There aren't many bands where each member makes a truly unique contribution: Karn's mesmeric fretless bass (how did he do it?), Jansen's idiosyncratic drumming (the polar opposite of four on the floor), Barbieri's synth programming (creating unique, organic sounds from early 80s synths) all wrapped inside Sylvian's songwriting (that manages to be incredibly catchy-with a killer chorus - while sounding like no other pop song you've ever heard). Japan. What a band.
It’s also incredible how smooth their switch was from the more raunchy and glam-rock-y sound of their early stuff to the mature and well-polished music of their 80’s records….both respective eras of which I greatly appreciate
In this particular scenario, "Oil on Canvas", we cannot NOT mention Masami Tsuchiya. I don't have any words that are worthy enough to describe his contribution to this already incredible band and its very pinnacle. If I had a time machine, these concerts would be one of my top choices!
Totally unique. And what about the technique with the “flat hand...” And the amazing image and floating across the stage. Amazing performer and artist.😌✨🙏🎶☮️
@@davidjonesdrummer It's so good to see all of the love here for Mick. I mean; the whole group are brilliant, but it's Mick Karn and his whole - thing; style, sound, aesthetics - which make me really love Japan!
Don't worry! I've been in awe of Japan, since the beginning and I always will be. Nothing and no one else sounds like them, completely unique and absolutely timeless. Welcome aboard!
What a piece of art was Japan's album Tin Drum and still today tracks sounds innovative and fresh. Mick Karn's bass shine thru all the record (L.P. on those days)
One of the greatest bands, ever. Full stop. Don't agree that they're underrated, underplayed but not underrated. Unique musicians and Masters of their craft.
Apparently Paul Mcartney was recording Pipes of Peace in the next studio to Japan when they made Tin Drum. He was amazed at the sounds they were creating.
Tin Drum is a masterpiece all right....although Sylvian's lyrics are actually the weakest thing about the record. Which is ironic because he is credited as sole writer on nearly all the tracks. I don't think anyone today listens to Japan's music to hear the lyrics but the originality of the drumming, bass playing and unique synth sounds will stand the test of time.
@@markkeogh7235 I don’t think that the lyrics are so weak, it goes well with the abstract musical component, you need a balance, because the music is very saturated and unpredictable, and if the text was too intricate it could load, that's what makes japan easy to listen, it works here
@@markkeogh7235 The lyrics are weak? I've never thought of that. I certainly never felt that. The lyrics to Cantonese Boy, about young men joining Mao's troops, were pretty unique. The Chinese lyrical themes and titles really add to the sound of the album. In fact, the more I think about it, the concept is a stroke of genius. I can't think of any other overriding theme that would've been better. It's conceptually brilliant...and in practice, too.
Live it made you "Go Cold".... He was a Pioneer with his imo never 100% ever Emulated properly, and more importantly, Naturally, and not making it like "Brain Surgery",,,, RIP MK,,, Great playing man
@Kreuhn Kohrman Yes, the drums are live. Steve is playing along to a click track through his headphones. Ironically, almost the only thing that wasn't overdubbed or tampered with on the "Oil on Canvas" "live" album were the drums. Japan did use backing tapes to recreate the sound of the recordings, e.g. Mick's sax parts on this tour, where on previous tours (in 1980) they had hired Jane Shorter to play sax.
Saw Japan twice in the early 80s at Liverpool Empire, they were great. Life in Tokyo used to get everyone up dancing, Iused to love Steve Jansens unguessable drum rythms
Saw them at Brum Odeon early 80s - still a vivid memory - studio perfect sound but their in-band rifts were palpable - but they felt and still feel unique and they remain my all time favourite band - sustainable peerlessness !
I was there, in 1982. Hammersmith Odeon, knowing they would split up pretty soon after this. Musically its all superb. But I feltthe troubles they had personally. There was hardly any personal contact on stage. ts a pity David Sylvian didnt like to do gigs more.
Sometimes the comfort of a room Sometimes I'm quite alone I pack to leave a foreign town It seems I'll never know But I'll rent new accommodation We'll make plans for mobile homes Slow boats moving with the tide Drifting far from shore It's the nature of this country life I've never known before Still we'll make plans for buildings and houses From mobile homes Plant life My life Still life in mobile homes Plant life My life Still life in mobile homes The sound of wildlife fills the air So warm and dry The bushland burns in this southern heat Like an open fire Still we'll make plans for buildings and houses From mobile homes... mobile homes Plant life My life Still life in mobile homes Blood life My life Still life in mobile homes A voice screams from heaven As we start to sail It's the calling of the fatherland I used to know so well 'Til I'll find new accommodation We'll make plans for mobile homes Plant life My life Still life in mobile homes Plant life My life Still life in mobile homes
This band had many great songs, this one is their masterpiece. Drum,bass and intriquite lyrics combined with erratic melodies- epic! I have been playing this song for 37 years !!!
