fade away. We are in the 14th Babymetal year and there is not an end in sight 😊 Another factor to consider; what happens when those groups who are only a machine for cash try to evolve, try to change their style? They crash and burn no amount of money from big record labels saved them. This didn’t happen to Babymetal, be it better management from Kobametal, the genuine interest from the girls in learning and do better each time, or everything together. Babymetal was a project born from Kobametal’s passion, had very little backing from the company Amuse, the girls started with borrowed clothes, acting in malls and in the underground idol scene, small stages with a capacity for 100-200 fans. The girls were 10 and 12 yr old when they were exposed to metal music, until then they aspired to be pop idols, actresses or tv entertainers, like the other girls who begin in the industry. Yes, they were scared, BUT they took it seriously and learned what metal was about pretty much the same way we did at 16, the difference was these girls did it on stage, singing and dancing to it, in front of people who paid to be there, that was brave. They overcame the departure of their friend Yui-metal due to illness and the death of Mikio, the guitarist, other groups break apart from something like that, but Su and Moa didn’t break apart and forged ahead, they’ve learned to love what they were doing and we, the fans received those emotions, this is genuine. The Fox God blessed us, we are The One. #notacult

[@IAMisLove]

👍Awesome comment x 💯. 🦊 🖖❤

[@chrizeeey]

Lmao #notacult 😆

[@JulianLee-l5n]

I was in Rockmakan in Tokyo a couple of times. Pretty much the underground music HQ. Small venue, maybe 200 capacity? There are photos of BABYMETAL from when they played there in their early days.

[@BabystarNoodle]

涙が止まらない。

[@vivibuffy3352]

Bro, New Kids are still releasing new music and touring.

[@xwalkerx27x]

The fact that acts like Rob Zombie have defended them shows how metal they actually are. I love Baby Metal.

[@bltvd]

Rob Zombie sucks though 😂

[@jamesjohnston1935]

@@bltvd Metallica, Megadeath, and iron Maiden also endorses them

[@bltvd]

@@jamesjohnston1935 i am a long time fan as well. I just thought it was funny someone was using “Rob Zombie” to create credibility. Everything he has ever done has been bad.

[@edshanks2189]

​@@bltvd come on. Dragula and Super Beast are great songs....tbh, though, everything else I've heard by him is mid at best.

[@bennybonilla2864]

@@jamesjohnston1935I feel like those bands are old and successful that their opinions don’t count anymore. At least in my opinion, there’s this sense of them saying that for any new band to just sound open minded

[@alexander_sinclair]

To me, an industry plant is a band where you're not sure if they were created by a company or became popular by themselves. Also, they tend to act like they did it all theirselves when they didn't. But for idle groups, everyone knows they're created, so there's no controversy. Originally, I thought it's kind of funny while also awesome. That's why I liked it. Something like Gwar or Green Jello. Something so bizarre it make you giggle and mosh at the same time. Also, I thought their dancing was top notch and I like dancing personally. I'm one of those weirdos that likes hard metal and k-pop. Especially started liking k-pop the older I got. And then the metal is top notch.

[@jeffschreifels8651]

Babymetal was obviously not created as a cash cow. No one in their right mind would create something like Babymetal and just throw it out there thinking it would become popular automatically. It works because it's very well done and because of the obvious hard work and dedication of everyone involved.

[@TheCivildecay]

I think it is, and the creative mind behind the band just saw all those millions of metal guys with a anime obsession that spend all their money on stupid shit and saw them as the perfect cash cow to suck dry

[@myriam8854]

@@TheCivildecay Babymetal was planned as a temporary project to try something new in the safe space of Sakura gakuin (youth programe of amuse where Koba was in charge of). They had no budget for proper costumes or a live band. When Suzuka was to old for Sakura gakuin Babymetal could have been easily canceled. Instead they fought for it und started to invest in the best live band they could get and marketing outside Japan.

[@jeffschreifels8651]

@@TheCivildecay why do you assume Babymetal fans are anime fans? I don't know any such fans. I don't give a crap about anime and Babymetal has nothing to do with anime.

[@Ramon-gg3bd]

I don't see any facts from either sides of this argument whether this is a cash cow or not.

[@russellward4624]

​@@Ramon-gg3bdwell Sakura Gakuin wasn't a cash cow. If you watch thier performances theres like 12 people at them, mostly thoer family. This wasn't some huge production. Theres was no money invested in the show. Seriously you should watch some of the clubs like the food club. Nobody could predict the success. The genre didn't exist. Femals as leads wasn't even that succesful then. There was never any dancing stuff in metal. You're looking at things from a 2024 perspective with the success of Band-Maid, etc... but they didnt exist. They probably wouldn't exist without Babymeatl first. There was no audience calling for cute metal.

[@Bat_Dad_116]

Anything that makes introducing metal to my young kids easier is great in my book.

[@Icipher353]

And that is a big part of why Babymetal was created; the group was designed to be a gateway into metal for mainstream audiences. Babymetal has probably done more to bring new people into metal than most other bands over the last decade. When you go to a Babymetal show, you see the most diverse audience you will ever see at a metal show, everything from toddlers with their parents through to senior citizens all rocking out together.

