In Japan, this is, perhaps, the piece for which Ryuichi Sakamoto is best known. Maybe in the US he is best known for his soundtrack for The Last Emperor, which is equally moving, if not more so. It is hard for me now to listen to either withoug being moved to tears. 

 ArrayMac wrote:

Contemplation can be Positive.  Think on that

 Grammarcop wrote:

You say that like it's a _bad_ thing.

never fails to sooth my soul, beautiful
9

genius

 Highlowsel wrote: 
Same experience here, but we pulled up the Manila stations playing western Top 40 music.  I remember the Philippines in a mishmash of Hall & Oates, Jim Photoglo, Diodato, and McFadden & Whitehead.  It's pretty messed up and probably not what the Philippines is about, lol, but it is what it is.

Standing the test of time, for sure 👍

 Grammarcop wrote:
Sitting at my work from home desk, slip on my headphones to fully appreciate this recording.  Trying my hardest to only focus on this and block everything else out of my mind.

So very refreshing ............................

 I was going through a lot when I first heard this. Just like any boy passing from childhood to manhood, from centre stage to chorus and from smart to mediocre, I was not at my best. At the same time "sexuality" came into sharp focus ...... and then  it all went horribly wrong! Somehow this piece exhumes that boy with a smile on his face although I am now in my 50´s. I cannot help feeling that moment never stopped, I just got used to it. I suppose that was my version of growing up.

 Highlowsel wrote:
 

Thanks for encapsulating in a brief way what music has the power to convey.

 electronicshaman wrote:
 
13 years ago, leaving the office WAS hard thanks to RP.
in 2020 though, the office is at home, and RP (continues) to help keeping me in my office. Odd.

I say Long Live RP all day and night!!

And this one's an 8.49 to me, nearly ready for the+1 to 9.

I lack the muscial vocabulary to describe this but it's so.....asian...in its presentation.  Very...Japanese in its style.  It always sets me in mind of walking thru cherry blossum trees when they're in bloom.  Very nice....

Highlow
American Net'Zen

 haresfur wrote:
 

I prefer it with David Sylvian's lyrics as "Forbidden Colours," but yes, exactly.

I thought "this sure sounds like video game music" and what do you know...

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/...

Edit: this also kicks ass. wow.

 BCarn wrote: 
There's a difference between boring and subtle

 BCarn wrote: 
Hmmm, what could explain this. . . ?

For the next couple of minutes, I will lean against a kitchen counter with my hands in my pockets and stare unfocused into the distance. 

 ...You should stay with the beatles buddy....

BCarn wrote: 

Interesting how such a boring piece receives such a high rating. Hmm.

Like other listeners, I had first thought it was Joe Hisaishi, due to the similarity with his Miyazaki film scores.   But I was only a little off.   Ryuichi Sakamoto composed the score to one of my other favorite early Anime films, Wings of Honneamise.   Listening to the electronic orchestrated film version on YouTube sounded very much like his Wings score.   It all hit home then.   A great addition to the rotation here at RP.

Guys, this song is not in Spirited Away, it just sounds very similar.   https://www.reddit.com/r/ghibli/comments/13vufv/hi_rghibli_i_was_listening_to_this_song_and_it/?st=j6seiybh&sh=65b9a29d

 Majestic wrote: 
Thank you so much for the info. I need to see film now! 

What a beautiful comment Highlowsel. I wonder if people with unfortunate backgrounds can read that and imagine themselves as happy children exploring the world. I hope so.

Nice tune.  Reminds me of when I was young.  I was, and am, a military brat by raisings.  Consequently I grew up.....everywhere.  While my old man did endless TDY's (Tours of Duty) in Vietnam and such the family did stints in Japan (Yokota Air Base, Tachikawa, etc.), the Philippines, South Korea and Taiwan.  This music pulls memories up that I hadn't thought of in some time.  Walking, or biking, down endless paths in prefects outside of Tokyo; paths lined with blooming cherry blossom trees, rice fields, forests of bamboo and the like.  Beautiful land, gracious people, and - as I look back on it in retrospect - a perfect childhood.   

