For other versions of this number, see The Rap (Disambiguation)
"The Rap: Check It Out, Can You Believe This?" is the song that started Act 2 of the 1992 'New' Starlight Express; it was also used in the Las Vegas and Bochum productions. The scene involves the entire ensemble, excited about the up-coming final race.
Context[]
At the end of Act 1, Rusty has been nominated to take Poppa's place in "The Big One" - the race final. All the characters come together to voice their opinions on who's going to win, who should race with who. Different trains appear from all over the theatre and as they skate around, they engage with the audience.
Other Versions[]
An early version of this rap was tried out for the 1989 US tour. Because Red Caboose was not cut from productions other than the 1992 London revamp, lines were written for him, replacing Electra's taunting Greaseball for having Dinah still on his lead. These productions include the Las Vegas production, the German production, and the Mexican production.
In Las Vegas, The Rap started immediately after Rusty finished singing "Starlight Express", as the production did not have an intermission. The Rockies were given an additional line in this version. Also, the characters refer to "the big race", rather than "the big one".
When the Hip Hoppers were introduced in Germany in 2006, they were still using the "Check It Out, Can You Believe This" rap. As the Rockies were now gone, they used the introduction to the US/UK tour rap, "What Time Is It? It's Race Time!" prior to replacing the whole number.
Lyrics[]
Original London 1992 Lyrics[]
| ROCKIES: | Lead to the left and box to the right, |
| The Rockies in the house, we're here tonight. | |
| R.O.C.K.I.E.S. | |
| Put your hands together, you know we're the best! | |
| GREASEBALL + GANG: | Motivatin'! |
| Acceleratin'! | |
| Devastatin'! | |
| Galvinatin'! | |
| Diesel! D-d-d-diesel! | |
| COMPONENTS: | E.L.E.C, Elec-electricity, |
| Electricity is not for free. | |
| ELECTRA: | So don't mess with me! |
| COMPONENTS: | So don't mess with me! |
| COMPONENTS/BOBO + COACHES: | E.L.E.C, Elec-electricity,/Locomotion's what we need |
| Electricity is not for free/If we oughtta get up speed | |
| ELECTRA: | So don't mess with me!/From the coast, to the sea |
| COMPONENTS: | So don't mess with me!/Locomotion carries me! |
| E.L.E.C, Elec-electricity,/Locomotion's what we need | |
| Electricity is not for free/If we oughtta get up speed | |
| So don't mess with me!/From the coast, to the sea | |
| So don't mess with me!/Locomotion carries me! | |
| ROCKIES: | Who's in the house? |
| Rocky One, Two, Three yo! | |
| Who's in the house? | |
| Rocky One, Two, Three yo! | |
| The Rockies' got a rhyme, and it goes like this! | |
| Are you ready? | |
| Ready, check it out, check it out, | |
| Are you ready? | |
| Ready, check it out, check it out. | |
| Are you ready? | |
| ALL: | Ready! |
| ROCKIES: | Are you ready for the big one? |
| ALL: | Ready! |
| ROCKIES: | Are you ready for the big one starting any minute? |
| We're in it, you gotta be in it to win it. | |
| Gotta be in the frame if you're gonna win the game, | |
| Are you ready for the big one? | |
| ALL: | Ready! |
| COACHES + FREIGHT + GANG: | Check it out, check it out, |
| Can you believe this? | |
| Check it out, check it out! | |
| Can you believe this? | |
| COMPONENTS: | Hey I make Electra the one they gotta beat, |
| GANG: | Nah, Diesel's wicked! |
| COACHES: | Yeah Diesel's sweet, |
| POPPA: | Hey what about Rusty? |
| ALL: | You can't be serious! |
| GREASEBALL: | Haven't got a chance against his superiors. |
| ROCKIES: | Check it out boy. |
| ALL: | Are you ready for the big one starting any minute? |
| We're in it, you gotta be in it to win it. | |
| Gotta be in the frame if you're gonna win the game, | |
| Are you ready for the big one? Ready! | |
| Are you ready for the big one? Ready! | |
| ALL: | Are you ready for the big one? Ready! |
