Kanto Pokérap

The Kanto Pokérap, PokéRAP, or PokéRap was the first Pokérap to be made by 4Kids Entertainment for . It was made to feature the first 150 that existed at the time.
At the end of an episode, , in a voice-over, announces, "Don't go away, the PokéRAP is next". Two verses play at the end of an episode, and by the end of a five-day broadcast week, all the verses would have been sung. It was used in the episodes Pokémon - I Choose You! to The Breeding Center Secret.
==Terminology==
This song title is written in different ways:
* "PokéRAP" on Pokémon 2.B.A. Master
* "PokéRap" on Pokémon X, Exclusive Target Mix!, and Exclusive Toys R Us Mix!.
* "Poké Rap" in the titles of the chapters within the animation episodes published in the PokémonTV YouTube channel.
* "Pokérap" in the English subtitles of the 2nd and 5th TV intros ("You guys up for the Pokérap?" and "Get those lips loose, it’s time to Pokérap!").
==Release==
The Day 2 portion of the Pokérap was shown on the promotional preview VHS A Sneak Peek at Pokémon.
A full version of the Pokérap is available on disc 1 of the Season 1 US DVD box sets without the first three intro sentences, as well as volumes 1 to 7 of the Season 1 US VHS and DVD volumes. All of the Season 1 UK VHS volumes end with a full Pokérap, but one of the vocalists voices was redubbed.
It is available on four different soundtracks: Pokémon 2.B.A. Master, , Exclusive Target Mix! and Exclusive Toys R Us Mix!.
==Full lyrics==
(lyrics in bold are spoken)
<ab>OK, guys, we gotta rap some Pokémon.
You just do the singing. I'll take care of the hard part.
Let's get it on!'''
I want to be the best
there ever was.
To beat all the rest, yeah, 
that's my cause.
, , , 
, , , 
, , , 
, , , 
Catch 'em, catch 'em, gotta catch 'em all,
Pokémon!
I'll search across the land, 
look far and wide.
Release from my hand
the power that's inside.
, , , 
, , , 
, , , 
, , , 
Catch 'em, catch 'em, gotta catch 'em all,
Gotta catch 'em all, Pokémon!
, , , 
, , , 
, , , 
, , , 
Gotta catch 'em all, gotta catch 'em all, yeah!
Gotta catch 'em all, gotta catch 'em all, yeah!
Gotta catch 'em all, Pokémon! Ow!
, , , 
, , , 
, , , 
, , , 
At least 150 or more to see.
To be a Pokémon Master is my destiny.
, , , 
, , , 
, , , 
, , , 
Woo! We're at the halfway point, doing great so far.
We? What's all this "we" stuff? I'm doing all the hard work!
Breaktime's over, here we go!'''
, , , 
, , , 
, , , 
, , , 
Gotta catch 'em all, gotta catch 'em all, yeah!
Gotta catch 'em all, gotta catch 'em all, yeah!
, , , 
, , (Pokémon!)
, , , 
, , , 
At least 150 or more to see.
To be a Pokémon Master is my destiny.
, , , 
, , , 
, , 
, , , 
Whoa, catch your breath man. Shake out those lips.
It's downhill from here, just 24 more to go.
Now it gets tricky, so listen real good!'''
, , , 
, , , 
, , , 
, , - We're almost home!
Gotta catch 'em all, gotta catch 'em all, yeow!
Gotta catch 'em all, gotta catch 'em all, huhh!
Gotta catch 'em all, Pokémon! (yeeaahh!!)
, 
, , 
, 
, - That's all, folks!
Catch 'em, catch 'em, gotta catch 'em all (oowww)
Gotta catch 'em all, Pokémon
Catch 'em, catch 'em, gotta catch 'em all (oowww)
Gotta catch 'em all, Pokémon
Catch 'em, catch 'em, gotta catch 'em all
Gotta catch 'em all... Pokémon!</ab>
==TV edit lyrics==
===Monday version (Day 1)===
(lyrics in bold are spoken)
<ab>OK, guys, we gotta rap some Pokémon.
You just do the singing. I'll take care of the hard part.
Let's get it on!'''
I want to be the best
there ever was.
To beat all the rest, yeah, 
that's my cause.
Electrode, Diglett, Nidoran, Mankey
Venusaur, Rattata, Fearow, Pidgey
Seaking, Jolteon, Dragonite, Gastly
Ponyta, Vaporeon, Poliwrath, Butterfree
Catch 'em, catch 'em, gotta catch 'em all,
Pokémon!
I'll search across the land, 
look far and wide.
Release from my hand
the power that's inside.
Venomoth, Poliwag, Nidorino, Golduck
Ivysaur, Grimer, Victreebel, Moltres
Nidoking, Farfetch'd, Abra, Jigglypuff
Kingler, Rhyhorn, Clefable, Wigglytuff
Thirty-two down, that’s it for now.
