Were the English dubbed songs necessary?

[SuperSaiyanHedgehog]

So we all probably know that in the FUNimation dub of Kai, the opening and endings are dubbed into English. But I was wondering something: Was doing this really necessary for the show's success on Nicktoons? While I love Vic Mignogna's version of Dragon Soul, along with a couple other of the dubbed songs (GINYU FORCE RULES), would the kids who watched this really have cared if the songs were in Japanese or not? After all, they didn't bother dubbing some of the songs in the later half of the series (they didn't even use the dubbed Dragon Soul at the end of episode 98).

Could the dubbed songs' creations have been a decision on Nicktoons' end?

[MrWalnut4]

I don't think that decision was made by Funimation for a more kid-friendly airing on Nicktoons. The dubbed songs are still present on the DVD and Bluray releases, so I doubt they were solely for the Nicktoons broadcast. On the other hand, there are several arrangements of Dragon Soul on the DVD/Bluray release instead of only the Vic Mignogna performance for the Nicktoons broadcast which was intentional. Plus, we've had songs translated and dubbed for other Dragon Ball media, like GT's opening theme Dan Dan Kokoro Hikareteku. While it makes more sense for the intro and outro songs to be dubbed, I'm not sure the reasoning for translating Ginyu Tokusentai into English. I personally like the Japanese version more than the English version, but it's alright.

[TheBlackPaladin]

Necessary? Eh, I don't think so, but I do think it was the right call. In my opinion, it's distracting to hear Japanese songs in an English dub. I don't dislike Japanese songs, I've got a ton of them on my iPod and have no problem hearing them in the original Japanese versions of animes. To hear a Japanese song alongside dialogue that's in a different language, though, is a little distracting. Not distracting enough to ruin the experience by any means, but a little distracting. If you're gonna dub the dialogue, why not dub the songs, you know?

[SuperSaiyanHedgehog]

Necessary? Eh, I don't think so, but I do think it was the right call. In my opinion, it's distracting to hear Japanese songs in an English dub. I don't dislike Japanese songs, I've got a ton of them on my iPod and have no problem hearing them in the original Japanese versions of animes. To hear a Japanese song alongside dialogue that's in a different language, though, is a little distracting. Not distracting enough to ruin the experience by any means, but a little distracting. If you're gonna dub the dialogue, why not dub the songs, you know?

I totally agree with you. But I'm still wondering how most kids today would feel about the Japanese songs being left in.

[Mewzard]

Frankly, I'm just sad Sabat never dubbed Saiyan Blood. Would have been fantastic. I also would have loved to hear FUNi dub the full "Ginyu Force Rules" with all the actors singing for their characters, but that one would have just been for fun since it wasn't in Kai.

Do love dubbed music where appropriate. Though FUNi does tend to eventually stop dubbing music in a show at some point or another.

[funrush]

The dubbed intro and ending were a total plus, don't think the insert songs mattered a whole ton but they were definitely a nice touch.

[Cure Dragon 255]

I'm really sorry Topic Creator but I dont like the implication that dubbing songs is for kids. Funimation used to dub all their songs for their anime. Even those aimed at adults that would never get a TV like Ouran High School Host Club. And Funimation eventually stopped dubbing songs on Kai so kids did hear Japanese songs on Kai. And kids dont mind Japanese songs at all. Even Disney XD kept Japanese openings for Naruto Shippuden. Dubbing songs was something Funimation used to do. Nothing More and nothing less. Nicktoons didnt force them to.

[Kamiccolo9]

Wasn't "A Chilling Elegy" left undubbed?

[Gonstead]

I said this years ago but if you're going to dub something, why not go all the way (Barring issues with rights and monetary concerns)?

[Cure Dragon 255]

Wasn't "A Chilling Elegy" left undubbed?

Yes. After a while Funimation just gave up with dubbing songs.

[TheBlackPaladin]

I also loved the dubbed version of "Over the Star." I liked it when I heard it on TV, but when somebody was able to extract the song from the DVD release, I friggin' loved it...it gave me chills.

[Valerius Dover]

I also loved the dubbed version of "Over the Star." I liked it when I heard it on TV, but when somebody was able to extract the song from the DVD release, I friggin' loved it...it gave me chills.

That reminds me. Did anyone ever do the same for Ginyu Force Rules? Can't seem to find the English version of that anywhere. You'd think it'd be pretty easy to get.

[Gonstead]

I also loved the dubbed version of "Over the Star." I liked it when I heard it on TV, but when somebody was able to extract the song from the DVD release, I friggin' loved it...it gave me chills.

That reminds me. Did anyone ever do the same for Ginyu Force Rules? Can't seem to find the English version of that anywhere. You'd think it'd be pretty easy to get.

I remember someone isolated and extracted Sabat's vocals and uploaded it online. I think the same person also did it with Mignogna's Dan Dan and the ED for GT but they were taken down.