Highlow
American Net'Zen

A masterpiece. The electronic original film score version even surpasses this. Dig https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LF9_9MZyQGo

lush tune love it 

spirited away - great movie, great soundtrack, great song

 torino390 wrote: 
sorta - theres a single called Forbidden Colours by David Sylvian and Sakamoto that was connected to the movie. Sylvian was in Japan, he worked with Sakamoto a lot before and after this movie. Not sure if he get's a co-writers credit on the instrumental version, but he wrote the english lyrics. It's really lovely: 
https://youtu.be/x1YkHJJi-tc
 

 CHuLoYo wrote: 
David Bowie and Ryuichi Sakamoto both appeared in the Japanese film, "Merry Christmas Mr. Lawrence". A complicated and maybe overly-ambitious film from Nagisa Oshima. Well worth watching - fine performances from an interesting cast (including Takeshi). The soundtrack (also from Ryuichi Sakamoto) is outstanding. Roger Ebert's review of it is also worth reading. 

 On_The_Beach wrote: 
What's the relationship with Bowie and sakamoto? 

I didn't even see what this was and knew it was used in a Miyazaki movie just from the tonality.

Beautiful ❤

Long time no hear!

Simply godlike ...  
Thank you RP ... 

RIP Mr. Bowie

was it 'Japan' who did a version of this way back in the early 80's? that was quite cool too if I remember.

This song was wonderful in Spirited Away.

very good movie, I remember Takeshi in it, dude made some kick-ass ganstafilms

(dragging of images into post editor is not allowed)

Was reading some paper about David Bowie and RP plays this! :)
Life is so much better with RP around.

Anyway... remember Sakamoto is some kind of a genius.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=woIfjrri9mc
Very Satiesque but... great.

David Sylvian also.

Yeah - I thought it was something by Joe Hisaishi at first ... 

ch83575 wrote: 

 zair99 wrote: 
Curly and Moe's brother.

This reminds the 80s...

One of my all time favorite song.  Thanks for playing it!!!

This reminds me of the music from Miyazaki movies.

David Bowie and Tom Conti did a wonderful job in this film, heart wrenching, especially at the end when roles are reversed.

Sakamoto played the Japanese captain of the POW camp, another powerful performance. 

 Ukhi wrote: 
That sounds very interesting.  Good for you!

Beautiful tune. Made me look up Mr. Sakamoto on Spotify. He has a lot of interesting, varied stuff.

 TerryS wrote: 
Very good!

This version is gorgeous and sweet, but the orchestral one is stunning. I urge you to seek it out.

Excellent.

I can play this song on guitar really beautiful I love it

 TerryS wrote: 
nice idea, but totally off! It's more like Bridge on the River Kwai!

 cohifi wrote: 
...who's Larry?

If you have never seen this film then watch it. Unless you are worried that crying at a movie is not what a grown man does !

 TerryS wrote: 
 ...but that's pretty well written! Thanks!

 Dinges,_the_Dude wrote: 
There's a version where Bowie sings?! I agree, it was a great movie.

Please listen to the version Ryuichi did with David Sylvian !

This is one of the best tunes I've never heard before, which is typical of listening to RP.  Thanks Larry.

As the girl in the deep red coat and long skirt bicycles along the strand under grey skies and wind-whipped seas, a man with a craggy jaw, clothed in a fisherman's knit sweater, sits repairing his nets. Meanwhile, a curtain is switched back into place in the fine house above.
Alright, I haven't seen the movie, but this is what I heard in the music. Laugh if you will.

Waiter, could I get a Sapporo with my Sakamoto? . . . and a little more Wasabi?

Very sweet. Peaceful with some drama elements yet playful.
You gotta love RP for playing tracks like this.
Greetings and Gratitude from England. 

