I am so glad you reacted to this song. I am 68 years old and remember how cheap electronic and other goods were labeled “Made in Japan” they have come a long way since. I thought it very clever for Buck Owens to turn that label into a beautiful love song. I also thought the song would be crucified today for trying to slap that label on a young woman. You took the song at its purest intent and didn’t take it out of context. Thank you for keeping it for future generations.
Im so impressed by your reaction here..... This was Buck and the Buckaroos at their finest, from 1972. The instrumentation here came.mostly from his lead guitarist and sidekick Don Rich. The organ-like instrument in the background is called a farfisa. The saddest part about this song here, even sadder than the theme of losing a love to another man....was the fact that shortly after this song was laid down, Don Rich was killed in a motorcycle accident in Morro Bay, CA in Feb 1974, and it devastated Buck. He admitted himself that he never really recovered from this tragedy. Don was Buck's right hand really. This song here embodies Buck Owens and his band The Buckaroos to a T. An interesting and yet trivial factoid is that his band was without a name until a bass guitarist he hired in 1962 came up with the name "Buckaroos"..... That someone was none other than Merle Haggard, who had been recently released from San Quentin Prison and was determined to turn his life around and make it big in Country Music.... and i believe in the end he did just that.
I love his Streets of Bakersfield with Dwight Yokham, Crying Time, How Long Will My Baby Be Gone, and Loves Gonna Live Here, are other great Buck Owens songs
Made in Japan could be Maid in Japan, right? Nice twist. Buck Owens was one of the two hosts of a very popular TV show when I was young...Hee Haw. The other host was Roy Clark. Fun to watch. Thanks for a great reaction!
This is easily my favorite from Buck. I also remember a song from 1969 called Tall Dark Stranger. It aired as a video, I think on a show called Music Scene.
There was a short lived craze for songs about American servicemen falling for Asian women and Island girls and taking them back to America. Ry Cooder sent this all up in his 'Going back to Okinawa.' The worst of these was an Eddie Noack song called 'The Poor Chinee,' which George Jones, for some bonkers reason, decided to rerecord in 1968.
Buck’s guitarist was playing the strings in the background as well. As I recall, he played the violin on three different channels to make it sound like an orchestra. It added a lot to the song.
If you liked that one,you should checkout "my freuline". Lots of people have covered versions of it. Not 100% sure if Buck did one or not. But my favorite version is by Townes Van Zant.
Back in the 50's and 60's, the US imported lots of products stamped "Made in Japan". Sort of like "Made in China" now. It was kind of a synonymous with cheaply made. It eventually came to signify well made. The point is, the term "Made in Japan" was ubiquitous in the US at one time, which makes this an amusing song title.
The play on words is from the punchline “made in Japan” whenever someone bought an item that broke quickly. Made in Japan was stamped on everything from there. Of course once they rebuilt after the war , they are known for high quality
American men should know. Japanese culture is a lot different from American culture. You can be friends with a beautiful Japanese girlbut you cannot fall in love., And if you're American, your chances are slim to none. And if she's very beautiful, your chances are very, very slim to none of having her. Because the father of the house makes the rules. Because there will always be another Chinese man.😢😢😢 I left my heart what a girl made in Japan.😢😢😢😢😢😢😢❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤😢😢
