Japan were the real deal. They had everything - the songs, the sounds, the arrangements, the musicianship, and style that launched dozens of imitators. Sadly, the imitators had more success than Japan, but that’s probably because these songs made a few more listening demands than Duran or Spandau. There is jazz here, there is prog, there is funk and ambient electronica, there is dance, there is Roxy, Bowie, Eno, and Fripp, all in a beautifully wrapped aural presentation box that still sounds gorgeous and fresh some forty years on. Truly unique. Everything from Quiet Life to Tin Drum is worth your time - the earlier glam recordings are almost from a different band (almost, but not entirely unconnected). But don’t miss out on what the band members did after Japan folded. There are numerous collaborations. There is the Japan-that-was-not in Rain Tree Crow. There’s David Sylvian’s solo career, which scales some extraordinary musical heights. There’s Mick Karn’s rubbery fretless bass playing - solo and with others, including with Bauhaus’ Pete Murphy for the short-lived Dali’s Car. There are the Jansen/Barbieri albums. If you’re just discovering Japan or you’ve not followed the later music made by its members, you have a beautiful and stimulating journey ahead, should you choose to explore. I hope it’s clear that I love this band as much today as I did when I discovered them in 1980. They’re worth your time and attention. The coolest and most musically gifted band no one ever talks about.
Right on brother. Great piece about the coolest band of the time. I like the Mick Karn's "rubbery bass' description. Perfect. Split up too soon but I think they'd been together for about ten years by then. Anyway, top piece mate.
We were spoilt for choice in the 80's but Japan were really good. My Managers wife, who happened to be japanese, gave me and my friend some tickets to see them at Hammersmith Odeon. I think they had just released Ghosts! Great night and amazing crowd!
Japan were the REAL DEAL in an time of 'Pretenders'...no pun intended. My brother was obsessed with them and dressed exactly like David Sylvian...down to his 'Pineapple Dance studio ballet shoes'...and I have to give him kudos for wearing them all year round, in winter and snow...haha..in Brighton where we lived. I heard 'Forbidden Colours' on the radio driving my sons home today and had to show them the film, the music and the life we lived in the 1980's. Oh for such a more simple, more creative and more real life today....before mobile phones, WhatsApp, Facebook....and yes...lol...UA-cam! Great band and I hope they are all still well and enjoying life as my brother and I are...at 61 !! :-)
Autumn 81. 13 year old me had my first fate Saturday afternoon and bought this single at woolies before going for a coffee and a proper size wagon wheel.
As soon as I saw Duran Duran at the rum runner in 1981 I knew they had been influenced by Japan. One of the most underestimated bands of all time they had a massive effect on my music. Mick Karn sadly missed one of the great bass players.
bazza powers had all their albums ,, ,,,totally loved them however they were just. Bit before Duran Duran and spandau hitting the big time ,,,,Japan had small success in the beginning,.,
I introduced a friend's brother to them in the 80 s. Met him after nearly 40 years recently and it's the first thing he wanted to thank me for . Wonderful times. I recall watching them perform this in concert and people crying with joy. Beautiful .
You like things in wee boxes 📦 categorise assimilate tedious bourgeois shit Smug supercilious bile David sylvian sounds nothing like bryan ferry its lazy and unimaginative As Mark E said Tedious Repetitive repition
Japan were a brilliant band of the early 80s, they were underrated, this is a great song, sounds similar to early Duran Duran, the early 80s was a great period in music history
Pretty sure they came out with this before Duran Duran did. There are a lot of similarities between this and Planet Earth & Rio. Even the looks were copied.
In 1980 I walked into T.O.T.S. nightclub in Southend and this song was playing. I remember thinking "Who are these guys"?. I bought every record they made after that and still regularly play them today at 60 years of age. Brilliant musicians and song writers and way ahead of their time. The sadly late Mick Kahn's fretless base playing became their signature sound. Fantastic.
Its funny because the same scenario happened to me in 2021 haha. The music felt familiar but I had no idea who they were. Asked the barman if it was early Duran Duran. He laughed, insultingly I might add, but then told me who they were. Pretty much all I listend to for the next 6 months. And I'm an 80s baby too, they must have passed me by.
