Kraftwerk Merry Christmas Mr. Lawrence Ryuichi Sakamoto Tribute

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July 28, 2024

Photo: 360B/Alamy Stock Photo

Kraftwerk paid tribute to the late Ryuichi Sakamoto with a cover of “Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence”.

The German electronic pioneers performed the song at the Fuji Rock Festival in Japan, the home country of the famous composer. You can also listen to it Here.

“Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence” is taken from the 1983 war film of the same name, whose soundtrack was the first one Sakamoto composed in his illustrious career. In fact, his soundtrack is considered one of the main reasons the film became a cult classic despite mixed reviews.

Sakamoto, co-founder of Tokyo's influential Yellow Magic Orchestra, also starred alongside David Bowie in the film, which is based on the experiences of Sir Laurens van der Post, who was held prisoner in Java during World War II.

Sakamoto died in March 2023 at the age of 71 after being diagnosed with cancer for the second time in a decade. Sakamoto was originally diagnosed with throat cancer in 2014, which later went into remission, but in 2021 he shared details of rectal cancer.

A posthumous Sakamoto album, opusis scheduled for release on August 9. The album is from a “final, private piano concert” that the musician gave in 2022 at his NHK 509 studio in Tokyo. Opus contains reworked and reinterpreted songs from Sakamoto's career, including film scores and songs by the Yellow Magic Orchestra.

Opus was completed in several sessions due to the musician's deteriorating health. His son Neo Sora filmed the sessions and compiled them into a documentary of the same name. A five-star review of the documentary states: NME shared: “It's one punch in the gut after another when you realize what it means when Sakamoto lets each note breathe until it fades away. The work presented is an Opus, and this is as intimate and human a concert film as you will ever see… Opus is another priceless gift from a once-in-a-lifetime talent – and a reminder of what we have lost. Goodbye, Maestro – and thank you.”