Why was “Sukiyaki” (1963) a #1 hit when it was in Japanese?

It was a pretty melody.

"Dominique" was also a hit in 1963. The lyrics were in French.

PS I find him very handsome and his voice beautiful. RIP groundbreaking sir.

Yes it's a huge song. I know all the Japanese words by osmosis-- I absorbed them when I lived there. The lyrics are actually really sad, which combined with the happy melody makes it a very Japanese-y song.

You just know all the racist jokes this song and it’s singer probably inspired simply for being Asian.

1. Oh, dear.

2. Why do you know that? Not everyone in the past was an asshole.

He’s singing about tying up Americans and placing them over sprouting bamboo plants, but it’s set to a nice melody.

The “A Taste of Honey” version is sublime.

WOW! He was handsome. Almost pretty.

It’s the only Japanese song to ever top the USA charts, and in their native language at that.

I came across an episode of Hazel (Shirley Booth sitcom) this week and a new family moved into the neighborhood with a Japanese houseboy. All the maids in The Sunshine Girls Club wanted to induct him into their group. They wondered if he could get them a deal on transistor radios or if he could give them Kung fu or judo lessons. Alas, he did not want to be a Sunshine Girl & was offended they asked him. I didn’t see how the episode ended.

Al Di La

Connie Francis was a white American.

Sukiyaki was at the end of one of the Season 2 episodes of Mad Men - I remember it playing while Don was making eyes at a beautiful Asian waitress.

Oh, and Mike the houseboy said he was 5th generation American from Chicago even though he had a Japanese accent and wtf would a 5th generation Japanese American be doing working as a houseboy?

I had this album as a kid, R8.

R13 he was still Asian. Welcome to racist America

[quote] "Dominique" was also a hit in 1963. The lyrics were in French.

It's weird how Sukiyaki and Dominique singers both died a tragic death in 1985: Kyu Sakamoto died in the disastrous Japan Airlines Flight 123 accident (the second deadliest plane crash in history) while The Singing Nun committed suicide along with her lesbian lover.

Ue o Muite Arukō is the Japanese title, and it’s about a man who has just broken up with his lover, and walks away looking up, so his tears won’t show.

The Japanese single cover. Better than the American cover.

One of the best selling singles ever, selling over 13 million copies.

Every couple of years, Americans briefly become obsessed by the “exotic” sound and cache of music from a different culture sung in a foreign tongue, usually by an incredibly talented singer.

Well, he’s no Trololo Guy . . .

Again, those other songs mentioned never were #1 songs besides Dominique

Don’t forget “Volare” topping the charts in 1958

Because we loved it long time.

Not only was "Nel blu, dipinto di blu" a #1 hit, it was Billboard's #1 single for the year.

R24 how cute, but in the states it’s just Volare.

Kyu Sakamoto was killed in the crash of a JAL 747 that lost its tail after takeoff, circled uncontrolled for almost an hour, and ultimately crashed into a mountain. It’s the largest single aircraft loss of life in history, 524 people died.

"Nel blu, dipinto di blu" became a hit again in 1960 as "Volare".

[quote] #1 hit despite it being in Japanese and none of them understanding it.

It isn't like understanding the lyrics is a requirement even when the song is sung in English. See misheard lyrics.

Better than BTShit

It has a Rogers and Hammerstein sound to it.

Well it’s a beautiful song r29. BTS is bubblegum Korean Pop.

The joke was changing the song’s title to “Sukiyaki” would be like them changing “Moon River” to a tune called “Beef Stew”.

I was just singing Volare to myself inside my head when I was out pruning my butterfly bushes this afternoon. No wonder I couldnt remember the words.

R32 I heard they changed the title to Sukiyaki because that’s the only Japanese thing white Americans knew.

Selena covered it, in Spanish, obviously. It was a hit in Latin countries.

I remember this song. Very popular in US when I was a kid & I wished I could sing along with it. Miriam Makeba

This song was popular on radio before someone did a English version

Although not a number one in the US, Eres Tu, sung completely in Spanish, did hit reach the Billboard Top Ten in 1974.

