By adding lyrics to Lost Theme of the Brian de Palma film Femme Fatale (2002), Taeko Ohnuki provides a different interpretation of this soundtrack piece by Sakamoto. Antinomy, the result of this collaboration, showcases Ohnuki's perceptive writing and the compatibility between her voice and Sakamoto's music. Both blessed with the fluid, crystal quality resembling water, … Continue reading Lyrics: Antinomy
Tag: Ryuichi Sakamoto
Lyrics: ３びきのくま/3 Bears
Another collaboration between Sakamoto's music and Ohnuki's lyrics, 3 Bears captures the consciousness of how ephemeral human life is in contrast to the cosmos- nevertheless, the fact that life exists on planet earth is a miracle in its own right. This song is also a perfect example of UTAU's style- tranquil, delicate, yet always profound. … Continue reading Lyrics: ３びきのくま/3 Bears
Lyrics: Tango
The fifth track of the 1995 album Smoochy, Tango shares the touch of bossa nova and heavy Latin-American images as some other tracks in this album. The lyricist Taeko Ohnuki covered this song in UTAU and brought more charm to this song with her crystal, nostalgic voice.To celebrate that UTAU finally becomes available for streaming … Continue reading Lyrics: Tango
Lyrics: Alluring Azure Sky 美貌の青空/Bibo no Aozora
美貌の青空/Bibo no Aozora was first released in 1995 as the opening track of the album Smoochy. Its instrumental version later became a regular in Sakamoto's live performance repertoire and appeared in the soundtrack of the 2006 film Babel. Sakamoto's long-time collaborator Taeko Ohnuki also covered this song in their joint project UTAU in 2010.Although Sakamoto … Continue reading Lyrics: Alluring Azure Sky 美貌の青空/Bibo no Aozora
YMO: Letters from the Future
Originally from the photo book YMO Sealed, published by Shogakukan in 1984.English translation by Stella Hsieh Letter from the Future It has been a long time since we have seen each other. How have you been?I don't know much about you there. I don't know what kind of winds blow, what sunlight shines. Does it … Continue reading YMO: Letters from the Future
Kazuki and Ryuichi Sakamoto, Father and Son: Excerpts from KS’s Biography
Ryuichi Sakamoto's father, Kazuki Sakamoto (12.8.1921-9.28.2002), was an editor, co-founder of Kawade Shobo Shinsha, and former chief editor of the magazine Bungei. He was known for being the editor in charge of Yukio Mishima, Kazumi Takahashi, and many other key figures of postwar literature.His biography The Legendary Editor: Kazuki Sakamoto and his Time was first … Continue reading Kazuki and Ryuichi Sakamoto, Father and Son: Excerpts from KS’s Biography
Ryuichi Sakamoto Interview: Kraftwerk Reverses the Common Image of Germany
Ryuichi Sakamoto in 1979 comments on German contemporary music, Kraftwerk, David Bowie's album Low, and many more. To read more about his opinion on Low published in the same magazine earlier that year, see: https://lysisme.art.blog/2021/04/11/ryuichi-sakamoto-what-interesting-about-bowie-is-not-the-sound/ New Music Magazine, November Issue, 1979Interviewed on September 25th, at Clover RoppongiInterviewer: Masakazu KitanakaEnglish translation by Stella Hsieh When you … Continue reading Ryuichi Sakamoto Interview: Kraftwerk Reverses the Common Image of Germany
A Private Dialogue: Shigehiko Hasumi and Ryuichi Sakamoto on The Last Emperor
A long conversation between film composer and actor Ryuichi Sakamoto, and scholar and film critic Shigehiko Hasumi on The Last Emperor. Read Sakamoto's previous interview with director Bernardo Bertolucci: https://lysisme.art.blog/2021/03/14/translation-ryuichi-sakamoto-interviews-bernardo-bertolucci/ Originally published in A Picture Book of The Last EmperorDecember 10, 1987.Photographer: Takahisa IdeEnglish translation by Stella Hsieh Ryuichi Sakamoto and Shigehiko Hasumi 01. The … Continue reading A Private Dialogue: Shigehiko Hasumi and Ryuichi Sakamoto on The Last Emperor
Ryuichi Sakamoto: What Interesting About Bowie is Not the Sound
An account written by Ryuichi Sakamoto, published in the February Issue of the New Music Magazine in 1979, along with the interview between Sakamoto and Bowie. Read the full interview: https://lysisme.art.blog/2021/02/26/ziggy-stardust-in-exile-in-la-ryuichi-sakamoto-interviews-david-bowie/ New Music Magazine, February Issue, 1979 Author: Ryuichi Sakamoto Photographer: Masayoshi Sukita English Translation by Stella Hsieh Album cover of Equinoxe I bought a … Continue reading Ryuichi Sakamoto: What Interesting About Bowie is Not the Sound
Translation: Ryuichi Sakamoto Interviews Bernardo Bertolucci
Originally published in Japanese in A Picture Book of The Last EmperorOn October 27, 1987, at Bertolucci’s homeInterviewer: Ryuichi SakamotoEnglish Translation by Stella Hsieh Bernardo Bertolucci ©Frank Connor An Epic Film?Ryuichi Sakamoto: There must be some people who come to see The Last Emperor expecting it to be a great epic film shot on location … Continue reading Translation: Ryuichi Sakamoto Interviews Bernardo Bertolucci
Between Thought and Expression 