Kanto Pokérap: Difference between revisions

The Kanto Pokérap (capitalized PokéRAP on Pokémon 2.B.A. Master) was the first Pokérap to debut in the Pokémon anime.

The Pokérap contains the first 150 Pokémon that existed at the time. Two verses would be played at the end of an episode, and by the end of a five-day week, all the verses would have been sung. It was used from Pokémon - I Choose You! to The Breeding Center Secret. A full version of the Pokérap is available on part one of the season one DVD box set, as well as the first seven volumes of the Kanto VHS and DVD sets, released back in 1998-2001. Beginning with the eighth volume, the Pokérap was no longer available.

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

(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!

Tuesday Version

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!

Wednesday Version

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!

Thursday Version

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!

Friday Version

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!

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

Trivia

• The portion of the Pokérap mentioning Zubat-Slowbro and Kabuto-Pikachu was shown on the VHS A Sneak Peek at Pokémon.
• 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 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 one was to rearrange the Pokérap so all the Pokémon 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, it was in fact 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, because the Pokérap was made before Mew was announced outside of Japan.
• A verse of the Pokérap (beginning with Articuno) was sung by N*SYNC in a Kids WB promo. However, the band members mispronounced Muk as "mook".
• The Pokérap footage for Rhyhorn, Dratini, and Dragonair originate from EP035, the second of the banned episodes. In addition, 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.
• There are at least 22 separate instances when a clip from Island of the Giant Pokémon is displayed in the song. Most notably, the images of the mechanical Zapdos and Rhydon appear frequently.
• On the UK VHS releases of the Pokémon anime, each video ends with the full Pokérap, but one of the vocalists voices was redubbed for unknown reasons.
• Some Christian fundamentalists complained about the song^{[citation needed]}, because they claimed that if one were to play backwards the Pokérap, "Gotta Catch 'em All!" can be heard as "I love Satan".
• Tuesday's verse (Zubat-Pikachu) is the only one that uses episode footage for all Pokémon with no stock art used.

Errors

Poliwag is shown instead of Poliwrath.

• 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. In a similar situation, when Graveler was mentioned, Geodude's picture was shown. Both of these errors were eventually corrected, although they still appeared in foreign language versions of early episodes. However, Netflix's prints of later first season episodes also correct the errors.
• In the German version of the Pokérap, Krabby's image is shown, but Hypno's name is shown above. When Kakuna's picture is shown, it says Hornliu (Weedle).
  • Also in the German Pokérap, Lapras is pronounced Paras.
• Lickitung's name is misspelled as Likitung

This article is part of Project Music, a Bulbapedia project that aims to write comprehensive articles on each Pokémon song, CD and musician.