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 坂本龍一 (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 坂本龍一 (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 坂本龍一 (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 David’s new album Manafon. It’s 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
Sugarfuel
David Sylvian Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
When you're on the run, you run out of places
I'm on your side
I am your sugar fuel
I'll find where it hurts
I'll be the wound in you
I'm on your side
When the drugs take hold
I will touch you
I will touch you
When the words fall short
I will kiss you
I will kiss .....
I'm on your side
So let me punish you
I'm on your side
I'll be your sugar fuel
When all your thoughts are dark
And all your dreams are blue
I'm with you
You're on your stomach
You can't speak
You're suffocating in this heat
Well if we suffer is that wrong?
What doesn't kill us makes us strong
Were you pushed or did you slip?
I'm tasting blood upon your lips
The door is locked
The floor is greased
And if your screams should break the peace
I'm on your side
So let me finish you
I'm on your side
So let me punish you
I'm on your side
I'll be your sugar fuel
When all your thoughts are dark
And all your dreams are blue
I'm with you
I'm with you
Sugar
When all your thoughts are dark
And all your dreams are blue
I'm with you
The lyrics of David Sylvian's "Sugarfuel" paint a picture of a relationship in which one person is committed to helping the other, even if it means causing them pain. The first verse acknowledges that the person in need is facing many challenges and feels like they have run out of places to turn. However, the singer is there to support them, even though they may not always understand what they're going through. When the second verse begins, the tone becomes more intense. With lines like "let me punish you" and "let me finish you," it's clear that the singer is willing to go to extremes to help their partner. Despite the potentially violent overtones, the chorus reaffirms that the singer is "on your side" and will continue to be supportive throughout any struggle.
Overall, "Sugarfuel" seems to be about the lengths that people will go to for the ones they love. It acknowledges that life can be hard and relationships can be messy, but ultimately emphasizes the importance of loyalty and sticking together through thick and thin.
Line by Line Meaning
There are many rooms and many faces
There are numerous places and people to encounter
When you're on the run, you run out of places
When you're constantly trying to escape, you eventually run out of options
I'm on your side
I'm supportive of you
I am your sugar fuel
I am the source of your energy and pleasure
I'll find where it hurts
I'll locate your vulnerability
I'll be the wound in you
I'll be the cause of your pain
When the drugs take hold
When you're under the influence of drugs
I will touch you
I will make physical contact with you
When the words fall short
When verbal communication is inadequate
I will kiss you
I will express my affection through physical intimacy
So let me punish you
Allow me to cause you discomfort
I'll be your sugar fuel
I'll provide you with the pleasure you desire
When all your thoughts are dark
When you're consumed by negativity
And all your dreams are blue
When you're hopeless and filled with despair
You can't speak
You're unable to verbally communicate
You're suffocating in this heat
You're feeling trapped and overwhelmed
If we suffer is that wrong?
Is experiencing pain and discomfort immoral?
What doesn't kill us makes us strong
Adversity can make us stronger
Were you pushed or did you slip?
Did someone cause your harm, or did you unintentionally hurt yourself?
I'm tasting blood upon your lips
I sense that you're injured
The door is locked
We're unable to leave
The floor is greased
The environment is hazardous
And if your screams should break the peace
If your cries cause disruption
So let me finish you
Allow me to cause your downfall
I'm with you
I am by your side
Sugar
Term of endearment
Contributed by Adalyn B. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@riddim66
This track ("Sugarfuel" featuring David Sylvian) is the original & only version taken from Readymade FC's first LP "BOLD" (F Communications.2001). re-released on the compilation "Sleepwalkers" (2010).
@toitarzanmoijane
David Sylvian is just one of my favorite singers, how can people resist to this voice?
@andyoconnell3266
No matter how many times I think I’ve caught up on some of the sublime Mr Sylvian’s missed back catalogue yet another gem pops up! Always been a fan and will always enjoy continuing to be one!! 👏🏻❣️
@tomgirldouble3249
Luv this darker David these days. Loved him since Japan still gets to me this gorgeous voice #luvyadavid 💕
@gadgetjamz
I've been a fan since Japan, then mommy life took over and I've been out of the loop. Good to hear your smooth voice again Mr. Sylvian. Beautiful.
@ferroxglideh5621
The voice...
@antunivanovic
David Sylvian makes beautiful music. No matter how cold or uncold. Period.
@23sugarcane
@gadgetjamz Thanks for watching. It's great that you're back on Sylvian's track... you have a lot of catching up to do, but it can be a very exciting journey :-)
@23sugarcane
@300368ful My feelings are totally the opposite... I think he always puts so much emotion and wamth into his work. I have also listened and read many (maybe all) of his interviews and he always comes across as a genuine and kind person, never petty, never criticising or making fun of anyone (he criticises himself). Your comment about the video is very sweet, thank you so much :-)
@23sugarcane
Happy Birthday today (23/2/13) to the sweet and gentle David <3