he has cancer now ans they are saying its not good... all the information is on micks site... im so upset over this...im a bass player of 25 years and mick was one of the reasons i started
I think he feels it lacks "truth" To an extent what he said about Japan being too much of an image is true but towards the end of their career (1980s) I don't feel that way at all. I would've loved to see what they could've come up with together after Tin Drum. Most of his fans don't hate Japan (they went crazy at a concert where he played otherside of life) so he really shouldn't either. It's kind of a shame.
Otherside of Life is masterful. To me it is. And I love Quiet Life. But perhaps to David it's all below what it could've been.
People forget that a band is like any other experience, so when you look back on past projects (very much like looking back on life) it often strikes you that where you once found perfection, a few years on reveals itself as a flaw.
All he's doing is giving the new work a break. And he did mention the quality of Japan buried under the image. So he recognized it.
if there was an image thing going on, he certainly seemed to be a part of that movement...I think it came down to he wanted to do it all himself..and if you listen to the differnt directions of karn and sylvian its very interesting...Karn has just been diagnosed with terminal cancer sadly..
I was at that concert - the one opening the interview- I guess it was in 1981 or 1982 at "le Palace" in Paris and this is an extraordinary memory! When I hear David saying that he wasn t
satisfied with Japan s music I just can t believe it,
because we WERE, and I so miss that band and its creativeness! I d like to think that a reunion is still possible. David, PLEEEASE?
At 4.40 he says he is more clear minded about his faith. Does anyone know what faith that is? I would be interested in knowing. Not necessarily a religion. But it might be.
Does anyone know who conducted this interview and where it originated from? I am gathering research for my dissertation on the compositions of David Sylvian you see! X
Its funny how genius comes with complication, I loved japan for years and they totally dominated my life, but could never come to terms with david disliking japan. I as an individual adored the music, the image was always second to that, maybe because I play a fretless bass myself I was always listening deeply...not looking to hard.
Well for me, the most perfect song David Sylvian has ever been involved in was "Wave". I enjoy GTE immensely as a whole and better than any Japan album as a whole. I love certain Japan songs (like "Taking Islands in Africa") and I don't feel he's dismissing the entire body of work.
I think its funny how he talks about nature and being a part of nature while he waves his smoke around LOL!
I really like him, but I can't see the point in being so pretentious. Besides, has anybody ever heard him saying something funny, or doing some joke?
How can this man lack so much of English humour?
Full respect for his musicianship, but it's so silly of him to say he's unhappy about what Japan achieved. It's obvious he places personal conflicts above their common work, and this is very immature of him, as opposite to what he wants to look like.
Yes I agree. He's clearly a very conflicted person, but musically I think he's bordering on genius, and often it's the case with creative people that they take their personal problems and use them to make great art. So I think I'd rather just hear the music, than hearing him talking about it. He should stop doing interviews altogether.
true, Iv'e just posted a comment that mirrors your view exactly. Talent can also be fun, ie- simon le bon. durans music was sometimes on par with japan, but the lads had a good laugh from what I could tell.....don't crawl up your own backside too far David, just trust your own immense talent...
Been a fan since late 70's early 80's until around '93. Then I gave up on D.S.
His observation of Japan as being necessary to get to where he wanted to be is understandable, however the only solo album I find to have any substance was SOTBH.
Japan were brilliant because of Mick Karn AND Steve Jansen AND Richard Barbieri not just D.S.
He, as a solo artist, is an interesting musician but certainly not a genius by any stretch of the imagination. The term 'pious wanker' comes to mind.
Well, he just is very critical about himself and he takes his music very seriously.
I think another reason why he has problems with Japan's work is that as a solo artist he always wanted to lose that early David Sylvian persona which is so much linked to Japan but which isn't really himself. I think he really began to discover and to be himself when he stopped wearing make up and I absolutely prefer him when he is looking his most natural.
I've always disagreed with David about Japan's work. To me, Japan's later music is almost perfection. I think he's too hard on it. David's solo work seems to be focused on losing the youthful exuberance of Japan, but I think that's one of the things that makes music great in the first place.
ha, jonny depp has based his very successful image on this period of sylvian's past. this was made in 1987 in France, the same year as vanessa paradis (then 15) had her big international hit Joe Le Taxi, and she is now Depp's wife.
Silvian was, is and always will be an excellent lyricist. He's just turned 50 and although I'm not sure when this video was made, it is mildly amusing to see him still sporting those Trevor Horn specs :)
where do you get all this rare sylvian footage? for years i trawled through magazines etc hoping to see something related to him. absolute class nice one!
you know am defo not a fan of smoking and esp living in Ireland I think the move is towards banning it totally, however, maybe its just art at work but the closing scenes look great 'all smokey like' ... he s looking very confident maybe before it was the make up then the smoking now he is not hiding and is less affected and more comfortable with himself without the props....mind you he also seems kinda cranky........where are all these interviews being unearthed Moodyb..its great
I hate cigarettes too, and i'll be very glad if it will be totally banned :)
The idea of David peeling his layers by taking his make up off and later on stop smoking makes a great sense to me, but I prefer David with his make up on, though i'm not sure how is it going to look with all the wrinkles today.
how could you say David would anything but fantastic.........yeah he s got old and not great looking old .......but I see you re only 22........how lucky you are..
