Absolutely!! David was the shop window in the band, I understand how and why...but Mick Karn was most definitely the goods in the back! Taken way too soon. RIP 🌹
I was a girl who spent her 14th year artistically and aesthetically inspired by David Sylvian. I loved his "Brilliant Trees" immensely, and Japan were my " special band". I even had a lot of his look.
Could you believe I didn’t know the band until last July(2020)? I saw the Gentleman Take Polaroids in the bins with the Back to Black series of vinyl from roughly 20 years but I thought it was another Duran Duran splinter band. I have listen to 80s stuff ALOT so I won’t tire of my main goto stuff.. Beatles. Stones, Who, Pink Floyd, Led Zep, Depeche Mode, The Smiths, and so on and so on. I said a little prayer to God for more 80s music.. and in a few weeks there was a list of 100 top 80s tracks and boom, Quiet Life was #1! I love God!!!
Duran Duran (Duran Japan) got famous by taking their sound and making it lighter and poppier. But Japan never got enough credit for creating music and an aesthetic that so many bands after would emulate. So underrated and too overlooked. Sad world.
Simpleminds, Magazine, Chrome, early REM, Sparks, martha & the muffins, Spoon (last two are awesome lesser-known canuck groups) Anyone dig any of those bands?
Also my favourite ever. My dad introduced me and I went crazy for their music. I have seen David recently, with my twin sister. I love the Rain Tree Crow songs, but wish it may have lasted longer.
@@Kenszen The Beatles!? 😮💨😴 I wouldn't exactly include The Beatles in this list. In my opinion, Japan blows them out of the water. I agree with the rest of the groups you listed, though. 👍😁
Such a great band. "Gentlemen take Polaroids" always sends me to the Manchester Apollo and seeing Japan in '82. I was near the back, but those five distant figures filled the room with music that was haunting, disturbing and utterly mesmerising. It was one of the most beautiful nights of my life 🧡
The whole album Gentlemen Take Polaroids is stunning. There isn't a bad track on it. It's a timeless classic that still sounds as fresh today as it did in 1980. It's aged extremely well. The atmosphere of this entire album is incomparable. I was fortunate enough to see them play live and they were every bit as good as they were in the studio, if not better. Although I really like the follow-up, swan-song album Tin Drum, it's Gentlemen Take Polaroids that I always refer to as Japan's masterpiece, the pièce de résistance of their career 10/10.
Well said. Although I never could keep it a secret. Its amazing even now, to see my 21 year old daughter having this band on her favourite playlist. I have indoctrinated her to the better things in life. I always preach 'quality'.👊😎
This is one of the few albums I had in my possession in 1982. I was a young Royal Marine on the SS Canberra. Took me to another place, to get away from the realities of war. Thank you sirs!
@@ripvanjonesy, sadly not a warship, but a passenger cruise ship drafted in to carry the Marines and Paras, sorry to pick you up, thought you’d like to know.
Every player in the band was musically unique. 5 albums (6 technically) and they were gone, but what a catalogue. Their solo albums are equally magnificent. I highly recommend the music of Japan !
This song, and in fact the whole album is LEGENDARY - Japan were so talented and original. I was very lucky to be at their final ever gig at Hammersmith Odeon (Apollo) and cannot forget David's rendition of 'Ghosts' with moody purple lighting. I played this album to death while dressing up to attend 'Helden' at Camden Palace each Thursday night !
I saw the final concert at Hammersmith. Still got the programme. I thought I looked the part with my short dyed blond hair and green mac. Have a vague recollection of David being given a bouquet of flowers. Mick Karn doing a weird shuffle and the Japanese guitar player getting a bit spinal tap. Wonderful stuff wish I could go back and see it all again.
LOVED JAPAN. Although when I was a kid, I thought Patricia Hodge had a really deep voice. .... ANYWAY, what an album, what a time, such a great sound. Karn went too early. I was the only kid at school into these and I’m still the same weirdo today.
The most underrated new wave band but one of the greatest of the early 80's ; they released 3 stunning albums : Quiet life, Gentlemen take Polaroids and Tin Drum...
