After banshee wailer Poly Styrene departed from X-Ray Spex, the remaining members held auditions for a replacement singer. Solo won the approval of a few of Styrene's former bandmates, and they debuted at the Music Machine on August 1979. Airport left the group before they even recorded their first single; he was replaced by Gary Steadman. In 1981, Classix Nouveaux released "Guilty," one of their most well-known tracks; the track was a Top-20 hit in Sweden and received interest in the U.K. as well as the U.S. The music video also received airplay on MTV.
A year later, the single "Is It a Dream" reached number 13 on the U.K. charts. Despite successful tours in Yugoslavia, Finland, and Poland, none of Classix Nouveaux's three albums truly catapulted them beyond cult status in Britain or America, getting lost in the shuffle of other new romantic groups that they had originally influenced. The band split up in 1985, and Solo started recording Christian music.
In 2021 band has reunited and released album with re-recorded songs from their back catalogue plus some new material in November 2023 entitled "Battle Cry"
Tokyo
Classix Nouveaux Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
But now we drag behind
New inventions every day
From the other side
Tokyo, Tokyo
Tokyo is so far away
The Japanese don't mind
No-one else can change their world
Like their production lines
Tokyo, Tokyo
Tokyo is so far away
The lyrics to Classix Nouveaux's "Tokyo" delve into the idea of globalization and how it has shifted power dynamics in the world. The song begins with a lamentation of how the West used to be at the forefront of innovation and discovery, but now seem to be lagging behind with new inventions and technologies originating from East Asia, specifically Japan. The lyric "from the other side" can be interpreted as a reference to the Pacific Ocean or the Eastern Hemisphere, where Japan is located.
The chorus repeats the title city of Tokyo as an embodiment of this sense of distance, both physically and metaphorically, from Japan's technological advancements. The second verse reinforces this idea, as the lyrics reference the White House and Kremlin, two centers of power in the Western world, "playing with words" while the Japanese continue to focus on production and advancement. The song concludes with a repetition of the chorus, emphasizing the continued distance between the singer and Japan.
Line by Line Meaning
Once we used to lead the way
In the past, we were at the forefront of innovation and progress.
But now we drag behind
Unfortunately, we are now lagging behind and not keeping up with new advancements.
New inventions every day
Constantly, there are new technologies and innovations emerging.
From the other side
However, these new inventions are coming from other countries or regions.
Tokyo, Tokyo
The city of Tokyo is being referenced.
Tokyo is so far away
The distance or gap between our development and that of Tokyo is significant.
Whitehouse, Kremlin, play with words
Political leaders in the United States and Russia are competing with rhetoric.
The Japanese don't mind
The Japanese are not bothered or affected by this competition.
No-one else can change their world
There are no other countries or regions that can influence or impact Japanese society and culture.
Like their production lines
Similar to the efficiency and precision of Japanese manufacturing, their societal norms and values are hard to change.
Contributed by Josiah S. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@clivesmith9377
Tokyo" - Classix Nouveaux, 1981.
Once we used to lead the way
But now we drag behind
New inventions every day
From the other side
Tokyo, Tokyo
Tokyo is so far away
Whitehouse, Kremlin, play with words
The Japanese don't mind
No-one else can change their world
Like their production lines
Tokyo, Tokyo
Tokyo is so far away
@grantweatherstone6234
Great sound.
@markponcia8969
Mike Sweeney went to my high school !
@notyourbiz235
Did you know him?
@markponcia8969
@Yvonne Iwona D. no he was a few years above me had left the school by the time I got there
@JoseLuisOliveirakovpyn
Nik.
@clivesmith9377
Tokyo" - Classix Nouveaux, 1981.
Once we used to lead the way
But now we drag behind
New inventions every day
From the other side
Tokyo, Tokyo
Tokyo is so far away
Whitehouse, Kremlin, play with words
The Japanese don't mind
No-one else can change their world
Like their production lines
Tokyo, Tokyo
Tokyo is so far away
@justMe-rd4sw
Which came 1st
This
Or The Mood -Paris is one day away
@user-wv4rw9yj6b
Да! Не сложилась музыкальная тема! Хотя диск у меня до сих пор имеется!
@carlosgoncalves4047
Made in ALMADA .
@magdarosson6579
maybe China too.