Sukiyaki (song)
Encyclopedia
The cover version
by A Taste of Honey
reached number three on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100
chart. It also went to number 1 on Billboard's Adult Contemporary chart and Soul chart
).
A Taste of Honey version used English-language lyrics, written by A Taste of Honey group member Janice Marie Johnson, who was given permission by the original song's copyright holders to write the English-language lyrics on the understanding that she receive neither official credit nor remuneration. Johnson is quoted in The Billboard Book of Number One R&B Hits by Fred Bronson
as saying that when she translated the original Japanese lyrics into English, she found out that the lyrics could be interpreted in three ways: as a man on his way to his execution, as someone trying to be optimistic despite life's trials, or as the story of an ended love affair. "Me being the hopeless romantic that I am," she explained, "I decided to write about a love gone bad."
A Taste Of Honey's version of "Sukiyaki" first appeared on their 1980 album "Twice As Sweet". It was released as a single in 1981.
This version is often (incorrectly) associated with Japanese pop singer Hikaru Utada.
's 1995 version reached number 8 on the Billboard 100 charts. 4 P.M. version also uses the same English-language lyrics written by Janice Marie Johnson. The 4 P.M. version was also a chart success in Australia reaching number 3 and in New Zealand reaching number 5.
in 1990, which was released as the fourth single from the 1989 self-titled album Selena
. The song received much airplay at the time of release. It was a Spanish-language version of the song (featuring the lyrics written by Janice Marie Johnson translated into Spanish).
It was released as a single in the United States and Japan. It was included in several of Selena's greatest hits packages before and after her death.
Cover version
In popular music, a cover version or cover song, or simply cover, is a new performance or recording of a contemporary or previously recorded, commercially released song or popular song...
by A Taste of Honey
A Taste of Honey (band)
A Taste of Honey was the name of an American recording act, formed in 1971 by associates Perry Kibble and Donald Ray Johnson. In 1978 they had one of the best known chart-toppers of the disco era, "Boogie Oogie Oogie"...
reached number three on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100
Billboard Hot 100
The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
chart. It also went to number 1 on Billboard's Adult Contemporary chart and Soul chart
Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs
Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs, is a chart released weekly by Billboard in the United States.The chart, initiated in 1942, is used to track the success of popular music songs in urban, or primarily African American, venues. Dominated over the years at various times by jazz, rhythm and blues, doo-wop, soul,...
).
A Taste of Honey version used English-language lyrics, written by A Taste of Honey group member Janice Marie Johnson, who was given permission by the original song's copyright holders to write the English-language lyrics on the understanding that she receive neither official credit nor remuneration. Johnson is quoted in The Billboard Book of Number One R&B Hits by Fred Bronson
Fred Bronson
Fredric M. Bronson is an American journalist, author and writer. He is best known for his appearances on American Idol, the weekly "Chart Beat" column in Billboard magazine, and as the author of books related to Billboard charts.Born to Irving and Mildred Bronson and raised in Culver City,...
as saying that when she translated the original Japanese lyrics into English, she found out that the lyrics could be interpreted in three ways: as a man on his way to his execution, as someone trying to be optimistic despite life's trials, or as the story of an ended love affair. "Me being the hopeless romantic that I am," she explained, "I decided to write about a love gone bad."
A Taste Of Honey's version of "Sukiyaki" first appeared on their 1980 album "Twice As Sweet". It was released as a single in 1981.
This version is often (incorrectly) associated with Japanese pop singer Hikaru Utada.
| Chart (1981) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Billboard Soul Chart | 1 |
| Billboard Adult Contemporary | 1 |
| Billboard Hot 100 Chart | 3 |
4 P.M. version
4 P.M.4 P.M.
4 P.M. , is an American male R&B group best known for their cover version of "Sukiyaki", which peaked at number 8 on the US Billboard Hot 100 in February 1995....
's 1995 version reached number 8 on the Billboard 100 charts. 4 P.M. version also uses the same English-language lyrics written by Janice Marie Johnson. The 4 P.M. version was also a chart success in Australia reaching number 3 and in New Zealand reaching number 5.
| Chart (1995) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Billboard Hot 100 | 8 |
| Billboard Pop Songs | 5 |
| Billboard Adult Contemporary | 17 |
Selena version
"Sukiyaki" (I Shall Walk Looking Up), , was a single released by SelenaSelena
Selena Quintanilla-Pérez , known simply as Selena, was a Mexican American singer-songwriter. She was named the "top Latin artist of the '90s" and "Best selling Latin artist of the decade" by Billboard for her fourteen top-ten singles in the Top Latin Songs chart, including seven number-one hits...
in 1990, which was released as the fourth single from the 1989 self-titled album Selena
Selena (album)
Selena is the eighth studio album by Selena, her debut album under the EMI Latin label.At the time of its release, Selena was already a star on the Tejano market as the recipient of several Tejano Music Awards. This album was presented to a larger audience as the direction that Selena would take as...
. The song received much airplay at the time of release. It was a Spanish-language version of the song (featuring the lyrics written by Janice Marie Johnson translated into Spanish).