Mas Que Nada… i remember it well. Sergio Mendez & Brazil 66

R38 Top 10 is a hit :)

I memorized the lyrics in Japanese. It’s fun to blow my friends minds when we end up at a karaoke bar.

R1, I always associate Dominique with the JFK assassination because it was the number one song on the pop charts at the time.

[quote] Sukiyaki was at the end of one of the Season 2 episodes of Mad Men

It was played at the end of "Flight 1," the episode about the American Airlines 707 that crashed after takeoff from Idlewild (now JFK). As R26 mentioned, the singer later died in a Japan Airlines plane that also crashed after takeoff.

OP here, I grew up in the 90s and remember the 4PM version on the radio. I didn’t know it was a cover then.

The lyrics used favor the “A Taste of Honey” cover more than the original lyrics, but they’re close enough.

It peaked at #8 on the charts.

The 4PM music video to it. Man I miss the 90s.

[quote]I heard they changed the title to Sukiyaki because that’s the only Japanese thing white Americans knew.

Oh those dumb white Americans. The blacks and hispanics could actually sing along in Japanese!

"Guantanamera" in 1966.

Which we knew as "One ton tomato...I ate a one ton tomato........"

"Well it’s a beautiful song [R29]. BTS is bubblegum Korean Pop"

Not totally. Here is BTS singing in Japanese. They wrote this for the soundtrack for the finale of a Japanese television series. It's truly beautiful, lyrically and melodically.

BTS are from KOREA. Not JAPAN.

[quote] Oh those dumb white Americans. The blacks and hispanics could actually sing along in Japanese!

I am sure American troops stationed in Japan during the Occupation and 50s sang along to Japanese songs. Off topic but maybe of interest to people in this thread... There's a black guy from Pennsylvania who went to Japan and became an enka star. Enka is kind of like cheesy country music. He's very good. It's funny to see a young handsome guy sing music only old ladies like. I think his grandmother is Japanese.

R46 no one said that. But they weren’t worried about marketing to blacks and Hispanics in 1963. White people were the majority (still are but it was greater then) and the ones with the money to sell to.

They thought of translating it to its actual English language translation, which is “I Look Up When I Walk”, but because it’s sung in Japanese they thought that would confuse people who would expect to hear English lyrics with a title like that. They couldn’t keep it the original Japanese name because most of them wouldn’t be able to say it or remember it, so they named it after the one thing they knew white Americans knew of the Japanese, Sukiyaki. They would be able to know and say the title and seeing it would let them know it’s Japanese.

Susan Boyle’s “The First Star” is sung to the melody of “Sukiyaki”

R49, to Americans there is no difference. BTS sings in Korean, Japanese, and English. " Film Out " is in Japanese.

Kyu was only 22 there. He was very young when his song took off worldwide. I bet he never expected that.

Sad he died at 43.

Americans singing " Sukiyaki."

With English translation.

Singing “Sayonara, Sayonara” in Rio, 1968. It was another hit for him in many countries but not the states because it wasn’t released here. They felt the novelty of a hit Japanese pop song had passed and this wouldn’t be a hit so they didn’t wanna put money into it.

Him on The Steve Allen Show in 1963

Mama (in Italian) by Connie Francis was a million seller on the USA Billboard charts.

"Non dimenticar" with a few Italian phrases was a hit for by Dean Martin.

The gorgeous “A Taste of Honey” version with June Kuramoto beautiful koto playing.

This one has a bit of a jazz vibe to it, no?

I don't think anyone has mentioned....Rock Me Amadeus, by Falco. La Bamba by Richie Valens.

Also 99 Luftballons. And of course Despacito and Macarena.

R65 don’t forget Senorita! It’s a massive ummm… Latin success

A lovely gentleman who died too soon. He wrote a goodbye note to his wife and child while in that plane and realized he most likely wasn’t making it out alive.

How do they know he wrote a note? Everyone on board died.

Because the note was found in his pocket.

Japans stars paying tribute to him about 15 years ago.

"I don't think anyone has mentioned....Rock Me Amadeus, by Falco. La Bamba by Richie Valens. Also 99 Luftballons. And of course Despacito and Macarena."

