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Kanto Pokérap

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The Kanto Pokérap (capitalized PokéRAP on Pokémon 2.B.A. Master) was the first Pokérap to be made by 4Kids Entertainment for the Pokémon anime. It was made to feature the first 150 Pokémon that existed at the time.

At the end of an episode, Ash, in a voice-over, announces, "Don't go away, the PokéRAP is next". Two verses play at the end of an episode, and by the end of a five-day broadcast week, all the verses would have been sung. It was used from Pokémon - I Choose You! to The Breeding Center Secret.

Release

The Day 2 portion of the Pokérap was shown on the promotional preview VHS A Sneak Peek at Pokémon.

A full version of the Pokérap is available on disc 1 of the Season 1 US DVD box sets without the first three intro sentences, as well as volumes 1 to 7 of the Season 1 US VHS and DVD volumes. All of the Season 1 UK VHS volumes end with a full Pokérap, but one of the vocalists voices was redubbed.

It is available on four different soundtracks: Pokémon 2.B.A. Master, Pokémon X, Exclusive Target Mix! and Exclusive Toys R Us Mix!.

Full lyrics

(lyrics in bold are spoken)

OK, guys, we gotta rap some Pokémon.
You just do the singing. I'll take care of the hard part.
Let's get it on!

I want to be the best
there ever was.
To beat all the rest, yeah,
that's my cause.

Electrode, Diglett, Nidoran, Mankey
Venusaur, Rattata, Fearow, Pidgey
Seaking, Jolteon, Dragonite, Gastly
Ponyta, Vaporeon, Poliwrath, Butterfree

Catch 'em, catch 'em, gotta catch 'em all,
Pokémon!

I'll search across the land,
look far and wide.
Release from my hand
the power that's inside.

Venomoth, Poliwag, Nidorino, Golduck
Ivysaur, Grimer, Victreebel, Moltres
Nidoking, Farfetch'd, Abra, Jigglypuff
Kingler, Rhyhorn, Clefable, Wigglytuff

Catch 'em, catch 'em, gotta catch 'em all,
Gotta catch 'em all, Pokémon!

Zubat, Primeape, Meowth, Onix
Geodude, Rapidash, Magneton, Snorlax
Gengar, Tangela, Goldeen, Spearow
Weezing, Seel, Gyarados, Slowbro

Gotta catch 'em all, gotta catch 'em all, yeah!
Gotta catch 'em all, gotta catch 'em all, yeah!
Gotta catch 'em all, Pokémon! Ow!

Kabuto, Persian, Paras, Horsea
Raticate, Magnemite, Kadabra, Weepinbell
Ditto, Cloyster, Caterpie, Sandshrew
Bulbasaur, Charmander, Golem, Pikachu

At least 150 or more to see.
To be a Pokémon Master is my destiny.

Alakazam, Doduo, Venonat, Machoke
Kangaskhan, Hypno, Electabuzz, Flareon
Blastoise, Poliwhirl, Oddish, Drowzee
Raichu, Nidoqueen, Bellsprout, Starmie

Woo! We're at the halfway point, doing great so far.
We? What's all this "we" stuff? I'm doing all the hard work!
Breaktime's over, here we go!

Metapod, Marowak, Kakuna, Clefairy
Dodrio, Seadra, Vileplume, Krabby
Lickitung, Tauros, Weedle, Nidoran
Machop, Shellder, Porygon, Hitmonchan

Gotta catch 'em all, gotta catch 'em all, yeah!
Gotta catch 'em all, gotta catch 'em all, yeah!

Articuno, Jynx, Nidorina, Beedrill
Haunter, Squirtle, Chansey (Pokémon!)
Parasect, Exeggcute, Muk, Dewgong
Pidgeotto, Lapras, Vulpix, Rhydon

At least 150 or more to see.
To be a Pokémon Master is my destiny.

Charizard, Machamp, Pinsir, Koffing
Dugtrio, Golbat, Staryu, Magikarp
Ninetales, Ekans, Omastar
Scyther, Tentacool, Dragonair, Magmar

Whoa, catch your breath man. Shake out those lips.
It's downhill from here, just 24 more to go.
Now it gets tricky, so listen real good!

