Halcali

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.

Halcali
Halca and Yucali at Japan Expo 2007.
Halca and Yucali at Japan Expo 2007.
Background information
OriginMeguro, Tokyo, Japan
Genres
Years active2002–2013
LabelsEpic Records
Members
  • Halca
  • Yucali

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

Pre-debut

Haruka 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

Halcali 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]

Halcali performing in Central Park during Japan Day 2008

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, "エレクトリック先生" (Electric Sensei) and "ギリギリ・サーフライダー" (Girigiri Surf Rider) released in mid-2003. Both singles focused on rap rather than pop.

The latter song attracted attention from Western audiences when it appeared on Adam and Joe Go Tokyo.

Halcali with DJ Kimjun performing at Anime Central in Chicago, May 16, 2008

Discography

Studio albums

Singles
  • "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
  1. 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/
  2. "Anime Central - The Midwest Largest Anime and Manga Convention!".
  3. "Japan Day @ Central Park: Japan Day Festival". japandaynyc.org. Archived from the original on 2008-06-02. Retrieved 2008-05-27.
  4. Just Doing It the Halcali Way! June 13, 2008, by Dennis A. Amith [kndy], retrieved June 13, 2008
  5. 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。";
  6. 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]"
  7. YouTube.
  8. 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。"
  9. 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)"
  10. 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。"
  11. 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."
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