It's probably because the thread title is about a specific song, not popular songs sung in other languages.

Never understood its popularity at the time.

Then again, I always thought it was a woman singing it.

Sho SHo SHO JI!

I was a young child when Sukiyaki was released. No thought other than it was a pretty song. The singer did an English version after the original song broke and that was played, too, so I knew what the words meant. I would have been aware sukiyaki was a food and an odd title for a song. Had no idea of what Japanese food was. This was pre-Benihana, which introduced hibachi cooking to the US and pre-mass market sushi. My store of knowledge of things Japanese came from WWII movies and geisha lore.

Not saying racism wasn't imprinted on my tiny brain but there were so many more blatant examples that permeated American life.

I'm betting he was on Ed Sullivan, too. It would take another thread to explain it but Ed introduced America to the Beatles and Elvis.

Slick Rick sampled it on La Di Da Di

a-hem . . .

Shouldn't GGG be weighing in here:

Despite all these other hits mentioned, this one is still the only Japanese song to chart in the USA and the only song from Asia to ever go to #1 in the USA

The Ketchup Song was a #1 song all over the world minus the USA, where it peaked at 54, despite them making a Spanglish version for the states and pushing it.

The Spanglish version

And there is a Portuguese version too.

Well, I sang "Hello, Dolly!" in CHINESE, since I was born and partially raised there. So, I should be recognized, too.

Kyu Sakamoto was a cutie.

Here’s the Glen Miller Orchestra's rendition. It’s kind of sad because you just know the audience was bussed in from various area nursing homes, and the band is just not into it at all. The singer's not bad though, and he even seems to understand the Japanese lyrics, but mostly I’m just picturing what he looks like with his clothes off.

Las ketchup shit eating cunts

TG The Beatles saved us from that shit.

Are there any Murican artists other than the great Connie Francis who had enough guts to record in Japanese language?

Sad this handsome fella died so horribly. Shit.

R86 "Connie Sings in Nine Languages!"

And all of them as poorly as she does in English.

Tico Tico

R87 I wish some Network or HBO Max would do a limited series on him. Japan had one in 2005 for the 20th anniversary of his death but it’s not available anywhere in the states and only in Japanese, no subtitles.

We talk Gibberish in America.

Miss Vikki

KISS butchering it

What a terrible cover

The original version by Kyu Sakamoto worked and was a hit because the song had an upbeat melody that's tinged with emotional sadness in Kyu's vocals. Catchy and memorable tune that sticks with you once you hear it even just one time.

Celine Dion singing in Mandarin Chinese, one of the most popular Chinese folk songs "Jasmine Flower (Mo-Li Hua)" on Chinese TV gala. This is the same song that opera composer Puccini used melodies from throughout his last opera, Turandot.

Jasmine Flower song as used in Turandot by Puccini.

The second, and last, single released by him in the states. This one peaked at #58 and after that Capitol Records didn’t invest in releasing anymore of his music here in the states.

It’s a shame, because it’s awfully beautiful! His vocals are gorgeous. But it was probably too “ethnic” sounding as a whole for the time.

This version sounds like a vinyl

[quote]I was just singing Volare to myself inside my head when I was out pruning my butterfly bushes this afternoon.

WOW you're a faggot!

Fuck you r20!

[quote] Japan had one in 2005 for the 20th anniversary of his death but it’s not available anywhere in the states and only in Japanese, no subtitles.

Did they pixellate his genitals?

What sucks is his song “China Nights (Shina No Yoru)” was recorded specifically for the West. The second verse is sung in English. That song wasn’t released in Japan until 2004 for a remembrance CD released for him. They didn’t even get the song.

Sucks it didn’t perform well. I doubt anyone expected it to sell like “Sukiyaki”, but not peak at 58 either.

R73 he was scheduled to appear on Ed Sullivan when he came to the states in August, 1963, but it was canceled due to a scheduling conflict.

I’m sure if he was able to do it that the song would have been an even bigger hit than it already was.

What about Korla Pandit? Did he ever sing in English, or in any language, for that matter?

