I’ve been a fan of Ryuichi Sakamoto since his early (1979) electronic music days with Japanese tecnopop band “Yellow Magic Orchestra.” YMO are considered the pioneers of the tecnopop genre, a major influence to modern Japanese popular music and to British bands like Japan and Duran Duran. His participation in the 1983 movie “Merry Christmas Mr. Lawrence” (Dir. Nagisa Oshima) for which he wrote the theme song “Forbidden Colours” sung by David Sylvian vocalist for the band Japan, brought him major attention. His acting alongside David Bowie made the movie a memorable performance.
Feb
22
Ona a lighter side, Penelope Cruz wins the 2009 Oscar for best supporting actress for Woody Allen’s movie “Vicky Cristina Barcelona.” I thought Penelope’s speech was a very heartfelt moment: “…I grew up in a place called Alcobendas, where this was not a very realistic dream, and I, always the night of the Academy Awards, I’d stay up to watch the show. And I always felt that this was, this ceremony was a moment of unity for the world. Because art, in any form, is, and has been and will always be our universal language and we should do everything we can to protect it’s survival, so I thank you so much…”
She then makes a short speech in Spanish, here’s the translation in English: “To all of you who are are watching in Spain, who feel they are sharing this moment along with me, and to all the actors in my country. Thank you very much.” Bravo Penelope!!!