Japan - Gentlemen Take Polaroids

[dogsbalearics]

we all come and go, and always will. its what you do in the time between, if your soul is happy then you are complete.

[dogsbalearics]

and the list goes on, well its life so what, we are all influential aren't we, thats life. whats wrong with that???. nothing. ENJOY.

[f1dcfan]

the best fretless bass player in the world ever Mick Karn RIP!

[sven54629]

bewdiful...

[gogolplex74]

This band has extremely bad name because it's hard to find

[not3bad13]

Mick Karn, my favourite bass player, RIP.

[mfactor88]

Mick Karn RIP Jan 4th 2011, music will never be the same :( m50

[lemsta007]

there will never be musical times like we had these days , and I am so glad I was part of it ...

[brianab31]

Oh, dear moodyb, please tell me where to find the complete version. (Such a perfect song. I'd love to see it in its entirety.)

[alexandre74456]

Sylvian has the same class as John Barrymore,Errol Flynn and Tyrone Power,namely a gent or aristocrat with unsurpassed talent. Sad to say that S le Bon has too much navvy come beer swilling bog trotter in him.I suppose in the long run le Bon will be regarded as a humble footman in Davids Baronial estate.

[mywienersred]

Duran Duran is couldn't lick Sylvians shitcaked boots

[MickHaines]

@mywienersred

Agreed, but then David Sylvian always keeps his boots impeccably clean anyway.

[dessertmoonface]

I wish that girl about town was me!

[hencodable]

DoubleMan Nick Rhodes By Duran Duran.

[mcfcchris63]

i still luv japan

[mcfcchris63]

am 48 n i still luv japan

[MartPBrown]

Just brilliant. Takes me to a great place

[thegerrie19561]

Who said this album is not good?

[TheSluddsy1]

Fab,iv`e always loved this group,so thankful i saw them live in 1982

[Clinchyesk]

Sory to join in this discusion but Sylvian is on his own .Listen to Television

[lemsta007]

Legends 

[jrmetmoi]

@fazeunclegersh I thought that David Bowie was the only person that Nick Rhodes stole a 'look' off of, but nope he also copied David Sylvian. No hate. Just calling it as I see it, LOL.

[DuranFan09]

@jrmetmoi Or you could just say that David Sylvian copied David Bowie's look (the same "look" used by Nick Rhodes). Again, not hating. Love Bowie, Japan and Duran all the same.

[paintedship]

@DuranFan09 these discussions about who copied who are so tired and played out

[jrmetmoi]

@paintedship Nope!

[paintedship]

@jrmetmoi sure is, every Japan video I look under are stupid discussions like this

[jrmetmoi]

@paintedship Hey a lil comparison every now and then ain't never hurt nobody! LOL And Nick Rhodes had his DNA spliced with David Sylvian's obviously! LOL

[jrmetmoi]

@DuranFan09 true.

[jrmetmoi]

They are SO a pre-Duran Duran and I suppose a better quality post-New York Dolls

[jrmetmoi]

@fazeunclegersh LOL  :)

[jrmetmoi]

@fazeunclegersh The drummer looks good too. Time machine please! Wormhole please! Quantum Leap please!

[jrmetmoi]

@fazeunclegersh LOL :)

[jrmetmoi]

Mick looked hot in this vid, David had some competition there for a hot minute!

[headofapollo]

what happened to mick???

[jrmetmoi]

@headofapollo he died on January 4th of cancer

[hawdivman1]

Ok ,, ehm just stated the obvious !!!

[alvie666]

RIP Mick!

[lucyndskywdmnds]

RIP Mick Karn, your bass playing was out of this world. 

[aza89]

hey Mick RIP You signed my LP in 1981

[Deliaboard]

Rip Mick.

[ApREDentertainment]

Rest in Peace Mick. You were loved, appreciated, and never forgotten. Duran Duran , Peter Murphy and so many bands were influenced by your genius and inventive playing. You were not just in an artsy band. You were a true artist. Rest in Peace.