"Despite all these other hits mentioned, this one is still the only Japanese song to chart in the USA and the only song from Asia to ever go to #1 in the USA"

Up until:

BTS ARE NOT JAPANESE

[quote] What sucks is his song “China Nights (Shina No Yoru)” was recorded specifically for the West.

Why did a Japanese guy record a song called “China Nights?” Was it a song about Japanese soldiers rampaging around a Chinese city at night?

Me So Horny is my favorite Asian song.

It’s a guy in love with a Chinese woman r108

A Japanese* guy in love with a Chinese woman

Thank you r110 r111

"BTS ARE NOT JAPANESE"

No shit. The poster wrote this:

"...and the only song from Asia to ever go to #1 in the USA"

BTS song that went to #1 was in English.

Sucky fucky sucky sucky fucky

Me love you long time

BTS song that went to #1 was in English.

This one was mostly Korean and hit #1. It's about Covid.

Kyu's accomplishment was remarkable, especially in the jingoistic US.

r105 Korla Pandit was an African-American organist from Missouri named John Roland Redd.

R105 sweetie, he had you all fooled.

Korla Pandit, born John Roland Redd, was an American musician, composer, pianist, and organist. After moving to California in the late 1940s and getting involved in show business, Redd became known as "Korla Pandit", a French-Indian musician from New Delhi, India.

Korla Pandit was very interesting. He was the first person to ever play live music on TV and had his own show, but white people claimed he was trying to hypnotize the viewers (🙄🙄🙄) so he was fired and replaced with Liberace

Korla used to work that camera as he played.

R117 jingoistic US? The US had plenty of performers from other countries.

Sukiyaki means “wiry pubes” in Japanese

Why did a Japanese guy record a song called “China Nights?” Was it a song about Japanese soldiers rampaging around a Chinese city at night?

No it was about a girl who spent the night with a Chinaman and she spent the night asking, “Is it in yet?”

Western countries, R122. The American reaction to Japanese people was not as welcoming.

People loved the song, the 4 pm 90's version was a hit too

R122 are you in denial? Yes, the USA was historically jingoistic.

... and still is. Witness Donald Trump and the Republican Party.

"[R117] jingoistic US?"

Nah, it's not a problem in the US.

8 Things You Didn’t Know About Kyu Sakamoto

Him in LA, August of 1963, surrounded by fans.

Poor thing couldn’t speak English yet.

That’s sad, I didn’t realize he died in the JAL crash. Those poor people knew that were going to die, circling for an hour with no possibility of landing safely. Imagine having to write notes to your family to say goodbye.

[quote]The American reaction to Japanese people was not as welcoming.

Well there was this little thing called World War II where the Japanese started a war with the US and acted like fucking animals.

From the article at R132

[quote]Moreover, the widespread fixation on Sakamoto’s soft, racialized masculinity helped consolidate the “model minority myth” that has been used to different ends during the ongoing civil rights movement.

Dear Lord.

I was a kid and remember when this song hit. It got massive airplay. Until this thread , I didn't even know what Kyu looked like. He was NOT making the rounds of Variety shows except for an appearance on TheSteve Allen Show which in 1963 was broadcast in the afternoon.

So NO ONE was fixated on Kyu's supposed "soft, racialized masculinity". No one knew who the hell the guy was. The song was the star, not him.

Furthermore: in the early 60s there were a lot of instrumentals that became hits. "Sukiyaki" was actually sort of like an instrumental to most people.

AND in that era there was a lot of fascination with Japan and China and Asia in general. "Tea House of the August Moon", "The World of Susie Wong", "Flower Drum Song", "The King and I' ...of course all of this was seen from a very American and often kitschy perspective...but it's not as if the public had to make some huge leap to accept “Sukiyaki”.

A side note: in the early 60s, one of the regular guests on The Jack Parr Show ,and the early Merv Griffin Show was a heavily accented Japanese woman named Reiko.

A problem today is that a lot of writers about American pop culture are young and really know nothing about the past. They don't understand context. They weave the past into their clichéd woke narrative.

R129 Your Trump fixation shows your stupidity.

R135 false. There are many stereotypes of Asian men in cartoons, TV and film from that time. Stop trying to rewrite history.

