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"Cha-La Head-Cha-La"
CHA-LA Vinyl
Single by Hironobu Kageyama
from the album Dragon Ball Z Hit Song Collection
A-side"Cha-La Head-Cha-La"
B-side"Detekoi Tobikiri Zenkai Power!"
ReleasedMay 1, 1989 (1989-05-01)
GenreElectronic rock
Length3:17
LabelColumbia Records
Songwriter(s)Yukinojo Mori, Chiho Kiyoka
Hironobu Kageyama singles chronology
"Soldier Dream"
(1988)
"Cha-La Head-Cha-La"
(1989)
"Chōjin Sentai Jetman"
(1991)

"Cha-La Head-Cha-La" (Japanese: チャラ・ヘッチャラ, Hepburn: Chara Hetchara) is the first opening theme song of the Dragon Ball Z anime series and the fifteenth single by Japanese singer Hironobu Kageyama. It was released on vinyl, cassette, and mini CD on May 1, 1989. It is coupled with the first Dragon Ball Z closing theme "Detekoi Tobikiri Zenkai Power!" (でてこいとびきりZENKAIパワー! Detekoi Tobikiri Zenkai Pawā!) performed by Manna.

The song opened for the first 199 episodes of the TV series and the first nine movies of the film series. It has been re-recorded in many other languages with an English version performed by Kageyama himself that was released on his third greatest hits album entitled Hironobu Kageyama Best Album 3: Mixture in 1996.[1] The single sold 1.3 million copies in Japan.[2]

Development[]

Kageyama had been reading the Dragon Ball manga in Weekly Shōnen Jump for quite some time when he was offered the job to record the song. He stated that he was shocked when the offer came up.[3] Kageyama considers the song to be his best work as people are always happy when he sings it.[4]

Track listing[]

No.TitleLyricsMusicArrangementLength
1."Cha-La Head-Cha-La"Yukinojo MoriChiho KiyokaKenji Yamamoto3:16
2."Detekoi Tobikiri Zenkai Power!" (でてこいとびきりZENKAIパワー! Detekoi Tobikiri Zenkai Pawā!, "Come Out, Incredible Zenkai Power!")Naruhisa ArakawaTakeshi IkeKenji Yamamoto3:29

2005 Recording[]

"Cha-La Head-Cha-La (2005 Ver.)"
CHA-LA HEAD CHA-LA 2005
Single by Hironobu Kageyama
ReleasedAugust 3, 2005 (2005-08-03) (KDSD-00074)
GenreElectronic rock
LengthStandard 30:15
Self Cover 24:76
LabelSony Music
Team Entertainment
Songwriter(s)Yukinojo Mori, Chiho Kiyoka
Hironobu Kageyama singles chronology
"Ore wa Tokoton Tomaranai!!"
(2005)
"Cha-La Head-Cha-La (2005 Ver.)"
(2005)
"Eternal Love"
(2006)
Self cover
iTunes exclusive cover.
iTunes exclusive cover.

In 2005 Kageyama was called back to record a new version of "Cha-La Head-Cha-La" called "Cha-La Head-Cha-La (2005 Ver.)". This version features a completely different composition. The release is coupled with a re-recording of "We Gotta Power" called "We Gotta Power (2005 Ver.)" which Kageyama performed as well. A "Self Cover" version featuring Kageyama on cover was also released as an iTunes exclusive; however, it omits one track mislabelled as "Cha-La Head-Cha-La (2005 ver. Instrumental)", however, this version lacks the "mobi[le-re]make version".[5] The 2005 recording would go on to serve as the theme song for Japanese release of the video game Super Dragon Ball Z four months later.[6] This version would peak at number 118 on Oricon.[7]

Track listing[]

  1. Cha-La Head-Cha-La (2005 ver.)
  2. We Gotta Power (2005 ver.)
  3. Cha-La Head-Cha-La (DJ Dr.Knob Remix)
  4. We Gotta Power (Yuki Nakano Remix)
  5. Cha-La Head-Cha-La (mobi[le-re]make version)
  6. Cha-La Head-Cha-La (2005 ver. Instrumental)
  7. We Gotta Power (2005 ver. Instrumental)
  8. Go Love Out (2005 ver. Instrumental)

Cover versions[]

