On 28 March Ryuichi Sakamoto died of cancer.

You may know of him as an actor in "Merry Christmas Mr Lawrence" (MCML) and the composer for this film and "The Last Emperor". However for those of us into electronic music, Japanese music and anime you may know him as a solo performer and as a member of YMO (Yellow Magic Orchestra). Yukihiro Takahashi, the drummer in YMO also died in January this year, leaving Haruomi Hosono as only YMO alive.

Sakamoto has a Prince connection: The theme song from MCML was "Forbidden Colours" performed by Sakamoto and David Silvian (from the band Japan). Silvian married Ingrid Chavez in 1992.

On a personal note, Sakamoto is one of only three musicians whose death made me cry: Prince and Karen Carpenter are the other two.

oh this is making me very sad. i hadn't read it anywhere yet. i wonder why not, he was such
an amazing and well loved artist across the globe.

i've loved his work since forever and have a special place in my heart for all of his colabs with
alva noto.

thank you for all the wonderful art, mr sakamoto.

LILpoundCAKE said:

Vannormal said:

LILpoundCAKE said:

oh this is making me very sad. i hadn't read it anywhere yet. i wonder why not, he was such
an amazing and well loved artist across the globe.

i've loved his work since forever and have a special place in my heart for all of his colabs with
alva .

thank you for all the wonderful art, mr sakamoto.

The few live shows they did together we're unseen, and fantastic. If you like that, search also for his also artwork sound installations. Truly amazing. The last released box set called V.I.R.U.S. Has all these albums as 1 package. Vrioon Insen Revep _utp Summvs And the package is fantastic.

Yes, I've been listening to the updated V/I/R/U/S releases, they are amazing.

Also been listening to "Glass" a lot lately. It's perfect for a nice meditation.

I thought I was the only Japanese music weirdo here!

Prolific? Yes. And an major influence on the prolific Yasutaka Nakata. In addition to all his work and collabs, without Nakata you don't get Pefume, Kyary Pamyu Pamyu and so many others.

IanRG said:

IanRG said:

you may know him as a solo performer and as a member of YMO (Yellow Magic Orchestra).

Never knew this

Cinny said:

IanRG said:

you may know him as a solo performer and as a member of YMO (Yellow Magic Orchestra).

Never knew this

Start with the song ''Forbidden Colors" (fro the Merry Christmas Mr. Lawrence, movie)

Then listen to the theme song for the movie "The Revenant", and you'll hear two songs with something like 35 years of difference. It's pure Sakamoto craftmanship.

And if you like both, start with the album Beauty.

It even has a guest appearance by Jill Jones on a Japanese funk track.

RIP, I always liked the Merry Christmas Mr. Lawrence song and still play it from time to time. I have a few different versions of the song, including solo piano and with an orchestra. I enjoy all of them, it is such a beautiful introspective, calming composition.

[Edited 5/5/23 6:36am]

Vannormal said:

Cinny said:

Never knew this

Start with the song ''Forbidden Colors" (fro the Merry Christmas Mr. Lawrence, movie)

Then listen to the theme song for the movie "The Revenant", and you'll hear two songs with something like 35 years of difference. It's pure Sakamoto craftmanship.

And if you like both, start with the album Beauty.

It even has a guest appearance by Jill Jones on a Japanese funk track.

Thank you. This tracks because I found that Mr Lawrence song maybe only like 12 years ago, but didn't graduate to deeper knowledge.

PRINCE LINK

Jill Jones featured on "You Do Me" from the 1989 album Beauty. Cool video https://www.youtube.com/w...kJlT0yLWYY

that's what i said earlier;

"It even has a guest appearance by Jill Jones on a Japanese funk track."

R.I.P.

Realized this weekend I had Ryuichi Sakamoto's "Riot In Lagos" (1980) in my collection on a hip hop/boogie/electro CD compiled by Mantronix.