Ladybaby

Ladybaby
Also known as The Idol Formerly Known As LADYBABY (2016-2017)
Origin Japan
Genres Kawaii metal[1]
Years active 2013–present
Labels Clearstone Records (2015-2016)
King Records (2016-present)
JPU Records (Europe)
Associated acts Deadlift Lolita, BRATS, trolleattroll
Website ladybaby-fc.com
Members Rie Kaneko
Nana Ikeda
Emily Arima
Fuka Karasawa
Past members Ladybeard
Rei Kuromiya

Ladybaby are a Japanese kawaii metal[1] musical group, which originally consisted of aspiring photographic models Rie Kaneko (the only original member still on the group) and Rei Kuromiya,[1][2][3][4][5][6] as well as Ladybeard, the bearded crossdressing persona of Australian male professional wrestler Richard Magarey.[7][8][9] The trio has released three singles thus far. On August 1, 2016, the group rebranded itself after Ladybeard's withdrawal from the group, going by "The Idol Formerly Known as Ladybaby",[10] until they returned to the original Ladybaby moniker in 2018.

History

Wrestler Richard Magarey, originally from Adelaide, moved to China in 2006 to kickstart his martial arts stunt career in films, later becoming a hit in Hong Kong as a cross-dressing pro wrestler, and in October 2013 he moved to Tokyo in Japan to attempt a similar career there.[11] He later formed the band with singers Rie Kaneko and Rei Kuromiya and released their first track and music video titled 'Nippon Manju' ('Japanese Bun', in English) which is a song that covers all the things they love about Japan.[11] Released in July 2015, the music video went viral on YouTube, at one point gathering 1 million views in 2 days.[12] Ladybeard has dubbed the band as 'Kawaiicore'.[11]

Their second single, released in Japan on 13 January 2016, debuted at number 15 in the daily Oricon charts.[13]

On August 1, 2016, the group re-branded itself after Ladybeard left, by changing the group's name to "The Idol Formerly Known as Ladybaby". The remaining members had a live concert on September 16, 2016 under the new branding.[10] In 2017 they signed to JPU Records to release new single "Pelo" in Europe. They released another single, "Pinky! Pinky!" later that year. On 17 November 2017, Rei Kuromiya left the group, citing disillusionment with idol culture and throat problems caused by the extensive touring schedule. This led to the end of the band's time as "The Idol Formerly Known as Ladybaby.[14]

In January 2018, the group announced a memorial compilation album entitled Beside U, to be released in Japan on 7 March 2018. In February that year, they began teasing a new lineup, with Rie Kaneko being joined by new members Nana Ikeda, Emily Arima and Fuka Karasawa, subsequently announcing a tour through Spring 2018 in a return to the original Ladybaby moniker. They released a music video for their comeback single "ホシノナイソラ" (Hoshi no Nai Sora) on 10 May 2018, with the single being officially released on 30 May. It has been confirmed that Ladybeard will return to the group to appear on one of the B-sides for the single.[15]

Members

  • Rie Kaneko (金子理江), born on 18 December 1997
  • Nana Ikeda (池田菜々), joined in 2018
  • Emily Arima (有馬えみり), joined in 2018
  • Fuka Karasawa (唐沢風花), joined in 2018

Former members

Discography

Singles

No. Title Release date (YouTube upload date) Charts
JP
[16]
1 "Nippon Manju" (ニッポン饅頭, "Japan Manju") [upper-alpha 1][17] 29 July 2015 (4 July 2015) 109
2 "Age-Age Money ~ ochin gin dai sakusen ~" (アゲアゲマネー ～おちんぎん大作戦～, "Age Age Money - Ochin - sen Daisakusen ~") [upper-alpha 2][18] 13 January 2016 (12 December 2015) 31
3 "Renge Chance!" (蓮華チャンス！, "Spoon chance!") [upper-alpha 3][19] 13 April 2016 (14 March 2016) 32
4 "Sanpai! Gosyuin Girl" (参拝!御朱印girl☆, "Worship! Gosyuin Girl☆") [upper-alpha 4][20] 30 November 2016 (9 November 2016 Short ver.) 39
5 "Pelo" [upper-alpha 5][21]
 12 April 2017 (3 March 2017
22 March 2017
17 April 2017)		 22
6 "Pinky! Pinky!" [upper-alpha 6] 27 September 2017 (8 September 2017) 12
7 "Shibuya Crossing" [upper-alpha 7] 10 October 2017 —
8 "Hoshi no Nai Sora" (ホシノナイソラ) [upper-alpha 8] 30 May 2018 (10 May 2018
08 June 2018
18 September 2018)		 27

Promotional singles

Year Title Release date (YouTube upload date)
2016 "Shōnen Yūsha-dan" (少年勇者団, "Boys brave party") [22] 23 June 2016

Best albums

List of compilation albums, with selected chart positions, sales figures and certifications
Title Album details Peak chart positions Sales Certifications
JPN
[23]		 US World
ONE YEAR BEST ～2015-2016～
  • Released: September 14, 2016 (JPN)
  • Label: CLEARSTONE RECORDS
  • Formats: CD
 ——
  • JPN:
Beside U
  • Released: March 7, 2018 (JPN)
  • Label: KING RECORDS
  • Formats: CD
 49—
  • JPN:
"—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that region.