Since its release, the song has been covered by many artists. In 2001, the Anipara Kids recorded a version for the album Club Ani para presents: Ani para Best & More.[8] In 2004 the compilation album Anime Trance 2 features a version by Tora + R-SEQ.[9] The 2005 Anime Speed compilation and the 2006 Speed Buyuden compilation feature a version by Lee Tairon.[10][11]

The Italian band Highlord recorded a version that appears as a bonus track on the Japanese release of their album Instant Madness.[12] The anime cover band Animetal recorded their take on "Cha-la Head-Cha-la". It first appeared on Animetal Marathon VII as part of the "Jump Into The Fire mini-Marathon" at the end of the disc.[13] The Animetal version also appears on Animetal's 2006 "Decade of Bravehearts" Concert CD/DVD.[14] In 2007 the compilation album Zakkuri! Paratech feature the song as part of a megamix performed by the 777BOYS.[15] They would later team up with Pinpon and produce another version for J-Anime! Hyper Techno & Trance.[16]

The anime adaptation of the yonkoma manga Lucky Star substitutes conventional ending theme-songs with parodies of famous anime songs, episode five of which was "Cha-La Head-Cha-La" sung by the lead character, Konata. This was done at the request of Aya Hirano, Konata's voice actress, who is said to be a great fan of Kageyama. The song was later released as a part of ending-song compilations CD for the show.[17] In 2008 another version would be recorded by Black Steel on the compilation Hi-Speed Kirakira Jk.[18] Visual kei rock band Screw covered the song for the cover album V-Rock Anime in 2012.[19] Idol group Momoiro Clover Z included a cover of the song on their single "Z no Chikai", which is the theme song for the 2015 movie Dragon Ball Z: Resurrection 'F'.[20]

Hero (Kibō no Uta) / Cha-La Head-Cha-La[]

"Hero ~Kibō no Uta~ / Cha-La Head-Cha-La"
FLOWHeroCover
Single by Flow
ReleasedMarch 20, 2013
GenreRock, electronic rock
LabelKi/oon Records
Songwriter(s)Hero (Kibō no Uta): Flow, Takeshi Asakawa
Cha-La Head-Cha-La: Yukinojo Mori, Chiho Kiyoka
Flow singles chronology
"Brave Blue"
(2012)
"Hero ~Kibō no Uta~ / Cha-La Head-Cha-La"
(2013)
"Tokonatsu Endless"
(2013)
Alternative cover

"Hero ~Kibō no Uta~ / Cha-La Head-Cha-La" (HERO ~希望の歌~ / CHA-LA-HEAD-CHA-LA, "Hero -Song of Hope- / Cha-La Head-Cha-La") is the twentieth single by Japanese rock band Flow, released on March 20, 2013 as a double A-Side. It is a cover of the original opening theme song of Dragon Ball Z by Hironobu Kageyama and is used as the theme song for the theatrical film Dragon Ball Z: Battle of Gods. "Hero ~Kibō no Uta~" is used as an insert song for the same movie. English-language versions of both songs were used for international releases of the film, with the English version of "Cha-La Head-Cha-La" included on the single as a B-side. "Rising Dragon -DJ Dragon Remix-" is a remix of "Rising Dragon" from Flow's 2004 "Go" single. "Cha-La Head-Cha-La" was used in the video game Dragon Ball Xenoverse. It can be heard in the game's intro, main menu, and credits.

"Hero ~Kibō no Uta~ / Cha-La Head-Cha-La" single reached #24 on the Oricon charts and charted for 5 weeks.[21]

No.TitleLyricsMusicLength
1."Hero ~Kibō no Uta~" (HERO ~希望の歌~)FlowTakeshi Asakawa3:37
2."Cha-La Head-Cha-La" (CHA-LA-HEAD-CHA-LA)Yukinojo MoriChiho Kiyoka3:20
3."Rising Dragon - DJ Dragon Remix" (RISING DRAGON -DJ DRAGON Remix-)  3:29
4."Cha-La Head-Cha-La - Official English Ver." (CHA-LA HEAD-CHA-LA -Official English Ver.-)  3:22
5."Hero ~Kibō no Uta~ - Instrumental" (HERO ~希望の歌~ -Instrumental-)  3:36
6."Cha-La Head-Cha-La - Instrumental" (CHA-LA HEAD-CHA-LA -Instrumental-)  3:18