Tune in tomorrow, we’ll rap at you some more.
There’s 150, so watch Monday Through Friday.
You’ll catch ‘em all!'''
Catch 'em, catch 'em, gotta catch 'em all,
Gotta catch 'em all, Pokémon!</ab>
====Episodes====
* Pokémon - I Choose You!
* Clefairy and the Moon Stone
* Charmander - The Stray Pokémon
* Pokémon Shipwreck
* Bye Bye Butterfree
* Pokémon Scent-sation!
* Dig Those Diglett!
* The Bridge Bike Gang
* Wake Up Snorlax!
* The Attack of the Prehistoric Pokémon
* Bulbasaur's Mysterious Garden
* The Ultimate Test
===Tuesday version (Day 2)===
<ab>You guys up for the Pokérap?
There’s 150 Pokémon. You gotta name 'em all!
I’m doing 32 today, so try to keep up.'''
Catch 'em, catch 'em, gotta catch 'em all,
Gotta catch 'em all, Pokémon!
Zubat, Primeape, Meowth, Onix
Geodude, Rapidash, Magneton, Snorlax
Gengar, Tangela, Goldeen, Spearow
Weezing, Seel, Gyarados, Slowbro
Gotta catch 'em all, gotta catch 'em all, yeah!
Gotta catch 'em all, gotta catch 'em all!
Kabuto, Persian, Paras, Horsea
Raticate, Magnemite, Kadabra, Weepinbell
Ditto, Cloyster, Caterpie, Sandshrew
Bulbasaur, Charmander, Golem, Pikachu
At least 150 or more to see.
To be a Pokémon Master is my destiny.
All right, how’d you do?
Loosen those lips, shake out that tongue!
Give it a rest, today’s song is sung.
We’ll be back tomorrow!'''
Catch 'em, catch 'em, gotta catch 'em all,
Gotta catch 'em all, Pokémon!</ab>
====Episodes====
* Pokémon Emergency!
* The Water Flowers of Cerulean City
* Here Comes the Squirtle Squad
* The Island of Giant Pokémon
* Abra and the Psychic Showdown
* Hypno's Naptime
* The Ninja Poké-Showdown
* Ditto's Mysterious Mansion
* Showdown at Dark City
* A Chansey Operation
* The Breeding Center Secret
===Wednesday version (Day 3)===
<ab>Pokémon!
It’s that time again!
A hundred and fifty Pokémon, 5 days a week.
That’s about 30 or so each day.
It’s not too hard, just listen real good!'''
Alakazam, Doduo, Venonat, Machoke
Kangaskhan, Hypno, Electabuzz, Flareon
Blastoise, Poliwhirl, Oddish, Drowzee
Raichu, Nidoqueen, Bellsprout, Starmie
Gotta catch 'em all, gotta catch 'em all, yeah!
Gotta catch 'em all, gotta catch 'em all, ow!
Metapod, Marowak, Kakuna, Clefairy
Dodrio, Seadra, Vileplume, Krabby
Lickitung, Tauros, Weedle, Nidoran
Machop, Shellder, Porygon, Hitmonchan
At least 150 or more to see.
To be a Pokémon Master is my destiny.
Okay, so today was pretty easy, 
But you gotta put all 5 days together.
That’s the only way to name all 150.
Catch you here tomorrow!'''
Catch 'em, catch 'em, gotta catch 'em all (oowww)
Gotta catch 'em all, Pokémon
Catch 'em, catch 'em, gotta catch 'em all (oowww)
Gotta catch 'em all, Pokémon
Catch 'em, catch 'em, gotta catch 'em all (yeeaahh)
Pokémon!</ab>
====Episodes====
* Ash Catches a Pokémon
* The Path to the Pokémon League
* Mystery at the Lighthouse
* The Tower of Terror
* Pokémon Fashion Flash
* The Flame Pokémon-athon!
* The March of the Exeggutor Squad
* Holy Matrimony!
===Thursday version (Day 4)===
<ab>Pokémon!
Attention, all Pokémon trainers!
Do you got what it takes to be the best?
Today, we’ll do 30 Pokémon!
It’s the ultimate test!'''
Gotta catch 'em all, gotta catch 'em all, yeah!
Gotta catch 'em all, gotta catch 'em all, yeeaahh!
Articuno, Jynx, Nidorina, Beedrill
Haunter, Squirtle, Chansey (Pokémon!)
Parasect, Exeggcute, Muk, Dewgong
Pidgeotto, Lapras, Vulpix, Rhydon
At least 150 or more to see.
To be a Pokémon Master is my destiny.