| RUSTY: | If I were the winner of tonight's big fight, |
| Pearl would come back, | |
| DUSTIN: | Yeah that's right! |
| FLAT-TOP: | Well then win it, That's all you gotta do. |
| ELECTRA: | Hey Greaseball, I'm talkin' to you. |
| You still got that Dinah hanging on a lead? | |
| A new set of wheels is what you need. | |
| COACHES + FREIGHT + GANG: | Check it out! |
| Are you ready for the big one? | |
| Ready! Check it out! | |
| Are you ready for the big one? | |
| Ready! | |
| Check it out, check it out, | |
| Can you believe this? | |
| Check it out, check it out, | |
| Can you believe this? | |
| Check it out, check it out, | |
| Can you believe this? | |
| Check it out, check it out, | |
| Can you believe this? | |
| GREASEBALL: | Any car here, Any car you can see would be proud. |
| GANG: | Yeah proud! |
| GREASEBALL: | To ride with me, |
| RUSTY: | But not Pearl. |
| GREASEBALL: | Oh no? Pearl's like every other, |
| She knows I'm a fast moving mother, | |
| Pearl knows she's a winner, she won't risk | |
| Losing the race with that floppy disk. | |
| ALL: | Check it out, check it out, |
| Can you believe this? | |
| Check it out, check it out, | |
| Can you believe this? | |
| DINAH: | Greaseball stop it, |
| GREASEBALL: | Shut it Dinah, |
| ELECTRA: | All my software is designer, |
| GREASEBALL: | Pearl you know that he don't cut it, |
| DINAH: | Greaseball stop it! |
| ALL: | Dinah shut it! |
| GREASEBALL: | Pearl come on, it's time to choose, |
| You wanna boil with the oil or lose with the fuse? | |
| ROCKY: | Swing it! |
| ALL: | Are you ready for the big one? |
| Ready! | |
| Are you ready for the big one starting any minute? | |
| We're in it, you gotta be in it to win it, | |
| Unless your name's in the frame you ain't in the game. | |
| Ready for the big one? Ready! | |
| Check it out, check it out! | |
| Can you believe this? | |
| Check it out, check it out! | |
| Can you believe this? | |
| Are you ready for the big one starting any minute? | |
| We're in it, you gotta be in it to win it. | |
| Unless your name's in the frame you ain't in the game. | |
| Ready for the big one? | |
| Ready for the big one? | |
| Ready! |
Las Vegas Lyrics[]
(Version incorporates Caboose)
| ALL: | Are you ready for the big one? Ready! |
| RUSTY: | If I were the winner of tonight's big fight Pearl would come back. |
| DUSTIN: | Yeah that's right! |
| FLAT-TOP: | Well then win it, That's all you gotta do. |
| RED CABOOSE: | Hey Rusty, I'll help you through! |
| ELECTRA: | Hey Caboose, your wire's not turned on! |
| GREASEBALL: | Just remember who's side you're on! |
1997 Mexico + Translation[]
Electra's part is cut down heavily, Greaseball and Rockies leading most of the song[1]
| CONTROL (Spanish): | Aquí Control, | CONTROL (English): | Here is Control, |
| Trenes a calentar motores | Trains to warm up | ||
| Listos para la gran carrera | Get ready for the big race | ||
| Ya viene la mera buena | The good stuff is coming | ||
| ROCKIES: | Sí, Ferro, | ROCKIES: | Yes Rusty |
| Si, participa | Yes, participate | ||
| ROCKY 1: | A Correr | ROCKY 1: | To run |
| ROCKIES: | Con los Rockies por aquí | ROCKIES: | With the Rockies here |
| Hay Mucha acción | There's plenty of action | ||
| Aquí está el mandamás | Here's the bigshot | ||
| Sigue el motor | Follow the engine | ||
| Hurra, Hurra, bim bom bam | Hurra, Hurra, bim bom bam | ||
| Hechennos las porras | They made us the leaders | ||
| Y más ra, ra, ra. | And more ra, ra, ra | ||
| Viene ya la mera buena | The good stuff is coming | ||
| Y debes darle duro | And you must hit it hard | ||
| Seguro | Of course | ||
| Voy y me lanzo, me canso | I go for it, I get tired | ||
| Solo el mejor puede ser el ganador | Only the best can be the winner | ||
| TODOS: | Viene ya la mera buena, ¡Listo! | ALL: | The good stuff is coming, get ready! |
| Viene ya la mera buena ¡listo! | The good stuff is coming, get ready! | ||
| COMPONENTES: | Para Electra el no es un rival | COMPONENTS: | For Electra, there isn't a rival |