[hamjamnspamalot]

Copying Steve Jansen licks on the drums made me wish I could have worked with Mick Karn.....sadly it will never happen.

RIP, God Bless, all us Japan fans will miss you mate.

[jodi183]

RIP Mick. You were the coolest most talented bassist/multi instrumentalist of all. I never would have played bass if it weren't for you.

[sabbs]

So Sad! R.I.P Mick ;(

[sabbs]

So Sad! ;(

[ShortestFuse]

r.i.p mick, you were the reason I picked up a bass aged 15

[myfairyking1]

RIP Mick. Miss you. My thoughts go out to his family.

[YCSMusic]

R.I.P Mick, thanks for the music!

[blackmore4]

Somehow... all those 'drummer' jokes don't work with this band.

[mfactor88]

mickkarn.net

help him out guys :)

[MrLadysman1969]

Great tune................

[shinysynthcity]

i'd like to slip away with YOU

ooft

he is g o r g e o u s !!

[adripenelope]

@shinysynthcity me too I couldn't agree more! He's drop dead gorgeous! He still is...

[iheartsupernatural]

this band reminds me of my childhood! I miss japan!!! :D

[alexandre74456]

@iheartsupernatural This song is an ode to Miss Garbo

[fabriziopiludu]

nice teeth!!!

[bppdp714]

I've never seen such a beautiful man...? This is my sweet when I was a Hischool student.

[farswept]

Effing rude cut-off on this vid. Anyway, if Throbbing Gristle could reunite, why not them? AND I just found out Mick Karn has cancer. Damn.

[HUMANOIDECIBERNETICO]

i LOVE THIS TRACK !!

[kernowdel]

Pure Class. Thanks for posting.

[thetiktokman]

such superb sublime music that still holds its own today, like Gary Numan and John Foxx, totally unique...

[yontron]

Steve Jansen, Jaki leibeziet (Can) and Paul Thompson (Roxy) were the drummers that influenced my playing in the bands Hula and Cabaret Voltaire during those incredible days...and beyond...Hypnotic grooves and thoughtful beats that tied the songs structures together and made for great pictures...I love music like this...Its in my veins too...

[ciak1]

IS THAT WHERE NICK RHODES AND DURAN DURAN GOT THEIR INSPIRATION.

BECAUSE I'M SURE NICK'S STYLE LOOKS ESSENTIALLY THE SAME WITH DAVID SYLVIAN

[LeBonGirl007]

@ciak1 both David and Nick got they're style off David Bowie and Andy Warhol!!!!

[LeBonGirl007]

and Bryan Ferry of Roxy Music...naughty me for leaving him out! ;0}

[koalacatcher]

@LeBonGirl007 but David came before Nick

[DuranFan09]

@LeBonGirl007 Exactly. Bowie, Roxy Music and The New York Dolls influenced Japan. Japan and Roxy Music influenced Duran Duran. Duran Duran have influenced Blur, Franz Ferdinand and so many other modern acts. Blur themselves have probably influenced other acts as well. Everything goes in a circle...

[paintedship]

@DuranFan09 for the love of god could we end the roxy music and duran duran comparisons, it's all so old and tired.

[Jagged85]

@DuranFan09

Actually, I'd say the biggest influence on Japan's musical style were probably the Japanese synth-pop band Yellow Magic Orchestra (YMO), which Japan had a very close relationship, often with members from both bands frequently collaborating with each other.

[koalacatcher]

@ciak1 yes most definitely- he even says so on the cover of the single electric barbarella

[MikeyTTTT]

I loved (and still love this track) from the minute I first heard it. It was the early 80's, and men wore make-up and had bleached blond hair. As dark as my hair naturally is, I did get it this blond and bouffant - I thought I looked marvellous. My mum thought I looked "tarty".

I had a series of dinner jackets and trousers I wore everywhere - including to work. I must have looked a sight. LOL

[Sannaatje]

@MikeyTTTT I coaxed my boyfriend at the time to buy a secondhand dinner jacket - then wore it myself to school all the time, with a pencil skirt, fishnet stockings and high heels. I was 16 at the time and felt soooo sophisticated LOL.

