Japan - Cantonese Boy/Ghosts LIVE @ OGWT 1982

[audiotrax2000]

How I idolized the during the 80's! You know what, their art rock/image is STILL miles ahead of anyone else. This will never be old.

[1likestuff]

Love the first Lp, especially Television, class

[Karmaunc]

Ha! Sakamoto on synths, never noticed that before :)

[Kaleid7]

I wasn't even born when this came out. Fortunately, I have youtube to watch, so I can at least jealously imagine what it would have been like to have grown up as a teenager listening to brilliance like this, instead of the commercial bile of the late 90s. It pisses me off that snooty reviewers seem to happily chuck Japan into the New Romantic category; hopefully, others will see Japan as the precocious artists they were, instead of a band relegated to 80s compilations featuring 'Quiet Life'.

[XXXXmadman]

japan will live forever in all of us who were there

[walbassmike]

Read Micks autobiograhy-its interesting to see what Mick thought of David!

The book is a fantastic insight into the band-from an extremely modest person



[geltvaha]

Sublime! Pure originality and unconformed creativity. I listen to japan even now regularly on me iphone. Still fresh.

Wil. Dublin

[MrChrisbolden]

Dave has been compared to Ferry and Bowie - But honestly - to this day - Sylvian stands alone - especially in the creative sense

[wendybrownkatz]

Cantonese Boy and Ghosts... two of the best songs of the 80's... such an under-rated (but still critically acclaimed) band... so much better than the tosh they're frequently lumped in with.

[whereangelsplay1]

David was actually a male model before Japan

[WhatTheCurtains]

@whereangelsplay1 , I thought they formed in 1974 when they were 15/16, making a previous career a bit tricky.

[pawnsacrifice1]

Mick you will always be cool as fuck

[FrankNFurter1000]

RIP Mick, Absolute legend and never ever forgotten <3

[numberwang2020]

Rest in peace mick...you were from a special band...one of the best

[newfuckingwave]

where the fuck is this on rolling stone's almighty greatest songs list? undoubtedly one of the best songs ever made. love steve's marimba solo lol

[Maxiclaudi]

This was also shown on BBC3 and silly me, I prefer to have it on the DVD hard disc than watching it on YouTube/my computer! Somehow it seems more real when you see it on your old-fashioned, big screen (mind you: no flat screen or wide screen either, just the plain old square tv like we used to watch this programme on!).

[pawnsacrifice1]

Remember BBC2 did a programme at the stroke of midnight 1989 celebrating 80's music...this was on it. Love Japan and Mick Karn is the fucking best bass player for me

[KizzyDog01]

Absolutely brilliant!

[mindhead2005]

God what a shame this band broke up. What promise!

I remember seeing this at the time and being absolutely convinced we were in for a brave new musical world.

Thanks for posting this.

[sjlp1]

David s always so sexy and classy, ew! To tell the truth I think it was a crime against music for Japan to split up and deprive their fans from such good music

[sensei021281]

If anyone of you has the "Cantonese Boy" part alone and in good quality, please post it!

[RosewdMartyr7]

Excellent!

[jezzyby47]

Again - originally in 4:3. How have you got it in 16:9? I've got this OGWT session also and the guitar isn't that loud in Cantonese Boy on mine. Is this from an OGWT compilation DVD?

[beschermengel]

damn.. japan is sooooo cool...

[lespman]

Oh! Ryuichi sakamoto!!

[Klogsigarok]

I really like Japan, great music!

[HigherLoveBand]

I know sir Sakamoto personally;)

[furyplum44]

you are hideously lucky!!!!!

[ajittffcure]

Ha ha...

[furyplum44]

"blown away by ultravox & Duran Duran"-santnicola =

what a twat, Japan was the inspiration behind duran duran and ultravox where nothing compared to Japan...

[MUSICOBLISS]

Japan IS the best band ever !

[tiernot]

the best ever band live ( i am proud to say i saw them in birmingham in the 80's) fiiing the best and dave karn was a star

[ajittffcure]

You were so lucky! By the way, I am sure you actually meant Mick Karn.

