Headbanger (Babymetal song)

"Headbanger"

Cover of the standard edition
Single by Babymetal
from the album Babymetal and the album
Sakura Gakuin 2012 Nendo: My Generation
B-side "Uki Uki ★ Midnight"
Released July 4, 2012 (2012-07-04)
Format Enhanced CD single, digital download
Length 14:44
Label
Songwriter(s) Edometal, Nakametal, Narasaki ("Headbanger")
Nakata Caos, Ryu-metal, Fuji-metal ("Uki Uki ★ Midnight")
Producer(s) Narametal ("Headbanger")
Yuyoyuppe ("Uki Uki ★ Midnight")
Babymetal singles chronology
"Babymetal × Kiba of Akiba"
(2012)		 "Headbanger"
(2012)		 "Ijime, Dame, Zettai"
(2013)

"Babymetal × Kiba of Akiba"
(2012)		 "Headbanger"
(2012)		 "Ijime, Dame, Zettai"
(2013)
Music video
Babymetal "Headbanger" on YouTube
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Rolling Stone Japan[1]

"Headbanger" (ヘドバンギャー！！, Hedobangyā!!), written in official English releases as "Headbangeeeeerrrrr!!!!!" is a single by the band Babymetal. Released in Japan on July 4, 2012 in promotion for the album Sakura Gakuin 2012 Nendo: My Generation, the single serves as the third single from the debut album Babymetal. It is also the band's first solo audio release.[2][3][4]

Background and release

Unlike previous tracks released by the band, which had her vocal recorded in segments within the songs, Nakamoto had her lines recorded in a single take several times. She had been told to sing and find a story within the music. By the time she had comprehended the story behind the lyrics, she grew capable of singing the entire song naturally. When Mizuno and Kikuchi listened to her shouting "Headbangeeeeerrrrr!!!!!" for the first time, they felt as if they had seen another cool side of her, surprised by the vocal power. Additionally, the single introduced the members to the whispering style of singing, with the A-side's "Disappear!" and the B-side's "Uki Uki Midnight". Kobametal was inspired to use it to contrast traditional death growls.[5]

The single was released in two versions: a standard edition, available via CD and digital download, and a physical limited "Head" edition, which contains the CD as well as a "neck corset" (actually a cervical collar) for headbanging training. Both editions of the single feature the songs "Headbanger" and "Uki Uki ★ Midnight", along with instrumental versions (labeled as "Vocal Air Ver."). The enhanced CD also contains a bonus music video of "Babymetal Death", which can only be played on a computer.[6][7] The artwork of the standard edition depicts a lyric in the song, specifically when the girl is headbanging with the corset, with the crimson-colored moon in the background, as well as the band name appearing at the top. The limited edition artwork depicts a temple scripture of the "Corset of Legend" with the song title spelled out in the middle.[8]

Before the physical international release of the song, its title was written ambiguously as either "Head Bangya!!"[9] or "Headbangeeeeerrrrr!!!!!",[10] the latter of which is used in the international re-release of Babymetal. The music video uploaded to YouTube initially had the former name, though it was switched to the latter in 2015.

Composition

With music written and arranged by Coaltar of the Deepers member Narasaki, "Headbanger" contains lyrics revolving around a girl on her fifteenth birthday, along with melancholy vocals, a backing track incorporating screams and double bass drums, finishing with an intense, emo-style melody.[7] According to Nakamoto, the lyrics of the song did not initially have significance to her. After listener of the song explained how they had bought jū-hachi kippu tickets to see a concert far from home as stated in the song, she started to understand more of the theme.[5]

The B-side, "Uki Uki ★ Midnight", has been described by Barks as a sequel to the song "Doki Doki ☆ Morning". Arranged by Yuyoyuppe, the song contains elements of metalcore and dubstep, along with segments of pop melodies and death growls.[11] Notably, the bridge contains elements of the English lullaby "Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star".[12] Nakamoto described the lyrics, along with those of "Doki Doki ☆ Morning" as two parts of one peaceful day in the life of a teenage girl, although a connection was not discovered at first.[5]

Critical reception

Kazumi Nanba of Rolling Stone Japan said that the group gained popularity by relying much on its gimmicks, commenting on the song's combination of the "Vwoh!" death growls and the "cute chanting shouts".

