New Wave Outpost Forum

not sure if there's been a topic like this already but...
what are some of your favorite songs with ethnic themes, or just ones your know from 80's. There were quite a few Asian themes it seems..

here are a few of my personal favorites.... going around the world the 80's style [:D]

Murray Head - One night in Bangkok
The Creatures - Japan
Red Flag - Russian Radio
Alphaville - To Germany with Love
Alphaville - Big in Japan
David Bowie - China Girl
Fancy - Chinese Eyes
Sandra - Hiroshima
Visage - Moon over Moscow
T'Pau - China in your hand
Falco - Munich Girls
Aneka - Japanese Boy
Modern Talking - Bells of Paris
Modern Talking - Lonely Tears in Chinatown
Numero Uno - Full Moon In Hong Kong
Mr Zivago - Little Russian
Japan - Life in Tokyo
Baltimora - Chinese Restaurant
Michael Jackson - Liberian Girl
Cruisin' Gang - Chinatown
Eddy Huntington - USSR
Lee Marrow - Shanghai
Shanghai - Africa
Toto - Africa
Max Him - Japanese Girls
London Boys - London Nights
Fun Fun - Living in Japan
Laban - Asian Heart
Laban - Love in Siberia
Mozzart - Jasmin China Girl
Sting - Russians

anyone have others they would like to mention?

I forgot these two as well

Kim Wilde - Cambodia
Kim Wilde - Suburbs of Moscow

How did you manage to start a list without Turning Japanese? [:o)]


...or any Clash song like Straight To Hell or Charlie Don't Surf.

[quote][i]Originally posted by Frau_Blucher[/i]
<br>How did you manage to start a list without Turning Japanese? [:o)]


...or any Clash song like Straight To Hell or Charlie Don't Surf.
[/quote]

hmm yeah it seems I also missed Mexican Radio and Walking like Egyptian

more geographic 80's tunes [:D]

Rational Youth - Saturdays in Silesia
Rational Youth - Holiday in Bangkok
Gazebo - London-Paris
Joy - Japanese Girls
Pet Shop Boys - Paninaro
Elton John - Nikita

most of the songs are you mentioned are italo or german disco. Oriental themes were quite common in that genre and they were quite popular in places like hong kong.

For a more serious ethnic mix I would look at the stuff by Ryuichi Sakamoto. Along with David Sylvian, he really managed to merge western synthpop with the traditional music of the "east". Some mention must also go to Blancmange and Thompson Twins, both of whom incorporated eastern elements into their music.

If I had to choose some songs to sum all this up:
1.Ryuichi Sakamoto & Akiko Yano - Steppin Into Asia
2.Ryuichi Sakamoto - Tibetan Dance
3.Howard Jones - China Dance
4.Thompson Twins - The Gap
5.Blancmange - Living on the Ceiling
6.Tangerine Dream - Warsaw In The Sun
7.Yellow Magic Orchestra - Seoul Music
8.Japan - Cantonese Boy
9.Duran Duran - Tiger Tiger
10.Arcadia - Rose Arcana
11.Fake - Memories Of Pan
12.David Sylvian & Sakamoto - Bamboo Music
13.Mecano - Japon
14.Logic System - Orient Express
15.Jean Michel Jarre - Souvenir of China
16.Sandii - East Meets West
17.David Sylvian - Woman At The Well
18.Ryuichi Sakamoto - Japan

[quote][i]Originally posted by humanracer[/i]
<br>most of the songs are you mentioned are italo or german disco. Oriental themes were quite common in that genre and they were quite popular in places like hong kong.

For a more serious ethnic mix I would look at the stuff by Ryuichi Sakamoto. Along with David Sylvian, he really managed to merge western synthpop with the traditional music of the "east". Some mention must also go to Blancmange and Thompson Twins, both of whom incorporated eastern elements into their music.
[/quote]

interesting, I never heard many of the ones on your list, thanks!

Four more that I would like to mention are:

Idle Eyes - Tokyo Rose
Human League - Lebanon
Billy Ocean - Caribean Queen
Double - Rangoon Moon

I would also add

Red Rockers-China
Ultravox-White China
Dead Kennedys-Holiday in Cambodia

Patti Smith - Rock and Roll African-American Fellow

Payola$ - China Boys

Did we forget Siouxsie and the dreaded Hong Kong Garden song?

Siouxie - Cities in Dust

Four wheels scare the cockatoos, From Kintore East to Yuendumu [:D]
Midnight Oil - Beds Are Burning

and also I can't believe nobody still mentioned:
Men at Work - Land Down Under