[tiernot]

i think you are right *ooops*

[bemyart90]

Oh David Sylvian is so gorgeous... I hope I can say something not so nonsense... but all I can say is that David Sylvian is LOVE!!!

[santnicola]

Whats all the talk about this band? They never got that big cause they were not as good as people think. After trying the school of Bowie/ Roxy Music and the New York Dolls they were blow out of the way by Ultravox, Gary Neuman and Duran Duran..... Japan simply could not get the important hits needed to survive.

[kevinmcgarrigle]

GO back and check your history books! Now I have it on the record that Japan were out playing pretty big concerts in London etc when Duran were just doing the Rum Runner! I have it on good faith that Duran asked a member of Japan to produce their first album, it was Air studios they did demos, while Japan one of Durans early influences were recording Gentlemen take polaroids! down the hall. Japan did Burning bridges and instrumentals Duran produced Tel Aviv! japan were not commercial duran were

[gregingram1970]

Duran Duran never set out to be pin up boys. Japan did influence duran duran. Japan 'borrowed heavily' off david bowie, roxy music and new york dolls - hence the smiliar sound. more importantly, duran duran, unlike Japan, are much more diverse in their sound and albums - japan are the oasis and status quo of new wave music. duran duran moved on and thats why they are, probably, the most successful british band, on a global scale, since the beatles.

[randykawasaki]

success and quality are often mutually exclusive.........incidentally DS's solo stuff is really interesting, a very long way Status Quo

[randykawasaki]

a very long way FROM status quo

[ThomasJeromeNewton]

duran duran copied chic and disco and peaked compositionwise after big thing. Imaginary World was a fluke (to be repeated as Smebody else not me or their cover Perfect day)

After awhile they got embarassed of their own intelectualism and sucked up to timbaland / timberlake.

Roxy Music, Japan, T rex and Bowie. Duran duran is just a waste of hairspray and Nick Rhodes' talents. And pandau Ballet isn't even worth the mention.

[00fallon]

What they did was passionate and rather than competing with aforesaid,they offered an alternative which was nice.Mick Karn is an excellent bassist.

[lundijuno106]

best band of the 80's ever

[furyplum44]

i agree

[furyplum44]

sir Sakamoto at 3:32 lol ^^ <3333

[futtermeinego]

XD, he's great

[furyplum44]

Cantonese boy, bang your tin drum.

I love the base in that song!

I love Japan!!!

[ajittffcure]

What an amazing performance! Mick Karn is an innovative bass player. His bass lines are so beautifully melodic and rhythmic in a completely balanced way. Steve Jansen is a phenomenal drummer and the rest of them are just unique in their own ways! Lovely footage. Thanks for uploading. This goes in my favourites list.

[sprmn81]

I don't care what anyone says, I think Japan and Duran Duran are both awesome. To me, New Romantics only looked similar, however, they were innovative in their own ways. Adam Ant was New Romantic (depending on the album), but didn't use any synthesizers. He was known for the Tribal beats and horns. This is a touchy subject, so I will stop talking now!

[SPORIASIS]

Ce groupe est la plus grande injustice des années 80 !!!nous avons du supporter tant de merde quand nous avions a notre portée une veritable exception musicale ...

[FLORENT2222]

tout à fait d'accord!! ils avaient tout pour eux !! à mon avis, s'ils avaient duré, ils auraient eu une carrière exceptionnelle. ils avaient un style, un son, un talent unique !!

[jncook]

Before everyone blows his nuts in anger over this, s/he said the following (as best as I can translate):

I am completely in agreement (or completely agree). They had everything (all) going for them (going their way), in my opinion, had they had lasted (stuck together as a group), they would have had an exceptional career. They had a unique style, a sound, a singular(one of a kind) talent!!

[furyplum44]

I love japan, David is awesome, so pretty too!

I envy anyone who has met him!

*Vomits in jelousy*

[troughsnout]

Jesus on a bike I can't believe I've finally found this song. This guy has got the key to my soul. His vibrato voice chills me. When it goes to 'just when i think I'm winning' well, it tears flesh from my old bones.

[CircusOfHeaven]

David is proud of you!

