5 More Favorite Babymetal Performances

About eight years ago, I shared my Top 10 Favorite Babymetal Performances (please excuse all of the broken videos in the link, it's a really old post). A lot has happened with Babymetal in the years since, and I've been asked to revisit this list and give it an update. However, rather than do that, I think I'd like to share five more favorite performances from the band in the years since, without rehashing any of my picks from the original posting. So then, presented in alphabetical order...

Akatsuki - Dark Night Carnival

One of the most haunting performances to come out of Babymetal's catalogue. Of all of the very unique performances showcased on this very unique show of theirs, Akatsuki is by far the one I most frequently came back to. Some people may point to Legend - 1997's unfinished performance as this song's best, others might look to the unique arrangement that was featured at 10 Babymetal Budokan. But for me, Dark Night Carnival was this song's crowning achievement.

Arkadia - Legend - Metal Galaxy

Not just my favorite performance of Arkadia, this might be my favorite performance from Babymetal period. I was floored when they first introduced this song as a surprise opener at The Sun Also Rises, and I only grew to love it more and more with each successive playing. I actually got to see the song performed live and in person at The Forum, and it was really cool how they had the backing visual effects on the big screen behind them that really elevated the song in an epic way. I sadly felt this aspect wasn't really captured too well on the home video release, but they managed to pull this off perfectly with their stage design at Legend - Metal Galaxy, making for a spectacle that I feel is the intended effect they were always going for with this song. There's a shot of a guy in the crowd during this performance who we see raising his Babymetal flag with pride which sums up the beauty of this song and what it means to me as a fan.

Doki Doki Morning - Babymetal Returns

Perhaps their most creative performance to date. Somehow, Babymetal managed to pull off the best use of the multiverse gimmick to come out of the entertainment industry, introducing an alternate universe Babymetal (now known as Metalverse) to contend with them on stage. The bands alternate, taking turns to perform different parts of the song, before ultimately coming together and finishing it off in a big unified moment. This performance is just such a great example of Babymetal's on-stage storytelling during their shows, and how clever the band can be at pulling it off.

Headbanger - Legend - Metal Galaxy

This is perhaps the band's most atmospheric performance yet. You hear people talking about aura, or characters aura-farming and that sorta thing these days. Well that's precisely what's on display here, is the band's biggest aura-farming moment to date, as they just build and build and build the atmosphere in the venue. This is a performance you have to brace yourself for, and it's one that'll leave you shaking your head in awe at what they accomplish when it's over.

My Queen - Rock Am Ring 2026

Su-metal truly put her all into this performance of My Queen, and it features some of her rawest vocals in any performance to date. The way she's pushing herself to the limit vocally is almost like she's out to prove something, but I don't need any convincing after this performance. I am in awe, and I am in love with how she sang this song here.

Metalverse Competition Essay

I'm not going to pretend like I'm thoroughly familiar with the members of the band Metalverse the way I am with Babymetal. I've followed the group's activities with Babymetal, as well as a band independent since the beginning, but I haven't dove deep into their histories with Sakura Gakuin or otherwise. So for me, I know them through Metalverse, and it's truly a pure Metalverse experience.

So when it comes to choosing a favorite member of the band, the most obvious initial response would be Miko, as she has had most of the spotlight shone on her thus far, and just has an absolutely captivating presence to her that really draws you in. However, recently the band has been branching out and putting themselves out there more with a series of TikTok dance videos, which has also given the other two a chance to shine and show off a bit of their personalities as well. And ever since they've been given this new outlet to really introduce themselves to us, I've found myself most drawn to Sakia. She's just such a silly goose, and I really dig the upbeat and playful vibes that she brings to the group.

Moving forward, I of course look forward to the band releasing their first full album, and feel they've put out an incredibly strong library of music already. But really, I'm just incredibly intrigued by what the future holds for this band. Will they have a career trajectory similar to Babymetal's? Will they veer off into an entirely different direction? Whatever route they take, I think the future looks incredibly bright for them, and it's exciting to be along for the journey since the beginning, and I look forward to getting to know each of the members of this group even more along that journey.

