Japan
British art rock band Japan was formed in 1974 in Lewisham, South London, E… Read Full Bio ↴British art rock band Japan was formed in 1974 in Lewisham, South London, England with original members David Sylvian (vocals, guitar), Mick Karn (bass guitar, saxophone), Richard Barbieri (keyboards), Rob Dean (guitar), and Steve Jansen (percussion). Dean left the band in 1981, before the recording of Japan's final album, Tin Drum.

Japan began playing glam rock, influenced by David Bowie, The New York Dolls and Motown. Japan debuted on record with 1978's Adolescent Sex and subsequently Obscure Alternatives, which both sold well in the nation of Japan, though nowhere else.

Their third album, 1979's Quiet Life, heralded a change in musical style from the earlier largely guitar based music to a more electronic sound, with more emphasis on Barbieri's synthesisers, Sylvian's svelte baritone style of singing, Karn's distinctive fretless bass sound, and Steve Jansen's odd-timbred percussion work.

Their following two albums, Gentlemen Take Polaroids (1980) and Tin Drum (1981) continued to expand their audience as the band refined its new sound and unintentionally became part of the early 1980s New Romantic movement. But Tin Drum would end up being their final album, as personality conflicts drove the band apart. Nevertheless, the album's unconventional single "Ghosts" reached #5 on the UK pop charts, followed by a re-release of "I Second That Emotion" that reached #9.

The band officially split up after a farewell tour in late 1982. The tour was posthumously released as an LP, "Oil on Canvas", in mid-1983.

Most of the original members of the band went on to work on other projects.
Mick Karn and Bauhaus frontman Peter Murphy formed the one-album project called Dali's Car and released the album The Waking Hour in 1984. He has released other solo works over the years.
Steve Jansen and Richard Barbieri released an album in 1987 under the moniker The Dolphin Brothers which garnered a little interest.

By far the most successful is David Sylvian, who has recorded several albums with noted performers. An attempted reunion in 1991 with the Rain Tree Crow project was short lived, producing only one album.

All members have collaborated on the other's solo work; notably the trio JKB (aka Jansen, Barbieri and Karn) have released several records. Jansen has continued to tour with his brother David Sylvian.

Karn died of cancer January 4, 2011.
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Japan Lyrics


. . . . Rhodesia Standing outside on a kitchen floor Love utensils in the…
...Rhodesia Standing outside on a kitchen floor Love utensils in the…
05-Lovers On Main Street Begging, pleading lose your love to me It's all that…
07-Suburban Love Below the cities hustle begins Expression lost in suburban…
08-Adolescent Sex With the sidewalks trading love As subway lights grow brig…
09-Communist China Your skin a white stained sensation Clinical bodies won't …
Adolescent Sex With the sidewalks trading love As subway lights grow brigh…
Ain't That Peculiar Honey you do me wrong but still I'm crazy about…
Alien Everything's neat and compact There's not much to shout abo…
All Tommorows Parties And what costume shall the poor girl wear To all…
All Tomorrow's Parties (12 And what costume shall the poor girl wear To all…
All Tomorrows Parties And what costume shall the poor girl wear To all…
Art of Parties Once I was young Once I was smart Now I'm…



Automatic Gun Too many heartaches have been rejected A notified delay I…
Burning Bridges It's all behind me now The work is done We…
Canton We're pushing through these farming towns We worked hard pl…
Cantonese Boy We're pushing through these farming towns We've worked hard…
Cantonese Boy - Live We′re pushing through these farming towns We worked hard plo…
Communist China Your skin a white stained sensation Clinical bodies won't d…
Despair Doucement, ne les derangez pas II why a des gens…
Deviation Delivering protests of intellect and Persevere over singula…
Don't Rain On My Parade Don't tell me not to live Just sit and putter…
European Son Scurrying across the broadwalk Some places I tend to forget…
Fall In Love With Me A summerhouse in Texas Searching for Siberia Pioneering un…
Gentlemen Take Polaroids Now there's a girl about town I'd like to know…
Gentlemen Take Polaroids - Live When the room is quiet, the daylight almost gone It seems…
Ghosts When the room is quiet The daylight almost gone It…
Halloween The cottage is windswept Now there's only sorrow here Foll…
I Second That Emotion Maybe you'll wanna give me kisses sweet But only for one…
In Vogue Before the light of day Reveals itself I am assured…
Life in Tokyo There's always something left inside here I've really nothi…
Life Without Buildings I'm walking young and strong But just a little too…
Love Is Infectious She keeps her patience for the bedroom Should satisfy her…
Lovers On Main Street Begging, pleading lose your love to me It's all that…
Methods Of Dance Here's a new design The cut and style you know…
My New Career I never wanted to be on my own I could…
Night Porter Could I ever explain this feeling of love? It just…
Nightporter Could I ever explain this feeling of love? It just…
Obscure Alternatives Love's incentives understood Irregular thoughts comply And…
Other Side Of Life Well it's been a long time How should I feel?…
Performance Take it easy, check me out Take it easy, check…
Quiet Life Boys, now the times are changing The going could get rough B…
Rhodesia Standing outside on a kitchen floor Love utensils in the…
Some Kind Of Fool Maybe I'm wrong I should just keep moving on... I suppose.…
Sometimes I Feel So Low I feel so rejected Come dance for me I need…
Sons Of Pioneers Sometimes I feel I've been here forever Sometime ago Somet…
Sons Of Pioneers - Live Sometimes I feel I′ve been here forever Sometime ago Sometim…
State Line Just you and me and a Marxist gun Heaven knows…
Stateline Just you and me and a Marxist gun Heaven knows…
Still Life In Mobile Homes Sometimes the comfort of a room Sometimes I'm quite alone I…
Suburban Below the cities hustle begins Expression lost in suburban …
Suburban Berlin Flirting new ambition Pressure for the ceiling No vacation…
Suburban Love Below the cities hustle begins Expression lost in suburban …
Swing Tell me when the work is done Tell me when…
Swing - Live Tell me when the work is done Tell me when the…
Taking Islands In Africa Taking islands in Africa Watch the slow boat hit and…
Talking Drum I hear a voice I hear a sound But nothing…
Television I apologize again Time after time after time The conversat…
The Art Of Parties Once I was young Once I was smart Now I'm living on…
The Other Side Of Life Well it's been a long time How should I feel?…
The Unconventional Take position And love will take a stand That is…
Transmission You're confiscating transmission For liberty, no sympathy …
Visions Of China I'm walking young and strong But just a little too…
Visions Of China - Live I′m walking young and strong But just a little too thin I…
Wish You Were Black Degradation takes a soul potential The woman ain't to blame…


Stephen Tremm


on . . . . Rhodesia

Nazis in full attack etc. - maybe army radio communications or tv news report.

Stephen Tremm


on . . . . Rhodesia

Saluting supermarket majorettes, we understand - maybe a joke or pun on a supermarket chain called Majorette, or a big display of model cars made by the company Majorette (a real company) in a supermarket.

Bleach your body - what a black person would need to do to get equality.

Nazis in full attack etc. - Maybe army radio communications or a tv news report.

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