Halcali

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HALCALI
ハルカリ
HALCALI, Haruka (left) and Yukari (right), at Japan Expo, 2007.
HALCALI, Haruka (left) and Yukari (right), at Japan Expo, 2007.
Background information
Origin Meguro, Japan
Genre(s) J-pop, Hip-hop
Years active 2003–present
Label(s) Epic Records
Website HALCALI.com
Members
Haruka
Yukari

HALCALI (ハルカリ Harukari?) (a portmanteau of the names Haruka (ハルカ?) and Yukari (ユカリ?)) is a Japanese Hip-hop duo consisting of members Haruka (born April 21, 1988) and Yukari (born July 18, 1987) from Meguro, Tokyo. They were signed to Oshare Track Factory on July 26, 2002 when lead singers Haruka and Yukari, now both graduates from Meguro, attended an audition for "female rappers" held by the group Rip Slyme,[1][2] and were chosen out of several applicants as the singers for the band.[3][4] 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.[5][6]

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.[7][8] 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.[9]

Contents

[edit] Progression

Halcali performing in Central Park during Japan Day 2008.
Halcali performing in Central Park during Japan Day 2008.

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, "Electric Sensei" (エレクトリック先生?) and "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.

[edit] Debut album: HALCALI Bacon

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

  1. "Intro. HALCALI Bacon"
  2. "Tandem" (タンデム?)
  3. "Giri Giri Surf Rider" (ギリギリ・サーフライダー?)
  4. "Ah, HALCALI Sensation" (嗚呼ハルカリセンセーション?)
  5. "Otsukare Summer" (おつかれSUMMER?)
  6. "HALCALISM "Candy Hearts"" (ハルカリズム "CANDY HEARTS"?)
  7. "Conversation of a Mystery"
  8. "Peek-A-Boo"
  9. "Hello, Hello, Alone"
  10. "Styly Styly" (スタイリースタイリー?)
  11. "Electric Sensei" (エレクトリック先生 Electric Teacher?)
  12. "Tsuzuki Mayonaka no Ground" (続・真夜中のグランド?)

[edit] Second album: Ongaku no Susume

Ongaku no Susume (音楽ノススメ Recommended Music?) shows a greater variety of musical styles than the group's first album. A British magazine said in a review of Ongaku no Susume that the album was "something which De La Soul wished it could be." However, there was criticism that HALCALI's albums were being produced in an attempt to try and market towards their target audience.[citation needed]

Track listing

  1. "Introduction"
  2. "Fuwafuwa Brand New" (フワフワ・ブランニュー Airy Brand New?)
  3. "Marching March" (マーチングマーチ?)
  4. "Strawberry Chips" (ストロベリーチップス?)
  5. "Hare Tokidoki" (晴れ時ドキ Sometimes It's Sunny?)
  6. "Oboroge Copy View"
  7. "History"
  8. "Shibafu" feat. Tanikawa Juntaro (芝生　feat.谷川俊太郎 Lawn?)
  9. "Wakakusa Dance" feat. Uta Maru (Rhymester) (若草DANCE　feat.宇多丸 (RHYMESTER) Fresh Grass Dance?)
  10. "Baby Blue!"
  11. "Densetsu no Futari" (伝説の2人 Legendary Duo?)
  12. "Continued" (コンティニュード?)

[edit] Remix album: HALCALI Mix

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

Track listing
  1. "Tandem" (Mutable Chromosome Remix) (タンデム (MUTABLE CHROMOSOME REMIX)?)
    • Remixed by Yuka Honda (本田ゆか?)
  2. "Electric Sensei" (Electric Body Sensei Mix) (エレクトリック先生 (electric body sensei mix)?)
    • Remixed by Takkyu Isshino (石野卓球?)
  3. "Strawberry Chips" (Fascinate Mix) (ストロベリーチップス (fascinate mix)?)
    • Remixed by Yasuyuki Okamura (岡村靖幸?)
  4. "Giri Giri Surf Rider" (Half Rider Remix) (ギリギリ・サーフライダー (HALF RIDER remix)?)
    • Remixed by Halfby
  5. "Nifuku Hoshi" (Force of Nature Remix) (ニ福星 (FORCE OF NATURE Remix)?)
    • Remixed by Force of Nature
  6. "Marching March" (Kudo Remix) (マーチングマーチ (K・U・D・O Remix)?)
    • Reximed by Kudo
  7. "Ai" (from Magokoto Covers) (KOHEI JAPAN(MELLOW YELLOW)) (愛 (from 真心 COVERS) (KOHEI JAPAN(MELLOW YELLOW))?)
  8. "Peek-A-Boo" (DJ Mitsu the Beats Remix)
    • Remixed by DJ Mitsu the Beats from Gagle
  9. "Styly Styly" (Hiroshi Kawanabe Remix) (スタイリースタイリー (HIROSHI KAWANABE REMIX)?)
    • Remixed by Hiroshi Kawanabe from Tokyo No.1 Soul Set
  10. "Baby Blue!" (Baby Blue Is Good Mix)
    • Remixed by Your Song Is Good
  11. "HALCALI Beat Edition" (Bonus Track)
    • Edited by Halfby

[edit] First major album: Cyborg Oretachi

Released on July 18, 2007, Cyborg Oretachi (サイボーグ俺達 We, the Cyborgs?) is HALCALI's first major label album, third original album, and fourth album release overall. The first press limited edition came with a bonus DVD. This is HALCALI's first album to be released in both CD only, and CD+DVD formats.

