KOCHO is the singer behind "Choco-race," the adorable main menu theme, and I wrote the piece on the premise that she would be singing it.Hidenori Iwasaki
"Choco-race" (チョコっとグランプリ, Chokotto Guranpuri?, lit. Chocotto Grand Prix) is a vocal theme in Chocobo GP, composed and arranged by Hidenori Iwasaki. The lyrics were written by the director Akihiko Maeda.
There are two versions of "Choco-race": "Choco-race Japanese Vocals ver." (チョコっとグランプリ Japanese Vocals ver., Chokotto Guranpuri Japanese Vocals ver.?, lit. Chocotto Grand Prix Japanese Vocals ver.) and "Choco-race English Vocals ver." (チョコっとグランプリ English Vocals ver., Chokotto Guranpuri English Vocals ver.?, lit. Chocotto Grand Prix English Vocals ver.).
The Japanese Vocals ver. was sung by Marie Kocho under the alias KOCHO. The English Vocals ver. was sung by Anya Floris and the lyrics were translated by Francesca Nelson.
Lyrics
Composer Hidenori Iwasaki urged me to let him make the main menu theme a song with lyrics. I penned the lyrics in the style of a counting rhyme, and I was surprised when other members of the team praised it as "addictive." This was undoubtedly thanks to the vocals of KOCHO and Anya Floris, as well as the lovely translation by Francesca Nelson.
I should also note the title "Choco-race" was a scrapped candidate when we were coming up with a name for the Chocobo GP Mode.Akihiko Maeda
The official lyrics were released on Chocobo GP Original Soundtrack.
Japanese Vocals ver.
- Japanese
- チョコボ カミラ カミラパパ
- アトラ クレール ベンさん
- シロマ イルマ シドおじさん
- ヒーローⅩはモーグリ
- ah みんな仲良しだ
- だけどレースでは
- 絶対負けられないライバル
- ファイア サンダー（ブリザド）
- エアロ ウォータ（クエイク）
- 魔石を集めたら 一気に逆転
- 死の宣告（死神！）
- バハムート（召喚！）
- 勝利を目指して
- 今日もレースで勝負だ！
- イフリート シヴァに ラムウ
- 幻獣もレースに参戦
- シルフ タイタンに アスラ
- リヴァイアサンもいるよ
- さあ 今日はどのコース？
- 相手はどのマシン？
- 決めるぞスーパースタートブースト！
- クリスタル（集めて）
- アビリティ（炸裂！）
- ポジションが悪くても
- あきらめちゃダメ
- 死の宣告（死神！）
- バハムート（召喚！）
- 栄光目指して
- 明日もレースで勝負だ！
- Rōmaji
- Chokobo Kamira Kamira-papa
- Atora Kurēru Ben-san
- Shiroma Iruma Shido-ojisan
- Hīrō X wa Mōguri
- ah min'na nakayoshida
- Dakedo rēsude wa
- Zettai make rarenai raibaru
- Faia Sandā (Burizado)
- Earo Wōta (Kueiku)
- Maseki o atsumetara ikkini gyakuten
- Shi no senkoku (Shinigami!)
- Bahamūto (shōkan!)
- Shōri o mezashite
- Kyō mo rēsu de shōbuda!
- Ifurīto Shiva ni Ramū
- Genjū mo rēsu ni sansen
- Shirufu Taitan ni Asura
- Rivaiasan mo iru yo
- Sā kyō wa dono kōsu?
- Aite wa dono mashin?
- Kimeru zo Sūpāsutātobūsuto!
- Kurisutaru (atsumete)
- Abiriti (sakuretsu!)
- Pojishon ga warukute mo
- Akiramechadame
- Shinosenkoku (Shinigami!)
- Bahamūto (shōkan!)
- Eikō mezashite
- Ashita mo rēsu de shōbuda!
English Vocals ver.
- Chocobo, Camilla and Camilla's Pa
- Atla, Clair and then there's Ben
- Shirma, Irma, Inventor Cid
- Racing Hero X the Moogle's here!
- Ah~ How well we get along
- Oh, but when the race is on
- No one can stop me on my way
- straight to victory!
- Fire, Thunder
- (It's a Blizzard)
- Aero, Water
- (Here comes the Quake!)
- All the magicite waiting just for me,
- now I'm super lucky!
- Can't escape your Doom
- (Oh no, the Reaper!)
- Bahamut looms above
- (Summoning!)
- Straight to the top, all the way!
- What a fine day for a race!
- Ifrit, Shiva and Ramuh
- All the summons tearing up
- the track with you
- Sylph, Titan and then there's Asura
- There's even the almighty, Leviathan
- Ah~ What kind of course is it today?
- What kind of awesome rides await?
- On your mark, get set,
- Super Starting Boost!
- Crystals everywhere (Activation!)
- Which ability? (Detonation!)
- Position dropping down
- But I can't give up,
- the finish line's right ahead!
- Can't escape your Doom
- (Oh no, the Reaper!)
- Bahamut looms above
- (Summoning!)
- Oh, victory will be mine!
- What a wonderful day for a race!
Game appearances
Chocobo GP
As for the Story Mode music, I went for a more acoustic sound to better contrast with the racing tunes. Natsumi Kameoka was responsible for the orchestral arrangements. It was a year-and-a-half since we last worked together due to COVID, but she was just as reliable as ever. Ms. Kameoka, thank you for the beautiful string and adorable woodwind arrangements!Hidenori Iwasaki
"Choco-race" plays as the main menu theme in the game. The Japanese Vocals ver. is track 2 and the English Vocals ver. is track 21 on disc 1 of the Chocobo GP Original Soundtrack.
"Choco-race Inst ver." (チョコっとグランプリ Inst ver., Chokotto Guranpuri Inst ver.?, lit. Chocotto Grand Prix Inst ver.) is an instrumental version of the theme. It is track 18 on disc 2 of the original soundtrack.
"Choco-tale" (チョコっとストーリー, Chokotto Sutōrī?, lit. Chocotto Story) is an arrangement that plays as the Story Mode music. It was arranged by Hidenori Iwasaki, with Natsumi Kameoka arranging the strings and woodwinds. It is track 1 on disc 2 of the original soundtrack.
"Choco-ball" (チョコっとワルツ, Chokotto Warutsu?, lit. Chocotto Waltz) is an arrangement by Kameoka that plays as the second song during the credits. It is track 17 respectively on disc 2 of the original soundtrack.