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“If only for this purpose, just to comfort and move the victims, music and art will stop here.”
In September 2019, the Japanese magazine “ほ う て ら す span class =” text-remarks “label =” Remarks “> (Legal Platform) published an exclusive interview with Sakamoto Ryuichi. Among them, “What can music and art do for disaster?” His answer caused a lot of discussion at the time.
Soon after the disaster, there was no food, water, electricity, and people were displaced, but the musicians brought music in a big way. In the eyes of Sakamoto Ryu, this was completely out of date.
Even from 2014, Ryuji Sakamoto took the Northeast Youth Orchestra formed by children from the 311 earthquake-affected counties in Tokyo (TYO) On national tour, “the power of music” is still his most hated expression. “It is foolish and shameful to make music with these vain ideas of transmitting strength and healing others.”
TYO was evaluated by the Japanese media as “through strong and beautiful music, to convey the courage and feelings of the children and adults in the disaster-stricken areas.” / @ 坂 本 龙 一 信息 CN
In this way, Sakamoto Ryuichi, who was labeled as “anti-disaster relief music” by the public, brought two performances to the Chinese people affected by the epidemic in February 2020 less than half a year later.
On February 29, one of the most unforgettable things in this four-year encounter is bound to be this special performance brought by Sakamoto Ryuichi at the UCCA “Quick Hands and Good Music” concert.
Stones, shingles, porcelain bowls, bowls, bows, mute marimba hammers made from condolence and medical rubber recovered from Wuhan, China, and then connected with improvised piano and electric guitar, it becomes a Full of collisions and complex mysterious music universe.
“Made in Wuhan, China”
On February 22 this week, he also played the name “Aqua” for Chinese parents and children during the epidemic, using a gentle piano to encourage older children and children who cannot go out, and have fun at home. .
Aqua means the form of water in Latin. It can be flowing water, raindrops, the ocean, and the source of life. This song by Sakamoto Ryuichi is selected from his most famous piano solo album “BTTB”. Back To The Basic.
“Speaking of what music and art can do for disasters, compared to food and donations, the highest level I can do is to think deeply about the meaning of disasters and express them in my own works.
Let’s work through the difficulties together.
This is Sakamoto Ryuichi’s “Mountains and Exotics, Same Wind and Moon”.
Mr. Lawrence and the Last Emperor
For a long time, Sakamoto Ryuichi did not like “Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence”.
“It’s too high-profile.” No matter where he goes, someone will ask him to play the piece. Sakamoto Ryuichi, who wants to stay transparent, hates his popularity.
Sakamoto Ryuichi’s band Yellow Magic Orchestra (Yellow Magic Symphony Orchestra) at an amazing speed in the late 1970s Fire spreads all over the world. “After the release of Y.M.O.’s second album” SOLID STATE SURVIVOR “, it suddenly became hot. I couldn’t walk down the street overnight because everyone would point me to Sakamoto Sakamoto.
Rakaichi Sakamoto is called “Professor”, also because Takahashi of YMO said to him “You are a graduate student of Tokyo University of the Arts, and I will call you a professor in the future Alright. “
Because the disgust was recognized on the street, and there was no way to accept this change, Sakamoto did not want to be disturbed when he stayed out of the house for 10 months.
So Y.M.O. turned into a flashy meteor. It only took 5 years from the fire to dissolution, just because Sakamoto couldn’t bear the popularity of the band.
The widely circulated “Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence”, in Sakamoto’s eyes, is just a good piece of music, but not as good as the soundtrack of a movie.
This unpleasant soundtrack comes from Oshima’s antiwar movie “Merry Christmas on the Battlefield.” In this movie, Ryuichi Sakamoto first scored the film and was also the first time to be an actor.
