MovieChat Forums > Dragon Ball Z: Doragon bôru zetto (1996) Discussion > Which music score is better? Original Ja...

Which music score is better? Original Japanese or American?

posted 9 years ago by vnisanian2001
10 replies | jump to latest

Both have good songs, but overall, I gotta go with the original Japanese, by the one and only Shunsuke Kikuchi.

One thing I find interesting about Kikuchi (and I didn't know this until now) is that when he scored the music for DBZ, he would compose a new package of music for the films, and then later incorporate it into the regular show (very rarely did his newer music packages debut in said regular show). His music score for DBZ movies 1 to 13 were respectively incorporated into the show in episodes #021, #047, #066, #097, #114, #141, #161, #191, #200, #234, #246, #273, and #289.

[–] FinalFight 9 years ago

I liked the Ocean Group soundtrack the best.

[–] roflwaffle357 9 years ago

the Japanese soundtrack did nothing to convey the intense action and emotions the show provides. it's all cheery and tooty horns.

[–] FinalFight 9 years ago

I agree. That bouncy music fit well with the earlier Dragon Ball episodes but wasn't right for DBZ.

[–] Zabon 9 years ago

I strongly disagree with all the comments here aside from the topic starter, whom I very strongly agree with. The Japanese score is very powerful in its composition and the overall emphasis on the actual tune and holds a strong military overtone as well as very distinctly being synchronized to match each and every twitch and knuckle-cracking bone-smashing maneuver witnessed onscreen. This is not the case with most of the English soundtrack, which is initially scored to add ambiance but does not highlight or captivate with enticing tunes. There are some tracks I liked in the Faulconer and Ocean dubs, but none of the tracks were even half as enigmatic in their composition as the original Shunsuke Kikuchi tracks. I actually didn't like any of the tracks from the DB Kai variation at all, even in the Japanese version. The only tracks I absolutely adored all came from the original Japanese version by Shunsuke Kikuchi. So I wholeheartedly agree with vnisanian2001 about the depth of the original tracks. Furthermore, the English version relied very heavily on synthesized effects and techno tracks as opposed to having enormously powerful tunes. To me, music is about the riffs, chords, and climax; which were predominantly lacking in the English version overall. In hindsight, I can thoroughly explain which tracks I love most in the Japanese version; all of which have an enigmatic climax and militaristic march as well as being synchronized for the scenes which they appear in. They are as follows in very specific order of my favoritism:

1. '''"Kyoufu no Ginyu Tokusentai"''' - Shunsuke Kikuchi - (second segment) - [which plays when Zarbon transforms and pounds Vegeta] - [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-u7Q4NNKDtY Listen Here at 0:31 to 2:01], [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dLd0ES6qi-4 Listen Here at 0:31 to 2:02] and [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O95Tx_6wMjQ Listen Here]

2. '''"Dai Nijuuikkai Tenka-Ichi Budokai"''' - Shunsuke Kikuchi - (second segment) - [which plays when General Blue executes the electric eel] - [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Sch2UcL-VY Listen Here at 0:41 to 1:32] and [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MFCUpQN0yrk Listen Here at 0:41 to 1:32]

3. '''"Tenka Wakeme No Chou-Kessen"''' - Shunsuke Kikuchi - (third segment) - [which plays when Recoome unleashes his relentless blasts against Gohan] - [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ro9f4AvXw2o Listen Here at 1:41 to 2:32] and [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Q7Q0dvZeWI Listen Here at 1:41 to 2:31]

4. '''"Mashinki no Nemuri Hime"''' - Shunsuke Kikuchi - (third segment) - [which plays when Piccolo sacrifices himself to save Gohan] - [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jPmqSroiKfA Listen Here at 2:10 to 3:34]

5. '''"Kono Yo De Ichi-Ban Tsuyoi Yatsu"''' - Shunsuke Kikuchi - (second segment and third segment) - [which plays when Dodoria searches for Gohan, Krillin, and Dende] - [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B2xP2G-a6wo Listen Here at 0:20 to 3:18]

6. '''"Kyoukugen Battaru! San Bai Suupa Saiya-jin"''' - Shunsuke Kikuchi - (second segment) - [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xFrZ0FTMcYs Listen Here at 0:29 to 1:52]

7. '''"Ginga GIRI GIRI!! Butchi GIRI no Sugoi Yatsu"''' - Shunsuke Kikuchi - (fifth segment) - [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pgbKvh5oQdc Listen Here at 4:52 to 6:21]

8. '''"Haran no Tenka-ichi Budokai"''' - Shunsuke Kikuchi - (third segment and fourth segment) - [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DM1kyW7BAYs Listen Here at 2:11 to 4:19]

