Mick Karn was a genius. He was an oboist, bassist, unique and gone too soon from this world. I was in love with David Sylvian . Japan, one of my favourite bands.
Japan could have been so much bigger, but they had chosen to stick their art instead of commercialising. David Sylvian’s voice is filling this musical masterpiece with warmth. One of the most important songs to me.
Well...partially. Once David started to see fame, big fame, in his home country...he no longer wanted to be famous...nor part of a band. He cut a deal with his management to stick it out through two more tours...ostensibly to pay off the bands debts to the management and to put a little "good-bye" money in the pockets of his soon to be former band members. Japan and David started as a very young set of musicians influenced by early and mid 70's radio everything...soul, mowtown, Bowie...like all UK kids at the time, and Bryan Ferry, Roxy Music and Eno...and krautrock etc. They wore their influences on their sleeves. Their convention, as a band, was that David got songwriting credit/royalties for most of the songs - even though he mostly entered the studio with sketches that become fully realized, expanded and arranged gems from the LP Quiet Life onward. Anyway, Japan was also very much, even with David's lead, the sum of it's parts. They started very young, and so they were very young, still, when they ended as a band. Sadly, as a band, they never got rich. David, of course, did the best economically, which continued after he "broke up the band." -Perhaps David took Bowie's lyrics too literally... It saddens me to realize that Mick, Steve, Rob, Richard...have all had very meager economic lives...mostly struggling...as far as I can see. David, had it somewhat better, but by no means has he been a wealthy "set for life" rock star. Musically, artistically, they were, and remain, an amazing, stunning story. Copycats that eventually out did their inspirations. I can't think of many like it. Any, actually. Sure people like Radiohead did great commercially...Daftpunk, others...but they never hit me as achieving the kind of artistic accomplishments these "cats from Japan" did. In the end, just like many of the songs, it's a glorious...sad...bittersweet story sometime... Relax and swing...
This song, David’s voice, they touch something inside me that l didn’t realise was empty. It’s like loving someone from another lifetime. More than moving or haunting. It makes my bones ache for something and someone intangible and unknown.
My dad always told me how good this song was..I never listened,but when he passed in late 2022 and I stumbled across this masterpiece I know where he was coming from...thanks dad.
I have the albums, Oil On Canvas, and Gentlemen Take Polaroids. It's on one of those, but I'm pulling those out of my memory of like 40 years ago, so don't hold me to it, lol.@@karlfield1374
Love japan and their music was a teen then my sister adored david sylvian i remember one cold november night in 1982 cos back then in yorkshire winters were harsh stood in town waiting for my dad to pick me up on his way home from work we drove home this song came on the radio i said i really like this dad he said i do as well he'd never heard it before or even knew what the band was called he did not ask i know what he would say its a country that! my dad went way before his time so a quality moment for me in better simpler times i would go back tomorrow.
@A Gill thank you touches me you took time to read my comment it's true when they say songs remind people of a time situation or person and this was just one of those moments having said that japan are way under rated as a band so me and you are on the same planet cool.
@A Gill great comment thank you i don't tire of their music whether it be their earlier work on hansa or later on virgin i own the vinyl still along with many bands display them on shelving in my living room japan had great photography and artwork on their sleeves my main teen time was 78 to 83 so a great time for music then.
This song pops into my head almost daily after deep diving into Japan this year after being a fan for decades. I lost my husband recently, who was a Porcupine Trees fan in his last year. He was also a Bologna FC fan (his home team), and their colors are red and blue like this video. This song has a beautiful bittersweet feel, both musically/lyrically, but also personally.
This was always my fave song by them. I remember playing it for my father back in the 80s and he said it was 'boring' -- I was incredulous! This song is AMAZING!
The music I first fell in love with when I was a freshman in high school was "Japan." At the time, it seemed insignificant and did not fit into any genre, but David's deep voice and too beautiful looks and Mick's rippling studless bass laid the foundation for my appreciation of music. I shudder to think what a blessing it was. Still, after many years of living away from music, I was surprised to learn of MICK's death one day through word of mouth.
Did not realise how lucky I was at the time to see them live in 1982 at the Hammersmith Odeon in London...their farewell concert...sublime show..and this live was enchanting, and a bit scary in its emotive power.
i am japan and sylvian listener from the start..i have a feeling that there is Ruichi Sakamoto as well somewhere in this track..the voice though is not human..its the voice of an "angel" singing through David..i strongly suggest Gone To Earth and Secrets Of The Beehive as two of the best works ever recorded on this planet..
I used to find this song beautiful, but I didn't connect with it before watching the movie. After watching, it's taken an enormous meaning I could have never perceived before. It's perfection.
Oh man. This was the video that started my great love affair with Mr Sylvian, & all things 'proper music', I still have the copy cat big round reading glasses
I watched the film this song was inspired by today…. My advice, DON’T if you are even mildly depressed. It’s themes are…. DARK. This song is a beautiful masterpiece though… I’m glad something so dark could give rise to such beauty. It’s cleansing in a way.
