Angela Via - "Catch Me If You Can"

[strong4PMB!]

The song that started it all is one of the singer/songwriter's most inspirational songs. On November 9, 1999, the Atlantic-released "Pokemon: The First Movie" OST was released. Little did any of the first-week buyers know, Angela Via would soon take the music world by storm.

"Catch Me If You Can," the most Pokemon-themed song next to the theme by Billy Crawford, was written by Via specifcally for the movie. It received good Radio Disney airplay, and even earned a high rating by Christian music reviewers.

Plugged In Music included Via in the "Pro-Social" Content part of the "Pokemon" OST review.

A confident Angela Via claims she'll persevere, "never giving up when the going gets rough" ("Catch Me If You Can").

Largely due to Via's presence on the CD, it went on to sell over 2 million copies and was certified double platinum (2x) by the RIAA. ...And that was only the beginning! The Pokemon track also appears on Angela Via's debut album, to be released soon, as a bonus track. Via's album comes "hot on the heels" of her debut single "Picture Perfect"s release, according to the Atlantic Records website.

Edit: Also, "Catch Me If You Can" is played on some Pokemon video game! Wow. If Angela wrote that melody, as she did for "A Good Time" and "Wish We Could Be Free (Christmas Wish)", she must be rolling in the dough because of "Catch Me If You Can."

[George Tropicana]

I remembered buying the "Pokemon: The First Movie" soundtrack for my cousins for Christmas because they liked it so much when they listened to mine. However, they already bought it by then and gave the copy to my other cousins.

When I visited their house, my cousins (with the extra copy) went straight to playing "Catch Me If You Can" because it was the only Pokemon-theme song, I guess. I was disappointed they didn't like the more inspiring, Diane Warren penned track, "Makin' My Way (Any Way That I Can)" sung by Billie.

When I saw the name "Mandah," I was like "What the heck?".. and pictured some loser behind the name. However, it turned out the be the ultra, sexy Willa Ford (who I pictured to be a fat girl when I saw the name for the first time at the Glendale Galleria mall -- she was performing alongside Joy Enriquez and Youngstown!).

[strong4PMB!]

Mineable1004 said:

I remembered buying the "Pokemon: The First Movie" soundtrack for my cousins for Christmas because they liked it so much when they listened to mine. However, they already bought it by then and gave the copy to my other cousins.

When I visited their house, my cousins (with the extra copy) went straight to playing "Catch Me If You Can" because it was the only Pokemon-theme song, I guess. I was disappointed they didn't like the more inspiring, Diane Warren penned track, "Makin' My Way (Any Way That I Can)" sung by Billie.

When I saw the name "Mandah," I was like "What the heck?".. and pictured some loser behind the name. However, it turned out the be the ultra, sexy Willa Ford (who I pictured to be a fat girl when I saw the name for the first time at the Glendale Galleria mall -- she was performing alongside Joy Enriquez and Youngstown!).

"Willa Ford" made her sound like an old grandma, imo! When she first changed her name, I thought it was HORRIBLE. I liked "Mandah" a lot more. I never knew what was being said at the end of "Lullaby," since I had never seen one episode of the Pokemon series, nor had I seen the movie. (Now I want to see it to hear Angela's song!)

The only reasons I bought that soundtrack were (1) it had a Billie song on it (lol), (2) Mandah's 1:00 clip of Lullaby was great, and (3) M2M's so-so song was on it. Oh, and (4) it was $9.90 at Mymusic.com.

[George Tropicana]

I haven't seen the "Pokemon: The Movie" either. Doesn't Mandah's song "Lullaby" use clips of Jigglypuff's "Jiiiiigggggglleeee.. puff!" in it? My cousins loved that too.

I bought the album because of Billie's song and Emma Bunton p/k/a Baby Spice's "(Hey You) Free Up Your Mind" which that Christian music reviewer condemmed. Also, the M2M single was on it, but tha wasn't a big factor on why I bought the soundtrack.

The soundtrack was a big seller, Top 10 debut!

[Flavoured]

LOL!! You guys are crazy.

I remember I got the soundtrack for Christmas in 1999. I probably listened to Angela three dozen times before I actually knew about her. To think I liked Angela back in 1999 and didn't even know it!

[strong4PMB!]

Well, you must have known that you liked her. ;) You just didn't know that four years later, you'd be spreading an online petition for her like wildfire.

Wow. 4 years.

[George Tropicana]

I'm listening to the soundtrack now. What happened to So Plush? :( "Damn"!

It's a good soundtrack. I stop the soundtrack once it gets to Aaron Carter. I've never heard Midnight Sons and Blessid Union of Souls' songs.

[strong4PMB!]

LOL. One of those last 2 songs isn't bad.

So Plush featuring Ja Rule - "Damn!" would have been a huge hit in 2002. Poor So Plush! I think a member left in 2002, and then the band sort of fell apart.

[reception]

I like it.