As to what song I would like to see officially released next? My response would be Crazy J. In a way the song is already their first big hit, and it’s the song that showed me right from the get-go that these girls were the real deal. I love its swingy jazzy style, and it has a super catchy tune that feels like its taking you on a wild ride. This is a song worth singing along and dancing to, and though we’ve already heard the live version, I can’t wait to hear how the officially released studio track sounds.

Sia: Nostalgic For The Present - Movie Review

I discovered Sia 10 years ago in 2016. It was through her music that was playing over the end credits of the movie The Neon Demon. At that time, they had filmed a pseudo-concert film titled Nostalgic For The Present, and 10 years later, they finally released that film. (Also fittingly, 10 years later we're seeing director Nicolas Winding Refn's first film since The Neon Demon releasing the same week as Sia's new film.) I don't know the reasons for the long delay between filming and release, but it does seem to give a new meaning to the movie's title, as watching this movie certainly left me with a nostalgic feeling for the time period in which it was filmed.

Not your traditional concert film, Nostalgic For The Present was filmed on a closed set (though features live crowd noise), where they recreated Sia's live show from her tour during that period. Sia herself stands off to the side singing her songs, as the lit up square stage is occupied by various dancers and actors who bring her music to life with interpretive dance sequences and an array of intricate costuming, prop-work, and lighting tricks. For sure, this was unlike any concert film I've seen before, and really it was unlike any other film I've seen before period at that. Truly, this was a unique movie-going experience.

I was surprised by some of the actors who appeared, which included Paul Dano, Tig Notaro, and Kristen Wiig, among others. And even more, I found myself surprised by a number of the songs that were presented over the course of the film's set as well. Sia's version of Diamonds was the first big surprise of the evening, and was brought to life beautifully. And she even busted out a couple of older tracks that I wasn't expecting to see at all, but which made for a pleasant treat as well. I didn't even recognize it at first when Titanium started to play, but as soon as she sang her first notes, it hit me like a wall, and I was left floored. Of course her big hits are all here, and all the while I really did feel like I was taking a trip back in time to when I would often listen to her music and lose myself while I would work at my creative writing, falling further and further down the endless well that was her library of songs.

There's an attempt at an ongoing story with recurring characters, and there were brief interludes between songs that would continue to further the story, but I honestly couldn't tell you what the story actually was, if I'm being honest. Not that I think it matters much, as the music and its emotional core is what's important here. I'm just left impressed by the attempt all the same, and found myself incredibly inspired by the creativity that was consistently on display throughout. I was left feeling that I would love to film a movie like this myself someday.

I actually had to drive two hours out of town to see the movie, as it wasn't playing in my home town. This adds Sia: Nostalgic For The Present to my list of movies I've made special road trips just to see, which includes Boruto: Naruto the Movie, and the anime film Belle. I would definitely say the movie was well worth the trip, and everything I could ever ask or hope for from a movie by this artist. Needless to say, the music was fantastic, Sia's singing was top notch, and the dancers and actors were all phenomenal and expressive in their roles. Fans of Sia will be sure to love the film.

My Top 5 Most Important Songs

I want to take a moment and reflect on what are probably the most important songs for me personally. Not necessarily a list of my favorite songs (though I do love them all), these are the songs the most represent significant turning points in my life and interests, and that left an especially powerful impact on me. So without further ado, and presented in the order in which they came into my life:

My Chemical Romance - Helena

Asian Kung-Fu Generation - Haruka Kanata

Idina Menzel - Let It Go

Sia - Waving Goodbye

Babymetal - Gimme Chocolate

Knockout Noel - Book Review

Knockout Noel is an example of how you'll find some real gems when reading indie books sometimes.

I met the author, Nobutaro Masai, at a recent convention I attended. He was my neighbor vendor, as we were both selling our books there. I decided to purchase his books and give them a shot, and I'm very glad that I did, because Knockout Noel is truly excellent.