Sandslash, Hitmonlee, Psyduck, Arcanine
Eevee, Exeggutor, Kabutops, Zapdos
Dratini, Growlithe, Mr. Mime, Cubone
Graveler, Voltorb, Gloom - We're almost home!

Gotta catch 'em all, gotta catch 'em all, yeow!
Gotta catch 'em all, gotta catch 'em all, huhh!
Gotta catch 'em all, Pokémon! (yeeaahh!!)

Charmeleon, Wartortle
Mewtwo, Tentacruel, Aerodactyl
Omanyte, Slowpoke
Pidgeot, Arbok - That's all, folks!

Catch 'em, catch 'em, gotta catch 'em all (oowww)
Gotta catch 'em all, Pokémon
Catch 'em, catch 'em, gotta catch 'em all (oowww)
Gotta catch 'em all, Pokémon
Catch 'em, catch 'em, gotta catch 'em all
Gotta catch 'em all... Pokémon!

TV edit lyrics

Monday version (Day 1)

(lyrics in bold are spoken)

OK, guys, we gotta rap some Pokémon.
You just do the singing. I'll take care of the hard part.
Let's get it on!

I want to be the best
there ever was.
To beat all the rest, yeah,
that's my cause.

Electrode, Diglett, Nidoran, Mankey
Venusaur, Rattata, Fearow, Pidgey
Seaking, Jolteon, Dragonite, Gastly
Ponyta, Vaporeon, Poliwrath, Butterfree

Catch 'em, catch 'em, gotta catch 'em all,
Pokémon!

I'll search across the land,
look far and wide.
Release from my hand
the power that's inside.

Venomoth, Poliwag, Nidorino, Golduck
Ivysaur, Grimer, Victreebel, Moltres
Nidoking, Farfetch'd, Abra, Jigglypuff
Kingler, Rhyhorn, Clefable, Wigglytuff

Thirty-two down, that’s it for now.
Tune in tomorrow, we’ll rap at you some more.
There’s 150, so watch Monday Through Friday.
You’ll catch ‘em all!

Catch 'em, catch 'em, gotta catch 'em all,
Gotta catch 'em all, Pokémon!

Episodes


Tuesday version (Day 2)

You guys up for the Pokérap?
There’s 150 Pokémon. You gotta name 'em all!
I’m doing 32 today, so try to keep up.

Catch 'em, catch 'em, gotta catch 'em all,
Gotta catch 'em all, Pokémon!

Zubat, Primeape, Meowth, Onix
Geodude, Rapidash, Magneton, Snorlax
Gengar, Tangela, Goldeen, Spearow
Weezing, Seel, Gyarados, Slowbro

Gotta catch 'em all, gotta catch 'em all, yeah!
Gotta catch 'em all, gotta catch 'em all!

Kabuto, Persian, Paras, Horsea
Raticate, Magnemite, Kadabra, Weepinbell
Ditto, Cloyster, Caterpie, Sandshrew
Bulbasaur, Charmander, Golem, Pikachu

At least 150 or more to see.
To be a Pokémon Master is my destiny.

All right, how’d you do?
Loosen those lips, shake out that tongue!
Give it a rest, today’s song is sung.
We’ll be back tomorrow!

Catch 'em, catch 'em, gotta catch 'em all,
Gotta catch 'em all, Pokémon!

Episodes


Wednesday version (Day 3)

Pokémon!
It’s that time again!
A hundred and fifty Pokémon, 5 days a week.
That’s about 30 or so each day.
It’s not too hard, just listen real good!

Alakazam, Doduo, Venonat, Machoke
Kangaskhan, Hypno, Electabuzz, Flareon
Blastoise, Poliwhirl, Oddish, Drowzee
Raichu, Nidoqueen, Bellsprout, Starmie

Gotta catch 'em all, gotta catch 'em all, yeah!
Gotta catch 'em all, gotta catch 'em all, ow!

