Kitsune da o! 🦊
It's been over two months since Babymetal sent Manila to a one night rollercoaster of fiery metal and kawaii madness! As a fan of their music for a decade, I didn't let this chance pass to watch them live for the first time!
Babymetal is a Japanese trio girl group spearheading the worldwide revolution of modern metal music through infusing kawaii with metal. Think of Hello Kitty dancing and singing with fire spewing to the rhythm of heavy music.
Su-metal (vocals), Moametal (scream and dance), and Momometal (scream and dance) are backed by Kami band, their very own band composed of top-notch musicians.
They're practically everywhere from Japan to various countries doing solo sold out arena and dome shows, and also performing on various metal festivals. Them going here seems like an impossible dream so it was a huge surprise that they included Philippines on their recent Asia tour. (Babymetal should've went to the Philippines back in 2020 for a metal festival but covid was such a party pooper causing the festival to get canceled.)
Philippines was the last stop for their Asia tour and everyone who had gotten their tickets were so excited to see the group for the first time. Finally, after years of waiting or more than a decade to some, they'll finally see them live! In addition to the hype, they also brought Metalverse, Babymetal's sister group, as an opening act.
October 8th came and I made sure to come just in time to pick up the merch I pre-ordered. Majority of the people in front of the Araneta Coliseum were wearing black (as expected). There were also some foreigners attending the show.
After claiming my merch, I joined other fans and had lunch with them.
I was really hungry because travel time was six hours from my town to Araneta City. Time has really changed. 10 years ago, it only takes four hours to get to Araneta. Traffic is getting worse. Anyway, it's my first time eating on their new lunchbox-like plate. It's cute! Lol.
After our late lunch, I left them for a moment and checked-in to a hotel where I'll spend the night after the concert. I love that the room I was given was facing the Araneta Coliseum. I can already see the ambulance on standby which is a norm during concerts.
After resting and purchasing my foods for dinner, I went back to the coliseum to check what's going on.
I also took a quick snap of Moametal funko in front of a small Babymetal standee.
One fan told me that I've missed a lot of activities because a lot have already distributed their freebies and some were even interviewed. Dang! But at least I was able to snag a button pin!
I'm really happy but I wish I got some stickers too! Lol!
6 P.M. came and it was time to line up to enter the coliseum. We went to our respective gates and I was now alone in line since each of us bought different tier tickets. Oh, there were also a couple of girls who dressed up like the girls of Babymetal, from the red tutu costume to the metal resistance costume to the current metal forth costume, just like this girl dressed up as Moametal walking ahead of me while I was on my way to my assigned gate.
The lines were orderly and the bouncers effectively controlled the crowd, but my only complaint was the area where we're lined up was hot. I was sweating which made me so eager to enter the venue as soon as possible. Lol.
After presenting my ticket I was handed with a photocard, a standard memorabilia for everyone who watched the show.
There were still few people inside when I got into my seat but I was surprised to see that some areas were covered in black cloth just like the seats below my section which everyone thought was sold out. It showed that the seats were already unavailable while I was purchasing my ticket online months ago and even felt disappointed that I'd gotten a further row seat. It turns out I got into the nearest seated section. Lol!
I also thought I would get a clear view of the girls but I felt a bit disappointed when I saw those pillars of light on the stage. Meh, if only I knew of the stage setup I should've gotten a middle section instead.
A few minutes late to their scheduled time, the lights went off and Metalverse began to perform.
I'm not very familiar with Metalverse's songs nor members, I just tried to listen to their songs a day before the show to know what music I would expect from the group. They're a new group currently armed with only four songs.
The girls were obviously younger than the Babymetal members but I can see Metalverse flourishing in the future because they're all talented, especially their vocalist Miko. I was amazed of how good she sang live hitting those high notes effortlessly and her voice not even faltering despite dancing. She's just like a younger version of Su-metal. And if I may add, the three girls were all cute and charming! Their skin and hair looked so smooth! Oh, to be young and wrinkle-free! Lol.
Their costumes by the way are very similar to Babymetal's but in blue color, the opposite color of Babymetal (red) during their early years.
After Metalverse, there was a few minutes waiting time before the lights went dim again. The coliseum was roaring in excitement as finally, we will be seeing Babymetal. A long dream which most of us thought was impossible to happen.
I can see the kami band walking up the stage and into their positions despite the dark stage. After the short intro video which narrates the Fox God lore and Babymetal's journey to their current era, Metal Forth, the coliseum turned red and the kami band began to shift the energy of the venue to heavy with the intro song Babymetal Death. The girls went up the stage with their usual choreographed intro walk.
Everyone was so hyped and the coliseum was filled with a deafening roar of the crowd as the girls began to perform.
First thing I noticed was Moametal's cuteness and their costumes shining and sparkling! Their costume team really did a great job on this one! It kind of resembles a samurai armor but a cute version!
