Great reaction. You should react to Tales Of The Destinies if you like Dream Theater, Syncopation, From Dusk Till Dawn, Shine (Legend M) You can find the videos in the links below For LIVE I suggest that you use the videos on the Babymetal Reactor Resource th-cam.com/video/q40VmTHSh4c/w-d-xo.html There's more information in the description of that video There's also this channel with great-quality videos www.youtube.com/@Hymnodic/videos
my recommendation:(16 years old singing on a rotating platform like its nothing) BABYMETAL - AKATSUKI「紅月アカツキ」BLACK NIGHT HD1080p th-cam.com/video/g2372C5PJLM/w-d-xo.html
the most artistic and professional analysis that i ever seen. in the addition to ado and minami vocal analysis it would be overwhelmingly interesting to see analysis for one more currently very popular japanese vocalist - ななひら / Nanahira. she has a lot of really expressive voice acting performances like "Can I Friend You On Bassbook" th-cam.com/video/D00hlkW0u3U/w-d-xo.html or "INTERNET OVERDOSE" and a lot more.
The piercing clarity of Su's voice was part of what sparked the idea of Babymetal initially. A producer at Amuse was an old metalhead and he thought her voice contrasted with metal music would cut through and be interesting. I think he was right.
Yes - in addition to her piercing clarity and strength I think her superpower is presenting such emotional depth that matches the vibe of whatever she is singing.
Excellent reaction and analysis, thank you, I really enjoyed that. I have to say Su-metal is my all time favourite vocalist, there is just something about her voice that works perfectly for me ... but even watching the best quality live videos didn't prepare me for when I finally got to see BABYMETAL live and to hear just how incredibly powerful she is in person. You can almost feel her stage presence too. Yes please to another reaction to 'Monochrome' on The First Take - and please follow that, as others have said, with the live performance at PIA Arena from April 2023. Also, you mentioned Dream Theater's guitars etc ... BABYMETAL have a Prog Metal song that some say may be an homage to Dream Theater's 'Dance of Eternity' and I'm sure you would appreciate the one and only live performance (at the Tokyo Dome in 2016) of 'Tales of the Destinies'.
Su really has a range of styles she can pull off as well. Shanti Shanti Shanti has her singing with an Indian style (awesome btw) as well as BxMxC where she raps. Live versions of any Babymetal songs will be much better to hear than the official video, plus you can see Su's incredible crowd control.
We have been witness of Su as a teenager piercing through a metal band going all out, these 14 years of evolution has been a blessing for The One. Rondo of Nightmare, Akatsuki, Amore, No rain no rainbow… any Su-metal solo songs at any age are a wonderful experience and testimony of her prowess.
Thank you for an excellent analysis of this song and I’ve hit the Sunscribe button. Brand New Day originally came off BM’s 3rd studio album in 2019 but this is the first time BM and the Polyphia lads appeared together live. It’s far from my favourite BM song but I really enjoyed your commentary because you accurately identified all the things I love about Su-Metal’s voice. I’m not skilled enough to know the techniques she uses but thanks to you, I can appreciate her abilities even more. Su-Metal has always been a strong singer and I encourage you to watch some her songs from when she was 16 - 18, just phenomenal, however after their hiatus in 2020, Su-Metal came back with a more texture in her voice. She may have always had it but now it’s more on display. Enjoy the BM and I’ll look forward to your next video.
Her ability to adjust to every and any vocal style blows my mind. She's done rap, folk, traditional Japanese, modern, and so many more styles that would seem impossible! A few of my favourite examples that I think you'd enjoy are Shanti Shanti Shanti (Bollywood-style, I'd recommend one of the live compilations) and No Rain, No Rainbow (ballad, the Legend S concert in Hiroshima is especially emotional). Of course, Monochrome is awesome too! :)
She has been singing since 7 yeras old. As a vocal teacher would love to see you react to her music school perfromance when she was 10 years old, before Babymetal days - 中元すず香「明日への扉」 Or from early Babymetal days when she was 16. Atatsuki - budokan black night
Singing while dancing at that, imagine the physical requirements to do those at the same time, for a whole show! You gotta respect that.😊 I love sumetal’s voice, so clear and endearing, but with that certain ‘drive’ as you said.😊
Great and interesting reaction! Su's voice is so piercing and precise that it pushes right through the Metal sound, it's a perfect fit. If you want to get a good impression of Su's voice, check out the piano version of their song "Monochrome" from the TH-cam channel "The First Take". It's fantastic! (Edit: Oh, you mentioned it. Should have watched the whole video first)
I have enjoyed babymetal for a long time and I had never taken into account any of your considerations about the management of his voice. I came for a simple reaction and I took away a great learning experience. Thanks for that, I'll be on the lookout for your next videos. You should definitely check out Monochrome, both in its piano version, from The First Take, and the live version with all the power of the band.
Welcome back to the Foxhole and now with Metal Galaxy era.🦊🤘🌅 Metal Galaxy is a wonderful album and full of surprises, you're gonna find many more like this with more mature sound, it came out in 2019 so isn't so new but is one of the songs with more mature sound. The album version got the collaboration of Polyphia guitarists, Tim Henson and Scott LePage and it's very clear in the solo section. Polyphia got a viral clip when they were performing live and having an issue with the drummer IEM not working and a roadie helped him out in an unorthodox way to save the show, very funny clip. Tim Henson also said when listening to this song that he would love to play this along with BabyMetal on the stage, he didn't know the final cut when he was doing the riffs on this song. The dance on this song is beautiful and graceful, they're showing another mature side and more complicated choreography. According to MoaMetal is the hardest song to dance along with BxMxC and Night Night Burn iirc. Song is inspired by certain "City Pop" band and Utada Hikaru songs, when SuMetal heard this she doubt about this being a metal song but then the guitars solo were added and all make senses suddenly. Finally we got them together on stage and with this awesome live performance, it is their first time performing together. They did it again yesterday at Graspop Festival in Belgium and they hug each other at the end just like in this version only thing it was cut out, there's also a proshot clip but I'm not so sure about the sound mix. Along with RATATATA this was definitely one of the highlights at FOX_FEST and a lot of Japanese fans were looking for, I guess that cool slow pace city pop element gives some nostalgia and that's why many fans love it. In a recent interview, Tim and Scott talked about a new song in their upcoming album along with BM, let's see what they got but I'm pretty sure it's gonna be something real good like this one. Next suggestion: - Monochrome live at Makuhari Messe 2023. Thanks for sharing this vocal analysis. Keep enjoying BM songs and see you next time 🦊🤘🔥
While I'm glad a lot of people are discovering Babymetal from this new video, the song itself has been around about 5 years, the original recording is on their 2019 album Metal Galaxy.