The book follows a boxer as she works towards becoming the best in her league so that she can support herself and her little sister at home. The story takes place in Battletown, a world not unlike something you'd find in a 90s beat-em-up video game, and the book reads very much like a video game, too, as we see Noel casually taking on foes and encountering boss fights as she goes about her everyday life and works towards her goals. The world in this book plays by its own rules, and it even has its own unique language in certain regards, too.

The world building and overall creativity on display was top notch, and the action sequences are seriously epic at times, but more than that was the character work throughout. In addition to Noel, we meet quite the cast of compelling characters, both heroes and villains, who all bring their own ideologies into the fold that challenge Noel's purpose and worldview. She's hard headed and brutish, but she does have a heart, and little by little we witness as her inner softy gradually comes more to the forefront, without losing who she is at her core.

In many regards, the writing reminded me of my own writing, not just in its style of prose, but also in the way the story plays out. Perhaps that's why I personally found myself drawn so strongly to it, but I was honestly very impressed with how it all played out. Like my own writing, I get the feeling that this story was originally conceived as a comic book, but was translated into a novel format instead, likely due to availability of resources at the time. But whatever the case, I thoroughly enjoyed following along on the journey of this book, and quickly became a fan.

I have since reached out to the author to tell him my thoughts on the book, and to also confirm that a sequel was indeed in the works. He said that it was, which I was thrilled to hear, though there is also a spin-off book from the series to keep me occupied in the meantime. But as to this book? Let's just say that I have read many indie books over the years, and they run the gamut in terms of quality. I've read books that felt more like outlines than finished novels. I've started books that were so bad that I couldn't even finish them, or in some stubborn cases were a chore to force myself through. But on the other end of the spectrum, I've read some really great stuff, works that motivated my own creativity and really inspired me. But among all the indie novels that I've read, Knockout Noel may well rise to the top as the best of the lot. I'd highly recommend checking it out, as I would recommend giving a shot to indie novels in general.

Obsession - Movie Review

Is it possible for a film to be too effective? The new horror film, Obsession, though a great film, was incredibly unsettling, to the point that it honestly begs the question. Fair warning, we're going to get into some spoilers as we proceed in this discussion of the film.

The film is about a guy who makes a wish for his crush to fall in love with him, and that wish comes true in the worst possible way. There are layers to how disturbing this movie gets, and the various different horrors that come into play. Right off the bat, I'd like to reiterate that this was a tremendously made film. The use of lighting and shadows is brilliant, the writing is well thought out (every time I thought I found a hole in the film's plot, the film eventually addressed it), and the acting is top notch, particularly from Inde Navarrette, who gives an outstandingly dynamic performance. This is a hauntingly captivating movie that'll ingrain its horrifying visuals and ideas into your mind.

The movie is also incredibly brutal, again, to a disturbing degree, and some characters' fates are sealed in ways that they really, truly don't deserve, but which sadly make all too much sense within the narrative. It's truly a feel bad movie in the best way possible. When I left the theater, I wasn't sure how much I even liked the movie, as it left me feeling dirty for even watching it, and yet I held nothing but high regard for it.

The concepts this movie deals with are truly skin crawling, and director Curry Barker doesn't shy away from going all the way with his best worst ideas. The character of Nikki doesn't just fall for our lead, she becomes possessed by a different entity entirely who is dangerously obsessed with him, while the real Nikki finds herself trapped inside her own body. I've played with this idea in some of my own fiction, both published and unpublished to date, but this film really nails just how terrifying such a scenario would be in reality.

And that's not even the main concept of horror at play. Our lead character, Bear, finds himself having to deal with the overly obsessed girlfriend who's overly emotional and possessive, and it's truly terrifying stuff. She watches him sleep, she desperately duct tapes the door shut to try and trap him inside, and that's just the tame stuff, as I don't want to give everything away in this review. And yet, horrific as the situation is that Bear finds himself in, he's not so innocent himself. Over the course of the film, he realizes that he's not dealing with the real Nikki, that the real her is trapped inside of her. And yet, in one of the most soul crushing moments in the movie, he scolds the real Nikki, asking if it's really so bad being with him, and ultimately accepts that he's fully taking advantage of her, despite all the horror it's bringing into his own life.

