Author’s Note: Please be aware that a number of the live performance videos linked in this post contain flashing lights.
Now, I’ve done a concert review previously on the site, but a concert movie experience is a new one. I guess you could say there’s a first time for everything!
You’ve probably seen your local cinema advertising a variety of different concert movies over the last few years, most notably, The Eras Tour from Taylor Swift. While I didn’t attend that specific one (instead opting to watch it from the comfort of my sofa) I recently did attend my first in-person concert movie experience.
This being the BABYMETAL Legend 43 The Movie experience. In fact, this was the first time I’d been to the cinema in over two years as well!
Who Are BABYMETAL?
Before I jump in, BABYMETAL are the Kawaii-Metal group consisting of the current line up of SU-METAL, MOAMETAL and MOMOMETAL who are based in Japan. Infusing Kawaii with various Metal styles to create their own unqiue sound.
They are most notably known for their early songs, Gimme Chocolate and Megitsune with more recent songs such as RATATATA in collaboration with Electric CallBoy, Kingslayer with Bring Me The Horizon and songs such as Divine Attack and Metal Kingdom from their most recent album The Other One.
What is Legend 43?
BABYMETAL’s Legend 43 in Okinawa, Japan, was the tour final for the group’s 2023-2024 world tour. This was the first time the group had also performed in Okinawa and was held over two days.
The tour took the group through twenty-five countries where they performed nighty-eight shows to over 280,000 people globally!
Take a look at the trailer below!
The Set List
The group performed twelve songs for their Legend 43 performances, with the set list as followed:
- BABYMETAL DEATH
- Distortion
- PA PA YA!!
- Shanti Shanti Shanti
- MAYA
- BxMxC
- Brand New Day
- Monochrome
- Megitsune
- Gimme Chocolate!!
- KARATE
- Headbanger!!
- METALI!! (Special Performance with Wadaiko Performance Intro)
- Road of Resistance
The Concert Experience
I’ll cut straight to the chase, the tickets, were just like any other tickets you would purchase for a film at your local cinema. I did pay a little bit extra per-ticket to have upgraded seating, but it also gave you a little more space to just feel comfortable while you’re watching the movie. I also grabbed some popcorn as well to snack on during the movie, with the majority coming home with me.
Now that’s out of the way, onto the concert movie experience itself.
I’ll be honest, I wasn’t sure what to expect. Would it be busy, would it be quiet, or maybe somewhere in between? For the showing I went to, there was about twenty-five people, which I didn’t think was too bad.
As the concert movie started, everyone was eagerly listening to the opening lore before anticipating the opening of the performance.
Then the introduction to BABYMETAL DEATH began. From that moment it felt like a whirlwind as the movie showcased all twelve songs. From the heavier, more aggressive sounds of the opening song and Distortion, to more slowed down moments in songs like Brand New Day and Monochrome. Then returning to classic BABYMETAL songs such as Megitsune!
Throughout the movie, a number of people were doing the fan-chants along to the songs, as well as doing some of the dance moves and clapping at the end of each song. It did feel like you were actually at the performance and not a concert movie.
The sound quality was amazing! You could hear every single instrument loud and clear, the vocals incredible, everything was spot on. There was nothing I could fault. I was initially worried about how it would sound seeing it on the big screen, but there truly was no need to worry at all!
Favourite Song?
Every song is my favourite if I’m totally honest, however there were several songs from the Legend 43 set that stood out to me which were:
- Road of Resistance
- Monochrome
- Karate
Final Thoughts
I thoroughly enjoyed my first concert movie experience. I wasn’t sure what to expect, but I’m glad I took the opportunity to see the Okinawa performance on the big screen. The energy, the sound, the cinematography was spot on, and it now has me incredibly excited about the group’s European and UK tour kicking off in May!
Would I attend another concert movie experience? I certainly would consider it. More and more artists seem to be choosing this as a way to reach and interact with more fans across the globe. For me personally, it would really come down to which artist the concert movie was for and if it was showing at a cinema local to where I live.
Have you been to any concert movie experiences before? If not, is there someone you’d like to see release a cinema concert experience?
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