I first walked into the TOTS nightclub in Southend in 1986 and then got a job there a year later (and worked there until the year 2000). 😊 I would have loved to have been there just a few years earlier to hear Japan’s Quiet Life playing. Have been a huge fan of their music.
@TalorcMacAllan-k1k He's my baby. We thought we were going lose him last yr. He has MMM on his left side of his head and face. Google it mate. He's 9 and soft as snow.
Yuri i saw these fantastic guys in the early 80s , ive adored them ever since ,, This guy was beautiful , his voice was to die for ,,,what utter joy xxxx Jane xx
Just a brilliant pioneering band. This brings back so many wonderful memories. I got heavily into Japan at 16 in 1982…perfect timing as I had the ‘pretty boy’ looks, David Sylvian hair and copied his dress sense (obviously not as good as Mr Sylvian)…I worked at my local Tesco in Northfield (Birmingham) and had a ‘fan club’ with girls waiting for me outside the store when I left, screaming and shouting 😂…I made the local paper, and got threatened with written warnings if they kept coming into the store screaming! I lived off that look for about 7 years, and got lots of attention - until pretty boys had their day and the girls moved on 😂 Life goes by so quickly, you move on, and you forget. Now 40 years later at 56 - I would need a wig to replicate the Sylvian hair, am heavily overweight, and the looks went in my late 40’s, but after hearing the sad news of Ruichi Sakamotos passing, I’ve been rediscovering Japan and David Sylvian, and forgot so many songs…it’s genuinely emotional hearing them all again and thinking back to truly brilliant times with a smile. Japan were a unique and ridiculously talented group, as is David Sylvian, so I’m looking forward to listening to everything he has been recording over the years with great anticipation.
Mark Silver….I did not realise Sakamoto had passed……I loved the music to Merry Christmas Mr Lawrence. I’m sure I would have been one of the girls waiting outside shop as I too loved David Sylvian 😊
@@lafreewaylafreeway Yes very sad x 1983 was a fab time for me…probably the closet you could get to celebrity status…getting stopped literally everywhere I went lol - roll on 40 years and nobody gives me a second glance…age is a cruel thing 😬
@@carlix1112 No lol was playing too much football for that at the time - plus Northfield was terrorised by a female Michael Jackson ‘double’ called Marilyn who would have targeted me if I did - you couldn’t make it 😂
I live in Thailand, just heard this in a bar and had to wait for three or four more visits till it came on again to ask who it was? I just couldn't remember , I thought of Japan Tin Drum but had to find 'Quiet Life'. Great song!
No I can’t either but then as the great Sir Terry Pratchett once said “inside every old person is a young person wondering what the hell happened” I am that (nearly) old person 😂✌🏻✌🏻✌🏻🇬🇧
I had a picture of David that i couldnt stop looking at i thought he was just so beautiful, i recorded this on a tape recorder (remember those) and played the song to death. Happy days x ps weren' t we lucky to have such great music in the 80s.
Still loving this band in 2023, 40yrs on from my 1st listen, awesome band, 4 any bass players listening, can u get the same sound from a normal bass, as u do a fretless bass ???????
Japan were the real deal. They had everything - the songs, the sounds, the arrangements, the musicianship, and style that launched dozens of imitators.
Sadly, the imitators had more success than Japan, but that’s probably because these songs made a few more listening demands than Duran or Spandau. There is jazz here, there is prog, there is funk and ambient electronica, there is dance, there is Roxy, Bowie, Eno, and Fripp, all in a beautifully wrapped aural presentation box that still sounds gorgeous and fresh some forty years on. Truly unique.
Everything from Quiet Life to Tin Drum is worth your time - the earlier glam recordings are almost from a different band (almost, but not entirely unconnected).
But don’t miss out on what the band members did after Japan folded. There are numerous collaborations. There is the Japan-that-was-not in Rain Tree Crow. There’s David Sylvian’s solo career, which scales some extraordinary musical heights. There’s Mick Karn’s rubbery fretless bass playing - solo and with others, including with Bauhaus’ Pete Murphy for the short-lived Dali’s Car. There are the Jansen/Barbieri albums.
If you’re just discovering Japan or you’ve not followed the later music made by its members, you have a beautiful and stimulating journey ahead, should you choose to explore.
