Yellow Magic Orchestra on Soul Train

Yellow Magic Orchestra doing "Firecracker" on Soul Train, 1980. The original version of that tune was written by Martin Denny in 1959. YMO's cover was a commentary on Denny's kitschy orientalist trip. (via @brainpicker)

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Kragshot

I actually saw this episode when it aired. For their encore, they did a cover of Archie Bell and the Drell’s “Tighten Up.” They had a guy in the audience and when the front man called for a shout-out for ” the Japanese men in the house” he was supposed to raise his hand. But when the part came up, he missed the cue because he was too busy dancing with this Soul Train dancer.

That was awesome that somebody found this.

I still play this in my mix sets…it’s an marvelous track!
KanedaJones

reminds me of watching Oingo Boingo for the first time on American Bandstand.. you just know that its tough having to sell one’s self to the masses
spacemunky

This is great! The Reconstructed remix album from 92 has always been one of my favorite bits of electronica. This just reminds me to go back and start listening to the originals.
robuluz

That was awesome. I know David Sylvian went on to do some work with Ryuichi Sakamoto, but listening to this it is quite clear Japan were heavily influenced by YMO well before then. Nice post.
http://avarana.blogspot.com MarlboroTestMonkey7

Next video: Kung Fu Fighting
- robdobbs
  
  Ask and ye shall receive: http://youtu.be/lTiSzFp4arg
  
  And here they are together for no good reason:
  http://www.youtubedoubler.com/?video1=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Ffeature%3Dplayer_embedded%26v%3DyqoWryBLmNI%23%21&start1=&video2=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DlTiSzFp4arg&start2=&authorName=Creamy+D
http://twitter.com/mginida m ginida

makes me wanna dance now!- but let me allow the master to do that….Boogaloo Shrimp!!!!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FsL0a612i00
philipbarrett

Is that Akiko Yano (Mrs. Sakamoto at the time) on keyboards?
Pea Hicks

So, was J-Lo’s sample of this track a kitschy commentary on YMO’s commentary on Denny’s kitschy orientalist trip? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y-N0eVy4UMo