Everyone knew he was Japanese, and the song was adored for his singing. Instrumentals were already practically out by 1963 in the states.

He was was supposed to be on Ed Sullivan but that was canceled by his people because it conflicted with something else he needed to film.

You gotta love people like r135 who always try to make it seem as if racism was never a thing.

If it’s still a thing in 2021, it was certainly a much stronger thing in 1963.

For the idiots at R138 and R137.

Please point out where I ever said "racism was never a thing.".

[quote]nstrumentals were already practically out by 1963 in the states.

You could not be more wrong. You don't know what you are talking about.

"Wipe Out", "Wild Weekend" and "Pipeline" were among the biggest hits of 1963. All three placing in the year end top 20. Also "Days of Wine and Roses"...massive airplay.

"Sukiyaki" was not an instrumental but because know one knew or cared what the guy was sing about, it was actually sort of like an instrumental to most people.

{quote}He was was supposed to be on Ed Sullivan but that was canceled by his people because it conflicted with something else he needed to film.

Exactly. Thanks for making my point.

Kyu never became a star in the US.. No concerts. No primetime TV appearances. The song was the star.

R139 Because of scheduling conflicts. Not because there was no interest from Hollywood, like you make it sound.

He had crowds of people waiting to meet him when he was in Los Angeles.

Go into comment sections of his videos, people say they memorized the words without knowing what they were saying back then. People would sing along to the song.

It was not seen as an “instrumental”.

[quote]The Jack Parr Show

It's PAAR, dear.

[quote]Because of scheduling conflicts. Not because there was no interest from Hollywood, like you make it sound. He had crowds of people waiting to meet him when he was in Los Angeles.

What interest was there from Hollywood? Please tell us.

BTW: the Ed Sullivan show was not Hollywood. And of course he would be invited there. The record was a huge hit.

Crowds in LA? Oh please. The guy was a one hit wonder.

This was the cover of his single that sold over 1 million copies in the states by the time he arrived in August of 1963.

[quote]Go into comment sections of his videos, people say they memorized the words without knowing what they were saying back then. People would sing along to the song.

There's something to this. The song I am best able to sing along with on Linda Ronstadt's Hasten Down the Wind album is "Lo Siento Mi Vida." I simply learned it over the years by hearing it so often. I'm not as confident in singing along in any of the other songs on the album (all in English, of course).

This was the cover to the only album Capitol Records released from him here in the States, album recorded for the West, not released in Asia.

Keep claiming “no one knew what he looked like”.

Maybe YOU didn’t. But many ADULTS did.

R142 Oooops sorry. Actually I should have said: "The great Jack Paar"

R146 You obviously were not around then.

R148 you obviously weren’t an adult and are an ignorant racist.

Update… looking at your posts, you weren’t either. You’re a troll. Good to know

Capitol Records didn’t pay for him to record an entire album if there was zero interest.

r144 That is NOT the cover of the single that was sold in the US. The US single was released on Capitol and likely just had a plain sleeve like this.

R149

*sigh* A racist? LOL.

No, no one knew who the guy was or what he looked like.

Long before the internet and the explosion of TV channels, in 1963 there were 3 TV networks. That was it. That's were you saw the world. And there were only handful of prime-time variety shows featuring music. If you didn't get before the public on them, it was if you were a non-entity to the masses.

Or you were known through concerts, clubs, Vegas...Kyu did none. Got it?

Or perhaps the cover of Life or Look...or at least a few articles. There are none.

His album for Capitol? Tell us, what are the sales figures for that and more importantly what cuts from that album had success?

There were so many albums being produced in 1963...so many songs being released...so many one hit wonders. Do you know what a record store back then looked like? Kyu's album would have been buried in some niche section...take a look at that cover. LOL. Hilarously dated for 1963. Looks like they invested $15 to come up with that.

In February 1964...6 months or so after the success of Sukiyaki, the Beatles and the British Invasion hit the US.

Kyu who?

R150

Exactly

Oh. Just checked. I see who you are now lmaooooooooooo you don’t stop trolling, do you?

All over Beyoncé threads, Janet threads, MJ threads, the OnlyFans threads, now this?

