“I’m not sure what I’m about to see,” began Stephen Colbert, to giggles from his studio audience. “But I’m pretty excited about it!”
The Late Show host was right: he, along with most of his American viewers, had very little clue about what they were about to witness with the musical segment of last night’s show. But then again, there isn’t much that you can say about Babymetal prior to laying eyes upon their unique stage show for the very first time, for seeing really is believing. Twitter user Katsuki Baekugo called it:
well, guess it's about time to go watch Babymetal baffle Steven Colbert's viewership.
— Rei-volution 001 (@LossThief) April 6, 2016
In case you’re not entirely up to speed with the rapidly-advancing Babymetal phenomenon, then don’t worry – watching them perform their breakthrough single ‘Gimme Chocolate’, which has just the 45.3 million views on YouTube, should serve as a fine introduction to their utterly bonkers yet furiously-addictive style. And so, without further ado, here’s how they went down on The Late Show:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rZApf9c8Tes
Yup – pretty full on, right? The sight of Babymetal’s three vocalists – Su-metal (Suzuka Nakamoto, 18), Yuimetal (Yui Mizuno, 16) and Moametal (Moa Kikuchi, 16) – performing dance routines and upbeat melodies against the backdrop of a water-tight four-piece metal backing band really is something that you need to take in with an open mind.
Some Late Show viewers, however, didn’t adopt this policy of broad-mindedness; pulling out their phones to register their outrage on social media at what they’d just seen.
I know what I like, and I know what I don't like, and I don't like Baby Metal. The band on Colbert.
— Corporal Darren USMC (@The_D_Rules) April 6, 2016
@colbertlateshow @BABYMETAL_JAPAN what…the…hell…even…WAS. ..THAT??
— southerndrawling (@BethRoseboro) April 6, 2016
@silentlennie @colbertlateshow @BABYMETAL_JAPAN you DO know this was a rhetorical question. I never want to see or hear that again.
— southerndrawling (@BethRoseboro) April 6, 2016
Baby Metal? WTF…I don't know what I'm listening to, but The Late Show w/Stephen Colbert should DEFINITELY find a new musical booker..?
— Katie(Wagner)Washnok (@thektwashnok) April 6, 2016
Kristi took it particularly terribly.
#LSSC #LateShow @StephenAtHome Baby Metal's noise is satanic!! This is TERRIBLE!!
— Kristi_Kille (ASCAP) (@KristiLuvsJesus) April 6, 2016
Like, really, really terribly.
@Addyg00db0y @StephenAtHome Rock music, metal music = satanic.
— Kristi_Kille (ASCAP) (@KristiLuvsJesus) April 6, 2016
Even Colbert was in a state of shock following the performance, as Babymetal fan @JessKarpinski testified:
my impersonation of setphen colbert's actual reaction to #babymetal: pic.twitter.com/NRlM29wjN8
— ? (@JessKarpinski) April 6, 2016
But not everyone in the US hated it – the band even inspired a few young Americans to pick up their instruments:
@BABYMETAL_JAPAN My 3 year old son jamming to BABYMETALs first US tv appearance! He went to get his toy guitar! pic.twitter.com/jIgB8WgEAr
— Joshua Swanson ?? ?? (@JoshuaSwanson15) April 6, 2016
Wow @BABYMETAL_JAPAN on @colbertlateshow that was fun.
— Mike Mills ?? (@m_millsey) April 6, 2016
Babymetal was on Colbert and now I've fallen into a j-pop spiral. Send help.
— Maia the ?99 (@semirose) April 6, 2016
Bofo perhaps summed the whole experience up best, though:
#babymetal on colbert was fuking awesome
— Armando (@big_bofo) April 6, 2016
Case closed.