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.
Alien
Japan Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
There's not much to shout about
But winter is breaking inside of me
Now life is so incomplete
But you're one of the boys again
But is that all you want to be?
Now that you feel the weather
Now that we're together
We seem so alien
Slowly descend from heaven
Anyway we turn we win
But how can you always be so sure?
Nightporters sleep on weekdays
Living a lifetime too
Walking away without a cure
The noise on the stairs disturbs me
Somebody walks my way
But can you rely on everything I feel?
Driving through endless buildings
The desert is so serene
But Mondays were never really my ideal
The song "Alien" by Japan is a reflection on the dissatisfaction with life and the struggle to find oneself. The opening lines "Everything's neat and compact, there's not much to shout about, but winter is breaking inside of me" sounds like the singer is describing a mundane routine or a comfortable but unfulfilling life. However, "winter is breaking inside of me" suggests an inner turmoil, a need for change and growth.
The second section of the song seems to be addressed to someone who has recently reconnected with the singer. Perhaps a friend who has been absent or a former lover. The singer questions whether this person simply wants to be "one of the boys" again or if they seek something more profound. The lines "now that we're together, we seem so alien" imply that the singer feels disconnected from this person despite their proximity.
Line by Line Meaning
Everything's neat and compact
Everything in my life is well-organized and orderly
There's not much to shout about
My life is uneventful and I have nothing extraordinary to share
But winter is breaking inside of me
Despite the outward appearances, I am struggling internally
Now life is so incomplete
I am not satisfied with my current state of existence
But you're one of the boys again
I am reconnecting with friends and enjoying male camaraderie
But is that all you want to be?
But I am questioning whether this is all I truly desire
Now that you feel the weather
Now that I am more in touch with my emotions
Was it all in vain?
Was my previous way of living purposeless?
Now that we're together
Now that we are spending time together
We seem so alien
We seem like outsiders compared to the rest of the world
Slowly descend from heaven
Slowly coming back down to earth
Anyway we turn we win
Feeling positive about the future and the opportunities it holds
But how can you always be so sure?
But I am questioning if my optimism is misplaced
Nightporters sleep on weekdays
People who work at night are sleeping during the day
Living a lifetime too
But I feel like I am merely existing, not truly living
Walking away without a cure
Moving on from one thing to another without truly finding a solution to my problems
The noise on the stairs disturbs me
I am easily disturbed by external noises and distractions
Somebody walks my way
Someone is approaching me
But can you rely on everything I feel?
But I am not always sure about my emotions and if they are valid
Driving through endless buildings
Driving through a cityscape dominated by tall buildings
The desert is so serene
The peaceful and calm environment of the desert
But Mondays were never really my ideal
But I am not fond of the start of the workweek
Lyrics © MUSIC SALES CORPORATION
Written by: DAVID SYLVIAN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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.