Ryuichi Sakamoto - Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence (Piano Cover by Josh Cohen) 

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When I was in high school I used practice this piece on an old piano my grandfather fixed for me. He'd listen to me practice and practice for hours every week. It felt so good when I was able to perform the whole piece to him. I'm writing a eulogy for him now, playing this cover because it's my favourite, and it just brings me to tears so easily.

Sakamoto is sadly under recognized for his brilliance. Listening to this cover is second only to listening to the composer himself

You make me understand why people fall in love with musicians. The way you play is just so dream like it almost doesn't feel real.

Goodbye Mister Sakamoto. RIP.

Came back to this after hearing the news. Rest in Peace, Ryuichi Sakamoto!

In memory of Ryuichi Sakamoto😔😔 R.I.P

I’ve been doing some thinking recently about this channel and a thought popped into my mind overnight. It’s been a really interesting journey sharing my love of the piano with everyone all over the world. It still trips me out that I spend an afternoon recording a track (it has to be the afternoon for those curious about the process, as the piano is lit by natural light - it’s best between 1pm - 4pm in the room that I’m recording in), sitting by myself in front of a piano in my music school, and that people from all over the world get to experience a very private moment of my creative process. What I find particularly interesting though is when I listen back to these interpretations, there’s a pretty strong disconnect between playing/recording the tracks and hearing them back. Without a drop of ego, I personally enjoy listening to these tracks either late at night to help me fall asleep, occasionally in the morning when I wake up to find some more motivation about working on my Radiohead songbook, but my favourite time would definitely be when I’m travelling, especially in airports or on planes, and also on public transport. As there are a lot of returning subscribers and listeners on this channel, my question to you is this: Where and when do you listen to these tracks? What are you doing? Working? Studying? Travelling? Eating breakfast? Passing out? What time of day is it? What do you see? How does it make you feel? I’d be very curious to hear your thoughts, so hit me up. As always, thanks for supporting the channel and for incorporating this music into your lives. Man, the internet blows my mind sometimes x

얼마나 조심스럽고 공들여서 연주한지 알겠음. 이 곡 많이 들어봤지만 이 연주만한 느낌을 받은적이 없었다. 좋아요.

wow, one of the most expressive cover I have ever heard. The first few notes feels like soft rain drops. You are a master Pianist

You know it’s good when it makes you wanna cry 2022 who’s listening this never gets old 🙌🏻

RIP

He's gone :(

I don't know this one but I'm glad to hear it. I can imagine snow falling in a city at night.

This particular song has a immense presence in my life. I just randomly found it on youtube and somehow got me listening as many versions i could get my hands on. I'm the kind of guy who locks himself out every time i have a hard issue and need time to work on. This very song and Thousand Knives are my ultimate relief. When times were the hardest, and after hours and hours of overthinking these 2 songs were what hugged me in the dark and made me feel everything's will come just fine. So i have a very strong bond with them. The weird thing is, I've never knew they were from a movie! So after watching it, after feeling how Ryuichi wrote the song around the characters in the movie and their feelings... Man, that was a fucking shock. I truly discovered that what this song means to me is just impossible to describe.

Goodbye, Sakamoto san

A UNIVERSAL MASTERPIECE and a Great Performance in interpretation !!!

Sakamoto is amazing, great cover. Feels just like him playing.

Each time i hear this both the composition and your rendition left with one word. Sublime!

Perhaps one of it not the best cover of this amazing tune. Fascinating to watch the hands dance left and right.

I’ve kept listening to it for 2 months. I love both the way you play the song and the movie. I think your performance is actually more emotional their Mr. Sakamoto’s. I love it.

Brilliant performance of a fantastic and emotional masterpiece by Mr. Sakamoto. Superb playing. Love it.

My favorite thing about covers are experiencing how each person interprets the piece differently and how you can feel the emotion from each individual through their interpretation...

I listen to this most days, it’s funny I never seem to tire of it,I find Josh’s cover of this musically and technically utterly brilliant, a sublime masterpiece , ,

i cannot believe how stunningly beautiful this is,an absolute joy from beginning to end,bravo!

OMG, I love this song so much since my childhood. Can't imagine any pianist able to vring the sweetness out of this melancholic song. Thank you so much.

Such a beautiful piece. Thank you.

The way you roll those left hand chords makes it extra magical!