I hope it’s clear that I love this band as much today as I did when I discovered them in 1980. They’re worth your time and attention. The coolest and most musically gifted band no one ever talks about.
Thanks for giving all the info
Right on brother. Great piece about the coolest band of the time. I like the Mick Karn's "rubbery bass' description. Perfect. Split up too soon but I think they'd been together for about ten years by then. Anyway, top piece mate.
Thanks for sharing Peter, and I will most definitely listen to their catalogue
wow thanks
We were spoilt for choice in the 80's but Japan were really good.
My Managers wife, who happened to be japanese, gave me and my friend some tickets to see them at Hammersmith Odeon. I think they had just released Ghosts! Great night and amazing crowd!
Japan were the REAL DEAL in an time of 'Pretenders'...no pun intended. My brother was obsessed with them and dressed exactly like David Sylvian...down to his 'Pineapple Dance studio ballet shoes'...and I have to give him kudos for wearing them all year round, in winter and snow...haha..in Brighton where we lived. I heard 'Forbidden Colours' on the radio driving my sons home today and had to show them the film, the music and the life we lived in the 1980's. Oh for such a more simple, more creative and more real life today....before mobile phones, WhatsApp, Facebook....and yes...lol...UA-cam! Great band and I hope they are all still well and enjoying life as my brother and I are...at 61 !! :-)
Absolute tune. 55 year old granny from Scotland. My youth. Absolute excellence
granny at 55 ?
@@haxio17 fr ahahaha
I’m 57 and a proud mum to a 14 year old.
And these one of the most talented bands of all time! Great memories too ❤
Hi from anstruther Nicola!
your 55 and 3 months older now. Motherwell here. and Japan copied duran duran.
Autumn 81. 13 year old me had my first fate Saturday afternoon and bought this single at woolies before going for a coffee and a proper size wagon wheel.
As soon as I saw Duran Duran at the rum runner in 1981 I knew they had been influenced by Japan. One of the most underestimated bands of all time they had a massive effect on my music. Mick Karn sadly missed one of the great bass players.
So true , Duran Duran didn’t have quite the same polish . Japan were incredible.
Japan, a poor man's Roxy Music at best!😂
@@hughzapretti-boyden9187 subjective
@@Carmenetta fact.
@@hughzapretti-boyden9187 your taste not mine. I love Roxy Music but don’t feel Japan had the recognition they deserved.
I'm 63 and listening to this right now...
I’m 66 and I too am enjoying it
62 and still bopping to the beat of the nostalgic 80s
I'm 57.5, a die-hard fan of "Japan" and the whole New Romantic music scene of England...
I'm 52 and discovered Japan about a decade ago. They're amazing. I also love Comsat Angels and Sparks ❤ 🎶
Born 15 / 9 / 56 Listening at 00:50 on 12 / 8 / 24 soon be 68 , its gone quick
スティーブのドラムが大好き❤です。
RIP Mick Karn, sadly gone but absolutely never forgotten.
Absolutely , what a bass
who ?
He was doing another songs with peter murphy, the first was dalis car after Bauhaus....
@@sadduck28 Mick Karn - the band's bass player. Who do you think?
When did he pass away?
Still a classic listening in 2024 👊🏻🙏🏻
Still superb 40+ years later.
Possibly the most underated band of all time.
met Talk Talk and speak later ;)
bazza powers had all their albums ,, ,,,totally loved them however they were just. Bit before Duran Duran and spandau hitting the big time ,,,,Japan had small success in the beginning,.,
That'd be The Prisoners or The Times for me....
But massively influential on the music scene.
They were the best 'Effeminate Futurists' i ever heard
Here again..57 yrs old…eyes closed..listening with love👍🙏🥰🥰🥰❤️
Our aural adolescence.
We were blessed.
70sUK rock はやっぱりいいですね？Japan大好き🍀😌🍀
I hate getting older 61 now you never think about been 60 plus but here we are listening to our favourite bands from the 80s
China chrises
Not far behind you. 57, I'm still young and locked into our music scene.
I introduced a friend's brother to them in the 80 s.
Met him after nearly 40 years recently and it's the first thing he wanted to thank me for .
Wonderful times. I recall watching them perform this in concert and people crying with joy.
Beautiful .