[@iqbalmuhammad2920]

​@@Icipher353 Your comment would not make sense to toxic gatekeepers & metal elitist. I'm happy that I'm not one of them.

[@rike1175]

There was this really cool moment in one of there interviews, they were playing some big festival and sue said she was really excited to see see bring me the horizon halestorm and Paramore. I was like "oh those are exactly the kinda bands a girl her age would like if they were in to metal" it really showed that she wasn't some mindless recording artest just cashing a pay check. Really cool.

[@Icipher353]

Just recently they were spotted at Sick New World rocking out to Slipknot's set from the AV desk area. Last year they also went to see Electric Callboy during a day off on their own world tour.

[@TheDFGunner]

If it weren't for babymetal blowing up, I probably wouldn't have discovered Japanese metal bands like Hanabie that are now making waves here in America.

[@ManekiNeko1972]

Check out Hagane, Lovebites, Nemophila, Aldious, Fate Gear and Bridear

[@o0Raine0o]

gotta love youtube algorithms, fell down the foxhole with babymetal in 2019 and then moment after i discovered lovebites and nemophila

[@brianmpetersnyc5]

Hanabie just crushed it this past weekend in Mew Haven

[@Fureth32]

It's so weird to me because Japanese metal was on the rise and becoming huge in the late 2000s. Then something happened with Japan and copyright and the surge kind of stopped back then. I'm just glad they are finally getting their dues internationally again.

[@UberStomp]

I'm watching Hanabie for the second time this week! They kick ass!

[@banaynayy]

BabyMetal's music is insanely infectious with their energy and lyrics. Also Suzuka's voice is so good, even in live performances where some people do not sound as good as the recorded version. But Suzuka sounds so incredibly good live. You need to watch them live to really enjoy BabyMetal to the fullest

[@deltamaxxhomevideo]

Those PIA Arena shows from 2023 are unbelievable. I’ve taken to recommending that to people over everything else.

[@zackamania63]

If you get the chance to see them live, DO IT!! I had the opportunity to see them twice last month in San Francisco, and those were the most fun I’ve had at a concert!

[@stevekreitler9349]

You are correct- we saw them in Dallas last year, and they were amazing.

[@emcg4131]

Considering many Japanese idols retire and move on to something else when they age out, I'm really grateful that 2 of the 3 original girls are still in the game. I think that being big in the West has influenced them and showed them that you can have a long music career, especially as a female artist. If they had gone into pop instead of metal, they likely would have moved on.

[@LorcanaControl]

Yeah he doesn't even mention that you can tell he doesn't actually listen to them someone wrote this for him and didn't know

[@amythistxue1]

and the 3rd only really left because of health issues instead of saying like "ok I've made my money and had my fun, I'm done" but rather just not being physically able to do it anymore

[@emcg4131]

@@amythistxue1 nice information, did not know. I wouldn't hold it against anyone to cash out for any reason, some things are more important: family, health, happiness.

[@KillingMachine44]

Nice video. I'm a 49-year-old metalhead hooked to BABYMETAL since I first listened to them. I don't watch anime or play video games. Last year was my first time going to a BABYMETAL show and I can say that I need more, it's my favorite show ever followed by Bolt Thrower and Dismember (Death-Metal is my favorite genre) They now have the Western KAMI BAND playing on all shows since 2023 Chris Kelly on guitar, CJ Masciantonio on guitar, Clint Tustin on bass, Anthony Barone on drums

[@sana-cm7oc]

Anthony Barone is a machine with Babymetal. One of the best concerts I've ever seen.

[@jamesmcclung153]

I didn't even know you could type. I thought it was all memes and gifs😂 Just messin. Nice pfp😆

[@KillingMachine44]

@@jamesmcclung153 I guess you are on Discord? 😁

[@DaremoTen]

I think calling Babymetal 'industry plants' is entirely wrong, as that term carries a connotation of trying to trick someone. Babymetal aren't plants, they're just industry, and they've never pretended to be otherwise.

[@bigyodatheman]

Industry in metal = faux

[@EmmureMARIO64]

I started listening to BABYMETAL during the pandemic. Back then, I was against them but then the song Distortion popped up and I got hooked on it. A few weeks later, I became a fan and I got to see them twice. Their shows are amazing!

[@ForAnAngel]

The idea that anyone believes that Babymetal was manufactured by the industry to be as marketable as possible is completely ridiculous. If they wanted to manufacture a group to be as marketable as possible then they wouldn't have created one so unique. There was no intention or expectation that Babymetal would blow up to become as popular as they eventually did in the beginning. They were created with the idea that they would be just another subgroup of Sakura Gakuin just like Twinklestars, Mini-pati or Sleepiece. Oh you never heard of them? That's because they were never meant to become famous! The fact that Babymetal did is solely a result of Suzuka's talent.

