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.