Please tell me there is a Japanese band called Britain
nope
@@grammarnazi7428 Your "nope" should have a capital 'N'. You're welcome.
@@1989NickyD oh WoaH yoUrE SoOoo inteLlEcTUAl
@@patatacampesina8286 I know.
I’ve heard they like Wales
当時ビバ・ロックという音楽雑誌があって、よくJAPANは取り上げられていました。今でもその当時の雑誌をいくつか所持しています。８ビートギャグというロック・ミュージシャンをネタにした漫画もありました。
What the fuck does that all say?
スティーブの「にーちゃ〜ん」ですね❤
Remember going to see them at Hammersmith odeon .. amazing
Classic.
あの頃は子供だったから、素敵な人達がカッコイイ曲を演奏している と、素直に思っていた。今 おばさんになって改めて拝見して、あまりにセクシーすぎて どうしよう！直視出来ないレベル！我が娘に 紹介してもいいのか 悩んだ
鈴カステラですね！
勉強のせずに必死に聴いてました、このアルバム。
やっぱりフェリーに似てるすね、当時は感じませんでしたが。
Japan's music was the perfect place where the glam tradition of David Bowie and Roxy Music met the post-punk bleakness of the early '80s.
Spot on 👌🏼
Very poignant!
Horseshit 💩🐴
You like things in wee boxes 📦 categorise assimilate tedious bourgeois shit
Smug supercilious bile
David sylvian sounds nothing like bryan ferry its lazy and unimaginative
As Mark E said Tedious
Repetitive repition
It's the bass sound and the phaser (?) effect on the drums that really seals the deal for me
Come on David we need you back
He never left check out all his solo work and collaborations with other artists
いい曲。
Eurolec 80's ,Tea bags & tomatoe flinging, great times.
Better than anything put out today. Still sounds as fresh as it did 40 years ago.
Most underrated Christmass hit ❤
私は、小学生時代、この曲を聞いてから、洋楽にハマりました。
Such wonderful memories. David and Mick were class.
63 year old and back to enjoy again.
Top ten , all time 80’s tune 🥸
i saw these guys in sheffield early 80s Wow what a fantastic band ,,,,,,,i have loved them ever since lol xx
Japan were a brilliant band of the early 80s, they were underrated, this is a great song, sounds similar to early Duran Duran, the early 80s was a great period in music history
Agree with the Duran Duran reference - Planet Earth comes to mind.
@@DanielBlockMD and careless memories...
Similiar to duran duran and to nick rhodes himself!
Correction late 70s...japan first...
Pretty sure they came out with this before Duran Duran did. There are a lot of similarities between this and Planet Earth & Rio. Even the looks were copied.
Mick Karn's fretless bass playing is simply sublime.
A brilliant bassist. One of the best at his craft.
Loved him too on his Gary Numan appearances
懐かしい！
Still listening 🙏🥰🥰🥰🥰
In 1980 I walked into T.O.T.S. nightclub in Southend and this song was playing. I remember thinking "Who are these guys"?. I bought every record they made after that and still regularly play them today at 60 years of age. Brilliant musicians and song writers and way ahead of their time. The sadly late Mick Kahn's fretless base playing became their signature sound. Fantastic.
Its funny because the same scenario happened to me in 2021 haha.
The music felt familiar but I had no idea who they were. Asked the barman if it was early Duran Duran. He laughed, insultingly I might add, but then told me who they were. Pretty much all I listend to for the next 6 months. And I'm an 80s baby too, they must have passed me by.
Same here, have all albums and still love them
I’m 61 and still listen …..excellent stuff, very underrated , lots of nightclub memories 😘
I first walked into the TOTS nightclub in Southend in 1986 and then got a job there a year later (and worked there until the year 2000). 😊 I would have loved to have been there just a few years earlier to hear Japan’s Quiet Life playing. Have been a huge fan of their music.
I used to walk into tots in those days as well ...fantastic ...a bloody bowling alley now .
This song feels incredibly nostalgic in all the best ways
I have all their original vinyls. I'd never part with them. My 13yr old heart lies there.
@TalorcMacAllan-k1k He's my baby. We thought we were going lose him last yr. He has MMM on his left side of his head and face. Google it mate. He's 9 and soft as snow.