References[]

  1. "Hironobu Kageyama Best Album 3: Mixture" (in Japanese). Yahoo Music Japan. Archived from the original on July 15, 2012. Retrieved September 11, 2008.<templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles>
  2. "Kawaii Kon's Guest Announcement for the 2014 Show". Anime News Network. March 4, 2014. https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/press-release/2014-03-04/kawaii-kon-guest-announcement-for-the-2014-show. 
  3. Patrick W. Galbraith (January 28, 2010). "Otaku2 Interview: Kageyama Hironobu". Akihabara: Otaku2. Archived from the original on February 11, 2010. Retrieved February 18, 2010. Even after I became an adult, before I sang for the "Dragon Ball Z" anime, I was reading the manga in "Shonen Jump." I was so shocked when that job came to me!<templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles>
  4. Patrick W. Galbraith (January 28, 2010). "Otaku2 Interview: Kageyama Hironobu". Akihabara: Otaku2. Archived from the original on February 11, 2010. Retrieved February 18, 2010. That’s tough, but I guess it would have to be “CHA-LA HEAD-CHA-LA.” No matter where I go, people are happy when I sing that song.<templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles>
  5. "iTunes Preview Cha-La Head-Cha-La (2005 Version) [Self Cover] - EP Hironobu Kageyama". Apple Inc. 3 August 2005. Retrieved February 16, 2010.<templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles>
  6. Crafts & Meister. Super Dragon Ball Z (in ja). (Bandai). Arcade PlayStation 2. (December 22, 2005)
  7. "Cha-La Head-Cha-La (2005 ver.)" (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved January 19, 2009.<templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles>
  8. Mori, Yukinojo (2001). "Cha-La Head-Cha-La". Club Ani para presents: Ani para Best & More (CD) (in Japanese). Anipara Kids. Japan: Warner Music Japan. WPC7-10066.<templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles>
  9. Mori, Yukinojo (2004). "Cha-La Head-Cha-La". Anime Trance 2 (CD) (in Japanese). Tora + R-SEQ. Japan: Daiki Sound. DAKFARM-37.<templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles>
  10. Mori, Yukinojo (2005). "Cha-La Head-Cha-La". Anime Speed (CD) (in Japanese). Lee Tairon. Japanese: EMI Music Japan. TOCP-64273.<templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles>
  11. Mori, Yukinojo (2006). "Cha-La Head-Cha-La". Speed Buyuden (CD) (in Japanese). Lee Tairon. Japanese: EMI Music Japan. TOCP-64329.<templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles>
  12. Mori, Yukinojo (March 22, 2006). "Cha-La Head-Cha-La". Instant Madness (CD) (in Italian). Highlord. Italy. TKCS-85139.<templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles>
  13. "Animetal Marathon VII" (in Japanese). Yahoo Music Japan. Archived from the original on July 13, 2012. Retrieved September 11, 2008.<templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles>
  14. "Decade of Bravehearts" (in Japanese). Yahoo Music Japan. Archived from the original on July 10, 2012. Retrieved September 11, 2008.<templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles>
  15. Mori, Yuriko (2007). "Cha-La Head-Cha-La". Zakkuri! Paratech (CD) (in Japanese). 777BOYS. Japan: Universal Music. UICZ-4168.<templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles>
  16. Mori, Yukinojo (2007). "Cha-La Head-Cha-La". J-Anime! Hyper Techno & Trance (Digital Download) (in Japanese). 777BOYS. Japan: New Fantasy Production.<templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles>
  17. "Lucky Star Ending Theme Collection" (in Japanese). Lantis. Retrieved September 11, 2008.<templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles>
  18. Mori, Yukinojo (2008). "Cha-La Head-Cha-La". Hi-Speed Kirakira Jk (CD) (in Japanese). Black Steel. Japan: Warner Music Japan. WPZR-30265.<templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles>
  19. "New Cover Album V-ANIME ROCKS! Announced".<templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles>
  20. "映画「ドラゴンボールZ」主題歌ジャケで、ももクロがDBキャラ風に". Natalie (in Japanese). 2015-04-08. Retrieved 2015-04-09.<templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles>
  21. "Oricon Profile".<templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles>
  22. "Sony Music Japan Profile".<templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles>

External links[]


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