Aside from maybe Talk Talk and the subsequent music of Mark Hollis, Japan really is the most outstanding new wave group of all time. For the most part, new wave produced countless pop-culture classics that are remembered and referenced even to this day, but a lot of the bands really lacked the virtuoso playing that was constantly on display in Japan's music. It's kinda nuts that they weren't somehow bigger, but ultimately, as we should all be well aware, immense talent doesn't always = success in the music business.
Listened to Japan every day for years doing my twice daily paper round! The music is superb and I’m not ashamed to say they looked so beautiful (and I’m straight)!
I saw Japan at the Edinburgh Playhouse in 1982. I was just Sixteen at the time and I traveled alone from my home town by train and booked myself into a bed and breakfast that happened to overlook the backstage of the Edinburgh Playhouse. Seeing as how I was underage to go to any pubs I watched the band depart whilst listening to Roxy Music’s ‘To turn you on’.
Karn and Jansen in perfect unison here, What a band, what a time. Silky smooth from Sylvian as always. Dean and Barbieri class as ever for the complete set up. They really were the real deal, totally under appreciated, two other bands may have stole the look, but not the music. One off band, never to be repeated.
Montreal, Canada. 1980. I am 19 years old. I had vaguely heard of a new music called "New Wave". Punk music? Other than "The Clash" and "The Police" which wasn't punk at all, that kind of music was garage music for me. Plate. Then one day, I go to the record dealer, then this music is played on the speakers! Total shock! I rush to buy "Gentlemen take polaroids" and since that day I have remained a staunch fan of JAPAN. Now this band had an androgynous look on the cover art and singer David Sylvian's voice reminded me a bit of Bryan Ferry from ROXY MUSIC. I found music that was cold and complex, but talented musicians. I've listened to this album hundreds of times. Then I went back to the record store to buy another album "QUIET LIFE!" Total happiness! But the last "TIN DRUM" I realized pretty quickly that this band was already somewhere else… Their separation was inevitable. Then September 1984 came: "Brilliant Trees" reconciled me with David Sylvian!
David Sylvian is just so gorgeous & talented. Amazing effortless silk like voice. Amazing song writer. his words- are just so meaningful & quite moving at times. He really knows how to express a mood. Quite timeless 💗
Such a brilliant album as all of their albums are even now decades on. Their music style and lyrics were completely different to other groups at that time. All very good to listen too.
Love love LOVE this song! I have it on a playlist of songs I play at home when guests are over, titled 80s new wave. An occasional guest will ask 'who is this?'. So in my own small way I'm introducing this amazing band to a new person and I'm chuffed.
They were not and never were a New Romantic band George. They existed before that stupid phase. New Romantics were the pudgy Duran boys and Spandau Bollocks and Boy George. David Sylvian and friends had NOTHING to do with those people or club culture.
Wow! I didn't even know this existed until just now! Dammit! THIS is the video MTV should have played! If I had seen this when I was 9, I'd have fallen in love with this band IMMEDIATELY!!!! lol
I grew up in the eighties watching MTV every spare minute I had-I can never recall seeing this band once. I had heard of them mentioned in articles about Duran Duran, a band I followed back then and who clearly owe their entire career to Japan. Why is it I never saw or heard them?
Being in a suburban Houston backwater, it took a trip to the downtown city import record store to pick this (at the time) new LP. I had seen Quiet Life cover but it took a rave review in NME (again sourced from said record store) to get me to pick it up next time I was in the city. There was no MTV video like this to intrigue me, so it was purely the music and album art. Played the record to death over the next year. Still do.