Music video

The music video for the title track was directed by Hidenobu Tanabe (田辺秀伸), who would be named Best Director of that year (2012) at the Space Shower Music Video Awards.[13][11][14] It narrated a story of a 15-year-old girl who found a legendary neck corset in a mysterious box that fell upon her from above. All of a sudden, the corset jumps out of her hands, wraps around her neck and turns her into "Headbanger".[15][16][17]

No official video was released for "Uki Uki ★ Midnight", though Kikuchi initially desired one, with a scene of eating squid arms, analagous to the line "Squid arms, squid arms, I want to eat squid arms".[5] However, a live performance of the song from Legend: Corset Festival was later released as a bonus DVD for the limited "Z" edition of the single Ijime, Dame, Zettai.

Live performances

"Headbanger" was first performed at the Pop'n Idol 02 venue at Zepp Tokyo on June 23, 2012.[18] To promote the release of the single, the band performed the song during their promotional event "Headbang Pilgrimage!!" (ヘドバ行脚ー!!, Hedoba Angyā!!) at Tower Records/Tsuyata stores, first at Namba Rockets, Osaka on July 7, and at ell.Size, Nagoya on July 8.[8] On July 14, the band performed in the concert Uki Uki ☆ Afternoon at Tower Records, Shibuya as a part of the Tower Records event No Music, No Idol?.[19] The band also played the concert Legend: Corset Festival at Meguro Rock May Kan on July 21, 2012, where the song "Uki Uki ★ Midnight" was first performed live, and fans accepted into the concert were required to wear the corsets.[15][20] During the live performances Legend "D" Su-metal Holy Birthday at Akasaka Blitz on December 20, 2012, and Legend "1997" Su-metal Holy Birthday at Makuhari Messe on December 21, 2012, a remix titled "Night of 15 mix." was performed, containing more elements of electronic music. The former took place on Suzuka Nakamoto's actual fifteenth birthday, while the latter was the opening song for the concert.[21][22]

Unlike in contemporary heavy metal performances, the members of the band dance to "Headbangeeeeerrrrr!!!!!" with a variation of headbanging called "baby headbanging", where the three lightly jump while swing their heads from shoulder to shoulder. Nakamoto considered the unison of choreography for "Uki Uki ★ Midnight" to be difficult and strange, with elements of monster-like movements, falling asleep in the real world, and once more in a dream world.[5]

Track listing

No.TitleLength
1."Headbanger" (ヘドバンギャー！！)4:03
2."Uki Uki ★ Midnight" (ウ・キ・ウ・キ★ミッドナイト)3:20
3."Headbanger" (Air Vocal Ver.) (ヘドバンギャー！！（Air Vocal ver.）)4:02
4."Uki Uki ★ Midnight" (Air Vocal Ver.) (ウ・キ・ウ・キ★ミッドナイト（Air Vocal ver.）)3:19
Total length:14:44

Notes

Credits and personnel

Recording and management

Personnel


Charts

Chart (2012) Peak
position
Japan (Oricon) 20
Japan Hot Singles Sales (Billboard)[23] 19

Release history

Region Date Format Label Edition(s)
Japan[24] July 4, 2012 CD, digital download
  • Juonbu Records
  • Toy's Factory
 Standard edition
CD with neck corset Limited "Head" edition
Worldwide[25] Digital download Toy's Factory Standard edition