Metapod, Marowak, Kakuna, Clefairy
Dodrio, Seadra, Vileplume, Krabby
Lickitung, Tauros, Weedle, Nidoran
Machop, Shellder, Porygon, Hitmonchan

At least 150 or more to see.
To be a Pokémon Master is my destiny.

Okay, so today was pretty easy,
But you gotta put all 5 days together.
That’s the only way to name all 150.
Catch you here tomorrow!

Catch 'em, catch 'em, gotta catch 'em all (oowww)
Gotta catch 'em all, Pokémon
Catch 'em, catch 'em, gotta catch 'em all (oowww)
Gotta catch 'em all, Pokémon
Catch 'em, catch 'em, gotta catch 'em all (yeeaahh)
Pokémon!

Episodes


Thursday version (Day 4)

Pokémon!
Attention, all Pokémon trainers!
Do you got what it takes to be the best?
Today, we’ll do 30 Pokémon!
It’s the ultimate test!

Gotta catch 'em all, gotta catch 'em all, yeah!
Gotta catch 'em all, gotta catch 'em all, yeeaahh!

Articuno, Jynx, Nidorina, Beedrill
Haunter, Squirtle, Chansey (Pokémon!)
Parasect, Exeggcute, Muk, Dewgong
Pidgeotto, Lapras, Vulpix, Rhydon

At least 150 or more to see.
To be a Pokémon Master is my destiny.

Charizard, Machamp, Pinsir, Koffing
Dugtrio, Golbat, Staryu, Magikarp
Ninetales, Ekans, Omastar
Scyther, Tentacool, Dragonair, Magmar

Not bad, not bad!
Hey, don’t get cocky. Tomorrow’s the hardest part.
We’re on our way to 150 Pokémon!
There’s no stopping us!

Catch 'em, catch 'em, gotta catch 'em all (oowww)
Gotta catch 'em all, Pokémon
Catch 'em, catch 'em, gotta catch 'em all (oowww)
Gotta catch 'em all, Pokémon
Catch 'em, catch 'em, gotta catch 'em all (yeeaahh)
Pokémon!

Episodes


Friday version (Day 5)

Pokémon!
Get those lips loose, it’s time to Pokérap!
Come on, sing ‘em with me! That’s the game!
There’s 150 Pokémon. How many can you name?

Gotta catch 'em all, gotta catch 'em all, yeah!
Gotta catch 'em all, gotta catch 'em all, ow!

Sandslash, Hitmonlee, Psyduck, Arcanine
Eevee, Exeggutor, Kabutops, Zapdos
Dratini, Growlithe, Mr. Mime, Cubone
Graveler, Voltorb, Gloom - We're almost home!

Gotta catch 'em all, gotta catch 'em all, yeah!
Gotta catch 'em all, gotta catch 'em all!
Gotta catch 'em all, Pokémon! (ow!!)

Charmeleon, Wartortle
Mewtwo, Tentacruel, Aerodactyl
Omanyte, Slowpoke
Pidgeot, Arbok - That's all, folks!

Can you name all the Pokémon?
Just put today’s song with the other days of the week.
That’s why you can’t miss a show.
You gotta catch ‘em all!

Catch 'em, catch 'em, gotta catch 'em all (oowww)
Gotta catch 'em all, Pokémon
Catch 'em, catch 'em, gotta catch 'em all (oowww)
Gotta catch 'em all, Pokémon
Catch 'em, catch 'em, gotta catch 'em all
Gotta catch 'em all... Pokémon!

Episodes

Credits

  • Lead vocals: James "D Train" Williams, Babi Floyd
  • BG vocals: John Loeffler, Louis Cortelezzi, Ken Cummings, James "D Train" Williams
  • Co-produced and arranged by John Siegler

United Kingdom broadcast edits

The day-specific nature of some of the "Today's Pokemon" segments (included near the end of the raps) presented problems for international broadcasters who would not necessarily adhere to the same five-days-per-week schedule that the segments were originally designed for. While foreign language dubs may have avoided this problem by changing the dialogue during the dubbing process, countries airing the American version got around the problem in other ways.