All these years later, and this song remains one of THE most utterly exquisite songs I've ever heard. David Sylvian was utterly gorgeous in face and voice; he's still my all time favorite male singer. 🥰🔥
Because everybody is too busy trying to justify that Bowie and The Beatles are better, when in reality it's the opposite. Japan had the edge over Bowie, and better musicianship than the Beatles. Don't believe me, listen to this. Japan-European Son Live in Holland 👇 ruclips.net/video/Y199u6RxNNM/видео.html
Looking back, this band means so much to me, in between roxy and duran, but untouchably cooler than both those bands at this crucial time (for me 😉) on the back of demonstrably wicked bass, drums, synths, vocals and lyrics combined with no small degree of art, and their back catalogue development was equally, historically interesting and important, despite being downplayed by more vocal band members and pop commentators of the time...In short, a bit like with kate bush people, I feel privileged at the grand age of 54 to say I know this band and it's music, and they're not just 'good' but clever, artful, progressive, influential, inspirational, original within a genre, there's that word cool again..(but maybe only in 81 ish 😉, like us all..), ultimately they spanned a time, a place, with esoteric sounds that were lost on many but caught by a few, how lucky we were..😁👍👌
Me too - pretty much exactly as you say. Although, I'm a mere slip of a lad at 50. I guess my 54 year-old musician big sister's obsession with Sylvian and all his works must have rubbed off on her plodding little brother at some point around 1980. I don't care. I still thank her to this day for the gift ;)
One of the few bands that resonate with people from many different backgrounds, with varying musical tastes. Both lyrically and musically, Japan were superb. I was a relative latecomer to their fan base, not really getting into them until around the early 90's (a work colleague and friend introduced me to his collection) but I was hooked instantly, by this song in particular, which led to my greater appreciation. Up until that epiphany moment, as a teenager, I was in to bubblegum pop, peppered with a smattering of mainstream soul and disco. But after hearing Japan, this led to a wider appreciation of other acoustical bands, such as Pink Floyd, Led Zeppelin, The Who etc, as well as electronic bands, such as New Order, Pet Shop Boys, and my favourite band of all, Yello. So thanks David and the boys, you helped to open, and enrich my mind!
I often share their music whenever I can & not once have I had a negative reaction. Often I get people say what a phenomenal bass player Karn was. I'd have to say they are one of my all time favourite bands & one aside which confirms the songwriting talents of Sylvian is his melody input for P-Machinery by Propaganda which is absolutely legendary. As for Yello it sounds like we both have very similar tastes in music. Until 2021 I thought I'd never hear anything as good as those old classic artists until I discovered Ukrainian band Onuka. Spread the word if you can. She is to Ukraine what Kraftwerk were to Germany & Yello are to Switzerland.
So I found this cd at a used music store that had headphones. I had never heard of Japan but I decided to try it on the headphones. Hooked instantly from the beginning of this song.
David, you have always been not just an amazing singer (when I saw you at the Wiltern, high five to the dude on the second tier “YEAH DAVIE!!!!!” You killed it in a solo acoustic show! ❤️❤️
Amazing song still to this day, this band just got better every album. Being an ex pro drummer I admire their rhythm section very much, RIP Mick Bass Master!
Does anyone think it’s ironic Japan let Rob Dean go because they said they’d have no need for guitar but by 1989 fellow synth band Depeche Mode had guitar on Personal Jesus. This Gentleman Take Polaroids is the best they ever got in my opinion. My absolute favorite song is My New Career from the GTP LP.
I am recording this track on my mixtape cassette of the 80s tittled " New Wave " vol.5....and of course am going to play it on my Sony walkman..made in JAPAN....
sorry, but this song isn't the same without the haunting and lengthy coda that is featured on the album version. But a great band and so happy that as a tourist in London I was able to see them at the Hammersmith Odeon - what a magic time in the 80s.
God I love this song. And how cool was Mick Karn? Exceptional bass player, multi talented musician and oodles of charisma. Absolutely mesmerising.
Absolutely!! David was the shop window in the band, I understand how and why...but Mick Karn was most definitely the goods in the back! Taken way too soon. RIP 🌹
I’ve only listened to Japan for over two years now!
X10000
Mick Karn was a monster on the the fretless bass. Incomparable!!!
Does anybody know what fretless bass he used on this song ? Pretty badass sound - Anthony
＊🇯🇵私が『JAPAN』を知ったのは39年前の高校生の時。イギリスが好きで色々と紅茶の事やイギリスの歴史や英国王室の事を学んでいた時に『JAPAN』のインタビュー記事を『ミュージックライフ』と言う音楽雑誌で読んだ。写真も掲載されていて、坂本龍一さんも一緒だった事もあり、とても興味を持ちレコードを購入。以来ファンなのだが、デビッドさんは今、どうしているんだろうか？あの独特な低音ボイスに独特な世界観。好きだったな。🤓👍🌸
David still makes music!