I'm sorry, but i'm telling my opinion here...I don't think Sylvian looks more than a cute old man today...especially when his young and beautiful face stands in an absolute contrary. Of course it doesn't change my opinion about his noble & charming personallity.
P.S: it's a mistake on my profile, i'm 17, and actually I would prefer living on the 80's and be old today.
O God 'cute old man'.......that would be devastating for anyone to hear about themselves. Well I is 39....and I clearly remember being 17, I do still feel much the same and even tho my horizons have broadened thru experience, travel education etc. I still like the things I did at your age, just more variety now.........mind you wish I was 17 again........
Thank you for the upload. Very interesting.
sharka69 1 year ago
god bless mick karn...
he has cancer now ans they are saying its not good... all the information is on micks site... im so upset over this...im a bass player of 25 years and mick was one of the reasons i started
sprintbass 1 year ago
A talent that has been forgotten and ignored for too long!
Orton1859 1 year ago
OMG David looks like Mrs Anderson, my seventh grade English teacher. Great interview though. :)
fIamingdiva 2 years ago
God bless David Sylvian and all the other thinkers in this world.
zarabcat 2 years ago
David is mr serious to the point of it being scary. The level he hates Japan's music really bothers me because it was mostly great.
paintedship 2 years ago 4
Maybe what sounds so brilliant to all of you sounds underdeveloped to him.
You can't really blame people for promoting their work and starting off with: "There will never be another Japan" isn't really very clever.
LunaSeaSane 2 years ago
I think he feels it lacks "truth" To an extent what he said about Japan being too much of an image is true but towards the end of their career (1980s) I don't feel that way at all. I would've loved to see what they could've come up with together after Tin Drum. Most of his fans don't hate Japan (they went crazy at a concert where he played otherside of life) so he really shouldn't either. It's kind of a shame.
paintedship 2 years ago
Otherside of Life is masterful. To me it is. And I love Quiet Life. But perhaps to David it's all below what it could've been.
People forget that a band is like any other experience, so when you look back on past projects (very much like looking back on life) it often strikes you that where you once found perfection, a few years on reveals itself as a flaw.
All he's doing is giving the new work a break. And he did mention the quality of Japan buried under the image. So he recognized it.
LunaSeaSane 2 years ago 4
@paintedship i agree
if there was an image thing going on, he certainly seemed to be a part of that movement...I think it came down to he wanted to do it all himself..and if you listen to the differnt directions of karn and sylvian its very interesting...Karn has just been diagnosed with terminal cancer sadly..
sprintbass 1 year ago
@sprintbass do you mean part of new romantic movement? From what I understand they distanced themselves from any of that.
Karn has stage 4 cancer unfortunately. He must of had it for a long time but only revealed his diagnosis until recently, really sad.
paintedship 1 year ago
@sprintbass NOT terminal. Hope you've made a donation at his website! ;)
ariesscorpiorising 1 year ago
I was at that concert - the one opening the interview- I guess it was in 1981 or 1982 at "le Palace" in Paris and this is an extraordinary memory! When I hear David saying that he wasn t
satisfied with Japan s music I just can t believe it,
because we WERE, and I so miss that band and its creativeness! I d like to think that a reunion is still possible. David, PLEEEASE?
sjlp1 2 years ago
that footage is from the oil on canvas concert video recorded in November of 1982 at the Hammersmith Odeon in London
paintedship 2 years ago
At 4.40 he says he is more clear minded about his faith. Does anyone know what faith that is? I would be interested in knowing. Not necessarily a religion. But it might be.
jezzyby47 2 years ago
Is our love strong enough?
nicck 2 years ago
Does anyone know who conducted this interview and where it originated from? I am gathering research for my dissertation on the compositions of David Sylvian you see! X
enjoibaggy 2 years ago
Its funny how genius comes with complication, I loved japan for years and they totally dominated my life, but could never come to terms with david disliking japan. I as an individual adored the music, the image was always second to that, maybe because I play a fretless bass myself I was always listening deeply...not looking to hard.
oldsynth 2 years ago
Well for me, the most perfect song David Sylvian has ever been involved in was "Wave". I enjoy GTE immensely as a whole and better than any Japan album as a whole. I love certain Japan songs (like "Taking Islands in Africa") and I don't feel he's dismissing the entire body of work.