You mentioned the first take, I was JUST about to suggest that. I'd recommend Monochome First take (and also the Live at PIA arena version of that song too). But I'd also be interested to hear your analysis of her singing their song From Dusk Till Dawn as you'll get to really see and appreciate her vocal range as well. Looking forward to more!
Suzuka Nakamoto / Su-Metal has been singing since she was old enought to sing and was in a school band that Babymetal (2010) was an off shoot of. Babymetal is now 14 years old. They are releasing alot of videos from the Legend MM show that has a mix of their older songs and newer songs. One of my favorites in "From Dusk till Dawn" from there Budokan show.
Thanks again from Japan 有難う💛。 I witnessed this artistic play at the venue (2 times in the two-day Fox_Fest). What a bliss!! Soothing and exquisite performance by 5 elegant figures in the center 😍. Classy incorporation by our Kami Band on both sides (4 guitars in total) ❤ Various elements were mixed and sublimed into one beauty by means of something like alchemy. The actual applause at the end of the song was much much much bigger than that recorded in this video. Yes, there are many singers whose voice comes to my heart but Su's voice is different. It resonates with my entire bones in my body😄
Thanks for this reaction/analysis, Su-metal is an interesting voice, the music around her can change drastically and she adopts to each song (she ones said she was scolded as a kid for singing at home, because she was to loud, now she can sing as loud as she can with her bright voice 🙂 It's her voice that helps not getting drowned out by the metal music). First take of Monochrome is a fin choice, but check out some other things: Akatsuki or Rondo of Nightmare (the second has a band intro, 7 minute video) from Budokan 2014 Black Night, Probably some: BxMxC live and Shanti Shanti Shanti, stay around from the MV from both, because they aren't live.
Amazing review and analysis! This song is just a vibe and always hits me in the soul. However, I would like to mention that Babymetal tends to compose songs to reflect artists they collaborate with. Therefore, Ratatata was very much in EC's style, and Brand New Day is very much in Polyphia's style. I would love to see your analysis of a true Babymetal song with just them. Suggestions: *Megitsune (Pia Arena MM 2023):* This is a recent performance of a decade+ classic. Babymetal's song that's played the most live (~345 times or so since the song released in mid 2013). *Monochrome (Pia Arena MM 2023):* An amazing heartfelt and melodic yet heavy song, with amazing crowd engagement. *Ijime, Dame, Zettai (Sonisphere UK 2014):* Babymetal's 4th song ever and an epic anthem against bullying. This had zero stage production (festival) and showcases Babymetal's talent all around at their rawest. This performance was Babymetal's first major international stage appearance in the west, and they made history as they won over a large portion of the 50K+ confused UK metalheads (Iron Maiden was headlining that day). *Akatsuki (Budokan 2014):* Going back in time to just before Babymetal became well known internationally. This is a Su-metal solo when she was 16. Love ballad, but with blast beats lol. *Headbanger (Legend 1997):* Another quintessential early Babymetal song. This was the Dec 2013 show for Su-metal's 16th birthday. Hope to see more Babymetal analysis soon!! 🤘🦊
I just caught this as I was listening to the vocals in the break. The mic has a saturation or slight distortion on top of her resonant voice. Great stage use.
I've been down the fox hole (as they say) of BabyMetal the last few weeks and have watched a lot of their early performances and I'm amazed at the stage presence and control that Su-metal had even as a young teen. It is mind blowing.
Dude, thank you for the simple explanation. I, a simple average listener, really enjoy her singing, but I cannot understand what is the secret of her "magic" and charm. As a specialist, you "chewed up" everything and put it on the shelf - thank you. Although, in fact, I perfectly understand that beauty does not need any explanation. Beauty simply exists and you only need to admire it. Sign of the Fox-God. P.S. It will be interesting to see the reaction to "From Dusk Till Dawn"
Good analysis. I look forward to more. I get exasperared when some people (mostly critics) refer to Su as a J-pop singer singing over metal. Su can sing in a J-pop style if she wants to, but that isn't the same as her having a J-pop voice or tone. Su's voice is like a solo violin in an orchestra, a violin put through a cranked amp. Su singing to J-pop would be like putting curry on ice cream. It's to powerfull to be used for pop. Su's voice is designed for metal.
Su has been training her voice since the age of 8 when she entered Actors School Hiroshima. She was in an idol group when she was 10 years old, in Japanese musicals, in another idol group when she was 12 that then spun out Babymetal when she was 15.
Love it when a professional analyses. Su's vocals and appreciates how good she is . Su has been singing all her life and you be supprised how great she was in her teens . You have not seen how versatile Su is yet she was voted best metal singer 2024 . She sounds even better seeing them live . I knew how good she was but first time i heard her at a show i was in awe . You should do Monochrome first takes then do PIA Arena version it is on the Hymnodic channel 😁🤘🏼🦊🤘🏼
Listen to Su Metal & Moa Metal sing Monochrome 1st Take with just piano complement. try not to cry because her voice is magical. Another magical singer I love is Azyan from Otyken. Suggest STORM or PHENOMENON. features throat singer Ach.