I wish they could of carried on for another couple of albums. I struggle with the fact that that this is over 40 years ago and Im now pushing 60!! Time really does fly, but this music will always be timeless😍
These guys were pretty unique for their time. I guess bands like Depeche Mode, Orchestral Maneuvers, and Duran Duran are comparable- but Syvlian's voice, the Asian themes, and the musicianship really set them apart. Its a shame they never were more influential, I love their sound
They were more art than pop. Early omd were somewhat artsy but ultimately pop music that was radio friendly. I can't think of 1 japan song that was going to get on u.s. radio. Love japan and the fretless bass lines.
It's a pity the camera-man didn't show the rest of the band here, Mick Karn is making amazing moves as always and only Sylvian is visible . I know he is beautiful and sexy as hell, but there are clearly other musicians doing more at the stage.
Apparently when they were filming the concert they didn't get any shots of Barbieri at all (too dark maybe?) so had to shoot scenes with him afterwards that were inserted into the oil on canvas footage.
I saw them 4 times on this tour alone. I agree with what you are saying but this was filmed for a VHS video release ( yes, we are that old ) and cameras were fixed. I bought that VHS cassette. I think my sister permanently borrowed it ;) For me, the Manchester Apollo concert was a better experience than this one. Much smaller venue, sound was unbelievable. I miss Mick very much.
C'e' qualcosa di spirituale in questa musica ,anche il modo in cui suonano e stanno sul palco ha qualcosa di autenticamente "religioso" . I visi composti, l'eleganza dei movimenti,le pose ispirate.. Uno spettacolo da sentire e da vedere ❤️ Li ho riscoperti nel 2023 ,il mio gruppo preferito in questo momento 😍
You gotta love Japan,the name the look and their whole outlook. who the heck quits at the height of a movement breaks up and then go full force into a non rock biz outlook? truly one of the few artists who put their art first with no need for the trappings of rock stars. off the treadmill and into immortal cult status. their peers and idols were stuck not they. then perversely reunite as Rain Tree Crow! Fripp David Byrne Eno Zappa Pete Gabriel and Patti Smith dabbled into this artist driven bent but not to the extent of Sylvian Karn and co.
I saw them on their final tour where they were support by Suzi and the sunsets. Amazing night. I have seen David several times since and he is still wonderful to listen to.
I've seen Japan live twice including the British leg of their Oil on canvas tour which I think all of this video is taken from and it's only in the last few seconds that I think that's when I saw David Sylvian crouching on a boat,a mobile home!
Thank you for uploading this concert, yours is the best quality I've found of these videos. Their live recordings are phenomenal, I'm blown away both by the band and their sound engineer for this concert. So good.
This entire recording was studio based with only the drums recorded live. Not sure why it was re-recorded as I've heard live tapes and they play and sound excellent.
I found out Japan thanks to Metal Gear and fell in love with them thanks to Mick Karn. This song gives me life when I feel sad or depressed❤️ Mick was a beautiful man
Genius always comes to mind whenever I hear Japan … the whole concept ,,, amazing musicians great vocals ,,, always new things I hear in the background every time I play them ,,,, top ten greatest innovative band ever !! G
Fair play to you for uploading all this music Ethan. Japan were one of my favourite bands. I love they way they interact with scenes from China during the live concert.
Been a huge fan since the 80's but never got a chance to get familiar with RTC till very recently. I've started to binge again and am amazed how fresh their music still is. Secrets of the Beehive is one of my all time favourites from DS but it could have easily been released today. Hard to believe its 25 years old.
To be fair, it doesn't sound very Japanese. As someone who has been learning Japanese for 2 years, it definitely sounds more Chinese than Japanese at least in how it sounds.
It IS extraordinar, isn't it. That little vocal is one of my favorite things about this song, so I've listened to that bit over and over. After all that dissection I came away thinking that it was A) *based* on a Nagauta (as Ice Man points out) -- it really is that musical structure; but B) that it was a purely synthesised 'vocal' that Barbieri had experimentally come up with by combining Nagauta phonetic and sung samples purely as MIDI samples on a keyboard - that the phonemes could come at different pitches if he simply played the solo differently, and that the phonemes may or may not actually form real Japanese words or sentences - purely music Fully admit I may be totally wrong about this, but it's just what I had come up with years ago, because I agree it doesn't really sound 'like' a real vocal. I wonder if that's the source of the mysteriousness about where it's from and why it's so tantalizingly 'like this language but not really and like that language but not really that either'. Maybe somebody out there will have some actual knowledge of the recording session and can fill us in. We all agree that it's unique and we love it, though!
I just wish that Japan just released live footage of performances, instead of the mix of concert footage and the terrible boring footage of boats or whatever...I saw Japan live, they don't need montages and library film to enhance the perfect art that is Japan live!
I take it back, this is my favorite song off the album now. LoL. This performance is better than the album version, though. 😌As a matter fact, all the songs off the Tin Drum album, sound better on the Oil On Canvas live album.
I truly miss Mick, losing my father through cancer februari 2010 clearly wasn't enough..I had to lose one of my base idols as well to really get the mortality of mankind...
