Another rambling (and slightly ranty) BM discussion. Check out the full performance compilation video here: • BABYMETAL - ４の歌 - Song... Also, I really need to get a hair cut.
You keep saying that we probably already know all this and other people have said all the things already. Here's the thing about that. I very much like Babymetal. I am a fan. I am not, however, a Super Fan, nor do I have any actual knowledge of Japan and Japanese culture beyond what you're pretty much forced to have by being on the internet in the first place. I'm aware there is extremely deep lore out there, with extremely deep analysis and commentary but .... if it's not a video I'm not particularly interested, and while I have tried on occasion to dip my toes into the deep end with some of the commentary videos, I was never able to find any that could hold my attention. Your videos have come as something of a revelation to me that it is in fact possible to have a lore/analysis/background video for Babymetal that is itself fascinating. And no, I haven't heard any of this before, and no, I don't care if others have already said it, it's new to me. And, as an aside, part of the appeal is your occasional asides into the larger Japanese culture, i.e. superstition vs religion vs basic cultural norms. So please keep doing what you're doing, I'm having fun, and please don't worry about us knowing everything already, I very much suspect I am not alone in my ignorance amongst your audience.
This makes me very happy. Thanks! It's certainly true that some fans are deeply invested and know a tremendous amount. While I respect the knowledge, I'm not trying to compete with that. But yes, sometimes I wonder if it's worth posting what I assume is common knowledge, but it has been gratifying to find that there are quite a lot of folks who get something our of them, even if it's just an extra detail, idea or perspective added to what they already knew. I love that they are working for you.
Ah, thanks again, that was very interesting. I watched Duane-Metals video about this song a while ago but you've added a lot of other aspects in here too.
Nice reaction. The lyrics are a little too young for me as a Japanese. But watching this video makes me smile like watching my child's recital. Please continue their songs reaction. I looking forward to it.
Thank you, as always! ^-^ I love seeing you pop up in my notifications. I enjoyed this one so much I'm sharing it to tumblr. I've yet to convert any of my friends and followers to The One, but the cultural comparison bits are something I think they'll eat up. Personally, I enjoyed your 'rant'. The only people it might upset are exactly the ones that could do with a little introspection.
Once again, I loved your video and discussion. I wasn't personally offended by that middle section you warned us about, and in fact agree with you on that. This was a nice video to come to after the NHK stream of the girls performing, and giving an interview. I'm sure you probably have seen it, or will see it soon.
Yes, it was great to see them "live" and I liked what they said in the video. Moa's pushback against the idea of the dancing being just kawaii was my favorite bit :)
In the recently published Kadokawa magazine, the issue dedicated to "10 years of BABYMETAL", in one of the interviews, Moa mentioned that she really wants to come up with another song, like they did with "Yon no uta". And, of course, she wants it to be about her favorite subject: food. Especially: fried chicken. I laughed so hard at that! Oh, Moa! :-) I guess we have a Moa-special song to look forward to: the fried chicken song! :-D Loved your views and input, as always! Already looking forward to the one about CMIYC! Kitsune up!
Then we can have a real BMC song. When you said that about Moa wanting to write a song about chicken, I flashed on Peter Gabriel's Sledgehammer - ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-N1tTN-b5KHg.html
I love the Japanese pronunciations of English words, that in itself is already cute. Bitamin no shi is my favourite one as well, makes me smile every time. :-)
Great online lecture again and I appreciate your efforts 有難うございます💛。 Your analysis about difference between superstitiousness and cultural practice is enlightening. I found this video immediately after you uploaded but I waited for a while intentionally, because I also happy to read viewers' comments to your analysis. The set of your and viewers' comments are really enjoyable. In addition, today I learned new English words "condescending", "conformist" and "commonality", all of them start with C (shi) "C"oincidentally. As you said "Yoroshiku Onegaishimasu (よろしくお願いします）" is hard to translate. Normally interpreters translate it into "Nice to see you" or something like that. But when I saw a translation "please treat me accordingly", I burst into laughter although it was correct and direct translation.
