Japan were the real deal. They had everything - the songs, the sounds, the arrangements, the musicianship, and style that launched dozens of imitators. Sadly, the imitators had more success than Japan, but that’s probably because these songs made a few more listening demands than Duran or Spandau. There is jazz here, there is prog, there is funk and ambient electronica, there is dance, there is Roxy, Bowie, Eno, and Fripp, all in a beautifully wrapped aural presentation box that still sounds gorgeous and fresh some forty years on. Truly unique. Everything from Quiet Life to Tin Drum is worth your time - the earlier glam recordings are almost from a different band (almost, but not entirely unconnected). But don’t miss out on what the band members did after Japan folded. There are numerous collaborations. There is the Japan-that-was-not in Rain Tree Crow. There’s David Sylvian’s solo career, which scales some extraordinary musical heights. There’s Mick Karn’s rubbery fretless bass playing - solo and with others, including with Bauhaus’ Pete Murphy for the short-lived Dali’s Car. There are the Jansen/Barbieri albums. If you’re just discovering Japan or you’ve not followed the later music made by its members, you have a beautiful and stimulating journey ahead, should you choose to explore. I hope it’s clear that I love this band as much today as I did when I discovered them in 1980. They’re worth your time and attention. The coolest and most musically gifted band no one ever talks about.
Right on brother. Great piece about the coolest band of the time. I like the Mick Karn's "rubbery bass' description. Perfect. Split up too soon but I think they'd been together for about ten years by then. Anyway, top piece mate.
We were spoilt for choice in the 80's but Japan were really good. My Managers wife, who happened to be japanese, gave me and my friend some tickets to see them at Hammersmith Odeon. I think they had just released Ghosts! Great night and amazing crowd!
I was an adopted kid and I went to see Japan live in the 80s. At the same gig, but unknown to me at the time, was a brother I never knew I had. Later on in life,, when searching for my biological family, I found my brother and we had quite a time sharing memories of that show and enjoying this song. Thanks Japan for helping bond my brother and I together! ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Wow, that's an amazing story! You've reminded me of my friend who was at the legendary early 80s U2 Phoenix Park concert, whose future boyfriend turned out to also have been there.
As soon as I saw Duran Duran at the rum runner in 1981 I knew they had been influenced by Japan. One of the most underestimated bands of all time they had a massive effect on my music. Mick Karn sadly missed one of the great bass players.
bazza powers had all their albums ,, ,,,totally loved them however they were just. Bit before Duran Duran and spandau hitting the big time ,,,,Japan had small success in the beginning,.,
Yuri i saw these fantastic guys in the early 80s , ive adored them ever since ,, This guy was beautiful , his voice was to die for ,,,what utter joy xxxx Jane xx
Japan were a brilliant band of the early 80s, they were underrated, this is a great song, sounds similar to early Duran Duran, the early 80s was a great period in music history
Pretty sure they came out with this before Duran Duran did. There are a lot of similarities between this and Planet Earth & Rio. Even the looks were copied.
You like things in wee boxes 📦 categorise assimilate tedious bourgeois shit Smug supercilious bile David sylvian sounds nothing like bryan ferry its lazy and unimaginative As Mark E said Tedious Repetitive repition
In 1980 I walked into T.O.T.S. nightclub in Southend and this song was playing. I remember thinking "Who are these guys"?. I bought every record they made after that and still regularly play them today at 60 years of age. Brilliant musicians and song writers and way ahead of their time. The sadly late Mick Kahn's fretless base playing became their signature sound. Fantastic.
Its funny because the same scenario happened to me in 2021 haha. The music felt familiar but I had no idea who they were. Asked the barman if it was early Duran Duran. He laughed, insultingly I might add, but then told me who they were. Pretty much all I listend to for the next 6 months. And I'm an 80s baby too, they must have passed me by.
I first walked into the TOTS nightclub in Southend in 1986 and then got a job there a year later (and worked there until the year 2000). 😊 I would have loved to have been there just a few years earlier to hear Japan’s Quiet Life playing. Have been a huge fan of their music.
David Silvian is a genius, and Japan's music is still mysterious and exciting today. I don't know why the band fell apart at the cusp of global success - their and Duran's sound defined the 80s, its sad they're not better known.