@@Aiikolo David pretty much retired Suprisingly the most active memeber is Richard Barbieri
Man I like Sakamito so much. RIP. .·´¯`(>▂
This came over the radio many years ago 79?...have loved them ever since ...rip Karn
JAPANは、もっと評価されるべき。
特にベースがずば抜けている。
I was a girl who spent her 14th year artistically and aesthetically inspired by David Sylvian. I loved his "Brilliant Trees" immensely, and Japan were my " special band". I even had a lot of his look.
I forgot how young I was then. A breath ago. Wouldn’t have missed David and his work for quids ❤️
Then what happened?
Could you believe I didn’t know the band until last July(2020)?
I saw the Gentleman Take Polaroids in the bins with the Back to Black series of vinyl from roughly 20 years but I thought it was another Duran Duran splinter band.
I have listen to 80s stuff ALOT so I won’t tire of my main goto stuff.. Beatles. Stones, Who, Pink Floyd, Led Zep, Depeche Mode, The Smiths, and so on and so on. I said a little prayer to God for more 80s music.. and in a few weeks there was a list of 100 top 80s tracks and boom, Quiet Life was #1! I love God!!!
@@DeidreL9 Quids?
we were probably friends
ギターの音、キーボードの音、ベースの音、ドラムの音、デビッドの声、ミックのサックス全てが調和され尊いほど心地よい。
I couldn't have put it any better, you are spot on.
My favourite band. There's no other like them, completely unique.
Roxy Music?
Duran Duran (Duran Japan) got famous by taking their sound and making it lighter and poppier. But Japan never got enough credit for creating music and an aesthetic that so many bands after would emulate. So underrated and too overlooked. Sad world.
Simpleminds, Magazine, Chrome, early REM, Sparks, martha & the muffins, Spoon (last two are awesome lesser-known canuck groups) Anyone dig any of those bands?
@@reverendjames9842Very Roxy.
It’s a pity they split up so soon
David's voice is so hypnotic especially with that gorgeous music
I could never tire of this song. I’ve been listening to it since I was a teenager in the 80s. Just magic!
this is like the best band of all times. all the members are incredibly talented and intelligent on their own
The Beatles, Pink Floyd, The Cure, Depeche Mode are at least on the top step with them ...
Oh The Rolling Stones, The Who, ...
Also my favourite ever. My dad introduced me and I went crazy for their music. I have seen David recently, with my twin sister. I love the Rain Tree Crow songs, but wish it may have lasted longer.
@@Kenszen The Beatles!? 😮💨😴 I wouldn't exactly include The Beatles in this list. In my opinion, Japan blows them out of the water. I agree with the rest of the groups you listed, though. 👍😁
The police?
I discovered them one year ago.
I can't stop listening to them.
Sylvo is just MAGNETIC
There was a one off reunion as Rain Tree Crow. Very much the sequel to Tin Drum.
Such a great band. "Gentlemen take Polaroids" always sends me to the Manchester Apollo and seeing Japan in '82. I was near the back, but those five distant figures filled the room with music that was haunting, disturbing and utterly mesmerising.
It was one of the most beautiful nights of my life 🧡
I wasn’t allowed to go to that concert, I was only 11. Bloody gutted.
I was at the apollo to that night the best 80s band ever
Outstanding masterpiece! Bass line from another universe. Love it.
I saw them at the Hammersmith Odeon in the same year but right at the front. It still remains my most favourite gig of all time.
I saw them in Holland on that tour. First row, I'll never forget the magic.
The whole album Gentlemen Take Polaroids is stunning. There isn't a bad track on it.
It's a timeless classic that still sounds as fresh today as it did in 1980. It's aged extremely well.
The atmosphere of this entire album is incomparable.
I was fortunate enough to see them play live and they were every bit as good as they were in the studio, if not better.
Although I really like the follow-up, swan-song album Tin Drum, it's Gentlemen Take Polaroids that I always refer to as Japan's masterpiece, the pièce de résistance of their career 10/10.
Nothing else like them. Strange, glamorous, complicated pop. Astonishing to think this was made nearly half a century ago
GTP is my favourite album of theirs but Tin Drum is a close second. Stunningly good!
This has been my secret fav band for over 30 years. I only recommend them to people who i think are 'ready'.
