Non-"Rock the Dragon" English Opening

linkdude20002001 · Post by **linkdude20002001** » Thu Dec 17, 2009 7:40 pm

The Time Traveller wrote:That's the Ocean opening from when they took over after Funimation.

It was used on the Cell and Majin Boo arcs.

Rock the Dragon wasn't used again because Saban supplied the music, Saban had nothing to do with the second Ocean dub so they had to recycle Megaman music.

Actually, "Rock the Dragon" was made by Funimation. That's why it was used in Budokai 1.

Also, The Ocean Group didn't take over after Funimation; it was Westwood Media (and even then, they didn't "take over"; it was more like "replaced").
The Ocean Group was hired by Westwood Media to dub the series much like Funimation did in 1996.

Big Momma · Post by **Big Momma** » Thu Dec 17, 2009 8:25 pm

Kunzait_83 wrote:
Bura wrote:I was talking about this one, actually.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xAKtaPQVUPc
That was the pile of shit I was thinking of as well.

Oh, okay.

Definitely a horrible ending, but I wouldn't be embarrassed to watch it with someone nearby. Eh, well.

Onikage725 · Post by **Onikage725** » Thu Dec 17, 2009 9:03 pm

I wish I wasn't behind a firewall so I could actually know which themes are being thrown around. I have some opinions on some of these tunes, but don't know which ones are being specifically referenced. Blah, I'll be back when I get home I guess.

Are any of these themes that one...gah I can't remember, but I popped in one of the movies earlier this year without changing languages right away and the theme was ESPECIALLY shitty. Like, not the usual Faulconer opening theme, or the slightly more stylized remix that popped up later. It was like some reallllly shitty techno and some guy chanting "Dragon Ball Zeeeee." I think it was one of the movies, I can't imagine what else I own that I would have run across that with. God I won't miss that shit in this new era of Dragon Box releases (here's hoping for movies too).

As for the regular Faulconer theme, the opening guitar rifts are decent (though I don't think they fit), but the part I think is corny is the main portion. Y'know, that part they play over the episode title card? That has always been utterly unimpressive and forgettable, to me. The worst part is when they overlay that song with Cha La visuals. It's really jarring, at least if you're familiar with the original.

Metalwario64 · Post by **Metalwario64** » Thu Dec 17, 2009 10:33 pm

Onikage725 wrote:It was like some reallllly shitty techno and some guy chanting "Dragon Ball Zeeeee."

Wasn't that the dub intro theme to the Baadaku and Tolankusu specials?

Onikage725 · Post by **Onikage725** » Thu Dec 17, 2009 10:40 pm

Maaaaaybe. I do have "History of Trunks."

Gogeta 00 · Post by **Gogeta 00** » Thu Dec 17, 2009 10:41 pm

This is the theme I grew up with, I used to think it was awesome. But wow it is not near as good as I remembered at all

.

On a side note, when I watched DBZ on YTV back in the day, it featured this opening, but contained the Funimation dub and not the Ocean dub. Seems kind of strange, but I'm positive that's how it was. Can anyone back this up?

Super Sonic · Post by **Super Sonic** » Thu Dec 17, 2009 11:13 pm

Have to say, didn't like the Faulconer opening. Wanted them to do Rock the Dragon to new scenes like how Sailor Moon S did. For those of you wondering what I'm talking about:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w6_Cfai1zxw

penguintruth · Post by **penguintruth** » Thu Dec 17, 2009 11:19 pm

Super Sonic wrote:Have to say, didn't like the Faulconer opening. Wanted them to do Rock the Dragon to new scenes like how Sailor Moon S did. For those of you wondering what I'm talking about:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w6_Cfai1zxw

At least DiC bothered to do an English version of the Sailor Moon theme song, instead of just replacing it with something unrelated.

Super Sonic · Post by **Super Sonic** » Fri Dec 18, 2009 12:01 am

The change was kinda understadable when you remember how things were. Back then, there was still the thought of "More Japanese, less American kids will like it". So they would try to make shows like American cartoons and American action cartoons had very actiony theme songs, while Cha-La, while a good song, isn't very actiony, or have anything to do with the plot. In other words, compare Cha-La to DBZ's Toonami counterparts.

penguintruth · Post by **penguintruth** » Fri Dec 18, 2009 12:20 am

Cha-La, Head Cha-La absolutely does have to do with the show, it's about the sense of wonder present throughout the series. Even though Z is mostly a combat show, it still retains elements of the earlier DB story, with travelling to a different planet, meeting all kinds of gods and wizards, etc.

