Paul Morley, what a fool, clearly has no idea about music if he thinks the first three Japan albums were crap, every Japan album was superb and had it's own unique theme/style.
Davy Sylvian tried to sound like Bryan Ferry and of course based his style on Mr Ferry with a dash of Andy Warhol. He is rumored to have been fingerd by Bryan Ferry and Andy Warhol in an orgy that took place in the back of taxi - the driver was Turkish but he did say,in support of this bizarre anecdote, that he had a Skoda Ocatvia estate at the time and this even certainly had enough leg room for davy boy to get beeftered with hunky Bryan Ferry while Andy Warhol tugged his wee pecker...
The wonder of You Tube! Really interesting documentary and I would like to see more. Fascinating to see the trio some 18 years later! In my opinion Gents take Polaroids is the best album.
the stupid fool probably didn't even listen to the albums and isn't aware that quiet life sounds vastly different to their first two albums. They always get the biggest tools who know jack shit on these music shows.
He's an NME journalist -- enough said. He doesn't have a clue. These journalists thought they were more important than the bands of the time and believed they could make or break bands merely by what they wrote about them. These journalists were morons. All ego and nothing else.
@CRAPCANNONS@CRAPCANNONS hear hear: that remark always rankles despite its source - a man who proudly self-applied the label of "us serious NME people" ... the git) ... I've always loved the Quiet Life album and considered it Japan's "Rubber Soul" or "Revolver" side A "Quiet Life" – 4:53 "Fall in Love with Me" – 4:31 "Despair" – 5:56 "In Vogue" – 6:30 "Halloween" – 4:24 "All Tomorrow's Parties" – 5:43 "Alien" – 5:01 "The Other Side of Life" – 7:26 gonna listen to it *right now*
@CRAPCANNONS i totally agree!!! THAT IS BS and how a man in his place can say that makes me wonder if he has brain one in his head at all. To me japan were a powerhouse..they sounded WAY ahead of thier time...and they were not the only ones dressing up in makeup in 78 either..that guy needs to be slapped by a wet cold boot..im 37 years old and have been playing bass since 1985 and i can tell you that those first 3 albums pushed me and made me fall in love with bass more..agreed he IS a knob!
@CRAPCANNONS What are you doing picking on the Fun Boy Three? Suggest you have another listen to tracks like; The lunatics have taken over the asylum, Our lips are sealed, The more I see (the less I believe), The tunnel of love, The pressure of life (takes the weight of the body), The telephone always rings and I could go on!
David changed his voice because he was told by a professional throat specialist that unless he sang with his natural voice he would damage his vocal chords and loose his talent. So Im pleased he saved his talent.For the record guys I loved all of the albums. All of the band are geniuses. They are underarated so this is our special secret. Japan forever!!!!
japan were crap for the first 3 albums? what a fat retarded imbosile...why would any one listen to a journalist? serious moron. the first 3 japan albums were the best! i fell out of love with the band after quiet life....just too typical 80's.musically they were still great,but i couldnt get into the new image and sylvian changed his singing style. and it seemed like evry song was about china or asia....still awsome band though....
I think they found their most unique sound during and after Quiet Life on their last two albums but I like their early material as well. Only Tin Drum is really China themed, it's almost like a concept album in that respect.
It's very odd how Sylvian all of the sudden in 1979 just changed his singing style, it's like he matured instantly or something. I guess it was the start of his "serious" stage.
story goes, sylvian had his tonsils out around quiet life era.after that he took on his new singing & writing style.i couldnt get into them any more. i wanted them to move more in the funky glam direction of adolescent sex. the album that sylvian hates oddly enough .i started listening to this band when i was 14 in 1978.japan was like nothing i had ever heard or seen before.coolest band of the late 70s new wave .i still love them and can appreciate the later albums but not like the first two
I thought you were talking nonsense but I understand your point...
Sometimes I wish Japan released another album in Adolescent Sex style, I love them back them though, the boys were cute to pieces, especially Mick and Dave was sorta fatal femme :x
I am always amazed that morley made it as a Journalist. He seems to have spent his whole career just slagging bands off.
Unless the band happens to come from Manchester he doesn't want to know. This is a guy that promoted Frankie goes to Hollywood ffs!!! He wouldn't know class music if it bit him in the ASS!
who the fuck is the idiot at the beginning trying to be funny with the laugh track?
Japan deserve so much more respect. It's comical how much duran duran and other bands lifted from them and they never received any credit. I guess the only good thing about being somewhat obscure is it's our secret and not everyone else's just how good these guys were.
Japan please come back, we're missing you so much ... Davids last tour was great and to get this kind of attitude in the "old" band would be fantastic ...
They were outstanding in every way - very different - but perfect for the 80's. The original guyliners. How they were missed when they split up. Maybe David will wise up and appreciate the fantastic legacy they left behind. The others in the band seem to recognise this. Steve Jansen was always the cutest IMO!
This is so FANtastic to see!!! Thanks so much for posting. I have liked them lots and use to collect on them. Great to hear the band history information from the actual band members. Too cool. :)
Shame they have all lost their South East London accents! Japan and Sylvian were the best! Still love Quite Life and Gentlemen Take Polaroids. Pity Mr Sylvian has disappeared up his own bottom the last few years - his 80's stuff was fantastic - Brilliant Trees, Gone To Earth, Secrets... When can we have the 12" singles issued on CD, Virgin? Where's 'Blue Of Noon', 'Bamboo Music', etc...PLEASE.....
Paul Morley is so full of shit, how can he call himself a music journalist when he says crap like Japans first 3 albums were crap.. Ok the first 2 might have been a bit weak but Quiet Life????? Crap album??? It was the pivotal point in the bands career you twat...
haha fucking hell ive heard some shit today! dont compare japan with duran duran. japan were a fucking once in a lifetime band! the're first 3 albums were'nt there best.gentlemen take polaroids and tin drum showed how good they could have been but we'll never know.
1. pull your head out 2. invest in a pair of headphones 3. que up rhodesia and push play. (hint: its on obscure alternatives since its obvious you dont have it)
for your information i do have it actually pal. and adolescent sex. both on vinyl.i went to see sylvian at colston hall a couple of years back as well. so there you go matey!
hey i never said that. paul morley more or less said that. (not me) i happen to love the earlier albums, but i liked the the last two albums even more!! im a japan fan mate. whether you believe me or not.
hey man. the banter as of last week really threw me in a japan way. so i did myself a favor and bought the entire catalog.... on cd . new. and holy shit there are a bunch of bonus tracks, and videos that are killer. and no skips lol
I think anyone would agree what a shame it was that they disbanded when they did. I mean, Tin Drum was such a unique album. Imagine if they had kept going. Anyone know anything else like it? And their other albums before it were lacking in my opinion. But maybe it's because I heard Tin Drum first then the others...
i would have loved to have heard their next album after tin drum with out the break b4 rain tree crow, tin drum waz the bollox but took a little commitment to love it when it 1st arrived. obviously DS was the boss,
Duran Duran took about 1/10th of what made Japan such an amazing band, dumbed it down with flashy videos, cheesy pop hooks, and goofy hair cuts. People lapped it up.
