Japan, which also included Mick Karn, Rob Dean, Richard Barbieri and Sylvian's brother Steve Jansen, started out as a confusing hybrid rock/sleaze outfit in the mould of David Bowie and The New York Dolls. Their music quickly evolved as, at least to begin with, they drew heavily on the influence of Roxy Music's art rock stylings. Their visual image developed in parallel and the band were (unwillingly) tagged as forerunners of the New Romantic movement.
Japan recorded five studio albums between March 1978 and November 1981. Their biggest hit single, the minimalist Ghosts, which reached the Top 5 in the UK charts in 1982, was a clear pointer to Sylvian's future direction. After a successful tour, the band split in late 1982, and Sylvian embarked upon a solo career.
Around the time of Sylvian's first solo album he collaborated with ๅๆฌ้พไธ (Ryuichi Sakamoto) on the soundtrack music for the Nagisa Oshima film Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence (1983), which produced a Top 20 hit single, Forbidden Colours.
Sylvian's debut solo album, the jazz and ambient-influenced Brilliant Trees (1984), met with critical acclaim and yielded the single Red Guitar, another Top 20 hit. Guest artists included Jon Hassell and Holger Czukay. His follow-up was an instrumental EP Alchemy which cemented his drift away from commercial pop
The EP was in turn followed by the double album Gone to Earth (1986), which flouted convention (and perhaps commercial wisdom) by featuring one record of songs (predominantly atmospheric ballads) and one consisting almost entirely of ambient instrumental tracks. Guest artists included guitarists Robert Fripp and Bill Nelson.
His third album, Secrets of the Beehive (1987), was more acoustic and oriented towards somber, emotive ballads laced with string arrangements by ๅๆฌ้พไธ (Ryuichi Sakamoto). It yielded one of Sylvian's most well-received songs, Orpheus, and was supported by his first solo tour, 1988's "In Praise of Shamans". Sylvian's touring band included ex-Japan bandmates Jansen and Barbieri along with trumpeter Mark Isham, bassist Ian Maidman and guitarists David Torn and Robbie Aceto.
Never one to conform to commercial expectations, Sylvian then collaborated on several ambient music projects with artists including Holger Czukay and Russell Mills.
In 1991, a highly-anticipated Japan reunion (excluding Rob Dean) ended in acrimony. Sylvian insisted on calling the project and the album Rain Tree Crow, to the dismay of both his label Virgin Records (who were hoping for a hit "comeback" album) and his former bandmates. Guitarists Bill Nelson, Phil Palmer and Michael Brook augmented the quartet for the recording of the album.
In late 1991, Robert Fripp approached Sylvian and asked him to be part of a new King Crimson. Sylvian declined and instead suggested they work on a future collaboration resulting in the release of The First Day.
A period of relative musical inactivity followed, during which time Sylvian moved to the United States. Eventually in 1999, Sylvian released Dead Bees on a Cake. It showed the most eclectic influence of all his recordings, ranging from soul music to jazz fusion to Eastern spiritual chants, and most of the songs' lyrics reflecting Sylvian's inner peace with his marriage (to the wonderful poet/singer Ingrid Chavez), family and beliefs. Guest artists included longtime friend ๅๆฌ้พไธ (Ryuichi Sakamoto), as well as Talvin Singh, Marc Ribot, Kenny Wheeler and Bill Frisell.
Sylvian parted ways with Virgin and launched his own independent label, Samadhi Sound. Sylvian experimented alone with treated sounds made from his guitar and computer. The results were recorded during February of 2003. A few months later, he released the album Blemish. The disc was stark in its sound and content. The lyrical subject matter dealt primarily with the impending dissolution of Sylvian's marriage. In 2005 The Good Son vs The Only Daughter was released, which was comprised of remixes of tracks from Blemish.
With the conclusion of "A Fire In The Forest Tour" in 2004, work resumed on a joint project between Sylvian and Jansen. Yet the course of the album took on a completely new tone after Sylvian decided to add keyboardist/vibraphonist/programmer Burnt Friedman to the proceedings and make him an equal partner in the collaboration. The band name of Nine Horses was adopted and the CD, titled Snow Borne Sorrow, was released in October of 2005. The sound was a return to more traditional avenues for Sylvian after the radical departure he took with Blemish. Elements of avant-garde jazz, pop, folk and electronic music were all blended together
Nine Horses' Money For All EP was released in 2006, which included new material as well as Burnt Friedman remixes of songs selected from their first disc.
News on Sylvian's website was released in March stating that "We're preparing for the release of Davidโs new album Manafon. Itโs a powerfully bold, uncompromising work featuring contributions from Evan Parker, John Tilbury, Keith Rowe, Christian Fennesz, Otomo Yoshihide, and many more."