Charizard, Machamp, Pinsir, Koffing
Dugtrio, Golbat, Staryu, Magikarp
Ninetales, Ekans, Omastar
Scyther, Tentacool, Dragonair, Magmar
Not bad, not bad!
Hey, don’t get cocky. Tomorrow’s the hardest part.
We’re on our way to 150 Pokémon!
There’s no stopping us!'''
Catch 'em, catch 'em, gotta catch 'em all (oowww)
Gotta catch 'em all, Pokémon
Catch 'em, catch 'em, gotta catch 'em all (oowww)
Gotta catch 'em all, Pokémon
Catch 'em, catch 'em, gotta catch 'em all (yeeaahh)
Pokémon!</ab>
====Episodes====
* Challenge of the Samurai
* The School of Hard Knocks
* Electric Shock Showdown
* Tentacool & Tentacruel
* Haunter versus Kadabra
* The Punchy Pokémon
* The Kangaskhan Kid
* Pikachu's Goodbye
* The Problem with Paras
* So Near, Yet So Farfetch'd
* The Case of the K-9 Caper
===Friday version (Day 5)===
<ab>Pokémon!
Get those lips loose, it’s time to Pokérap!
Come on, sing ‘em with me! That’s the game!
There’s 150 Pokémon. How many can you name?'''
Gotta catch 'em all, gotta catch 'em all, yeah!
Gotta catch 'em all, gotta catch 'em all, ow!
Sandslash, Hitmonlee, Psyduck, Arcanine
Eevee, Exeggutor, Kabutops, Zapdos
Dratini, Growlithe, Mr. Mime, Cubone
Graveler, Voltorb, Gloom - We're almost home!
Gotta catch 'em all, gotta catch 'em all, yeah!
Gotta catch 'em all, gotta catch 'em all!
Gotta catch 'em all, Pokémon! (ow!!)
Charmeleon, Wartortle
Mewtwo, Tentacruel, Aerodactyl
Omanyte, Slowpoke
Pidgeot, Arbok - That's all, folks!
Can you name all the Pokémon?
Just put today’s song with the other days of the week.
That’s why you can’t miss a show.
You gotta catch ‘em all!'''
Catch 'em, catch 'em, gotta catch 'em all (oowww)
Gotta catch 'em all, Pokémon
Catch 'em, catch 'em, gotta catch 'em all (oowww)
Gotta catch 'em all, Pokémon
Catch 'em, catch 'em, gotta catch 'em all
Gotta catch 'em all... Pokémon!</ab>
====Episodes====
* Showdown in Pewter City
* Bulbasaur and the Hidden Village
* Battle Aboard the St. Anne
* The Ghost of Maiden's Peak
* Primeape Goes Bananas
* Sparks Fly for Magnemite
* The Battling Eevee Brothers
* The Song of Jigglypuff
* Who Gets to Keep Togepi?
* Pokémon Paparazzi
==Credits==
* Lead vocals: James "D Train" Williams, Babi Floyd
* BG vocals: John Loeffler, Louis Cortelezzi, Ken Cummings, James "D Train" Williams
* Co-produced and arranged by John Siegler
==United Kingdom broadcast edits==
The day-specific nature of some of the "Today's Pokemon" segments (included near the end of the raps) presented problems for international broadcasters who would not necessarily adhere to the same five-days-per-week schedule that the segments were originally designed for. While foreign language dubs may have avoided this problem by changing the dialogue during the dubbing process, countries airing the American version got around the problem in other ways.
* Since UK TV channels only have one commercial break in the middle of the show, and no commercials before the end credits, the "Don't go away, the Pokérap is next" section served no purpose, and was removed almost all of the time.
* In United Kingdom broadcasts on Sky One, any references to specific days of the week during the "Today's Pokemon" screen were removed, likely so that the channel could air episodes on any day of the week without the song providing incorrect scheduling information. For example, the Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday raps would almost always have their last lines, such as "We'll be back tomorrow" and "Catch you here tomorrow", cut out. The Monday Pokérap, which mentioned "Tune in tomorrow, we'll rap at ya some more" as soon as its second sentence was especially affected. This line would make no sense if, for example, the episode containing it was broadcast on a Friday. The editing was done inconsistently and differently on each episode, with occasional raps remaining uncut, most cutting only the final line in the "Today's Pokemon" part, and some cutting the screen out altogether. There was almost always a noticeable skip in the audio.
* Afternoon broadcasts on Children's ITV (CITV) removed the screen altogether, although with better editing.
* When aired on weekend mornings on GMTV in 1999, the opening segment (which often made reference to “five days a week”) was also removed, since GMTV only aired cartoons on ITV stations during weekends. The opening dialogue was removed and overdubbed with a British presenter in a faux-American accent, with dialogue such as "If you're gonna catch 'em, you're gonna have to learn their names!", which in the process removed any mention of the five-day-a-week format. The "Today's Pokemon" screen was cut entirely. In addition, two raps were shown per show - one before the first part, and one after the half-way commercial break before the second part of the show.
