Meaning of “PA PA YA!!” by BABYMETAL
“PA PA YA!!” is a jumping dance song brought to us by Japanese girl band BABYMETAL. As such the lyrics are in their native language. But the titular term “pa pa ya” does not seem to have a literal translation and rather reportedly references the tropical fruit of the same name (papaya), as the track has an overall summertime theme. And the way it is utilized in the song is by telling the “papaya boys” in the audience to “make noise” and the “papaya girls“ to “dance, dance, dance”.
Indeed the setting of the track (as supported by its music video) is “a festival” and moreover (as translated by Babymetal News) a “crazy salad dance” (some translations read “crazy summer dance”), with the latter statement likely alluding to just having fun boogying in an excitable manner, as illustrated by the exclamation marks in the song’s title.
However, there is an underlying, more-meaningful message featured in “Pa Pa Ya!!” also. And that idea is that listeners who want to be ‘the strongest and the best’ should wholly commit themselves to achieving those goals.
Music Video of “PA PA YA!!”
The music video features BABYMETAL members Su-Metal, Moa-Metal and another young lady by the name of Kano Fujihara. Kano is associated with another Japanese-girl band, Sakura Gakuin. This is due to Yui-Metal, who was up until recently the third member of BABYMETAL, resigning in 2018 (to embark on a solo career). And as of the release of this song, it is not known whether Kano will serve as a permanent member of BABYMETAL, though fandom seems to believe that she will.
The clip, which was filmed at Yokohama Arena (Japan), also features a rapper from Thailand by the name of F.Hero.
Release Date
“Pa Pa Ya!!” was officially released on 28 June 2019 as a part of the group’s third album called Metal Galaxy.
FYI, this is the first BABYMETAL song to feature rap lines.
Notable live performance
BABYMETAL performing their hit single “PA PA YA!!” live at 2019’s Glastonbury.
Kano Fujihara is 14 yo and has supported BABYMETAL twice in concert (once each at Yokohama and Nagoya). On four other occasions the ‘Yuimetal’ spot has been filled by Riho Sayashi who is 21 and a former member of Morning Musume (she also did one night each at Yokohama and Nagoya). Additionally she performed at Glastonbury and the O2 Academy Brixton, UK with BABYMETAL.
It has been announced three “avengers” will rotate and fill the spot. The third dancer has yet to be seen.
Most fans consider Kano to be too young to fill Yui’s spot permanently.
this isn’t their first song with rap, maybe the first with a separate rapper, but iine has the girls rapping.
I’ve listened to the band am 60 and find it joyful sad to say the new girl is to big for this group Japanese girls are thin she is big in the shoulder’s if you see how she moves you can see her trying very hard to make the moves