Totally forgot about this track but hard it on 80's show, BBC2. Great record!
Seen this band 3 times in the 80s they were brilliant
Takes me back to carefree summer days driving in my old 1984 XR3i. Great music, great car.
The progression from punk to New romantic avant garde was a good time to be around. I lived this music.
Unbelievable. No way could better. Privileged
Lads dressing up - it was just a bit of innocent harmless fun - and a great laugh
/NewWave/SynthPop, so many names/variantions for this genre
New Romantic copied Japan.
Intelligent music. Challenging yet danceable. Where has the brainy pop gone? 😢
fantastic sound of my youth. glad i was young in this era.
that bass!
What an era lov the 80s
元気がなくなると必ずJAPANの曲を聴いてます
私が高校生だった時に大好きになったJAPANに感謝です❤期間限定で良いから再結成しないかなｧ❔マジ大好き💕
This band isn't talked about enough they had such great tracks
Yuri i saw these fantastic guys in the early 80s , ive adored them ever since ,, This guy was beautiful , his voice was to die for ,,,what utter joy xxxx Jane xx
¿Ya escucharon las canciones en solista de David Sylvian (el vocalista)?
Nearly 3 million views says otherwise
Such is the fate of many a great outfit.
Mick Karn was a brilliant bass player, real signature to his playing.
Mate you'll get there, I'm a frustrated guitarist, currently trying to learn Johnny Marr stuff.
R.I.P Mick
+65sparx Yes he certainly was.
MrChubbers he played fretless bass on a great song by China crisis called Christian.
Amazing rhythm section, listen to “methods of dance” amazing playing .... I purport to play drums no idea how to start with that song!
After all this time I still thrill to Mick Karn's baselines. RIP Mick sadly long gone
Listen Japan, filled the dancefloors, This was the sound! Bassline..
Just a brilliant pioneering band. This brings back so many wonderful memories. I got heavily into Japan at 16 in 1982…perfect timing as I had the ‘pretty boy’ looks, David Sylvian hair and copied his dress sense (obviously not as good as Mr Sylvian)…I worked at my local Tesco in Northfield (Birmingham) and had a ‘fan club’ with girls waiting for me outside the store when I left, screaming and shouting 😂…I made the local paper, and got threatened with written warnings if they kept coming into the store screaming! I lived off that look for about 7 years, and got lots of attention - until pretty boys had their day and the girls moved on 😂 Life goes by so quickly, you move on, and you forget. Now 40 years later at 56 - I would need a wig to replicate the Sylvian hair, am heavily overweight, and the looks went in my late 40’s, but after hearing the sad news of Ruichi Sakamotos passing, I’ve been rediscovering Japan and David Sylvian, and forgot so many songs…it’s genuinely emotional hearing them all again and thinking back to truly brilliant times with a smile. Japan were a unique and ridiculously talented group, as is David Sylvian, so I’m looking forward to listening to everything he has been recording over the years with great anticipation.
thanks , you made me laugh , i never had the good looks in the first place , ha, ha ..
Mark Silver….I did not realise Sakamoto had passed……I loved the music to Merry Christmas Mr Lawrence. I’m sure I would have been one of the girls waiting outside shop as I too loved David Sylvian 😊
@@lafreewaylafreeway Yes very sad x 1983 was a fab time for me…probably the closet you could get to celebrity status…getting stopped literally everywhere I went lol - roll on 40 years and nobody gives me a second glance…age is a cruel thing 😬
Did you wear the makeup too?
@@carlix1112 No lol was playing too much football for that at the time - plus Northfield was terrorised by a female Michael Jackson ‘double’ called Marilyn who would have targeted me if I did - you couldn’t make it 😂
Great song am 57 year brings back my childhod
Still relevant today.
Loved them in the 80s sounds still great now 🥰
Lot go in’ on here….marvellous 👍
I live in Thailand, just heard this in a bar and had to wait for three or four more visits till it came on again to ask who it was? I just couldn't remember , I thought of Japan Tin Drum but had to find 'Quiet Life'. Great song!
Ma and Pa Batt’s mixed genes really produced two good looking boys!
This was actually released in 1979. Brilliant music. There was only one.