@Rhodesia32 duran duran were just much better. I think japan fans have an eternal jelousy over duran durans success. duran duran have their first album and one song that resembled one part of a japan song - quiet life and the jupiter 8 loop. duran duran are far more harder edge guitar based band than japan ever were. japan fans need to get over their poor success. in truth, japan had too much shite in their career/
@gregingram1970 more harder edged guitar based? I can remember A LOT of Rob Dean's guitar riffs from early on even to Gentlemen Take Polaroids. The stuff he was doing with an ebo was awesome. I don't know why you feel the need to make a comparison when there isn't one. Post this bullshit under some DD videos, not here.
@koalacatcher Japan had nothing like the guitar edge sound duran duran had. not even near. its fucking obvious. duran duran had one song that had the same jupiter 8 loop. You fools take that and extend this to modelling a whole career on japan. duran duran are better. noting else to add/.
@gregingram1970 it's a fucking different guitar sound, would you stop trying to make comparisons when there isn't one? Trying to pick fights when there isn't one? Go suck Simon Le Bon's ego cock somewhere else.
@gregingram1970 the only one making comparisons here is you. I never made any- that is if you actually read any of the comments I wrote back to you. It doesn't seem like you have much intelligence beyond your duran duran fanboy obsessions though to even think logically.
@dermotoblong OF COURSE DURAN DURAN ARE MUCH MORE TALENTED THAN JAPAN. OF COURSE THEY MORE FAME AND CREDIBILITY THAN JAPAN. OF COURSE THEY HAVE LASTED SEVERAL HUNDRED TIMES MORE. OF COURSE JAPAN ARE FORGOTTEN. OF COURSE BIG NAME ARTISTS CITE DURAN DURAN AS FORMATIVE INFLUENCES. OF COURSE YOU ARE STUCK IN A TANGENT UNIVERSE OF 1980 WHEN JAPAN WERE 'COOL' FOR 2 YEARS. DURAN DURAN ARE A MASSIVE PART OF CONTEMPORARY MUSIC AND JAPAN ARE...? i THINK, NOT MUCH. NICE CHAT.
@dermotoblong You are not able to assess and evaluate life because you do not know me. I would believe that tells me your comments are irrational because I have struck a chord with you - that chord being that you, my online friend, are trapped in a tangent universe of 1980 and you rest on your bed with your left hand supporting your face and the right hand tugging to davy sylvian in his tight white jeans in the Life in Tokyo video. Tell me, am I close? Thanks for your message.
@gregingram1970 the only thing im getting from you my patronising friend, is that youve come onto youtube to view a clip specifically about japan and youre desperate to convince everybody how relevant duran duran were. but its not working is it?
@dermotoblong DDD are, of course, massivley more influential than japan. I dont think any other japan fan will ever achieve shifting my belief. It is a fact and not an opinion. I think this because duran duran have had so many people covering their music and citing them as formative influences. I dont know any artist who has coverd japans music or would say they are influential. I think japan are forgotten now with exception of the small group of people trapped in a tangent universe of 1980.
@gregingram1970 listen pal. in old anglo saxon now 'you sound like a cunt' i dont have a degree, but you are a cunt. a ponderous pompous boring cunt. use your 'good standard of life' to fuck off now. go on to a clip or 'rio' and i'll 'save a prayer' for you!!
@dermotoblong haha your too thick to insult a child never mind a pompous and uber intelligent and super handsome ultra cool dude like me. Stuck in a tangent universe of 1980 must be hard...glad I aint there.
@dermotoblong haha...funny. I never got bullied as I have always been a athletic. I am just under 6ft tall and was around that height at school. I do keep fit and I also am a proffessional fitness coach - thats my line of work. I suppose I am not going to get picked on now or did I back then. I think you should just chill out. I am sorry for winding you up. No harm meant. I still think duran duran blow japan away...
@dermotoblong thank you too...im turned on by your wacky humour that appears to be defeat in an online argument that nobody except you and me are interested in. If i gave you my address, would you turn up for a square go?
@dermotoblong hmmm i think what you meant to say was: Nick Rhodes had similar shaped hairstyle - but a different colour from davy sylvian - during the first few months of 1981 and, of course, to japan fans, this translates into hero worship and idolisation from Mr Rhodes toward davy sylvian and, more over, justifies duran duran copied japan in every sonic, bass, vocal and stylistic element of duran durans 30 year career and, of course, means that Nick Rhodes did not mirrror Andy Warhol like DS?
@dermotoblong haha davy sylvian...glad ye caught on. Shit dick? do you mean gay? man, what a crass way to describe gay love. I am a poo-nan man myself but if you feel the urge to batter that back door of some davy sylvian worhsipper then go on ahead and knock yourself out big baws.
@gregingram1970 sorry gregie baby I wanted to send you the vid of Simon making a complete prick of himself with the bum note at the live aid gig and throwing 10 years of hard work down the pan ( were you still in short trousers then or was your nearly 6 foot frame bursting to get out of those and become a real man.
@dermotoblon Davy Sylvian - that burd in this clip thought he was gorgeous. Who is your sexiest member of Japan, Neil? Is davy sylvian your primary wanking material? I bet you have a wank sock just for him and you hope, just one day, davy sylvian might just come round your place, let himself in, snif that wank sock you keep for him and he will gizz himself to death. You could be immortalised with davy sylvian for the guy who killed davy sylvian with a wank sock that was stocked up for 30 years?
@neil1963creed You mean that famous falsetto? I guess it was a bad not eh? I think of course now when you hear his live vocals you would now concede he is one the best live vocalists in the wordl. I realise your a jelous sort. Its ok. I guess you have alcohol problems do deal with the gulf between your ego and your ideal self. I never knock a man like you even if you were suffering from mental health problems. Your wife is 6 4? My she sounds tasty. That will explain why you wank yourself to DS?
@gregingram1970 Ha ha! One of the best vocalists in wordl? Sorry I don't come from 'wordl' so I can't possibly comment. You know for someone who can't wait to tell the 'wordl' about his degree you come over (you've done that on a few DD pics in your time I can tell) as very thick and lonely! Just read your last 10 or so ramblings. "Do deal" "big baws"????? "oppertunity"...the list goes on! And why the fascination with hairstyles when by my calculations you must have been 11years old. Very sad!
@neil1963creed I have told the world for 17 years about my degree...spelling mistakes on youtube communicating with people like you have bipassed education dont really matter do they? In my job, I cant think of anyone who would focus on a spelling error quickly written so I dunno why you should either? le bon of course is one of the best vocalists. Lonley? yeah. your wife is 6 4 and your wanking to davy sylvian who is now nearly pension age. haha.