  • Since UK TV channels only have one commercial break in the middle of the show, and no commercials before the end credits, the "Don't go away, the Pokérap is next" section served no purpose, and was removed almost all of the time.
  • In United Kingdom broadcasts on Sky One, any references to specific days of the week during the "Today's Pokemon" screen were removed, likely so that the channel could air episodes on any day of the week without the song providing incorrect scheduling information. For example, the Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday raps would almost always have their last lines, such as "We'll be back tomorrow" and "Catch you here tomorrow", cut out. The Monday Pokérap, which mentioned "Tune in tomorrow, we'll rap at ya some more" as soon as its second sentence was especially affected. This line would make no sense if, for example, the episode containing it was broadcast on a Friday. The editing was done inconsistently and differently on each episode, with occasional raps remaining uncut, most cutting only the final line in the "Today's Pokemon" part, and some cutting the screen out altogether. There was almost always a noticeable skip in the audio.
  • Afternoon broadcasts on Children's ITV (CITV) removed the screen altogether, although with better editing.
  • When aired on weekend mornings on GMTV in 1999, the opening segment (which often made reference to “five days a week”) was also removed, since GMTV only aired cartoons on ITV stations during weekends. The opening dialogue was removed and overdubbed with a British presenter in a faux-American accent, with dialogue such as "If you're gonna catch 'em, you're gonna have to learn their names!", which in the process removed any mention of the five-day-a-week format. The "Today's Pokemon" screen was cut entirely. In addition, two raps were shown per show - one before the first part, and one after the half-way commercial break before the second part of the show.

Trivia

  • Jynx is shown in her original black design.
  • An alternate version of the Pokérap is featured on the promotional VHS tape A Sneak Peek at Pokémon that was issued prior to the anime's debut in the United States. The Pokérap displays the name of Rapidash correctly, but it is pronounced "Rapidos" in this version, which was re-recorded for the final version.
  • In a Kids' WB promo, a verse of the Pokérap was sung by boyband NSYNC (beginning with Articuno). However, the band members mispronounced Muk as "mook".
  • The five split segments were placed into episodes based on their Japanese airing order. This caused problems during the show's time in first-run syndication; Tentacool & Tentacruel aired the "Thursday" segment despite falling into the Wednesday slot in the syndication cycles due to Beauty and the Beach initially being skipped, with The Bridge Bike Gang and Pikachu's Goodbye airing the "Monday" and "Thursday" segments, respectively, despite them falling into Thursday and Monday in the cycles due to the loss of EP035 and EP038. No attempt was ever made to correct this.
    • Had the entire first season aired in syndication, the last four episodes of the first season would have been bumped back a whole week in the syndication cycles due to Princess vs. Princess and The Purr-fect Hero being moved to the start of what was considered by Kids' WB the second season in the dub, thus somewhat correcting the problem due to the four episodes coming afterwards having the segments that corresponded to what would have been their days of the week in the cycle.
  • If the Pokémon in the Pokérap are rearranged so that they are in National Pokédex order, Alakazam, Dodrio, Scyther, and Magmar would remain in their positions in the song.
  • The Kabuto shown in the Pokérap was not a real Kabuto, but rather Bill in a Kabuto costume. Also, the Venusaur, Blastoise, Charizard, Rhydon, Kabutops, and Zapdos shown were all actually mechanical Pokémon from Island of the Giant Pokémon.
  • Mew is the only Pokémon from Generation I that is not included.
  • The Pokérap footage for Rhyhorn, Dratini, and Dragonair originate from EP035, which was never released in the dub. Additionally, bridge stanza footage of Misty reeling in a Gyarados is also from that episode.
  • Sheet music for this song is included in the Pokémon 2.B.A. Master piano book and Pokémon Five-Finger Piano.
  • Some Christian fundamentalists complained about the song[1][inadequate source], because they claimed that if one were to play backwards the Pokérap, "Gotta Catch 'em All!" can be heard as "I love you Satan".
  • Tuesday's verse (Zubat-Pikachu) is the only one that uses episode footage for all Pokémon with no stock art used.
    • Including the Poliwrath and Graveler errors, 59 of the 150 Pokémon segments used stock art.
  • At the end of the Pokérap Day 4 segment at the end of the premiere of The Problem with Paras, the Kids' WB announcer at the time, Jim Cummings, dubbed over the voice that normally tells the viewer to watch for more of the Pokérap with, "Tune in next week and watch Ash, Misty, and Brock on their quest to become Pokémon masters! Don't miss them, the new ones are now only on Kids' WB!". Some Kids' WB airings of other episodes had similar messages, reworded as "Tune in later today to/Tune in next week and watch Ash, Misty, and Brock continue their quest to become Pokémon masters!" When The Problem with Paras was rerun on Cartoon Network and Boomerang, and even when uploaded onto Cartoon Network Video, the Kids' WB announcer's voice from the premiere remained. Home video releases, streaming services, and Disney XD retain the voices telling the viewers to watch for more of the Pokérap.
  • In the Finnish dub, the Pokérap segment was not included in episodes after Bye Bye Butterfree, as it was considered surreptitious advertising.
  • In Day 5 of the Pokérap, the line "That's all folks!" is a reference to the phrase shown at the end of Looney Tunes and Merrie Melodies cartoons.