Beautiful song, but I prefer the version in which David Bowie sings.
Beautiful movie too. 

 twcarlin wrote: 
Wow! That is impressive. Gave it a 9, myself. Beautiful song.

Don't care what anyone else says, but I thought it was a Great Film and I cried.

Ok this is a first- not one '1' vote on this. There is hope for the listeners of RP after all!

Gotta quote a friend of mine as we left the cinema back in 1983 ...

"The movie's ok, but the music ... God!  It goes after your heart with a pair pliers."

Cool tune.  I still have the first two YMO albums on vinyl (one of which is yellow vinyl); it's good to know he's still making music.

This is very nice but for some reason it reminds me of Sarah by Fleetwood Mac.  Strange. 

If you like this, you may also like the soundtrack to Kikujiro no Natsu (Kikujiro's Summer) by Joe Hisaishi.

beautiful. nice transition from tori amos. i love studio ghibli!

Impressive

Is there a similarity to https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Secrets_of_the_Beehive ?

hippiechick wrote:

Dior wrote: I KNEW I had heard this somewhere before. Thanks for the reminder!

Outstanding!

From Wikipedia: Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence (Senjou no Merii Kurisumasu, aka Furyo in many European editions) is a 1983 film directed by Nagisa Oshima, produced by Jeremy Thomas and starring David Bowie, Tom Conti, Ryuichi Sakamoto, and Takeshi Kitano. It was written by Oshima and Paul Mayersberg and based on World War II experiences as a prisoner of war of the writer Laurens van der Post as told in his works The Seed and the Sower (1963) and The Night of the New Moon (1970). Ryuichi Sakamoto also wrote the musical score. Plot The film deals with the relationships among four men in a Japanese prisoner of war camp during the Second World War — Jack Celliers (Bowie), a rebellious prisoner with a guilty secret from his youth in New Zealand; Captain Yonoi (Sakamoto), the young camp commandant; Lieutenant Colonel John Lawrence (Conti), a British officer who has lived in Japan and speaks Japanese fluently; and Sergeant Hara (Kitano), with whom Lawrence develops a peculiar friendship. Like Celliers, Yonoi, too, is tormented by guilt. Having been posted to Manchuria previously, he was unable to be in Tokyo with his Army comrades, the "Shining Young Officers" of Japan's February 26 Incident, a 1936 military coup d'etat. When the coup fails, the young army officers are executed. Yonoi regrets not being able to share their patriotic sacrifice. Jack Celliers had betrayed his deformed younger brother while the two of them were attending boarding school. Although Celliers confesses this only to Lawrence, Captain Yonoi senses in Celliers a kindred spirit. He wants to replace Hicksley with Celliers as spokesman for the prisoners. Analysis The film also deals with communication between cultures. Lawrence is the only one who can effectively communicate with the Japanese officers, but the British camp commandant, Colonel Hicklsey, sees his liaison with the Japanese as betrayal. Each culture has its own code of conduct, each of which is unfathomable to the other. Lawrence tries to bridge the gap, but he is hampered by the fact that Yonoi and Hara don't understand the British as well as Lawrence understands the Japanese. Psychological and psychoanalytical reasons for the way people act in time of war are closely examined. Both Ryuichi Sakamoto and David Bowie were superstars in their own cultures. A strong sense of national identity is established. The film is seen mainly from the British point of view, although filmed by a Japanese director. It is an even-handed treatment of intercultural communication, and the controlling power of desire and the unexpected forms that it can take. Music The film is mostly known for its soundtrack, by Ryuichi Sakamoto. The main score, which bears the same title as the movie, ranks among Sakamoto's most well-known songs and made him known to a broader public. The soundtrack also contains the vocal version of this title track, better known as Forbidden Colours with lyrics sung and composed by David Sylvian. There exists also a 12" vinyl remake version on the famous Italian record label DISCOMAGIC named Clock On 5 - Theme From Furyo

9.9

this is lovely!

the_jake wrote: KT Tunstall - Beauty Of Uncertainty Whadda Segue!