9. '''"Kamesennin Saigo no Mafuba"''' - Shunsuke Kikuchi - (third segment) - [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Gc6dGu1-ug Listen Here at 2:12 to 3:13]

10. '''"Jinzoningen Machi E"''' - Shunsuke Kikuchi - (first segment) - [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fPa2F6zf_18 Listen Here at 0:00 to 2:29]

11. '''"Ma Ni Ae!! Nanatsu no Doragonbaru"''' - Shunsuke Kikuchi - (first segment) - [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m4UjMi8tmAo Listen Here at 0:00 to 0:34]

12. '''"Chikyuu Marugoto Chou-Kessen"''' - Shunsuke Kikuchi - (third segment) - [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oK_AuzE2pgs Listen Here at 1:51 to 3:46]

[–] Zabon 9 years ago

Furthermore, I will list the English version tracks that I enjoyed more than others due to their tune as well. Additionally, I am only judging actual tune and and theme for the exposition, rising action, climax, falling action, and dénouement for each track. This is something that was very much lacking in the majority of the Cell Saga tracks (all my least favorite stuff) and the majority of the Buu Saga. However, the fact that I disliked the Cell Saga in both versions is besides the point. It is important to understand that the music plays a very large role in the feel and how it is incorporated as a part of the overall package makes it a strong facet of which version is better. The majority of the Cell themes in general were all my absolute least favorites for the sound carrying a single beat and lack thereof of an actual tune. These are, in respective order, some of the only tracks I slightly enjoyed in the English version:

1. '''"Pikkon's Theme"''' - Scott Morgan - (English version) [which plays during Pikkon's bout with Goku and Olibu] - [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GyFtvgV43lQ Listen Here]

2. '''"Electronic Circus"''' - Scott Morgan - (English version) [which plays during Android 19's battle against Goku and Vegeta] - [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BHFPVaKJlPo Listen Here]

3. '''"Android 20 Destroys City'''" - Scott Morgan - [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BUjXKd8DZvI Listen Here] and [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eS2SbdiEP1A Listen Here]

4. '''"Wrestling Rock with Lead'''" - Bruce Faulconer - [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z_3JjkliWys Listen Here]

5. '''"Hercule in Night Club'''" - Bruce Faulconer - [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X6dJr_RGRD4 Listen Here]

6. '''"Vegeta - Super Saiyan'''" - Bruce Faulconer - [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tE9Hj9b0Cho Listen Here] and [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mrogZTkvRxs Listen Here]

7. '''"Super Buu'''" - Bruce Faulconer - [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2rbvNjj_P5s Listen Here]

8. '''"Majin Theme'''" - Bruce Faulconer - [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KmKnIVoWh2U Listen Here]

9. '''"Piccolo and Nail Fuse'''" - Bruce Faulconer - [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cAxf8UQ1zps Listen Here]

I very highly prefer the aforementioned Japanese version tracks, but these would be some of the only English version tracks I actually like.

[–] BulmaPunkRocker 9 years ago

Thank you for sharing this.

Unlike most of IMDb users, I'm not familiar with the USA version of Dragon Ball Z. I'm only familiar with the Japanese and the Latinamerican version (the former dubbed in Mexico straight from the japanese). Both used the same original japanese score.

Now that I had the chance to hear the Northamerican score, I keep my choide for the original japanese score.

Please excuse my terrible redaction, english is not my native language IMDb = Catch-22

[–] elsucre99 9 years ago

How can people not like the original Japanese score?

Look at this for example:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VZMbfK85nyA&t=22m44s

That Kami-Sama moment is intensified through the Japanese score. Great moment for me.

EDIT: HYPERLINKED the link above.

[–] kiti22 9 years ago

I think the original japanese music score was better and epic and legendary
I support the japanese score of DBZ and the japanese score of DBZKai

[–] 9 years ago

[deleted]

[–] happyphantom9 8 years ago

I'd have to choose the American music - with the exception of the theme song, of course! I guess they wanted to give the show a "rock" feel with "Rock the Dragon", but I didn't like that song at all, it was so silly. Nothing compares to Cha-la Head Cha-la.

For the soundtrack of the show though, I absolutely prefer Bruce Faulconer's soundtrack, because that's the one I grew up watching. From what I can remember, he didn't start composing music until after the Saiyan Sage. I did enjoy the Japanese music for the first season, it had that lighthearted feel. But after that I thought Faulconer's music was perfect, it added a lot of depth and emotion to certain scenes. The scene where Gohan defeats Cell was a hundred times more enthralling with the American soundtrack.