Gimme Chocolate!!

"Gimme Chocolate!!" (ギミチョコ!!, Gimi Choko!!) is a song by the Japanese kawaii metal band Babymetal from their self-titled debut album. Though it was not released as a single in Japan, the song became an international success, with its music video gaining over 180 million views on YouTube. Later, it was released via earMusic in the United Kingdom on May 31, 2015 as a digital single.

"Gimme Chocolate!"
A dark red background, with the Babymetal logo and the words "GIMME CHOCOLATE!!" in a silver font.
Single by Babymetal
from the album Babymetal
Language
ReleasedMay 31, 2015 (2015-05-31) (UK)
Recorded2013
Genre
Length3:52
LabelearMusic
Composer(s)Takeshi Ueda
Lyricist(s)
  • Mk-metal
  • Kxbxmetal
Producer(s)
Babymetal singles chronology
"Road of Resistance"
(2015)		 "Gimme Chocolate!"
(2015)		 "Karate"
(2016)
Music video
"Gimme Chocolate!!" on YouTube

Background and release

The song premiered on December 21, 2013 at the Makuhari Messe Event Hall, nearly coinciding with Nakamoto's sixteenth birthday.[1] The song was first released in Japan as part of the band's debut album Babymetal on February 26, 2014, with a live music clip of the premiere uploaded to YouTube the day before, on February 25, 2014. The song received a release in the United Kingdom as a digital single on iTunes on May 31, 2015, one day before the physical rerelease of the album.[2]

The song was featured in the video games Rock Band 4 and Beatstar, with the former as a downloadable song, and used in a promo trailer for Tiny Tina's Wonderlands, a game from Gearbox Software.

Composition

"Gimme Chocolate!!" is composed and arranged by Takeshi Ueda of The Mad Capsule Markets. Described as a kawaii metal song,[3] the band's manager Kobametal considered it closest to a pop crossover, like "Doki Doki ☆ Morning".[4] The song begins with elements of thrash metal. During the verses, Mizuno and Kikuchi shout onomatopoeias such as "Atata tatata zukkyun!" (あたた たたた ずっきゅん!) while the chorus showcases the vocals of Nakamoto with a quick transition to pop melodies and a major key, with the phrases transitioning back and forth several times.[5] The lyrics talk about girls struggling with the pressure to maintain their figures,[6] or as Nakamoto explained, "[The lyrics of the song are] about girls and women who love to eat chocolate. But they are […] afraid about putting on weight."[7]

Reception

"Gimme Chocolate!" received generally positive reviews from music critics. Journalist Brian Mansfield of USA Today called it "a bizarre blend of death-metal, EDM rhythms and sugary J-pop melodies", as the song "begins with a speaker-shredding guitar assault that quickly gives way to machine-gun-rapid chirpy vocals and a chorus as addictive as chocolate-covered cereal and Saturday morning cartoons."[8] In addition, Fuse listed the song as one of the nine most experimental girl group songs of all time, stating that "it's totally jaw dropping upon first listen. But you'll catch yourself humming along with the chorus soon enough."[9]

In the United States, the song peaked at number five on the Billboard World Digital Songs chart.[10] After the release of the band's second album Metal Resistance, in the week of May 14, 2016, the song charted at number 54 on the Billboard Japan Hot 100.[11]

Music video
The music video for "Gimme Chocolate!!" was filmed at the Makuhari Messe Event Hall in December 2013.

