The Music Of Our Heart Jukebox recalls noteworthy 45 r.p.m. hits. Today’s selection C5 on Throwback Thursday is “Sukiyaki by Kyu Sakamoto.
The song reached the top of the Billboard Hot 100 charts in the United States in June of 1963, and remains to date the only Japanese-language song ever to have done so. It is one of the best-selling singles of all time, having sold over 13 million copies worldwide.
I have experienced a wonderful connection in the music of our heart with Ryuichi Sakamoto. It began innocently yesterday when I was listening to the remix of Meredith Monk and Ryuichi Sakamoto’s, “Astronaut Anthem”.
I decided to delve into Ryuichi Sakamoto’s body of work. I rediscovered his superb touch on the piano by listening to Playing The Piano, US Version (2010).
I was captivated by the beauty of the composition, “Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence“. I researched Ryuichi Sakamoto on the InterWeb and discovered Commmons. A new music community for real artists and music lovers, an oasis I plan to visit often 🙂
“Commmons (Commons)” as artists, including Ryuichi Sakamoto in order to explore new possibilities of music, is a project which was established with Avex Group. Under the slogan “think global, act local”, and has a point of view ecological, as new music community aimed at social and cultural contribution, in order to create a better relationship between artist / creator, music industry, the user / listener “common land It is intended to be a (commons). ” In the hope that music (music) continues to exist in the center of the common land (commons), was named the three “m” and “commmons”.
I look forward to the future release, Playing The Orchestra 2013 (December 11, 2013). Ryuichi Sakamoto performs on piano with conductor Hirofumi Kurita and the Tokyo Philharmonic Orchestra.
I hope one day to have the honor of revelling in the musical genius of Ryuichi Sakamoto live in concert. It turns out he and I are the same age which inspires me greatly.
Information Source for this blog post is the Domo Music Group News Blog (see Domocast.tv link below).
Used with kind permission for sharing with music listeners the express information about the latest digital Kitaro import available on iTunes, Mizu Ni Inori Te. (Originally released in 2002 in Japan).
Track List
1. Mizu ni Inori Te ＊unreleased
2. The Light of the Spirit
3. Stream
4. Shizuku no Mai ＊unreleased
5. Nagare no Naka de
6. Voice of the Wind ＊unreleased
7. Theme from Silk Road
About Mizu Ni Inori Te
Japanese nationwide TV featured Kitaro for their famous documentary series about professionals from various different fields. In the TV program, Kitaro had explored Nagara-gawa (one of the biggest rivers in Japan) from its source to both “Pacific Ocean” and “Sea Of Japan” and built his images to create songs which were played in the program. After the on-air, they were flooded with inquiries about songs. This led them to produce the album including 3 unreleased songs. Kitaro shows the appreciation for nature by expressing both magnificent flow and dynamism of nature as it is.
Kitaro:
We have the eternal circulation of nature since the Mother earth was born. Rain falls in the mountain and the river flows to the ocean, where ocean water evaporates and goes back to the mountains. We live in the world of circulation. We need a better understanding of not taking for granted of Mother Nature’s gift to us.
Kodo is a Japanese precision drumming troupe who is celebrating their 30th anniversary this year. They are celebrating with the One Earth Tour, which just completed its North America leg in Utica, NY last night.
We saw them several years ago at Purchase College Performing Arts Center. They are phenomenal. Their uniformity along with their individual and collective strength will amaze you. The drum represents the human heart in each of us. Listening to it in unison will build a wonderful, spiritual intensity inside of you as you join your heart with Kodo’s drumming heart.
Here is a very well written music review from the NY Times about Kodo’s appearance at Lincoln Center this past week. Music Review: The Lords of the Drum (nytimes.com)
As a fan of Kitaro and his quest for peace, I have been following with respect his Sacred Journey of Ku-Kai. I have the first three volumes and I was just wondering recently if two years had elapsed since Vol. 3 and when Vol. 4 would be released.
My internal question has been magically answered as the Sacred Journey of Ku-Kai is the fourth in a series of a collection of works and peace-themed albums inspired by the classic Buddhist pilgrimage to the 88 sacred temples on Japan’s remote Shikoku Island. A journey taken by the beloved Buddhist monk Ku-kai over a millennium ago, via the music contained in Sacred Journey of Ku-kai Volume 4, Kitaro continues to explore uncharted waters with his magnificently expansive vision and ever-questing spirit.
Sacred Journey of Ku-Kai Vol.4 will be released in August 2010 by Domo Music Group.
I anticipate next when can I pre-order this CD and if autographed versions will be available?
Domo arigato and Peace, Kitaro 🙂
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