(The Hit Hammer is where I'm reviewing each #1 song on the Billboard Hot 100. Starting from when the chart started in 1958 and eventually working my way to the present. To see my inspiration and more information about this blog, please refer to the "Poor Little Fool" post.)
Kyu Sakamoto - "Sukiyaki"
Hit Number 1: June 15, 1963
Stay at Number 1: 3 Weeks
I'm really not sure how this hit #1 in America, but nonetheless "Sukiyaki" by Kyu Sakamoto has a unique story tied to it. Though it's sung in Japanese, the song tells the story of a man who whistles and holds his head up, looking at the sky so that his tears don't fall. The song was written by lyricist Rokusuke Ei, and he got the inspiration to write it after coming home from a protest against the U.S. Military having a continued presence in Japan, and he felt very dejected from the failures of the protest accomplishing anything. His lyrics do not get specific about a protest, but this was intentionally done so that it could be perceived as a sad love song too.
Sakamoto recorded the song in 1961 and it was released the same year in Japan. After the song became rather successful in other countries, it was released in the U.S. in 1963. However, in order for people to better relate to the song in Anglophone countries such as the U.S., the title was changed from its original title of "Ue o Muite Aruko" to "Sukiyaki". Sukiyaki, of course, is a Japanese hot-pot dish with beef. That's not what the song is about. Not even close. But the reason for the title switch was not only for English speakers to remember the song title easier, but the new title of "Sukiyaki" was obviously a Japanese word, so it still alluded to the origins of the song somewhat. Just like in Japan and other countries, "Sukiyaki" was a big hit in the U.S., and it spent 3 weeks at the top of the Hot 100.
I can't wrap my head around why this was so successful in the U.S., but not cause it's a bad song, but because most Americans couldn't understand a damn word of what was being sung! Here's likely another case of "Volare (Nel Blu Dipinto Di Blu)", where it was the shear instrumentation and overall lovely sound of the song that struck a chord with Americans. And I will give "Sukiyaki" this, it is a pretty song. But there's two things about "Sukiyaki" that are rather haunting to me. Obviously, the Japanese surrendered to the U.S. in WWII in 1945, making this song recorded and released just 16 years after that, and its success in the U.S. only being 18 years after Japan's surrender. Plus, just knowing what the Japanese lyrics are about and that they are very anti-U.S., it almost makes it a little bit funny how it became real successful in this country.
The other thing that I always think about when I hear "Sukiyaki" is far more tragic. The artist, Kyu Sakamoto, would die in a 1985 plane crash of Japan Airlines Flight 123, and that crash is known today as one of the deadliest if not THE deadliest plane crash ever. He was only 43 years old. So while I listen to a pretty song being sung by a guy with a good, rich voice, it's really sad knowing the fate that would strike him 24 years later in his life. But I won't let that distract me too much from the good qualities that his song has. Even though I can't understand it, I like how the song is a good example of fine Japanese pop. The song has a good and steady flow to it, and when Sakamoto starts whistling towards the end, I see that as a time for the listener to process the song, and imagine to themselves what the song is really about. Cause come on, there's no way that there is anyone out there who honestly thinks this song is about a hot-pot dish with beef.
GRADE: 6/10
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