Well said. Although I never could keep it a secret. Its amazing even now, to see my 21 year old daughter having this band on her favourite playlist. I have indoctrinated her to the better things in life. I always preach 'quality'.👊😎
Same
Ready? Ready for what?
@@Kenszen You're not ready.
Am i ready??
This is one of the few albums I had in my possession in 1982. I was a young Royal Marine on the SS Canberra. Took me to another place, to get away from the realities of war. Thank you sirs!
It's great to hear good music got on a warship! And great to hear your story of Japan 😄👍
Awwwww bless you
Thank you for keeping the Falklands in British custody 🙏🙏🙏
@@ripvanjonesy, sadly not a warship, but a passenger cruise ship drafted in to carry the Marines and Paras, sorry to pick you up, thought you’d like to know.
Every player in the band was musically unique. 5 albums (6 technically) and they were gone, but what a catalogue. Their solo albums are equally magnificent. I highly recommend the music of Japan !
This song, and in fact the whole album is LEGENDARY - Japan were so talented and original. I was very lucky to be at their final ever gig at Hammersmith Odeon (Apollo) and cannot forget David's rendition of 'Ghosts' with moody purple lighting.
I played this album to death while dressing up to attend 'Helden' at Camden Palace each Thursday night !
I saw the final concert at Hammersmith. Still got the programme. I thought I looked the part with my short dyed blond hair and green mac. Have a vague recollection of David being given a bouquet of flowers. Mick Karn doing a weird shuffle and the Japanese guitar player getting a bit spinal tap. Wonderful stuff wish I could go back and see it all again.
I saw him in 2001 Appolo in Hammersmith
@@parisstromatias637 I saw that too. I seem to remember Sylvian being somewhat uninvolved and remote from the audience.
a big regret is I never saw them live -
@@brucestirling8215 I only managed one concert. I discovered Japan at the end.
Nick Rhodes modeled himself on Sylvan and Girls on film is a steal from this
DD did obviously take a lot from Japan but there is a demo of Girls on Film from 1979 with another singer.
Girls On Film is a copy of Quiet Life, listen to the chords on the verse of both songs then you will see
@nickcarroll5034 Yes Andy Wickett, John plays both bass and lead guitar on that demo i have a copy.
David is pretty cute here.
❤😂🎉😢😮😅😊 duran duran will produced by David Sylvian?
I wore out all their albums in the '80's - this is one of their best - the bass is amazing
Mick Karn's bass really is lovely (RIP)
LOVED JAPAN. Although when I was a kid, I thought Patricia Hodge had a really deep voice. .... ANYWAY, what an album, what a time, such a great sound. Karn went too early. I was the only kid at school into these and I’m still the same weirdo today.
_PATRICIA HODGE IS A ACTRESS IN THE UK, AND ALSO (ACCORDING TO RANDY) A MEMBER OF JAPAN IN HER QUITE TIME..._ 😳🤔😂🇬🇧
Looks like Patricia Hodge , good shout !
I always thought that, ha brilliant.😅
We're all weirdos, but with a very great taste in music😏
Patricia Hodge omfg hilarious...bless us weirdos❤️
This is my youth! Sylvian and Karn!!! This is proper music!
Never fails to get the hairs on the back of my neck standing up. Timeless. Evokes emotions I never even knew I had.
The bass, drums, guitar and vocals = perfection
The most underrated new wave band but one of the greatest of the early 80's ; they released 3 stunning albums : Quiet life, Gentlemen take Polaroids and Tin Drum...
Aside from maybe Talk Talk and the subsequent music of Mark Hollis, Japan really is the most outstanding new wave group of all time. For the most part, new wave produced countless pop-culture classics that are remembered and referenced even to this day, but a lot of the bands really lacked the virtuoso playing that was constantly on display in Japan's music. It's kinda nuts that they weren't somehow bigger, but ultimately, as we should all be well aware, immense talent doesn't always = success in the music business.
There is a song by OMD with the line “...the cream will float ,the shit will sell..”
@@kenhardie1499 Jesus Christ are they trying to make comedy songs or lose everything
Duran so were influenced by Japan, especially Nick Rhoads with Dave Silvian's look
@@midnightwitch606 That's correct, they were a lot a like between 78 and 84 !
