Wednesday, October 04, 2023

'Sayonara' 60s Music: American/Japanese Influence, Marlon Brando, James Mitchener, Irving Berlin, Miyoshi Umeki, The Quests, Tracy Huang.

The Quests: 'Sayonara'. YouTube 
Video By: Famous or Forgotten Music.
Listen to the Jimmy Chan organ solo!


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J-Pop or Japanese popular music reminds me of two songs significantly Japanese, but neither is J-Pop. One of these songs became popular because of Marlon Brando's encounter with Miyoshi Umeki and Hollywood's exotica about everything eastern.

'Sayonara' the movie (1957), from the book by James Mitchener and 'Sayonara' the song by famous lyricist, Irving Berlin, encompassed everything that was stereo-typical about the Japanese in the eyes of the Americans. 

"Sayonara, Japanese goodbye
Whisper sayonara, but you mustn't cry
No more we stop to see pretty cherry blossom
No more we 'neath the trees, looking at the sky..." .

But the public absorbed the song like tears to tissue paper and it became a hit in Singapore in the late 50s and lingering beyond the 60s. And Brando's line, "Well, that's the cutest thing I ever saw honey..." after listening to the song, confirmed America's ideas about Eastern people and culture. Definitely the mysterious East.

The original version by Miiko Ta'aka, is from the soundtrack of the film, while the one played on radio was by Miyoshi Umeki. Her 45 rpm vinyl, Sayonara - Japanese Farewell Song - has, Be Sweet Tonight on its flipside (Mercury 71216). Both versions are great to listen to.
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It is still a popular song and there were numerous covers done in Asia. Singapore pop band, The Quests, did an instrumental version in the 60s and in the 70s. Listen to the solo interlude by Jimmy Chan. He's playing from the heart.

Tracy Huang our beautiful, sophisticated recording artiste did a cover too. These two are the popular versions. The book by Mitchener?  A good read indeed.

Sayonara 黃露儀 sung by: Tracy Huang. 
YouTube Video by: wang0928051789
The book! 
A stock phrase, "When 
East meets West"

Miyoshi Umeki sings SAYONARA - 
YouTube video by: dfactoryusa.

The English language performance of the Irving Berlin song, "Sayonara" was from the December 1957 movie of the same name, She performed a different version in the movie. Eddie Fisher released a version prior to the movie coming out which stole some of her thunder. She also performed a different song called Sayonara (The Japanese Farewell Song) in 1956.

Original article: Andy Lim Collection.

If you take information from this article for your own use, 
at least credit the blog and me because copying is stealing.
Andy.
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7 comments:

  1. anonymous8.8.14

    I am genuinely delighted to read this ebpage posts
    which consists of lots off useful data, thanks for provideing suchh data.

    ReplyDelete
  2. CHIT CHAT4.10.23

    Andy Young
    TRACY HUANG, THE QUESTS, AND THE BOOK BY JAMES MITCHENER.
    When the Americans were great people!
    Are they now?

    Andy Young
    Thanks Kwandy for being the first to THUMB'S UP this post.
    Apa khabar?

    Andy Young
    Hi Stephen.
    Thanks for affirming this post.
    You're like Shanti Perera.
    Number 2 on the winning line.

    Andy Young
    Hi Colin.
    Thanks, you're the third to respond. Cheers.
    Appreciate your support.

    ReplyDelete
  3. ANDY: Pop Music Not Pills. ©4.10.23

    Andy Young
    Thank you Adrin for bringing back the fantastic POP YEH YEH songs from the 60s.
    And thanks for the SAYONARA posting support.

    Adrin Madmods
    Andy Young ur are welcome sir

    Andy Young
    I have been keeping many vinyl records in Malay, Chinese and English selections too.
    Used to buy them from Sungei Road for $2.
    Now they are worth much more.
    Cheers.

    ReplyDelete
  4. CHIT CHAT4.10.23

    Terence Lee:
    THE BEST.

    Andy Young
    Terence Lee hey, thanks for the comment and for keeping in touch.
    Yes, they are all, aren't they?

    ReplyDelete
  5. CHIT CHAT5.10.23

    Stephen Han
    Colin Colin
    Rose Khoo
    Koh Daisy
    Foo Jong Fook
    Rocker Lee
    Winston Koh
    Jalani Mohamed
    Yip Dick
    Chee Chien
    Sandie Loo
    Tin Leong Lim
    Fabian Lim
    Adrin Madmods
    Ser Kiong Tan
    Kwandy Yao

    THANKS TO ALL THE READERS
    ABOVE WHO LIKE THIS POST

    ReplyDelete
  6. CHIT CHAT5.10.23

    Freda Hanum
    Love the songs in the posting, I remember did see the movie too, have to check my collections of old movies again
    😀

    Andy Young
    Freda Hanum hi, yes.
    Love old movies too.
    Thanks for comment and for keeping in touch.

    ReplyDelete
  7. CHIT CHAT5.10.23

    Fred Ching
    Much appreciate watching, listening to the video and the write out you posted, Brother Andy. I remember sitting on my seamstress neighbour’s laps as a kid, living in Hindhede Drive when she brought me to the cinema in the sixties.

    Tracy Huang’s rendition of ‘Sayonara’ from this album is precious, delightful, one of the few singers who can actually pay proper tribute to the original with such a beautiful voice. Enjoy another track from this gem album, ‘Somewhere In Time’..
    Cheers!
    👍❤️🥰..
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=98Wpw7y10b0


    Fred Ching ahh, my music friend. You have exquisite taste and appreciate what is best on the vinyl platter. Yes, Tracy is indeed precious with an enchanting voice.

    Thank you once again for providing the blog with that extra touch of grace and elegance.

    ReplyDelete