Amin Abbas

DUBAI: Popular Lebanese singer Sammy Clark, known for his theme song for ‘UFO Robot Grendizer,’ shared his story of how he played an important role in the popular anime that was memorable for many people in the 70’s and 80’s to this day.

In an exclusive interview with Arab News Japan, Clark explained that he realized the importance of children’s music in cartoons once he was asked to create a song for the Japanese anime.

“I was hesitant at the beginning because I had no knowledge of doing a song for a children show. I had a try doing a song for a children’s party & I did many children songs ‘i.e. (To who birds singing)’ in Arabic & French in Lebanon,” the singer said.

Clark said that he had asked to watch a couple of episodes prior to recording the theme song in order to get a proper idea of what kind of music to create.

“I was asked by the directors and producers of the show to do the song in sonorous and operatic style, which can be adapted with my voice,” he added. “I have studied the words of the song and the story of ‘UFO Robot Grendizer’ as well the true meanings of the show that reflected our times during the civil war in Lebanon.”

Clark said he saw himself in the anime series, in the way that the message represents fighting for the good against the evil.

“I did the song with a courageous and passionate voice. It was a new jump as a first step for a new direction in my career,” he told Arab News Japan.

The Lebanese singer is also known as for his Arabic theme song for animated series Treasure Island (Takarajima).

He said that after his performance for ‘UFO Robot Grendizer,’ he had received an offer to create a song   for Treasure Island.

“I loved the story and the Japanese performance of the Japanese song, which was similar to the performance of famous Japanese singer ‘Isao Sasaki’ for UFO Robot Grendizer,” Clark explained.

According to the singer, what made the ‘UFO Robot Grendizer’ so special was its “important human values.”

“The spread of ‘UFO Robot Grendizer’ & ‘Treasure Island’ through many TV channels and the internet over the years helped the messages of these songs reach people of all ages around the world,” Clark said.

He was proud to gain a big fanbase in the Middle East, thanks to the anime songs.

“Overall, I’m very grateful to the fans who are attached to these classic anime series, which have been featured on TV for more than 40 years. I’m amazed by the response of people who are attending my performances around the Middle East that shows their love of these songs,” he added.

At the Saudi Anime Expo in 2019, Clark performed the ‘UFO Robot Grendizer’ song with Japanese singers Isao Sasaki and Ichiro Mizuk. The performance showed the love and cherishment for the anime, even with different cultures.

Clark said he is currently working on a new song for Grendizer that was not done in Arabic before.