Cha-La Head-Cha-La

"Cha-La Head-Cha-La"
Single by Hironobu Kageyama
from the album Dragon Ball Z Hit Song Collection
Released	May 1, 1989 (1989-05-01)
Format	Vinyl (CK-837) Cassette Mini CD (CC-8214)
Genre	Anison
Length	6:81
Label	Columbia Records
Writer(s)	Yukinojo Mori (Lyr) Chiho Kiyoka (Music) Kenji Yamamoto (Arr)
Hironobu Kageyama singles chronology
"Soldier Dream" (1988) "Cha-La Head-Cha-La" (1989) "Chōjin Sentai Jetman" (1991)

"Cha-La Head-Cha-La" (チャラ・ヘッチャラ, Chara Hetchara^?) is the first opening theme song of the anime series Dragon Ball Z and is the fifteenth single by J-pop artist Hironobu Kageyama. It was released on vinyl, cassette, and mini CD on May 1, 1989 in Japan only. It is coupled with the first Dragon Ball Z closing theme "Detekoi Tobikiri Zenkai Power!" performed by Manna. The song opened for the first 200 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 "Mixture" in 1996.^[1]

Development

At the time Kageyama had been reading the Dragon Ball manga in Shonen Jump for quite some time when he was offered the job to record the song. He states that he was so shocked when the offer came up.^[2] Kageyama considers the song to be his best work as people are always happy when they sing it.^[3]

Track list

1. "Cha-La Head-Cha-La"
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!")

2005 Re-release

"Cha-La Head-Cha-La (2005 Ver.)"
Single by Hironobu Kageyama
Released	August 3, 2005 (2005-08-03) (KDSD-00074)
Format	CD Single Digital download
Genre	Jpop, Anison
Length	Standard 30:15 Self Cover 24:76
Label	Sony Music Team Entertainment
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.

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".^[4] 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.^[5] This version would peak 118 on Oricon.^[6]

Track list

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)

Covers

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.^[7] In 2004 the compilation album Anime Trance 2 features a version by Tora + R-SEQ.^[8] The 2005 Anime Speed compilation and the 2006 Speed Buyuden compilation feature a version by Lee Tairon.^[9][10]

The Italian band Highlord recorded a version that appears as a bonus track on the Japanese release of their album Instant Madness.^[11] The anime cover band Animetal recorded their take on "Cha-la Head-Cha-la". Performed by vocalist Eizo Sakamoto in the style of 1980's Heavy Metal. It first appeared on Animetal Marathon VII as part of the "Jump Into The Fire mini-Marathon" at the end of the disc.^[12]

The Animetal version also appears on Animetal's 2006 "Decade of Bravehearts" Concert CD/DVD.^[13]

In 2007 the compilation album Zakkuri! Paratech feature the song as part of a megamix performed by the 777BOYS.^[14] They would later team up with Pinpon and produce another version for J-Anime! Hyper Techno & Trance.^[15]

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.^[16] In 2008 another version would be recorded by Black Steel on the compilation Hi-Speed Kirakira Jk.^[17]

References

• Surat, Daryl (April 30, 2008). "Cult of Kageyama". Otaku USA Magazine. http://www.otakuusamagazine.com/JPop/Public/News1/Cult_of_Kageyama_1089.aspx. Retrieved July 12, 2009. 

1. ^ "Hironobu Kageyama Best Album 3: Mixture" (in Japanese). Yahoo Music Japan. http://music.yahoo.co.jp/shop/c/10/cocc13348/. Retrieved September 11, 2008. 
2. ^ Patrick W. Galbraith (January 28, 2010). "Otaku2 Interview: Kageyama Hironobu". Akihabara: Otaku2. http://www.otaku2.com/articleView.php?item=599. 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!" 
3. ^ Patrick W. Galbraith (January 28, 2010). "Otaku2 Interview: Kageyama Hironobu". Akihabara: Otaku2. http://www.otaku2.com/articleView.php?item=599. 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." 
4. ^ "iTunes Preview Cha-La Head-Cha-La (2005 Version) [Self Cover] - EP Hironobu Kageyama". Apple Inc.. http://itunes.apple.com/us/album/cha-la-head-cha-la-2005-version/id129251733. Retrieved February 16, 2010. 
5. ^ Crafts & Meister. Super Dragon Ball Z (in Japanese). (Bandai). Arcade PlayStation 2. (December 22, 2005)
6. ^ "Cha-La Head-Cha-La (2005 ver.)" (in Japanese). Oricon. http://www.oricon.co.jp/music/release/d/605457/1/. Retrieved January 19, 2009. 
7. ^ Mori, Yuriko (2001). "Club Ani para presents: Ani para Best & More" (CD, in Japanese). Release notes for Cha-La Head-Cha-La by Anipara Kids. Japan: Warner Music Japan (WPC7-10066).
8. ^ Mori, Yuriko (2004). "Anime Trance 2" (CD, in Japanese). Release notes for Cha-La Head-Cha-La by Tora + R-SEQ. Japan: Daiki Sound (DAKFARM-37).
9. ^ Mori, Yuriko (2005). "Anime Speed" (CD, in Japanese). Release notes for Cha-La Head-Cha-La by Lee Tairon. Japanese: EMI Music Japan (TOCP-64273).
10. ^ Mori, Yuriko (2006). "Speed Buyuden" (CD, in Japanese). Release notes for Cha-La Head-Cha-La by Lee Tairon. Japanese: EMI Music Japan (TOCP-64329).
11. ^ Mori, Yuriko (March 22, 2006). "Instant Madness" (CD, in Italian). Release notes for Cha-La Head-Cha-La by Highlord.
12. ^ "Animetal Marathon VII" (in Japanese). Yahoo Music Japan. http://music.yahoo.co.jp/shop/c/10/vpcc81520. Retrieved September 11, 2008. 
13. ^ "Decade of Bravehearts" (in Japanese). Yahoo Music Japan. http://music.yahoo.co.jp/shop/c/10/vpcc80609/. Retrieved September 11, 2008. 
14. ^ Mori, Yuriko (2007). "Zakkuri! Paratech" (CD, in Japanese). Release notes for Cha-La Head-Cha-La by 777BOYS. Japan: Universal Music (UICZ-4168).
15. ^ Mori, Yuriko (2007). "J-Anime! Hyper Techno & Trance" (Digital Download, in Japanese). Release notes for Cha-La Head-Cha-La by 777BOYS. Japan: New Fantasy Production.
16. ^ "Lucky Star Ending Theme Collection" (in Japanese). Lantis. http://www.lantis.jp/new-release/data.php?id=8caacd2ed0e617dd4a8a2e2d2012866d. Retrieved September 11, 2008. 
17. ^ Mori, Yuriko (2008). "Hi-Speed Kirakira Jk" (CD, in Japanese). Release notes for Cha-La Head-Cha-La by Black Steel. Japan: Warner Music Japan (WPZR-30265).

External links

• "Kageyama Complete!" listing 1989 version (Japanese)
• Team Entertainment page 2005 version (Japanese)