Music Monday #003: Kyu Sakamoto - Sukiyaki (Ue o Muite Arukou)

"I look up as i walk, so the tears won't fall"

Episode #003: KYU SAKAMOTO
Song: Sukiyaki (Ue o Muite Arukou)

Kyu Sakamoto (坂本 九 Sakamoto Kyū, born Hisashi Sakamoto (坂本 九 Sakamoto Hisashi), raised as Hisashi Ōshima (大島 九 Ōshima Hisashi), 10 December 1941 – 12 August 1985) was a Japanese singer and actor, best known outside Japan for his international hit song "Ue o Muite Arukō" (known as "Sukiyaki" in English-speaking markets), which was sung in Japanese and sold over 13 million copies. It reached number one in the United States Billboard Hot 100 in June 1963, making Sakamoto the first Asian recording artist to have a number one song on the chart. Sakamoto died on August 12, 1985, in the crash of Japan Airlines Flight 123, the deadliest single-aircraft accident in history. - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kyu_Sakamoto

The title Sukiyaki, a Japanese hot pot dish, has nothing to do with the lyrics or the meaning of the song; the word served the purpose only because it was short, catchy, recognizably Japanese, and more familiar to most English speakers. A Newsweek columnist noted that the re-titling was like issuing "Moon River" in Japan under the title "Beef Stew."

Music Monday Playlist:
Episode #001: DAVID BOWIE - Evolution of 'SPACE ODDITY'
Episode #002: JASCHA HEIFETZ - Tchaikovsky Violin Concerto in D Major