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Trailblazing musician and composer Ryuichi Sakamoto dies at 71

<p dir="ltr">Composer and activist Ryuichi Sakamoto, the creative force behind <em>The Last Emperor</em>’s award-winning score and trailblazing member of Yellow Magic Orchestra, has passed away at the age of 71 following a second cancer diagnosis. </p> <p dir="ltr">Sakamoto died on March 28, as a statement released by his management team to his official website confirmed. </p> <p dir="ltr">“We are deeply saddened to announce the passing of artist and musician, Ryuichi Sakamoto,” it read.</p> <p dir="ltr">"While undergoing treatment for cancer discovered in June 2020, Sakamoto continued to create works in his home studio whenever his health would allow.</p> <p dir="ltr">"He lived with music until the very end.”</p> <p dir="ltr">“We would like to extend our deepest gratitude to his fans and all those who have supported his activities, as well as the medical professionals in Japan and the US who did everything in their power to cure him,” it continued, before going on to explain that his funeral service was “held among close family members” as per his wishes, and that they would be unable to accept “calls of condolences, offerings of incense or flowers, and the like.” </p> <p dir="ltr">To conclude the statement, the team shared one of Sakamoto’s favourite quotes, “‘Ars longa, vita brevis’. </p> <p dir="ltr">“Art is long, life is short.” </p> <p dir="ltr">Sakamoto’s art is perhaps what he will be remembered best for - by many, for his widely-renowned soundtracks, including those for Merry Christmas Mr Lawrence, the same film in which he starred alongside his friend, David Bowie. </p> <p dir="ltr">The team managing the late Bowie’s official Twitter account posted a tribute to Sakamoto in the wake of the news, writing, “REST IN PEACE RYUICHI SAKAMOTO … ‘Here am I, a lifetime away from you’” alongside a picture of the two, taken in Japan in 1983.</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr" lang="en">REST IN PEACE RYUICHI SAKAMOTO</p> <p>“Here am I, a lifetime away from you...”</p> <p>Sad to learn of the passing of actor, composer, and producer <a href="https://twitter.com/ryuichisakamoto?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@ryuichisakamoto</a>. The renowned Japanese artist passed on Tuesday 28th March aged 71.</p> <p>He won awards - including an Oscar, a Grammy and Bafta -… <a href="https://t.co/OZdRVnQyYW">pic.twitter.com/OZdRVnQyYW</a></p> <p>— David Bowie Official (@DavidBowieReal) <a href="https://twitter.com/DavidBowieReal/status/1642598977785741318?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 2, 2023</a></p></blockquote> <p dir="ltr">Sakamoto’s contribution to numerous music genres - including the likes of synth-pop, house music, and hip-hop - won’t be forgotten either. In the 1970s, he rose to fame as a member of the Japanese group Yellow Magic Orchestra, helping to lay the foundations for generations to come with their innovative electronic approach. </p> <p dir="ltr">In the 1980s, Sakamoto even joined forces with Iggy Pop for the 1987 hit ‘Risky’. </p> <p dir="ltr">“One of the greatest, most influential composers of our times,” tweeted one fan of his music mastery. “And I mean like really truly foundational levels of influence. Do you like electro? Hip hop? Video game music? Modern film scores? Jpop? Jrock? "Experimental music"? He was a pioneer of it all!"</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr" lang="en">RIP to Ryuichi Sakamoto, one of the greatest, most influential composers of our times. And I mean like really truly foundational levels of influence. Do you like electro? Hip hop? Videogame music? Modern film scores? Jpop? Jrock? "Experimental music"? He was a pioneer of it all! <a href="https://t.co/IoFlJwL9OL">https://t.co/IoFlJwL9OL</a> <a href="https://t.co/HP1Jdfltkg">pic.twitter.com/HP1Jdfltkg</a></p> <p>— Art-Eater ➡️⬇️↘️🐲👊 (@Richmond_Lee) <a href="https://twitter.com/Richmond_Lee/status/1642537126834339840?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 2, 2023</a></p></blockquote> <p dir="ltr">And his success from 1987 wasn’t to stop there, with Sakamoto taking home the Academy Award for his score on the period epic <em>The Last Emperor</em>. While the award was presented at the 1988 ceremony, the film - directed by Bernardo Bertolucci, and telling the story of China’s last emperor, Puyi - was released the previous year. The score also saw him take home a Grammy and a Golden Globe for his work.</p> <p dir="ltr">As the Japan Film Society wrote on Twitter, Sakamoto was “a singular artist whose contributions to music and film remain unparalleled.”</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr" lang="en">R.I.P. Ryuichi Sakamoto (1952-2023), a singular artist whose contributions to music and film remain unparalleled. <a href="https://t.co/FUKyvHWRf9">pic.twitter.com/FUKyvHWRf9</a></p> <p>— Japan Society Film (@js_film_nyc) <a href="https://twitter.com/js_film_nyc/status/1642515647388176385?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 2, 2023</a></p></blockquote> <p dir="ltr">In 2007, Sakamoto branched out again, founding a conservation organisation known as More Trees, with the goal of promoting sustainable forestry in Japan, Indonesia, and the Philippines. Reportedly, Sakamoto even contacted the Tokyo governor shortly before his passing, continuing his mission to protect Japan’s tree cover. </p> <p dir="ltr">And in 2011, Sakamoto turned his influence into activism yet again in the wake of the Fukushima meltdown when he organised a concert against nuclear power.</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr" lang="zxx"><a href="https://t.co/mYLMEN6HrZ">pic.twitter.com/mYLMEN6HrZ</a></p> <p>— ryuichi sakamoto (@ryuichisakamoto) <a href="https://twitter.com/ryuichisakamoto/status/1642507238467309568?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 2, 2023</a></p></blockquote> <p dir="ltr"><em>Images: Getty</em></p>

