When Kuro Games dropped the sugary-sweet EP “Lulala! Lululala!” for the Wuthering Waves character Ciaccona back in May 2025, few could have predicted that a virtual whale would become the star of the show. The studio revealed that popular Vtuber Bao the Whale had been tapped to sing the English version of Ciaccona’s theme – a move that instantly sent waves through both the gacha gaming and VTuber communities. Now in 2026, over a year after Ciaccona’s debut, we look back at this cross-media collaboration and ask: did this bubbly anthem truly make a splash, or was it just another droplet in the ocean of game music?

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The Song That Started It All

For those who need a quick refresher, Ciaccona joined the Wuthering Waves roster on May 22, 2025, as the second-half headliner of the 2.3 update. A five-star Aero Resonator wielding dual pistols, she arrived with her signature weapon Absolute Pulsation and a character banner that lasted until June 11, 2025 – right before the 2.4 version rolled in. Her playful, almost theatrical personality was instantly matched by “Lulala! Lululala!”, a song so infectiously catchy that it ended up on YouTube, Apple Music, and Spotify just days after launch.

Kuro Games didn’t hold back on localization. The multilingual EP featured four distinct vocalists, each bringing their own flavor to the track:

While all versions received praise, the English rendition drew extra attention simply because of the performer. Bao, already a well-known face – or rather, voice – in the Vtuber world, had never before lent her talents to a major AAA-style gacha game. Her only public reaction was a simple repost of the announcement and a brief confirmation on social media, yet that was enough to set comment sections ablaze.

Wait, is Bao the Whale Ciaccona’s Voice Actress?

This was the most common question swirling around forums in late May 2025. The answer is a firm no. Bao solely performed the song’s vocals; the English voice actress behind Ciaccona’s in-game dialogue and combat lines is Rebecca Hanssen, whose impressive résumé includes Eve in Stellar Blade and Mellore in Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes. The separation between singer and VA is standard practice in many gacha titles, but it still sparked debates about whether future projects might see Vtubers stepping into full character roles.

Ciaccona’s Legacy in the 2.4 Era and Beyond

Fast-forward to 2026. Wuthering Waves has since barreled through multiple major updates – the 2.4 patch that immediately followed Ciaccona’s banner brought a new region and a seismic shift in the meta, yet Ciaccona herself didn’t fade into obscurity. According to unofficial player polls on ResoNexus (the community hub that emerged in late 2025), Ciaccona consistently ranks among the top 10 most popular Aero characters, with her fluid gunplay and supportive kit keeping her relevant in both Spiral Depths and co-op boss raids. Did the song contribute to her staying power? It’s hard to say definitively, but the “Lulala! Lululala!” music video has amassed over 12 million combined views across official channels, and Spotify data shows the English version peaking at #4 on the Global Viral 50 chart for a full week in June 2025 – a remarkable feat for a character theme.

Bao’s involvement also opened doors. In the months following the release, she collaborated with Kuro Games again for a livestream event, and several other gacha titles (notably Project Endless and Starry Dominion) began courting Vtubers for similar musical projects. Was Ciaccona the catalyst for this mini-revolution? Some industry analysts think so; they point to the concurrent rise of “Vtuber official ambassadorship” programs that blend music, voice work, and community engagement.

The Power of a Vtuber-Powered Anthem

What made Bao’s performance so special? For one, the contrast between her gentle, almost lullaby-like tone and Ciaccona’s energetic combat animations created a delightful audio dissonance that players couldn’t get enough of. The lyrics, peppered with nonsensical “lulala” refrains, served as a calming ritual in the overworld before diving into high-octane fights. It’s the kind of tune you’d hum while collecting Echoes or farming ascension materials – and that’s exactly what millions of players did.

Did you ever find yourself whispering “Lulala!” during a tough boss fight? You’re far from alone. The track inspired a slew of user-generated content: TikTok dances, piano covers, even an acoustic guitar tutorial by a prominent resonator theorycrafter. The hashtag #LulalaChallenge trended on X (formerly Twitter) for two weeks in summer 2025, demonstrating that a well-crafted character song can transcend its gaming origins.

What This Means for the Future of Game Music

As we stand in 2026, the Ciaccona EP serves as a case study in successful cross-promotional synergy. It proved that Vtubers are more than just livestreamers – they are legitimate musical artists who can elevate a game’s OST to viral status. It also underscored the importance of multi-language support; having separate singers for each region ensured that no territory felt left out, and the collaborative spirit strengthened global community bonds.

Is the era of anonymous in-house vocalists over? Not entirely, but the lines are blurring. With upcoming titles like Aether Gazer 2 and the Wuthering Waves 3.0 expansion reportedly planning similar celebrity (or “V-celebrity”) tie-ins, Bao the Whale’s turn as Ciaccona’s songstress may be remembered as a pivotal moment. So next time you queue up “Lulala! Lululala!” on your playlist, remember: that catchy little melody wasn’t just a character tune – it was a game-changer. 🐋🎵

Fun Fact: Bao’s performance was recorded remotely, and the raw vocal stems later surfaced in a behind-the-scenes video that Kuro Games published for the EP’s first anniversary in May 2026. If you haven’t watched it yet, it’s a must-see for any audio enthusiast!

Wuthering Waves is currently playable on PS5, PC, iOS, and Android. The Ciaccona rerun banner is expected to return during the 3.1 summer festival later this year, so keep your Radiant Tides ready.