Noriko Takaya Posted October 17, 2009 Posted October 17, 2009 From ANN: Kazuhiko Katoh, the co-founder of two musical bands and the composer of the main theme songs for The Super Dimension Fortress Macross: Do You Remember Love? and Windaria, was found hanged in his hotel room in Nagano Prefecture on Saturday. He was 62. The local authorities believe he had committed suicide, due to two copies of a last will that he reportedly had left in his room. Katoh made his musical debut with his college band The Folk Crusaders, which performed the hit songs "Kaette Kita Yopparai" and "Imujingawa." After The Folk Crusaders disbanded, he co-established The Sadistic Mika Band, a group that would break up and reunite several times over the years. The band became the first Japanese group to tour Great Britain when it opened for Roxy Music in 1975. On his own, he composed music for several projects, including Mari Iijima's "Do You Remember Love?" ("Ai , Oboeteimasu ka?") theme song for The Super Dimension Fortress Macross: Do You Remember Love? and Akino Arai's "Yakusoku" for Windaria. "Do You Remember Love?" proved to be mainstream hit when it landed at #7 on Oricon's weekly singles chart and #38 on the yearly chart for 1984. As part of The Sadistic Mika Band, he also wrote and performed the theme songs for Maruboshi Mabo-chan. Quote
mitch Posted October 17, 2009 Posted October 17, 2009 I'm very saddened to hear this news. DYRL is such a masterpiece of animation and one of my favorite films, and the music, and especially Kazuhiko Katoh's composition, is an integral part to it. Although I have to admit that I'm unfamiliar with his other works, 'Ai, Oboeteimasu ka?' has left a deep impression on me and my deepest sympathies go out to his family and friends. Quote
Gubaba Posted October 17, 2009 Posted October 17, 2009 I'm very saddened to hear this news. DYRL is such a masterpiece of animation and one of my favorite films, and the music, and especially Kazuhiko Katoh's composition, is an integral part to it. Although I have to admit that I'm unfamiliar with his other works, 'Ai, Oboeteimasu ka?' has left a deep impression on me and my deepest sympathies go out to his family and friends. Yes, it's a wonderful song. I'm rather ashamed to admit that I didn't know Kato was in the Sadistic Mika Band...I've never heard them, but I've heard OF them (it's kind of difficult band name to forget...). Does anyone else find it...I dunno, not STRANGE exactly, but a mild oddness, that this happened the same day as the Crossover Live, where DYRL is getting the widest hearing it's had in a long time...? Or am I just being too Macross-centric? Quote
Moly_Sigang Posted October 17, 2009 Posted October 17, 2009 What a very sad news My condolence to his family. Quote
Macross007 Posted October 17, 2009 Posted October 17, 2009 (edited) R.I.P. Kazuhiko san. We will never forget that awesome song you did for all us Macross and anime fans in general. Edited October 17, 2009 by Macross007 Quote
VFTF1 Posted October 18, 2009 Posted October 18, 2009 I listen to Ai Oboeteimasuka at least once a day in the car - if not more. It's a very touching song, and it really really makes for a tremendous finale to DYRL. RIP song composer dude and thank you for the happiness. Pete Quote
Marzan Posted October 18, 2009 Posted October 18, 2009 How very sad. I'm not familiar with the rest of his music, but DYRL is one of the greatest pop songs ever. In any language. Quote
Vepariga Posted October 18, 2009 Posted October 18, 2009 aww snap..damn im surprised and abit shocked at the same time, its a real shame but i wonder why he did it?...the music world has lost another,a sad day.. do you remember love is one of my favorite songs and i still listen to it today. certianly gave us a piece of music that stood the test of time strongly and for that i thank you ,may he rest in peace. Quote
