Japan--2 things

[hexicon]

First, can I just say how amazingly well Japan has held up. I had a brunch party today and made a little mellow playlist that mixed Nouvelle Vague with Blue Nile, Death Cab, etc., and I tossed in several songs from Japan, just cuz. When a Japan tune came on, it always piqued my friends' interest and they asked who IS this? (many were too young for NW the first time aroung).

Second, I can't stop listening to Graham Parker's "Discovering Japan" from Manekineko's "Sweet & Sour" CD. Back in the day I think I had the single "Local Girls" but never bought the Squeezing Out Sparks" album. What a great song--amazing pop with intersting subject and lyrics almost as complicated as Gilbert & Sullivan. (Thanks again Manekineko for a great mix!)

[tomfin2000]

[quote]Originally posted by hexicon
[br]First, can I just say how amazingly well Japan has held up. I had a brunch party today and made a little mellow playlist that mixed Nouvelle Vague with Blue Nile, Death Cab, etc., and I tossed in several songs from Japan, just cuz. When a Japan tune came on, it always piqued my friends' interest and they asked who IS this? (many were too young for NW the first time aroung).[/quote]

I've been downloading Japan and David Sylvian videos left and right the past couple of weeks and I was thinking the same thing. I went through a phase during the past five years where I didn't listen to much New Wave, so coming back to it again after being away for so long has made it interesting in terms of which bands I still enjoy listening to and which ones I don't.

I think one reason that I still enjoy listening to Japan over 20 years later is that they're so unique. A lot of the elements that I originally loved about New Wave became cliches after it (more or less) went mainstream (circa 1984) and it's ruined some very good bands for me.

However, Japan came through it relatively unscathed, and a lot of the credit for that should probably go to David Sylvian for pulling the plug when he did. I remember reading an interview in a local newspaper with Richard Branson circa 1986, and the interviewer was running through some of the major acts that Virgin had broken internationally over the years. The interviewer then asked Branson if there were any acts on the Virgin label that he felt should have broken internationally, but didn't. Branson's only answer? Japan. He didn't elaborate, but he said something to the effect of the band quitting right when they were on the verge of superstardom. I know there was tension within the band that probably made a split inevitable, but I still think it had more to do with Sylvian no longer wanting to be a pop star than anything else.

A couple of weeks ago, I downloaded the "Hearbeat" video from 1991 that he did with Sakamoto and future wife Ingrid Chavez and there was a brief interview with him before the clip started. He was the complete antithesis of the David Sylvian from the Japan days. He was kind of pudgy, had long, straight dark brown hair, wasn't wearing any make-up, was dressed very casually and had a big smile on his face. You could just tell that he was so much happier. I'm sure a lot of that had to do with just recently falling in love with Ingrid Chavez, but it still made a real impression on me.

"Hearbeat" is an amazing song, by the way. If you're a Sylvian and/or Sakamoto fan and haven't heard it before, track down an Mp3 and give it a listen!

[Quite Life]

Two things in return


1. Even the young kids today are tuning in on Japan's old catalog. Both the Hansa/Arola GutterGlam early NW days as well as thier new romantic prog material they did in the Virgin years. Granted Mick Karn admits that the music in his opinion sounds a bit out dated(bass guitar mag 4/05). Regardless thier music still is classic as any mega band that made it during the NW era 78-84.


2. Squeezing out the Sparks was an awsome LP I also have the KSAN bootleg from the Old Wardorf show in SF back in 79.

[xtc-1957]

Hexi,

I know what you mean. I've been listening to Manek'd CD for a year now and I have a newfound admiration for Mr. Parker.

There aren't many CD's a burn recently that don't have 1 or 2 of his songs on them.

[manekineko]

[:)][:I]

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