In 1984 the re-named Alphaville released their debut single "Big in Japan", followed by "Sounds Like a Melody" and "Forever Young", quickly followed by the album Forever Young. Despite its success Frank Mertens left the band in the same year and was replaced by Ricky Echolette (born Wolfgang Neuhaus, in Cologne, August 6, 1960) in January 1985.
"Big In Japan" was their biggest U.S. success, shooting to #1 on Billboard's Dance chart. While they never again had a Top 20 U.S. Dance hit, several of their releases went Top 40 and Top 30 on the Dance charts. They were less successful at mainstream U.S. radio, reflected by their showing on the Billboard Hot 100 Singles charts, where "Big" only reached #66. The first U.S. release of "Forever Young" failed to scale the charts. In 1985, amid reports pop star Laura Branigan was featuring the song on her next album, Hold Me, Alphaville's "Forever Young" was re-released as a single in the U.S., and again floundered in the lower recesses of the chart. Branigan's version, though promoted on stickers adorning the album, subsequently remained an album cut in the U.S., though it was released to radio in South America. She would go on to perform the song as an encore at nearly every concert she performed, from her 1985 tour until her death in 2004. The Alphaville version was released a third time in the U.S. in 1988, to promote Alphaville: The Singles Collection, and peaked this time at #65. Their highest U.S. Singles chart showing, it was also their last. International re-releases of Alphaville's "Forever Young" followed in 1989, 1996, and 2001. Several covers have been recorded and remixed, featuring male or female vocalists often erroneously attributed to be Alphaville's Marian Gold, or Laura Branigan.
In 1986 the second album Afternoons In Utopia was released, followed in 1989 by The Breathtaking Blue. As an alternative to individual music videos, the band enlisted nine producers, among them Godfrey Reggio (Koyaanisqatsi), to create a film entitled Songlines based on the album's tracks.
The next album, Prostitute, was not released until 1994. In 1996 Ricky Echolette left the band. Salvation followed in 1997. Stark Naked and Absolutely Live was released in 2000, followed by the remix album Forever Pop in 2001. A DVD was released in 2001 documenting two concerts performed in Salt Lake City, Utah. Two box-sets have also been released; rather than being collections of previously released album tracks they are actually 12 unique albums, several live, several rarities and outtakes, and several newly recorded. The first box, of eight discs, was released in 1999 (called Dreamscapes) and the second in 2003 (called CrazyShow or Dreamscapes 9-12). All the material in CrazyShow is newly recorded.
Bernhard Lloyd did not contribute to the CrazyShow album, and shortly after its release, on March 18, 2003 he officially left the group. The current core members of Alphaville are Marian Gold (vocals), Martin Lister (keyboards), David Goodes (guitars) and Pierson Grange (drums).
" Just a note to say Bernhard Lloyd is/has/recently played live with Alphaville. I saw him at the Esbjerg Rock Festival in June of this year. They sounded absoutely brilliant. Check out the Alphaville website, it's worth a look. Added by Fletchie, 02.11.07"
Marian Gold has released two solo albums (So Long Celeste, 1992 and United, 1996) alongside his work in the band. Bernhard Lloyd also worked on a project named Atlantic Popes with singer Max Holler. In 1996 Frank Mertens started on a musical project called Maelstrom which was a combination of ambient-style music, impressionistic and colorful art in the form of paintings and sculptures, and etheric poetry. This project seems now to have been by far abandoned, though, as Mertens has not been visibly active with it. In 2006 and 2007, Alphaville appeared on the "ELEKTRISCH" vol.1 and 2 album compilations with "From Germany With Love" and "Guardian Angel".
There is another artist with the same name:
2) A spanish Synthpop/dark/post punk group born in 1981 in Madrid by José Luis F. Abel (guitar & vocal), Mendi (bass), José Carlos ‘Charles’ Sánchez (keyboards), Jose Luis Orfanel (guitar) and Juan Antonio ‘Rep’ Nieto (drums).
The independent label DRO released their first EP in April 1982, "Paisajes nocturnos", which included four tracks. Their first hit arrived some months later with the 4-tracks 12'' "Palacio de invierno". In 1983 they released the album Despues De La Derrota.
