Babymetal J-pop or Metal?

http://files.teamrock.com/images/696d616765-56d447c2f09908.44239304/original.gif

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GvD3CHA48pA

Cool costumes, but the song is kind of boring. Awadama Fever is much better: https://vimeo.com/145494161

Hmm, no, I prefer it when the genre mix is there, I feel like her vocals work best in that setting too - Awadama Fever just sounds like j-pop.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TZRvO0S-TLU

This album is v good and

enters the UK albums chart at #7 this week.

Now answer me this: Has a Japanese language album ever been in the UK top 10? UK top 100? This must be an historic feat.

Hmm good question, have been searching through officialcharts.com and none of the obvious ones I can think of had a charting album (YMO, Godiego etc). Closest I can find is the Merry Christmas Mr Lawrence OST by Ryuichi Sakamoto which got to no.36 in 1983, but I'd assume that's all instrumental?

That's the midweek update rather than the chart proper. I suspect it will drop a bit, though that agree with the likelihood that it will still be a historic feat!

True, I'm not used to the concept of midweek charts

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rZApf9c8Tes

Okay the official weekly UK chart is in and the company gives us some official context:

"The all-female group’s latest album Metal Resistance debuts at Number 15, making them the highest-charting Japanese band in Official Albums Chart history.

In its near 60-year history, entries from Japanese acts on the albums chart are far and few between. The last was 41 years ago, when Electronic producer Tomita reached Number 17 with Snowflakes Are Dancing in 1975. "

More importantly (?):

Babymetal's chart feat isn't the only record the band have set this week. Following their Wembley Arena gig last weekend, they broke the record for the highest sales of merchandise for a one-day event in the history of the venue.

Tales of the Destinies is ridiculously OTT (and great for that reason).

Touch of Dimmu Borgir at their most operatic in Tales of the Destinies

#7 on the weekly chart in Australia

#7: Babymetal ‘Metal Resistance’ – The ARIA Charts debut for Japanese J-pop/metal band Babymetal. It’s their second album, following on from 2014’s self-titled debut. They become the first Japanese act to ever chart in the top 50 in their own right. Yoko Ono peaked at #4 in February 1984 with the album Milk & Honey, a collaboration with John Lennon.

The album ended up at #38 on this week's Billboard 200, #7 on Digital Albums

I don't care about how stuff charted usually but it is p. cool that a Japanese band has broken through so even though I don't give a shit about their music go get 'em Babymetal this is a pretty awesome thing. If ppl are at all curious about Japanese metal at a more trad/underground level there are many kick-ass Japanese metal bands over the years, personal recommendations are Genocide (Mercyful Fate-ish speed metal from the 80s), Sigh, Darkcell and their label 13 Grave Society who've got a bandcamp with all their stuff up, and of course the mighty, incredible Arkha Sva.

Sigh are terrific. They meld together lots of genres. Their avant garde leanings may be of interest to ilxors.
Corrupted and (older) Boris remain the best metal in japan I think.

second (third) the sigh rec to fans of progressive genre mashing and excess liberated from taste

Where is the LOVE for Loudness?

https://twitter.com/BABYMETAL_JAPAN/status/729486616260136960

:)

Only thing left now is meeting Varg

http://www.stereogum.com/1876071/rob-zombie-responds-to-grumpy-old-fucks-who-diss-babymetal/news/?utm_source=sc-fb&utm_medium=ref&utm_campaign

https://twitter.com/BABYMETAL_JAPAN/status/739839404076761088

Meeting Abbath. These photos of Babymetal meeting metal gods are the best.

babymetal is good to jog to

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=69bid4gUOHQ

i'm part of the problem for liking that aren't i

oh maaaan, loving the new single "starlight". meshuggah, power metal, emo breakdowns, sentimental j-pop... really glad this band exists, really glad they serve as some kind of counter to an unbearably cruel world.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fHEVpBrivUs

many speculating this is a tribute to recently deceased guitarist mikio fujioka as well -

Wherever we are, we'll be with you.
We'll never forget shining starlight.
Wherever you are, live in my heart.
We'll never forget shooting star.

;__;

Yuimetal officially out of the group
http://www.babymetal.com/en/news/?id=28