Thank you for reacting to this masterpiece and welcome to the foxhole 🦊 I personally recommend the songs, Divine Attack and Headbanger as they are my two favourite BM songs The lyrics for Divine Attack were written by Su metal
A triple reaction to: Monocrome, Lyric MV + Live video + First take, that sounds fun. See how a song can have very different feels, even from the same group/band
Megitsune live performance is a very good demonstration of what Su is capable of. She said in an interview that it's generally the most difficult song to sing when it's on a setlist, so if she can do Megitsune, she knows she can do the whole thing without a sweat. Definitely worth checking out
Welcome back to Babymetal! If you like prog-metal, then "Tale of the Destinies" live at the tokyo dome is a must watch for you. And for more amazing Su vocals, "From Dusk till Dawn", live @ budokan.
A point with Su-metals voice is that she of course sings mostly in Japanese that has very distinct and singular pure vowels while English uses a lot of diphthongs. This means her singing style started out as a very direct and non-vibrato vowel sound giving a very distinct and beautiful sound across the Japanese vocals. She has bought that sound across into the English vocals give a very distinct and complex vocal singing you are describing. If you go back to the earlier songs (right back to when she was 14-16 - like Rondo of nightmare - black night) you will hear a very clear and almost brutal vocal with a lot of power. The song I mention is a very particular example as it a very dark song about a recurring nightmare so is very extreme example of this clear direct vocal. I am afraid I am a long way down the fox hole - so probably rather biased.
Loved it, I'd personally suggest 2 versos of Monochrome as a comparison, the First take piano version and then the live PIA performance from 2023, From dusk till dawn budakan 2021 and 2 versions of Akatsuki, unfinished version from Legend 1997 and budakan 2014. these will give you an idea of her range and development as the Akatsuki versions are both from when she was only 16 (She already had aa 10 year career behind her at that point!). 🤘🤘🤘🦊🦊🦊
Im sooo totally there with you on the Passion and Warfare comment that I listened to religiously myself as a 80's/90's child of the guitar gods of then!!😊 ....but still discovering all the new and not living in the past😊 Awesome reactions and analysis on all you do.
well Chris-Metal, one big dive into the foxhole and you will discover the incredible journey of this voice from a little girl who just wanted to sing like her older sister to the 12 year old kid who took on the challenge of metal, into the 26 y/o metal goddess that she is today. She didn't just sing cutesy in front of a metal band, she actually studied and still does, other great singers. You are getting alot of song suggestions, but I would recommend "From Dusk Till Dawn" Live at Budokan 2021, for a tour de force of vocal prowess and working with vocal effects to create an epic atmospheric masterpiece.
Im glad to see you've discovered Babymetal (I've been hoping and waiting for it). I respect your talent, knowlwdge and authority on vocal breakdowns. For a different and gorgeous facet of Su-Metal's voice, check out No Rain, No Rainbow.
Yes! Seeing you reacting to Babymetal was exactly what I was hoping for when you did the EC collab. Excited to see where they take you next. They actually released this song in 2019 (with the Polyphia gang), but only just recently joined up with the lads to perform it together on stage. So cool that these awesome collabs keep coming their way. Also I'm not a huge listener of Polyphia (yet!), but now that you mention the link with Satriana, Vai, et al, it's so clearly an extension of that movement!
I love this song. Chris, you don't cease to surprise me, man. You're analysis of the guitar solos and tones was so spot on. You know your stuff, dude. Thanks for such quality content!
G3 all the way!! I actually discovered Dream Theater in 2000 because Petrucci was in the G3 rotation and i didn't know who he was, Dream Theater is currently still my favorite band! But Babymetal is easily as high up there now! I don't think you can go wrong with reacting. Every song is very different, they blend lots of genres with metal, and Su actually does a WIDE variety of singing styles, even rapping! She was great when she was younger but now to me she's superstar level and easilt one of my favorite singers!
Nice reaction! Su is also extremely proficient in the arabic-sounding "wail" (I dunno what to call it.) Check out their song "Shanti shanti shanti" for an example of that. And she is also extremely good at jumping while singing. Weird talent I know. If you want an example of that check out "Yava!"
This song has been called the perfect song by many top reactors hearing Sumetal for the first time, and the kami band was special as always. Title - "From Dusk Till Dawn" at the famous (Budokan 2021) She is in soprano range during verses. Enjoy!
glad to hear you're already lining up the First Take of _Monochrome_ (well, i _assume_ it's _Monochrome_ ... there's also _The One_ , which is good, but _Monochrome_ is definitely where it's at for the First Take sessions). HOWEVER, you MUST also check out the live from PIA Arena version -- there's an added little bit that will also give you a little something to geek-out about (sounds like an opportunity for a double-feature to me). and speaking of PIA Arena, also put _Road of Resistance_ on your list.
I think you might find the live version of BxMxC at the Budokan in 2021 interesting from a vocal perspective, as SuMetal taught herself to rap specifically to perform it.
Babymetal performance, not only about vocals, music, band... you also need to pay attention to the great stage production and choreography, because everything is connected!!
I love BABYMETAL, thank you for your analysis. Honestly, I’d love to watch you also reacting & analysing a singer called Masatoshi Ono from Galneryus, he & SU are my favorite singers, it’s a crime he has barely no vocal coach analysis on YT lol.
I like their song Karate because it is dramatic and includes Japanese culture and symbolism, even the melody sounds Japanese. It is a different dramatic style. Also they have a few silly poppy type metal songs from earlier years when they were much younger and the crowd likes to participate, like Gimme Chocolate and Pa Pa Ya!
Really fun and informative reaction to this song. Others will give some great suggestions for Babymetal songs. There are quite a lot of really interesting vocal ones.
Not one of my fav tracks but that bit the guitarist on the right played - wow, short but amazing :). Great reaction - but you need to see them LIVE with their own band and tracks :D
My God, thank you for the analysis , I would recommend Akatsuki live at Budokan Black Night, Su-metal's presence there is astounding, and her voice, ohh, I love that track live.
Great reaction and analysis! If you want to see how versatile Su-metal is, check out “BxMxC” live as well as “Monochrome” from The F1rst Take channel. 🤘🦊🔥
I highly recommend checking out the song "Shine"! You'll be able to fully appreciate both the breadth of her vocal expression and the dramatic, progressive nature of the song. There are other more progressive songs by Babymetal, but this one is definitely progressive metal. From those aspects, I would also recommend "mirror mirror". The positive energy in her voice is refreshing.
