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| 3 Billion TikTok Views: HALCALI’s Lost Track Becomes Global Summer Sensation |
Who saw this coming? HALCALI, the female hip-hop duo who’ve been on ice since 2013, are suddenly back in the spotlight thanks to a track most people had forgotten about.
Their 2003 album cut “Otsukare SUMMER” has exploded into a global TikTok phenomenon this year, racking up a jaw-dropping 3 billion views and more than 27 million Spotify streams.
A Retro Track Turns Into a 2025 Summer Anthem
Originally tucked away on their debut album HALCALI Bacon back in September 2003, “Otsukare SUMMER” wasn’t even a single.
But 22 years on, it’s being remixed, meme-ified, and looped into dance challenges from Asia to the U.S.
On Spotify, the song has pushed HALCALI’s monthly listeners to 1.65 million, climbing into the Viral 50 in 35 different countries including the US, Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam, and Korea.
Industry insiders are calling it an “unprecedented revival hit,” noting that few tracks—let alone one so overlooked at the time—have come back this strong in such a short five-month window.
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HALCALI Reunite After 12 Years Away
The unexpected surge sparked something no fan dared predict: HALCALI made a surprise guest appearance at KOYABU SONIC 2025 in Osaka on 15 September, marking their first on-stage reunion in over a decade.
The crowd reaction proved there’s still appetite for their playful, tongue-in-cheek hip-hop style.
And the momentum isn’t stopping.
An animated music video for “Otsukare SUMMER” drops on 19 September, with a special premiere event, Music ber presents Otsukare SUMMER night, being held at Harajuku Penny Lane in Tokyo at 7PM JST, followed by a YouTube release at 9PM.
From “Tandem” to TikTok
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HALCALI first broke out with their single “Tandem” in January 2003 and went on to release 17 singles and seven albums before pausing activities in 2013.
The duo were always seen as quirky outsiders, blending rap with pop and street-wise humour.
Now, 22 years later, they’re unexpectedly trending alongside Gen Z creators who weren’t even born when the track dropped.
The viral wave has naturally reignited talk of a full-on HALCALI comeback.
With TikTok giving them a whole new global audience, the question now is whether “Otsukare SUMMER” will be the catalyst for more music, or just a one-off nostalgia boost.
Either way, the song has already cemented itself as one of the most unlikely—and feel-good—revival hits of 2025.