Halcali

Infobox musical artist
Name = HALCALI
ハルカリ

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Img_capt = HALCALI, Halca (left) and Yucali (right), at Japan Expo, 2007.
Img_size =
Background = group_or_band
Origin = Meguro, Japan
Genre = J-pop, Hip-hop
Years_active = 2003–present
Label = Epic Records
URL = [http://www.halcali.com HALCALI.com]
Current_members = Halca
Yucali

nihongo|HALCALI|ハルカリ|Harukari (a portmanteau of the names nihongo|Halca|ハルカ and nihongo|Yucali|ユカリ) is a Japanese Hip-hop duo consisting of members Halca (born April 21, 1988) and Yucali (born July 18, 1987) from Meguro, Tokyo. They were signed to Oshare Track Factory on July 26, 2002 when lead singers Halca and Yucali, now both graduates from Meguro, attended an audition for "female rappers" held by the group "Rip Slyme", [Epic Records, Sony Music Entertainment Japan, (2007) "HALCALI Official Web Site" Epic Records/SONY -- "東京都目黒区出身のHALCA(ハルカ=19)とYUCALI(ユカリ=19)の2人組ガールズヒップホップユニット小学校の頃から都内の同じダンスス クールに通い、「FEMALE RAPPER オーディション」で、見事グランプリに輝き、O.T.Fの全面プロデュースのもと、デビュー。";] [Epic Records, et al. (2007), As a rough translation (In original past-tense) -- "The signing [of HALCALI] by O.T.F begins with Halca (19) with Yucali (19), who commute to the same dance school alongside 2 groups [of girls] from Girl's High School (Puhotsu Puyunitsuto (?) ) to "Female RAPPER auditions" where they were chosen from the competition ... [moved to beginning as per grammar] "] and were chosen out of several applicants as the singers for the band. [Epic Records, et al. (2007) -- "2002年7月26日 RIP SLYMEによる無料武道館ライブで、メンバーの呼びかけで客席からステージに上がり、1万人の観客を前にデビューシングルとなった「タンデム」を初披露。"] [Epic Records, et al. (2007)., Rough translation (past-tense) "On July 26, 2002 the rap band RIP SLYME announced [live,] on-stage in front of 10,000 viewers that [...] new band HALCALI would be releasing their debut single "Tandemu" (Tandem)"] Their first single, "Tandem" which was released on January 8, 2003 was marketed on several Japanese television networks and MTV at the time of its release and entered into the Oricon Charts at position 19. [Epic Records, et al. (2007), -- "2003年1月8日 1st single「タンデム」リリース。プロモーションビデオがCS/BS系ミュージックチャンネル4局(WOW WOW、スペースシャワーTV、MTV、M-ON!)のパワープレイが同時に決定し、話題騒然に。オリコンチャート19位にランクインする。"] [Epic Records, et al. (2007),Rough translation (past-tense) -- "1st single, "Tandem" is announced [for release] on January 8, 2003, with the music video being played on [television networks] WOW WOW, Space Shower TV, MTV and M-ON to coincide with the release of the single. In ranking, it reached position 19."]

HALCALI made their American debut in May 2008 as the musical guests of honor at at the Chicago-area Japanese culture, manga and anime convention Anime Central. [米シカゴでのジャパニーズカルチャーフェス「CENTRAL」にメインゲストで出演！http://www.halcali.com/] [ [http://www.acen.org/index.php?categoryid=9&p2_articleid=46 Anime Central - May 16-18, 2008 - Rosemont, IL - Guests - New Guest Announced: Halcali ] ] They performed again in America at Central Park, New York City on June 1, 2008 as part of a Japan Day Festival as part of the Yōkoso Japan tourism campaign. [cite web|url= http://japandaynyc.org/main/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=48&Itemid=67|title= Japan Day @ Central Park: Japan Day Festival|accessdate= 2008-05-27|publisher= japandaynyc.org] [http://www.nt2099.com/J-ENT/INTERVIEWS/HALCALI/halcali.pdf "Just Doing It the HALCALI Way!"] June 13, 2008, by Dennis A. Amith [kndy] , retrieved June 13, 2008]

Progression

The time between the release of their first single to that of their debut album HALCALI moved away from mainstream J-pop and toward a style combining pop and rap, with what can be called an airy, self-parody "bubblegum" rap in the vein of earlier groups such as East End X Yuri. This was evident in their second and third singles, nihongo|"Electric Sensei"|エレクトリック先生 and nihongo|"Giri Giri Surf Rider"|ギリギリ・サーフライダー released in mid-2003. Both singles focused on rap rather than pop.

The latter song attracted attention from Western audiences when it appeared on Adam and Joe Go Tokyo.

Debut album: HALCALI Bacon

nihongo|"HALCALI Bacon"|ハルカリベーコン had tracks featuring guest singers in Japanese pop, who provided vocals as well as song collaborations. The album peaked at #5 on the Oricon charts, becoming the first album by a female hip-hop artist to enter the top ten. It remained on the charts for a total of twenty weeks. "Tandem" was such a successful hit, that the Latin American MTV featured this song in some spots.

Track listing
# "Intro. HALCALI Bacon"
#
#
#
#
#
# "Conversation of a Mystery"
# "Peek-A-Boo"
# "Hello, Hello, Alone"
#
#
#

Second album: Ongaku no Susume

Track listing
# "Introduction"
#
#
#
#
# "Oboroge Copy View"
# "History"
#
#
# "Baby Blue!"
#
#

Remix album: HALCALI Mix

nihongo|HALCALI Mix|ハルカリミックス, released on March 16, 2005, is a collection of remixes of HALCALI songs.

Downloads

* December 2006 – "Slalom '06"
* January 2007 – "2 Higher Clap 007"
* February 2007 – "Girl! Girl! Girl!"

References

External links

* [http://www.halcali.com/ The Official HALCALI Website]
*
* [http://halcali.blogspot.com/ HALCALI-related blog]
* [http://www.nt2099.com/J-ENT/INTERVIEWS/HALCALI/halcali.pdf J!-ENT Special Feature Interview (English) by Dennis A. Amith]
* [http://www.halcalisensation.com/ HALCALI fansite (English)]