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“He gave the world so much": Burt Bacharach dies at age 94

<p>Burt Bacharach has died at the age of 94. </p> <p>According to a statement given to the Associated Press by his publicist Tina Brausman, the legendary music composer passed away peacefully in his California home on Wednesday of natural causes. </p> <p>His official Instagram page “Team Bacharach,” marked his passing saying, “It is with saddened hearts that we share the passing of our father, husband and friend”.</p> <p>“He gave the world so much, and we are eternally grateful. The music is always there, so please keep listening.”</p> <blockquote class="instagram-media" style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/CocqPS-JYiR/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"> </div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <div style="padding: 12.5% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;"> <div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: 8px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: auto;"> <div style="width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;"> </div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CocqPS-JYiR/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by Burt Bacharach (@burtbacharach)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p>Bacharach, who was born Kansas City, Missouri, in 1928, won six Grammys and three Oscars during his stellar career, while also recording 73 top 40 hits in the US and 52 in the UK.</p> <p>Seen as one of the 20th century’s most important composers of popular music, his songs included <em>Raindrops Keep Fallin’ on My Head</em>, <em>What the World Needs Now</em>, <em>The Look of Love</em>, <em>(They Long to be) Close to You</em>, <em>Say a Little Prayer</em>, <em>Walk on By</em> and <em>Magic Moments</em>. </p> <p>He went on to write the movie soundtracks for <em>What’s New, Pussycat?</em>, <em>Alfie</em> and <em>Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid</em>, the latter of which won him his first Oscar in 1970.</p> <p>Bacharach also wrote songs for musical icons such as Aretha Franklin, Dusty Springfield, The Carpenters and Tom Jones among many others.</p> <div> </div> <p>In a statement to the<a title="www.latimes.com" href="https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/music/story/2023-02-09/dionne-warwick-burt-bacharach-dead-tribute-reaction"> Los Angeles Times</a>, Bacharach’s writing partner Dionne Warwick said his death was like “losing a family member”.</p> <p>“These words I’ve been asked to write are being written with sadness over the loss of my dear friend and my musical partner.”</p> <p>“My heartfelt condolences go out to his family letting them know he is now peacefully resting and I too will miss him.”</p> <p><em>Image credits: Getty Images</em></p>

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Composer of Chariots on Fire dies

<p dir="ltr">The award-winning composer of the popular <em>Chariots on Fire</em> has died at the age of 79. </p> <p dir="ltr">Vangelis, born Evangelos Odysseas Papathanassiou, was being treated for Covid-19 at a French hospital when he died on May 17.</p> <p dir="ltr">Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis called Vangelis "a pioneer of the electronic sound."</p> <p dir="ltr">"He began his long journey on the Chariots of Fire," Mitsotakis wrote on Twitter. </p> <p dir="ltr">"From there he will always send us his notes."</p> <p dir="ltr">His record label Decca also issued a statement remembering his music that will live on forever.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Vangelis created music of extraordinary originality and power, and provided the soundtrack to so many of our lives,” the statement read.</p> <p dir="ltr">“His music will live on forever.”</p> <p><iframe title="YouTube video player" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/8a-HfNE3EIo" width="560" height="315" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></p> <p dir="ltr">Vangelis is best known for his opening music in the 1981 film <em>Chariots of Fire</em> which saw him win an Academy Award for Best Musical Score.</p> <p dir="ltr">The film was at the top of the Billboard 200 for four weeks and Vangelis’s song was nominated for Record of the Year Grammy. </p> <p dir="ltr">Vangelis also worked on making the soundtrack for Ridley Scott’s 1982 <em>Blade Runner</em>.</p> <p dir="ltr">His other work was included in the film <em>1492: Conquest of Paradise</em> (1992), <em>Missing</em> (1982), <em>Antarctica</em> (1983), <em>Bitter Moon</em> (1992) and <em>Alexander</em> (2004).</p> <p dir="ltr">He also created music for the 2000 Sydney Olympics and 2021 FIFA World Cup in Japan.</p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Image: Getty</em></p>

