Pokémon 2.B.A. Master

Pokémon 2.B.A. Master: Music From the Hit TV Series is a 1999 album, the first soundtrack album released for the English localization of the Pokémon anime.

Pokémon 2.B.A. Master: Music From the Hit TV Series
Soundtrack album by Various artists
Released	June 29, 1999; 24 years ago (1999-06-29)
Recorded	1997–1999
Genre	Pop
Length	48:27
Label	Koch Records
Producer	John Loeffler
Various artists chronology
Pokémon 2.B.A. Master: Music From the Hit TV Series (1999) Pokémon: The First Movie (1999)
Singles from Pokémon 2.B.A. Master
"Pokémon Theme" Released: June 29, 1999

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	^[1]

Production

In an interview with John Loeffler, it was revealed that it took three and a half weeks to produce the entire album.^[2]

Reception

The album has sold over three million copies worldwide.^[3]

In popular culture

• Shortened versions of select songs are played in the "Pikachu's Jukebox" segment during the show's first two seasons.
• Instrumental versions of the album's songs make up the soundtrack to the 2000 video game Pokémon Puzzle League.^[4]
• Some songs from the album were used in the musical Pokémon Live!
• Comedian and video producer Brian David Gilbert created and performed a rewritten and extended Pokérap, including a vast majority of Pokémon from every generation that had been released at the time. He described this theatrical piece as a "Gesamtkunstwerk".

Track list

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Producer(s)	Length
1.	"Pokémon Theme" (Jason Paige)	John Siegler John Loeffler	Loeffler Siegler (co.)	3:15
2.	"2.B.A Master" (Russell Velázquez)	Russell Velázquez Loeffler	Velázquez	4:04
3.	"Viridian City" (Jason Paige)	Neil Jason Loeffler	Loeffler Jason (co.)	3:30
4.	"What Kind of Pokémon Are You?" (Joshua Tyler)	Siegler Loeffler Norman Grossfeld	Loeffler Siegler (co.)	3:41
5.	"My Best Friends" (Ray Greene)	Michael Whalen	Whalen	3:30
6.	"Everything Changes" (Sheila Brody)	Ken Cummings Loeffler	Loeffler Cummings (co.)	4:41
7.	"The Time Has Come (Pikachu's Goodbye)" (Marti Lebow)	Siegler Loeffler Grossfeld	Loeffler Siegler (co.)	3:06
8.	"Pokémon (Dance Mix)" (Vicki Sue Robinson)	Siegler Loeffler	Loeffler Siegler (co.)	3:54
9.	"Double Trouble (Team Rocket)" (Rachael Lillis as Jessie, Eric Stuart as James, Maddie Blaustein as Meowth & Ted Lewis as Giovanni)	Louis Cortelezzi Bob Mayo Loeffler	Loeffler Cortelezzi (co.)	3:53
10.	"Together Forever" (J. P. Hartmann)	Cummings Loeffler	Loeffler Cummings (co.)	3:55
11.	"Misty's Song" (Yvette Laboy)	Cummings Loeffler	Loeffler Cummings (co.)	4:43
12.	"PokéRAP" (James "D Train" Williams & Babi Floyd)	Siegler Loeffler	Loeffler Siegler (co.)	3:03
13.	"You Can Do It (If You Really Try)" (John Loeffler)	Siegler Loeffler Grossfeld	Loeffler Siegler (co.)	3:10
Total length:				48:27

Personnel

• Larry Alexander – engineer, mixing
• Joe Barbaria – engineer
• Andre Betts – rap vocals (3)
• Maddie Blaustein – lead vocals (9)
• Sheila Brody – lead vocals (6)
• Sharon Bryant – background vocals (4, 6, 9-11, 13)
• Bruce Buchanan – engineer, mixing
• Larry Campbell – guitar (13)
• Elaine Caswell – background vocals (3, 6, 10, 11)
• Vivian Cherry – background vocals (3)
• Dennis Collins – background vocals (13)
• Louis Cortelezzi – background vocals (1, 8, 9, 12), soprano saxophone (13), arranger (9)
• Ken Cummings – background vocals (1, 6, 8, 10-12), arranger (6, 10, 11)
• Babi Floyd – lead vocals (13)
• Ray Greene – lead and background vocals (5)
• Norman Grossfeld – executive producer for 4Kids Productions
• J. P. Hartmann – lead vocals (10)
• Neil Jason – background vocals and arranger (3)
• Premananda Johannes – congas (8)
• Alfred R. Kahn – executive producer
• Curtis King – background vocals (8, 9)
• Yvette Laboy – lead vocals (11)
• Marti Lebow – lead vocals (7)
• Ted Lewis – lead vocals (9)
• Rachael Lillis – lead vocals (9)
• Frank Lloyd – background vocals (3)
• John Loeffler – lead vocals (13), background vocals (1, 4, 8, 12, 13)
• Kati Mac – background vocals (1, 4)
• Eleanor Matera – production coordinator
• Bob Mayo – guitar (9)
• John McCurry – electric guitar (3)
• Cindy Mizelle – background vocals (13)
• Jason Paige – lead vocals (1, 3), background vocals (1)
• Vicki Sue Robinson – lead and background vocals (8)
• David Rolfe – guitar (1)
• Paul Rowan – Pro-Tools editing, assistant engineer
• Rick Rowe – mastering
• Larry Saltzman – guitar (1, 4, 7-9)
• Julian Schwartz – Pro-Tools editing, assistant engineer
• Glen Sherman – guitar (6, 10, 11)
• John Siegler – arranger (1, 4, 7, 8, 12, 13)
• Paul Special – engineer
• Eric Stuart – lead vocals (9)
• Joshua Tyler – lead vocals (4)
• Erika Velázquez – background vocals (2)
• Jake Velázquez – background vocals (2)
• Russell Velázquez – lead vocals and arranger (2), rap vocals (4), background vocals (4, 6, 8-11)
• Michael Whalen – background vocals and arranger (5)
• James "D Train" Williams – lead vocals (12), background vocals (12, 13)
• Darcell Wilson – background vocals (5)

