@Tommy Barlow Not necessarily so... There were many great pop/rock writers who heavily influenced the eighties bands. The new songs simply drew inspiration from the older rockers?
If you were listening to Japan in 1982, congratulations for getting it. There were a lot of great New Wave bands but Japan took that genre to the level of art. The fact that this still sounds relevant in 2019 is a testament to the genius of this band.
@Tommy Barlow Or, Marvin Gaye, or Jimmy Hendrix, or The Beatles, or Pink Floyd, or the collective delta bluesmen (and women) who gave us the template for modern pop/rock?
David Sylvian's mournful, Ferry-esque vocals do this song great justice, particularly when mingled with the haunting, rather eerie keyboards, and Steve Jansen's marimbas. One of Japan's best ever records. :)
i saw japan in concert way back,, this track has always been with me,, david sings this soo well, its like something creeping up on everyone and his voice is amazing,,, noone could ever cover this track, if they did,, shame,,, japans best track ever xx
ooohhh God this is wonderful! Thanks so much for posting it! I've never seen Mick Karn on Keyboards... I've been growing listening to Japan in the 80's, and they became a part of my soul. Rob.
Always a great song to point to when people say electronic music isn't 'real' music. There's something amazingly haunting about this; the effects, the lyrics, the sparseness. It sounds like a song called 'Ghosts' should.
Now I`m totaly in a trance. THIS is real music, and I just love it. I could let it go on repeat for hours, and just lay down and close my eyes. Then I would almoast be in heaven!
My fave David Sylvian song of all time is "Red Guitar" its so beautiful. I had the honour of meeting DS quite a few times back in the 80's as he was very good friends with my brother at the time. What a beautiful/polite/sweet manand yes, very lovely looking too. I was 7 then. I'm now nearly 40 :)
Oh my God, that had to be a wonderful experience looking from today's perspective... His music can touch the soul. "Orpheus" still reminds me about that...
"Brilliant Trees" is one of my all time favourite albums. So, so modern sounding, even now. The "Tin Drum" record was another feat of high art, too. You met him! Cherished moments in life.
Still spine chillingly brilliant, I was a massive Japan/David Sylvian fan and still to this day his voice gives me goosebumps!! And he was so easy on the eye too❤️
I have come back to this song.....and his voice ....for an eternity. Masterful......amazing to see this clip and see him singing ...so effortless...perfect.... thank you xo
Back when people played live - even electronica. When fashion was dictated by creative people not corporation and songs were full of reason not marketing. RIP Mick Karn - a true pioneer.
Called my son Sylvian he’s 33 now brilliant band although I’m Indian tried to look like him with make up clothes but look more like a tanned Richard barberi -,thete early stuff even better
To be honest the current era is also quite unique, actually that's probably what defines an era. A massive change in the way people think, dress and do things. The affects of automation and rapid conversion of everything from physical to ephemeral technological data and how it affects the minds of all the newer generations, what has changed and what never changes with a change with a change of era is always interesting
I remember first hearing this band Japan in Comet store back in the early 80s when the sales assistant played this as demo on a new gadget call a compact disc player which l went to purchased for my Sansui tower system kool band
I was listening to Japan in 1992-83, but not sure how I found out about them, but I was very curious about all the new British bands that were coming out back then. Maybe I saw a video of them on MTV? Back then it was big effort to find this music. You went to stores that carried mostly classic rock and had a small section, but the albums were sealed. The clerks knew about the classic rock stuff, but didn’t know much about the new modern rock. Do ou had to stare at the albums and take chances. I remember looking at this import album of Spandel ballet (sp) and thinking who are these guys?! Who would’ve thought they would be huge. Also, bc I had a soul and funk background, I would get hell for liking and buying this music. Folks were clueless until this music hit mainstream around 1987. God bless the folks that are assure of themselves at an early age and go after what they like and not just follow everyone.
So Brilliant! How many times have I listened to this song? Hundreds. How much do I relate to this song? A Lot! Timeless. Genius. One of the greatest pieces of lyric, voice, depth, mood, sound, aesthetics and delivery... one of my favourite songs ever!
I was 12 and had posters of Japan on my walls this was the most creative song I’d ever heard.Apart from one sentence in a song that still lives with me today Stop dreaming of a quiet life it’s one you’ll never know both men are geniuses
I regarded Japan as the most Avant Garde of the 1980s musicians. It brought back the Best of the 1980s: a bad time in my life but consoled by the fact that the music from the UK was at it's peak as regards creativity.
adore this song, so atmospheric, play it while lying in the pitch black. When it came out I bought it, my brother used to do an ace impression of David Sylvian!
passion r.i.p mick and thank you and david for all the emotions when i was young i lived this band woooooooooow i was so different then but all my ghosts have court up with me it makes sence now xxx