Again, in some ways, for me watching this movie is like watching some of my own creative ideas I've played with in my writing coming to life on screen, even if the movie isn't exactly a one for one of those ideas. Some of those ideas I ultimately decided to shelve for various reasons, and seeing those ideas brought to fruition in this film sorta reinforces my decision to move in a different direction creatively, as the end product is incredibly creepy to bare witness to, particularly for my standards. But kudos to the director for totally going all in to those darker places.

In the end, I almost wish I hadn't even watched it. I honestly don't even gravitate towards horror movies these days, despite how many horror films keep getting recommended to me, and this film served as a starch reminder of that. I was left feeling like I needed a palette cleanse after the movie. I felt like I needed to take a shower and wash myself clean. So, was the movie too effective at what it was setting out to achieve? Maybe. And yet, despite it all, how bone chillingly dark and creepy and even rapey the movie can get, I honestly wouldn't have it any other way.

2026 – The Su-metal Tattoo

In November of 2025, I flew out to LA to see Babymetal live at the Intuit Dome. I met up with some friends while out there, and while we were waiting in line before the show, some members of the Fox God Crew were filming the fans and taking pictures. One fan that they took a picture of was showing off their Babymetal tattoo, and that's when one of my friends suggested that I show mine off for the camera. I had to explain that it's in an awkward location where I'd essentially have to pull my pants down to reveal it though, so my tattoo remained hidden. That incident did get me thinking though, it would be nice to have a Babymetal tattoo in a location where I can show it off at shows.

I had actually been toying with ideas for another Babymetal tattoo for some time by this point, and one image in particular came across my feed that I felt really captured the raw intensity of the band's lead singer, Su-metal, where she's seen screaming into her mic. Literally the first thought I had upon seeing the image for the first time was that it would make for a really awesome tattoo. A little over a year later, I decided upon that image for my next tattoo, and I had the perfect spot for it picked out, on my right arm just below my shoulder.

Euphoria Tattoos had just moved to a new location again, and I also decided this would be a great way to help break in the new place. So I went to my usual artist, Alain, and he was able to get the job done in only about an hour and a half. It wasn't painful in the least, and in fact, sitting in the chair felt almost calmly therapeutic in a sense. But I was more than happy with the end result, and felt that he did another phenomenal job really capturing the image from the reference picture.

Then I decided to share the picture of my tattoo online for the Babymetal fandom to see.

To say that I was baffled by the response would be an understatement. I was thoroughly attacked by people claiming that the tattoo was bad, that it looked amateurish, and that they hoped I hadn't actually spent money on it, among other gross and disheartening comments that really killed the vibe. And I could sit here and write a full rant about this experience alone, but I've decided instead not to focus too much on the negatives. It's just such a shame that I now have to associate my new tattoo's story with this unfortunate experience.

Upon reflection, however, perhaps it's fitting that my new Babymetal tattoo was met with such a WTF reaction. After all, the band themselves are always chasing after such a response. And personally speaking, I've lived through quite a number of fandom meltdowns in response to various song releases and other band activities over the years, despite coming from a fanbase for a band that stands firmly against precisely that sort of behavior. So it's not like I haven't ever seen this side of the fandom before. I just haven't experienced it targeted at me, and I was completely taken off guard by the reaction.

But most people have actually had a much warmer response to the tattoo. I've been told by multiple people that my tattoo was indeed sick, and in some instances even beautiful. Whenever I show off the reference photo, most have agreed that the picture was captured accurately, and they have proceeded to share in my absolutely dumbfoundedness when I've told them about the backlash it's received online. So it hasn't all been bad, even though the negativity can certainly weigh down on you if you let it. But like I said though, I'm personally very happy with how it turned out, and I can't wait to show it off at my next Babymetal concert.

Thank you for reading about my latest tattoo, and if you'd like to read more tattoo stories, consider picking up my book Down the Fox Hole.