David Sylvian's official website: www.davidsylvian.com
Pure Genius
David Sylvian Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Here's the great deceiver
Bling, bling all bets are off
It goes unnoticed
If not for me it goes unnoticed
Find another record
Play another record
I play the jukebox
I play the DJ
I could be vice, FBI
I played the imbecile
And no one noticed
And no one noticed
Oh boy, come see the plans
They're pure genius
Pure genius
Oh boy, come see the plans
Oh, you wouldn't notice
Here they come
See them tumble
My lucky numbers
Here they come
I've got lots of secrets
Man, I've lots of secrets
You're my number one
And you're my number one
Oh boy, come see the plans
They're pure genius
Pure genius
Oh boy, get with the program, man
Come see the plans
They're pure genius
You understand, you understand
Oh, the lights are blinking
Turn off the stereo
It wears the batteries
They're double A's
Come morning
I'll sleep like a dog
And dream of numbers
My lucky numbers
Here they come
The song "Pure Genius" by David Sylvian has lyrics that seem to describe someone who is trying to deceive others by playing different roles and keeping secrets. The first verse talks about lights blinking and the "great deceiver," who could be seen as the person trying to manipulate others. The line "if not for me it goes unnoticed" suggests that the deception might not have been noticed if the singer hadn't been paying attention. The singer then talks about playing different records and being able to be anyone from a DJ to the FBI, further driving home the idea of someone trying to deceive others.
The chorus of the song is where the main message of the song comes through. The repeated line "Oh boy, come see the plans, they're pure genius" suggests that the person trying to deceive others thinks that what they are doing is incredibly clever and impressive. However, the line "you wouldn't notice" seems to suggest that the deception is going unnoticed by others. The singer mentions their "lucky numbers" and secrets, reinforcing the idea that they have something to hide.
The final verse of the song brings things to a close, as the singer talks about turning off the stereo and dreaming of their "lucky numbers." The line "come morning, I'll sleep like a dog" suggests that the singer is content with what they've done and feels confident that their deception will continue.
Overall, "Pure Genius" seems to be a cautionary tale about the dangers of trying to deceive others. While the person doing the deceiving might think they are being clever, they are ultimately only fooling themselves.
Line by Line Meaning
Oh, the lights are blinking
The blinking lights signify the arrival of the great deceiver
Here's the great deceiver
The great deceiver is a metaphor for something or someone that tricks and deceives people
Bling, bling all bets are off
The situation is uncertain and anything can happen
It goes unnoticed
If it weren't for me, nobody would have noticed the deceiver
If not for me it goes unnoticed
My attention to detail is the only reason the deceiver's actions were noticed
Find another record
Switch to a different approach or idea
Play another record
Try a new strategy
It could be anything
There are many possibilities and options to consider
I play the jukebox
I'm experimenting with different methods to find what works
I play the DJ
I'm in control of the situation and trying to manipulate it
I could be vice, FBI
I'm adaptable and capable of playing various roles to achieve my goals
I played the imbecile
I acted foolish to hide my real intentions and fool others
And no one noticed
Nobody realized that I was acting a certain way to deceive them
Oh boy, come see the plans
I have an amazing strategy to achieve my goals
They're pure genius
My plans are brilliant and innovative
Oh boy, get with the program, man
You need to understand and follow my plans to achieve success
You understand, you understand
I hope you see the brilliance of my plans
Oh, you wouldn't notice
You wouldn't be able to detect the subtle changes I'm making
Here they come
My plans are unfolding and coming to fruition
See them tumble
Watch the changes I've implemented cause chaos among my enemies
My lucky numbers
I have a strategy based on numbers or a numerical pattern that I believe will lead to success
I've got lots of secrets
I have a lot of information that I'm using to manipulate the situation
Man, I've got lots of secrets
I'm confident in the information I possess and how to use it
You're my number one
You are the most important and valuable person to my plan
Come morning, I'll sleep like a dog
After a long night of implementing my plan, I'll rest soundly
And dream of numbers
I'll continue to think and strategize while I sleep
Turn off the stereo
Stop any distractions that may hinder my focus
It wears the batteries
Listening to music drains the batteries
They're double A's
The batteries required for the stereo are AA sized
Lyrics ยฉ MUSIC SALES CORPORATION, Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: CHRIS ALAN VRENNA, CLINT WALSH, DAVID SYLVIAN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
LA
Good Lord this is beautiful. It's often seems that few musicians really get Sylvian's voice but the work with Tweaker was just top notch. The eerie undertones of his voice is perfectly set against the growing drone. Perfection.
tomgirl double
Pure genius indeed Mr D hope you're staying safe in this virus ridden world ๐๐๐ณ
Andy O'Connell
tomgirl double If ever anyone could wax some lyrical monolithic epitaph to this Covid ridden world David Sylvian could - pleeease! ๐๐ปโค๏ธ
tomgirl double
Andy O'Connell so very true ๐๐๐ป๐งก
uetzelbuetzel
I love it. Nice sound design.
Victoria C Clowes
Good lord, this is amazing.....
rimefrostkitten
Beyond individual's credited name, must this indulge the very trash production creed?
https://youtu.be/EFIFo_VY4Rg
First release entitled "Candyass-" relevant punk statement in Heart.
PrรผttFilter
I wait for a collab between Mr. Sylvian and Boards of Canada ...
LA
Cy Twombley that would be AMAZING!
jan rohwer
He is genius!