The Z Fighters in the first "Cha-La Head-Cha-La" animation
Cha-La Head-Cha-La (チャラ・ヘッチャラ Chara Hetchara) is the first opening theme of the Dragon Ball Z anime for the first 199 episodes of the Japanese version, episodes 54 to 184 if totaled for the edited English dub. Cha-La Head-Cha-La debuted alongside the anime in Japan in 1989, and was followed by "We Gotta Power", the series' second opening theme for the remaining 92 episodes of the series.
Contents
Overview
"Cha-La Head-Cha-La" was released in Japan on May 1, 1989. The song was written by Yukinojō Mori, the music was composed by Chiho Kiyooka, with arrangement by Kenji Yamamoto, and it is performed by Hironobu Kageyama. It used three different animations during the ending of Dragon Ball Z, and it is also used as the opening theme of all the Dragon Ball Z movies until Dragon Ball Z: Broly - Second Coming.
The song was redone and re-recorded by Hironobu Kageyama in 2005. A cover version of the song was made and performed by the Japanese pop-rock band FLOW for the opening of the 2013 movie Dragon Ball Z: Battle of Gods,[1][2][3] and released on a double A-side CD single with an insert song for the movie, "HERO - Song of Hope", on March 20, 2013.[4] FLOW's songs are also featured on the Dragon Ball Z: Battle of Gods - Original Sound Track CD released on March 27, 2013.
Use in Video Game Media
- In 2002 (2003 for Japan), Dragon Ball Z: Budokai featured Cha-La Head-Cha-La as the opening theme of the Japanese version while in the North American release, it was replaced with the then-current English dub's theme song popularly referred to as "Rock the Dragon". In the PAL release, in addition to a new cinematic for its opening, the song played was a short version of "勝利への疾走" (Running to Victory), the theme of the "Grassland" stage composed by Kenji Yamamoto. At the end of the game's main story mode, a version of Cha-La Head-Cha-La arranged by Yamamoto is played for all versions' credits & staff rolls sequences. This was removed in the HD collection.
- In Dragon Ball Z: Ultimate Tenkaichi, the song was used for the game's opening as well as an optional theme for Vs. match gameplay.
- Cha-La Head-Cha-La was also used as Dragon Ball Z: Battle of Z and Dragon Ball Xenoverse's opening themes albeit the 2013 arrangement by J-Pop group "Flow" for Dragon Ball Z: Battle of Gods.
- In Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot, the song is used during the second phase of Raditz' battle and in the final battle against Kid Buu.
- In the 3rd anniversary celebration of the mobile game Dragon Ball Legends, the song plays throughout the game to reminisce of all the sagas in the Dragon Ball series that are recollected in the game.
Lyrics
TV size edit
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Full version
Japanese光る雲を突き抜けフライアウェイ（フライアウェイ） 溶けた北極の中に チャラ ヘッチャラ 空を 急降下ジェットコースター（コースター） 悩む時間はないよ チャラ ヘッチャラ チャラ ヘッチャラ |
TransliterationHikaru Kumo wo Tsukinuke FURAI AWEI (FURAI AWEI) Toketa Koori no Naka ni CHARA HETCHARA Sora wo Kyuukouka JETTOKOOSUTAA (KOOSUTAA) Nayamu Jikan wa nai yo CHARA HETCHARA CHARA HETCHARA |
English (Translated)Breaking through the shining clouds, I fly away (fly away), If, within melting polar icecaps, Cha-La Head-Cha-La Swooping through the sky in a Jet Coaster (Coaster), There's no time to worry, Cha-La Head-Cha-La Cha-La Head-Cha-La |
English Remake
There are two known English versions of this song. One was done by Hironobu Kageyama (the same artist of the original Japanese version) and had a very faithful, if rather literal, translation. The other English version was created for the Philippines broadcast of the series that was similar to the other English version, being that it used the same lyrics, but rerecorded the background score using instruments different from that of the original version. Another version was made for the OVA Dragon Ball: The Return of Son Goku and Friends! Animetal USA also sampled part of the song with their own English lyrics in their album "Animetal USA W":
Come slide down rainbows in the sky, Let's Fly away!
