Kanto Pokérap

The Pokérap is a song that was made popular by the Pokémon anime. It is the English equivalent of the song Can You Say Them All? It was played at the end of every episode from Pokémon, I Choose You to The Breeding Center Secret.

The main purpose of the Pokérap was to list the names of the 150 Pokémon that existed at the time, except for Mew. Two verses would be played at the end of an episode, and by the end of a five-day week, all the verses would have been sung. A full version of the Pokérap is available on part one of the season one DVD box set, as well as several of the Kanto VHS tapes released back in 1999.

It is also available on the Pokémon 2.B.A. Master CD, as well as the Pokémon X CD.

Two more Pokéraps were created for the Generation II and Generation III Pokémon, though these never aired with the show as the first one had. It is expected that in time the 107 Generation IV Pokémon will also get their own Pokérap.

The Legend of Dratini

An interesting point of note is that several scenes of Pokémon from the original Pokérap were taken from the banned episode The Legend of Dratini. These include Rhyhorn, Dratini and Dragonair. In addition, on the version aired on TV, one of the scenes shown is Misty catching a Gyarados with her fishing line. This was also from the banned episode. These scenes seem to suggest that the episode may have been dubbed, but banned before airing.

Errors

File:Pokerap error1.jpg
Poliwag is shown instead of Poliwrath.
  • In the VHS and DVD versions, when Poliwrath is mentioned, Poliwag's picture is shown. This is also true of its first few appearances in the TV episodes. This error was later corrected.
  • In a similar situation, when Graveler was mentioned, Geodude's picture was shown. This was also eventually corrected.
  • Pidgeot's name is pronounced as Pid-jit, whereas in the TV series it was always (except in movie 8) pronounced Pid-gee-ot.
  • Omastar's name is said as o-ma-sor rather than om-a-star.
  • Venusaur's name was said ven-a-sor not the corect veen-a-sor.
  • Pidgeotto's name was said pij-o-t-o whereas the anime syas it as pij-e-o-t-o.
  • Lickitung's name was spelled Likitung rather than Lickitung.
  • In the German translation of the Pokérap, Krabby is said but Hypno is shown above.

Full lyrics

OK, guys, we gotta rap some Pokemon.
You just do the singing. I'll take care of the hard part.

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

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, yeah!
Gotta catch 'em all, Pokémon! Ow!

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.

Alakazam, Doduo, Venonat, Machoke
Kangaskhan, Hypno, Electabuzz, Flareon
Blastoise, Poliwhirl, Oddish, Drowzee
Raichu, Nidoqueen, Bellsprout, Starmie

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!

Metapod, Marowak, Kakuna, Clefairy
Dodrio, Seadra, Vileplume, Krabby
Lickitung, Tauros, Weedle, Nidoran
Machop, Shellder, Porygon, Hitmonchan

Gotta catch 'em all, gotta catch 'em all, yeah!
Gotta catch 'em all, gotta catch 'em all, yeah!

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

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!

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, yeow!
Gotta catch 'em all, gotta catch 'em all, huhh!
Gotta catch 'em all, Pokémon!

Charmeleon, Wartortle
Mewtwo, Tentacruel, Aerodactyl
Omanyte, Slowpoke
Pidgeot, Arbok - 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!

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