Kyu Sakamoto - "Ue O Muite Aruko" (Sukiyaki)

Here are some very rare music video's and the songs in (Stereo!) of "Sukiyaki" in English and original Japanese... More: Sakamoto, Kyu "Kyu-chan" - b. November 10, 1941. d. August 12, 1985.He was 43 years old at the time of his death. Internationally acclaimed singer. Sakamoto made his show business debut in 1960. His biggest hit, Ue o Muite Aruko (I Look Up When I Walk; "Sukiyaki" in the West), was released in Japan in 1961. After its release in the U.S. in 1963, the song's earnestness and melodic beauty proved irresistible despite its incomprehensible lyrics. Against all odds, on June 15, 1963, the song ousted Leslie Gore's "It's My Party" to become the No. 1 popular song in the U.S. "Sukiyaki" remains the biggest international hit by a Japanese popular singer. Credit for the song's popularity also is due to the music by Hachidai Nakamura and the lyrics by Rokusuke Ei, who is said to have written this touching evocation of loneliness after his heart was broken by the actress Meiko Nakamura. Sakamoto also recorded such popular songs as "Shiawase Nara Te o Tatako" and "Miagete Goran Sora no Hoshi o." Tragically, he was killed when JAL Flight 123, a 747 bound from Haneda Airport in Tokyo to Osaka, lost pieces of its tail sections and spiraled downward nightmarishly for 30 minutes (long enough for some passengers to scribble shaky farewells to their families). The plane crashed and burned on a thickly wooded mountain about 60 miles northwest of Tokyo, killing 520 and injuring four, in the worst single airplane disaster in aviation history. Sakamoto's songs remain popular in Japan and overseas. "A Taste of Honey" and "4PM" are among the performers who have subsequently released their own renditions of "Sukiyaki." Mr. Sakamoto's grave is at the Chookokuji Temple, in the Minato-ku(district) in Tokyo.

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friitz (2007-06-12)

This song was my first vinyl-record ever. In Sweden we had the Japanese version and it went right up to no 1 at top ten on the radio, althogh we did not understand a word of what the man was singing! I love it!
Thanks

reichert (2007-06-13)

...Sukiyaki was sung by Mr. Kyu Sakamoto.
Words by Mr. Rokusuke Ei, music by Mr. Hachidai Nakamura.

 L_Hammond (2007-10-20)

Thanks for sharing this collection!

Skytreker (2007-10-25)

This is a great song! Makes me sad and dreamy.
Thanks, reichert!
Don't like the later english versions though from "4.P.M" and "a taste of honey". They tweak the beautiful original melody not to my likings.
I think the "Sakamoto Kyu - Sukiyaki (English).mp3" file is the version sung by "a taste of honey"

demonsdemon (2008-02-24)

Domo Arigato

meerkatclaw (2009-04-17)

Thank you for this, i have been wanting to know what this song is for a number of years now and after a lot of searching iv finally got it thanks to this wonderful torrent. It really is a truly beautiful song and the lyrics are very touching.
I will seed this for a long long time.

Bambikilr (2012-05-17)

THANKS! Just remembered this sweet lil' classic when I was putting together music for a big Luau/Reggae/Surf-inspired BBQ-party. Sakamoto-San will be in good company of Elvis, The Ventures, The Beach Boys and a big bunch of Reggae and Dancehall :)
This is not a fake... Proper, crystal clear mp3 files.

Bambikilr (2012-05-17)

..oh... and btw, I'm far from being able to remember the rage of this tune... I'm turning 30 for the party, so indeed, this is an immortal classic :) I just reckon' good music is hard to come by nowadays :)
Hate the english title, but I guess it'd never gotten so famous with the original name. (I speak a bit of Japanese and find the original title beautiful and the English one rather insulting... Whether it's the most insulting towards the Japanese or the Yankees, however, I don't really know... lol)
I can't understand why a skulled member will put down the UL? (@Mbb15)
As I said just now in the comment above; no viruses detected, a text document with the lyrics in Japanese and English,
3 proper mp3's of three versions of the song (two of them by Sakamoto-San, and the last one of them by 4PM (not as wrongly stated - A taste of Honey, which was a discoballad by a girlgroup in the early 80's) a yucky wailing boybandsoul cover, and last,
a proper functioning mpg with a Japanese recording from a top list show on tv, with a much older than he actually was, Sakamoto, performing the tune on stage in 1981.
I will seed this as long as I can :) I wish more people would UL stuff like this :) Rare and unforgettable oldies and little pearls :)