[troughsnout]

I'm touched by that thought. I've been carrying this song around in my head for decades and hearing it again just turns my blood to ice. I LOVE David's vocals SO much.

[ajittffcure]

Yeah, I can relate to 'Ghosts' as well!

[hub1971]

@CircusOfHeaven man i saw this when i was 10. it completely blew my mind! saka was the coolest thing i had ever seen. i don't know what you think, but i think of 'ghosts' as a minor track nowadays. personally, i reckon 'methods of dance', 'swing', 'my new career', 'life without buildings' and 'canton' are their best tunes. what'd you think? X

[CircusOfHeaven]

omg just after about a year i noticed they do industrial guitar treating around the middle of Ghosts, amazing

[3dcandy]

Excellent workout for a heap of Prophet-5's...

Tin Drum is almost a Sequential demo album :-)

[duranasty]

japan did adapt to new romantic for a while and i still believe they are a band of many styles.some people get it wrong between duran and japan.david doesnt play keyboards and claim the band to be his and have a vocalist to front the band.two great bands that may have been similar for a short time.respect to both individual bands .

[peacefulbliss]

errmmm. david doesn't play keyboards ????!! i suggest you do a little more research ! the similarity between the two was probably down to duran and a little bit of how shall we say politely (!)'inspiration' going on there.Japan 'Gentleman take polaroids' 1980. Duran Duran 'Girls on film' 1981. Spot the similarity ?

[xxxstarmanxxx]

Picking up on the Duran/Japan war - tis true - Rhodes was always gonna be an understudy to Sylvian - There are so many layers to Sylvians works that Rhodes would do the following - Scratch the surface - break a nail - and finally give up in frustration - The closest Rhodes has ever come to Sylvian is with 'The Dark Circles' concept album - and that had about as much depth as - well - A dark circle under his eye...........lol -

[xxxstarmanxxx]

Japan 'were' the quintessential new romantic band - They were already an established band as Britains equivalent of the 70's New York Dolls - SO if glam rock truely did turn into romantisism - this band was the forerunner............simple!

[MadGello]

best 'GHOSTS' recording EVER!

thank you JAPAN!

[duerdenn]

Incredible to remember that Japan were grouped together with New Romantic tosh such as Duran/Spandau etc when at their height in early 80s-David Sylvian may have been a pretty boy but was pretty talented too-one of the best songwriters we have had in last 30 years in UK.

Also Nick Rhodes stole Sylvians look as well but Duran could not steal the quality of Japans songs-Duran-style over substance,mediocrity at its finest!!!

[CircusOfHeaven]

just because Duran were pretty and more popular than Japan, doesn't mean they're mediocre ;) you speak like a typical know it all in Japan vs. Duran cases..

[duerdenn]

Whoops!-sorry if you took offence young lady!-Duran had some halfway decent singles early in their career(as did Spandau Ballet)-but in comparison to Japan thier is no comparison-not comparing like to like-originality,quality of songwritng and musicianship(and influence)far superior from Mr Sylvian & co.

Have 700cd collection,large vinyl collection and attended 100s of gigs(many before you were born!) so perhaps justified and certified "Know All"-your words not mine!

Relax,have a nice day!

[CircusOfHeaven]

why would anybody compare them anyway? their music is too different to be compared one with another! i'm not offended, no way, you can't imagine how hard is to offend me:) but i really hate it when people-have they attended a hundred gigs before i was born or not-do the 'Japan >>> Duran' trick which is so whatever!

[motellife]

duran duran was a pale, cheap, radio-friendly cardboard copy of Japan. Sylvian knew that and when Duran Duran asked for him to produce their album, he said no. when they asked to open for Japan, Sylvian and Co. said no.