“It seems that the death of Siril, sowed a seed in the heart of Setanoi, and we share the growth of the seed.” p>
Sakamoto Ryuichi’s oral autobiography “Music Freedom” mentioned the excitement of receiving a call from Oshima Aya at the time. As a veteran fan who has seen almost all of the other party ’s works, when Oshima Aya offered an invitation to participate in the show, Ryutaka Sakamoto blurted out instead of “good”, but “let me do the soundtrack.”
The “very aggressive” Oshima agreed quickly, and gave him an unprecedented exception, allowing him to create a soundtrack for three months.
After making the movie, Sakamoto Ryu, who still knew nothing about the soundtrack of the movie, listened to the suggestions of his friends and bought a video of “Cinema Milestone” “Citizen Kane” to bring some experience. “The answer is very simple. It is probably where the tension of the image is insufficient. It is necessary to add a soundtrack. It is not mysterious at all.”
Photo of “Merry Christmas on the battlefield”
Especially after discussion with Oshima Aya, I found that the opinions of the two sides on where to add the soundtrack are quite the same. This further swells the self-confidence of Sakamoto Ryuichi to the extreme, and thinks that the soundtrack of the movie is just the same.
Interestingly, Oshima had previously invited David Bowie, another film star, to create a soundtrack for the film, but was rejected by Bao Ye: “This time I just want to concentrate on performing.” p>
This wonderful butterfly effect opens the way to Sakamoto’s film soundtrack. Just like the shocking kiss of David’s captive Jack and Sakamoto’s Japanese officer in the film, the film also sowed seeds in his heart.
No matter inside or outside the show, the friendship between the professor and Baoye at that time still made countless people excited.
Cannes Film Festival in 1983, “Merry Christmas on the battlefield” was selected as a competition film. At the banquet, Oshima Aya introduced Sakamoto Ryuichi to Bernardo Bertorucci. After a few words of embarrassment, Betolucci pulled the young man to talk for a long time, the new film “The Last Emperor” he was preparing for.
Three years later, Ryaka Sakamoto went to Beijing to film “The Last Emperor”. This handed-down masterpiece that swept major movie awards even brought Sakamoto Ryuichi the first Oscar little goldman of his life.
A musical piano that produced 48 soundtracks in just 2 weeks. Sakamoto Ryuichi did have young and frivolous capital.
Even with Oscars, Betoruchi’s last crazy modification of the soundtrack of the movie still made Ryu Sakamoto stumped.
When the Sakamoto Ryujin entered the group “The Last Emperor”, the crew has been filming for three months, and everyone is very entertained. When meeting for the first time, Zunlong, who played Puyi, said seriously to Ryuichi Sakamoto, “You are the black man behind the scenes sent by Japan. You are my enemy. I will not talk to you after the film is finished.”
Sakamoto Ryu felt that this person was inexplicable and didn’t take it seriously. It wasn’t until he couldn’t get the director’s approval in a major event that he started thinking a lot and took his attitude seriously.
Unlike Oshima, who loves him, Betolucci’s film world has only one purpose-everything is for the film. With a roaring director, tight time limits, and lack of strict creative freedom, it has even broadened Sakamoto’s musical world.
“I don’t need it anymore!” / Screenshot of “The Last Emperor”
In the scene where Emperor Wenxiu left Puyi, under the heavy rain, Wenxiu rejected the umbrella handed by the housekeeper and ran away in the rain. “I don’t need it anymore,” the music sounded. When the Italian staff heard “Rain” for the first time, everyone hugged each other and could not help but call “bellissimo (Too beautiful) , bellissimo!”
“If the soundtrack can connect the movie into the memory in the audience’s consciousness, it is an ideal state.” The music that can retain the memory is Sakamoto’s understanding of the soundtrack of the movie .
“Good evening, my name is Ryuichi Sakamoto. Everyone is cold. If you feel cold, it doesn’t matter to stand up and run at will. Please listen to this performance easily.”
The calendar discovered by Sakamoto Ryuichi while visiting a building in Fukushima was fixed on March 11.