Great talk once again, thank you very much. If nothing else about this song I suspected you would have something to say about superstitions and you definitely delivered, your so called rant was truly phenomenal. Your students are really lucky :-) Can't wait for the next one. Kitsune up!! 🤘🏻🦊
Thanks for this. On a side note have you noticed how they manage to form the figure 4 a lot during the choreo (not just holding up 4 fingers) with their arms and legs - check their end pose for example.
"I'm going to keep this rather short." Oh-Oh; longish vid coming. Your rant gave me some food for thought. And this song is one of those cases where tranlated subtitles just aren't enough. So, as always, professor, thanks a lot for your time and work. I do apreciate it.
Thank you once again, that was intersting and entertaining "as usual" (after 8 videos you set the bar pretty high :-). "4 no uta" is such a fun song to especially watch - Yui & Moa doing their cute choreography always puts a smile on my face. I totally second your rant about superstition and western religion trying to push spiritual beliefs which aren't covered by the official churches into this kind of obscurity.
The notion of peeling the orange in one go instead of ripping it apart might be so someone potentially only has to pick up one big piece and not 20 small ones :) Thank you for your "rant". That was really inspiring.
I’m just discovering your brilliant BABYMETAL commentaries, THANK YOU SO MUCH! Really enjoying all of them. Just wanted to point out that Moa’s birthday is on the 4th of July. I can’t help but wonder if she thought, “4 can’t be bad, it’s my birthday! That has to be good!”
OM🦊G... never before noticed the use of all words with 'shi' beginnings nor the word play of 'vitamin shi'. The audio quality and mix on this particular compilation is most delightful, and please Sir, kindly also link the translation page which is a nice format, different from the resources that I know.
Loving these as always, this is why I come to Babymetal, joyous and positivity in an increasingly negative world! Quite simply, they (and you) make me smile every time! Much love and thanks.
4:12 I've not read all the comments yet, so maybe others have already pointed it out: supposedly 2 little songs already existed with the subjects: banana and wood. While on the tour bus in Singapore Suzuka suggested they make a song about the number 4. If I'm not mistaken the soundcheck is before performing at The Forum in the UK in 2014 (otherwise it's O2 Brixton Academy) Possibly no other song than Sis. Anger makes it more clear that it's better to struggle than do nothing. Regardless of the end result. Babymetal includes so many "effort noises" and I never had an alternative English (not my first language) direct translation. But heave-ho is perfect, thank you ! I think this song also fits in the IDZ series of 'social reform' theme of Babymetal. A sort of: this superstition has to stop, it's silly. We've made a silly song about it to proof it. While a silly song, I'm always impressed by how well these little girls (and if I can assume especially Moa, who has shown similar skill in SG if I'm not mistaken) were able to come up with lyrics/thematic lyrics.
This song has really grown on me recently. It is just so much fun and you can tell how well it hypes up a crowd in a live setting. "bitamin no shi" is definitely one of my favourite lyrics as well just because of how silly it is. Also, you can really see here just how free and uninhibited Babymetal are with their music. Most people would say that you can't have a reggae break in the middle of a death metal song, but Babymetal says "Why not? Let's have 2!"
Funny thing. Every time you say you don't have much to add to a subject, I seem to learn something new, lol. This is one of my favorites so I was happy to see you covering it. Thanks for the knowledge! Kitsune Up and looking forward to CMIYC! 🤘🦊🤘
Yes, I actually watched (or rewatched?) his videos on this one the other day when I decided Iw as going to do one. Always makes me feel like I've nothing to add :)
@@AndrewHartley It's all good you add a fresh perspective plus he didn't really reach that many folks and I think he stopped before he finished Metal Resistance
Your knowledge of the Japanese language provides so much depth to your analysis. It makes me want to run off and learn Japanese so I can hear these things first hand. However, I know I won't be able to. I have too much trouble finding time, and the commitment, to expand my understanding of pasa Thai and bahasa Indonesia. Great work again, thankyou.
Another fine video Professor. I appreciate this song because of the wordplay... Something that the Japanese language seems to have a greater ability to bring forth. I do think it is even more interesting because Moa and Yui didn't go with various homophones (of which there are plenty in the language). I know it might take a while to get there... But I am very interested in the lyrical take of BxMxC... I know there are some interesting homophones in that song (prominently Waku and Wack)... But I have a feeling there are quite a few more.