Directed by Ryosuke Machida, the music video was filmed during the first live performance of the song at Makuhari Messe on December 21, 2013 as part of the concert Legend "1997" Su-metal Seitansai.[12] The music clip was first teased on YouTube on February 3, 2014; the video was released in its entirety on the official YouTube channel, coinciding with the release of Babymetal (in Japanese time).[13][14][15] The music video features the three Babymetal members dancing "super-cute choreography" in red and black outfits, backed by the mime band Babybones, performing in front of a crowd holding up the band's signature kitsune sign. The performance ends with "See you in the mosh'sh pit" overlaid on the screen.[16] The video brought the band to global success and has been viewed over 100 million times (as of March 2019) and has been featured in commercials for Chromecast in Japan.[17] The video also appears in the limited editions of Babymetal in the DVD, along with music videos of other Babymetal songs.[18]

Live performances

After the release of their debut album, the band performed the song live regularly at venues, including the band's first world tour, the Babymetal World Tour 2014, and as an opening act for Lady Gaga's world tour ArtRave: The Artpop Ball.[19] On June 12, 2015, the band made a surprise performance of the song, as well as "Road of Resistance" in collaboration with the band DragonForce at Download Festival.[20] On September 20, 2015, the band performed a version of the song remixed by Skrillex at Ultra Japan.[21][22] On April 5, 2016, Babymetal made their U.S. television debut, performing the song on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert.[23][24][25][26]

Track listing

Digital download

  • "Gimme Chocolate!!" (ギミチョコ！！) – 3:52

Credits and personnel

Credits adapted from Babymetal album liner notes.[27]

Chart performance
Chart (2014–15) Peak
position
Japan Billboard Hot 100 (Billboard)[28] 54
US World Digital Songs (Billboard)[29] 5

Cover versions

On August 10, 2017, Postmodern Jukebox released a jazz cover of the song, with vocals provided by Tara Louise.[30] The group takes the "already offbeat combo of J-pop and heavy metal" and adds elements of retro jazz.[31]

On October 9, 2017, Sakura Gakuin members Maaya Asou, Marin Hidaka, and Kano Fujihira covered the song as a "One-Night Shuffle Unit", wearing Babymetal T-shirts during the concert Sakura Gakuin ☆ 2017: After-School Anthology – Autumn Shuffle Night.[32]

Release history
Region Date Format Label
United Kingdom May 31, 2015 Digital download earMusic