Chart performance

Weekly charts Chart (1999–00) Peak position Australian Albums Chart^[5] 20 Austrian Albums Chart^[6] 3 Dutch Albums Chart^[7] 86 Hungarian album chart 5 New Zealand Albums Chart^[8] 50 US Billboard 200^[9] 90 US Billboard Kid Albums^[9] 1

Year-end charts Chart (1999) Position US Billboard Kid Albums^[10] 1 Chart (2000) Position US Billboard Kid Albums^[11] 7

Sales and certifications

Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
Argentina (CAPIF)^[12]	Gold	30,000^^
Australia (ARIA)^[13]	Gold	35,000^^
Austria (IFPI Austria)^[14] German version titled "Schnapp' sie Dir alle!"	Platinum	50,000^*
Brazil (Pro-Música Brasil)^[15]	Gold	100,000^*
Canada (Music Canada)^[16]	Platinum	100,000^^
France (SNEP)^[17]	2× Gold	200,000^*
Germany (BVMI)^[18] German version titled "Schnapp' sie Dir alle!"	3× Gold	750,000^^
Switzerland (IFPI Switzerland)^[19] German version titled "Schnapp' sie Dir alle!"	Platinum	50,000^^
United Kingdom (BPI)^[20]	Silver	60,000^^
United States (RIAA)^[21]	Gold	500,000^^
^* Sales figures based on certification alone. ^^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

References

1. https://www.allmusic.com/album/r422746
2. Rys, Dan (August 1, 2016). "Can't Regret Them All: The Story of the Very Lucrative 'Pokemon Theme'". Retrieved August 1, 2016.
3. Olson, Catherine (May 10, 2003). "Koch Increases Its Kids Product". p. 44. Retrieved June 5, 2019.
4. Max, Josh (March 2, 2011). "Pokemon Puzzle League". Nintendo World Report. NINWR, LLC. from the original on September 7, 2023. Retrieved March 26, 2024.
5. "ARIA Top Albums Chart: SOUNDTRACK - POKÉMON - 2 B. A. MASTER (ALBUM) 12/12/1999". australian-charts.com. Hung Medien. Retrieved August 1, 2016.
6. "Austrian Top Albums Chart: SOUNDTRACK - POKÉMON - SCHNAPP' SIE DIR ALLE! (ALBUM) 12/12/1999". austriancharts.at. Hung Medien. Retrieved August 1, 2016.
7. "Dutch Top Albums Chart: SOUNDTRACK - POKÉMON - SCHNAPP' SIE DIR ALLE! (ALBUM) 12/12/1999". dutchcharts.nl. Hung Medien. Retrieved August 1, 2016.
8. "RIANZ Top Albums Chart: SOUNDTRACK - POKÉMON - 2 B. A. MASTER (ALBUM) 12/12/1999". charts.nz. Hung Medien. Retrieved August 1, 2016.
9. "Pokemon: 2.B.A. Master - Original Soundtrack". Billboard. Retrieved August 1, 2016.
10. "1999: The Year in Music". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. December 25, 1999. pp. YE-93. Retrieved December 10, 2011.
11. "2000: The Year in Music". Billboard. Vol. 112, no. 53. Prometheus Global Media. December 20, 2000. pp. YE–74, 78. Retrieved October 20, 2013.
12. (in Spanish). Cámara Argentina de Productores de Fonogramas y Videogramas. Archived from the original on 6 July 2011. Retrieved 22 November 2012.
13. "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 1999 Albums" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association.
14. "Austrian album certifications – Pokemon – Schnapp sie dir alle" (in German). IFPI Austria.
15. "Brazilian album certifications – Pokemon – Para Ser Um Mestre" (in Portuguese). Pro-Música Brasil.
16. "Canadian album certifications – Various – Pokemon - 2.B.A. Master". Music Canada.
17. "French album certifications – Pokemon – B.O. Série TV POKEMON" (in French). Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique.
18. "Gold-/Platin-Datenbank (Pokemon; 'Schnapp sie dir alle')" (in German). Bundesverband Musikindustrie.
19. "The Official Swiss Charts and Music Community: Awards ('Schnapp sie dir alle')". IFPI Switzerland. Hung Medien.
20. "British album certifications – Various Artists – Pokemon 2B A Master". British Phonographic Industry.
21. "American album certifications – Pokemon". Recording Industry Association of America.