"Karate" by BABYMETAL

Update: Goose house live stream recording ("Karate" performance at 45:30)!

I recorded a quick cover of "Karate" by BABYMETAL the other night after becoming consumed by it:

BABYMETAL was introduced to me less than a week ago. Seriously, check out the video for "Karate":

New Album "METAL RESISTANCE" iTunes pre-order begins! BABYMETAL's New Album 「METAL RESISTANCE」 will be released simultaneously worldwide on "FOX DAY" Apr-1st, 2016(fri) . Pre-order your copy from iTunes now!! New song "KARATE" is currently available digitally!!

I find it fascinating that Japanese music — even metal — is upbeat and melodic, and often orchestral, in contrast to the angry screaming of American bands. I mean, cmon, in Japan even a bellowing super-beefcake wrestler-turned-rocker wears a dress and growls about the delicious food. Seriously, watch Ladybaby's "Nippon Manju" video:

2015.7.29 ON SALES LADYBABY 1st Single「ニッポン饅頭 / Nippon Manju」 (CD+DVD)\1,200+tax ●iTunes(JP) : https://itunes.apple.com/jp/album/nippon-man-tou-single/id1020167516 ●iTunes(US) : https://itunes.apple.com/album/nippon-man-tou-single/id1020167516 ニッポン饅頭 "Nippon manju" 作詞:只野菜摘  作・編曲:浅野尚志 Guitar:ROLLY  Key&Shout:ハジメタル(exミドリ)  Dog-Shout:マルクス Producer:成田大致(夏の魔物) ⇒アニメ、アイドル、コスプレ、温泉など「ニッポン文化」全部入りのメタル&ポップの高速爆音チューン。2020年東京オリンピックに先駆けてLADYBABYが世界に発信する、ニッポン製のお土産ソング。 An explosive high speed track that combines both metal and J-pop, composed by the most talented of musicians.

Goose house is a group of incredibly talented and eclectic musicians. A friend introduced them to me last week. This is one on the first videos I saw of them:

★2017年10月のGoose house Streaming Liveは 10/28 20:00(JAPAN TIME)START! 詳しくはhttp://goosehouse.jp ▼Goose house OFFICIAL INFORMATION ...

They perform solo, in smaller groups, and all together. I stayed up extra late to catch their last live performance on USTREAM and was impressed by the diversity of the setlist and their flawless performance of some really creative covers...and one song in particular blew me away. They're really talented and inspiring. I only wish turning off the air conditioners wasn't a heath hazard this time of year. I'd happily spend more time recording and get better results without the obscene noise.

Goose house used BABYMETAL in part of an elaborate scheme to make me take interest in a genre that I've never really cared much for. Hopefully they upload the video of the performance to YouTube. (They did! See the top of this post.) It was truly breathtaking and unexpected.

There's actually a lot of hard-edged American music that I love, yet can rarely bring myself to listen to. It's just too damn negative, depressing, and/or angry (I'm looking at you, Trent Reznor, Mr. Nine Inch Nails). It's really refreshing to get some over-the-top riffage that's life-affirming. I love the journey here: from cheerful J-pop to heavy metal and back again. 🐺🤘💙