This album was originally rumoured to be titled Drive My Dreams, however the title was changed when official release information became available through their website.

Cyborg Oretachi also includes productions by O.T.F, Utamaru (Rhymester), Natalie Wise, Honestly, and Fantastic Plastic Machine, as well as collaborations and guest performances from Dr.kyOn (ex Bo Gumbos), Ramrider, Your Song Is Good, Polysics, Skaparahorns, and Kendo Kobayashi.

Even though the single "Tougenkyou / Lights, Camera. Action!" was listed as being a double A-side, "Lights, Camera. Action!" is not on the album.

Track listing

  1. "Doo The Hammer!!"
  2. "It's Party Time!"
  3. "Koi no Bububun" (恋のブブブン The Vroom Vroom Vroom of Love?)
  4. "Twinkle Star"
  5. "Endless Lover's Rain"
  6. "Look" ~Special Edition~
  7. "Cyborg Oretachi" (サイボーグ俺達 We, the Cyborgs?)
  8. "Driver's Licence" (ドライバーズ・ライセンス?)
  9. Fes de Ouissu! (フェスでウィッス！?)
  10. Togenkyo (桃源郷 Paradise?)
  11. "Tip Taps Tip "
  12. "HaruKari Michi" ~19 no Yoru~ (春狩道～19の夜～ 19 Nights on Halcali Road?)

DVD Track Listing

  1. "Tip Taps Tip"
  2. "Twinkle Star"
  3. "Look"
  4. "Togenkyo"
  5. "It's Party Time!"
  6. "It's Party Time! Making"

[edit] Image

[edit] The new style

In winter 2003, HALCALI released their fourth single, the Christmas-themed "Strawberry Chips" (ストロベリーチップス?). This single continued to show the fluctuation between rap and J-pop.

After the release of "Strawberry Chips", HALCALI's visual style shifted, along with the layout and lyrical style of their songs. Their fifth single, "Marching March" (マーチングマーチ?), was the first to showcase this new style. This change in style is attributed to HALCALI's coming-of-age, however it also represents the changing of fads that occurred in Japanese teens at the time and was necessary to retain their fanbase.[citation needed]

Their sixth single, "Baby Blue!", was an instant cult hit. The album art and video featured the character HANPANDA, a trend by Japanese artist Nagi Noda, which has since become popular.

[edit] Haruka

Haruka, judging from her PR and personal blog entries, portrays herself to be the more mature of the pair. She shows focus for performances, commentating seriously on those commenting on her in TV appearances. She has recently became more focused on fashion, and has appeared in Barfout, a fashion magazine, along with Yukari.

[edit] Yukari

Yukari's previous image was child-like, which gave the group's image a more school-aged look. She wore a tilted baseball cap or some other sort of head apparel as was the fad at the time. Her current image is now more adult-like.

[edit] Anime themes

Several songs by Halcali have been used as opening or ending themes in anime television series.[10]

[edit] Song references

[edit] References made in HALCALI songs

[edit] References made in HALCALI videos

[edit] Discography

[edit] Albums

# Title Release date
1 HALCALI Bacon (ハルカリベーコン?) 2003-09-03
2 Ongaku no Susume (音楽ノススメ Recommended Music?) 2004-11-24
3 HALCALI Mix (ハルカリミックス?) 2005-03-16
4 Cyborg Oretachi (サイボーグ俺達 We, The Cyborgs?) 2007-07-18

[edit] Singles

# Title Release date
1 "Tandem" (タンデム?) 2003-01-08
2 "Electric Sensei" (エレクトリック先生 Electric Teacher?) 2003-04-09
3 "Giri Giri Surf Rider" (ギリギリ・サーフライダー?) 2003-07-09
4 "Strawberry Chips" (ストロベリーチップス?) 2003-11-26
5 "Marching March" (マーチングマーチ?) 2004-06-09
6 "Baby Blue!" 2004-10-20
7 "Tip Taps Tip" 2005-12-07
8 "Twinkle Star" 2006-02-22
9 "Look" 2006-12-13
10 "Togenkyo / Lights, Camera. Action!" (桃源郷/Lights, Camera. Action!?) 2007-03-15
11 "It's Party Time" 2007-06-20

[edit] Downloads

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

[edit] References

  1. ^ 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。";
  2. ^ Epic Records, et al. (2007), As a rough translation (In original past-tense) -- "The signing [of HALCALI] by O.T.F begins with Haruka (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]"
  3. ^ 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。"
  4. ^ Epic Records, et al. (2007)., Rough translation (past-tense) "On 26 July, 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)"
  5. ^ 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。"
  6. ^ Epic Records, et al. (2007),Rough translation (past-tense) -- "1st single, "Tandem" is announced [for release] on 8 January 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."
  7. ^ 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/
  8. ^ Anime Central - May 16-18, 2008 - Rosemont, IL - Guests - New Guest Announced: Halcali
  9. ^ Japan Day @ Central Park: Japan Day Festival. japandaynyc.org. Retrieved on 2008-05-27.
  10. ^ HALCALI - Anime News Network

[edit] External links

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