Merry Christmas Mr. Lawrence (instrumental)

"Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence" is a 1983 instrumental by Japanese composer Ryuichi Sakamoto recorded for the film of the same name. The song has become a staple of Christmas music in the USA and Japan. A vocal version, "Forbidden Colours", features former Japan frontman David Sylvian and charted in the top 20 of the UK Singles Chart and Irish Singles Chart.

"Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence"
Single by Ryuichi Sakamoto
from the album Merry Christmas Mr. Lawrence O.S.T
B-side"Sowing the Seed"
ReleasedSeptember 1983
GenreElectronic
Length4:38
LabelVirgin
Songwriter(s)Ryuichi Sakamoto
Producer(s)Ryuichi Sakamoto
Ryuichi Sakamoto singles chronology
"Forbidden Colours"
(1983)		 "Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence"
(1983)		 "Field Work"
(1985)

Charts
Charts (1983) Peak
position
Australia (Kent Music Report)[1] 88
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[2] 38
UK Singles (OCC)[3] 93
Charts (2016) Peak
position
France (SNEP)[4] 185

Watergate version
"Heart of Asia"
Single by Watergate
B-side"Infinity" (club mix)
Released24 September 1999 (1999-09-24)
Length3:06 (radio edit)
Label
  • Dance Division
  • Underdog
Songwriter(s)Ryuichi Sakamoto
Producer(s)

In September 1999, a remix of Sakamoto's "Merry Christmas Mr. Lawrence" titled "Heart of Asia" was released in Europe by German-Turkish disc jockey DJ Quicksilver, under the alias Watergate. This version was a success, reaching number three on the UK Singles Chart and number four in Denmark.

Charts

Release history
Region Date Format(s) Label(s) Ref.
Germany 24 September 1999 CD
  • Dance Division
  • Underdog
 [8]
United Kingdom 1 May 2000
  • 12-inch vinyl
  • CD
  • cassette
 Positiva [16]

Other versions

There is a 12-inch vinyl Italo disco cover version on the Italian record label Discomagic named "Clock on 5 – Theme from Furyo" which was released in 1984.[17] In 2004, Croatian pianist Maksim Mrvica included a piano remix of "Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence" on his third album, Variations Part I&II. Japanese-American R&B artist Hikaru Utada heavily sampled the theme for her 2009 song "Merry Christmas Mr. Lawrence – FYI", from the album This Is the One.

In 2008, a cover version of "Forbidden Colours" was included on Hollywood Mon Amour,[18] a collection of songs from soundtracks of movies made in the 1980s, rearranged by Marc Collin of Nouvelle Vague with Nadeah Miranda providing the vocals. Also in 2008, UK Hardcore producer Orbit1 remixed the song and called it "Heart of Asia" – named after the 2000 Watergate remix. It came out on the Hardcore Nation 2009. In 2009, British singer Faryl Smith recorded a version of the song for her album Wonderland, entitled "Merry Christmas Mr Lawrence (Somewhere Far Away)".

Japanese post-hardcore band Fact recorded a track by the title "Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence" on their self-titled album. Tokyo Brass Style, a Japanese big band, recorded a cover of the title theme for their fifth album, Brass Style Xmas. Sherwood & Pinch released a version of the song on their 2017 LP Man vs Sofa.[19]

The 1985 French-Japanese documentary Tokyo Melody contains footage of Sakamoto playing the instrumental on a grand piano in his home.

Influence

Peter Buck, guitarist for R.E.M., has credited the film's theme song as an inspiration for the mandolin part he composed for the band's hit song "Losing My Religion".[20]

References
  1. Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 263. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
  2. "Ryuichi Sakamoto – Merry Christmas Mr. Lawrence". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved 16 December 2016.
  3. "Ryuichi: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company.
  4. "Ryuichi Sakamoto – Merry Christmas Mr. Lawrence" (in French). Les classement single. Retrieved 16 December 2016.
  5. Ryan, Gavin (2011). Australia's Music Charts 1988–2010. Mt. Martha, VIC, Australia: Moonlight Publishing.
  6. "Top National Sellers" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 16, no. 46. 6 November 1999. p. 23. Retrieved 16 April 2020.
  7. "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 17, no. 21. 20 May 2000. p. 11. Retrieved 16 April 2020.
  8. "Watergate – Heart of Asia" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved 16 April 2020.
  9. "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Heart of Asia". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 16 April 2020.
  10. "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 16 April 2020.
  11. "Watergate – Heart of Asia". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved 16 April 2020.
  12. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 16 April 2020.
  13. "Official Dance Singles Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 16 April 2020.
  14. "Top 100 of 2000". Raidió Teilifís Éireann. Archived from the original on 2 June 2004. Retrieved 16 March 2022.
  15. "Best Sellers of 2000: Singles Top 100". Music Week. 20 January 2001. p. 25.
  16. "New Releases – For Week Starting May 1, 2000: Singles". Music Week. 29 April 2000. p. 27.
  17. "Clock On 5 - Theme From Furyo (Vinyl) at Discogs". Discogs.com. Retrieved 1 March 2012.
  18. "Hollywood, Mon Amour - Hollywood, Mon Amour at Discogs". Discogs.com. Retrieved 1 March 2012.
  19. "Sherwood* & Pinch (2) - Man Vs. Sofa". Discogs. Retrieved 23 May 2017.
  20. Myers, Marc (12 April 2016). "Behind R.E.M.'s Hit 'Losing My Religion'". Wall Street Journal. Retrieved 11 May 2021.
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