The story was they were on tour in Singapore, and Su challenged them to write a song on the number 4, and they wrote this song. And then Yui and Moa sang it incessently to tease the staff. They have credit for the song on the album ; they did not do the arrangement. Yui and Moa apparently write songs often, or did.
Thank you for the rant, this has always annoyed me as well. The bit about failure hit home for me as well, living in very different culture from both the Anglo sphere and the Japanese, this stark contrast has struck me before. In this case we traditionally lean Japanese so to speak, but the American influence is very strong. Your take on it was very interesting.
Nice breakdown. Really enjoyed your mild "rant" (to me all religions are a sham) as it helped explained a few questions that I had about Japanese culture and conformity. I did not know that Japan was considered the most superstitious country. The idea that "spirit" is all around us is actually a pretty good concept that encompasses the idea of how connected we all are. One correction, Joel Olsteen is not superstition, he's just a sleazy con artist.
Thank You Professor, awesome video as usual! I want to comment on 2 things: 1. Black BABYMETAL For me this is a joke coming from KOBA again. Black metal is considered to be one of the scariest, darkest subgenre, full with depresion lyrics, growling, etc.Thus they took 2 cutest, most kawaii members and called them "Black BM" to put thing on its head yet again :D I don't think they meant "black music" however with BABYMETAL one can never be sure. 2. Talk about superstitions I agree with almost everything and I do not find it offensive. In the west people are usually so full of themselves that they hardly ever consider their own shortcomings. It also apply to "religious" people who actually treat their religion as some kind of magic rituals, without even giving it any thought. The one thing I would like to point out that it is a flaw not only in christianity but also in other monotheistic religions, as well as in some anthi-theistic or "scientific" movements as well (which look like secular religions to me). On the other hand, BABYMETAL specifically and Japanese culture in general is more focused on finding the balance in life, while accepting that good and evil, light and darkness, potential for success and failure all coexist in each and any of us (Sis Anger would be prime example). This seems much smarter to me and it is one of the reasons why I love BABYMETAL :) 🤘🏼🦊🤘🏼
💀 💕 / 4⃣ Yui and Moa made up this song during their Singapore 2013 visit, and repeated it over and over again to the point that staff complained. : ) To pass the time while they were on their bus, Su suggested the theme of "4" as a challenge to Yui and Moa after they successfully made up songs on the themes of "banana" and "wood". Koba decided to have it professionally arranged so Yui and Moa could perform it in concert. I don't know how it works in the Japanese music industry, but since Yui and Moa (as Black BABYMETAL) are officially credited with both the lyrics and music for this song, I hope they are still getting some royalties. The last time this was performed was at the two 'Legend S' concerts, Su's 20th birthday shows in Hiroshima. Yui was supposed to be there, but it was announced at the last minute that she would be unable to perform. Moa performed the song as a solo, but the Japanese crowd helped with Yui's lines in the song. I also love how Yui and Mao form the number 4 with their legs and arms as part of the choreography. A super cute Mikiko touch.
@@rickwagner- "Kagerou" as a Su solo song again. And "Karaage" as a Moa solo....? ;-) (Although, I do like the "new" Kagerou version with them all on stage. So, at least, a Moa lead on Karaage.)
Yes, I have no idea how their contracts are structured but I hope they are making money off it, and I'd love to see them take more of a hand in future song writing.
Outstanding (as usual), Professor. I just wanted to point out that the number 13 is also an "unfortunate" number in non English speaking countries. There are some theories about its origin: Norse mythology, Christian-influenced, etc. it also has a phobia related: Triskaidekaphobia.
Yep, in Spain, 13 is also an unlucky number. But it's curious that instead of Friday 13 for a bad luck day on English speaking countries, here it is Tuesday 13.
Great video as always! I'm a bit late this time, but I want to add some thoughts about this song: That is about the "Shshshshsh" they do accompanied with the universal gesture of "please be silent". Maybe I'm wrong, but I think it's also a word play with Shi, is not "Shshshsh", but "Shishishi". And the gesture of "silence" adds a layer like if they were saying something bad to you, and don't want others to hear (something like "it's tabu, but I don't care"). I'm not very fluent in english (not my mother language), but I hope you got the point.