[newfuckingwave]

@CircusOfHeaven not to be the typical mediator douche, but you are both right. i adore both bands, and duran duran were undoubtedly great but few bands in the WHOLE of music are on the same level as japan. its not that dd were worse, japan was simply better, if you will

[Bythesea007]

@CircusOfHeaven Comparing Japan and Duran is like comparing David Bowie to Slade, there is no comparison

[Bythesea007]

Comparing Japan and Duran is like comparing David Bowie to Slade, there is no comparison

[ceephaxx]

it's pretty pointless to group Japan in with Duran & Spandau. There may have been passing similarities in some of their early style, but Japan quickly eclipsed their contemporaries in musical scope and sophistication (although Duran & Spandau could obviously knock out some good hits)

I remember Gary Kemp reviewing Sylvian's first solo album on a TV show at the time, and he was being very dismissive of it, saying that Sylvian "should get out more". Well, he did that of course - and a lot more.

[davidgruginski]

'mediocrity at its finest!!! '

it's the best definition to your comment.

[duerdenn]

Asshole at his finest-another multiple YouTube user verbally abusing others-PATHETIC!!!!

[davidgruginski]

'David Sylvian may have been a pretty boy but was pretty talented too-one of the best songwriters we have had in last 30 years in UK.'

ridicolous, if beauty oposite talent, typical nerdish sexually frustated bullshit.

[duerdenn]

Your "comments" are more self referential than insulting to me dear boy-ha ha!!!

Go back to your chav happy avalon!!!

[dermotoblong]

dont like the guitar bit much seems a bit out of step with the song who is it ...rhodes? good guitarist went on to play with peter gabriel i think

[dermotoblong]

nah fuck that! sylvian expressed disatisfaction about live performances, but listen to the music nerds! they were fucking class!

[Paardekut]

A bit disappointing to see that it's not completely live. Tape machine is running in the background. I hear synth parts that are not played by the keyboard guys.

Great music though.

[CircusOfHeaven]

i don't believe it is because the guys were incapable of playing it entirely live. plus, the singing is live, to me THAT is what matters the most:)

[Paardekut]

It is a sign of lazyness, which became a trend in the 80's. The drummer is doing F... all in this track and still they need a tape machine. They're not very complicated classical type parts, so why they chose to put them on tape is beyond me. If it's just the singing that matters, might as well put everything on tape. Mind you, I still admire these guys for what they did on record, that's why I'm disappointed to see them cheat.

[CircusOfHeaven]

jeez, what i meant is that it was the show who probably asked them to do things partly live, not that they came up with such 'a great idea', i thought you're smarter, for gods sake!

[Paardekut]

Psycho!!!

[CircusOfHeaven]

who, Sylvian? or you? idiot

[Paardekut]

Oh, I see, you're queer.

That explains it.

[CircusOfHeaven]

what the heck was that LOL :D

[djb1969]

No it's not. It's a sign of 1) not being able to afford 4-5 Prophet 5 synths (and the people to play them) in order to recreate the album track. That equipment was not cheap. A Prophet 5 used to sell for several thousand pounds back in the early 80s. And, seeing as Japan probably didn't have a lot of money and/or label support back then, it was probably a lot cheaper to using backing tapes.

[ceephaxx]

"drummer is doing F... all" ??

er, well the first track was never written with a drum part, which may explain why he wasn't playing drums...but he is playing the marimba part.

The second track has a very mechanical synchopated beat with synthetic sounds. He seems to playing a fair bit of that on those Simmons drums.Steve Janses doesn't "cheat" but does incorporate technology when appropriate to do so.

[thomasjamesclarke]

It's how a techno/ electro sort of band works surely...

Not everything can be played live as there are generally too few members...

[lamancha2]

I love the way David Sylvian sits down - how suave is that?

[CircusOfHeaven]

muy suave, la verdad:)

[bluenose40]

Class,are these available on dvd?

[CircusOfHeaven]

i think this could be from the best of OGWT.. though i also think that only Ghosts is really available. or perhaps all this performance.

[chrisjpz]

Oops - apologies, Sylvian has definately worked with Robert Fripp post Japan, but ya I was mistaken, dont think he's ever worked with Brian Eno - early Japan, later years Japan, Sylvian's solo work - all unique and brilliant.......