Like a bird, you're free to see the boundless face of the Earth!
Let the wind blow you like a kite,
and glide away!
Far beyond the clouds,
You'll find another place!
If the road ahead of you seems so cold and gray,
When the night never turns to day,
Don't you be afraid, go fly away!
Cha-La Head-Cha-La
No time to hesitate,
Go on and search the Earth!
Within it lies a magic surprise! Ohh!
Cha-La Head-Cha-La
Be cool, don't be afraid, you've got the power
To get you through the darkest night!
Cha-La!
Zooming round and round
The endless sky like a coaster!
Hold on tight, or you may find yourself trapped in a maze!
When that happens,
You may think you won't ever find a way
As the paths that you may take
All seem the same!
If the road ahead of you seems so cold and gray,
When the night never turns to day,
Don't you be afraid, go fly away!
Cha-La Head-Cha-La
No time to hesitate,
Go on and search the Earth!
Within it lies a magic surprise! Ohhhohhh!
Cha-La Head-Cha-La
Be cool, don't be afraid, you've got the power
To get you through the night! Oh!
Cha-La Head-Cha-La
No time to hesitate,
Go on and search the Earth!
Within it lies a magic surprise! Ohhhhhh!
Cha-La Head-Cha-La
Be cool, don't be afraid, you've got the power
To get you through the darkest night!
Cha-La!
2nd English remake
Penetrate the clouds shining Fly Away (Fly Away)
Panorama that spread throughout the body
Earth was kicked in the face angry (angry)
Detonate a volcano
In the (ice) melting Arctic
Wish there was a dinosaur charged Tamanori
Chara Hetchara
Kappa mood to the in any event to
Chara Hetchara
My heart is so パチパチ
Energy to make noise ... sparking ball!
Dive roller coaster (coaster) in the sky
I went down to the paradise of panic (it)
Once the pleasant landscape upside down (the pleasant)
Visible in the ass even mountain
I do not have time to worry
Because I want to meet! "Surprised" lurking somewhere
Chara Hetchara
Head towards the empty dream packable
Chara Hetchara
Georgette ultra smile
Aiyaiyaiyai Yai today
Chara Hetchara
Kappa mood to the in any event to
Chara Hetchara
My heart is so untranslated
Energy to make noise ... sparking ball!
3rd English Remake
Breaking through the shining cloud
I'm gonna fly away, fly away
Spreading through my body, feel the power through my soul
Kicked in the face, this earth is mad
As a fire brigade, fire brigade
Can't you feel it building up for her to blow
If there ever was a dinosaur
In a mound of icicles
I would wanna train it to ride a ball
Chala Head Chala
No matter, if ever anything could happen
Nothing can stop me now
Chala Head Chala
Oh, my heart just keep sparking up like a ball of flame
Oh yes, it make me fired up, sparking
I feel it, freedom in the sky
My roller coaster, coaster
Coming down to panic, chaos that spread over the ground
Take the scenic route down and upside down
I'm like a melting star, melting star
And the world seems faster as she's turning round
There's no time for me to mope and cry
I got to get started now
Adventures are so much the meaning of life
Chala Head Chala
Got so much space in my burning heart now
I'll take it up with all the world
Chala Head Cha La
Smiling away, away today, I'm ultra Z
Ai, Ai, Ai, Ai
Chala Head Chala
No matter, if ever anything could happen
Nothing can stop me now
Chala Head Chala
Oh, my heart just keep sparking up like a ball of flame
Oh yes, it make me fired up, sparking!
Latin American Spanish Version
El cielo resplandece a mi alrededor (alrededor)
Al volar, destellos brillan en las nubes sin fin.
Con libertad puedes cruzar hoy el cielo azul (el cielo azul)
Despierta, furia a un golpe de pronto en ti...
Como si un volcán hiciera una erupción...
Derrite un gran glaciar...
¡Podrás ver de cerca, un gran Dragón!