You aren’t tired of trolling?

R151 r150 are the same exact person.

R153 Uh no...idiot.

Beyoncé, Janet? Never ever posted about them...or even viewed those threads because I don't care for that crap. And no I'm not R150.

Good grief.

R154 yes. You also have more than one account.

R155 Idiot...if I have more than one account the web master here would know about. The fact is I don't. So stop with your bullshit.

R156 but you do. Not only that, but you have commented on numerous threads starting shit just like you did here, most recently the OnlyFans one.

Nice try though.

You’re better off just getting off the thread.

R157 Are you high or what? Only Fans? Once again: never posted only any of those threads. WTF are you talking about.

r153 - Please get help.

[quote] [R144] That is NOT the cover of the single that was sold in the US. The US single was released on Capitol and likely just had a plain sleeve like this.

That’s because R146's pic is the cover of the LP. Details at link.

r160 What does that have to do with anything? I was specifically addressing R144's claim that his picture was of the US single.

Who cares. He was a talent and beauty and his success was groundbreaking.

I was just watching Asian porn (not American made Asian porn, but actual Asian porn) and it reminded me of him. He was so handsome. I can’t help but wonder what he looked like with no suit.

R94: thanks for posting - im loving it!

This song makes me feel both happy and sad. It’s beautiful

[quote]I can’t help but wonder what he looked like with no suit.

Hairless with a button dick and tiny brown balls. Pixelated of course.

Just going to leave this here...

[quote] #1 hit despite it being in Japanese and none of them understanding it.

It's peculiar how nice Japanese can sound even when they are singing grim lyrics of freezing cold, hunger, and hopeless war.

Yuki no Shingun

During the Battle of Weihaiwei (1895), the Imperial Japanese Army experienced heavy snow and low temperature, while being under-equipped with water, food and fuel.[3] Nagai reflected in his song the hardship Japanese soldiers experienced and their discontentment about the war.[4] The song, which was popular at the time of its publication[5] and is described by scholars to have an upbeat melody. The song was banned in the Imperial Japanese Army during World War II

I just wanna show some love to this beautiful song.

It was a pretty song, people liked those in 1963. Also it had an element of novelty.

R170, exactly. There's so little prettiness in popular music now.

R63, the Taste of Honey version is OK, but it's nowhere near the earworm that Sakamoto’s version is because it lacks a lilting melody. Most of these foreign hits from the ‘50s and ‘60s – “Volare”, “Al di La”, bossa nova, and the various songs borrowed from boleros like "Love Me With All Your Heart" (originally Cuando Calienta el Sol) are beautiful because they have beautiful melodies, an art that seems to have been lost around 1970.

The same is true for many English-language pop songs of the era. Even the Beatles recorded "And I Love Her" and "This Boy". Pretty songs, pretty melodies. I miss them, and I don't even remember that era.

Let's ditch "kindness" and bring back "pretty."

Nice post, R171

[quote] The joke was changing the song’s title to “Sukiyaki” would be like them changing “Moon River” to a tune called “Beef Stew”.

That would make more sense than the lyrics "Waitin' 'round the bend / My huckleberry friend."

That was lovely.

Another "pretty" melody I alwalys found was The Beatles' "Norwegian Wood."

[quote]the song had an upbeat melody that's tinged with emotional sadness in Kyu's vocals.

Yes. I've always thought of it as a sad song because while the music is bouncy, his singing sounds so poignant.

This was the English-speaking world's revenge.

I hated that fucking song and it played on the radio constantly.

"[R32] I heard they changed the title to Sukiyaki because that’s the only Japanese thing white Americans knew."

They should have called it "Shrimp Tempura" then!

Sukiyaki

[quote]They should have called it "Shrimp Tempura" then!

Or Hiroshima.

Volare wasn’t English either

R183 we know

Beautiful. Lovely. Perfection

Jap! Hell we thought it was Hawaiian!

This song just randomly popped in my head out of nowhere. Went ahead and listened to it and read the lyrics along with it. I’m always fascinated by happy sounding songs with very sad lyrics.

Love his voice. Sad he died the way he did. Tragic.