[chrisjpz]

You only have to look to Sylvian's solo work post Japan, for validation about how brilliant Japan were....Sylvian has collaborated with Eno, Fripp and a whole host of other avant garde /jazz luminaries....Never got into Ghosts, but loved everything else, like the first 2 albums, Quiet Life, Polaroids, Oil on Canvas...they were truly brilliant and beyond classification, thanks for posting this

[CircusOfHeaven]

err he didin't actually work with Eno, which is VERY weird, hence the artists of the genre usually know each other and that.. as far as i know he hasn't even been in the same room en Eno, heh. i don't know if i got you right but i much preffer Brilliant Trees than Adolescent Sex, but that's taste..

[cambelt2001]

Spooky song remember it well...still recall the random synth noises....wanted my hair like davids at the time my Mum killed me when I dyed the sides of my blonde hair brown!

[CircusOfHeaven]

haha that's so nice.. i envy you so much to be frank! :D

[someuselessbastard]

The guy on guitar is Masami Tsuchiya, from the band Ippu Do. Some of their videos are on youtube.

[Eizelle67]

You're right, the man on the Guitar is Masami Tsuchiya, but he is not from the YMO. I have forget the Band he's coming from. Tin Drum, best Album from Japan i think.

[crosspaths10]

Cantonese Boy is result of five geniuses playing instruments together. What a complex song...how do they write stuff like this? What gets me is the rhythm section during the chorus...it's unpredictable and doesn't contain any real hook...but it's so memorable. I'm continually impressed with this band. What a shame they couldn't have made at least a few more records.

[CircusOfHeaven]

what a shame everyone around them were idiots and understood their goodness when it was actually too late.

[crosspaths10]

Like me for example...I was born in the late 70's so I was too young to experience their greatness. My first exposure to them was seeing them listed in Blender Magazine's "50 Worst Bands". I went searching for them and found "The Quiet Life" video and actually liked it. Then I heard "My New Career" and was completely sold. It's too bad that the world of music pushed these guys aside. I'm blown away by them. Nobody can create music like this anymore. We now live in a world of "autotune".

[CircusOfHeaven]

fuck blender. i ain't reading that NEVER in my life for this. where can i find this list? hm i wonder what was i so amused with.. i think the cover of Tin Drum is that caught my eye :D

[crosspaths10]

An uncontestable argument against the '80s Japan formed in '74 and soon discovered that their mixture of washed-out glam-rock, vaguely literary pretensions and buckets of makeup prompted little more than cruel laughter. The dawn of the '80s found things moving their way, and by 1981, distracted teens were wobbling to "Art of Parties" and "Still Life in Mobile Homes" (the titles say it all). Fact: Their version of "I Second That Emotion" might be the worst Motown cover of all time.

[crosspaths10]

the above is a shortened version from Blender dot com. They were ranked 33 out of "The 50 Worst Bands".

[CircusOfHeaven]

yeah i've read that by this time. i'd laugh at the author of that if i got to meet him.. what a miserable statement he did with it. 'the titles say it all' huh?.. what is he on about? poor, he was probably having a bad day when he wrote that or smth!

[crosspaths10]

Although I disagree with "best/worst" lists as a whole...I kind of have to agree that Japan's cover of "I Second That Emotion" really does suck. I LOVE Japan, but they should stick to their own material. The "Mobile Home" statement the writer made was alluding to the thought that Japan listeners were trashy/dodgy types.

[citizendrewski]

ha, mick karn is just sitting there in the dark through ghosts. who's the guy on guitar?

[CircusOfHeaven]

i believe is that japanese Masami or something like that? can't ever remember his name but i think he was in YMO with Ryuichi :o

[shesgotmedals]

Fantastic to relive these great memories, I went to see David on Saturday and he's as good as ever.... thanks for sharing.

[ModestoMuniz]

fantastico!!!! son geniales..se adelantaron 20 años a su tiempo.

[nono5354]

1982...what a wonderful year~~~

[whisperingsea]

i second that emotion !!

[xxxCheeryCherryxxx]

Thank you for adding this. I ADORE David Sylvian :).

[Royzie555]

fantastic - was going to add this! The sublime messrs Sylvian & Sakamoto!

[CircusOfHeaven]

amazing, aren't they! love love love. and Swing.. well, without Sakamoto of corse, but still - have you watched that? it's the best Japan video i've seen so far!