Taya Tan is a beautiful Japanese song from Pink Martini’s 2007 album “Hey, Eugene!”. It is originally recorded in 1969 by Saori Yuki, a Japanese singer, and actress.

Taya tan tells the story of a lover’s dream of being the guitar that s/his lover was playing, “the strings on my chest tremble”.

Album version by Pink Martini (from the 2007 album “Hey, Eugene!”):

Pink Martini: Taya Tan Pink Martini (from the band’s 2007 album “Hey, Eugene!”)

Saori Yuki version of Taya Tan (1969):

Taya Tan – original version by Saori Yuki

Pink Martini performs “Taya Tan” from their album Hey Eugene!, live on the UK television program Later with Jools Holland.

Pink Martini performs “Taya Tan” live

Taya Tan Lyrics (translation)

Taya tan, taya-tan, taya-tan
Oh! My excitement!
Taya-tan, taya-tan, taya-tan
My heart is singing
When I come close to your chest
I play a song of love

Taya tan, taya-tan, taya-tan
I am a guitar
Taya-tan, taya-tan, taya-tan
I am the one you are playing

Taya tan, taya-tan, taya-tan
Oh! My secret excitement!
Taya-tan, taya-tan, taya-tan
My heart flutters
When I dream with my eyes closed
The strings on my chest tremble

Taya tan, taya-tan, taya-tan
I am a guitar
Taya-tan, taya-tan, taya-tan
I am the one you are playing

Saori Yuki

Saori Yuki, the original performer of Taya Tan, with Pink Martini
Saori Yuki with Pink Martini

Saori Yuki was born Akiko Yasuda on November 13, 1948, in Kiryū, Gunma, Japan, and raised in Yokohama. She started her singing career with her older sister Sachiko as a child singer. In 1965 she debuted with the single “Hitchhike Musume (Hitchhiking Girl)” on King Records (Japan) as Akiko Yasuda.

In 1969, she had a hit with “Yoake no Scat (Scat at dawn)”, which sold 1.5 million copies, which led her to sing at the NHK’s Kōhaku Uta Gassen, the annual year-end music show (after that she continued her appearance until 1978). She received the Best Vocalist Award at the 15th Japan Record Awards for her hit “Koibumi (Love Letter)”.

She quickly became a popular TV personality, appeared on a number of variety shows, and acted in several movies. She received the Award of Outstanding Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in Japan Academy Prize in 1983 for her role of Chikako Numata, a mother of two difficult sons in The Family Game.

In 1985, she started appearing on stage again with her sister Sachiko. They toured around Japan with their specialty of Japanese children’s songs and received the Best Planning Award in the 28th Japan Record Awards for their hit album Ano-toki, Kono-uta (“Those Times, These Songs”). Their repertoire has not been limited to children’s songs but included also pop, classical, and anime songs.

In 2009, she released her first original album since 1984, commemorating the 40th anniversary of her singing career as Saori Yuki. A collaboration album with Pink Martini titled 1969 was released in November 2011.

Saori Yuki with Pink Martini
Saori Yuki with Pink Martini’s China Forbes and Thomas Lauderdale.

Sources

M. Özgür Nevres

Published by M. Özgür Nevres

I am Özgür Nevres, a software engineer, a former road racing cyclist, and also an amateur musician. I opened andantemoderato.com to share my favorite music. I also take care of stray cats & dogs. This website's all income goes directly to our furry friends. Please consider supporting me on Patreon, so I can help more animals!

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