Traditional Japanese Instruments Used for a Mesmerizing Cover of Michael Jackson’s "Smooth Criminal"

As the King of Pop, Michael Jackson has a discography that many have covered and sampled over the years, but this rendition by Yoshimi Tsujimoto might be the most unique yet. The Japanese musician is a professional shakuhachi (bamboo flute) player and, with the help of her backup koto intrumentalists, she's reimagined the song Smooth Criminal using traditional Japanese instruments.

The melodic sounds start soft, but are soon recognizable as Jackson's catchy tune. In an audiovisual recording of their performance, Tsujimoto and her band brilliantly play their instruments, their hands effortlessly floating across the strings and pipe. Check out the mesmerizing video below to see the women in action.

via [Twisted Sifter]

Sara Barnes

Sara Barnes is a Staff Editor at My Modern Met, Manager of My Modern Met Store, and co-host of the My Modern Met Top Artist Podcast. As an illustrator and writer living in Seattle, she chronicles illustration, embroidery, and beyond through her blog Brown Paper Bag and Instagram @brwnpaperbag. She wrote a book about embroidery artist Sarah K. Benning titled 'Embroidered Life' that was published by Chronicle Books in 2019. Sara is a graduate of the Maryland Institute College of Art. She earned her BFA in Illustration in 2008 and MFA in Illustration Practice in 2013.
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