I saw G3 not too long ago. I'm not much of an Eric Johnson fan, but it was awesome to see Joe Satriani and Steve Vai play live. They were awesome! Take care Chris 💕
Thank you for this great reaction and analysis of Suzuka’s talent. This BABYMETAL title, already magnificent in 2019, finds new life with this collaboration.✨
Awesome analysis! As many have suggested, Monochrome would be another great song to analyze. I would also like to recommend "Starlight", which is dedicated to Babymetal's first guitarist Mikio who passed away in an accident. So intense and full of emotion, that song always make me cry and headbang at the same time!
If you want to delve further into BM, I would recommend Ijime, Dame, Zettai live at Sonisphere 2014, No Rain No Rainbow live at Legend S in 2017, and their performance of Monochrome on The First Take last year. Those are all songs which heavily feature her vocals (and the first one has some backing vocals from the other girls too) and can give you a picture of how her voice has changed (or not changed) over the years. There are some songs where she does other things with her voice, such as BxMxC where she delves into rap or Shanti Shanti Shanti where she utilizes some traditional Indian technique, but live videos for those get blocked and the studio mixes don't really do her voice justice.
Brand New Day / BABYMETAL (Feat. Tim Henson and Scott LePage),from third album "Metal Galaxy".2019 Lyrics :MK-METAL(Miki Watanabe) Music Composed & Arranged by MEGMETAL(MEG) Produced by KOBA-METAL( Kei Kobayashi)
You will definitely love Devine Attack-Shingeki then. Which Su-Metal wrote & is one of my favorate songs on the new album. Giving you an idea of the the range of this metal maiden. Monochrome is a great choice as well as others have mentioned. Su-Metal having grown up in Hiroshima. The song references the hopefull wishes of Ragnarok. Which signifies Doomsday in Norse Mythology. As it twinkles across starry skies in rainbow colors. Kingdom live from their Japan Arena show last year is also highly recommend. 🙀💕 __________________________________________________ However, i admit its nice seeing more recent reactions now. We can always go back later. Which shows just how far they have come over the past 14 years. My two live recommendations are Rondo of Nightmare Mischiefs of Metal Gods at Budokan Live. Which showcases Babymetal's Kami band at their most brilliant. R.I.P. Mikio Fujioka 🪦🎸 You will notice a young 16 year old Su-Metal. Which even then was f**** badass & well beyond her years. Truly a classic BM performance. I also recommend "Tales of Destinies" as well. Which was performed Live at the Tokyo Dome. It was a Tribute to Dream Theatre"s Dance of Eternity. Which I wish they would bring back as it's such a performance technical masterpiece. _________________________________________________ Tales of Destinies was actually performed in 2 parts here. The second you will have to react to separately, unfortunately. As it was only part of the DVD Blue-Ray release. The second song was called "The One." Which Su did as a personal tribute to fans for their support over the years. Recent interviews like Fox 5 New York, Sick New World, and Billboard. Really show how far Su-Metals English efforts have come since The One. Welcome to the Foxhole!! 🤘🦊
Nice video! Since you are discovering Babymetal, would like to see you check out their song BxMxC. I love what Su does with her voice on that song and it goes so damn hard when they play it live!
Learn how to use your voice with the freedom and expression of Su-metal. Join my free course! chrisliepe.com/free-your-voice/
Great reaction. You should react to Tales Of The Destinies if you like Dream Theater, Syncopation, From Dusk Till Dawn, Shine (Legend M)
You can find the videos in the links below
For LIVE I suggest that you use the videos on the Babymetal Reactor Resource th-cam.com/video/q40VmTHSh4c/w-d-xo.html
There's more information in the description of that video
There's also this channel with great-quality videos www.youtube.com/@Hymnodic/videos
Both are great performances
Also
Monochrome live at PIA ATENA
Please make a video about michael jackson Dirty diana multitrack
my recommendation:(16 years old singing on a rotating platform like its nothing) BABYMETAL - AKATSUKI「紅月アカツキ」BLACK NIGHT HD1080p th-cam.com/video/g2372C5PJLM/w-d-xo.html
the most artistic and professional analysis that i ever seen. in the addition to ado and minami vocal analysis it would be overwhelmingly interesting to see analysis for one more currently very popular japanese vocalist - ななひら / Nanahira. she has a lot of really expressive voice acting performances like "Can I Friend You On Bassbook" th-cam.com/video/D00hlkW0u3U/w-d-xo.html or "INTERNET OVERDOSE" and a lot more.
The piercing clarity of Su's voice was part of what sparked the idea of Babymetal initially. A producer at Amuse was an old metalhead and he thought her voice contrasted with metal music would cut through and be interesting. I think he was right.
This is the best analysis of Brand New Day I've ever watched. Thanks for this insightful reaction!
You can hear Su's natural smile and sincerity in her voice.
Yes - in addition to her piercing clarity and strength I think her superpower is presenting such emotional depth that matches the vibe of whatever she is singing.
Excellent reaction and analysis, thank you, I really enjoyed that. I have to say Su-metal is my all time favourite vocalist, there is just something about her voice that works perfectly for me ... but even watching the best quality live videos didn't prepare me for when I finally got to see BABYMETAL live and to hear just how incredibly powerful she is in person. You can almost feel her stage presence too.
Yes please to another reaction to 'Monochrome' on The First Take - and please follow that, as others have said, with the live performance at PIA Arena from April 2023.
Also, you mentioned Dream Theater's guitars etc ... BABYMETAL have a Prog Metal song that some say may be an homage to Dream Theater's 'Dance of Eternity' and I'm sure you would appreciate the one and only live performance (at the Tokyo Dome in 2016) of 'Tales of the Destinies'.
In an interview at the Download Festival a couple of weeks agoTim and Scott said that they have another song written for Babymetal for the next album
Su-metal's voice gives you a slap with one hand and a caress with the other one
Su really has a range of styles she can pull off as well. Shanti Shanti Shanti has her singing with an Indian style (awesome btw) as well as BxMxC where she raps. Live versions of any Babymetal songs will be much better to hear than the official video, plus you can see Su's incredible crowd control.