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How a song composed for the Sydney Olympics has been brought to life

<p dir="ltr">As Australia prepared for the Sydney Olympics in early 2000, composer Natalie Raab decided to create a uniquely Aussie song. </p> <p dir="ltr">Her hope was that the ballad, which celebrates Australia’s beauty, history and diversity, could be used somewhere during the Olympic ceremonies. </p> <p dir="ltr">After moving from Italy in 1960, Natalie fell in love with Australia and wanted to honour her new home in her own special way. </p> <p dir="ltr">"My wife was always very musical," her husband, Erich Raab said.</p> <p dir="ltr">"She wrote quite a bit of music for some well-known artists, she played the violin, the guitar, the piano, and she studied music from an early age.”</p> <p dir="ltr">"She thought, 'I better write a song that's for everybody and inclusive of Indigenous Australia and offer it as a gift'."</p> <p dir="ltr">Three months before the games, Natalie offered the song to the Sydney Olympic Committee. </p> <p dir="ltr">While they praised her work, the committee members said it was too late to incorporate it into the program. </p> <p dir="ltr">"After that, it disappeared in a drawer somewhere — forgotten," said Erich.</p> <p dir="ltr">The song stayed in its drawer for 20 years, until last year when Mr Raab found it during a clean-up of his home. </p> <p dir="ltr">Natalie died in a motorcycle accident in 2014, and her husband was keen to share the song with others. </p> <p dir="ltr">"When I found the music, I thought, 'This song in a few verses says everything that needs to be said about this country, its beauty, its natural history, its people history, and its emphasis on reconciliation for all'.</p> <p dir="ltr">"I thought, 'I have to hang on to this and see if I can get somebody interested'."</p> <p dir="ltr">Mr Raab gifted the music to the Manning Valley Choral Society, who have performed the song, called <em>Till I Come Home</em>, as part of a concert series. </p> <p dir="ltr">"They immediately understood what the song was about, they loved the music and thought it suited them, and they loved the words."</p> <p dir="ltr">The Manning Valley Choral Society's Robyn Rankin said they gratefully received the music.</p> <p dir="ltr">"Erich asked us if we would take care of it and record it for him," she said.</p> <p dir="ltr">"We are lucky enough to have it in our possession now … it's a tribute to Erich's wife."</p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Image credits: Getty Images</em></p>

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5 things you don't know about Andrew Lloyd Webber

<p>Andrew Lloyd Webber has built an empire through composing songs for musical theatre. Musicals that Andrew has under his belt include <em>The Phantom of the Opera</em>, <em>Cats</em>, <em>Evita</em> and <em>Jesus Christ Superstar</em>. It is estimated that this composer has a personal fortune that exceeds $200 million. Here are five interesting facts that you may not know about this legendary mastermind.</p> <p><strong>1. His first composition was at the age of 9</strong></p> <p>Andrew grew up with music being a key part of life in his family. His father William was the director of the London College of Music and his mother Jean was a piano instructor. During his childhood years, Andrew could play the piano, violin and French Horn. His first composition, <em>The Toy Theatre Suite</em> was published when he was only nine years old.</p> <p><strong>2. His childhood dreams</strong></p> <p>When Andrew was a child he had aspired to be Britain’s chief inspector of ancient monuments. He received a Challenge Scholarship to Westminster and entered Oxford as a history major in 1965. He only spent one term at Oxford, however, as he left to work on musical <em>The Likes of Us</em>. This musical was never produced.</p> <p><strong>3. His breakthrough</strong></p> <p>In college Andrew was introduced to a lyricist Tim Rice. After the pair worked on <em>The Likes of Us</em>, they worked on <em>Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat</em>. This musical was given a favourable review by a Sunday Times music critic. In their next venture, Andrew and Time worked on the successful <em>Jesus Christ Superstar</em> which came out in 1971. Due to the success of the album, the production had advance ticket sales that generated over $1 million.</p> <p><strong>4. He doesn’t care about the opinion of critics</strong></p> <p>Andrew’s 1989 musical <em>Aspects of Love</em>, received many negative reviews. The production revolves around a circle of friends’ love lives. Although he received negative reviews, Andrew saw it as a valued work due to the stories relatability to all audiences. He told the New York Times the production would, “outlive and outlaugh all my other shows, because 100 percent of the world loves love. The reviews from the critics are of no interest to me.”</p> <p><strong>5. He wrote two songs for Elvis Presley</strong></p> <p>Andrew and Tim Rice wrote two songs for Elvis Presley’s album Moody Blues. The songs were ‘It’s easy for you’ and ‘Please Don’t Let Lorraine Come Down’.</p>

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