Dragon Ball Z is mostly known for epic fighting and duel between its many characters, but a rather overlooked element in the series is the music. This is particularly the case in Japan, where several now iconic songs have been tied to the series. Though they might not be as popular among Western fans, these tunes (and one in particular) definitely fit a bit better than the Funimation dub's main theme.
"Rock the Dragon" was the theme song used for the first 50+ episodes of Funimation's version of Dragon Ball Z, and it's a song that many Western fans still associate with the anime. It certainly fits the show's brutal and action-packed tone, which was key in getting it over with young audiences. Nevertheless, it's missing an element of whimsy and adventure that can be found in DBZ's Japanese theme song.
Dragon Ball Z's First English Theme Song Was a Rocking Hype Tune
The first theme song used for the English dub of Dragon Ball Z was the now iconic "Rock the Dragon." As its name might suggest, the song is a heavy metal tune with roaring instruments, which makes sense given some of the talent involved. The original localization of Dragon Ball Z was handled by Saban, the company that used footage from Super Sentai to create Mighty Morphin' Power Rangers and its many sequels. The well-known theme song to Mighty Morphin' Power Rangers was created and performed by Ron Wasserman, who also created similar music for the Ocean Group dub of DBZ. Though he wasn't behind "Rock the Dragon," the powerful song definitely has the same DNA as the other music he made. Adding onto the action of the song were scenes from the series' many battles and even some of the Dragon Ball Z movies, ramping up the hype.
Given its heavy sound and the lyrics which implored listeners to "come get me," it's inarguable that "Rock the Dragon" perfectly captured the general tone of Dragon Ball Z. From epic fights to screaming out the names of attacks, the series is essentially the narrative equivalent to metal/rock songs, in a way. Thus, it's no wonder the song's title would be used for the Dragon Ball Z: Rock the Dragon Edition home media collection, which contained the entirety of the original Ocean Group English dub. Even with how fitting it was, it captures only some aspects of the series. On the other hand, the Japanese theme — which isn't nearly as heavy — does a much better job of encompassing all that Dragon Ball Z has to offer. That's shown not just in how adventurous it is but also in how ridiculous some of the lyrics are.
Dragon Ball Z's Original Japanese Theme Is Even Better Than "Rock the Dragon"
"Cha-La Head-Cha-La" is the first theme song for the original Japanese version of Dragon Ball Z, and it's inarguably more iconic than "Rock the Dragon." The song was performed by Hironobu Kageyama, who would go on to do several songs for Dragon Ball Z, including the series' second theme, "We Gotta Power." Though "Cha-La Head-Cha-La" also has rock motifs, they aren't quite as strong or boisterous as the one's heard in the English theme. Due to this, the song is not only incredibly catchy but a better representation of the series as a whole. The rock motifs reflect the focus on fighting that the series would have, but the somewhat lighter tone also embodied the adventurous spirit of searching for the Dragon Balls that would be retained from the previous anime.
The playful nature was definitely in the lyrics, which spoke of "breaking through the shining clouds." This didn't at all sound like something from a heavy metal fight song, but rather the joy and wonder experienced by Goku with his son, Gohan. There's even a line about training a dinosaur to ride a ball in a manner resembling a circus act, which is perhaps the most random lyric possible. Nevertheless, it reflects the many dinosaurs and animal people in Dragon Ball Z, showcasing how whimsical the world could be amid the many tumultuous battles experienced by the heroes. This, along with its actual lyrical variation, makes it a much better theme than "Rock the Dragon," which fails to truly summarize the iconic anime series in the same way.