References

  1. ↑ Rolling Stone Japan Edition review
  2. ↑ "BABYMETAL、初の単独CDシングル"ヘドバンギャー!!"発売決定". Tower Records Online. 2012-04-27. Retrieved 2013-11-12.
  3. ↑ "BABYMETAL「ヘドバンギャー!!」ミュージック・ビデオが完成!". CDJournal News. 2012-06-21. Retrieved 2013-11-12.
  4. ↑ "BABYMETAL初の単独CD「ヘドバンギャー!!」を7-4にリリース。Movieでは伝説のコルセットで登場か!". Kawaii Girl Japan. 2012-06-27. Retrieved 2013-11-12.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 "BABYMETAL全楽曲解説インタビュー" [Interview: BABYMETAL Explains All the Songs]. Hedoban (in Japanese). Shinko Music Entertainment (1): 64–69. 2013-07-04.
  6. 1 2 Head Bangya!! (CD liner notes). Babymetal. Toy's Factory. 2012.
  7. 1 2 "BABYMETAL、「扇風機ヘドバン」「土下座ヘドバン」が舞い踊るミュージックビデオが完成". Barks (in Japanese). Japan Music Network Co. Ltd. 2012-06-21. Retrieved 2014-09-02.
  8. 1 2 "メタルアイドル・BABYMETALが「ヘドバ行脚ー！！」ツアーで大阪、名古屋に初上陸". Music.jp News (in Japanese). MTI Co. Ltd. 2012-06-01. Retrieved 2016-01-11.
  9. ↑ "iTunes - Music - Headbangya!! - EP by BABYMETAL". Retrieved 8 May 2014.
  10. ↑ "iTunes - Music - BabyMetal by BABYMETAL". Retrieved 6 June 2015.
  11. 1 2 "BABYMETAL「ヘドバンギャー!!」でSU-METALに神降臨". Natalie (in Japanese). 2012-06-21.
  12. ↑ Fujijun (2012-07-06). "BABYMETAL│芸能人インタビュー". De☆View (in Japanese). Oricon Co. Ltd. Retrieved 2016-01-11.
  13. ↑ "BABYMETAL - ヘドバンギャー！！[ Headbangeeeeerrrrr!!!!! ] (Full ver.) - YouTube". Toy's Factory.
  14. ↑ "スペシャ「MVA」大賞はきゃりー、サカナ、ワンオク". Natalie (in Japanese). 2013-03-13.
  15. 1 2 "BABYMETAL is going to release first solo CD "Headbangeeeeerrrrr!!!!!" on July 4. In this movie you might witness the legendary corset!?". Kawaii Girl Japan. 2012-06-27. Retrieved 2014-08-20.
  16. ↑ "BABYMETAL - Discography". Babymetal's official website. Retrieved 2014-08-20.
  17. ↑ "BABYMETAL - ヘドバンギャー！！[ Headbangeeeeerrrrr!!!!! ] (Full ver.) - YouTube".
  18. ↑ "Berryz工房×℃-uteサプライズも!　タワー主催〈POP'n アイドル02〉レポ - TOWER RECORDS ONLINE". Tower Records Japan (in Japanese). 2012-06-25.
  19. ↑ "BABYMETAL、タワレコ「NO MUSIC, NO IDOL?」に再選出". Natalie Music (in Japanese). Natasha Co. Ltd. 2012-06-14. Retrieved 2016-01-11.
  20. ↑ "BABYMETAL、メタルの聖地で「コルセット祭り」開催 - 音楽ナタリー". Natalie (in Japanese). 2012-07-22. Retrieved 2016-10-08.
  21. ↑ "BABYMETAL、SU-METAL聖誕祭で異色カバー連発". Natalie Music (in Japanese). Natasha Co. Ltd. 2012-12-28. Retrieved 2016-01-11.
  22. ↑ "BABYMETAL幕張メッセ初ワンマンで、初武道館公演2DAYS＆1stアルバム発売を発表". Musicman-Net (in Japanese). FB Communications Co. Ltd. 2013-12-24. Retrieved 2016-01-11.
  23. ↑ "Billboard Japan Hot Singles Sales│Charts│Billboard JAPAN (2012/07/16 付け)". Retrieved 2014-08-08.
  24. ↑ "ヘドバンギャー!!". iTunes JP. Apple Inc. Retrieved 10 April 2014.
  25. ↑ "iTunes - Music - Headbangya!! - EP by BABYMETAL". Retrieved 8 May 2014.
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