@neil1963creed Initially, I mentioned your use of the word 'no' because it was used in the wrong context. I said you must be stupid to think no means know as in knowledge. I now think you have had to reflect and spot your error. I would say further your grammar, spelling and general sentence construction is poor. You have failed in learning and also are a very bad communicator. I dont need coaching on writing because I passed all my exams and you, well, retire daily to wank at davy in his vids.
@dermotoblong - haha...well, now you can concentrate on a typing error because, lets face it, you and the other online knob/nob (which ever is correct) are having their pimply, davy sylvian wanking hands slapped by a red blooded, educated, straight, strapping 6 foot fitness coach like me. I bet you wank to davy sylvian in his tight white jeans at least once a day. In addition, your clearly unaware that sentences start with a capital letter. This is normally down to upbringing...
@dermotoblong ...was your mums boyfriend/fella/fuck buddy a bastard to you? DId he make you angry and you had to flee the family home as a kid? This resulted in deviant behaviour : stealing cars, drugs, alcohol abuse, fights and of course, being bummed by other fellas who liked davy sylvian in his tight white jeans in the Life in Tokoyo vid?
@gregingram1970 ohhh it hurts doesnt it? hahaha!! nah, i was stuck in a tangent universe back then (as you well know) knobjockey. you are always going on about being 'bummed' and 'wank socks', etc. anything you want to tell me?.......
@dermotoblong Ha...i think i love you. You know (not NO - haha) I have a wank sock. i use it when I think of my wife straddling me when shes on night shift. She aint 6 4 of course. I know you have mental health issues coz only you would bang on and on about defending davy sylvian and hes dead 20 years ago, looks like lady di in drag and of course is rotten. How is your mums fuck buddy/boyfriend these days?
@dermotoblong Was it true davy sylvian had an affair with boy george in the back of a hackney one night on the way home from a bronski beat gig? Rumor has it, davy fancied wee Jimmy Sommerville and Jimmy wasnt to into the pretty boy Lady Di look. Davy got angry and smacked wee Jimmy over the head with his high heeled boot and subsquently knocked wee Jimmy out. Davy swiftly raped Jimmy and robbed him of his wallet and Tesco points card. Fuckers eh these pop stars...
@gregingram1970@gregingram1970 I can honestly say that I have read some pretty insane comments from people like you on here but congratulations buddy ...you really are a first class ill informed, uneducated, no nothing, clueless moron. I suppose your one of these guys who thinks that cos you say it it must be true. NICE CHAT DICKHEAD :)
@neil1963creed I am educated. I have a degree. I have a good standard of life and I have an opinion based on evidence. I accept being a dickhead with you. Hmmm Im not sure of the ill infromed bit. I want to draw your focus on to your use of the word 'no' - I personally, after carefully considering your extensive response, believe you should have said 'know' because its part of the word 'know-ledge' which you were aiming to label me knowledge-less, or ill-informed. Oh well.
@gregingram1970 Yeah what was I thinking? You are clearly on another planet when it comes to intelligence, lifestyle (the very fact that you mention that in this debate shows you clearly have issues) and opinion compared to the rest of us. How could I have been so stupid as to disagree with someone as intellectual as you. Just for the record though I think DD were superb, I just don't get how anyone could possibly think they are more gifted/talented than Japan. But it takes all sorts...lol!
@neil1963creed I never raised the question of intelligence - you did and thus I responded. You also said I was ill informed as if you were alluding to me being stupid and I again responded by saying I have a good standard of life. I implied that I was happy and that I was intelligent enough to bring to my life a good standard of life and not waste the oppertunity to fulfill my potential. I hope that addressess your curiosity to my comments? I disagree japan were better than Duran Duran...
@gregingram1970 Yawn!...... your boring the shit out of me now zzzzzzzzz. ugh what's that? "sorry for winding US up" lol! Now I am beginning to like you .Your fucking hilarious ha ha ha ha ha ha!
OMG, finally get to hear Steve and Richard talk. They have voices!! Paul Morley as ever is full of that brown stuff that comes out your bum. Japan were always brilliant. I love their old stuff.
I am so glad I found this vid. I have seen Jansen playing w. Sylvian on tour but I never realized how utterly sexy he is up close! Holy smokes, he makes David Beckham look like Buddy Hackett!!
I was 16 and bought quiet life the single then proceeded to buy everything i could find by Japan, i was lucky enough to see them in Liverpool Empire must have been about 82 had to go on my own because no one else i new was wise enough to realize just how brilliant they were,i still have all my albums on top of my wardrobe n im 44 now...I F***in loved this band.....Oh n Morley is a tit....
The reason I play bass guitar is because of four people. Mick Karn, Bernard Edwards, Robert "Kool" Bell and John Taylor, The New Romantic bands, Chic and the Minneapolis Sound were so cool I wanted and still do play music just like Japan, Duran Duran, Chic and Prince and the Revolution.
Agreed...this was really the coolest stuff, I even claim it was the peak of pop music, when all the new romantic bands and minneapolis funk ruled the charts. Musically it was such an interesting time, bands could really play, even bands like kajagoogoo were real cats on their instruments...an seeing bands like human league teaming up with minneapolis producers jam & lewis was just great. I really miss this fusion of wave and r'n'b in todays music.
Maybe there are some kids or adults (it's never too late)somewhere who want to marry those sounds again. That's what I miss too the fusion of Nu Wave and R&B in today's music.
Yeah...maybe we should team up and start the comeback of soulful new wave ;-)You play bass, I play synths...who else wants to join? Anyone with enough hairspray is in the band :-)
ey familySnapshot, otra coincidencia! yo hace como un mes que casi no puedo escuchar otra cosa que no sea sylvian (bueno, con la salvedad de gabriel ;))
si, mi msn es rafamcnamara, hotmail, com (you tube no deja poner dir de mail, asi que agregá vos el arroba y el punto), agregame y hablamos, un café sería genial ;)
Watching this I just realized that Morley wrote the snippets of texts used in the "Ink in the Well"-video (also available on YouTube). Check the credits at the beginning of that video. Anyone knows how that came about?
Saw them live in 78 then went out and bought first 2 albums. 2 of the best albums in my collection so how can he say crap ?
LucyEmma21 3 months ago
Jump off a cliff Paul morley!
invaderzezix 5 months ago 2
what the fuck does paul morely know about anything but manchester?!
fireupthequatrobolly 6 months ago
Some of those clowns need a good slap. Every single Japan album contains treasure. Period.
Komodoensis 8 months ago 2
Search YouTube for 'Top Ten 80s New Romantics' for a better quality version and the rest of the top ten.
ralfypapacino 9 months ago
Paul Morley talks out of his southern-most orifice...
