It’s been reported that Ryuichi Sakamoto passed away on the 28th of last month. I heard he was recording in the studio until the end of last year, so the sudden news of his passing leaves me utterly speechless. ๐
I love all his tracks, but today, I find myself longing to hear ‘Merry Christmas Mr. Lawrence.’ It’s the main theme of a film sharing the same name. Originally, it’s an electronic piece with the main melody played on a traditional Japanese instrument called Koto, but Sakamoto’s piano and violin rendition is more widely known. I remember the first time I listened to the piano version; the opening notes sparkled like stars in the night sky, leaving me mesmerized. Ever since, every Christmas, this track comes to mind, and on those nights when holidays fade away, I would listen to it repeatedly, cherishing the last moments. Similarly, on days when rain pours down like there’s no tomorrow, I’d dive into ‘Rain.’ When things felt like they’d come to a happy close, ‘Happy End’ was my go-to. And when life felt a bit tangled, I’d play ‘Koko.’ His music was my comfort, and I’d like to think it brought a bit more happiness into my life. ๐
We live surrounded by sounds every day, but we usually don’t think of them as music. It’s fascinating and interesting when you really listen. I want to bring those sounds into my music. Ryuichi Sakamoto
May his soul rest in peace. ๐
R.I.P
2023.02.28
Ryuichi Sakamoto
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