Kawaii metal
| Kawaii metal | |
|---|---|
| Etymology | Kawaii |
| Other names |
|
| Stylistic origins | |
| Cultural origins | Early 2010s, Japan |
| Subgenres | |
| Kawaiicore | |
| Other topics | |
Kawaii metal(also known asidol metal,[1]cute metal,J-pop metal,orkawaiicore[2]) is a musical genre that blends elements ofheavy metalandJ-popthat was pioneered in Japan in the early 2010s. The genre combines both Eastern and Western influences that appeal to both cultures.[3]A typical kawaii metal composition combines the instrumentation found in various types of heavy metal music with J-popmelodiesand aJapanese idolaesthetic. Kawaii metal's lyrical topics often containkawaii(cute, lovable, kidlike) themes.[4]
The Japanese girl groupBabymetalis often credited with the creation and success of kawaii metal.
History and characteristics[edit]
Japaneseheavy metalidolgroupBabymetalare considered the inventors of the kawaii metal genre.[5][6]The concept of kawaii metal started withKey “Kobametal” Kobayashi,the producer behind the group Babymetal. In an interview conducted by Billboard, Kobayashi explains that he was “just trying to do something no one had heard before”.[7]Kawaii metal gained international popularity in 2014, when the group Babymetal uploaded a song to Youtube called "Gimme Chocolate!!"[8]Angelica Wallingford ofCity Timesopined that Babymetal'seponymous debut albumhad pioneered the kawaii metal musical genre. Wallingford also defined the genre, and album, as a "mixture of varying genres includingpop,rock,heavy metal,electronic dance music,industrialandsymphonic death metal".[9]A guest contributor atThe Independentbelieved that the genre was a derivative ofJ-popand variousextreme metalgenres, namely "speed metal,power metal,black metal,andindustrial metal".[10]
While discussing Babymetal,The Sydney Morning Herald's Rob Nash stated that the genre consisted of "sugary pop melodies overthrash metal".Nash also believed that the group's song"Awadama Fever"exemplified the genre, with its" slabs of angry guitar and undanceably fast breakbeats, while the girls [Babymetal] squeak about 'bubble ball fever' and chewing gum ".[11]
Babymetal has remained extremely popular. In 2019, Babymetal became the first Asian artists to top Billboard’s Top Rock Albums chart, with their third studio album,Metal Galaxy.[12]Murray Stassen inMusic Weekcommented that "Babymetal is, without a doubt, a genuine cross-genre musical phenomenon" and that, despite how the juxtaposition of metal and J-pop might not seem to make sense on paper: "[Babymetal has] proved that it can, and does work, and resistance to the Babymetal phenomenon is futile."[13]
Discussing Ladybeard, and Ladybaby, Jake Cleland ofThe Sydney Morning Heralddefined the genre as "saccharine pop with his heavy metalgrowling".[14]Alex Weiss ofPaperdefined the genre as "hard rockwith sugary sweet pop hooks ". Weiss also used Babymetal's songs"Karate"and"Road of Resistance"as examples to explain the differing lyrical perspective between the kawaii metal and other metal genres, stating that kawaii metal songs" offer a perspective often missing from thehyper-masculine,aggressive lyrics usually present in most of the [metal] genre's hits ".[15]Felix Clay ofCracked.comalso believed that the genre had less aggressive lyricism, citing the genre had lyrics about "pop music topics like kittens, chocolate, and fun".[1]
See also[edit]
References[edit]
- ^abClay, Felix (27 May 2016)."7 Strange Aspects Of Japan's Pop Idol Metal Music Scene".Cracked.com.Retrieved16 October2016.
- ^Ohanesian, Liz (15 October 2015)."Meet Ladybaby, Japan's Kawaiicore (and Pro-Wrestling) Answer to Andrew WK".Noisey.Retrieved18 October2016.
- ^Kennedy, Lewis F. (2020).Multilingual Metal Music: Sociocultural, Linguistic and Literary Perspectives on Heavy Metal Lyrics.United Kingdom: Emerald Publishing Limited.ISBN9781839099502.Retrieved27 February2021.
- ^Lebra, Takie Sugiyama (2004).The Japanese Self in Cultural Logic.Hawaii: University of Hawaii Press. p. 86.ISBN0-8248-2840-2.Retrieved27 February2021.
- ^"Nothing Personal: Babymetal Don't Like Answering Questions".Noisey.15 July 2014.Retrieved23 October2016.
- ^Cleek, Taylor (17 July 2015)."The Unpredictable Rise of Kawaiicore".Beyond the Stage.Retrieved28 October2016.
- ^Rosenthal, Jeff (2014). "Babymetal: Gaga's Kooky Find". No. 24. Billboard.
- ^Kennedy, Lewis F (2020).Multilingual Metal Music: Sociocultural, Linguistic and Literary Perspectives on Heavy Metal Lyrics.United Kingdom: Emerald Publishing Limited.ISBN9781839099502.Retrieved27 February2021.
- ^Wallingford, Angelica (27 March 2014)."'Kawaii' metal goes viral ".City Times.Retrieved17 October2016.
- ^"Album Review: Babymetal's" Metal Resistance "is a Japanese metal mutant".The Independent.21 May 2016.Retrieved28 October2016.
- ^Nash, Rob (11 June 2016)."Babymetal: Japan's heavy metal girl-band sensation".The Sydney Morning Herald.Retrieved28 October2016.
- ^Rolli, Bryan."Babymetal Becomes First Asian Act To Top Billboard's Top Rock Albums Chart".Forbes.Retrieved27 February2021.
- ^Stassen, Murray. "Music Periodicals Database".Music Week.
- ^Cleland, Jake (11 July 2015)."From Ladybeard to Ladybaby: the pro wrestling heavy metal singer taking Japan by storm".The Sydney Morning Herald.Retrieved17 October2016.
- ^Weiss, Alex (13 July 2016)."MEET THE JAPANESE GIRL GROUP GIVING METAL A KAWAII MAKEOVER".Paper.Retrieved21 October2016.
External links[edit]
- Tadano, John, and Yu, Yu. OSS! BABYMETAL on the way (English Edition)– listing on Amazon
- Babymetal: Metal Galaxy review – kawaii metal originators deliver clashy opus– newspaper article
- Babymetal– official website
- The Rise and Rise of Kawaii Metal– web article
- The Unpredictable Rise of Kawaiicore– magazine article
- Fruit Pochette– official website