MsAngelAdonis 9 months ago
Thank you Paul Morley for showing why NME was a such a narrow rag. Useless git.
kenusshabbus 11 months ago 3
Paul Morley, what a fool, clearly has no idea about music if he thinks the first three Japan albums were crap, every Japan album was superb and had it's own unique theme/style.
Akifis 11 months ago 3
@Akifis I don't see what everyone's problem is. Sylvian seems to think all 5 of Japan's albums were crap!
MisAnnThorpe 7 months ago
Comment removed
Akifis 11 months ago
remember watching this when it went out- they were ranked at no 9 in the 'Top ten new romantics'
i think this went out on CH4 in around 1997/1998.
Great band,
what sad news its was to hear that Mick died in January
walbassmike 11 months ago 2
Dear dpx, can you tell me in what year this documentary was made? Best regards, Liesbeth
Manli1208 1 year ago
Paul Morley is so wrong. The first two albums were their best - so many great, absolutely brilliant, inventive, fresh hard core songs.
stickyundies 1 year ago 2
Just read the news that Mick Karn died of cancer January 4. Terrible.
Manli1208 1 year ago
richard always looks so angry in promo videos and performances yet he seems like such a nice guy when interviewed lol
newfuckingwave 1 year ago
I fell in love with fretless bass in 1982, all because of the quiet life album....it changed my life.
oldsynth 1 year ago
Even though I adore japan, I've always been frustrated with Davids aparent self indulgent stubborn streak.
oldsynth 1 year ago 2
Paul Morley is such a tosser, like the NME his point of view is irrelevant!
bassatnight 1 year ago 2
ANYONE THINK DAVY SYLVIAN LOOKS LIKE A YOUNG MEG RYAN?
gregingram1970 1 year ago
Davy Sylvian tried to sound like Bryan Ferry and of course based his style on Mr Ferry with a dash of Andy Warhol. He is rumored to have been fingerd by Bryan Ferry and Andy Warhol in an orgy that took place in the back of taxi - the driver was Turkish but he did say,in support of this bizarre anecdote, that he had a Skoda Ocatvia estate at the time and this even certainly had enough leg room for davy boy to get beeftered with hunky Bryan Ferry while Andy Warhol tugged his wee pecker...
gregingram1970 1 year ago
DAVY SYLVIAN LOOKS LIKE LADY DIANAS YOUNGER BROTHER IN DRAG...anyone agree?
gregingram1970 1 year ago
what crap????? the first 3 albums were unbelievable magnificant...think of obscure alternatives...just great
pulaat 1 year ago
get well mick
zane1961 1 year ago
Paul Morley is a 1st rate nob! Their first 3 albums are great, you know jack shit Morley!
HOLLYwoodgoesFRANKIE 1 year ago
ii loved 'the weird clothing and the make up'
corblimeysue 1 year ago
This has been flagged as spam show
Go to mickkarn.net and see how you can help him fight his bout with cancer!
ronbo11 1 year ago
David Sylvian changed his voice because it more suited the music they were making.
PokemonRemote 1 year ago
@PokemonRemote he had his tonsils removed as well
koalacatcher 1 year ago
i love their first 3 albums there awsome :)
McFLY4EvA22 1 year ago
The band were unique, Sylvian is missed from the mainstream.. the band need a REAL documentary with decent footage.... sadly missed even today...
Skillusions 1 year ago
wow love the keyboardists blue jacket 1: 28
yharyhar8 1 year ago
Thank you very much for putting this on Youtube.
So interesting!
And I too think that Quiet Life was just a great album, as was Gentlemen take polaroids.
DarlingUltra 2 years ago
The wonder of You Tube! Really interesting documentary and I would like to see more. Fascinating to see the trio some 18 years later! In my opinion Gents take Polaroids is the best album.
Agrati1 2 years ago
Best band ever...
5studios1room 2 years ago
"Japan were crap for 3 albums"
Really?
So Quiet Life is crap to him?
He's probably an OMD fan, the knob.
CRAPCANNONS 2 years ago 24
the stupid fool probably didn't even listen to the albums and isn't aware that quiet life sounds vastly different to their first two albums. They always get the biggest tools who know jack shit on these music shows.
fiendwithoutaface66 2 years ago
He's an NME journalist -- enough said. He doesn't have a clue. These journalists thought they were more important than the bands of the time and believed they could make or break bands merely by what they wrote about them. These journalists were morons. All ego and nothing else.
clivej 2 years ago
@clivej Very very true!
chrisnoaro1 1 year ago
@CRAPCANNONS I'm a big OMD and Japan fan, but I think Quiet Life is an excellent album.
chrisnoaro1 1 year ago
atrios28 1 year ago
@CRAPCANNONS i totally agree!!! THAT IS BS and how a man in his place can say that makes me wonder if he has brain one in his head at all. To me japan were a powerhouse..they sounded WAY ahead of thier time...and they were not the only ones dressing up in makeup in 78 either..that guy needs to be slapped by a wet cold boot..im 37 years old and have been playing bass since 1985 and i can tell you that those first 3 albums pushed me and made me fall in love with bass more..agreed he IS a knob!
sprintbass 1 year ago
@CRAPCANNONS yo i think we may be taking what this guy said outta context a bit this 3rd album that he is refering to may be gentlemen take polaroids
inman28 1 year ago
@inman28
#1 Adolescent Sex 1977
#2 Obscure Alternatives 1978
#3 Quiet Life December 1979
If he was choosing Polaroids as #3 he's even more of a knob then.
And even the first two albums are great so the guy's just wrong all over the place!
So tell that ponce at NME to go listen to listen to his Fun Boy Three records!
CRAPCANNONS 1 year ago 3
@CRAPCANNONS What are you doing picking on the Fun Boy Three? Suggest you have another listen to tracks like; The lunatics have taken over the asylum, Our lips are sealed, The more I see (the less I believe), The tunnel of love, The pressure of life (takes the weight of the body), The telephone always rings and I could go on!
MisAnnThorpe 7 months ago
@CRAPCANNONS He's a mug and a shit journalist. Always has been.
rodroddingson 8 months ago
Loved both incarnations of the band...the glam and the synth....unique sounds and great songs.
Oh and that 'idiot' at the start is UK comedian, Steve Coogan, doing his Alan Partridge alter ego from some years ago....
MCFCTrick 2 years ago
I would listen to anything by any ex-member of Japan. They're all great.
strangeparty 2 years ago 4
David changed his voice because he was told by a professional throat specialist that unless he sang with his natural voice he would damage his vocal chords and loose his talent. So Im pleased he saved his talent.For the record guys I loved all of the albums. All of the band are geniuses. They are underarated so this is our special secret. Japan forever!!!!
caitlinniamh 2 years ago 6
japan were crap for the first 3 albums? what a fat retarded imbosile...why would any one listen to a journalist? serious moron. the first 3 japan albums were the best! i fell out of love with the band after quiet life....just too typical 80's.musically they were still great,but i couldnt get into the new image and sylvian changed his singing style. and it seemed like evry song was about china or asia....still awsome band though....
levonhelmet 2 years ago 3
yeah agreed that the guy is an idiot.
