上を向いて歩こう (Sukiyaki) Ukulele Cover

So I woke up and realized I'll be in Japan in a few weeks and thought, "wouldn't it be great if I did a song in Japanese?" Well here are the mixed results. The uke and lead vox is one take and the next take I did the second vocal. So I did this in two takes, no editing, NO AUTOTUNE! But you can tell, can't you?

Anyway, this is a classic song to Asian America because it was one of the first and only Japanese songs to hit number one in America. This is gonna be my first video in a series of covers that are gonna document the Asian American experience.

I based my version off of Kyu Sakamoto's original. Not Taste of Honey or 4p.m.

Here's a translation for you.

I look up as I walk
So that the tears won't fall
Remembering those those spring days
But I am all alone tonight

I look up as I walk
Counting the stars with tearful eyes
Remembering those summer days
But I am all alone tonight

Happiness lies beyond the clouds
Happiness lies up above the sky

I look up as I walk
So that the tears won't fall
Though the tears well up as I walk
For tonight I'm all alone tonight

Remembering those autumn days
But I am all alone tonight

Sadness lies in the shadow of the stars
Sadness lurks in the shadow of the moon

I look up as I walk
So that the tears won't fall
Though the tears well up as I walk
For tonight I'm all alone.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Sukiyaki
• 上を向いて歩こう
• ukulele
• cover
• acoustic
• Kyu
• Sakamoto
• 1963
• Nic
• de
• la
• Riva

[il0vehell0s]

ahhh! i really like this song! how did you like japan?! i went a couple years ago and i loved it! good job on this! :)

[NicMaVie]

@ilovehellos: Haven't been there yet! leaving on Friday! Thanks though! ha ha

[fragan01]

You're Japanese?

[NicMaVie]

Actually... I'm 1/5 Filipino, 1/5 Japanese, 1/5 Romanian Gypsy, 1/5 Norse Viking, and 1/5 African American!

nahhhhhh... j/k I'm just Filipino.

[keisukeandrew]

Amazing! can you do any Jack Johnson stuff???

hope you make it big, I would buy your album for sure!

[tommybrisbane2011]

this was nice

[idrnoel]

fantastic performance. loved it mate!

[scg131]

@emysakai I just listened to the song and watched him play it, there isn't a tab for it. Unless he releases one, you will have to do the same or search online.

[emysakai]

love it! where did you get the tab/chords? i'm trying to learn this song on the uke too. can you share them please? :)

[scg131]

Great video man, I was looking for a uke cover in the same key as Kyu Sakamoto's. Thank you very much now I can play along.. haha How was Japan?

[nickstoli]

Man ... you're awesome! What a beautiful rendition! You HAVE to be a professional musician. You're too good!

[Jodoulos]

what kind of ukulele is that

[emillkim13]

Awesome awesome awesome. Chords? Please? Thx bro.

[SaborAmericano]

you did a GREAT job singing this song!!!! I wish I spoke Japanese so I could understand it.. I have been looking for this English version for a long time and can't seem to find it. I like this translation so much better.

[FLDavid]

You have somehow managed to capture the spirit of this lovely and sentimental melody.

Certainly well played and sung, but you have tapped into something quite special that sets your performance apart

Thanks for posting!