[Tyrelcorp166]

I true great for the 80's and beyond.

This song is like a good dream,or repetitive tune. This stays with you!!!!!!!

I grew up with this track...and it is still cool.

Andy

[massimobastita]

@Tyrelcorp166 incredibile come io ascolti ora questa canzone e pensi le stesse cose tue

[depeon1]

I haven't heard this in a long time, i forgot how good it is. Excellent band. Get well Mick

[MrCKinsley]

Nobody makes any comment about how fucking GREAT their drummer is!

[MrsRhythmNation]

People may say that David passed up the opportunity to produce Duran Duran, sure he did. But did he ever work with anyone else of that commerical success? No. Everyone he worked with was obscure and I think he wanted to keep it that way. He declined several others including the said Robert Fripp, so don't make something of him declining Duran Duran. The press would have gone crazy with it, besides. It would have been too much,

[paintedship]

@MrsRhythmNation At that DD were nobodies and I'm doubting anyone would of made a big deal of it. They handed him and every other band member the air studios demo tape and that was about it.

[ronbo11]

Go to mickkarn.net and see how you can help him fight his bout with cancer!

[pollytikk]

I am Russian and born 1986 and I love this!

Great band!

[TheBleech]

Japan...raw, obscure and very talenetd.

[MUSICOBLISS]

great song!

[Thulin08]

This is the ULTIMATE 80s, still so fantastic!

[derrickpearse]

cool

[khorrumg]

I remember I brought Quiet Life....the Album Cover alone fascinated me...they were an intriguing band...you never really new much about them though they were pretty big by the time they split This was another good follow up..they were an album band...at least tahts what I thought

[tecdessus]

HA,i clearly remember buying the black leather jacket to complete the look,it costed a fortune,(to me, then, it did anyway) as a matter of fact, i still have that jacket, but i think it must have shrunk,because it does`nt fit anymore,strange that!

[tecdessus]

this brings back memories of a time long gone,20 yrs old, clubbing,the ladees, ahh great times,but walking down the street looking like this was not good for your health!

[spacejohn59]

Wonderful!!!!

[Confite]

es mi canción favorita... el video es tremendo...

[SPORTINGMUSE]

Quality, oozing from each component of a remarkable band.................lyrically­ simplistic but quite beautiful in both tempo and harmony.....and the ostinato is unbelievable and hypnotic.

[dermotoblong]

@SPORTINGMUSE i'll second that emotion!! :)

[rodsgod]

these guys are still my favorite band 20 years later. there is something ethereal sensual languid........

[yharyhar8]

undefinably mellow and bittersweet...i know

[gdasnail]

@rodsgod I Agree my freind, i bought the original Oil On Canvas video for an old girlfriend, her rather snooty dad looked down his nose at it ? the music is beautiful. :) I wonder what he would make of some of the tripe thats out now!!

[MrNupit]

Richie,s feet muppit!!

he plays keyboards!!!

[shockmastershocksu]

muppit? the whole band honestly, ever notice the similarity in look with mr sylvian? That's what i'm referring to

[MrNupit]

thats wat i mean MUPPIT!!!

[shockmastershocksu]

nick rhodes should be kissing david sylvian's feet :)

[missmarypickford]

rhodes & sylvian should both be rimming bowie/ferry. period.

[dizzymisslizzylane]

What's the problem you all have with me here? You guys are all inspired by David in some way, how is it that Nick Rhodes can't get away with that? I find it so hypocritical. For the record, I find Japan to be musically superior to DD, though having said that, DD definitely don't get the credit they deserve as an adult's intelligent musical conglomerate and instead get palmed off with the likes of Wham and Culture Club.

[snoopylemans]

i LOVED this song in the 80s -- used to listen to San Clemente radio All Request Weekends just to hear it -- had no idea there was a video for it -- great!

[shotalot]

Always loved the bass and percussion through their music. it was quite different from those of their ilk.

[snacksforaddicts]

Karn makes playing bass fun.