==Trivia==
* is shown in her original black design.
* An alternate version of the Pokérap is featured on the promotional VHS tape A Sneak Peek at Pokémon that was issued prior to the debut of the in the United States. The Pokérap displays the name of Rapidash correctly, but it is pronounced "Rapidos" in this version, which was re-recorded for the final version.
* In a Kids' WB promo, a verse of the Pokérap was sung by boyband (beginning with ). However, the band members mispronounced as "mook".
* The five split segments were placed into episodes based on their Japanese airing order. This caused problems during the show's time in first-run syndication; Tentacool & Tentacruel aired the "Thursday" segment despite falling into the Wednesday slot in the syndication cycles due to Beauty and the Beach initially being skipped, with The Bridge Bike Gang and Pikachu's Goodbye airing the "Monday" and "Thursday" segments, respectively, despite them falling into Thursday and Monday in the cycles due to the loss of EP035 and EP038. No attempt was ever made to correct this.
** Had the entire first season aired in syndication, the last four episodes of the first season would have been bumped back a whole week in the syndication cycles due to Princess vs. Princess and The Purr-fect Hero being moved to the start of what was considered by Kids' WB the second season in the dub, thus somewhat correcting the problem due to the four episodes coming afterwards having the segments that corresponded to what would have been their days of the week in the cycle.
* If the Pokémon in the Pokérap are rearranged so that they are in National Pokédex order, , , , and would remain in their positions in the song.
* The shown in the Pokérap was not a real Kabuto, but rather Bill in a Kabuto costume. Also, the , , , , , and shown were all actually mechanical Pokémon from Island of the Giant Pokémon.
** There are at least 22 separate instances when a clip from Island of the Giant Pokémon is displayed in the song. Most notably, the images of the mechanical and appear frequently.
* is the only Pokémon from Generation I that is not included.
* The Pokérap footage for Rhyhorn, Dratini, and Dragonair originate from EP035, which was never released in the dub. Additionally, bridge stanza footage of Misty reeling in a is also from that episode.
* Sheet music for this song is included in the and Pokémon Five-Finger Piano.
* Some complained about the songhttps://kotaku.com/the-time-they-thought-pokemon-was-satanic-1670792676[inadequate source], because they claimed that if one were to play backwards the Pokérap, "Gotta Catch 'em All!" can be heard as "I love you ".
* Tuesday's verse (Zubat-Pikachu) is the only one that uses episode footage for all Pokémon with no stock art used.
** Including the Poliwrath and Graveler errors, 59 of the 150 Pokémon segments used stock art.
* At the end of the Pokérap Day 4 segment at the end of the premiere of The Problem with Paras, the Kids' WB announcer at the time, , dubbed over the voice that normally tells the viewer to watch for more of the Pokérap with, "Tune in next week and watch Ash, Misty, and Brock on their quest to become Pokémon masters! Don't miss them, the new ones are now only on Kids' WB!". Some Kids' WB airings of other episodes had similar messages, reworded as "/ watch Ash, Misty, and Brock continue their quest to become Pokémon masters!" When The Problem with Paras was rerun on and Boomerang, and even when uploaded onto , the Kids' WB announcer's voice from the premiere remained. Home video releases, streaming services, and Disney XD retain the voices telling the viewers to watch for more of the Pokérap.
* In the dub, the Pokérap segment was not included in episodes after Bye Bye Butterfree, as it was considered surreptitious advertising.
* In Day 5 of the Pokérap, the line "That's all folks!" is a reference to the phrase shown at the end of and cartoons.
===Errors===
* In the VHS and DVD versions of the Pokérap, when is mentioned, 's picture is shown. This is also true of its first few appearances in the TV Pokérap version (Day 1). Likewise, when is mentioned (Day 5), 's picture is shown. Both of these errors were eventually corrected in version 2, although they still appear in foreign language versions of early episodes as they are still using the initial masters sent by 4Kids. Netflix's prints of later first season episodes correct the errors.
* 's name is misspelled as Likitung.
* In the German version of the Pokérap, 's image is shown with 's name displayed above. When Kakuna's picture is shown, it says .
** Also in the German Pokérap, is pronounced .
* In the CD version, is sung as .
** 's ears are light blue.
Kanto Pokérap error Poliwrath.png|Poliwag is shown instead of Poliwrath
Kanto Pokérap error Lickitung.png|Lickitung's name is misspelled as Likitung
Kanto Pokérap error Graveler.png|Geodude is shown instead of Graveler
==In other languages==
==References==
==Related articles==
Category:English ending themes
Category:English songs
Category:Animated series segments
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