Su-metal looking at the crowd. One hand holding the microphone and the other doing the fox sign, their signature hand sign.
We were not ready when they played Headbanger next. The show was only beginning yet they already made everyone headbang to their classic song! It was fun to see the girls and the crowd on the standing sections headbanging. It was just like the crowd I see on their music videos! And of course, it was music to our ears to finally hear Momometal growl as she uttered, "Are you ready?!"
They sent us dancing while waving towels next with PA PA YA. I don't have a towel with me so I just waved my arm in circles like I was holding a towel too! It felt nice to shout Pa-pa-papaya! inside Araneta Coliseum! Haha!
Next song was from their current album. KxAxWxAxIxI is like the new "iine" in my opinion. It was fun to watch their cute choreography for this song and they seem to be just playing on stage on the last part of the song.
Metali! was performed next. The kami band had a short instrumental for the intro of the song. Metali, for me, has a festive vibe as they chant "wasshoi!" on some parts of the song. Also, the most awaited part of this song was Momometal's solo and growling. The girls also instructed the crowd to get low or crouch then signaling for a simultaneous jump. It was so fun!
Next was Kon! Kon!. This song is still new to my ears but it was a very cool song. I think they collaborated with an Indian artist, even their choreography had some Indian influence.
We were then given a visual treat when they performed Sunset Kiss. Hues of orange and pink filled the huge screens while showing their silhouettes. This song has the most beautiful LED graphics in my opinion.
After the calm was the storm as they gave us Song 3 next. I love the short tale before the song, giving us a little backstory. It was described that 3 is a magical number which saved the girls from a bear.
I love this song because aside from personal reasons, they have a headbang choreography which I was able to watch in a good angle from my seat. All I can say is that they all looked cool, especially Moametal! Great job for collaborating with Slaughter to Prevail!
Babymetal sent everyone to an electric metal dance party vibe next with RATATA. Everyone was shouting "Fu! Fu!". I love this song!
And finally, we got to hear their legendary song, Gimme Chocolate. The crowd on the VIP area made a circle pit and were happily running around. My ears felt blessed to hear this song live!
Next was their song, From Me to You. I didn't like this song at first but around a month before the show, I suddenly just loved it!
"With this rage inside of me,
Kimi ni todoke! Kimi ni todoke!"
Su-metal's and Poppy's voice fit well together. I hope they do another collaboration in the future!
Last on their setlist was Road of Resistance. I would protest if they didn't end the show with this song! Finally, I got to witness how glorious this song is! Su-metal stood with a sharp gaze while commanding the crowd with her arms to open the pit. The crowd obliged and the pit was split in half, not exactly on the middle though. Lol.
When the drums and guitars began to speed up and the girls shouting, "1,2,3,4!", the space collapsed as the crowd slammed doing a wall of death. Holy molly, it was so fun to watch them from our elevated seat! Everyone of us at that moment were so hyped!
Halfway through the song, Araneta Coliseum was filled with our voices as we sang altogether while putting our fists up. The song ended spectacularly with deafening cheers of the crowd.
I felt a bit sad when Su began to shout, "We—are—!", because that means the show has ended and they'll be leaving the stage soon but I was surprised that instead of their usual chant, "See you!", they said "Ingat kayo!" which means take care. Kudos to Su-metal for learning some Filipino phrases. She was so prepared and memorized it well unlike Taka who gave up and complained that Filipino is difficult. Lmao.
I met up again with the other fans after the show and had dinner together. We talked about what happened during the show while replaying videos they took and looking at the photos they captured. Then I bid them goodbye about an hour later and went back to my hotel room.
Babymetal live was so fun! I'm not a music expert but the kami band did so well and Babymetal's music is just so lit! And of course, the girls! Watching them online seem like their dance steps were just easy but observing them sing and dance live exuded top-notch professionalism that was honed through constant practice. They may look like small ladies having fun on the stage but their moves were all calculated and executed perfectly. And also the stage lightings, graphics, and whole production was so good!
Also, it was my first time to experience a concert with flames on stage! I could feel its slight heat from where I'm seated everytime it blasts up. This made me wonder how hot it must've felt for the girls on stage and the crowd at the barricade area.
Here's the Babymetal funkos looking towards Araneta Coliseum. I think it would be nice to take a photo of them by the window. Hehe!
There's a lot more I could share about what happened that day but I'm afraid this post would end up really long so I'll end it here. I really hope Babymetal comes back in the future. Maybe then they'll give us Megitsune, Iijime Dame Zettai, Karate, and all other Babymetal classic songs.
Thank you, Babymetal, for a night of metal party with a touch of cuteness and for giving me a very nice memory to remember for the year 2025!
Here's a short edit I made from the videos I took:
*Some photos uploaded were screenshots from videos so excuse the quality!