[MrDukane]

saw japan at hammersmith their last tour i think 82 was a special moment love it du kane

[MAGUS1947]

Think that was the tour when I saw them in Brum. Fantastic live band and Mick's bass playing is awesome. Happy days

[Gshamisen]

I meet David Sylvian in Japan and still have

his autograph. His and Robert Frip it was

very very cool! Still love his music!!

[bobos01]

you are awsome and luckyyyy!

[telex1000]

great synth and enjoy the music

[spillandambience]

what is the make of that guitar,someone plz tellme

[totomorris]

Timeless classic loved i then love it now

[RSLICKER]

this group was the coolest of all 80s groups

[rhythmcorp]

Polaroids (out of production now) take Gentlemen, but watch out; View;

------ Inspiration Wakker ------

Thanx

Sianara

[wilzyk]

awesome melody. 80s were the best decade for music . Opines me.

[joheyv]

still looking for chris y. johey

[Eddiedahomeless]

This is one of those songs you play late at night on a dark lonely road and it seems to have a magical quality about it. Especially the haunting sound of the clarinet on the bridge between the chorus and verses.

[MartianForest]

Too much bleating here about how sexy David Sylvian is. His make-up, his fashion. Whatever. Just sit back and enjoy the music. After all, isn't that what it's all about?

[sheyda212]

this is my favorite japan song ,sounds incredible and they look sooo stunning

the best era in the music

[ziggystardust360]

Why on Earth did they break up so soon? That always blows my mind!

[jonomurphy3]

Disputes amongst the members (namely, Sylvian and Karn :()

[treforpoly]

What can I say?

[ravinella]

stupid f**kin comments like these posted here resgined the great man to a life of hermitude.

A one off, mould breaking band - get over it and stop making excuses for yourself. Japan were, accoiding to the w**l laden music press of the time were Roxy Music rip -offs - yeah, right.

[indiareed]

I don't think people commenting on David, his music, his looks or whatever else had anything to do with David choosing to lead a more solitary life. I think it's way more personal than that. I don't think David gives a fuck either way what anyone says about him, good or bad. He's very well aware of his talents and his faults, nothing we could ever say would persuade him to be anything other than what he already is.

[waheex]

awesome vocalist. I cannotrate hime more highly. There asre so many good singers

(Liz Fraser, Annie Lennox, Numan, Green Gartside) but David has someting uper special

[indiareed]

David Sylvian is a man who has it all..incredibly talented, very beautiful (still...even though he no longer looks like this, he's still very good looking) with a sense of style and grace.

[2009ginasweetie]

One of the best !

[mattmayte5]

how can a man be that beautiful?

[bemyart90]

I don't really know if he's beautiful or not...

My sister said he's short, he's got flawed skin, his make-up is horrid and I admit she was right but I can't help thinking he's the most beautiful thing ever. Weird...

[paintedship]

you do realize this video is nearly 30 years old now? David has aged quite a bit since then and as for the makeup, it was apart of their whole look.

[dizzymisslizzylane]

@bemyart90 I definitely don't think his make-up is horrid. It's actually very subtle compared to others of the day.

If he's got flawed skin, that just makes him more human and makes me like him more.

Pity he's short though :P

[skaudi]

Lol.... David was WAY before Duran Duran...!

[tecnoborg75]

he looks like nick rhodes from "duran duran" who copy who?

[fiendwithoutaface66]

nick rhodes copied his look

[dizzymisslizzylane]

@fiendwithoutaface66 No they were both influenced by Bowie, so what? Neither Sylvian or Rhodes copied anyone.

[battlekat23]

@dizzymisslizzylane

"Band founder Nick Rhodes:

-... drawing from the musical, visual and lyrical stylistic elements of Bowie, Ferry, Sylvian and Eno..."

right on the sleeve of electric barbarella

at least he acknowledges it at times. Quiet Life-Gentlemen had the most influence on them.

[boardy777777]

think you was a fantastic bass player nick

[SirHorryPatter]

I used to look like him when I was 18. But many girls preferred tough looking men in the town I grew up in. 5 Stars!!! Love the music.