They probably could've come up with an English version for an opening, but they preferred turning it into some brainless American cartoon with AWESOME ROCK. I can't argue that it didn't work, but it was still pretty cynical.

You're telling me we can't get Vic Mignogna to sing the Filipino dub movie version of Cha-La, Head Cha-La?

verto · Post by **verto** » Fri Dec 18, 2009 1:46 am

Gogeta 00 wrote:This is the theme I grew up with, I used to think it was awesome. But wow it is not near as good as I remembered at all .

On a side note, when I watched DBZ on YTV back in the day, it featured this opening, but contained the Funimation dub and not the Ocean dub. Seems kind of strange, but I'm positive that's how it was. Can anyone back this up?

I've always assumed that I grew up with the Ocean dub, but for all I know it was FUNi's voices. I don't remember it enough to know, I started watching it in... grade 1? I was a stupid child anyway, I don't remember noticing too many differences in actors, I was too busy being mesmerized by the colours and general bad-assery.

GizmoKSX · Post by **GizmoKSX** » Fri Dec 18, 2009 3:05 am

Bura wrote: I was talking about this one, actually.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xAKtaPQVUPc

I was in late middle school when that intro was being used and mostly only exposed to the dubs, but even putting the music aside, that montage always struck me as very poorly done. The clips don't flow together at all, and most of them are from poorly animated shots with unnecessary sound/voice on top of them. At least "Rock The Dragon" used high-quality, interest-sustaining movie footage.

Onikage725 wrote: Are any of these themes that one...gah I can't remember, but I popped in one of the movies earlier this year without changing languages right away and the theme was ESPECIALLY shitty. Like, not the usual Faulconer opening theme, or the slightly more stylized remix that popped up later. It was like some reallllly shitty techno and some guy chanting "Dragon Ball Zeeeee." I think it was one of the movies, I can't imagine what else I own that I would have run across that with. God I won't miss that shit in this new era of Dragon Box releases (here's hoping for movies too).

Until you mentioned it, that theme had stayed buried in the back of my mind during this whole topic. It's probably the single worst DBZ dub theme used in the US, but thankfully, it's pretty obscure.

nathantheguitarist · Post by **nathantheguitarist** » Fri Dec 18, 2009 4:00 am

(very slowly cobbled-together post ahead)
As a fan of both versions of the show, I have to say that I enjoy every English dub intro... except whatever the fuck that is that you guys got overseas.

I also had no idea that the version of "Dragonball Z (song)" had an earlier version. When I saw those episodes, it was just the standard Toonami intro stuffs.

Here's the version Bura posted.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xAKtaPQVUPc

Here's the one that I first saw on the Buu Saga tapes I used to buy almost religiously.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jmgv1O3QDNg

The little guitar fills are all different. This makes me seriously wonder who the fuck played on all of these lol. I'm betting the first one is Scott Morgan, while the second could be what's his name... Not Faulconer. (Hate my memory with names). Kinda like how either Ron Wasserman (aka Aaron Waters, aka The Mighty RAW) or Shuki Levy wrote "Rock the Dragon". Neither exactly remember really doing it, but both take credit for it on their websites.

Well, they take credit for at least "Dragonball Z" so I'm not sure. I know Ron said he said "Well, I seem to remember doing that, but it sounds like they threw some other guys voice over mine." (<-Not exact quote. Don't bite.)

Oh... and then there's this one. Made longer for Cha-La I guess.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6C8AFGdXZK4

Maybe that's why the second version of "Dragonball Z (song)" is different? Maybe made a bit shorter/longer to be thrown on top of "We Gotta Power"? Nevermind.. just went and watched We Gotta Power. There's a lot chopped out for the English intro... I quit.

...I just found out who did that one for the Broly movie. It's some band called Tendril. Now this one hurts my ears lol. Instrumental is much better.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-20Z-r1kwmg

Here's the terribad intro to the TV Specials. This ...song... can go to hell.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WzxkwweZy_w

And there's this retardation from the UUE's that can also go to hell.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mkXjTaOYaXo

Ok, so now I've found out I only like "Rock the Dragon" and "Dragonball Z (song)". What an enlightening post hehe. It took me a while, but I now realize how shitty English intro's have really been. Well... I thought I liked them all. I forgot a lot of these.