Listened to Japan every day for years doing my twice daily paper round! The music is superb and I’m not ashamed to say they looked so beautiful (and I’m straight)!
I saw Japan at the Edinburgh Playhouse in 1982. I was just Sixteen at the time and I traveled alone from my home town by train and booked myself into a bed and breakfast that happened to overlook the backstage of the Edinburgh Playhouse. Seeing as how I was underage to go to any pubs I watched the band depart whilst listening to Roxy Music’s ‘To turn you on’.
Is it raining in New York on 5th Avenue?
Karn and Jansen in perfect unison here, What a band, what a time. Silky smooth from Sylvian as always. Dean and Barbieri class as ever for the complete set up. They really were the real deal, totally under appreciated, two other bands may have stole the look, but not the music. One off band, never to be repeated.
Style is a frequency.
David is one of the most gifted and enigmatic men I’ve ever had a massive crush on and grown to love and respect as I’ve gotten older. He’s sublime 🌹
Montreal, Canada. 1980. I am 19 years old. I had vaguely heard of a new music called "New Wave". Punk music? Other than "The Clash" and "The Police" which wasn't punk at all, that kind of music was garage music for me. Plate. Then one day, I go to the record dealer, then this music is played on the speakers! Total shock! I rush to buy "Gentlemen take polaroids" and since that day I have remained a staunch fan of JAPAN. Now this band had an androgynous look on the cover art and singer David Sylvian's voice reminded me a bit of Bryan Ferry from ROXY MUSIC. I found music that was cold and complex, but talented musicians. I've listened to this album hundreds of times. Then I went back to the record store to buy another album "QUIET LIFE!" Total happiness! But the last "TIN DRUM" I realized pretty quickly that this band was already somewhere else… Their separation was inevitable. Then September 1984 came: "Brilliant Trees" reconciled me with David Sylvian!
Montreal is in Quebec, not Canada
You wouldn't say Glasgow is in Britain would you?
Yes, very Bryan Ferry & Roxy Music sounding influence. Bryan was rockin it back in the 70s though.
@@greatcoldemptiness Glasgow is in Britain!
Écoute aussi l'album Dance de Gary Numan. Pour ma part Tin Drum c'est un super album de Japan
What a magical sound.
Timeless, classy, talented, 50 years ahead of their time. Awesome
David Sylvian is just so gorgeous & talented. Amazing effortless silk like voice. Amazing song writer. his words- are just so meaningful & quite moving at times. He really knows how to express a mood. Quite timeless 💗
Loved these cooool cooool guys in the 80s....I just didn't realise how much till now.....pure class blasts from the past....thanQ..
The music is amazing in 2022. The base is incredible. Clarinet!! Beautifully produced, Astonishing!
Such a brilliant album as all of their albums are even now decades on. Their music style and lyrics were completely different to other groups at that time. All very good to listen too.
I think they deserve recognition!! Tell everyone you can about them!
Love love LOVE this song! I have it on a playlist of songs I play at home when guests are over, titled 80s new wave. An occasional guest will ask 'who is this?'. So in my own small way I'm introducing this amazing band to a new person and I'm chuffed.
Japan were the first and foremost innovative new romantic band and in their short career this band were so brave and daring
They were not and never were a New Romantic band George. They existed before that stupid phase. New Romantics were the pudgy Duran boys and Spandau Bollocks and Boy George. David Sylvian and friends had NOTHING to do with those people or club culture.
It brings back memories! I fell in love with Japan when I was 12.
They are seriously underrated.
I can’t stop listening to this phenomenal song I mean ❤Japan absolutely the best 🥰
Incredible musicians-with excellent songs.
R.I.P Mick Karn missed 😢tho definitely never forgotten awesome bassist-your legacy rolls on.
Great era. Great band.
THE most underrated band of the late 70s/ early 80s!!!!!!!
Agreed, I used to argue with mates that Duran Duran copied several elements from Japan
Wow! I didn't even know this existed until just now! Dammit! THIS is the video MTV should have played! If I had seen this when I was 9, I'd have fallen in love with this band IMMEDIATELY!!!! lol
Bizarre that it never was shown on tv but pretty much before the age of video tv in the UK
Smooth genius. John Punter. One of the best albums in music very few know of.