[bemyart90]

I hate tough looking man. I love delicate gentlemen. Girls today have no taste.

[loiraso]

Have y'all walked your pink poodles? Well, you should! I've already walked mine.

[bobtherelevator]

just glad i can hear richard barbieri`s excellent playing within porcupine trees fine music these days.

[Requested333]

This is one of my ultimate favorites by Japan.

[toddydec]

Love it !!!!!!

[topchefycool]

i did live the 5 nights at hammersmith it was the best moments of my life..... november cold but something has left me colder, i miss them together again..........ronnieboy007(fa­cebook)

[AORCrazy]

I was brought up to this music, it's in my veins, it's not music, it's a way of thinking and a way of life and i'm proud to be like that inspite these ugly times!

[GroovySistah]

@AORCrazy Its ugliness is a form of beauty. Truly unique. I`m with you on whatever you said. Great comment.

[MrsRhythmNation]

@GroovySistah I think you missed the point on their comment. They were referring to how dull these times are in contrast to the culturally flourished times of the golden eras.

[littlegypsy71]

this song reminds me of wagging school with my best friend we'd hide out at her house every so often and o.d on japan/bowie/ joy division/roxy music/the damned /duran duran etc before heading off with our sarnies to sit outside the duran duran fan club for the afternoon! lol such fun days!

[sid1662]

So brilliantly evocative looks like you have the start of a story there!

This reminds me of wearing rain coats to night clubs when it wasn't raining...

[littlegypsy71]

strangely enough me too! though i wasnt quite old enough for the night clubs! actually ...it was maxi coats rater than rain coats but i can dream lol!

[nuwavegurl]

Sounds like a ton o' fun. Wish I was there too. ;D

[psychodamned]

Sounds like great fun...cool !!

[XyMuscle]

If you speed this song up as well as Quiet Life, you'll hear Duran Duran's Rio.

[therealsoulproduct]

What would Nick Rhodes do without this band? Haha!

"Gentlemen Take Polaroids"! They were so narcissitic! LOL!

[GreyBang]

This band is very interesting in terms of how quickly yet effectively their music changed from Glam Rock to New Wave/New Romantic/Prog-Rock. Their clothing style even changed as well. The most interesting thing though, which not to downplay the others, would be David.  He became though an original in his own right, a cross between David Bowie and Bryan Ferry, having Bowie's look and clothing style, while singing in the crooning style that Ferry is a master of.

[crazyinjun022207]

I agree with all that!

[mouseheed]

Ok..but I lived through it and I cannot stand people relating his voice to either Bowie and especially Brian Ferry. Don't get me wrong Bowie is one on his own but so is Dave...bin the Ferry!!

[tabbytote]

coolio

[osetrik1]

I think that Japan with David being a frontman made a fashion trends both in music and fashion style at the end of 70's/ at the turn of the 80's. David's style was flawless !!! I love him.

[oogie11]

i do agree with you...yeah, very sharp sense of style he has...style and substance japan has, which is great...very unique band japan were...bands of today are poor by comparison..

[ardalcravan]

Just beautiful. I saw Japan live many times and always felt this was their greatest tune. Brilliant songwriting in the vein of Duncan Browne and Metro, I love it!!!

[thethoughtcriminals]

One of the top 5 acts of new wave and early 80s IMHO...

[chantrynutjob]

Andy Carol pretending to play fretless bass in a dodgy pub in Ipswich....mmmm

[futtermeinego]

GENTLEMANNNNN TAKE POLAROOOOIDS

[crazyfoolo117]

japan, ultravox, pet shop boys, pink floyd and jean micheal jarr for the win lol!

[carmway]

song is so cool i have never seen the video

thanks for posting

[futtermeinego]

Gentleman.

[DarcyAndWolfgang]

I sooooooooo love David!

[roblynne88]

thanks for posting this.I loved Japan in the 80's.David is very beautiful

[saladcat]

this song is so perfect

and David Sylvian is bloody GORGEOUS

[asdffd]

Is this song about Andy Warhol?

[howlsfish]

love this song