After the 311 earthquake in Japan, Sakamoto went to the hardest hit area to bring a performance to the local victims. In this performance, he once again played “Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence”.
Many people at the scene said that after such a long time, they can finally take a real sleep. After suffering, it is enough to be able to bring about “Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence”.
Don’t forget to watch the moon every day
“How many full moons can you watch in your life? Maybe twenty times, but at this moment everything seems to be endless.”
In the new album “Async (asynchronous) released in 2017,” full moon (Full Moon) “is one of Sakamoto’s favorite songs. In this song, Ryuichi Sakamoto repeated a line from the film “The Covered Sky” that he had participated in in the soundtrack in 11 languages.
How many times in life can we look up at the moon? / Screenshot of “Blinded Sky”
Because we don’t know when we will die, we often think of life as an inexhaustible well.
When “Async” was released, Sakamoto Ryuichi was interviewed by NHK television station and was asked how he wanted to burn it out. He thought for a while and answered, “I do have a strong thought, that is, do not lie to myself, want to make real music, live truly, and do n’t forget to watch the moon every day.” p>
Since suffering from throat cancer in 2014, the workaholic Ryuichi Sakamoto, who has never stopped in his twenties, has been given the opportunity to rest for the first time.
“Must pay attention to oral hygiene, although the teeth behind me may be rotten.” / “Sakamoto Ryuichi: Finale” screenshot
“Although I usually pay attention to organic food, I still get sick when I should be sick.” Ryuichi Sakamoto, who had never thought that cancer would happen to himself, was shocked and frustrated and chose to accept it frankly. “Absolutely eliminate the cancer lifestyle or something, there must be no. When you have cancer, you can only get used to it, this is life.”
Repeatedly low fever, difficulty swallowing, and saliva secretion due to illnessThe amount is only half of what I used to, and I often wake up several times in the middle of the night to drink water. In addition to talking to people, he often chews gum when alone, in order to promote saliva secretion.
During the long and arduous course of treatment, Sakamoto Ryuichi was in a state where he could not listen to any music. Until the end of the treatment, he heard the singing of Cuban national female singer Omara Portuondo for the first time.
The “Rabo de nube” made him cry fast, as if suddenly the heart was opened by a strong hand. “It was felt back then that the power of music was sometimes great.”
The last time you felt the greatness of music, it probably goes back to 2001. When Sept. 11 of that year happened, Sakamoto lived in a place where he could see the Twin Towers as soon as he opened the window. This was the first time he had faced the disaster so close.
Seven days later, people gathered in the square to pray for the dead, and young people sang “Yesterday”. Sakamoto realized that he had not heard music for seven days.
“When the disaster comes, we can do nothing. But after the disaster, we should report a response instead of silence.”
Why can a bird fly by without incident? / “Sakamoto Ryuichi: The EndSong “screenshot
Why is our world so violent? This made Ryuki Sakamoto can’t help but want to explore the origin of life.
So, Ryuichi Sakamoto went to Kenya, Africa in February 2002. By the river where people live, he came up with the idea that “only love can overcome hatred.” In 2008, he went to the North Pole again and realized the smallness of “dead at any time”.
After the 2011 earthquake, after visiting Fukushima, the nuclear leak of the earthquake, Ryuichi Sakamoto was determined to carry out the “anti-nuclear” to the end. In 2012, he co-sponsored the NO NUKES (Abolition of Nuclear Power) music festival with many Japanese celebrities. Until last year, 8 sessions have been held.
The 2020 NO NUKES Music Festival will be suspended. “It’s always the same artist and guest. I have felt this kind of dilemma in recent times. I am afraid that the scope of influence will not become larger in the future.” Recently, Sakamoto Ryuichi said in an interview with Music Hike. The suspension was in preparation for new changes.
Professor speaks at the anti-nuclear rally.
Next year will be the 10th anniversary of the March 11 earthquake in Japan, and the music festival will restart in 2021. This time, they communicate with more people and are led by young people, hoping to turn it into a framework that can solve many problems.