But I do!
Duran Duran got so much influences from them
Yes!!
Japan (very) light.
In a more just world, Japan would have had the commercial success that Duran Duran had and vice-versa.
@@dopplerdog6817 Indeed; there was no comparison whatsoever.
Not on songs like
Save a Prayer
Do you Believe in Shame
Come Undone
Land
Winter Marches On
New Religion
Which beat anything in Japan's catalog.
RIP MIck Karn. What an awesome band. My favorite album of all time.
Too bad, they never make the full length video version. The last 1/4 of the song in full length version is absolutely surreal.
a, the album version is all over RUclips.
perfection.
this group is very unique i like hi from france.
I grew up in the eighties watching MTV every spare minute I had-I can never recall seeing this band once. I had heard of them mentioned in articles about Duran Duran, a band I followed back then and who clearly owe their entire career to Japan. Why is it I never saw or heard them?
Well, David Sylvian and Mick Karn......says it all.... Just love them...
Love this - true new wave....!
Oh please can we just step back in time❤❤❤❤
If only
What a beautiful song ✨
Being in a suburban Houston backwater, it took a trip to the downtown city import record store to pick this (at the time) new LP. I had seen Quiet Life cover but it took a rave review in NME (again sourced from said record store) to get me to pick it up next time I was in the city. There was no MTV video like this to intrigue me, so it was purely the music and album art. Played the record to death over the next year. Still do.
All these years later, and this song remains one of THE most utterly exquisite songs I've ever heard. David Sylvian was utterly gorgeous in face and voice; he's still my all time favorite male singer. 🥰🔥
This is a hot sing don't know why it's not more popular.
Because everybody is too busy trying to justify that Bowie and The Beatles are better, when in reality it's the opposite. Japan had the edge over Bowie, and better musicianship than the Beatles.
Don't believe me, listen to this. Japan-European Son Live in Holland 👇 ruclips.net/video/Y199u6RxNNM/видео.html
Looking back, this band means so much to me, in between roxy and duran, but untouchably cooler than both those bands at this crucial time (for me 😉) on the back of demonstrably wicked bass, drums, synths, vocals and lyrics combined with no small degree of art, and their back catalogue development was equally, historically interesting and important, despite being downplayed by more vocal band members and pop commentators of the time...In short, a bit like with kate bush people, I feel privileged at the grand age of 54 to say I know this band and it's music, and they're not just 'good' but clever, artful, progressive, influential, inspirational, original within a genre, there's that word cool again..(but maybe only in 81 ish 😉, like us all..), ultimately they spanned a time, a place, with esoteric sounds that were lost on many but caught by a few, how lucky we were..😁👍👌
Me too - pretty much exactly as you say. Although, I'm a mere slip of a lad at 50. I guess my 54 year-old musician big sister's obsession with Sylvian and all his works must have rubbed off on her plodding little brother at some point around 1980. I don't care. I still thank her to this day for the gift ;)
I'll take Duran and Roxy over Japan anyday.
That's absolutely fine, we Japan fans are very esoteric, we're like the band, not really of this earth 😉👍
@@ripvanjonesy What you say is probably true I have been spritually awake since I fell down the stairs when I was 8
@@margaretkiernan9957 sameish here😁👍
I am thrilled seeing all the recent posts! Glad more people are turned on to them-probably more now than ever!
One of the few bands that resonate with people from many different backgrounds, with varying musical tastes. Both lyrically and musically, Japan were superb.
I was a relative latecomer to their fan base, not really getting into them until around the early 90's (a work colleague and friend introduced me to his collection) but I was hooked instantly, by this song in particular, which led to my greater appreciation.
Up until that epiphany moment, as a teenager, I was in to bubblegum pop, peppered with a smattering of mainstream soul and disco. But after hearing Japan, this led to a wider appreciation of other acoustical bands, such as Pink Floyd, Led Zeppelin, The Who etc, as well as electronic bands, such as New Order, Pet Shop Boys, and my favourite band of all, Yello.
So thanks David and the boys, you helped to open, and enrich my mind!
