A month after its original release, the Official Pokémon Youtube Channel uploaded a lyric video for Katy Perry’s “Electric”. It features an array of electric-type Pokémon from the series appearing as glowing silhouettes — Who’s That Pokémon style — matched with electrifying motion graphics and dynamic typography.
“Electric” is the second song from the P25 Music project. The song was released on May 14th, 2021, with the lyric video coming out on June 14th, 2021. P25 Music is a collaboration between The Pokémon Company International and Universal Music Group to create Pokémon 25: The Album. The album will feature 14 Pokémon inspired songs and 11 artists. In addition to Katy Perry, Post Malone and J Balvin are among the artists contributing to the project.
One of the best things about the “Electric” lyric video is that it is a three minute long game of Who’s The Pokémon. First popularized through the anime, the trivia game requires you to guess the Pokémon on screen based on the given silhouette. The song is chock full with Pokémon throughout each part. The Pokémon are usually paired with specific lyrics, contributing to the message within the song. The pairings between word and image are not that deep, but I find it enjoyable to point out the correlations nonetheless.
My favorite still-frame features the Pokémon Plusle and Minun along with the lyrics “cause we got each other”. The background is violet, combining the blue and red colors of the two Pokémon, and decorated with a pattern of plus and minus signs.
Plusle and Minun, known as the Cheering Pokémon, were introduced in Pokémon Ruby and Sapphire as the double battle mascots. In double battles, trainers can have two Pokémon fighting on their field at a time. Plusle and Minun have the abilities Plus and Minus, which give them a boost to their Special Attack when they are both on the field at the same time.
They are designed to synergize with each other and it’s cute that they have a section all to themselves that fits them so well. The message itself is also heartwarming and speaks to the values of the Pokémon universe and the strength we need in order to continue forward past this unbelievable year.
Here’s one more analysis. These are the last two lines of the song:
You’ve got the power now
You’ve got the power now
The first line features the iconic Pokémon 25th Anniversary Pikachu head as the ‘o’ in ‘now’, while the second shows Pikachu’s pre-evolution, Pichu, instead. Comparing these two frames, it is as if the older generation is handing off the power to the younger generation.
These are just a few moments that stood out to me, but there is plenty more symbolism to discover in the lyric video. There are also a lot of Pokémon featured throughout the video which I have identified for you convenience. If you don’t want the list spoiled, watch the lyric video first before continuing.
Pokémon in order of appearance:
Pichu
Pikachu
Morpeko
Magnemite
Pachirisu
Mareep
Flaaffy
Ampharos
Eelektrik
Eelektross
Blitzle
Zebstrika
Dracozolt
Dedenne
Raikou
Plusle
Minun
Shinx
Luxray
Luxio
Zeraora
Stunfisk
Electabuzz
Galvantula
Joltik
Jolteon
Zapdos
Mega Manectric
Manectric
Electrike
Xurkitree
Arctozolt
Thunderus
Electrode
Voltorb
Tapu Koko
Emolga
Heliolisk
Helioptile
Yamper
Chinchou
Toxtricity
Pincurchin
Togedemaru
Charjabug
Vikavolt
Raichu
Regieleki
Toxel
Elekid
Rotom
There are a total of 61 electric-types in the Pokémon universe, 50 of which are featured in the music video. The count is determined by Pokémon that are electric-type in at least one of their forms. Megas and regional forms of the same typing as the original Pokémon are not double counted (eg. Mega Manectric/Manectric and Alolan Raichu/Raichu being counted as one Pokémon and not two).
Here are the Pokémon or forms that did not appear in the video:
Magneton
Magnezone
Mega Ampharos
Lanturn
Electivire
Tynamo
Zekrom
Oricorio
Alolan Raichu
Alolan Geodude
Alolan Graveler
Alolan Golem
Boltund
Hopefully Pokémon manages to fit all the Pokémon of a particular type in the next music video they make of this style. Though, it’ll be difficult since electric is the 5th rarest type and there are 18 total types in the Pokémon universe. If they didn’t fit all of them this time, I don’t see them fitting all the Pokémon from any of the more common types.
I’m excited to see what else Pokémon has in store for this project once it is released in Fall 2021. If all the tracks are as electrifying as Katy Perry’s “Electric,” the wait will have been well worth it.