Odoru Pompokolin

"Odoru Pompokolin" (おどるポンポコリン, Odoru Ponpokorin^?, "Dancing Pompokolin") is the first ending theme of the Japanese anime series Chibi Maruko-chan and was the 1990 debut single of the Japanese group B.B.Queens. It reached number 1 in the Oricon charts of that year, and stayed on the charts for a total of 54 weeks.^[1]

The song was composed and arranged by Tetsuro Oda with lyrics by Momoko Sakura, author of Chibi Maruko-chan.

"Odoru Pompokolin" became very popular as an anime theme song, reaching number 8 on a list of 100 unforgettable anime theme songs compiled by TV Asahi^[2] and then at number 1 on a list of the top 20 anime theme songs of the 1990s, also compiled by TV Asahi.^[3] "Odoru Pompokolin" sold 1.9 million copies, won both record of the year and pop rock song of the year at the 32nd Japan Record Awards as well as the 1991 JASRAC Award.

Covers include an uptempo happy hardcore version which was featured on Anime Speed, a heavy metal cover by Animetal on their fanclub exclusive "For the Bravehearts Only!" single, an English-language version titled "Dancing Pompokolin" by Captain Jack which was featured in the game Dance Dance Revolution and other music games, a version by ManaKana used as the Chibi Maruko-chan opening theme song from 1998 to 2000, and a cover by Kaela Kimura on her album 5 Years which has been used as the opening for the anime throughout 2010.

In 2011, B.B.Queens reunited and recorded a new version of "Odoru Pompokolin" to commemorate the 25th anniversary of Chibi Maruko-chan's initial manga release. This version subtitled "Chibi Maruko-chan Birthday 25th Version" (ちびまる子ちゃん 誕生 25th Version, Chibi Marukochan Tanjō 25th Version^?), coupled with a new version of Keiko Utoku and Fusanosuke Kondo's "Good-by Morning", was released as a single on May 1, 2011.^[4] This new version of the song also entered use as the Chibi Maruko-chan theme beginning with the May 1, 2011, broadcast of the new season.^[5]

References