Song 54 ( Kyu Sakamoto - Sukiyaki or Ue o Muite Aruko )

There were about six songs vying for today's choosing and this one won out over the other five. The song is the best known song sung in Japanese internationally and hit number one on the American charts in '63. In Japan, the song is known as Ue o Muite Aruko (I Look Up When I Walk); here in the U.S. it is known as Sukiyaki, which is actually the name of a cheap Japanese noodle dish. From what I understand, the name change occurred because the record company thought that Ue o Muite Aruko or "I Look Up When I Walk" was too hard for DJs to remember. The lyrics were written by Rokusuke Ei about a lost love of his. Sadly, Kyu Sakamoto died in an airplane crash in 1985. I heard a "cover" of this song a while ago, which is good in its own right, however they used the tune but completely re-wrote the lyrics of the song in English; probably because the rhyming scheme would not fit. Granted they did sing it in English, which is a change in itself, however the original lyrics translated into English are much different:

"I look up when I walk
So the tears won't fall
Remembering those happy spring days
But tonight I'm all alone
I look up when I walk
Counting the stars with tearful eyes
Remembering those happy summer days
But tonight I'm all alone
Happiness lies beyond the clouds
Happiness lies above the sky
I look up when I walk
So the tears won't fall
Though my heart is filled with sorrow
For tonight I'm all alone
(whistling)
Remembering those happy autumn days
But tonight I'm all alone
Sadness hides in the shadow of the stars
Sadness lurks in the shadow of the moon
I look up when I walk
So the tears won't fall
Though my heart is filled with sorrow
For tonight I'm all alone
(whistling)"

A very beautiful song.

Here is a music video with the song on YouTube.

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