I think they found their most unique sound during and after Quiet Life on their last two albums but I like their early material as well. Only Tin Drum is really China themed, it's almost like a concept album in that respect.
It's very odd how Sylvian all of the sudden in 1979 just changed his singing style, it's like he matured instantly or something. I guess it was the start of his "serious" stage.
fiendwithoutaface66 2 years ago
story goes, sylvian had his tonsils out around quiet life era.after that he took on his new singing & writing style.i couldnt get into them any more. i wanted them to move more in the funky glam direction of adolescent sex. the album that sylvian hates oddly enough .i started listening to this band when i was 14 in 1978.japan was like nothing i had ever heard or seen before.coolest band of the late 70s new wave .i still love them and can appreciate the later albums but not like the first two
levonhelmet 2 years ago 2
I thought you were talking nonsense but I understand your point...
Sometimes I wish Japan released another album in Adolescent Sex style, I love them back them though, the boys were cute to pieces, especially Mick and Dave was sorta fatal femme :x
bemyart90 2 years ago
couldn't agree more, the first three were great
uxbridge1962 2 years ago
I think this band is very special....they became something no one could have forseen-they are all great musicians.some of the best in the world!
rickk4art 2 years ago
I am always amazed that morley made it as a Journalist. He seems to have spent his whole career just slagging bands off.
Unless the band happens to come from Manchester he doesn't want to know. This is a guy that promoted Frankie goes to Hollywood ffs!!! He wouldn't know class music if it bit him in the ASS!
bassatnight 2 years ago 2
he did recognise sylvian later and provided the text for the red guitar video, but youre right. he grates on me the arrogant prick.
dermotoblong 2 years ago 3
who the fuck is the idiot at the beginning trying to be funny with the laugh track?
Japan deserve so much more respect. It's comical how much duran duran and other bands lifted from them and they never received any credit. I guess the only good thing about being somewhat obscure is it's our secret and not everyone else's just how good these guys were.
pnnews90 2 years ago
Crap for the 1st 3 albums??? TELEVISION, AUTOMATIC GUN???? - WHAT AN ARSEHOLE
jonomutiny 2 years ago 2
Japan please come back, we're missing you so much ... Davids last tour was great and to get this kind of attitude in the "old" band would be fantastic ...
xalexsnappa 2 years ago 2
They were outstanding in every way - very different - but perfect for the 80's. The original guyliners. How they were missed when they split up. Maybe David will wise up and appreciate the fantastic legacy they left behind. The others in the band seem to recognise this. Steve Jansen was always the cutest IMO!
khyberkarn 2 years ago
I haul you in a sea of silence
On the border line of truth
Hope and violence
I see no sun
I see no place I've loved
Depending on the signs to find the road
... such a pretty song. These guys are amazing...
svy70 3 years ago
This is so FANtastic to see!!! Thanks so much for posting. I have liked them lots and use to collect on them. Great to hear the band history information from the actual band members. Too cool. :)
musicmoonlight 3 years ago
Shame they have all lost their South East London accents! Japan and Sylvian were the best! Still love Quite Life and Gentlemen Take Polaroids. Pity Mr Sylvian has disappeared up his own bottom the last few years - his 80's stuff was fantastic - Brilliant Trees, Gone To Earth, Secrets... When can we have the 12" singles issued on CD, Virgin? Where's 'Blue Of Noon', 'Bamboo Music', etc...PLEASE.....
pinkflamingo1982 3 years ago
Started with Obscure Alternatives n went straight to Rhodesia gonna be up all night...........
korkeycat 3 years ago
I,m goin upstairs to get my old Japan albums off the top of the wardrobe...God help the neighbours......F***in class
korkeycat 3 years ago
interesting...but my gsh, paul morley sure had a strange hairstyle oooh :)
oogie11 3 years ago
is that steve coogan at the start?
DarcyAndWolfgang 3 years ago
does anyone know why they called themselves japan, and why did they create alot of chinese and japaneze style music? it was great
SUPAALBION 3 years ago
Apparently they thought of it at the last minute before they went on to play somewhere.
I think Steve Jansen said it may have come from the song Ziggy Stardust by David Bowie.
TheAiiis 3 years ago
Still got my copy of that Smash Hits magazine locked away...
hangoverlad 3 years ago
Paul Morley is so full of shit, how can he call himself a music journalist when he says crap like Japans first 3 albums were crap.. Ok the first 2 might have been a bit weak but Quiet Life????? Crap album??? It was the pivotal point in the bands career you twat...
hangoverlad 3 years ago
Japan...geniales.Me encanta su album Gentlemen take polaroids y en especial Swing y Taking islands in Africa...Duran duran? Y quienes son esos? :-)
bjoerlingbetirako 3 years ago
haha fucking hell ive heard some shit today! dont compare japan with duran duran. japan were a fucking once in a lifetime band! the're first 3 albums were'nt there best.gentlemen take polaroids and tin drum showed how good they could have been but we'll never know.
dermotoblong 3 years ago 2
"the're first 3 albums were'nt there best" Quiet Life is a masterpiece!!!!!
mightyzoltar 3 years ago 3
1. pull your head out 2. invest in a pair of headphones 3. que up rhodesia and push play. (hint: its on obscure alternatives since its obvious you dont have it)
alonelyplanetboy 3 years ago
for your information i do have it actually pal. and adolescent sex. both on vinyl.i went to see sylvian at colston hall a couple of years back as well. so there you go matey!
dermotoblong 3 years ago
hey pal. i dont believe ya. it doesnt make sense. "love is infectious" ... a poor track? "rhodesia"... sub standard? thats absurd.
alonelyplanetboy 3 years ago
hey i never said that. paul morley more or less said that. (not me) i happen to love the earlier albums, but i liked the the last two albums even more!! im a japan fan mate. whether you believe me or not.
dermotoblong 3 years ago
well i apologize. i misread. it was late. and well of course the medication. but you must agree .....isnt youtube great
alonelyplanetboy 3 years ago
yeah haha! i'll agree on that!
dermotoblong 3 years ago
hey man. the banter as of last week really threw me in a japan way. so i did myself a favor and bought the entire catalog.... on cd . new. and holy shit there are a bunch of bonus tracks, and videos that are killer. and no skips lol
alonelyplanetboy 3 years ago
Stupid Morley.....
First 3 albums were the best.