Paliodor Posted October 18, 2009 Posted October 18, 2009 Just saw the news on the polish anime news site. It's very sad news and I think that a big loss for Macross community. In my opinion, without ''Do you remember love?'' the movie version of the SDF Macross would not be the same. For me it's one of the most characteristic and recognizable songs from the mecha anime. Rest in peace... Quote
Awacs Posted October 18, 2009 Posted October 18, 2009 I'm not really familiar with the rest of his work, but I have a long standing affection for "Do You Remember Love". This is very sad news. Karl Quote
ff95gj Posted October 19, 2009 Posted October 19, 2009 May he RIP. DYRL is one of the few songs I feel touched when I listen to it. Quote
Save Posted October 19, 2009 Posted October 19, 2009 Mari spoke about his death on the second day of the concert before singing DYRL. She end the song in tears. Quote
Valkyrie addict Posted October 19, 2009 Posted October 19, 2009 that's a shame...rather stranger, well RIP, it was a beautiful song Quote
Mercurial Morpheus Posted October 19, 2009 Posted October 19, 2009 Quite a shame. Like most here, I have a great fondness for Do You Remember Love and it's vaunted title song. I listen to it all the time, and have seen Mari performs it a few times. I even liked Ranka's version of it. Sad to hear another Macross composer has left us. RIP. Quote
buffalostyle Posted October 19, 2009 Posted October 19, 2009 Yes, it's a wonderful song.One of my favorite songs, regardless of genre, of all time. Always puts a smile on my face. Does anyone else find it...I dunno, not STRANGE exactly, but a mild oddness, that this happened the same day as the Crossover Live, where DYRL is getting the widest hearing it's had in a long time...? Or am I just being too Macross-centric?That is VERY odd, Gubaba....bordering on creepy. What an incredibly sad day... Quote
Kilarn Posted October 19, 2009 Posted October 19, 2009 I saw the news on Gabriela Robin Site : ( A very very sad news... However, Ai Oboeteimasuka remain forever the legendary song of Macross... Quote
MechaBisuko Posted October 19, 2009 Posted October 19, 2009 Just found out about this today. So Very saddened. May Kazuhiko have peace now. His song is so beautiful and never loses its magic. Quote
Fortress_Maximus Posted October 19, 2009 Posted October 19, 2009 Truly sad news. Katoh will live on in my memories everytime I hear his incredible song sung by Mari. Quote
SkullLeaderVF-X Posted October 21, 2009 Posted October 21, 2009 I want to know, why he hung himself? What did he say in his note/will? Why would such a gifted person take himself out? Why? He will be missed though. But why? Quote
taksraven Posted October 21, 2009 Posted October 21, 2009 The use of "Ai , Oboeteimasu ka" at the end of Macross Frontier episode one was stunning and served to highlight what a fantastic song it is. A great loss. Not good. Taksraven Quote
isamu Posted October 24, 2009 Posted October 24, 2009 absolutely terrible. does anyone happen to know if he also composed the music for An Angel's Paint? Or was that done by someone else? Quote
Gubaba Posted October 24, 2009 Posted October 24, 2009 absolutely terrible. does anyone happen to know if he also composed the music for An Angel's Paint? Or was that done by someone else? Angel's Paints was written by Mari Iijima herself. DYRL was the only Macross song written by Kato (and he wrote the music, not the lyrics). Quote
isamu Posted October 25, 2009 Posted October 25, 2009 Ahh I see. Heh, isn't it funny...Mari wrote and composed what I consider one of the absolute best songs in the entire Macross universe, yet her other original non Macross songs don't even come close to Angel's Paint IMHO. Quote
Gubaba Posted October 25, 2009 Posted October 25, 2009 Ahh I see. Heh, isn't it funny...Mari wrote and composed what I consider one of the absolute best songs in the entire Macross universe, yet her other original non Macross songs don't even come close to Angel's Paint IMHO. Really? I find her first four or five albums to be stunningly good. Rosé sounds a little too '80s, but not really in a bad way, and the lus orchestrations on Midori are exquisite, IMHO. Quote
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