Ryuichi Sakamoto – Merry Christmas Mr. Lawrence

Just found out last night that Ryuichi Sakamoto passed away and thought I needed to show my appreciation. I first came across his music via the Yellow Magic Orchestra.

I found them on Napster back when I thought I was a pirate trying to download the entire internet. I was way into techno and all kinds of electronica back then. Any kind, from any place.

Yellow Magic Orchestra – Rydeen

YMO sounded like the future – and also the past. It reminded me of my teenage years in the early ’80s, at the arcade. The ’80s were when I knew for certain that the future was coming. I think I still have a few of those tokens. Anyone remember those?

Yellow Magic Orchestra – Firecracker

YMO definitely put their stamp on the future, but Sakamoto was way more than that. He composed the soundtracks for numerous movies, including The Last Emperor and the Revenant. But what really blew me away was discovering songs from his soundtrack to Merry Christmas Mr. Lawrence, a movie Sakamoto appeared in, along with David Bowie.

I found that thanks to another of my musical heroes, David Sylvian, formerly of the group known as Japan. I followed Sylvian’s career after Japan. I really love his unique voice. Sylvian and Sakamoto collaborated more than once, but “Forbidden Colours” is the one that really turned me onto Sakamoto. Such a beautiful song.

Yellow Magic Orchestra – Ballet. Vocals are by Yoshiro Takahashi, who also passed away earlier this year. I definitely need to show him more love. I totally mistook his voice for Sylvian’s at first. Maybe that explains why he and Sakamoto were able to collaborate so well.

Yellow Magic Orchestra – Cosmic Surfin’. How cool is this? Wish I’d been there.