Rocketman · Post by **Rocketman** » Fri Dec 18, 2009 4:29 am

penguintruth wrote:Cha-La, Head Cha-La absolutely does have to do with the show, it's about the sense of wonder present throughout the series. Even though Z is mostly a combat show, it still retains elements of the earlier DB story, with travelling to a different planet, meeting all kinds of gods and wizards, etc.

Cha-la is shit. There is no sense of wonder in DBZ. The Saiyan invasion was all about the beloved cast and Chiaotzu being murdered. The trip to Namek had precisely zero "woah, check all this new stuff out!" and precisely all "holy fuck, we're gonna die". The Android/Cell arc lies in the shadow of a desolate future, and Buu rejoices in the slaughter of the entire population of Earth piecemeal.

Kunzait_83 wrote:How does the Faulconer theme NOT have this exact same effect? It's JUST as cheesy and faux-kiddie-"cool" sounding as this is, and just as embarassing to be caught listening to one as it is the other.

Because "I wanna train a dinosaur to balance on a ball!

" won't get you laughed at.

penguintruth · Post by **penguintruth** » Fri Dec 18, 2009 4:52 am

Rocketman wrote:
penguintruth wrote:Cha-La, Head Cha-La absolutely does have to do with the show, it's about the sense of wonder present throughout the series. Even though Z is mostly a combat show, it still retains elements of the earlier DB story, with travelling to a different planet, meeting all kinds of gods and wizards, etc.
Cha-la is shit. There is no sense of wonder in DBZ. The Saiyan invasion was all about the beloved cast and Chiaotzu being murdered. The trip to Namek had precisely zero "woah, check all this new stuff out!" and precisely all "holy fuck, we're gonna die". The Android/Cell arc lies in the shadow of a desolate future, and Buu rejoices in the slaughter of the entire population of Earth piecemeal.

I disagree. I think Cha-La Head Cha-La is basically a song sung by Gohan, or his perspective, just like Zenkai Powaa (not literally by the VA, obviously). It's basically a representation of the new adventures opening up for Gohan.

And there was plenty of wondrous things for Gohan, even if their were frightening things, especially in his wilderness training. But I think the song deals mostly with Gohan's expectations and ideals, his dreams and hopes.

Yes, teaching a dinosaur to balance on a ball is something the little child that Gohan starts out as would dream about.

And anyway, it's a very fun song, and not some insult to your intelligence like the no-effort guitar riff themes for the dub.

"We Gotta Powaa" on the other hand, I'm not sure what that's about. I can only speculate it's a Goten and Trunks thing, or possibly for the teen Gohan.

Sprite Satan · Post by **Sprite Satan** » Fri Dec 18, 2009 9:36 am

We Gotta Power seems to be about all the "new" folk. Gohan is the "party's leading man", Trunks and Goten are the "naughty boys" and Videl is the girl.

omegacwa · Post by **omegacwa** » Fri Dec 18, 2009 11:57 am

That song in the original post is pretty annoying. I prefer the Falcouner opening used for Season 3 over that.

The worst intro song is definitely the one used on history of Trunks.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WzxkwweZy_w

Sorry if someone already posted this, but it is so awful it warrants a re post.

Big Momma · Post by **Big Momma** » Fri Dec 18, 2009 12:04 pm

Sprite Satan wrote:We Gotta Power seems to be about all the "new" folk. Gohan is the "party's leading man", Trunks and Goten are the "naughty boys" and Videl is the girl.

Then who is NO-TEN P-KAN?!!

Kirbopher · Post by **Kirbopher** » Fri Dec 18, 2009 12:26 pm

Bura wrote:Seriously, I love the cast, but fuck you Ocean.

Not Ocean's fault, first and foremost.

Also if you guys listen really closely during a certain part of this opening, they do say "Rock the Dragon".

Metalwario64 wrote:Wasn't that the dub intro theme to the Baadaku and Tolankusu specials?

...um.

Sprite Satan · Post by **Sprite Satan** » Fri Dec 18, 2009 12:36 pm

Big Momma wrote:Then who is NO-TEN P-KAN?!!

NO-TEN = No Tenshinhan because he's useless. (Hey, they didn't know he'd pop up to Kikoho Boo back then)

P-KAN = Paikuhan who makes a few filler cameos.

See? This song is deep shit.