[@HCS_Gengarr]

BABYMETAL is my second favorite band ever. I love their energy they bring to their music and live performances, their awesome and wholesome personalities and also Su has an absolutely amazing and captivating voice. Moa and Momo are also incredible performers with amazing singing voices and Momo can do really nice screams and growls too if you watch recent live videos. I listened to Kingslayer one time and became addicted to their music. Super hyped for the new sing with Electric Calloy later this month.

[@AmitySpells]

Seeing you swap opinions on them after a single BMTH collab like you haven't been shit-talking both them and the fans for many years is absolutely hilarious.

[@ThePunkRockMBA]

Isn't it??

[@1nONLY_DRock]

Yeah, I dig it! The metalheads that dismiss them forget that they've got the fundamentals of metal down. Especially the stage show and the musician's proficiency in their instruments. Their stage show is on par with the likes of Iron Maiden or Motley Crue. It's awesome!

[@shortlivedglory3314]

I started listening to Babymetal when my twin girls were babies. They were colicky and only loud music in my headphones would drown out the constant screaming. A lot of said music is dark and a bit depressing. Baby Metal was upbeat and I couldn't understand the lyrics, which was great. I may well have lost my mind entirely during this time without their music, so they're always going to occupy a warm place in my heart.

[@SamBrockmann]

This is not a good story. In fact, you should keep this to yourself.

[@GirtheAlienGoldfish]

@@SamBrockmann Shut up.

[@SamBrockmann]

@GirtheAlienGoldfish , or what? You're going to scream at me in weeb?! We need to stop normalizing people oversharing on the internet.

[@thrildmedia8798]

​@@SamBrockmann your incel is showing

[@Steenar123]

How is this over sharing? ​@@SamBrockmann

[@derwolf9670]

The concept of Babymetal doesn't sound great on paper: 3 cute girls doing choreographed dancing and singing to a mix of pop and metal. But when you see them live...wow. There is nothing like them! So happy I found them...

[@traylor2502]

It absolutely sounds like a disaster on paper. Even in Japan, metalheads HATE j-pop idol music with a passion, and for the j-pop fans heavy metal is just noise. Mixing the two will have a target audience of... who exactly? They had only haters at the beginning, and no budget. This was not a brilliant idea, this was the stupidest idea in the music industry ever. What made it work is that everybody involved in the creation of this group is an absolute unit of talent working as hard as they can. There were attempts by other groups to copy the recipe, they all failed because the lack of this secret ingredient.

[@phrozen66]

@@traylor2502 There is quite a few fairly successful idol metal groups like Broken By the Scream, Hikari Shiina/Pikarin, BiS, early BiSH, and lots of much smaller acts.

[@lordbear]

Too many metal fans think that metal should only be super heavy riffs with a Grover voiced singer. Metal can be fun. Bands like Babymetal, Ghost and Electric Callboy is how the genre gets new fans.

[@marcmacinnis6610]

I lol'd at Grover, YES! that's exactly it haha. this is my new term for that barfing in the mic sound.

[@sigiligus]

Why does it need new fans? Art isn’t a democracy, it not validated by the unwashed masses approving it in large numbers.

[@denniskrenz2080]

And even growls don't mean you must be a one trick pony or people are not allowed to have fun at your shows. Just look at Bloodywood there. And then we have not even talked about Nanowar of Steel. I can't really understand people who can't even get their ass up and play their own metal instead of talking bad about the metal of others.

[@WinterGK]

I have seen Babymetal live 3 times...and the last time(In Oslo), I stood next to Kobametal and was ecstatic. I told my wife that this is the guy behind all of this...just filming and taking pictures with almost nobody recognising him

[@tasantana1174]

Wow, such a honor to stand next to Koba-San😮 , he really did give the world of music something special.

[@sana-cm7oc]

There is a photo somewhere of Kobametal squeegeeing and mopping the stage after it rained because he didn't want any chance of the girls getting hurt.

[@MrNightgale]

Oh what the heck was he in the audience? That's so cool, I was positioned where literally everyone crammed their way through to get beers ALTHOUGH the actual stairs was like a meter away from me, + I had a headache, those two things mostly ruined the show for me, but it was when I factor those two things out, a great show. Hadn't heard BxMxC before and holy crap that song live is some of the best things I've ever heard. Next time they're in Oslo, if they're ever again, I need to position myself more carefully for sure.

[@Taber01]

@@sana-cm7oc that was at Download, Just look for Karate-Download. It was so rainy that year, it got nicknamed drownload

[@dhiaksaputra]

​@@sana-cm7ocyeah it was on Download Fest 2016 i think .. they got delayed 30 minutes cz of rain...

[@stevenclubb7718]

I think they're authenticly inauthentic, and that's the brilliance of them. Even in interviews, there's no attempt to pass them off anything but a stage-managed act giving their all. Musically, I really like that their aggressively masculine and feminine. It would be super easy to shift them into Rock Chick mode (which The Warning does brilliantly), so there's something really fresh about their sound. This has been toned down over the years as they grew up. But, really, the thing I love, love, love is they capture the joy I always felt listening to metal. Having these gleeful girls in front of this really heavy music expressed something primal I'd never seen expressed before. You could play and dance to this awesome heavy sound... instead of just thrashing around to it.

[@Elderflowerpunch]

THEY'RE AMAZING. The only reason they didn't blow up is cause we didn't know about them. I just found out about them CAUSE it Was finally recommended to me. I'M IN LOVE!

[@dynamicphotography_]

Just saw them at Sick New World and it was wild. Real good time. The band is so good. Good show.

[@kcfox0971]

I clawed my way to about 10 rows from the stage for their set. Thank the fox god it was early in the day and I had a full tank.

[@smcdonough1427]

BABYMETAL are industry plants, but the idea of industry plants doesn't really exist in Japan. No one in Japan is pretending that idol groups or BABYMETAL were formed organically

[@butsukete1806]

You ever watch behind the scenes videos on Japanese idols? Those girls are put through some harsh training before they ever hit the stage.

[@poonoo87]

I think that's why Babymetal aren't hated as much as they could be, in the West when people are industry plants they lie and pretend they were formed organically while with Babymetal are upfront about it, including the girls themselves. I remember one interview where one of them remembered being pitched the idea and thought it was weird but grew to like it. It's like when people call Gene Simmons a sellout, it has no effect.

[@grandmasterdoge6997]

The quaint myth of garage bands making it big on their own is not reality. All performers need industry connections, specialist support, marketing, logistics, and financial backing. In many ways, BabyMetal's back story is not very different from Taylor Swift, Katy Perry, Jennifer Lopez, or other popular performers.

[@poonoo87]

@@grandmasterdoge6997 Even Metallica, who had less help than most bands that make it to their size, still had connections that Lars made early on. Jon Zazula and Brian Slagel were very important to Metallica in their first few years, and Lars had the connection with Slagel before he even formed Metallica.

[@BadEnd98]

​@@butsukete1806 yeah competition in idol scene is really harsh, and Japan's stressful work environment which require quality services and products doesn't help either. But Babymetal kinda went off on their own way with their own niche genre that has no competition because no one ever did something like them, they had no idea what's next or how long they could continue when they started either. It's like they put everything on the end product and no bs behind scene, we only get to know them as 'Babymetal', zero influence or drama, the girls all go incognito and disappear once the show over

[@Jimmy-Mc]

I was always pretty neutral on Babymetal, but I saw them open for Dethklok and really enjoyed the show.

[@texascpa]

I was in the VIP line for the Houston show last summer. There were two lines - one for Dethlock meet and greet and one for early admission. Tall dude in the Dethklok M&G was ragging on BM telling everyone he was there just for Dethklok and planned on baling when they were done. We both ended up in second row on the floor. Wouldn't you know, I look over where he was standing quarter-way of the BM half of the show and he's still there...headbanging! lol. All it takes is one show for people to change their mind.

[@asuraXTC]

Think you mean headline

[@Ricc-bmc8xm]

@@asuraXTC They alternated who performed first from show to show.

[@stevekreitler9349]

Imagine seeing a show with all that energy and talent- then the stunningly boring Deathklok part.

[@jlee902]

Lol, they coheadlined, not opened. Thanks to babymetal, I got into dethklok and metalocalypse.

[@tomate3391]

The fox god has spoken, next song is with Electric Callboy. Still 5 days to wait.

[@faceplantor5647]

Suzuka Nakamoto’s dad was in a punk band when he was young. Probably a huge reason Suzuka gravitates to rock verses pop/idol music. She would have been huge in Japan in the idol scene.

[@bx3054]

she said she was afraid of metal music before she joined babymetal...

[@dhiaksaputra]

​@@bx3054It's was back when she first listened to metal song.. she not afraid.. she just found it to be scary... And there's a but... She said after she experienced a metal concert.. she start to like it...

[@GirtheAlienGoldfish]

I first saw them and thought, "Oh, they're really pretty." Su-Metal's voice is beautiful, too. Looking up the lyrics, they're pretty deep. Gimme Chocolate is about body image in girls, where they'd diet and be afraid to eat foods they enjoy for fear of being seen as fat. Megitsune is about how women are always pressured to be seen as happy and cheerful and never showing their real emotional state. As they go on, the lyrics become far more metal-based and layered, so they clearly took a lot of inspiration and lessons from the western bands that they toured with. I actually really love how they were willing to learn and adapt without losing their identity as a group. BABYMETAL has a good thing going and I hope they keep getting better.

[@grandmasterdoge6997]

For the last 40 years Metal bands have all looked and sounded exactly the same. Lots of long haired guys with guitars, wandering around on stage, and screaming loudly. BabyMetal revived Metal in an incredibly unexpected way and created a new fan base for the genre. BabyMetal saved Metal.

[@Wombatmetal]

They were not put together like a pop act. How it actually went was Koba, the producer, thought Su had a powerful voice and he also had a love for metal. Su was a member of a pop group, and Koba got permission to do a one off song as Babymetal. It simply took off. It was not planned, and certainly not for the money. For the first two years they provided their own costumes, and Koba's wife did the styling. The concept that they were assembled by a record company to make money just isn't reality. And while rare, they came together in a similar form as Jimi Hendrix or the Sex Pistols.

[@Ryujin170]

And judging by metal elitist reactions to them they had the same upseting effect on them as Punk did on prog fans in the 70's. Aren't metal elitist simply conformists?

[@leelermakesmusic]

The wild style changes are almost a hallmark of modern Japanese metal. Maximum the Hormone is a good example of this.

[@MrThepagedog]

First thing I thought when I first heard them was it sounded like the Bu-ikikaesu album without the male vocals

[@maciejnowak666]

so many of these. broken by the scream taking that concept to the next level

[@arminbreuer7968]

Maximum The Hormone - I love them, especially Yoshu Fukushu, but they‘re not really representative of "modern" Japanese metal. They‘re pretty much old guys/gals by now.

[@Notthemikeurlookin4]

Paledusk too. It's like 10 songs in one.

[@philipebbrell2793]

I saw them live in London, the most intense gig I have been to. An incredible night.

[@NM-zk2xq]

how are there 4 commercial breaks in an 18 minute video? youtube sucks.

[@X_Blake]

I have a lot of respect for these gals. Their songs pretty cool.

[@michaelortiz7737]

My daughter LOVES Baby Metal and I enjoy their music as well. I took her to see them in concert and she had an absolute blast!

[@EastyyBlogspot]

They have an electric callboy collab coming up

[@zackamania63]

I so wish I could go to Fox Fest!

[@missingnovgc]

Super excited to see what they have been working on with Electric Callboy. Next week cant arrive soon enough

[@ZacxOff]

Funny enough, their “Fox sign” looks closer to the original Metal Hands than what we do today Dio created it after watching his mother (grandma maybe) do it as a superstitious was to scare off evil

[@erika3174]

Interesting, actually never noticed that. Guess the thumb moved upwards over time

[@perlundgren7797]

Maybe I'm just getting old and out of touch or something, but what do we do today?

[@ZacxOff]

@@perlundgren7797 today it’s more of a fist with two fingers up, instead of that fox like shape. Today people usually point their palm towards themselves as well, whereas Dio pointed his hand as you, as if casting away evil. Go look at old pics of Dio doing it. He’s actually performing an act, not just throwing up a cool symbol

[@perlundgren7797]

@@ZacxOff Not sure I'd go as far as it being closer, given how Babymetal seem to use the inside of their fingertips for a very pointy version, but I do see where you're coming from. 🙂

[@AxeSwipe2011]

It was his grandmother who would do it to ward off the "evil eye". Dio would do it at shows as a type of blessing to his fans.

[@bbellomusic]

Never gave them a chance, but definitely gonna give them a listen on my way to work. Love pop melodies over heavy music, so seems like something I’d be into

[@grimmseti]

From what I can tell, what makes an industry plant an industry plant is that they lie about it. They pretend to come up organically. Babymetal has always been open about the fact they've been signed since childhood. By your definition, most idols in Japan are "industry plants" But they're not. They're just typical Jpop idols. UPDATE: In fact, by this definition, any successful artist signed to a label is an "industry plant" but not by the actual definition. Since somebody refuted this, I looked it up and here's the definition: "The term 'industry plant' is used to describe an artist who becomes famous quickly, regardless of their skill or talent, and who presents themselves as self-made and independent. However, they are actually supported by a record label or have other connections to the music industry that they hide. This term is often used as a catch-all for successful major label signees, especially if the acts are women."

[@TheMFYeti]

I mean... like 99% of Jpop and Kpop idols and bands *are* "industry plants", by definition. The difference is that people generally understand that in these genres and it's accepted as the norm rather than the exception. Nobody is trying to keep it a secret, because it isn't.

[@grimmseti]

@@TheMFYeti ​ Well then no, they're not "by definition" an industry plant. In order to be an industry plant, you have to pretend to be self made. I looked it up. The term has no meaning if it just means "They were signed to a record label" The reason industry plant is such a bad label to receive is because it implies deceit.

[@zeroskaterz92]

@@TheMFYeti If they're industry plants, it would not take them 4 years to finally get started. It certainly would not take them another 2 more years to finally became hugely popular across the globe.

[@manning0]

The Fox God thing is called a Kitsune. It's a type of Yokai, which has no direct translation, but Yokai are another form of supernatural entity like Ghost, Demons or fairies. Kitsune have inspired loads of designs in media like Ninetails from Pokémon, or Tails from Sonic the Hedgehog maybe being the most well known examples.

[@Peertje304]

Actually there is a fox god, the inari god is the god of rice and foxes. The correlation is because the scent of fox pee deters rodents that would eat the rice so farmers started deifying foxes as servants of the inari ookami

[@7Kithara]

I don't listen to Baby Metal. But this video was really well written and edited. I'm definitely gonna check them out now. Thanks Finn!

[@sana-cm7oc]

Their song Brand New Day has a solo with Tim Henson and Scott LePage of Polyphia

[@SotonyaAcckaya]

It totally flew under my radar that most of their hit songs were written and arranged by Yuyoyuppe. He was one of two arguably best Vocaloid metal/scremo producers. I'm not too fond on his new project (N.I.C.K) but his older works (under Yuyoyuppe or Draw the Emotional) are totally worth listening.

[@Ryujin170]

He's a musical genius, amazingly underated outside of Vocaloid circles. Even most Babymetal fans still don't know his Vocaloid work. Koba obviously recognised his genius early on.

[@IOOIIIV]

If you haven’t checked out Hanabie’s “Pardon me, I Have To Go Now” please do so. That was arranged by him and it shows.

[@Ryujin170]

@@IOOIIIV I thought i had heared almost everything he has done (and i mean very obscure stuff) and i didn't even know he arranged that and it was right under my nose all the time. nice one.👍

[@gaplauche]

@@IOOIIIV Ah, no wonder that's one of my favorites from Hanabie. 😄

[@IOOIIIV]

@@Ryujin170 Thank-you. I’ll check it out.

[@simplylethul]

BabyMetal, Band Maid, and many other Japanese groups are so good.

[@tw1zt3d]

my friend had sent me a link as a joke, and i was into it. when they announced their first tour, i was there. went to the Fonda, and it was definitely an eclectic mix of people. metal heads, cosplayers, weebs, kids.... as i went to more shows, the crowd definitely became more metal head

[@papagraub122]

Finn likes BABYMETAL? Well how the turn tables. Feels like a proud dad moment

[@kcfox0971]

I guess now its OK to like them, thanks Finn

[@papagraub122]

@kcfox0971 lol I mean his opinion never stopped me from enjoying them. I laughed at his jokes about the fan base. Life is great when you don't take it seriously.

[@BlasianLynn]

Title is clickbait AND disrespectful to these girls who put in a decade worth of work

[@Ructions]

Karate and Monochrome are absolute bangers. Great band.

[@maciejnowak666]

monochromo is the song that convinced me they are legit artists.

[@TheTookboy]

Instead of worrying about "industry plants", I wish that energy could be spent normalizing the fact a lot of musicians are strictly performers, not songwriters. I feel like there have been so many post-hardcore/metalcore/deathcore records written solely by either the band's guitarist or drummer, if they weren't straight ghost-written by the producer.

[@TheTookboy]

There's definitely not (as much of?) a stigma for such stuff in Japan. Ryo Kinoshita has been very open about Yosh from Survive Said The Profit being his lyrical/songwriting partner.

[@toddmueller8948]

15 years = overnight success.

[@20cent]

Hey he found about them on Spotify yesterday while making a playlist of the worst nu-metal songs of the 23rd week of 2002

[@michealrosen]

They were an overnight success when they came out stop crying

[@kcfox0971]

He actually did a vid last year shitting all over them and the fan base

[@TheMFYeti]

@@michealrosen It still took them years to even start to get hype. Baby Metal formed in like 2010-2011 and didn't start to get talked about until about 2014.

[@zeroskaterz92]

@@michealrosen No, they're not. They were formed in 2010 and only got "blown up" in 2014. Overnight success in 4 years? lmao

[@thecarter1138]

Kind of surprised this video doesn't mention that one of the girls left the group in 2018 or 19, and for a while BabyMetal was just a duo with a rotating third dancer. I believe they have a new permanent third member now.

[@rickwagner-]

Yui left BABYMETAL in October 2018, although she hadn't been on stage with the group for a year before that. Momoko became a full BABYMETAL member in April 2023, after being a supporting dancer since 2019.

[@gaplauche]

Yes, they ditched the tutus for a more mature look in 2018 as well, not as recently as Finn suggested, but overall I think his summary is pretty decent.

[@Laquiox]

I know right, like how did he miss that?

[@DukesFinalBoss]

Finn “Wikipedia Breakdown stretched into 10 mins for monetization” McKenty

[@Sykdude]

Fucking love Babymetal, I've seen them 3 times in Tokyo.

[@potatodavid1987]

WE FOUND THE WEEB

[@jacobsyoutubeaccount7931]

@@potatodavid1987cut him some slack lmao Babymetal always put on their craziest and most elaborate shows in Japan. I would love to see them live in Japan once.

[@20cent]

@@jacobsyoutubeaccount7931 Not really

[@erikkling4791]

​@@20centdude the crowd in Japan is on another level

[@20cent]

@@erikkling4791 I've seen a lot of concerts in Japan, I've seen more elaborates and crazier shows than what I could see from Baby Metal.

[@ThePaulpope]

I can't believe you did a 18 min deep dive video into Babymetal and didn't mention the a founding member left and was replaced only a few years ago

[@RememberingGames]

Megitsune is such an amazing song.

[@roman_andor]

first time I heard the breakdown in Megitsune my jaw dropped to the floor and from then on I 've been totally hooked :D

[@Dm6Ripper]

It's no secret that many k-pop and Japanese groups are formed inorganically, but the Babymetal live shows are entertaining as hell. Some of the most enthusiastic and wild crowds I have seen

[@heytoast7129]

Not really into them, though I have zero issues with what they do and how they've gone about it. And I absolutely love the fact that their mere existence makes so many metalhead elitists/snobs rage. For all the goofy stuff some metal bands do, from costumes to theatrics, you're going to come at these ladies? Please.

[@jack8580]

I'll never understand "industry plant." As soon as someone is signed to a label whether they've been working towards it or it happens out of nowhere, they're just another item for sale on that store's shelf that they can adjust as they see fit

[@winglessrayven4294]

When they are endorsed by some of the bigger names in Metal, it shows they are doing good work. I for one think if they bring more to the genre then who cares. I don't listen to them, but I respect the work it takes to do what they do, singing while dancing around isn't easy and they make it look easy.

[@hytellus]

My take on BABYMETAL as well as bands like them and Electric Callboy, its just fun, dumb fun, and metal elitists are sad people that hate fun

[@Jeffrey_Tyler]

This idea of "industry plant" has gotten so ridiculous and out of control. If someone's music is good then their music is good. This idea that someone didn't "work for it" is such a ridiculous power fantasy that people have. I get that the video title is sudo tongue and cheek for the YT algorithm; but there are an insane amount of people that actually have this power fantasy around an artist having to struggle for years, or do every single thing %100 themselves, to make it.

[@GoCeltics734]

they literally are a plant. they were chosen to be the face of the group by a company. do you understand how kpop and jpop groups work?

[@fu102]

Eh. It's less about "earning it" and more about people being forcefed or the band fasttracked to the top because of corporate money. Its fine, if you like it, you like it. But a lot of people are not exactly comfortable having certain music artificially put above songs that were genuinely liked and became popular because of it.

[@shortlivedglory3314]

I don't think "industry plant" is some dirty thing that can never happen. As stated above, if you like it, you like it. I do see a point in placing higher value on artists who make it more organically. There's room for both, but if the grassroots artists die off I think we have a problem on our hands.

[@mediumvillain]

I dont really understand how it would be a "power fantasy" to acknowledge that the music industry props up, funds & markets certain acts and styles of music (leaving Baby Metal aside). That's just how capitalism functions everywhere including the music industry; the people with money & power influence how things will go in order to bolster their chances at getting a return on an investment. The bigger the bet, the more they expect to make in return, the more they leverage their influence to put things in front of more people to have a greater chance at success. All of these systems are pretty fucked nowadays but it's still operating from the same core principles: gambling, spending money to make money, the more you can spend the more you can make back. This, in turn, marginalizes acts that don't have the same amount of resources at their disposal, who have to work the system the hard way through relentless small touring circuits, self-releasing and/or independent label publishing, printing their own merch, doing their own marketing etc. just to be self-sustaining and hopefully make a living. And some are content to just reach that stage because it's more practical or because the freedom to make the art they like matters more than being a wealthy celebrity. Many of the things that are the most popular didnt get that way by pure chance because an artist just happened to be so talented and driven. It's like the myth of the self-made billionaire, it's technically possible--with an astronomically low percentage chance--for someone to start with absolutely nothing and became a huge success, but the people who start with or gain an advantage of resources and promotion are able to succeed because of that, where someone who is an equal talent might toil in obscurity because they didn't find a big investor to promote them (or didnt want one that they might have to answer to). That's largely what the music industry is at the level of "major label" media corporations, what it exists to do. It's like a craps table where insiders are making bets on trends and artists, except they get to influence where the dice land. In the age of streaming services being one of the biggest markets with the smallest returns for artists it may even be worse than ever with this stuff.

[@SamBrockmann]

1) WHY do you think Babymetal is good? 😂 2) Being objectively good or objectively bad doesn't mean that a band or artist is not an industry plant.

[@Singulitarian]

The idea that your average metal band came together in shop class is a romantic myth. Most bands that are successful end up with hired guns and producers that steer their sound.

[@TheBlindAndTheBeautiful]

Professional studio and hired touring guy here... Listen to this. Listen hard and take it in because it is more true than people realize

[@jharriger2816]

Someone would basically have to be willfully naive to think bands that make it big are all formed out of somebody's garage and the same high school or even college friend group. There is so much info out ther about how bands are formed. Even if an act can keep their origins under wraps for years, eventually drama will bring out stories. Such as Ghost.

[@domdomdominique]

I grew up in the 80s, so, no. Lol. My all time fave Buck-Tick though not heavy metal, is a fine example. Band-maid might be a closer example, formed in 2013, a bit later than Baby metal. Check them out.

[@gothorn2758]

​@@domdomdominiquelol. Jokes on you band maid is manufactured too.

[@zeroskaterz92]

@@jharriger2816 How is it willfully naive if it can and did happened? It's rare but it definitely did happened. A band formed from somebody's garage and from the same high school? Stereopony is an example. Although they're no longer around, the point still stand. They're not Metal band tho. Another example is Scandal. All the band members were from the same school and to this day still together. They even received a Guiness World Record for the longest running female rock band without changing any members.

[@geauxtama]

Click bait title worked. I watched the whole thing and am finally ready to give Baby Metal an honest list. Win-win.

[@mattdeinken6580]

The backing musicians of Babymetal are awesome

[@Notthemikeurlookin4]

They went from doing food court side stages to arenas. They deserve everything.

[@sana-cm7oc]

They played the Budokan (invitation only), Wembley Arena and Tokyo Dome twice (it seat 55,000 people).

[@sadyneto3657]

if you watch a baby metal concert and does not think its the most metal thing in the world, you dont know what metal is

[@UCFKNIGHT65]

I love them. Their live shows are a blast. Saw them last year on the Babyklok tour and they had the entire crowd going.

[@Peertje304]

Industry plants are secretive about being one. Babymetal are idols and everyone knows how the idol industry works. It's not a secret it's feature. So no.

[@arcsine]

I think there was a time where due to how the music industry worked - and the amount of money that was made through physical sales - that it was more reasonable to expect bands /artists to be 'legit' and write all the music etc. Back in the day labels could throw money at a bunch of bands and see which ones 'stuck'. There were always 'idol' type artists of course - not every famous artist "paid their dues" in the past - but it was more common for bands that followed that traditional path to have the chance to succeed. Now with the state of the industry it makes perfect sense for their to me more 'manufactured' artists like this. ALL THAT BEING SAID - there is nothing objectively wrong with this. Good songs are good songs. And these people are often good (if not exceptional) singers and performers. I think what pisses people off is when artists lie about it -fortunately that happens less and less. In Korea and Japan its a non-issue.

[@jakeg2312]

Them being idols or manufactured band doesn’t bother me at all. I just can’t get into their music. More power to them and their fans though.

[@iqbalmuhammad2920]

Very fair comment. Everyone has their preference, like food. Metal scene would be peaceful with more people like you.

[@mikeythezero]

I saw an interview with them a few years back and they said they'd never even heard metal music until the band. But the bands they were playing festivals with were some of the nicest people ever and they name checked some bands. I'm not a huge fan but I like them and the weirdness to my American ears

[@onigiri9964]

Thats why they joined the heavy music club...They had an interest...Babymetal was just a club activity that took off and became super popular

[@totallybonkers76]

Babymetal is weird... but it just works! 🙂

[@binnybros]

I was introduced to them through gimme chocolate being produced by the front man of AA=, with getting married and having kids I had practically checked out of listening to metal but baby metal and electric callboy reinvigorated my interest, so fresh and full of energy and now they’re going to collaborate on a new song which is awesome

[@Jonathannovak1]

I worked at a record store in 2014-2015 and we got in a bunch of signed Babymetal CD booklets for promo and I sold the leftovers for $250-350 each on eBay to people all around the world, they did not come up out of nowhere, they’ve been super popular for a long time

[@actuallynotsteve]

I've seen thousands of sets and toured on Warped and other tours... Babymetal is so far into their own league above other bands it's ridiculous. I'm gonna let you finish, but su metal is an absolute god and I'll lose all respect for you if you don't get it. It's that good. Everyone in the band is in the conversation for being best at what they do. Drums, lighting, set design, all of it. It's worth every penny to see them. EDIT - ok phew, you seem to get it. I think the girls have actually fallen in love with the genre as time has gone on.

[@ryanyates8090]

The idol metal rabbit hole runs deep. KAQRIYOTERROR is one of my current favorites.

[@sarahdean6115]

Industry plants isnt a concept that really exist in idol culture ( in japan or even korea ) bc they all come from very curated companies. They train them, teach them everything they need to become celebrities and then debut them. Like pretty much every idol could be considered an industry plant if you look at it from a western point of view. Its rare that japanese artist become famous from posting KZbin covers for example like it can happen in the western world

[@KyrieFortune]

Yeah, in the West musicians have this expectation that they are "organic", real, and not someone who got where they got because they had powerful people behind then from the start, a reason why many people hate "boy bands" who are put together by labels and not because five guys wanted to dance. In East and South East Asia, having a label behind you and creating and curating your image is pretty much expected, especially when you're an idol, and the industry and groups don't hide this fact because it's normal. Besides, Babymetal was one of the groups who did NOT have company support beyond being made under a label, they had to make their own costumes and hire their own musicians when the singers were barely teenagers and the producer was given the cold shoulder and losing money to keep the project afloat. It took them years to start getting some real traction, while most idol/j-pop/k-pop groups actually get famous overnight because the label advertises them from day one.

[@AgingGamer0174]

I'm a 38 yr old white guy. First time I heard of babymetal. It was cute, and I laughed. Fast forward like a decade, they collab with bmth and electric callboy, and I listen to those songs all the time. I don't really listen to them other than that, but they are amazing and I love them now.

[@washworks7630]

im an old school metal fan and i've have definitely gone down the fox hole big time. i think they're great.

[@mynameisanyname]

Finn, we're so used to seeing you in your sweatshirt and cap that this photograph of you in your wedding outfit looks like it's been AI generated.

[@amanonfire4451]

Not only genre bending, in one album their songs have different sounds and mixing. Koba really is a metal head.