So I've been thinking, the social reform at the meta level of Babymetal is actually interesting too. Often when it comes to Babymetal themes/what Babymetal does, I'm reminded of an interview question (Soranews24 in 2013): What was the inspiration for creating something so different? “[I was hoping] to incite that strange feeling that makes you go ‘what is this?’” KOBAMETAL explains, going on to give a concrete example; “Like the movie Kill Bill. I think Tarantino probably really likes Japan, and he worked hard on reproducing that in the movie, but it’s just slightly off, right? Still, it has a lot of originality.” For KOBAMETAL, that’s where the entertainment is. “[If] we were to do just straight metal-having the girls screaming-it probably wouldn’t be as interesting!” ------- Metal music is 'counter culture', right ? But also often as a critique on society (an expression of the angers about society). So Babymetal takes that critique way and puts a very Japanese (in my very uninformed guess) twist on it by making it about social reform. The twist is that western/eastern perspective originality again.
Interesting. I agree that some of the roots of Metal are similar to the roots of punk in that regard (which is partly why my tastes span both, esp. in Japanese rock), being positioned as adversarial to what they see as culturally mainstream musical forms and social ideas. Cheers and thanks for the comment.
Thumbs up as always. Please allow me to derail the shippai/failure argument just a little bit: we do have a faint notion of the 'embrace your mistakes on your way to greatness' here in the West as well. Remember Bob Ross and his famous line, "We don't make mistakes here, only happy little accidents?" And then in jazz improvisation it's all about allowing mistakes and taking it from there, making use of them. Translating yonaoshi as 'social reform', though, that's a bit misguided I think. The YO in that word is literally 'the world', and NAOSHI means 'renewal', or 'fixing', so 'world renewal' or (more modern) 'saving the world' seems more appropriate. It's a very old Japanese concept that predates the Meiji period, too. But in this song its fun factor is that it incorporates both YO and SHI. ;-) I'm sure the Black Babymetal moniker is explained in one of those animated live intros before their mini sets, but you can argue the BLACK babyMETAL becomes apparent only when Sis.Anger hits, the maybe hardest Babymetal song ever. Or perhaps that is just clever marketing, à la, 'okay, we already named the subgroup BBM, let's make that nomen an omen.'
Thanks. I agree that failure is a part of some western outlooks, and your example are good, but I think people are raised to overvalue the gaudiest versions of success. I'll take your translation of yonaoshi as a friendly amendment :) no disagreement from me.
@@AndrewHartley I'm randomly watching Star Wars Ep. 8 on TV right now, and zen master Yoda just said, 'The Greatest Teacher, Failure is.' But he is not there as a representative of Western thought, of course. And everything I write is in friendly spirit, don't worry. I wasn't criticizing you, anyway, just that translation. Unless it was yours, ha.
We have the same habit of associating 4 with death in China. Didn't know Japanese have that too until I heard this song. But then I realized that it came from the pronunciations of the Kanjis... LOL
As a parallel to the "chop sticks in the rice" thing, my mother taught me to place my knife and fork together on the plate when I had finished eating. That's just one of many eating and drinking traditions that go unnoticed because they are simply second nature eg. warm the pot first or one teaspoon for each person and one for the pot... I believe the Japanese are far more a la carte when it comes to religion that Westerners and maybe the historical persecution of Christians was because of the dogmatic nature of Christianity with all it's potential cultural and administrative consequences. Personally, I now feel that all the things I read in my Christian RE classes were basically the same as I read in "Lord of The Rings" just with a more Nordic flavor...I didn't use "The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe" as an example as that's just a big Christian metaphor.
Thanks to my mother in law, I was able to read the article :). Thanks so much for it. Its seems to agree pretty well with what I was saying, though it comes from a more rigorously academic perspective. Fascinating stuff. Really appreciate your response. Thank you.
Interesting how under the superstition label, there are several things from different origins. Many have religious origins, others are cultural practices, others have to do with symbols such as number four, which I think are cool. I'm looking forward to Catch me If You Can and BxMxC. Do you think about analyzing music other than Babymetal? If so, I think Senbonzakura (Hatsune Miku, Wagaki Band) could be a good candidate.