We have been witness of Su as a teenager piercing through a metal band going all out, these 14 years of evolution has been a blessing for The One.
Rondo of Nightmare, Akatsuki, Amore, No rain no rainbow… any Su-metal solo songs at any age are a wonderful experience and testimony of her prowess.
Thank you for an excellent analysis of this song and I’ve hit the Sunscribe button. Brand New Day originally came off BM’s 3rd studio album in 2019 but this is the first time BM and the Polyphia lads appeared together live. It’s far from my favourite BM song but I really enjoyed your commentary because you accurately identified all the things I love about Su-Metal’s voice. I’m not skilled enough to know the techniques she uses but thanks to you, I can appreciate her abilities even more.
Su-Metal has always been a strong singer and I encourage you to watch some her songs from when she was 16 - 18, just phenomenal, however after their hiatus in 2020, Su-Metal came back with a more texture in her voice. She may have always had it but now it’s more on display. Enjoy the BM and I’ll look forward to your next video.
It looks like both Kamiband guitarists are also playing (doubling?) some parts. So Su is cutting through 4 guitars! Unique voice for sure.
"Brand New Day" is one of my most favorite songs .... not only from Babymetal, but among all bands ...
Her ability to adjust to every and any vocal style blows my mind. She's done rap, folk, traditional Japanese, modern, and so many more styles that would seem impossible!
A few of my favourite examples that I think you'd enjoy are Shanti Shanti Shanti (Bollywood-style, I'd recommend one of the live compilations) and No Rain, No Rainbow (ballad, the Legend S concert in Hiroshima is especially emotional). Of course, Monochrome is awesome too! :)
She has been singing since 7 yeras old. As a vocal teacher would love to see you react to her music school perfromance when she was 10 years old, before Babymetal days - 中元すず香「明日への扉」
Or from early Babymetal days when she was 16. Atatsuki - budokan black night
I have been listening to Baby Metal for years. They are wonderful. Very creative.
Singing while dancing at that, imagine the physical requirements to do those at the same time, for a whole show! You gotta respect that.😊
I love sumetal’s voice, so clear and endearing, but with that certain ‘drive’ as you said.😊
And also with all the noises from live instruments drowning out unlike Pop music which can be made entirely with post production.
Babymetal fan since 2012 but this is the first time I heard the spot-on reason why Su-metal’s voice stands out. Subscribed!
Great and interesting reaction! Su's voice is so piercing and precise that it pushes right through the Metal sound, it's a perfect fit. If you want to get a good impression of Su's voice, check out the piano version of their song "Monochrome" from the TH-cam channel "The First Take". It's fantastic!
(Edit: Oh, you mentioned it. Should have watched the whole video first)
I really appreciate the lessons you gave us around Su's vocals. That elevated this already amazing track to a whole new level. Thank you.
Just picked up new headphones.
This song is incredible! I had no idea that I was missing so much nuance without headphones!
I have enjoyed babymetal for a long time and I had never taken into account any of your considerations about the management of his voice. I came for a simple reaction and I took away a great learning experience. Thanks for that, I'll be on the lookout for your next videos. You should definitely check out Monochrome, both in its piano version, from The First Take, and the live version with all the power of the band.
Welcome back to the Foxhole and now with Metal Galaxy era.🦊🤘🌅
Metal Galaxy is a wonderful album and full of surprises, you're gonna find many more like this with more mature sound, it came out in 2019 so isn't so new but is one of the songs with more mature sound.
The album version got the collaboration of Polyphia guitarists, Tim Henson and Scott LePage and it's very clear in the solo section. Polyphia got a viral clip when they were performing live and having an issue with the drummer IEM not working and a roadie helped him out in an unorthodox way to save the show, very funny clip.
Tim Henson also said when listening to this song that he would love to play this along with BabyMetal on the stage, he didn't know the final cut when he was doing the riffs on this song.
The dance on this song is beautiful and graceful, they're showing another mature side and more complicated choreography. According to MoaMetal is the hardest song to dance along with BxMxC and Night Night Burn iirc.
Song is inspired by certain "City Pop" band and Utada Hikaru songs, when SuMetal heard this she doubt about this being a metal song but then the guitars solo were added and all make senses suddenly.
Finally we got them together on stage and with this awesome live performance, it is their first time performing together.
They did it again yesterday at Graspop Festival in Belgium and they hug each other at the end just like in this version only thing it was cut out, there's also a proshot clip but I'm not so sure about the sound mix.
Along with RATATATA this was definitely one of the highlights at FOX_FEST and a lot of Japanese fans were looking for, I guess that cool slow pace city pop element gives some nostalgia and that's why many fans love it.
In a recent interview, Tim and Scott talked about a new song in their upcoming album along with BM, let's see what they got but I'm pretty sure it's gonna be something real good like this one.
Next suggestion:
- Monochrome live at Makuhari Messe 2023.
Thanks for sharing this vocal analysis.
Keep enjoying BM songs and see you next time 🦊🤘🔥
While I'm glad a lot of people are discovering Babymetal from this new video, the song itself has been around about 5 years, the original recording is on their 2019 album Metal Galaxy.
I'd recommend Monochrome The First Take version, if you wanna hear Su at her peak.
Yes, with a reaction like this, sorry, but this is a requirement 😅❤
Absolutely! 👌
+1 to this! ❤
Both, piano and live versions sooo good!❤
👍Yes x 💯 for The First Take version. I get chills every time I listen to it. The voice of an angel😇. 🦊 🖖❤
You mentioned the first take, I was JUST about to suggest that. I'd recommend Monochome First take (and also the Live at PIA arena version of that song too). But I'd also be interested to hear your analysis of her singing their song From Dusk Till Dawn as you'll get to really see and appreciate her vocal range as well. Looking forward to more!
Suzuka Nakamoto / Su-Metal has been singing since she was old enought to sing and was in a school band that Babymetal (2010) was an off shoot of. Babymetal is now 14 years old. They are releasing alot of videos from the Legend MM show that has a mix of their older songs and newer songs. One of my favorites in "From Dusk till Dawn" from there Budokan show.