Even though I caught this comment a year late if you still want to know why they fell apart its bc David Sylvian stole the Bassist's (Mick Karn) gf and they got into a falling out
No I can’t either but then as the great Sir Terry Pratchett once said “inside every old person is a young person wondering what the hell happened” I am that (nearly) old person 😂✌🏻✌🏻✌🏻🇬🇧
You know when you look back at the music you were listening to as a 13 year old and can't believe the some of crap you liked them? Well I can't believe what good taste I must have had being a huge fan of Japan, still love this band 40 years on.
I live in Thailand, just heard this in a bar and had to wait for three or four more visits till it came on again to ask who it was? I just couldn't remember , I thought of Japan Tin Drum but had to find 'Quiet Life'. Great song!
For me this song heralded the beginning of the 80’s and my love for the music of that decade. I was 13 and just started boarding school. Music was everything to me and many songs of the 80’s were a soundtrack to my younger years. Wouldn’t have missed it for the world.
Absolutely timeless, so glad I was in my teens growing up listening to this band. Completely iconic, no one has a voice like David Sylvian, completely beautiful and stylish man and Mick Kahn was pure genius. I never tire of listening to their music.
Just a brilliant pioneering band. This brings back so many wonderful memories. I got heavily into Japan at 16 in 1982…perfect timing as I had the ‘pretty boy’ looks, David Sylvian hair and copied his dress sense (obviously not as good as Mr Sylvian)…I worked at my local Tesco in Northfield (Birmingham) and had a ‘fan club’ with girls waiting for me outside the store when I left, screaming and shouting 😂…I made the local paper, and got threatened with written warnings if they kept coming into the store screaming! I lived off that look for about 7 years, and got lots of attention - until pretty boys had their day and the girls moved on 😂 Life goes by so quickly, you move on, and you forget. Now 40 years later at 56 - I would need a wig to replicate the Sylvian hair, am heavily overweight, and the looks went in my late 40’s, but after hearing the sad news of Ruichi Sakamotos passing, I’ve been rediscovering Japan and David Sylvian, and forgot so many songs…it’s genuinely emotional hearing them all again and thinking back to truly brilliant times with a smile. Japan were a unique and ridiculously talented group, as is David Sylvian, so I’m looking forward to listening to everything he has been recording over the years with great anticipation.
Mark Silver….I did not realise Sakamoto had passed……I loved the music to Merry Christmas Mr Lawrence. I’m sure I would have been one of the girls waiting outside shop as I too loved David Sylvian 😊
@@lafreewaylafreeway Yes very sad x 1983 was a fab time for me…probably the closet you could get to celebrity status…getting stopped literally everywhere I went lol - roll on 40 years and nobody gives me a second glance…age is a cruel thing 😬
@@carlix1112 No lol was playing too much football for that at the time - plus Northfield was terrorised by a female Michael Jackson ‘double’ called Marilyn who would have targeted me if I did - you couldn’t make it 😂
the bass line is out of this world, the synths, the singer, this is awesome my guys i just found this today, these people were ahead of their time, can't believe this came out in 1979. im going to rock this song the whole year! (im sad i didnt live this era of music, im 32 years old)
It was an amazing time to be a teenager, fantastic bands that could really sing and play instruments. Frighteningly, this song is closer in time to the beginning of WW2 than it is today.
As of September 2021, I may be only 19 years old but, courtesy of my dad mostly, I continue to dive deeper into the realm of music of the past century and further. I'm actually starting to teach my dad about music in his day he didn't even know about! Everything from this to the New Romantics/New Wave including Duran Duran, to Progressive Rock and all its subgenres including Progressive Metal and neo-prog (Richard Barbieri went on to join Porcupine Tree after Japan and Rain Tree Crow), Jazz Fusion and Classical. I wish more people my age, or at least in my age demographic, can listen to and appreciate older music. Born in 2002, I obviously wasn't around to witness the growth of these bands/artists (and consequently my heroes) in real time, but at least I have an unending stream of music to enjoy and discover for years to come. The fountain of all this music seems to replenish itself for me, and that is immensely satisfying. I really enjoy watching these videos precisely for the quality of the film (apart from the music of course). Right at the beginning at 0:02 when Barbieri is playing the opening theme, there's a flicker in the image that is so representative of that era, and I think it really adds to the aesthetic of the day. It's possible for me to be transported back in time and forget about the things that trouble me today through the time machine that is music and video. I pay homage and respect to this music by performing originals in my own band Lucidae. This music, and its beloved aesthetics, will never die. ❤
Quick Silver Messenger Service, Hot Tuna, Canned Heat, Hawkwind (1970s version), MC5, Death, Return to Forever, Weather Report, Parliament-Funkadelic, Mothers of Invention, Mahavishnu Orchestra, Cream, Yardbirds, ... you have lots of music to go.