References
  1. "BABYMETAL、1stアルバムから熱狂蘇る「ギミチョコ！！」MV解禁". Barks. 2014-02-04. Retrieved 2015-12-27.
  2. "Gimme Chocolate!! - Single by BABYMETAL". iTunes UK (Apple). Retrieved 2015-12-26.
  3. "Nothing Personal: Babymetal Don't Like Answering Questions - Noisey". Noisey.vice.com. 2014-07-14. Retrieved 2018-01-18.
  4. "Shinka suru metaru". Hedoban. Tōkyō: Shinkōmyūjikkuentateimento. 2016. ISBN 9784401642847. OCLC 945893340.
  5. 石黒隆之 (2014-03-23). "ヘビメタアイドルBABYMETALが欧米で大ヒット。その音楽的なみごとさとは". Spa!. 株式会社扶桑社. Retrieved 2015-12-27.
  6. "BABYMETALの「ギミチョコ」ライブ演奏、米ビルボードが初公開". Japan Wide. Japanwide Inc. 2015-05-11. Archived from the original on 2016-01-05. Retrieved 2015-12-27.
  7. "Babymetal Interview - Rock on Range 2015". Revolver (YouTube). 2015-06-08. Retrieved 2016-01-15.
  8. Brian Mansfield (2014-03-06). "Babymetal's video is the greatest ever — or the worst". USA Today. Gannett Company. Retrieved 2016-01-11.
  9. Jeff Benjamin (2015-09-29). "9 of the Most Experimental Girl Group Songs of All Time". FM. Fuse. Retrieved 2016-01-11.
  10. "World Digital Songs". Billboard.biz. Retrieved 2015-01-16. Billboard.biz charts are only accessible by subscription; searching "Babymetal" on "Charts", their performance can be found.
  11. "Babymetal - Chart history│Billboard". Billboard Japan. Retrieved 2016-09-02.
  12. ギミチョコ！！ (in Japanese). Space Shower. Retrieved August 13, 2014.
  13. "BABYMETAL 1st ALBUM "BABYMETAL" SPOT". Toy's Factory（YouTube）. 2014-02-03. Retrieved 2016-01-15.
  14. "BABYMETAL、海外人気火つけ役「ギミチョコ!!」MV公開１年 再生数は2300万回". Music Voice. 株式会社アイ・シー・アイ. 2015-02-25. Retrieved 2015-12-27.
  15. "BABYMETAL - ギミチョコ！！- Gimme chocolate!! (OFFICIAL)". YouTube. 2014-02-25. Retrieved 2016-01-15.
  16. Robson, Daniel (2014-11-07). "Babymetal: 'I've never been in a moshpit. I think I'd get smashed to bits'". the Guardian. Retrieved 2018-09-17.
  17. "BABYMETALでむすめん。が踊る！Google ChromecastのCM動画が公開". The Stream News. 株式会社角川アスキー総合研究所. 2015-07-22. Archived from the original on 2015-11-25. Retrieved 2015-12-27.
  18. "BABYMETAL、1stアルバムから熱狂蘇る「ギミチョコ！！」MV解禁". Barks. 株式会社BARKS. 2014-02-04. Retrieved 2015-12-27.
  19. Hartmann, Graham (2014-06-17). "Babymetal Recruited to Open for Lady Gaga on U.S. Tour". Loudwire. Retrieved 2018-03-01.
  20. "BABYMETALとドラゴンフォースが英フェスで初共演、大騒ぎに！「ギミチョコ!!」も披露". AOL News. AOL Online Japan. 2015-06-14. Retrieved 2015-12-27.
  21. Jeff Benjamin (2015-09-21). "Watch Babymetal Join Skrillex Onstage for Insane Live Collaboration". fuse. Retrieved 2015-12-27.
  22. "Watch Skrillex Perform 'Gimme Chocolate!!' with J-Pop Trio Babymetal at Ultra Japan". Billboard. 2015-09-22. Retrieved 2015-12-27.
  23. "BABYMETAL Makes Their U.S. Television Debut". The Late Show with Stephen Colbert. 2016-04-06. Archived from the original on April 27, 2016. Retrieved 2016-05-05.
  24. "The Late Show with Stephen Colbert Video - BABYMETAL Makes Their U.S. Television Debut". CBS.com. 2016-04-06. Archived from the original on 2016-04-21. Retrieved 2016-05-05.
  25. Sarene Leeds (2016-04-06). "Babymetal Makes U.S. Television Debut on 'The Late Show'". Wall Street Journal. Dow Jones & Company, Inc. Archived from the original on 2016-04-06. Retrieved 2016-05-05.
  26. Hoai-Tran Bui (2016-04-06). "Babymetal confuses but wows U.S. audiences on 'Colbert'". USA TODAY. Gannett Company. Archived from the original on 2016-04-07. Retrieved 2016-05-05.
  27. Babymetal (limited edition) (CD liner notes). Babymetal. BMD Fox. 2014. p. 15.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  28. "Babymetal Chart History (Billboard Japan Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved October 20, 2022.
  29. "Babymetal Chart History (World Digital Song Sales)". Billboard. Retrieved October 20, 2022.
  30. ""Gimme Chocolate!! (feat. Tara Louise) - Single" by Scott Bradlee's Postmodern Jukebox on iTunes". iTunes. mudhutdigital.com. 10 August 2017. Retrieved 10 October 2017.
  31. "Konnichiwa! A Vintage 1920s Cover of Babymetal's "Gimme Chocolate" featuring Tara Louise - Postmodern JukeboxPostmodern Jukebox". Scott Bradlee's Postmodern Jukebox. Retrieved 10 October 2017.
  32. "【ライブレポート】さくら学院、"一夜限りの"BABYMETALらシャッフルユニット大集合（写真13枚） - 音楽ナタリー". Natalie Music. 10 October 2017. Retrieved 10 October 2017.
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