Orlando conceived the idea for The Flirts, wrote the songs, played the instruments, and produced the tracks. He then auditioned girls to be the face of the group. Orlando often called in the services of professional session singers to sing the vocals for the tracks because most of the performers were trained as dancers, models, or actresses. The Flirts went through numerous lineup changes and with every album release and tour, some girls left the group while others stayed. The Flirts released six studio albums from 1982–1992 and assorted singles. They made several international tours in the 1980s, often in the club circuit, and would usually lip-synch or sing alongside the recordings.
Bobby discovered and produced the Pet Shop Boys. The Flirts' 1982 song Passion was cited by Pet Shop Boys' Chris Lowe as a primary reason for the band's formation.
Oriental Boy
The Flirts Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Oriental boy, please, stay
I met him in a sushi bar
We sipped that sake and then we went out to his car
I really like this guy, I do
My oriental boy (Oriental boy)
His Sony was flat and his Toyota was blue
I really like this guy, I do
My oriental boy (Oriental boy)
I've seen the east, I've seen the west
I can't decide who I like best
??
He's the boy who is so sweet
He's saying that he's going away
He needs some time so all I can say
Is goodbye, sayonara
My oriental boy (Oriental boy)
Mammy says he has talk to me
About the way he's supposed to feel
He says he's never felt this way before
That he's never ever felt so real
And now he says he's very confused
My oriental boy (Oriental boy)
Karate chuck my heart away
Oriental boy, please, stay
My oriental boy, sayonara
(Oriental boy) Sayonara
Oriental boy, sayonara
(Oriental boy) Sayonara
(Oriental boy) Sayonara
(Oriental boy) Sayonara
The Flirts's song "Oriental Boy" is a catchy pop song with hints of Japanese culture. The lyrics are about a woman who meets an Asian man in a sushi bar and falls for him. She sings about how much she likes him and how he's different from other guys she's met. She describes their dates in his blue Toyota and how he's so sweet to her. The chorus has her begging him to stay with her despite his plans to leave her.
The song is a mix of cultural appropriation and attraction between two individuals. The line, "Karate chuck my heart away" is a bit of an odd one. Karate, as we know, is a Japanese martial art, and the word "chuck" suggests that the singer wants to give up her heart to the man she's fallen for. This could be interpreted as "she's put all her trust on this guy" and the cultural references in this song, such as Sake and Toyota, emphasizes the East Asian theme. It's worth noting that the song's lyrics are not very nuanced and played on Asian stereotypes.
Line by Line Meaning
Karate chuck my heart away
I am willing to give up everything for you, even if it causes pain.
Oriental boy, please, stay
I don't want you to go, I want you to stay with me.
I met him in a sushi bar
I first saw him in a sushi bar, and that's where we started talking.
We sipped that sake and then we went out to his car
After drinking sake, we went to his car, maybe to talk or spend more time together.
I really like this guy, I do
I have strong feelings for him and I am attracted to him.
My oriental boy (Oriental boy)
He is my boyfriend and I love him.
We took a drive down the avenue
We decided to go for a drive together.
His Sony was flat and his Toyota was blue
He has a Sony music player that stopped working and his car was blue in color.
I've seen the east, I've seen the west
I have traveled to many places and experienced different cultures.
I can't decide who I like best
I am confused about what I really want in life.
??
This line is unclear and its meaning is unknown.
He's the boy who is so sweet
He is a kind and gentle person.
He's saying that he's going away
He's telling me that he's planning to leave.
He needs some time so all I can say
He wants to take some time off, so I have no choice but to say goodbye.
Is goodbye, sayonara
I have to say goodbye, like the Japanese word 'sayonara'.
Mammy says he has talk to me
His mother wants to talk to me about our relationship.
About the way he's supposed to feel
Perhaps his mother wants to discuss about his feelings for me.
He says he's never felt this way before
He tells me that he has never experienced this kind of feeling before.
That he's never ever felt so real
He feels like this is the most real emotion he has ever felt.
And now he says he's very confused
After feeling so real, he's now confused and unsure about his feelings.
My oriental boy (Oriental boy)
He's still my boyfriend, even if he's going away.
My oriental boy, sayonara
I have to say goodbye to my boyfriend.
(Oriental boy) Sayonara
I am still saying goodbye, even if it's difficult for me.
Oriental boy, sayonara
Saying goodbye to my boyfriend, using the word ‘sayonara’.
(Oriental boy) Sayonara
This line is a repetition of the previous line.
(Oriental boy) Sayonara
Again, it's hard to say goodbye to him, but I have to do it.
Contributed by Aaron W. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@ajpgraphics
The world had a huge fascination with Asia during the 80s, especially Japan. Sayonara!
@pheejl7534
In the 80’s I think Hong Kong Chinese kung fu movies beat out Japanese Godzilla, Ultraman, and Grendizer for the Western world’s attention. Just my opinion though.
@canadianmob590
Hi and hello from Osaka!
@halenbud
I've seen the east, I've seen the west
I can't decide who I like best
Rocking' egg roll, chopstick beat
He's the boy who is so sweet
Karate chop my heart away
Oriental boy, please stay
Rocking' egg roll, chopstick beat
He's the boy who is so sweet
@jayclark13
They call me Bruce bought me here
@qsiconsulting7680
I used to spin The Flirts tracks as a DJ and I had not heard this track before. Freaking hilarious and terrible at the same time
@KRISPYKWENT29
Bobby O!!!
@seancarton9012
This song is deliciously moist.;)
@crimsonr688
This versus Aneka - Japanese Boy
@ErickFGx
Que buenos tiempos