PAULLONDEN 3 years ago 2
I think anyone would agree what a shame it was that they disbanded when they did. I mean, Tin Drum was such a unique album. Imagine if they had kept going. Anyone know anything else like it? And their other albums before it were lacking in my opinion. But maybe it's because I heard Tin Drum first then the others...
nathanisaksson 3 years ago 2
i would have loved to have heard their next album after tin drum with out the break b4 rain tree crow, tin drum waz the bollox but took a little commitment to love it when it 1st arrived. obviously DS was the boss,
philthyling2 3 years ago
This comment has received too many negative votes show
every one who is posting up here is "very cool" indeed ,...i mean this is "japan' 4 shits sake !
afroponk 3 years ago
Yeah yeah yeah! Alwats wished DS would have
performed with this look: it's way ahead of it's time. I'm so glad I found this picture of
him eating rice with chopstick w/the portrait
of Chairman Mao hanging behind him.
Unfortunately, I only have a burned copy of
Tin Drum: damn junkies took everything in my
home that wasn't nailed down.
Except, thank God, books.
Keep not reading, junkies: I'm glad ya left me
something!
silmalila 3 years ago
yeah duran duran got a bit more interesting later on japan are legend.
moonuni 4 years ago
...and then along came Duran Duran who stole the look and sound and became famous...
Mojojothanjo 4 years ago 4
Not exactly, Duran Duran's music was more poppy and easier to swallow, this helped them become a success
freetobefreddy 4 years ago 4
Thats true.
Duran Duran took about 1/10th of what made Japan such an amazing band, dumbed it down with flashy videos, cheesy pop hooks, and goofy hair cuts. People lapped it up.
Rhodesia32 4 years ago
agree totally duran duran were a bunch of haircuts
sutsie 3 years ago 4
@Rhodesia32 duran duran were just much better. I think japan fans have an eternal jelousy over duran durans success. duran duran have their first album and one song that resembled one part of a japan song - quiet life and the jupiter 8 loop. duran duran are far more harder edge guitar based band than japan ever were. japan fans need to get over their poor success. in truth, japan had too much shite in their career/
gregingram1970 1 year ago
@gregingram1970 more harder edged guitar based? I can remember A LOT of Rob Dean's guitar riffs from early on even to Gentlemen Take Polaroids. The stuff he was doing with an ebo was awesome. I don't know why you feel the need to make a comparison when there isn't one. Post this bullshit under some DD videos, not here.
koalacatcher 1 year ago
@koalacatcher Japan had nothing like the guitar edge sound duran duran had. not even near. its fucking obvious. duran duran had one song that had the same jupiter 8 loop. You fools take that and extend this to modelling a whole career on japan. duran duran are better. noting else to add/.
gregingram1970 1 year ago
@gregingram1970 it's a fucking different guitar sound, would you stop trying to make comparisons when there isn't one? Trying to pick fights when there isn't one? Go suck Simon Le Bon's ego cock somewhere else.
koalacatcher 1 year ago
@koalacatcher Its fucking idiots like you who make these comparisons. Fucking arse.
gregingram1970 1 year ago
@gregingram1970 the only one making comparisons here is you. I never made any- that is if you actually read any of the comments I wrote back to you. It doesn't seem like you have much intelligence beyond your duran duran fanboy obsessions though to even think logically.
koalacatcher 1 year ago
@gregingram1970 HAHA YEAH RIGHT YOU COMPLETE TOSSER!! YOU ARE A FUCKING TOTAL WANKER. ABSOLUTELY NO IDEA. (DURAN DURAN.. FFS! HAAHA!!!)
dermotoblong 1 year ago
@dermotoblong OF COURSE DURAN DURAN ARE MUCH MORE TALENTED THAN JAPAN. OF COURSE THEY MORE FAME AND CREDIBILITY THAN JAPAN. OF COURSE THEY HAVE LASTED SEVERAL HUNDRED TIMES MORE. OF COURSE JAPAN ARE FORGOTTEN. OF COURSE BIG NAME ARTISTS CITE DURAN DURAN AS FORMATIVE INFLUENCES. OF COURSE YOU ARE STUCK IN A TANGENT UNIVERSE OF 1980 WHEN JAPAN WERE 'COOL' FOR 2 YEARS. DURAN DURAN ARE A MASSIVE PART OF CONTEMPORARY MUSIC AND JAPAN ARE...? i THINK, NOT MUCH. NICE CHAT.
gregingram1970 1 year ago
@gregingram1970 you are a fucking idiot pal. get over your simon le bon fantasy and get a fucking life
dermotoblong 1 year ago
@dermotoblong You are not able to assess and evaluate life because you do not know me. I would believe that tells me your comments are irrational because I have struck a chord with you - that chord being that you, my online friend, are trapped in a tangent universe of 1980 and you rest on your bed with your left hand supporting your face and the right hand tugging to davy sylvian in his tight white jeans in the Life in Tokyo video. Tell me, am I close? Thanks for your message.
gregingram1970 1 year ago
@gregingram1970 the only thing im getting from you my patronising friend, is that youve come onto youtube to view a clip specifically about japan and youre desperate to convince everybody how relevant duran duran were. but its not working is it?
dermotoblong 1 year ago
@dermotoblong DDD are, of course, massivley more influential than japan. I dont think any other japan fan will ever achieve shifting my belief. It is a fact and not an opinion. I think this because duran duran have had so many people covering their music and citing them as formative influences. I dont know any artist who has coverd japans music or would say they are influential. I think japan are forgotten now with exception of the small group of people trapped in a tangent universe of 1980.
gregingram1970 1 year ago
@gregingram1970 listen pal. in old anglo saxon now 'you sound like a cunt' i dont have a degree, but you are a cunt. a ponderous pompous boring cunt. use your 'good standard of life' to fuck off now. go on to a clip or 'rio' and i'll 'save a prayer' for you!!
dermotoblong 1 year ago
@dermotoblong haha your too thick to insult a child never mind a pompous and uber intelligent and super handsome ultra cool dude like me. Stuck in a tangent universe of 1980 must be hard...glad I aint there.
gregingram1970 1 year ago
@gregingram1970 i bet you got bullied at school. prick.
dermotoblong 1 year ago
@dermotoblong haha...funny. I never got bullied as I have always been a athletic. I am just under 6ft tall and was around that height at school. I do keep fit and I also am a proffessional fitness coach - thats my line of work. I suppose I am not going to get picked on now or did I back then. I think you should just chill out. I am sorry for winding you up. No harm meant. I still think duran duran blow japan away...
gregingram1970 1 year ago
@gregingram1970 water off a ducks back pal. i like stirring the shit too (even with a duran duran fan!)
dermotoblong 1 year ago
@dermotoblong thank you too...im turned on by your wacky humour that appears to be defeat in an online argument that nobody except you and me are interested in. If i gave you my address, would you turn up for a square go?
gregingram1970 1 year ago
@dermotoblong So, tell me, how many wanks you have to davy sylvian in the Life in Tokyo video? his trousers were tight...
gregingram1970 1 year ago
@gregingram1970 put it this way, try imagining having sex with a woman (go on try?) and then multiply it by nick rhodes wig.. circa 1981??