I often share their music whenever I can & not once have I had a negative reaction. Often I get people say what a phenomenal bass player Karn was. I'd have to say they are one of my all time favourite bands & one aside which confirms the songwriting talents of Sylvian is his melody input for P-Machinery by Propaganda which is absolutely legendary. As for Yello it sounds like we both have very similar tastes in music. Until 2021 I thought I'd never hear anything as good as those old classic artists until I discovered Ukrainian band Onuka. Spread the word if you can. She is to Ukraine what Kraftwerk were to Germany & Yello are to Switzerland.
As a 57 year old Skinhead still, I fekin Love this record as much as I did the day I 1st heard it.
what a tune to relax to. headphones one and drift back into the 1980s and fall back in........ my first fall in love with me. love love it
Absolutely criminal the guitar solo was cut out from this shoot. It is the best guitar feature of all of the Japan songs and one of the best ever.
that opening lyric and Mick's bass ... a perfect combination. Hooks me every time.
So I found this cd at a used music store that had headphones. I had never heard of Japan but I decided to try it on the headphones. Hooked instantly from the beginning of this song.
David, you have always been not just an amazing singer (when I saw you at the Wiltern, high five to the dude on the second tier “YEAH DAVIE!!!!!”
You killed it in a solo acoustic show! ❤️❤️
Love this video - love Japan - they are one of my all time best bands ever brings so many lovely memories of this beautiful band.
After 40 year's....
This track
This group
Paved my way ...
Thank you Japan...
I so loved this album as a teen.
This and New Gold Dream.
確か、高校生の時に友達が図書館からレコード借りて来て聞いたのが最初…ぶっ飛んだなぁ〜ハッキリ覚えてる…素晴らしい👍
Japan are an awesome band and this track in particular is one of their best :)
Japan were like a cross between Roxy Music and Ultravox
One of my favorite British new wave and synth pop bands, Japan for 40 years...im still young that time😆😆😆
you're welcome Duran Duran. (I do love you guys too, but it's obvious that this was an influence!)
Amazing song still to this day, this band just got better every album. Being an ex pro drummer I admire their rhythm section very much, RIP Mick Bass Master!
Never quite the same after Rob left. Love this song.
Always loved this band. Still sounds brilliant after all these years.
Nick karn best bass line ever
Saw them in concert at (I think) the Hammersmith Odeon. Great live band.
One of the greatest bands ever!!!! Signed your greatest fan!!!❤❤❤from las Vegas, NV
One of my favourite bands at the time and had the album.
pure new wave and synthpop at best !!
Does anyone think it’s ironic Japan let Rob Dean go because they said they’d have no need for guitar but by 1989 fellow synth band Depeche Mode had guitar on Personal Jesus. This Gentleman Take Polaroids is the best they ever got in my opinion. My absolute favorite song is My New Career from the GTP LP.
One of my all time favourite songs. sublime.
thinking about how this band is criminally underrated😭
I knowww😭
Only by people who take Screenshots and not Polaroids lol
I'd rather think of it as that we belong to a special club that only some people get and not everyone is able to take in which leaves more for us.
@@discodirk48 I like being in the special club have been since the 80's - just love Japan.
Underrated by whom?
カッコいい❤️全てがカッコ良い❤️
I love Japan since 2016 and I always come here to remember my love of this band
2016? Lol.
Why so late?
What a great Album.. Wonderful Song and an Amazing English Band... What more can I say... Class ❤️🌻
What a wonderfull time to be alive
It really was. I fell in love with these guys as a young teen then and I'll love them til the last breath.
Brilliant,god that bass
What a great album is this.. ahead of time even today..
An all time favorite!
I am recording this track on my mixtape cassette of the 80s tittled " New Wave " vol.5....and of course am going to play it on my Sony walkman..made in JAPAN....
sorry, but this song isn't the same without the haunting and lengthy coda that is featured on the album version. But a great band and so happy that as a tourist in London I was able to see them at the Hammersmith Odeon - what a magic time in the 80s.
Mick Karn's bass in this song is outstanding, RIP Mick Karn x
I still have the single of this. I love this song ❤
(One word) PERFECTION
I didn't know these videos were re-uploaded until today. ❤❤❤ Bloody love the BOIS
That intro walk is unbelievable