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.
Love Is Infectious
Japan Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Should satisfy her for a week
Her domination is executed cheaply
With her studio technique
What's new?
She carries love in a carrier bag
What's new?
She don't keep her body clean
Illegitimate contributions
And neurotic fantasies conceived
Love is infectious
I don't know about that
Love is infectious
I don't know about it
She keeps appointments by the hour glass
Guerilla warfare in her bed
And constant love is oh oh so negative
We're simulating sex instead
She carries love in a carrier bag
She don't keep her body clean
Oh, Oh, Oh
Illegitimate contributions
And neurotic fantasies conceived
Love is infectious
I don't know about that
Love is infectious
I don't know about it
No personality's essential
Nobody strictly in command
She's not direct, elusive
Or inadequate
Love's incompatible commands
What's new?
She carries love in a carrier bag
What's new?
She don't keep her body clean
Oh, Oh, Oh
Illegitimate contributions
And neurotic heartaches are conceived
Love is infectious
I don't know about that
Love is infectious
I don't know about it
The lyrics of "Love Is Infectious" by Japan are enigmatic and thought-provoking, as the song explores different aspects of love and how it can affect people's lives. The first verse describes a woman who appears to be sexually dominant and in control in the bedroom, but who also seems to carry emotional baggage and neurotic tendencies. She is depicted as someone who is not particularly clean or hygienic, and who relies on technical tricks to achieve her goals. Despite all this, she still carries love with her, albeit in a carrier bag.
The chorus of the song repeats the line "Love is infectious" several times, questioning whether love is really a positive force that can bring people together or whether it is more of a disease that spreads and contaminates everything in its path. The second verse continues the exploration of this theme, describing the woman's sexual exploits as a form of guerrilla warfare and suggesting that love can sometimes lead to negative outcomes or unfulfilling experiences. The final lines of the song seem to suggest that love is not something that can be easily defined or understood, as it is subject to different interpretations and incompatible commands.
Overall, "Love Is Infectious" is a complex and evocative song that invites listeners to reflect on the various meanings and implications of love. It portrays love as a multifaceted and often elusive phenomenon, one that can bring joy and fulfillment but also confusion and pain.
Line by Line Meaning
She keeps her patience for the bedroom
She saves up her patience for the bedroom
Should satisfy her for a week
She expects it to satisfy her for a week
Her domination is executed cheaply
She dominates cheaply
With her studio technique
Using her professional skills
What's new?
What's the surprise?
She carries love in a carrier bag
She carries her love like an accessory
She don't keep her body clean
She neglects keeping her body clean
Oh, Oh, Oh
Sounds of frustration
Illegitimate contributions
Unacceptable contributions
And neurotic fantasies conceived
And unrealistic daydreams created
Love is infectious
Love spreads easily
I don't know about that
I'm not sure I believe that
She keeps appointments by the hour glass
She schedules appointments by the hourglass
Guerilla warfare in her bed
Fierce fighting in her bed
And constant love is oh oh so negative
And constant love feels negative
We're simulating sex instead
We're pretending to have sex instead
No personality's essential
No specific personality is necessary
Nobody strictly in command
No one is strictly in charge
She's not direct, elusive
She's not straightforward, but hard to find
Or inadequate
Or lacking
Love's incompatible commands
Love has conflicting demands
And neurotic heartaches are conceived
And unrealistic sorrows are created
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.