I think its funny how he talks about nature and being a part of nature while he waves his smoke around LOL!
gothgirl25 3 years ago
I really like him, but I can't see the point in being so pretentious. Besides, has anybody ever heard him saying something funny, or doing some joke?
How can this man lack so much of English humour?
Full respect for his musicianship, but it's so silly of him to say he's unhappy about what Japan achieved. It's obvious he places personal conflicts above their common work, and this is very immature of him, as opposite to what he wants to look like.
mirzamarco 3 years ago
Yes I agree. He's clearly a very conflicted person, but musically I think he's bordering on genius, and often it's the case with creative people that they take their personal problems and use them to make great art. So I think I'd rather just hear the music, than hearing him talking about it. He should stop doing interviews altogether.
DHBB 3 years ago
true, Iv'e just posted a comment that mirrors your view exactly. Talent can also be fun, ie- simon le bon. durans music was sometimes on par with japan, but the lads had a good laugh from what I could tell.....don't crawl up your own backside too far David, just trust your own immense talent...
oldsynth 2 years ago
Been a fan since late 70's early 80's until around '93. Then I gave up on D.S.
His observation of Japan as being necessary to get to where he wanted to be is understandable, however the only solo album I find to have any substance was SOTBH.
Japan were brilliant because of Mick Karn AND Steve Jansen AND Richard Barbieri not just D.S.
He, as a solo artist, is an interesting musician but certainly not a genius by any stretch of the imagination. The term 'pious wanker' comes to mind.
tartcreative 3 years ago
Well, he just is very critical about himself and he takes his music very seriously.
I think another reason why he has problems with Japan's work is that as a solo artist he always wanted to lose that early David Sylvian persona which is so much linked to Japan but which isn't really himself. I think he really began to discover and to be himself when he stopped wearing make up and I absolutely prefer him when he is looking his most natural.
Doriana58 3 years ago
I've always disagreed with David about Japan's work. To me, Japan's later music is almost perfection. I think he's too hard on it. David's solo work seems to be focused on losing the youthful exuberance of Japan, but I think that's one of the things that makes music great in the first place.
ajs41 3 years ago
Thank you Moodyb :D I love David Sylvian...
bemyart90 3 years ago
ha, jonny depp has based his very successful image on this period of sylvian's past. this was made in 1987 in France, the same year as vanessa paradis (then 15) had her big international hit Joe Le Taxi, and she is now Depp's wife.
amdby 3 years ago
Silvian was, is and always will be an excellent lyricist. He's just turned 50 and although I'm not sure when this video was made, it is mildly amusing to see him still sporting those Trevor Horn specs :)
polarsequence 3 years ago
Does he smoke today?
fingersin 4 years ago
He gave up some time ago...
moodyb 4 years ago
Too bad, it fits him so well...but at least he'll be healthy...
fingersin 4 years ago
I saw him live back in '03 and smoking wasn't allowed during the show.
Tazz77 3 years ago
where do you get all this rare sylvian footage? for years i trawled through magazines etc hoping to see something related to him. absolute class nice one!
dermotoblong 3 years ago
@moodyb You sure?
makiron1227 3 months ago
@makiron1227 About what?
moodyb 3 months ago
@moodyb The time he quit cigarettes,when was that?back in the 90s or earlier?
makiron1227 3 months ago
you know am defo not a fan of smoking and esp living in Ireland I think the move is towards banning it totally, however, maybe its just art at work but the closing scenes look great 'all smokey like' ... he s looking very confident maybe before it was the make up then the smoking now he is not hiding and is less affected and more comfortable with himself without the props....mind you he also seems kinda cranky........where are all these interviews being unearthed Moodyb..its great
05rachy 4 years ago
I hate cigarettes too, and i'll be very glad if it will be totally banned :)
The idea of David peeling his layers by taking his make up off and later on stop smoking makes a great sense to me, but I prefer David with his make up on, though i'm not sure how is it going to look with all the wrinkles today.
fingersin 4 years ago
how could you say David would anything but fantastic.........yeah he s got old and not great looking old .......but I see you re only 22........how lucky you are..
05rachy 4 years ago
I'm sorry, but i'm telling my opinion here...I don't think Sylvian looks more than a cute old man today...especially when his young and beautiful face stands in an absolute contrary. Of course it doesn't change my opinion about his noble & charming personallity.
P.S: it's a mistake on my profile, i'm 17, and actually I would prefer living on the 80's and be old today.
fingersin 3 years ago
O God 'cute old man'.......that would be devastating for anyone to hear about themselves. Well I is 39....and I clearly remember being 17, I do still feel much the same and even tho my horizons have broadened thru experience, travel education etc. I still like the things I did at your age, just more variety now.........mind you wish I was 17 again........
05rachy 3 years ago
Yes, that would be devastating. What you should say is cute old LADY. Get it right ffs!
strangebeastie 3 years ago