LogFAQs > #956645212

74. David Sylvian and Ryuichi Sakamoto Forbidden Colours (1983)
from the album Merry Christmas Mr. Lawrence OST

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x1YkHJJi-tc

Key lyrics:
Ill go walking in circles while doubting the very ground beneath me

Forbidden Colours is an exemplary film track, a bombastic scene-stealer that should be on the same cultural level as My Heart Will Go On or I Will Always Love You. Alas, the film to which it is attached was destined to obscurity, so it never received its moment in the spotlight. The song is the vocal version of the main theme, which itself has become a minor Christmas classic. Sakamotos ambient soundscape suggests an introspective wintry mood, like walking through the snow-blanketed woods. It captures the best qualities of modern Japanese film scores Joe Hisaishi, the composer for most of Miyazakis films, had been inspired by Sakomotos earlier band, and Merry Christmas Mr. Lawrence could just as easily have appeared in one of those majestic films.

Like Julee Cruises Falling, David Sylvians Forbidden Colours recontextualizes a gentle theme into a love song. In this case, the song oozes with tension. Taking its title from a Yukio Mishima novel, Sylvian evokes homoromantic desires without so much as mentioning his loves gender. One can read shame in the lyrics, considering Sylvians insistent use of my love to refer to this other person. There is a crisis of faith, which Sylvian matches with crushing passion. Few songs so perfectly capture the tragedy of falling for someone you are not allowed though less taboo in this era, Sylvians powerful vocals echo so much unspoken historical grief. The result is something ageless. Though the instrumental version is meditative alone, it transforms into something altogether haunting and otherwordly when paired with Sylvian.

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My top 100 games (with write-ups): https://foolfantastic.com/top-100-video-games-project/