Errors

  • In the VHS and DVD versions of the Pokérap, when Poliwrath is mentioned, Poliwag's picture is shown. This is also true of its first few appearances in the TV Pokérap version (Day 1). Likewise, when Graveler is mentioned (Day 5), Geodude's picture is shown. Both of these errors were eventually corrected in version 2, although they still appear in foreign language versions of early episodes as they are still using the initial masters sent by 4Kids. Netflix's prints of later first season episodes correct the errors.
  • Lickitung's name is misspelled as Likitung.
  • In the German version of the Pokérap, Krabby's image is shown with Hypno's name displayed above. When Kakuna's picture is shown, it says Hornliu.
    • Also in the German Pokérap, Lapras is pronounced Paras.
  • In the Norwegian CD version, Doduo is sung as Goldeen.
  • Poliwag is shown instead of Poliwrath

    Poliwag is shown instead of Poliwrath

  • Lickitung's name is misspelled as Likitung

    Lickitung's name is misspelled as Likitung

  • Geodude is shown instead of Graveler

    Geodude is shown instead of Graveler

In other languages


References

  1. ↑ https://kotaku.com/the-time-they-thought-pokemon-was-satanic-1670792676


Pokéraps
Kanto Pokérap • Pokérap GS • Hoenn Pokérap
English ending themes of the Pokémon animated series
OS: Kanto Pokérap • Pikachu's Jukebox • Pokémon Karaokémon
AG: Pokémon Go!
PK: Hoenn Pokérap • Dance, Dance, Dance • World of Wonder • The Key to Me • Join the Band
English opening themes
Original series Japanese version: Professor Oak's Pokémon Lecture • Pokémon de English
English dub: Kanto Pokérap • Pikachu's Jukebox • Pokémon Karaokémon
Both: Who's That Pokémon?
Ruby and Sapphire Japanese version: Professor Oak's Pokémon Lecture • Pokémon Trivia Quiz
English dub: Who's That Pokémon? • Pokémon Trainer's Choice
Diamond and Pearl Japanese version: Professor Oak's Big Pokémon Encyclopedia • Pikachu the Movie Memorial
Professor Oak's Big Pokémon Examination
Black & White Japanese version: Professor Oak's Pokémon Live Caster • Team Rocket Live Caster
Both: Who's That Pokémon?
XY Japanese version: Professor Oak's Pokémon Holo Caster • Poké TV • Pokémon Quiz
English dub: Who's That Pokémon?
Both: Mega Evolution Pokédex
Sun & Moon Japanese version: Poké Problem
Both: Who's That Pokémon? • Where Are You Going, Eevee?
Journeys Japanese version: Get Inspired! Let's Solve a Poké Riddle!! •
Team Rocket Expedition which stands by the evils of love and truth
Both: Who's That Pokémon?
Horizons Japanese version: Professor Friede's Pokémon Seminar •
The Brilliant Terapagos Expedition
Project Music logo.png This article is part of Project Music, a Bulbapedia project that aims to write comprehensive articles on each Pokémon song, CD and musician.
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