Thanks again from Japan 有難う💛。 I witnessed this artistic play at the venue (2 times in the two-day Fox_Fest). What a bliss!! Soothing and exquisite performance by 5 elegant figures in the center 😍. Classy incorporation by our Kami Band on both sides (4 guitars in total) ❤ Various elements were mixed and sublimed into one beauty by means of something like alchemy. The actual applause at the end of the song was much much much bigger than that recorded in this video.
Yes, there are many singers whose voice comes to my heart but Su's voice is different. It resonates with my entire bones in my body😄
Thanks for this reaction/analysis, Su-metal is an interesting voice, the music around her can change drastically and she adopts to each song (she ones said she was scolded as a kid for singing at home, because she was to loud, now she can sing as loud as she can with her bright voice 🙂 It's her voice that helps not getting drowned out by the metal music). First take of Monochrome is a fin choice, but check out some other things: Akatsuki or Rondo of Nightmare (the second has a band intro, 7 minute video) from Budokan 2014 Black Night, Probably some: BxMxC live and Shanti Shanti Shanti, stay around from the MV from both, because they aren't live.
Also when you talk about some other prog. and metal bands, Babymetal has done a Dream Theater tribute song: Tales of the Destinies.
Amazing review and analysis! This song is just a vibe and always hits me in the soul. However, I would like to mention that Babymetal tends to compose songs to reflect artists they collaborate with. Therefore, Ratatata was very much in EC's style, and Brand New Day is very much in Polyphia's style. I would love to see your analysis of a true Babymetal song with just them.
Suggestions:
*Megitsune (Pia Arena MM 2023):* This is a recent performance of a decade+ classic. Babymetal's song that's played the most live (~345 times or so since the song released in mid 2013).
*Monochrome (Pia Arena MM 2023):* An amazing heartfelt and melodic yet heavy song, with amazing crowd engagement.
*Ijime, Dame, Zettai (Sonisphere UK 2014):* Babymetal's 4th song ever and an epic anthem against bullying. This had zero stage production (festival) and showcases Babymetal's talent all around at their rawest. This performance was Babymetal's first major international stage appearance in the west, and they made history as they won over a large portion of the 50K+ confused UK metalheads (Iron Maiden was headlining that day).
*Akatsuki (Budokan 2014):* Going back in time to just before Babymetal became well known internationally. This is a Su-metal solo when she was 16. Love ballad, but with blast beats lol.
*Headbanger (Legend 1997):* Another quintessential early Babymetal song. This was the Dec 2013 show for Su-metal's 16th birthday.
Hope to see more Babymetal analysis soon!! 🤘🦊
I just caught this as I was listening to the vocals in the break. The mic has a saturation or slight distortion on top of her resonant voice. Great stage use.
I've been down the fox hole (as they say) of BabyMetal the last few weeks and have watched a lot of their early performances and I'm amazed at the stage presence and control that Su-metal had even as a young teen. It is mind blowing.
Dude, thank you for the simple explanation. I, a simple average listener, really enjoy her singing, but I cannot understand what is the secret of her "magic" and charm. As a specialist, you "chewed up" everything and put it on the shelf - thank you. Although, in fact, I perfectly understand that beauty does not need any explanation. Beauty simply exists and you only need to admire it. Sign of the Fox-God. P.S. It will be interesting to see the reaction to "From Dusk Till Dawn"
Good analysis. I look forward to more.
I get exasperared when some people (mostly critics) refer to Su as a J-pop singer singing over metal.
Su can sing in a J-pop style if she wants to, but that isn't the same as her having a J-pop voice or tone. Su's voice is like a solo violin in an orchestra, a violin put through a cranked amp.
Su singing to J-pop would be like putting curry on ice cream. It's to powerfull to be used for pop. Su's voice is designed for metal.
Su has been training her voice since the age of 8 when she entered Actors School Hiroshima. She was in an idol group when she was 10 years old, in Japanese musicals, in another idol group when she was 12 that then spun out Babymetal when she was 15.
Love it when a professional analyses. Su's vocals and appreciates how good she is .
Su has been singing all her life and you be supprised how great she was in her teens .
You have not seen how versatile Su is yet she was voted best metal singer 2024 .
She sounds even better seeing them live . I knew how good she was but first time i heard her at a show i was in awe .
You should do Monochrome first takes then do PIA Arena version it is on the Hymnodic channel 😁🤘🏼🦊🤘🏼
そうなんだ。ライブ会場で聴くとsu-の声はさらにすごいんだ。前人未踏なんだ。これはPAの差なのか未だに分からない。
まさかBABYMETALの解説してくれるとは！
嬉しいです！
初期の頃にリリースした「メギツネ」は2014年に英国で開催された「Sonisphere Festival」で初披露し好評でしたよ。
当時は観客からビンとか投げられないか心配したもんです。
ちなみにその時の「スーメタル」は高校1年生でした。
Listen to Su Metal & Moa Metal sing Monochrome 1st Take with just piano complement. try not to cry because her voice is magical.
Another magical singer I love is Azyan from Otyken. Suggest STORM or PHENOMENON. features throat singer Ach.
Thank you for reacting to this masterpiece and welcome to the foxhole 🦊
I personally recommend the songs, Divine Attack and Headbanger as they are my two favourite BM songs
The lyrics for Divine Attack were written by Su metal
A triple reaction to: Monocrome, Lyric MV + Live video + First take, that sounds fun.
See how a song can have very different feels, even from the same group/band
Great reaction! I would really enjoy your take on The First Take: Monochrome piano version. Su-metal vocals in the spotlight.
Video is going up just as soon as the copyright clears :) !!
Megitsune live performance is a very good demonstration of what Su is capable of. She said in an interview that it's generally the most difficult song to sing when it's on a setlist, so if she can do Megitsune, she knows she can do the whole thing without a sweat. Definitely worth checking out
Another collab we had no idea we needed so much!! :-)
Welcome back to Babymetal!