@@The-Contractor Thanks for the suggestions! Only two I'm familiar with from that list are Weather Report and Return to Forever. Will keep these in mind!
@@The-Contractor ...and let's not forget Spear of Destiny, Echo & the Bunnymen, The Waterboys, The Teardrop Explodes, Erasure, Yazoo/Alison Moyet (what a voice), Orange Juice, The Beat, Scritti Politti, Sparks, The The, and oh so many more...
Still such a gorgeous song and production sound. What I wouldn't give to disappear forever back into the time of my life when this song came out. Ah well..."The ghosts of my life"
If I could live in a San Junipero-esque 'year' after my death, I don't think I'd ever get sick of 1981......I was only 11 then and never realised that the wave of great, great music wouldn't last for ever.
Never was that fond of New Wave, until I started listening to Japan. Under recognized colossal talent perhaps. The success of Porcupine Tree might be bringing a few more ears to Japan and JBK music.
My fav band of all the 80s. A woman in her mid-teens who dressed in men's suits, shoes and ties, and had hair like David Sylvian. They remain totally unique today.
How can a band so young sound like the mid 70,s and early 80,s inspire a new generation of artists called new romantics then simply vanish boggles the mind. Japan were simply brilliant.
I was 15 when I first heard Japan. It was so different from the mainstream stuff that it defined my taste in music. My interest in music has gotten wider because it includes opera and modern composers as well.
This song is something so extra special. I have listened to it countless of times and still it makes my endorphins go crazy. Some times everything just match and leaves a gem for later generations.
I just love this song. I decided to check out some of Japan’s music after seeing them recommended. I have listened to this song countless times over the last few days. I may have heard it on the radio as a very little kid but I’m not sure. I’m so glad I found this song and other gems by Japan.
this may just be my favorite video on youtube. the hazy, dreamlike filter, the sudden changes of camera angles. the band members faces are robotic and emotionless but you can still tell they're enjoying what they're doing. the vocalists' little smile as he slightly dances to the song. love it all!
I was the only person at school who loved them. Then I met a guy at a club who liked them too and we were both blown away that someone else appreciated their music.
Wonderful, brings back happy memories. I was in the audience at the Apollo then , At the time I was a Physics Student at Manchester University ,big Japan fan.
I am a definite Mick Karn fan, but I love the almost twang Sylvian gets in his voice here when he sings "boys" in this song and the "swing" in the self-titled song. Brilliant! Also, I became a fan of Japan in 83 or so when Duran Duran's Simon and Nick were on MTV as guest DJs and played Visions of China, which hooked me immediately. I can hear in this song the influence on DD from their first album. Considering Nick Rhodes played Japan as a DJ at Rum Runners and was open about their influence, it's no surprise. Yes DD benefited, but they were also open about Japan's influence. Thankfully so, as I wouldn't have been exposed to Japan without them in the US when I was a pre-teen. I'm now in my early 50s and falling down the Japan rabbit hole again. With bonus other projects. Bestial Clusters should be delivered to me now in Italy in the next few days.
Had he found a vocal style of his own instead of ripping off Bryan Ferry’s vocal style and his dress sense, he might not have been and I’m saying that as a fan of Japan. I bought both their first two albums when they came out, and still have them ✌🏻✌🏻✌🏻🇬🇧
I was 12 when this was released I loved it so much I couldn’t wait to go to the record shop to buy it. I never ever get sick of hearing it. It’s a classic track, it’s timeless and it has so many great memories attached to it for me.
I saw Japan 1981 UEA Norwich, supported by Modern English; we all thought they would use tapes/loops but we were wrong - they were accomplished musicians as well as having the visual appeal and cult status. This was the period where Rob Dean was still in the band but there had already been a statement he was to leave at the end of the Art of Parties tour. I think Japan did their best work at Arista and Obscure Alternatives is still a solid album along with Quiet Life. Good to see this post, brought back happy memories. Thanks