Big in Japan
Alphaville Lyrics
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Crystal bits of snowflakes
All around my head and in the wind
I had no illusions
That I'd ever find a glimpse
Of summer's heatwaves in your eyes
You did what you did to me
Here's my comeback on the road again
Things will happen while they can
I will wait here for my man tonight
It's easy when you're big in Japan
Oh, when you're big in Japan, tonight
Big in Japan, be tight
Big in Japan, ooh, the eastern sea's so blue
Big in Japan, alright
Pay, then I'll sleep by your side
Things are easy when you're big in Japan
Oh, when you're big in Japan
Neon on my naked skin, passing silhouettes
Of strange illuminated mannequins
Shall I stay here at the zoo
Or should I go and change my point of view
For other ugly scenes
You did what you did to me
Now it's history I see
Things will happen while they can
I will wait here for my man tonight
It's easy when you're big in Japan
Oh, when you're big in Japan, tonight
Big in Japan, be tight
Big in Japan, ooh the eastern sea's so blue
Big in Japan, alright
Pay, then I'll sleep by your side
Things are easy when you're big in Japan
Oh, when you're big in Japan
Tonight
Big in Japan, be tight
Big in Japan, ooh the eastern sea's so blue
Big in Japan, alright
Pay, then I'll sleep by your side
Things are easy when you're big in Japan
Oh, when you're big in Japan
Oh, when you're big in Japan, tonight
Big in Japan, be tight
Big in Japan, ooh the eastern sea's so blue
Big in Japan, alright
Pay, then I'll sleep by your side
Things are easy when you're big in Japan
Oh, when you're big in Japan
Tonight
Big in Japan, be tight
Big in Japan, ooh the eastern sea's so blue
Big in Japan, alright
Pay, then I'll sleep by your side
Things are easy when you're big in Japan
Oh, when you're big in Japan
The lyrics of Alphaville’s “Big in Japan” paint a contrasting image of winter and summer, with the singer finding themselves in a cold, snow-filled city, surrounded by crystal bits of snow, with no chance of glimpsing moments of warm weather. The singer understands that it’s impossible for them to see the Summer heat wave in the eyes of the one they love. The song touches on themes of disillusionment, unrequited love, and fame, as the singer strives to be like those big in Japan, where it’s easy to sleep beside someone and things are easy when you’re famous.
The lyrics create metaphors and paint pictures of the surroundings, hinting at the pressures of fame in Japan, where the eastern sea is so blue, and bright neon lights accentuate the skin. The singer feels overwhelmed by the beauty of the Japanese side, surrounded by illuminated mannequins and unsure whether to stay in this zoo-like setting or change their point of view. The lyrics come full circle, as the singer realizes the mistakes that have been made but also embraces the future, acknowledging that things will happen while they can, and waiting for their man tonight.
Line by Line Meaning
Winter's cityside
The cold, snowy city surrounds me
Crystal bits of snowflakes
Tiny frozen flakes are falling from the sky
All around my head and in the wind
The snow is swirling all around me in the blowing wind
I had no illusions
I didn't expect anything more
That I'd ever find a glimpse
I didn't think I'd ever see even a little of
Of summer's heatwaves in your eyes
The warm, passionate look in your eyes that reminds me of summertime
You did what you did to me
You treated me poorly
Now it's history, I see
It's all over now and I can look back on it
Here's my comeback on the road again
I'm back on the path to success
Things will happen while they can
I need to take advantage of opportunities while they're available
I will wait here for my man tonight
I'm waiting patiently for my partner to arrive
It's easy when you're big in Japan
Life is simpler when you're famous in a foreign country
Oh, when you're big in Japan, tonight
The benefits of being popular in Japan are especially great right now
Big in Japan, be tight
Just keep doing what you're doing and stay popular
Big in Japan, ooh, the eastern sea's so blue
Japan is a beautiful place with clear blue water in the east
Pay, then I'll sleep by your side
If you give me money, I'll stay with you
Neon on my naked skin, passing silhouettes
The bright lights of the city are shining on me and making shadows
Of strange illuminated mannequins
Mannequins dressed in odd clothing are lit up with neon lights
Shall I stay here at the zoo
Should I stay in this strange place
Or should I go and change my point of view
Or should I leave and see things from a different perspective
For other ugly scenes
To avoid other unpleasant sights
Oh, when you're big in Japan
Being popular in Japan is really something
Lyrics © Budde Music Publishing GmbH, TuneCore Inc., BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Bernhard Lloyd, Frank Mertens, Marian Gold
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind