What does a NIGHT RANGER Production Manager think of BABYMETAL???

[@jeremyboynowski3784]

Damn. I was looking forward to seeing his reaction to the piano version lol

[@gaplauche]

Coming up in part 2.

[@Grington300]

Great reaction. The visual images in this video certainly had many of us thinking it may be referencing the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki and that the tree depicted throughout might be symbolic of the tree that survived, myself included, but on reflection I don't think they intended it to be quite so specific as that and the tree here is not like the one we were thinking of. The reference to Ragnarok in the lyrics would also steer us away towards a more general "end of the world, everything is dark - but we can imagine rainbow colours in the sky and bring light and colour back to the world" message of hope.🌈

[@ericifune5543]

You can see images of a mushroom cloud in the puddle of water.

[@Grington300]

@@ericifune5543 Yes, that was one of the reasons I originally thought it referenced the A bombs, but the more I've watched and read and learned the more I have come to think there may be more to it. Other images are (possibly) more akin to the Fire Storm bombing of Tokyo which killed over 100,000 people - and the First Take video was released on the anniversary of that (which may just be a coincidence of course). The tree depicted in the lyric video also does not resemble the survivor tree in Hiroshima - that has a straight trunk, so that is also more likely to be related to the reference to Ragnarok. I think they have left it open to interpretation and for each of us to see what we see and feel what we feel as individuals.

[@DeePal072]

I can't wait to watch the following video 😊. I'm pretty sure my favorite version is going to be the live one, as the music will sound stronger and SU will do her magic like she did in First TAKE, gonna see them in May 🤩! 🤘🦊⚡️

[@jakemuller8626]

Thanks for keep spreading the Fox God love and sharing different thought on this group we all love. 🦊🤘🌈

[@autohmae]

Bette Midler and Run DMC, can we have that together ? 🙂 Monochrome isn't about any specific event, the MV might hint at that for many people (I was one at the time), but it isn't. It's about dark time/hardship in general and hope and better times will return. Which includes covid and war in Ukraine. Babymetal before covid did 2 shows in Russia everyone was happy, they were great and the audience was great, the people in the audience are suffering now too (democratic freedom and economically), as in any way war, it's civilians that suffer the most, it's horrible.

[@DeePal072]

Though I agree, it's not about a specific event, the original MV version pinpoints to a bombing, not just because of the quite explicit imaging, but also the music production, they literally make it sounds like an exploding bomb. And there is still the "Monochrome firework" itself, the pivotal object of the song, that can hardly be interpreted as something else. And yeah, I again agree, this song is from the perspective of those who suffer the consequences of any war. 🤘🦊⚡️

[@Psyggie]

I believe you're correct about the song not actually having a specific event in mind, but a general idea and feel. Its interesting..Su recently said in an interview that when she first heard this she thought it was an uplifting light and fun song, but was taken aback at how the fans responded to it. With that knowledge in mind its VERY apparent to me that for the First Take performance.. she really leaned into that sadder more emotional take on the song.

[@autohmae]

@@DeePal072 Something else to take notice which is interesting: if it was about a specific event, it would be more likely the firebombing of Tokyo in 1945, because that's the same day The First Take video was released. And because in the lyrics MV a lot of imagery is bomb-like, but not like an atom bomb.

[@astrafaan]

I'm impressed he got it pretty quickly - I've been kind of obsessed with it since a child (used to have nightmares about it) so rather jumped to conclusions within about 60 seconds in - and was kind of right (from my own perspective) - but so few people reacting seemed to have any idea. And I guess most ppl get their Norse mythology from Marvel now :P Great reaction!

[@seregamolodets5286]

🍅💀🍅 🤘🏼🦊🤘🏼 " Just smile "

[@johnschultz7765]

It is interesting to note that Su- did not have the interpretation of the song that most fans seem to attribute given the lyric video. So Joel not getting an impression of it as that serious a song is more than reasonable considering Su- herself described it as a light song. That is, being more swayed by the song than the visuals. The recent interviews say something about it being from 5 years ago and with the implication it was recorded then. The sound of Su-'s voice makes that plausible. The final reference in the lyric to the cataclysmic apocalypse of Ragnarök goes a bit against a lighter interpretation and may well have been the inspiration for the lyric video creator. And as AJ Hartley has wondered aloud, does The First Take piano version reflect Su- taking a different understanding of the song?

[@MrX-kq6zm]

I also don't think that the Song is about a specific historical event. It is about general hard an desperate times and not to give up hope. It is also very clever to have it written like this so that everybody can interpret them self about what exactly it is...

[@Hadesillo]

Have you heard Hagane? Their band's leader, Sakura Yoshida, has a Night Ranger cover with over a million views in her personal channel xD Now that they are doing a lot of interviews, Su commented recently they recorded this song 5 years ago, and if you put attention she certainly sounds a lot younger. She also mentioned that for them it was a light hearted song, and when they released it people found a very heavy meaning in the track, so probably the bomb thing was not what they were really thinking about. The whole idea might come from the video, if you isolate the song from the video you don't really see that. And for them, internally this song has not had a video for 5 years.

[@gaplauche]

I believe that was Moa and she said they had begun recording it 4-5 years ago. It wasn't finished then. I think there are multiple influences on the song and multiple interpretations possible from it. It definitely has an underlying melancholy premise that serves as the background for the uplifting message. I understand why many people pick up on the former, especially with the visuals from the lyric video, while Su focused on the latter. The positive, hopeful, uplifting message, even in the face of pain and darkness, is Babymetal's thing.

[@Hadesillo]

@@gaplauche Yep when they released the video and i saw the tree, the destroyed landscapes, the umbrellas falling like bombs or paratroopers...Hiroshima quickly came to my mind. But the more the more I listen to it I don't find that in there. I think it is just a song that speaks of hardship and coming together to find strength, about coming together to illuminate the world. A song of hardship and hope, in an abstract way. Trying to find a concrete meaning here it's an error. And the video probably goes to warlike imaging to express hardship without searching for a concrete meaning. But yeah of course, everyone can find its own meaning for the track.

[@chrisharris1522]

This is not the version they recorded five years ago, they re recorded it for this album

[@Hadesillo]

Of course, but some stem they've used in the mix might be old.

[@kitkat6407]

🤘🦊♪

[@MacTaipan]

After hearing the piano version, it's interesting how much of Su's power gets lost in the instrumentation. I'm just assuming that she didn't hold back more when the heavier version was recorded. Makes one realize how much such a strong voice is needed in this kind of music to not get completely drowned out by the instruments.

[@Zedem0n]

It's even more impactful when you know that the main singer, Nakamoto Suzuka, is actually from Hiroshima, so this piece must be important to her, and it's arguably not the first time they've covered Hiroshima, even if it's always subtly and tastefully done. The lyrics never once mention in details what it is about, but the lyrics always convey this positive outlook and looking forward to a brighter future, and using these memories to be better as humans. It's not shaming anyone in particular, it's not accusing anyone. It's just positivity.

[@Jordan-Ramses]

Monochrome is not Vocaloid. But it's a Vocaloid song. Vocaloid songs get better the more you hear them. Like Senbonzakura. They're well written.

[@Hadesillo]

Well I think this one is written by Yuyoyuppe right?

[@Jordan-Ramses]

@Hadesillo yeah exactly. It sounds like his metal Vocaloids. I keep expecting to hear Megurine Luka. I wouldn't be surprised if this was going to be a Vocaloid but Koba heard it and claimed it for Babymetal.

[@Hadesillo]

@@Jordan-Ramses This EP he released recently is excellent btw

[@Jordan-Ramses]

@@Hadesillo he arranged the new Hanabie song. It's fantastic. But I'm not a big fan of metal Vocaloid. I think they should write for metal bands like Yuyoyuppe. But what's the best song on it? I'll check it out. I did like Leia a lot.

[@Hadesillo]

@@Jordan-Ramses someone had the ep uploaded, it's called SICK

[@rah2287]

There have been A LOT of different personal opinions and explanations about the meaning of this song (which I believe is what lyrics of a good song should do - cause listeners to discern what the intent of an artist or band might have been). I personally stil believe that the bomb dropped on Hiroshima is at the very least a catalyst for the song being written. The song in my opinion however is not a bitter attempt by a Japanese individual or individuals to play a victim here (because atrocities and a controversial reason led to its use whether justified or not). Instead the intent is all about hope in the midst of horror and the overriding theme is positive. I freaking love this song and from what I have read when it was played LIVE in Tokyo last month during a break in the song Suzuka asked the audience to “Show us your lights!” (Cell phones) she then said “That’s amazing!” “They look like stars!” And then proceeded to hum the lyrics. The response said the people who attended was mesmerizing. Indeed. I have seen and heard a blurry fan cam video of it and even though the quality is very low I seriously had the hair on my arm stand up. I hope that when the Pro Shot version of this song being played LIVE is released that you react to it.

[@chrisharris1522]

I also thought it had something to do with Hiroshima, but as you say not bitter, but a lament for what was lost and hopes of a better future, and there are so many clues, mostly from the video, which could just have been that artists take rather than the bands take or the composers. Su said five years ago when they first recorded it that she thought it was a happy song and was surprised the fans thought it darker, It is possible that the original version was a lot happier and this new version was recorded differently, it is very hard to know without hearing that original track, what is clear though with the piano version is that they allowed the fans opinion to influence that version and I like that.

[@rah2287]

👍

[@jeffschreifels8651]

Monochrome is not about nuclear war but I'm sure they don't mind if people interpret it that way.

[@armitage9]

Good reaction. As data comment that SuMetal was born in Hirosima

[@somewhere_on_earth00]

BABYMETAL's hometown of SU is Hiroshima. So can't you imagine what you're singing about? They are sung as metaphors.

[@paulobalictar4842]

Mirror Mirror and Maya are their songs from them you need to anticipate. They're heavy asf.

[@Psyggie]

For me, the first time I heard the original shot to the top 3 of all Babymetal songs for me. The introductory background guitar riff is almost a replica of the main riff in Babymetal Death, their first song from the first album. And I thought the guitar sound after that was extremely different than normal for them but to me its one of the best sounds in the entire song. Has a VERY strong Polyphia vibe, which may not be coincidence since Polyphia played in one of their songs already. The instrumentation backing off from the typical insane relentless double drumming and guitars really gave Su's voice space to shine, and the improvement in her voice is hard to miss. The child voice is gone and there's now a more rich young woman voice that's emerged. This is of course VERY noticeable in the First Take version 😅

[@josephdoo]

😎😎😎👍

[@user-lb1xf1ml7f]

Jeff Watson and Brad Gills were my idols.🍅🍅🍅

[@MarkSpohn77]

That's not what the song is about according to Su it has more to do with imagine living in a world without color and what it could be they see the comments people leave on their videos also

[@ernestrimbeck7630]

my only complaint is the intro went so hard, the beginning verse is a bit of a let down