Taco was born to a Dutch couple in Jakarta (On a side note, Indonesia was once a Dutch colony). Prior to his worldwide hit with Puttin' on the Ritz, he fronted a Berlin-based band called Taco's Bizz. Their niche was performing Depression-era oldies in a more contemporary style, and soon Taco was courted by record labels to release a solo single. Puttin' on the Ritz gained so much attention that an entire album was funded by RCA Records. Both the album and the single were hits in Europe, and thanks to a popular MTV video for Puttin' on the Ritz, the single and the album became hits in America as well, selling over 500,000 copies of Taco's 1982 debut album After Eight.
A follow-up album, Let's Face The Music, was recorded in 1984 for RCA, but it failed to recreate Taco's initial success, and he vanished from the American market immediately thereafter. Taco continued to record, however, focusing mostly on the German market with albums Swing Classics/In The Mood Of Glenn Miller in 1985 and Tell Me That You Like It in 1986 for Polydor. In 1987 he recorded the self-titled album Taco. In 1989 he briefly flirted with contemporary dance music by releasing a pair of singles, Love Touch and Got To Be Your Lover, that were blatantly styled after the high energy disco sound popularized by Stock Aitken Waterman. Afterwards he repositioned himself as a swing/soul singer. He has collaborated with Geff Harrison of Kin Ping Meh fame.
He currently resides in Germany, occasionally performing in Berlin and recording.
He has been referenced on the TV show The Simpsons. Episode BABF19, "Behind the Laughter", features Willie Nelson saying, "Thank you, Taco, for that loving tribute to Falco", as well as the end of the tribute itself. Recently, Taco was referenced in an episode of The Venture Bros. in describing Klaus Nomi's tuxedo attire.
Sayonara
Taco Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Searchin' the oceans
Land of the rising sun
That's when my life began
You are my fate Japan
Towering mountains
Oceans of flowers
Sunlight Kaleidoscope
A Japanese fairytale
Sayonara till we meet again
Parting doesn't mean goodbye
Love has bound us through eternity
Kayoko my love don't cry
Sayonara we will meet again
One day soon I will return
So be patient and please wait for me
In our hearts love's passion burns
...?... our romance
Ruled by the sands of time
God, how it broke my heart?
To know that we had to part
Torn between feelings due to our romance
How could she understand?
They took away her man
Far from this blessed land
Sayonara we will meet again
Parting doesn't mean goodbye
Love has bound us through eternity
Kayoko my love don't cry
Sayonara we will meet again
One day soon I will return
So be patient and please wait for me
In our hearts love's passion burns
Sayonara till we meet again
Parting doesn't mean goodbye
Love has bound us through eternity
Kayoko my love don't cry
Sayonara we will meet again
One day soon I will return
Please be patient and just wait for me
In our hearts love's passion burns.
The lyrics to Taco's song "Sayonara" are a nostalgic ode to Japan and a lost love. The song starts with a beautiful image of the singer searching for something in the vast oceans and stars, finally finding his destiny in Japan. The following lines are an effusive description of Japan's stunning natural beauty and diverse landscapes, from towering mountains to oceans of flowers. The singer then reminisces about a shy and frail Japanese woman, who seems to be the love of his life. Their love story is described as a Japanese fairytale, but unfortunately, they had to part ways, and it broke the singer's heart. The lyrics are soaked with pain and regret and a hopeful desire to meet again someday.
The chorus is a powerful and reassuring message, "Sayonara till we meet again, Parting doesn't mean goodbye, Love has bound us through eternity, Kayoko my love don't cry." The song seems to be written for Kayoko, the Japanese love interest, who the singer leaves behind, carrying her memories in his heart. The lyrics are sentimental and emotional, and the song's melody has a melancholic quality that enhances its poignancy.
Overall, the lyrics of "Sayonara" are an evocative portrayal of a love that transcends borders and time. The song combines wistful nostalgia with bittersweet longing and represents a beautiful tribute to Japan's culture and beauty.
Line by Line Meaning
Chartered by starlight
Embarked on a journey guided by the stars
Searchin' the oceans
Exploring the vast sea
Land of the rising sun
The beautiful country of Japan
That's when my life began
A turning point that changed everything
You are my fate Japan
Destined to be enamored by Japan
Towering mountains
Majestic peaks that reach for the sky
Oceans of flowers
An endless field of blooming flowers
Sunlight Kaleidoscope
A shimmering array of colorful light
She was so shy, so frail
A demure and delicate woman
A Japanese fairytale
A storybook romance set in Japan
Sayonara till we meet again
Goodbye for now, but we will see each other again
Parting doesn't mean goodbye
Leaving doesn't mean our love is over
Love has bound us through eternity
Our love will last forever
Kayoko my love don't cry
Don't cry, my love Kayoko
Sayonara we will meet again
Goodbye for now, but we'll reunite someday
One day soon I will return
I'll come back to you soon
So be patient and please wait for me
Please be patient and wait for my return
In our hearts love's passion burns
Our love is intense and unwavering
Ruled by the sands of time
Constrained by the passing of time
God, how it broke my heart?
It was painful and heart-wrenching
To know that we had to part
Knowing we had to say goodbye
Torn between feelings due to our romance
Conflicted by our passionate love
How could she understand?
How could she comprehend my love?
They took away her man
They separated us from each other
Far from this blessed land
Far away from our beloved Japan
Please be patient and just wait for me
Please wait for me with patience
Contributed by Zachary P. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@likonatera7452
This is the sweetest, most beautiful song I've heard in decades!
Thank YOU!
@lexiheart6558
How does this not have more likes??
@user-et3vo6mv9g
TACOさん、良い曲をありがとうございます！！
We will meet again！！ We hope so！
@themidastouch2022
Great new version. Nicely polished and modernized.
@NovaTheSinger
I remember this song,How this is sung,The Art,The Lyrics are clear and The Emotions! Beautiful!
@strobeeboy
I don't know if Taco sees these comments but I was born in 2001 and this song still bring me great joy and lights a feeling in me that only the best of art can do.
@Skillow
So dreamy, still loving it!
@slowbro1337
The drum track has been made more prominent in this version. Very nice sounds super clean
@AlexHedgehogStan
Beautiful
@user-kj6by4wr2m
Красивая песня, замечательное исполнение!