Halcali (ハルカリ, Harukari, stylized as HALCALI), were a Japanese J-pop duo consisting of Halca and Yucali from Meguro, Tokyo, Japan. Its name is a portmanteau of Halca (ハルカ, Haruka) and Yucali (ユカリ, Yukari). Their debut album, Halcali Bacon, reached #5 on the Oricon charts, making it the first album by a female hip-hop artist to enter the top ten in Japanese history.[citation needed]
Halcali | |
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Background information | |
Origin | Meguro, Tokyo, Japan |
Genres | |
Years active | 2002–2013 |
Labels | Epic Records |
Members |
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Halcali also made their American debut in May 2008 as the musical guests of honor at the Anime Central convention.[1][2] They performed again in America at Central Park, New York City on June 1, 2008 as part of a Japan Day Festival as part of a Japanese tourism campaign.[3][4]
As Halcali did not renew their contracts with Epic Records Japan, they have had no outstanding entertainment activity as a unit as of 2013.
Creation
editPre-debut
editHaruka and Yukari were close friends since elementary school and also attended the same local Meguro dance school. Both girls were only interested in becoming dancers in the future and had no aspiration to become singers. In 2002, Haruka and Yukari noticed a pink flier for an audition to become a "female hip hop unit" which was held by the group Rip Slyme.[5][6] Yukari admitted that the both of them entered the competition simply to see what it was.[7] Among hundreds of entrants, Haruka and Yukari were chosen to form Halcali.[8][9] The girls modestly spoke of their formation, saying that although there were many girls cuter than themselves, Rip Slyme and Oshare Toy Factory riskily chose them. Yukari stated, "Sometimes it's like you want to have a piece of really gross gum- Just to see!"[7]
Debut
editHalcali debuted at a free concert held by Rip Slyme at the Budokan theatre. There, Halcali performed with Rip Slyme and were introduced along with their debut single, "タンデム" (Tandem). "Tandem" was released on January 8, 2003 and was marketed on several Japanese television networks, along with MTV. The single entered into the Oricon Charts at position 19.[10][11]
The time between the release of their first single to that of their debut album Halcali moved away from mainstream J-pop and toward a style combining pop and rap; an airy, self-parody "bubblegum" rap in the vein of earlier groups such as East End X Yuri. This was evident in their second and third singles, "エレクトリック
The latter song attracted attention from Western audiences when it appeared on Adam and Joe Go Tokyo.[citation needed]
Discography
editStudio albums
edit- Halcali Bacon (2003)
- Ongaku no Susume (2004)
- Cyborg Oretachi (2007)
- 'Tokyo Groove (2010)
- Halcali no Okawari (2012)
Singles
edit- "Tandem" (2003)
- "Electric Sensei" (2003)
- "GiriGiri Surf Rider" (2003)
- "Strawberry Chips" (2003)
- "Marching March" (2004)
- "Baby Blue!" (2004)
- "Tip Taps Tip" (2005)
- "Twinkle Star" (2006)
- "Look" (2006)
- "Tougenkyou / Lights, Camera. Action!" (2007)
- "It's Party Time!" (2007)
- "Long Kiss Good Bye" (2008)
- "Re:Yasashii Kimochi" (2009)
- "Konya wa Boogie Back" (2009)
- "Endless Night / YES" (2010)
- "You May Dream" (2010)
- "Roman Hikou" (2010)
References
edit- ^
米 シカゴでのジャパニーズカルチャーフェス「CENTRAL」にメインゲストで出演 !http://www.halcali.com/ - ^ "Anime Central - The Midwest Largest Anime and Manga Convention!".
- ^ "Japan Day @ Central Park: Japan Day Festival". japandaynyc.org. Archived from the original on 2008-06-02. Retrieved 2008-05-27.
- ^ Just Doing It the Halcali Way! June 13, 2008, by Dennis A. Amith [kndy], retrieved June 13, 2008
- ^ Epic Records, Sony Music Entertainment Japan, (2007) "Halcali Official Web Site" Epic Records/SONY -- "
東京 都 目黒 区 出身 のHALCA(ハルカ=19)とYUCALI(ユカリ=19)の2人組 ガールズヒップホップユニット小学校 の頃 から都内 の同 じダンスス クールに通 い、「FEMALE RAPPER オーディション」で、見事 グランプリに輝 き、O.T.Fの全面 プロデュースのもと、デビュー。"; - ^ Epic Records, et al. (2007), As a rough translation (In original past-tense) -- "The signing [of Halcali] by O.T.F begins with Haruka (19) with Yukari (19), who commute to the same dance school alongside 2 groups [of girls] from Girl's High School (Puhotsu Puyunitsuto (?) ) to "Female Rapper auditions" where they were chosen from the competition ... [moved to beginning as per grammar]"
- ^ a b YouTube.
- ^ Epic Records, et al. (2007) -- "2002
年 7月 26日 RIP SLYMEによる無料 武道館 ライブで、メンバーの呼 びかけで客席 からステージに上 がり、1万 人 の観客 を前 にデビューシングルとなった「タンデム」を初 披露 。" - ^ Epic Records, et al. (2007)., Rough translation (past-tense) "On July 26, 2002 the rap band RIP SLYME announced [live,] on-stage in front of 10,000 viewers that [...] new band Halcali would be releasing their debut single "Tandemu" (Tandem)"
- ^ Epic Records, et al. (2007), -- "2003
年 1月 8日 1st single「タンデム」リリース。プロモーションビデオがCS/BS系 ミュージックチャンネル4局 (WOW WOW、スペースシャワーTV、MTV、M-ON!)のパワープレイが同時 に決定 し、話題 騒然 に。オリコンチャート19位 にランクインする。" - ^ Epic Records, et al. (2007),Rough translation (past-tense) -- "1st single, "Tandem" is announced [for release] on January 8, 2003, with the music video being played on [television networks] WOW WOW, Space Shower TV, MTV and M-ON to coincide with the release of the single. In ranking, it reached position 19 on the Oricon Charts."