Babyme'tal rocks the Big Dome
Babymetal’s first concert in the Philippines was one that showed off their identity as a kawaii-metal band. They wore metallic skirts with armor-like tops, fitting outfits for their branding, which contrasted sharply with their adorable visuals.
Right from the energetic first number of Babymetal Death to the second performance of Headbangeeeeerrrrr!!!!! that had the venue jumping, raising their hands, and headbanging, it was clear how Araneta Coliseum was taken on a wild ride. When Babymetal asked, “Are you ready to headbang?” — the crowd delivered on Oct. 7.
Su-metal, Moa-metal, and Momo-metal kept the energy high with back-to-back performances of Pa Pa Ya!! in a song that had the crowd waving their towels in time to the beat and KxAxWxAxIxI that had the venue chanting along to the kawaii lyrics.
The concert got a short break before the Kami band lit up the stage with instrument solos where the audience clapped along to the beat. Babymetal then returned to the stage with a “Kamusta, Manila? Masaya kami makita kayo!” This was more meaningful because the Japanese trio was supposed to arrive in the country for a show five years ago, but it got canceled due to the circumstances then.
This happiness was clear in the band and the fans’ energy throughout a performance of Metali!!, where Babymetal had the audience crouching down before leaping back up into song. This was also evident in Kon! Kon!, which closed in a rush of energy and applause. The concert then took a calmer turn with the more atmospheric Sunset Kiss, as fans savored the music.
Ahead of Song 3, a video animation about three sisters, who loved the number 3 so much that they channeled the power of three to drive away a ferocious bear, filled the venue. It led into powerful chants of “1, 2, 3” among the audience.
Meanwhile, RaTaTaTa had everybody in a craze: moving along to the music, chanting to the song, and partying. Su-metal screamed into her microphone, “Everyone jump!” But everyone was already doing so even before she spoke.
It was a perfect lead-in to their biggest hit, Gimme Chocolate!! The crowd went wild the moment the words “give me” popped up on screen as red lights illuminated the venue, with Su-metal shouting “Hey, Manila!” The Big Dome floor shook from the fans’ excitement. Audience members in the pit danced with each other in joy. People in the higher seats had their hands up high. At the end of the song, the screams were the loudest they’d been that whole night.
Babymetal ended the show with a bang through From Me to You and Road of Resistance, the latter of which had Su-metal, Moa-metal, and Momo-metal waving huge black Babymetal flags to the cheers of the audience.
It was a show with the highest energy I’d ever witnessed. A spectacle of cuteness blended with heavy metal that gave countless fans unforgettable memories. The curtains fell to heartfelt gratitude and “Ingat kayo” from the band.
As the Big Dome crowd chanted their name with a deafening “BABYMETAL!” the Japanese trio declared a strong “We are…Babymetal!”
