Am I the only one that loves this old Japanese song Sukiyaki by Kyu Sakamoto?

[laurieluvsit]

Mr Kyu was originally a singer with the Drifters, one of the world's most successful bands of the 50's and 60's.

Below the song are the words of the song in English that you can view as you listen to the song. I totally LOVE THIS SONG!

I look up as I walk
So the tears won’t fall
Remembering those spring days
But I am all alone tonight

I look up as I walk
Counting the stars with tearful eyes
Remembering those summer days
But I am all alone tonight

Happiness lies up above the clouds
Happiness lies up in the sky

I look up as I walk
So that the tears won’t fall
Though the tears well up as I walk
For tonight I am all alone

[Whistling]

Remembering those autumn days
But I am all alone tonight

Sadness lies in the shadow of the stars
Sadness lurks in the shadow of the moon

I look up as I walk
So that the tears won’t fall
Though the tears well up as I walk
But I am all alone tonight.
But I am all alone tonight.

I have never heard that song before, but after listening to it, I like it also

I have heard this song and I like it too

No, Japanese songs are not my thing but thank you anyway

OTHER, see my comments below, or just open the "Sukiyaki" Song Survey

[FunkyMonkee]

Yeah, I like it. I'm pretty sure I even have an original Japanese pressing of it on RCA Victor International. If I don't, my neighbor does. I rremember seeing one a few years ago and neither of us knowing what it was until we played it.
Is there another Drifters I don't know about? There's the American Drifters you have pictured here which were all black so, Kyu would've stuck out like a sore thumb, and the other was the British backing group for Cliff Richard before they changed their name to The Shadows. Again, Kyu would've stuck out like a sore thumb!

[laurieluvsit]

See item number 3

www.tokyoweekender.com/.../

[FunkyMonkee]

Thanks! Third Drifters, then.

[Lliam]

Thanks for this, Laurie. It brought back memories. I remember the song well. I guess I was nine years old when it was a hit.
My grandfather was really into music and would buy records of songs he heard on the radio. He introduced me to a wide variety of songs. This was one of them. He had the 45rmp.

I always liked this song a lot. I never knew the English lyrics. I also never saw the guy sing it.
Isn't he cute?

It's fascinating that he was a member of The Drifters, a wonderful group. I thought they were all black.

[laurieluvsit]

Yes, he is super cute!

In my research, I found that he was with them in their early start before they became famous. He wanted to be a lead vocal with the group but they only wanted him to sing secondary so he left the group. They went on after he left to gain in fame especially opening for the Beatles when they came to America.

[Lliam]

I love trivia. :-)

[Medicalbug]

I've always loved it. It is such a unique, memorable melody. I even watched an old movie once that borrowed some of it for its soundtrack and recognized it immediately. For the life of me, I can't remember the name. It was quite beautifully done. It was some Easter feature movie about the middle east (I think it was Jesus themed but not sure), with a little boy in it. I will never stop kicking myself for not being able to find it.

[DeeDeeDeVour]

Lol. My mom & dad always sing that song together on the Karaoke. And, they sang it in Japanese! However, I don't think they actually knew the meaning of the entire song. They just loved singing it together. I always get a kick out of watching them.

[bowenw]

It's awesome.
I also like this version:

https://www.youtube.com/embed/xqFkUNqBwMw

[laurieluvsit]

Nice!

[exitseven]

I remember that my mother used to have this record. This reminded me of her.

[laurieluvsit]

Nice, I hope they are fond memories :)

[exitseven]

Yes, we had a tape player in my father's old car and we listened to a homemade tape of stuff from the 60s and 70s. This was on it.

[DARKCLOUD1945X]

I still have my old 45 rpm of that song plus four others that he did. Brings back the memory of better times. I am not sure, but I believe he passed away many years ago.

[laurieluvsit]

Yes, he died in 1985 in the worst Japanese airline crash disaster in their history to date.

Very sad :(

[DARKCLOUD1945X]

THANK YOU

[DWornock]

I love that song. I believe it was popular for a while in the early 1960s.

[laurieluvsit]

Yes, it was released in the US in 1963 and stayed at the top of the charts for 3 weeks :)

[TommyMountainFigure]

Not only the only person who loves it, but you might be the only one on here who KNOWS it!

[jimmy2]

I must be living in a cave back then never heard of this

[laurieluvsit]

It was at the top of the charts in the US in 1963 and hit the top in many other nations. It sold over 13 million recordings, which was a lot then.

[jimmy2]

Wonder why i never knew it

[DWornock]

My guess is because you were about age 3 when it was released in the USA and, buy the time you were age 4 or 5 it was no longer a popular song and would not have been played on the radio.

[Bel88]

The German version:

https://www.youtube.com/embed/63aHJwurowY

[HighlyVolatile]

It's a bit too soft-hearted for my tastes. Gentle and sweet but not a prescription I find to navigate today's society.

[zagor]

I have heard it on oldies stations, but didn't know the title or time period of release.

[Dchrls78104]

I do, too. It is beautiful and so are the cover versions.

[James899]

I like those songs. I also like to watch japanese movies too!

[Daniela1982]

That was an old one hit wonder but it has a nice tune.

[My-lover]

I don't listen to it i am living it

[laurieluvsit]

I'm sorry you are sad :(

[B4852]

You're not the only one. I enjoy that song.

[clampfan101]

Everything sounds awesome in Japanese. lol

[Meihua]

Good song. I also love kikuchi momoko from japan

[tomtom05131]

Great song and great memories along with it

[loveslongnails]

Definitely do not love it.

[DaveToo]

Yup love it.

[mikalynn]

i dont know the song