If you like prog-metal, then "Tale of the Destinies" live at the tokyo dome is a must watch for you.
And for more amazing Su vocals, "From Dusk till Dawn", live @ budokan.
Song was released like I wanna say 3 years ago ish but this I believe is the only concert they performed together.
A point with Su-metals voice is that she of course sings mostly in Japanese that has very distinct and singular pure vowels while English uses a lot of diphthongs. This means her singing style started out as a very direct and non-vibrato vowel sound giving a very distinct and beautiful sound across the Japanese vocals.
She has bought that sound across into the English vocals give a very distinct and complex vocal singing you are describing. If you go back to the earlier songs (right back to when she was 14-16 - like Rondo of nightmare - black night) you will hear a very clear and almost brutal vocal with a lot of power. The song I mention is a very particular example as it a very dark song about a recurring nightmare so is very extreme example of this clear direct vocal.
I am afraid I am a long way down the fox hole - so probably rather biased.
Great video. You need to watch her sing in Monochrome - Piano ver. / THE FIRST TAKE
Agree.
Road or Resistance: Live in Japan
Metali feat Tom Morello
From Dusk Til Dawn
Loved it, I'd personally suggest 2 versos of Monochrome as a comparison, the First take piano version and then the live PIA performance from 2023, From dusk till dawn budakan 2021 and 2 versions of Akatsuki, unfinished version from Legend 1997 and budakan 2014. these will give you an idea of her range and development as the Akatsuki versions are both from when she was only 16 (She already had aa 10 year career behind her at that point!). 🤘🤘🤘🦊🦊🦊
Im sooo totally there with you on the Passion and Warfare comment that I listened to religiously myself as a 80's/90's child of the guitar gods of then!!😊 ....but still discovering all the new and not living in the past😊 Awesome reactions and analysis on all you do.
Would love to see you do more Babymetal. Such a great analysis. Su is so versatile that I think you will find fascination in every song.
well Chris-Metal, one big dive into the foxhole and you will discover the incredible journey of this voice from a little girl who just wanted to sing like her older sister to the 12 year old kid who took on the challenge of metal, into the 26 y/o metal goddess that she is today. She didn't just sing cutesy in front of a metal band, she actually studied and still does, other great singers. You are getting alot of song suggestions, but I would recommend "From Dusk Till Dawn" Live at Budokan 2021, for a tour de force of vocal prowess and working with vocal effects to create an epic atmospheric masterpiece.
A heavenly voice✨
Excellent analysis!🤘🦊♪
Im glad to see you've discovered Babymetal (I've been hoping and waiting for it). I respect your talent, knowlwdge and authority on vocal breakdowns. For a different and gorgeous facet of Su-Metal's voice, check out No Rain, No Rainbow.
Yes! Seeing you reacting to Babymetal was exactly what I was hoping for when you did the EC collab. Excited to see where they take you next. They actually released this song in 2019 (with the Polyphia gang), but only just recently joined up with the lads to perform it together on stage. So cool that these awesome collabs keep coming their way.
Also I'm not a huge listener of Polyphia (yet!), but now that you mention the link with Satriana, Vai, et al, it's so clearly an extension of that movement!
Oh! And speaking of Babymetal collabs - you've gotta check out their BMTH collab th-cam.com/video/hb2mMVdx1KU/w-d-xo.htmlsi=whheV64BLErVaj7N
good reaction and analysis, Sumetal is so versatil vocalist, i love her
Suzuka is a total powerhouse. I 100% recommend the first take version of Monochrome. She is just incredible.
I love this song. Chris, you don't cease to surprise me, man. You're analysis of the guitar solos and tones was so spot on.
You know your stuff, dude.
Thanks for such quality content!
G3 all the way!! I actually discovered Dream Theater in 2000 because Petrucci was in the G3 rotation and i didn't know who he was, Dream Theater is currently still my favorite band!
But Babymetal is easily as high up there now! I don't think you can go wrong with reacting. Every song is very different, they blend lots of genres with metal, and Su actually does a WIDE variety of singing styles, even rapping!
She was great when she was younger but now to me she's superstar level and easilt one of my favorite singers!
Nice reaction! Su is also extremely proficient in the arabic-sounding "wail" (I dunno what to call it.) Check out their song "Shanti shanti shanti" for an example of that. And she is also extremely good at jumping while singing. Weird talent I know. If you want an example of that check out "Yava!"
Karate too, Su always blows the mind, when she's singing while jumping😃
Thank you very much for such a great analysis Chris, very well explained on how to use your voice in different ways. Thank you so much.
This song has been called the perfect song by many top reactors hearing Sumetal for the first time, and the kami band was special as always. Title - "From Dusk Till Dawn" at the famous (Budokan 2021) She is in soprano range during verses. Enjoy!
It should be noted that there will be another collaboration on the next Polyphia album.
glad to hear you're already lining up the First Take of _Monochrome_ (well, i _assume_ it's _Monochrome_ ... there's also _The One_ , which is good, but _Monochrome_ is definitely where it's at for the First Take sessions).
HOWEVER, you MUST also check out the live from PIA Arena version -- there's an added little bit that will also give you a little something to geek-out about (sounds like an opportunity for a double-feature to me).
and speaking of PIA Arena, also put _Road of Resistance_ on your list.
I think you might find the live version of BxMxC at the Budokan in 2021 interesting from a vocal perspective, as SuMetal taught herself to rap specifically to perform it.
There's now an even more recent version of BxMxC that has an even better vocal (to my ears anyway)
2 Babymetal songs I think you'd really enjoy are Arkadia and Tales of the Destinies
Yes, Sir.👍🏻 *Suzuka* is a life-long, beautiful BELTER!🔈🗣💥🔊
Nice reaction/vocal analysis. Whatever Su-Metal is doing vocally it works👊🏽⚡️🦊🤘🏾
Enjoyed your comments about Su's voice.See her live if you can. You'll even be more impressed.
Babymetal performance, not only about vocals, music, band... you also need to pay attention to the great stage production and choreography, because everything is connected!!
Leaving a comment just to encourage you to make more reactions out of BABYMETAL.