dermotoblong 1 year ago
@dermotoblong hmmm i think what you meant to say was: Nick Rhodes had similar shaped hairstyle - but a different colour from davy sylvian - during the first few months of 1981 and, of course, to japan fans, this translates into hero worship and idolisation from Mr Rhodes toward davy sylvian and, more over, justifies duran duran copied japan in every sonic, bass, vocal and stylistic element of duran durans 30 year career and, of course, means that Nick Rhodes did not mirrror Andy Warhol like DS?
gregingram1970 1 year ago
@gregingram1970 have you got a degree in bullshit? im sure youre a shitdick mate. too many descriptions of 'davy' sylvian?!! hahaha!!
dermotoblong 1 year ago
@dermotoblong haha davy sylvian...glad ye caught on. Shit dick? do you mean gay? man, what a crass way to describe gay love. I am a poo-nan man myself but if you feel the urge to batter that back door of some davy sylvian worhsipper then go on ahead and knock yourself out big baws.
gregingram1970 1 year ago
@gregingram1970 sorry gregie baby I wanted to send you the vid of Simon making a complete prick of himself with the bum note at the live aid gig and throwing 10 years of hard work down the pan ( were you still in short trousers then or was your nearly 6 foot frame bursting to get out of those and become a real man.
neil1963creed 1 year ago
@neil1963creed haaha you were in baghdad while he was still in his dads bag!!
dermotoblong 1 year ago
@dermotoblon Davy Sylvian - that burd in this clip thought he was gorgeous. Who is your sexiest member of Japan, Neil? Is davy sylvian your primary wanking material? I bet you have a wank sock just for him and you hope, just one day, davy sylvian might just come round your place, let himself in, snif that wank sock you keep for him and he will gizz himself to death. You could be immortalised with davy sylvian for the guy who killed davy sylvian with a wank sock that was stocked up for 30 years?
gregingram1970 1 year ago
@neil1963creed You mean that famous falsetto? I guess it was a bad not eh? I think of course now when you hear his live vocals you would now concede he is one the best live vocalists in the wordl. I realise your a jelous sort. Its ok. I guess you have alcohol problems do deal with the gulf between your ego and your ideal self. I never knock a man like you even if you were suffering from mental health problems. Your wife is 6 4? My she sounds tasty. That will explain why you wank yourself to DS?
gregingram1970 1 year ago
@gregingram1970 Ha ha! One of the best vocalists in wordl? Sorry I don't come from 'wordl' so I can't possibly comment. You know for someone who can't wait to tell the 'wordl' about his degree you come over (you've done that on a few DD pics in your time I can tell) as very thick and lonely! Just read your last 10 or so ramblings. "Do deal" "big baws"????? "oppertunity"...the list goes on! And why the fascination with hairstyles when by my calculations you must have been 11years old. Very sad!
neil1963creed 1 year ago
@neil1963creed I have told the world for 17 years about my degree...spelling mistakes on youtube communicating with people like you have bipassed education dont really matter do they? In my job, I cant think of anyone who would focus on a spelling error quickly written so I dunno why you should either? le bon of course is one of the best vocalists. Lonley? yeah. your wife is 6 4 and your wanking to davy sylvian who is now nearly pension age. haha.
gregingram1970 1 year ago
@gregingram1970 is that why you initially commented on my "no" nothing comment? What a wank lol!
neil1963creed 1 year ago
@neil1963creed Initially, I mentioned your use of the word 'no' because it was used in the wrong context. I said you must be stupid to think no means know as in knowledge. I now think you have had to reflect and spot your error. I would say further your grammar, spelling and general sentence construction is poor. You have failed in learning and also are a very bad communicator. I dont need coaching on writing because I passed all my exams and you, well, retire daily to wank at davy in his vids.
gregingram1970 1 year ago
@gregingram1970 you really are fucking solid arent you? get out of your bedroom once in a while. theres a whole 'wordl' out there!
dermotoblong 1 year ago
@dermotoblong - haha...well, now you can concentrate on a typing error because, lets face it, you and the other online knob/nob (which ever is correct) are having their pimply, davy sylvian wanking hands slapped by a red blooded, educated, straight, strapping 6 foot fitness coach like me. I bet you wank to davy sylvian in his tight white jeans at least once a day. In addition, your clearly unaware that sentences start with a capital letter. This is normally down to upbringing...
gregingram1970 1 year ago
@dermotoblong ...was your mums boyfriend/fella/fuck buddy a bastard to you? DId he make you angry and you had to flee the family home as a kid? This resulted in deviant behaviour : stealing cars, drugs, alcohol abuse, fights and of course, being bummed by other fellas who liked davy sylvian in his tight white jeans in the Life in Tokoyo vid?
gregingram1970 1 year ago
@gregingram1970 ohhh it hurts doesnt it? hahaha!! nah, i was stuck in a tangent universe back then (as you well know) knobjockey. you are always going on about being 'bummed' and 'wank socks', etc. anything you want to tell me?.......
dermotoblong 1 year ago
@dermotoblong Ha...i think i love you. You know (not NO - haha) I have a wank sock. i use it when I think of my wife straddling me when shes on night shift. She aint 6 4 of course. I know you have mental health issues coz only you would bang on and on about defending davy sylvian and hes dead 20 years ago, looks like lady di in drag and of course is rotten. How is your mums fuck buddy/boyfriend these days?
gregingram1970 1 year ago
@dermotoblong Was it true davy sylvian had an affair with boy george in the back of a hackney one night on the way home from a bronski beat gig? Rumor has it, davy fancied wee Jimmy Sommerville and Jimmy wasnt to into the pretty boy Lady Di look. Davy got angry and smacked wee Jimmy over the head with his high heeled boot and subsquently knocked wee Jimmy out. Davy swiftly raped Jimmy and robbed him of his wallet and Tesco points card. Fuckers eh these pop stars...
gregingram1970 1 year ago
@gregingram1970 sit down. relax. keep taking the tablets. hahaha!!! you are a loser!! hahahahahaha!!!
dermotoblong 1 year ago
@dermotoblong Man, you should be out with your 6 4 wife. You shouldnt be on youtube because you have such an exciting life...hehe.
gregingram1970 1 year ago
@gregingram1970 oh hello shitdick. still missing the point i see? more exciting than yours will ever be ;)
dermotoblong 1 year ago
@dermotoblong who knows wot u do...wot ever it is...i dont need or want to know. wank to davy...