As he said in “Sakamoto Ryuichi: Finale”, the sound of the piano is not continuous, but gradually fades away. What he wants to find is the continuous, non-failing, eternal music in his heart.
“Music, work, and life have beginnings and ends. What I want to create now is music that breaks away from time constraints.” Sakamoto Ryuichi wants to make music that people will listen to 100 years later,It is the music that needs peace.
Please don’t forget to watch the moon every day. / Screenshot of “Sakamoto Ryuichi’s 700 Days”
My music is an island and the world is a boundless ocean
In the scene in “The Final Song”, Sakamoto Ryu squatted on the ice field of the Arctic Circle, carefully hanging the recording equipment with a rope and sinking to record the sound of the water flowing under the cracks of the glacier. “I’m catching my voice” He said with a smile.
He is listening to the heartbeat of the world.
Because there is no human, the professor believes that the sound of flowing water in the Arctic Circle is the purest sound in the world. / Screenshot of “Sakamoto Ryuichi: Finale”
In other footage of the documentary, Ryuichi Sakamoto often collects sounds: in order to hear the sound of rain falling, he puts a bucket on his head and walks into the rain; when he goes to the forest, he beats with a small stick, He turned his ears for the vibration of the wind through the woods;Start working in the recorded natural sound.
“Every time it rains, I open the window and put the recorder out.” Ryaka Sakamoto tapped on what he saw anywhere and knew their voice. In Barcelona, a patrol car rang with a whistle, he quickly pulled out his cell phone to record, happy to not miss the sound.
Everything is music. This quote from the American composer John Cage is very popular for Sakamoto Ryuichi. The sound of nature and the fusion of artificial instruments are the natural music he is after.
Everything is music. / Screenshot of “Sakamoto Ryuichi: Finale”
In the 1980s, Ryuichi Sakamoto traveled to Bali. He saw the locals attach a pigeon whistle to the feet of the pigeons. When it was released, the pigeon whistle made a sudden and distant sound, and the wind and the sound of the forest, The sounds were mixed, making him unforgettable.
So when he was the director of the 2014 Sapporo Art Festival, the opening ceremony designed by Ryuichi Sakamoto did not play, but let a group of pigeons with a pigeon whistle fly.
The beginning of “disintegration (Split) in Async is a slightly strange out-of-tune piano tone. The sound of this piano comes from a piano that “miracle survived” from the tsunami.
“The sea hits the piano, and they are inaccurate to humans. But in essence, they just restore the original state in nature.” Ryuichi Sakamoto believes that the piano is just a natural tuning, he I feel particularly beautiful.
“You must be good.” / “Sakamoto Ryuichi: Finale” screenshot
Sakamoto Ryuichi, who has loved Natsume Soseki since middle school, has a complete set of his work at home. Natsume Soseki’s natural, seemingly casual style always gives him inspiration and aftertaste.
“I went to pick up the stardust fragments that fell to the ground, and placed them gently on the dirt. The stars were round, maybe they were gradually worn away during the long fall process. But when When I picked up the star, I felt a little warmth on my chest and hands. “
Sakamoto Ryuichi, who collects nature, is like the boy in Natsume Soseki’s “Dream Ten Nights,” whose voice is naturally left with warm stardust fragments.
He feels the world in nature, and then gives back to the world. The documentary Coda (Final Song) means end, life to death, and the next beginning.
The final song is also the beginning. / Screenshot of “Sakamoto Ryuichi: Finale”
In “Thirteen Invitations,” Ryoko Sakamoto fiddled with a guitar and said that he would play guitar like this when he was happy.
“The tone I tuned is wrong, totally wrong. But I just like the wrong tone.”
As if he liked the piano that survived the tsunami, and in 2018 he played untuned instruments at an underground bar in Beijing at will.
He likes the journey back to nature after suffering.
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