I love BABYMETAL, thank you for your analysis. Honestly, I’d love to watch you also reacting & analysing a singer called Masatoshi Ono from Galneryus, he & SU are my favorite singers, it’s a crime he has barely no vocal coach analysis on YT lol.
You mentioned Dream Theater. baby metal pays tribute to them with a song called "Tales of the Destinies". It has been performed only once live.
I like their song Karate because it is dramatic and includes Japanese culture and symbolism, even the melody sounds Japanese. It is a different dramatic style. Also they have a few silly poppy type metal songs from earlier years when they were much younger and the crowd likes to participate, like Gimme Chocolate and Pa Pa Ya!
Really fun and informative reaction to this song. Others will give some great suggestions for Babymetal songs. There are quite a lot of really interesting vocal ones.
Not one of my fav tracks but that bit the guitarist on the right played - wow, short but amazing :). Great reaction - but you need to see them LIVE with their own band and tracks :D
Su-metal is so technical but in a way that sounds incredibly natural... Good artists make difficult things seem effortless
that's right!
Most Japanese fans don't understand.
You're great.
from Japan
My God, thank you for the analysis , I would recommend Akatsuki live at Budokan Black Night, Su-metal's presence there is astounding, and her voice, ohh, I love that track live.
By the way she was about 16 at the time
Great reaction and analysis! If you want to see how versatile Su-metal is, check out “BxMxC” live as well as “Monochrome” from The F1rst Take channel. 🤘🦊🔥
I highly recommend checking out the song "Shine"! You'll be able to fully appreciate both the breadth of her vocal expression and the dramatic, progressive nature of the song. There are other more progressive songs by Babymetal, but this one is definitely progressive metal. From those aspects, I would also recommend "mirror mirror". The positive energy in her voice is refreshing.
Some Su Metal solo song reactions would be sweet! Great insight brother..
I saw G3 not too long ago. I'm not much of an Eric Johnson fan, but it was awesome to see Joe Satriani and Steve Vai play live. They were awesome! Take care Chris 💕
Please react to the collab Babymetal did with BMTH, Kingslayer, if you haven't already! It's really good!
Ooh, you're going to love The First Take Monochrome performance. 🤘🦊🤘
I saw them play this together live this past weekend at graspop! It was a crazy moment.
You sir, Deserve a sub. Great analysis!! I love it!
One of my personal favorites from Babymetal and a major focus on Su-metal has to be Akatsuki
Thank you for this great reaction and analysis of Suzuka’s talent. This BABYMETAL title, already magnificent in 2019, finds new life with this collaboration.✨
Awesome analysis! As many have suggested, Monochrome would be another great song to analyze. I would also like to recommend "Starlight", which is dedicated to Babymetal's first guitarist Mikio who passed away in an accident. So intense and full of emotion, that song always make me cry and headbang at the same time!
And Shine
I felt it too, headbanging with emotion :-)
You are in for a great experience with the first take video
If you want to delve further into BM, I would recommend Ijime, Dame, Zettai live at Sonisphere 2014, No Rain No Rainbow live at Legend S in 2017, and their performance of Monochrome on The First Take last year. Those are all songs which heavily feature her vocals (and the first one has some backing vocals from the other girls too) and can give you a picture of how her voice has changed (or not changed) over the years.
There are some songs where she does other things with her voice, such as BxMxC where she delves into rap or Shanti Shanti Shanti where she utilizes some traditional Indian technique, but live videos for those get blocked and the studio mixes don't really do her voice justice.
Esta es sin duda alguna una de las canciones más bellas de las Babymetal
Welcome to the rabbit hole 🤩
Another recent great collaboration is The BabyMetal song Metali feat Tom Morello from Rage Against the Machine
Great reaction and analysis ! and you did it for Babymetal's hidden gem thank you !!🤘😁🦊
lol what, i was not expecting this collab, amazing
Brand New Day / BABYMETAL (Feat. Tim Henson and Scott LePage),from third album "Metal Galaxy".2019
Lyrics :MK-METAL(Miki Watanabe)
Music Composed & Arranged by MEGMETAL(MEG)
Produced by KOBA-METAL( Kei Kobayashi)
You will definitely love Devine Attack-Shingeki then. Which Su-Metal wrote & is one of my favorate songs on the new album. Giving you an idea of the the range of this metal maiden.
Monochrome is a great choice as well as others have mentioned. Su-Metal having grown up in Hiroshima. The song references the hopefull wishes of Ragnarok.
Which signifies Doomsday in Norse Mythology. As it twinkles across starry skies in rainbow colors. Kingdom live from their Japan Arena show last year is also highly recommend. 🙀💕
__________________________________________________
However, i admit its nice seeing more recent reactions now. We can always go back later. Which shows just how far they have come over the past 14 years.
My two live recommendations are Rondo of Nightmare Mischiefs of Metal Gods at Budokan Live. Which showcases Babymetal's Kami band at their most brilliant. R.I.P. Mikio Fujioka 🪦🎸
You will notice a young 16 year old Su-Metal. Which even then was f**** badass & well beyond her years. Truly a classic BM performance. I also recommend "Tales of Destinies" as well.
Which was performed Live at the Tokyo Dome. It was a Tribute to Dream Theatre"s Dance of Eternity. Which I wish they would bring back as it's such a performance technical masterpiece.
_________________________________________________
Tales of Destinies was actually performed in 2 parts here. The second you will have to react to separately, unfortunately. As it was only part of the DVD Blue-Ray release.
The second song was called "The One." Which Su did as a personal tribute to fans for their support over the years.
Recent interviews like Fox 5 New York, Sick New World, and Billboard. Really show how far Su-Metals English efforts have come since The One. Welcome to the Foxhole!! 🤘🦊
Reaciona a karate en vivo en budokan 2021 podrás apreciar la voz de su en su máximo
Nice video! Since you are discovering Babymetal, would like to see you check out their song BxMxC. I love what Su does with her voice on that song and it goes so damn hard when they play it live!
she sounded like that when she was 12.
Monochrome the First take and the Live version.