gregingram1970 1 year ago
@gregingram1970 @gregingram1970 I can honestly say that I have read some pretty insane comments from people like you on here but congratulations buddy ...you really are a first class ill informed, uneducated, no nothing, clueless moron. I suppose your one of these guys who thinks that cos you say it it must be true. NICE CHAT DICKHEAD :)
neil1963creed 1 year ago
@neil1963creed I am educated. I have a degree. I have a good standard of life and I have an opinion based on evidence. I accept being a dickhead with you. Hmmm Im not sure of the ill infromed bit. I want to draw your focus on to your use of the word 'no' - I personally, after carefully considering your extensive response, believe you should have said 'know' because its part of the word 'know-ledge' which you were aiming to label me knowledge-less, or ill-informed. Oh well.
gregingram1970 1 year ago
@gregingram1970 Yeah what was I thinking? You are clearly on another planet when it comes to intelligence, lifestyle (the very fact that you mention that in this debate shows you clearly have issues) and opinion compared to the rest of us. How could I have been so stupid as to disagree with someone as intellectual as you. Just for the record though I think DD were superb, I just don't get how anyone could possibly think they are more gifted/talented than Japan. But it takes all sorts...lol!
neil1963creed 1 year ago
@neil1963creed I never raised the question of intelligence - you did and thus I responded. You also said I was ill informed as if you were alluding to me being stupid and I again responded by saying I have a good standard of life. I implied that I was happy and that I was intelligent enough to bring to my life a good standard of life and not waste the oppertunity to fulfill my potential. I hope that addressess your curiosity to my comments? I disagree japan were better than Duran Duran...
gregingram1970 1 year ago
@gregingram1970 Yawn!...... your boring the shit out of me now zzzzzzzzz. ugh what's that? "sorry for winding US up" lol! Now I am beginning to like you .Your fucking hilarious ha ha ha ha ha ha!
neil1963creed 1 year ago
@neil1963creed thanks...i think this could be love blossoming?
gregingram1970 1 year ago
@gregingram1970 I'm 6' 4" and so's my wife!
neil1963creed 1 year ago
@neil1963creed oi! thats no way to talk to someone whos got a degree?! andy warhol will be turning in his grave tut
dermotoblong 1 year ago
Japan on the other hand were actually a good band.
thomasjamesclarke 3 years ago 3
Thanks for posting this
maxelkat 4 years ago
This is a good one ! Do you have other interviews like this can forward to me. thanks
mingmingx 4 years ago
OMG, finally get to hear Steve and Richard talk. They have voices!! Paul Morley as ever is full of that brown stuff that comes out your bum. Japan were always brilliant. I love their old stuff.
jackiwithani 4 years ago 3
I am so glad I found this vid. I have seen Jansen playing w. Sylvian on tour but I never realized how utterly sexy he is up close! Holy smokes, he makes David Beckham look like Buddy Hackett!!
amiehartnett 4 years ago 4
beckham to hackett. now thats funny
alonelyplanetboy 3 years ago
What's that first song playing when the guy says "the effeminate futurists"?
JohnnySwitchblade 4 years ago
life in tokyo
bluenose40 4 years ago 2
Really? Like RIGHT before he says it? It sounds different on here...
JohnnySwitchblade 4 years ago
Life in Tokyo - get the 12" version
gaslett 4 years ago
Ahh...I see. A different mix. Now I understand.
JohnnySwitchblade 4 years ago
You are welcome.
Also for other trax. Best album by Japan in my opinion
Quiet Life.
gaslett 4 years ago 2
Yes, Quiet Life is the best of them.
gmansi 4 years ago
I was 16 and bought quiet life the single then proceeded to buy everything i could find by Japan, i was lucky enough to see them in Liverpool Empire must have been about 82 had to go on my own because no one else i new was wise enough to realize just how brilliant they were,i still have all my albums on top of my wardrobe n im 44 now...I F***in loved this band.....Oh n Morley is a tit....
korkeycat 3 years ago
The reason I play bass guitar is because of four people. Mick Karn, Bernard Edwards, Robert "Kool" Bell and John Taylor, The New Romantic bands, Chic and the Minneapolis Sound were so cool I wanted and still do play music just like Japan, Duran Duran, Chic and Prince and the Revolution.
newsoul 4 years ago
Agreed...this was really the coolest stuff, I even claim it was the peak of pop music, when all the new romantic bands and minneapolis funk ruled the charts. Musically it was such an interesting time, bands could really play, even bands like kajagoogoo were real cats on their instruments...an seeing bands like human league teaming up with minneapolis producers jam & lewis was just great. I really miss this fusion of wave and r'n'b in todays music.
phos808 4 years ago
Maybe there are some kids or adults (it's never too late)somewhere who want to marry those sounds again. That's what I miss too the fusion of Nu Wave and R&B in today's music.
newsoul 4 years ago
Yeah...maybe we should team up and start the comeback of soulful new wave ;-)You play bass, I play synths...who else wants to join? Anyone with enough hairspray is in the band :-)
phos808 4 years ago
Hey, not so much of a joke...I'd take it seriously and actually make a band like that if I could. I miss New Wave and 80s music.
JohnnySwitchblade 4 years ago
i can't take my eyes of sylvian - his look, his manners, his talking, his voice, his singing... he's so charming.
FamilySnapshot 4 years ago
ey familySnapshot, otra coincidencia! yo hace como un mes que casi no puedo escuchar otra cosa que no sea sylvian (bueno, con la salvedad de gabriel ;))
zikphu 4 years ago
ah hola! que coincidencia! salimos a tomar cafe? ;DD oye, tienes msn o algo asi, me gustaria hablarte :)
FamilySnapshot 4 years ago
si, mi msn es rafamcnamara, hotmail, com (you tube no deja poner dir de mail, asi que agregá vos el arroba y el punto), agregame y hablamos, un café sería genial ;)
zikphu 4 years ago
I notice that there is no mention of guitarist Rob Dean in this video clip.
trakmac 4 years ago
I still listen to the "Quite Life" album. Mick Karns bass really made Japan's sound unique.
troyincanada 4 years ago 2
in the last seconds of the video there's somebody singing. Is David or Steve (he also sings).
FrancoDamn 4 years ago
The two first album "weren't good" because those times were punkier and postpunkier. In the year of Quiet Life, the new romantic take the place
FrancoDamn 4 years ago
I always thought Obscure Alternatives was a good album, since 1979, it still holds up.
bluntsafety 4 years ago
Watching this I just realized that Morley wrote the snippets of texts used in the "Ink in the Well"-video (also available on YouTube). Check the credits at the beginning of that video. Anyone knows how that came about?
PraDecon 4 years ago
No. I don't agree with Morley. 'Adolescent Sex' is a fabulous song. Really underrated.
star17city 4 years ago
Was that Morley who said: "their 1st three albums were crap"? Than yeah, Morley is an ff-ing idiot!
Shandler24K 4 years ago
Japan "the best band of the 80'"
ModestoMuniz 4 years ago 2
So that's what Richard Barbieri was doing before he joined Porcupine Tree!
trakmac 4 years ago
i think their "Tin drum" album is a musical masterpiece.
Gorbunov 5 years ago