CHA-LA HEAD-CHA-LA
No importa lo que suceda,
¡Siempre el ánimo mantendré!
CHA-LA HEAD-CHA-LA
Vibrante mi corazón siente emoción,
¡Haré una Genki-Dama!
CHA-LA HEAD-CHA-LA
No pienses nada, sólo escucha,
sueños hay en tu corazón...
CHA-LA HEAD-CHA-LA
No importa lo que suceda,
¡Sonreiré, el día de ho-ho-ho-ho-hooooy!
Brazilian Version
TV version
O céu resplandece
Ao meu redor (ao meu redor)
Vou voar e as estrelas
Brilham entre as nuvens sem fim
Só a verdade vai cruzar
Pelo céu azul (pelo céu azul)
E a verdade vai crescer dentro de mim
Como um vulcão que entra em erupção
Sua lava vai espalhar
Verá toda a fúria do dragão
CHA-LA HEAD-CHA-LA
Não importa o que aconteça, sempre
Tenho a força e o poder
CHA-LA HEAD-CHA-LA
Vibrante o meu coração sente emoção
E tem amor pra dar
CHA-LA HEAD-CHA-LA
Não pense em nada, só escuta
Sonhos dentro do coração
CHA-LA HEAD-CHA-LA
Não importa o que aconteça
Tudo vai ficar melhor.
Full version [5]
O céu resplandece
Ao meu redor (ao meu redor)
Vou voar e as estrelas
Brilham entre as nuvens sem fim
Só a verdade vai cruzar
Pelo céu azul (pelo céu azul)
E a verdade vai crescer dentro de mim
Como um vulcão que entra em erupção
Sua lava vai espalhar
Verá toda a fúria do dragão
CHA-LA HEAD-CHA-LA
Não importa o que aconteça, sempre
Tenho a força e o poder
CHA-LA HEAD-CHA-LA
Não importa o que aconteça
Tudo vai ficar melhor
No céu
Mergulhando na imensidão (Na imensidão)
Em um paraíso o pânico pode surgir
Girando no horizonte eu posso ver (Eu posso ver)
Nas montanhas um motivo pra sorrir
Não há mais tempo pra se preocupar
Pois há uma surpresa
Sei que está escondida em algum lugar
CHA-LA HEAD-CHA-LA
Não importa o que aconteça, sempre
Tenho a força e o poder
CHA-LA HEAD-CHA-LA
Vibrante o meu coração sente emoção
E tem amor pra dar
CHA-LA HEAD-CHA-LA
Não pense em nada, só escuta
Sonhos dentro do coração
CHA-LA HEAD-CHA-LA
Não importa o que aconteça
Tudo vai ficar melhor.
Trivia
- Aya Hirano, who is Dende's voice actress in Dragon Ball Kai, performed her own rendition of "Cha-La Head-Cha-La" whilst in the character of Konata Izumi from the popular anime Lucky Star. One of the show's quirks was to have Konata (an otaku) perform a different anime opening for each episode's ending theme, with Dragon Ball Z's being the most "mainstream".
- FLOW's cover for this song is heard in the openings for Dragon Ball Z: Battle of Z, Dragon Ball Xenoverse, and Dragon Ball Z Kai: The Final Chapters.
- This song was used for 199 episodes, the most for any opening theme.
- The song was referenced in Dragon Ball Super.
- During the English Dub of Super’s 76th episode, Goku can be heard singing the chorus after reuniting with the Flying Nimbus.
- A remade version plays in Dragon Ball Super: Broly during the Present Day Scene when Vegeta and Goku are battling each other.
Gallery
References
- ↑ FLOW official website. Flow.
- ↑ Dragon Ball 2013 official website, News section. toei-anim.
- ↑ V-Jump, issue #3, 2013
- ↑ 3/20ダブルA面シングル発売決定!!!映画『ドラゴンボールZ 神と神』主題歌「CHA-LA HEAD-CHA-LA」＆劇中歌を収録!!!. Twitter (December 31, 2012).
- ↑ Minor Information from TSB Anime's site
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