Posted 17 years ago by a_genuine_find    [ Reply ]

Beautiful Simply Beautiful

marvellous

Quite reminiscent of Joe Hisaishi:s works. Beautiful.

Seen the film? That's good too.

bcorcoran wrote: For what it's worth, I found it on Napster Canada.

Gorgeous.

Christmas in September? Love the tune anyway.

bcorcoran wrote: wallpaper mach 1.5 that's what I have it from

beautiful Haven't heard this before, thanks again RP

This is beautiful. I remember when this was getting air play on the good old Bay Area radio stations back in the 80's.

Godlike - period.

You're killing me Bill. I can't find this version anywhere. And... I'm not about to shell out $50 from some 3rd party wanting to profit off of amazon.

zorrofox wrote: Och aye laddie, wis indeed!

Wow - it was a "you had to be there" moment. 3 7

Beautiful segue. Kudos. This is a great tune too. Just braw!

I got here too late to hear the sing this afternoon, but my dad used to be a projectionist at a movie theater, and I was always getting free promo stuff for movies, and for a long time when I was, like, 9 my nightgown was a t-shirt from this movie. Which I've never seen.

kind of new age elevator music-ish - which is not necessarily a bad thing, those can be some long elevator rides! - until it went all michael nyman on our heads

raven121x wrote: I'll say what they said. perfectly seamless.

raven121x wrote: Took the words right out of my mouth (or keyboard). (And I like a person who can spell "segue"!)

Dior wrote: Which, strangely enough, is slightly different than the one from the soundtrack. If I recall correctly, Sakamoto was none too pleased with Sylvian's version. Regardless, David Sylvian can (hardly) do no wrong in my book.

Nice segue from Icicle, Bill. Well done.

Darn. I have to go to the store. I can't be tracking down pointless arcane musical information. OK-yes I can

auburntigerrich wrote: Agreed, leaving the office early is no longer an option. Reminds me of watching "Rage" on the weekend (Aussies know what I'm talking about) you want to go to bed but you just have to see if the next song is good.

This is amazing. I've only heard the David Sylvian/Ryuichi Sakamoto version "Forbidden Colors" on Secrets of the Beehive. By the way the movie "Merry Christmas Mr. Lawrence" is really good as well.

Reminds me of the sountrack to Black Rain (1989)

I keep trying to walk away from my desk, and RP keeps me glued... Makes me instantly remember Howl's Moving Castle. Great flick... artistry as magical as this song.

Haha I know this as an awful () dance version by 'watergate', the track's called heart of asia... and please do not ask me from where I know that!

ce wrote: You're very wrong...

ce wrote: Hi! Sorry, but you are deeply mistaken... you should listen more closely... THIS, a cover of MOoo MEeeNTS In LOooVE ?? THX, RP!!!

Someone mentioned Miyasaki, but I thought this sounded like it was from Gainex's "His and Her Circumstances" (or Karekano, in the abbreviated Japanese title). Sounds like it may even be the same tune.

If I'm not mistaken, I know this melody as "Moments in love", by 80's synth/sample group "The Art of Noise". Ah, it's in the RP playlist (click here) I suppose this is the original. AoN did not write many melodies of their own...

Wow, this is beautiful. A solid 9.

Miyazaki is a genius! lathyris wrote:

This sounds like it could be straight from any of Hiyao Miyazaki's films. . .if you like this, check out the soundtrack from any of his movies, like Spirited Away. Very pretty!

This is an allround beautiful album on which Sakamoto plays a lot of his tunes rearranged for piano, violin and cello. Check it out, it's awsome. The cello is played by Jacques Morelenbaum, a Brazilian player, who among others also played on Sting's All this time DVD (in his Tuscan back garden...)

Isn't this from another movie. An annimated one? Can't think of the name. Little help?