It was released as a single in the United States and Japan. It was included in several of Selena's greatest hits packages before and after her death.
Other uses
- Hip hopHip hop musicHip hop music, also called hip-hop, rap music or hip-hop music, is a musical genre consisting of a stylized rhythmic music that commonly accompanies rapping, a rhythmic and rhyming speech that is chanted...
emcee Slick RickSlick RickRichard Walters , better known by his stage name Slick Rick is a Grammy-nominated English-American rapper...
sang a verse of the Taste of Honey version of the song as part of his and Doug E. FreshDoug E. FreshDouglas E. Davis , better known by the stage name Doug E. Fresh, is an American rapper, record producer, and beat boxer, also known as the Human Beat Box...
's hit 1985 song "La Di Da DiLa Di Da Di"La Di Da Di" is a rap song performed by Doug E. Fresh the beatboxer, and MC Ricky D as the rapper. It was originally released in 1985 as the B-side to "The Show". The song has since gained a reputation as an early hip hop classic, having been referenced in other hip hop songs.There are two...
"; he sang it from the perspective of a woman who was infatuated with Rick. - The hip hop duo Salt-n-PepaSalt-N-PepaSalt-N-Pepa is an American hip hop trio from Queens and Brooklyn, New York, that was formed in 1985. The group, consisting of Cheryl "Salt" Renee James, Sandra "Pepa" Denton, and Deidra "DJ Spinderella" Roper, was one of the first all-female rap crews....
sang a similar verse with the same melody on its own 1985 debut single, "The Show Stopper", which was a response to both "La Di Da Di" and the single to which it served as a B-side, The ShowThe Show (Doug E. Fresh song)"The Show" is a 1985 hip hop single by Doug E. Fresh and the Get Fresh Crew. Described as "a reality show of a Hip Hop performance" the track focuses on a conversation between Doug E Fresh and MC Ricky D as they prepare for a show...
. - Snoop DoggSnoop DoggCalvin Cordozar Broadus, Jr. , better known by his stage name Snoop Dogg, is an American rapper, record producer, and actor. Snoop is best known as a rapper in the West Coast hip hop scene, and for being one of Dr. Dre's most notable protégés. Snoop Dogg was a Crip gang member while in high school...
included the verse in his 1993 cover of "La Di Da Di," retitled "Lodi Dodi." - Slick Rick also sang the verse in a guest appearance on Will SmithWill SmithWillard Christopher "Will" Smith, Jr. , also known by his stage name The Fresh Prince, is an American actor, producer, and rapper. He has enjoyed success in television, film and music. In April 2007, Newsweek called him the most powerful actor in Hollywood...
's 1999 song "So Fresh." - Possibly in homage to Slick Rick, the verse was been included, in whole or in parts, on other hip hop and R&B songs, including Bone Thugs-N-HarmonyBone Thugs-N-HarmonyBone Thugs-N-Harmony is an American Hip-Hop/R'n'B band from Cleveland, Ohio formed in 1991. It originally consisted of rappers Layzie Bone, Flesh-n-Bone, Bizzy Bone, Krayzie Bone, and Wish Bone. Rapper Eazy-E of the group N.W.A signed Bone Thugs-N-Harmony to Ruthless Records in 1994, when Bone...
's "Bless da 40 Oz.," Raphael SaadiqRaphael SaadiqRaphael Saadiq is an American singer, songwriter and record producer. Saadiq has been a standard bearer for "old school" R&B since his early days as a member of the multiplatinum group Tony! Toni! Toné! He also produced songs of such artists as TLC, Joss Stone, D'Angelo, Mary J...
's 1995 hit "Ask of YouAsk of You"Ask of You" is a song by American singer Raphael Saadiq, released as a single from the Higher Learning soundtrack. It was Saadiq's biggest solo hit, peaking at #19 on the Billboard Hot 100 and #2 on the U.S...
," and Mary J. BligeMary J. BligeMary Jane Blige is an American singer-songwriter, record producer and occasional actress. She is a recipient of nine Grammy Awards and four American Music Awards, and has recorded eight multi-platinum albums. She is the only artist with Grammy Award wins in Pop, Rap, Gospel, and R&B. Blige has...
's 1997 song "Everything." - Wii MusicWii Musicis a free form music game developed and published by Nintendo for the Wii video game console. The game was released in Japan and North America in October 2008, and in Europe and Australia in the following month...
also included the song in the handbell harmony section. - In the wake of the March 11 earthquake and tsunami, the Suntory beverage company released several versions of a television commercial featuring many famous Japanese singers and Tommy Lee Jones each doing part of the song, followed by the title caption "ue wo muite arukou," or, roughly, let's walk with our heads up.
Legacy
On March 16, 1999, Japan Post issued a stamp that commemorated the song. The stamp is listed in the Scott Standard Postage Stamp Catalogue as Japan number 2666 with a face value of 50 yen.External links
- Song Lyrics (in roomaji and English)
- An account of the song (Made in Japan ONLY) (in English)