Bravooo! Amazing piano cover, hvent heard this song for yrs and just recently heard it so i came to see the many great piano covers of this amazing song

This music will haunt me until the very end. Excellent interpretation.

Beautiful

I watched his playing this song, was so emotional with its feeling.

Beautiful! Just...beautiful

One of the few records that actually make me cry , well done you've started me again 😢

마음을 울린다는 것... 좋은 연주 감사합니다

This is incredible, takes me back.

Ryuichi Sakamoto composition/score is so moving, it really helped me learn more on the piano -a few years back, and Josh's interpretation is fabulous. Hats off to the composer and the pianist.. Beautiful sound.

Quel beau morceau de musique, Sakamoto est un génie. Très belle interprétation. Superbe. Merci beaucoup.

increíble!!!

ひとつひとつがとても丁寧な音で、とても感動しました、、！ いい動画をありがとうございます！！✨

Beautiful cover! Exquisite!

Beautiful.

Best version I've heard ever, correct key and pace

AMAZING!

ive been playing this song for a couple months, and I think I just realized the true Beauty of it. My piano teacher and I started it later so I only learned about 1/2 of it, and now I think im going to learn the rest and other songs like it over the next few weeks

Amazing wonderful!!

The way you played this piece makes me want to go back into playing piano and learn it. You played it beautifully and I like listening to it when I'm not in a good head space.

Was so enjoying the piece itself that it didn't strike me until that beautiful ending how brilliantly played this is too

This is an exceptional cover, I applaud you!

Spectacular

This is so emotional

beautiful

I was touched by the piano performance.

I've needed to see a cover like this for a long time now. Just magnificent. Thank you.

Beautiful.....

So beautiful...thank you.

thank u soooo much ive cry during listenning

Absolutely beautiful

you have taken a family favorite that was already deeply meaningful and enhanced it for me......thank you

i love your sensitivity in playing the piano.....i enjoyed this alot ,thanx

Thank you very much! This is my favorite composition from Ryuichi Sakamoto.

Adore this song and this cover xxx

SO WONDERFUL!!!!! Really I love this movie and this soundtrack, thank you for an excellent performance, my warm heartfelt greetings from Poland.

One of my favourite tunes for the piano...you play this so well, so poignantly, my man.

Brilliant. Perfectly captured the mood

oh my god. this is so good!

merci pour mes oreilles , j'adore cette musique depuis très longtemps et vous la jouez à merveille ! magique

You’ve absolutely nailed this for solo piano. I’ve been playing small bits but your arrangement really covers it

100% on point

Gorgeous

so effortless and elegant a true dream

Spine tingly good. Thanks so much for posting, an all time classic

MAGNIFICO.

Beautifully explained, without a word being spoken. Perfecto!

Beautiful version!

Amazing sound😍

beautiful!

I'M SO HAPPY THAT YOU'VE COVERED THIS I LOVE THIS SONG

Unfassbar schön

いつ聞いてもいい曲。忘れかけてた時にふと来てしまう。こんな素敵な曲を作ってくれてありがとうございます、坂本龍一さん。

This is so beautiful😊

I was in the middle of Tokyo shibuya hotel on Christmas Eve sitting by my self at the lobby and there was this piano sounds coming-out from the little speakers at the lobby and it's this song, and it's recharged all my soul, my heart instantly

To be honest, I already fall in love with this piano cover❤️❤️❤️

Wonderful

진짜 와;; I believe it's the best cover ever

Awesome cover!!! Well done!!!

love you for this - mr josh cohen

Beautiful 🥺

Beautiful rendition, displaying the flair of Asiatic melody, with strong ties to Western, Gregorian ambiance.

戦場のメリークリスマス最高👌💓また弾けるように頑張ろ😬✨

I love your work so much. Luckily finding this video on youtube, i am now enjoying a very peaceful moment not so easy nor common to have.. Thank u for uploading this beautiful work! xx

This feels so familiar, but also so new to me. You truly have a gift ✌️

YES!

私の頭の中で流れている『Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence.』 に一番近いです。

Brilliant performance, magic ❤☃️🌲🎅🏼

awesome

It's amazing, so musical, very beautiful.

Lovely! And what a great sound!!!

I have a big test tomorrow. I visited to relax..thank you for the beautiful music

Beautiful ♡