Amin Abbas

Sammy Clark, a Lebanese singer who is known for his Arabic theme song for ‘UFO Robot Grendizer’ has died at the age of 73.

He died in Al-Roum hospital in Lebanon after having  heart complications, Lebanese media reported on Sunday.

The late singer was known for his Arabic theme songs for Grendizer and “Treasure Island”, which have been known by the fans of Arabic dubbed Japanese anime for over 40 years.

Born in 1948, Clark was a singer and musician, distinguished by his operatic voice, which was considered highly significant amongst Lebanese artists, especially in the field of foreign songs.

Prior to passing, Clark shared an exclusive story with Arab News Japan regarding how he played a role in the popular anime show that was memorable to many people since the seventies and eighties, as well as to this day. He also elaborated on the importance of children’s music, which he realized when he was asked to create a song for Japanese anime television series.

“I was hesitant at the beginning because I had no knowledge of doing a song for a children’s show. I then attempted doing a song for a children’s party and I continued to do other songs within this category such as ‘To who birds singing’ in Arabic and French in Lebanon,” Clark 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.

Discussing the creation process, Clark explained that he had asked to watch a couple of episodes of the series prior to recording in order to get a proper idea of the kind of music required.

“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 that he was able to relate to the theme and message of good versus evil in the anime series and mentioned that what made ‘UFO Robot Grendizer’ anime series so special was its emohasis on the importance of human values.

“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.

“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 added.

In addition to the songs created for Japanese anime series, he was also known for his Arabic theme song for the animated series “Treasure Island” (Takarajima).

“The spread of ‘UFO Robot Grendizer’ and ‘Treasure Island’ through many television channels and the internet over the years helped the messages of these songs reach people of all ages around the world,” Clark said, adding that he took great pride in the attainment of a large fanbase in the Middle East as a result of these theme 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, which shows their love of these songs,” he said.

In 2018, Sammy Clark performed a new “UFO Robot Grendizer Medley” with Famous Emirati composer Ihab Darwish.

Darwish shared the story behind the project with Arab News Japan, saying that “Grendizer reminds us of our magical and sentimental childhood, we always consider this character as our hero. The animation, music, voices, amongst other things, brought joy and happiness to our hearts. Sammy Clark was one of those heroes that we associate with our childhood, his powerful voice has its own signature and allows us to remember this iconic Japanese anime character.”

At the Saudi Anime Expo in 2019, Clark performed the ‘UFO Robot Grendizer’ song with Japanese singers Isao Sasaki and Ichiro Mizuki. The performance showed the love that different cultures have for the anime, which acted as a unifying element.

Lebanese singer Sammy Clark was known for his Arabic theme songs in “UFO Robot Grendizer” and “Treasure Island” that have been known amongst fans of Arabic dubbed Japanese anime for over 40 years.