Video albums

List of media, with selected chart positions
Title Album details Peak chart positions Sales
JPN DVD
[24]		 JPN Blu-ray
[24]
First Japan Oneman Live ～ Sekai no Rule wo Kaechao ～ (ファースト JAPAN ワンマンライブ ～世界のルールを変えちゃおう～, First JAPAN One Man Live ~ Let's change the rules of the world ~)
  • Released: September 14, 2016 (JPN)
  • Label: CLEARSTONE RECORDS
  • Formats: DVD
 ——
"—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that region.

Notes

  1. ↑ c/w "Ultra☆Lucky"
  2. ↑ c/w "Bear-chan Robot" (ビアちゃんロボット)
  3. ↑ c/w "C'est Si Bon Kibun" (セシボン・キブン)
  4. ↑ c/w "Shanshanshantan" (上々上湯, "JOUJOU JOU YU") and
    "Onigirick Reviver" (オニギリック・リヴァイヴァー)
  5. ↑ c/w "LADY BABY BLUE" and
    "Easter Bunny"
  6. ↑ c/w "Me! Me! Me!" and
    "Generation Hard Knocks"
  7. ↑ c/w "渋谷 Crossing"
  8. ↑ c/w "bite me" and
    "Biribiri Money feat.Ladybeard" (ビリビリマネー feat.Ladybeard)

Media appearances

TV

Year Title Role Network Notes
2016–present Nadarezaka Rock co-MCs BS Japan[25] Japanese variety show

References

  1. 1 2 3 "From Ladybeard to Ladybaby: the pro wrestling heavy metal singer taking Japan by storm". The Sydney Morning Herald. 2015-07-11. Retrieved 2016-01-15.
  2. ↑ "Up Close And Personal With Japan's Ladybaby For Their US Debut". Forbes. 2015-10-16. Retrieved 2016-01-15.
  3. ↑ Colin McQuistan (2015-12-16). "Ladybaby - This Was Never Intended to Be Heard Outside Japan". Blog at HuffPost Entertainment. Retrieved 2016-01-15.
  4. ↑ "Look Out World, Here Comes Ladybaby!". Loudwire. 2015-07-08. Retrieved 2016-01-15.
  5. ↑ "Japan's Hairiest Metal Entertainer Invites You To 'Enjoy And Taste Many Japanese Products'". Forbes. 2015-07-06. Retrieved 2016-01-15.
  6. ↑ "Japan's Biggest Metal Band Features Two Underaged Girls and a Bearded, Cross-Dressing Singer". Vice. 2015-10-10. Retrieved 2016-01-15.
  7. ↑ "Meet Ladybeard, the Bearded Crossdressing Australian Man Taking Japan by Storm". Oddity Central. July 16, 2015. Retrieved January 23, 2016.
  8. ↑ Carney, Josh (July 16, 2015). "Sing, dance, DESTROY!!! Meet the Aussie wrestler named Ladybeard who is taking Japan (and the Internet) by storm by dressing in pigtails, polka-dot miniskirts and knee-high socks to sing death-metal versions of pop songs". Daily Mail. Retrieved January 23, 2016.
  9. ↑ Iannella, Antimo (July 15, 2015). "J-pop sensation LadyBeard, aka Adelaide's Richard Magarey, goes viral". Adelaide Now. Retrieved January 23, 2016.
  10. 1 2 "LADYBABYからレディビアード脱退、れい＆理江は改名して再始動". natalie. 2016-08-01. Retrieved 2016-07-31.
  11. 1 2 3 "Cross-dressing, Australian pro wrestler stars in J-pop band". Mail Online. Retrieved 2016-04-22.
  12. ↑ "Интернет взорвал клип группы Ladybaby с бородатым солистом в платье: Буквально за два дня количество просмотров этого клипа увеличилось на миллион" (in Russian). Metro International. 2015-07-08. Retrieved 2016-01-15.
  13. ↑ "オリコンデイリー CDシングルランキング 2016年01月12日付 11～20位". Oricon. Archived from the original on 2016-01-14. Retrieved 2016-01-15.
  14. ↑ "Official Separation Announcement". ladybaby-fc. November 17, 2017. Retrieved November 17, 2017.
  15. ↑
  16. ↑ "LADYBABY". ORICON STYLE. Retrieved 2016-01-15.
  17. ↑ "Nippon Manjyuu - Single". iTunes. Retrieved July 29, 2015.
  18. ↑ "Meet Ladybaby, Japan's Kawaiicore (and Pro-Wrestling) Answer to Andrew WK". Noisey. Retrieved October 15, 2015.
  19. ↑ "Renge Chance! - Single". iTunes. Retrieved April 13, 2016.
  20. ↑ "Sanpai! Gosyuin Girl - EP - The Idol Formerly Known As Ladybaby". iTunes. Retrieved November 30, 2016.
  21. ↑ "Pelo - EP - The Idol Formerly Known As Ladybaby". iTunes. Retrieved May 17, 2017.
  22. ↑ "LADYBABY". www.facebook.com. Retrieved 24 January 2018.
  23. ↑ "BABYMETALの作品" [BABYMETAL Products]. Oricon Style (in Japanese). Oricon.
  24. 1 2
  25. ↑ "アイドル魂なだれ坂ロック!".
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