Fantastic
Crazy good.Pop over techno with guitar solos ❤
About to reach the FORTIETH anniversary of this studio recording...am I the only person who can't believe four decades have swept by?
No I can’t either but then as the great Sir Terry Pratchett once said “inside every old person is a young person wondering what the hell happened” I am that (nearly) old person 😂✌🏻✌🏻✌🏻🇬🇧
Yup, I feel I've been put on fast forward for 50 odd years.
Seems like yesterday until I look in the mirror.
You are not the one!!!!
And the beautiful green gartside. They don’t make people like this anymore. I miss these heroes.
My favourite band
saw these guys in sheffield early 80s they looked rather stunning it was a pleasure being there ...xxx
Jane you were very lucky.... very lucky ..
I also saw them at Sheffield.
@@gavinreid5387 i hope it was the same concert ??
@@oughtonoughton2634 Sons of Pioneers tour 1982. They performed 2 nights in Sheffield, so 50% probability.
Classic song from a classic album.
Great song
A true band with colossal talent and originality. Wonderful memories of youth
I had a picture of David that i couldnt stop looking at i thought he was just so beautiful, i recorded this on a tape recorder (remember those) and played the song to death. Happy days x ps weren' t we lucky to have such great music in the 80s.
I believe at some stage was voted most beautiful man in Japan, saw them 3 times live.
Mick Karn probably one of the best bass players you'll ever hear.
What a dream of a tune with a hard hitting edge to it, awesome.
Pino Palldino was up there with them .
And also Nick Beggs😉 from group kajagoogoo with Limahl❤ he knows how to play a bass guitar😝 btw great group try to check it out😉 you will not regret😝
good choice - but Barry Adamson was AWESOME :)
He picked it up from *Percy Jones* of *Brand X* .. another greatly underappreciated bassist.
I 'd add Jaco Pastorius to that list too
Loved these in the 80s brilliant 🥳🎵🎼🎶💃🕺
Cool time
Richard Barbieri is very underrated. His use of the sequencer really makes this song.
Played some great stuff these guys, mick khan on Bass great player
. . this comes from a great time when to be noticed, you had to be GOOD 1
かっけー！40年前の高校生の頃にラジカセで聴きまくってた。
かっこいいやんけ
OMG! Nostalgia Heaven!
Sounds as good today as it did when I first heard it in 1981
Always a cut above the run of the mill New Romantic bands.
Immaculate sound
Simply brilliant band 🙏🙏🎅🤗
I can’t believe I didn’t appreciate this music when it came out. It took me a while to go from loud guitars to melodic synths.
Still loving this band in 2023, 40yrs on from my 1st listen, awesome band, 4 any bass players listening, can u get the same sound from a normal bass, as u do a fretless bass ???????
Quality ❤
Brillant track.
fantastic...crisp beat and some artfully drawn guitar lines.
I have been listening the music for 50 years old 🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉and great song lyrics too ❤️💘💘😁😁😁😁🖤🤍🧡🧡🧡🤍🧡 ❤😂❤
Genius... Happy 65... David.. 😎👌✌️👏👍🎉🥂🍾🎂🎉
Thanks
Sooo goood
Reromance the great 80s,what a era!!..❤
A great song in my opinion.I am proud to say I grew up listening to all these bands from my older siblings listening to them all.
0:16 You can totally hear Japan's influence on *Duran Duran!*
From the intro i think it influenced girls on film
@@Jonn-qh7cs Yes, definitely!
One of the most talented bands ever assembled.
Fab Bass player.
perfect
この映像、ビデオテープに録画したくて高いビデオデッキ購入しました❗
本当に大好きです。私の青春でした。
いまだに、この時代JAPANのフィルムコンサートで、知り合った、友達とは親友でいます。
こんな時代にこんな素敵な歌があったなんて！！！
Despite being born in the mid 2000s, I love this song. Just want all fans of this band to know that Japan's music is still influential.
For real.. I recently found this band and they are so great
Me too, early 2000s baby here
Yep, 2001 here. Japan still rules even through Gen Z :)
@TUbIuyola what a ray of sunshine
Same, born in 2003, found them out last year. I love their music!
What a kick ass great tune
Blew me away first hearing 1980
Thanks Kojima
+HentaiSenpai fuck you konami
Yeah that's right
fuck you Konami