Gandhara (song)

"Gandhara" (ガンダーラ, Gandāra) is a song by Japanese rock band Godiego, serving as their 7th single. Referring to the historical Buddhist land on the Indian subcontinent, "Gandhara" was used as the ending theme song for the first season of the television drama Saiyūki (西遊記), known in the English speaking world as Monkey. "Gandhara" was originally released in Japan on October 1, 1978, but it was later released in the United Kingdom in 1980 to coincide with the British broadcast of Monkey. "Gandhara" reached number 2 on both the Oricon and The Best Ten charts in Japan, while the British release reached 56 on the UK Singles Chart.

"Gandhara"
Single by Godiego
from the album Magic Monkey
A-side	"Gandhara"
B-side	"Celebration"
Released	October 1, 1978 (1978-10-01)
Genre	Rock, Ballad
Label	Nippon Columbia
Songwriter(s)	Lyrics: Yoko Narahashi (Japanese version: Michio Yamagami), Composition: Yukihide Takekawa
Godiego singles chronology
"Mirage" (1977) "Gandhara" (1978) "Monkey Magic" (1978)

Godiego recorded the song in both Japanese and English, with a hybrid Japanese & English version being included on the releases in the UK. The entirely English version appears on the album Magic Monkey in Japan.

Gandhara reached #56 on the British pop charts and stayed in its top 100 for seven weeks in 1980.

Track listing

Japanese release

1. "Gandhara" (ガンダーラ, Gandāra)
2. "Celebration" (セレブレーション, Sereburēshon)

British release

1. "Gandhara"
2. "The Birth of the Odyssey ~ Monkey Magic"

Cover versions

• Monkey Majik covered "Gandhara" as one of the tracks on their single "MONKEY MAJIK×MONKEY MAGIC".
• Mone Kamishiraishi covered the song on her 2021 cover album Ano Uta.

External links

• Godiego - Gandhara on YouTube – English version
• 【Gandhara】GODIEGO / 【ガンダーラ】ゴダイゴ on YouTube – Japanese version