| PANDILLA: | El diesel ganará la gran final | GANG: | Diesel will win the grand final |
| EL JEFE: | Puede ser Ferro | POPPA: | It could be Rusty |
| TODOS: | Es puro cuento | ALL: | That's pure fiction |
| TURBO: | No puede competir con este portento | GREASEBALL: | He can't compete with this powerhouse |
| PANDILLA: | No ves | GANG: | Don't you see |
| TODOS: | Viene ya la mera buena | ALL: | The good stuff is coming |
| Y debes darle duro | And you must hit it hard | ||
| Seguro | Of course | ||
| Voy y me lanzo, me canso | I go for it, I get tired | ||
| Solo el mejor, puede ser el ganador | Only the best can be the winner | ||
| Viene ya la mera buena, ¡listo! | The good stuff is coming, get ready! | ||
| Viene ya la mera buena, ¡listo! | The good stuff is coming, get ready! | ||
| Viene ya la mera buena, ¡listo! | The good stuff is coming, get ready! | ||
| FERRO: | A Perla quizás la vuelva a conquistar | RUSTY: | Pearl might be won over again |
| Si les gano | If I win it | ||
| TIZNE: | ¡A ganar! | DUSTIN: | Win it! |
| CABÚS: | Ferro, claro y no dudes que | CABOOSE: | Rusty, be sure and do not doubt |
| Yo con gusto te ayudaré | I will gladly help you out | ||
| ELECTRA: | ¡Hey! Cabús no sonrías más | ELECTRA: | Hey Caboose, don't smile anymore |
| TURBO: | Piensa de que lado estás | GREASEBALL: | Think about whose side you're on |
| PANDILLA: | ¡Cómo ves!, ¡Cómo ves! | GANG: | Look at this! Look at this! |
| COCHES: | ¡Es increíble! | COACHES: | It's incredible! |
| PANDILLA: | ¡Cómo ves!, ¡Cómo ves! | GANG: | Look at this! Look at this! |
| COCHES: | ¡Es Increíble! | COACHES: | It's incredible! |
| TURBO: | Cada vagón correría aquí | GREASEBALL: | Every wagon here would run |
| Muy feliz | Very happily | ||
| PANDILLA: | ¡Feliz! | GANG: | Happily! |
| TURBO: | Atrás de mí | GREASEBALL: | Behind me |
| FERRO: | ¡Perla no! | RUSTY: | Not Pearl! |
| TURBO: | Yo, francamente lo dudo | GREASEBALL: | I, frankly, doubt that |
| Sabe bien que soy el tincudo | She know's well that I am the best | ||
| Será perdedora en un tris | She would be the loser | ||
| Si se va con su computatris | If she went with her computer | ||
| VIANDA: | Basta Turbo | DINAH: | Enough Greaseball! |
| TURBO: | Basta Vianda | GREASEBALL: | Enough Dinah |
| Mi diseño está en demanda | My design is in demand | ||
| Esa cosa no la hace | That thing cannot do it | ||
| VIANDA: | Turbo, Basta | DINAH: | Greaseball, enough |
| TODOS: | Basta Vianda | ALL: | Enough Dinah! |
| TURBO: | Perla yo te doy un Tip | GREASEBALL: | Pearl, I will give you a tip |
| Elige al maquinón | Choose the machine | ||
| O al microchip | Or the microchip | ||
| TODOS: | Viene ya la mera buena ¡Listo! | ALL: | The good stuff is coming, get ready! |
| Viene ya la mera buena, | The good stuff is coming | ||
| Y debes darle duro | And you must hit it hard | ||
| Seguro | Of course | ||
| Voy y me lanzo, me canso | I go for it, I get tired | ||
| Solo el mejor debe ser el ganador | Only the best can be the winner | ||
| Viene ya la buena | The good stuff is coming | ||
| Viene ya la buena | The good stuff is coming | ||
| Viene ya la buena | The good stuff is coming | ||
| Viene ya la buena | The good stuff is coming | ||
| Viene ya la buena | The good stuff is coming | ||
| ¡Listos! | Get ready! |
Unused 2nd US Tour Lyrics[]
While the 2nd US Tour never ended up using this version of the rap, debuting The Rap: What Time Is It? It's Race Time! instead, some lyrics were created but never to be used.
| RUSTY: | If I were the winner |
| Of tonight's big fight | |
| Pearl will come back | |
| DUSTIN: | Yeah - that's right |
| CABOOSE: | Well then - win it. |
| That's all you gotta do | |
| Hey Rusty I'll help you through | |
| ELECTRA: | Hey Caboose. |
| Your wide smile is turned on | |
| GREASEBALL: | Just remember whose side you're on. |
| MEN: | Check it out, check it out |
| ELECTRA, PEARL & COMPONENTS: | Can you believe this? |