JAPAN – Os 30 anos de uma obra

A banda que deu a conhecer ao mundo o talento singular de David Sylvian.
Fundados em Londres em 1974, depois de ultrapassarem uma fase inicial Glam-Rock, os Japan atingiram a sofisticação pop e foram os pioneiros da vaga New Romantic a partir de 1979 até à dissolução da formação em 1982.
Cinco álbuns de originais, sendo o derradeiro editado em Novembro de 1981. Faz agora 30 anos.
Lembramos aqui a obra final, o álbum «Tin Drum», a partir dos quatro singles extraídos [seguindo a ordem cronológica com que foram editados] do conjunto formado por David Sylvian, Steve Jansen, Richard Barbieri e Mick Karn:






















Japan – "The Art of Parties"
(Actuação ao vivo na BBC, no dia 22 de Outubro de 1982, no famoso programa «Old Grey Whistle Test». Interpretação com som directo):



Now I'm living on the edge of my nerves
The things we said weren't quite so tough
When we were you

Well I'm burning, I'm burning buildings
I'm building this time

Burn
For the art of parties
Burn
Under heavy weather
The art of parties
I'm burning
Burning

I'm living
I'm living my life
I'm living this time

Burn
For the art of parties
Burn
I'm burning
Burning

(The wind blew through my hair)
Once I was young
(I'd shelter from the sun)
Once I was smart
(We lived on the strengh of our nerves)
When we were you

Well I'm building, I'm burning buildings
I'm burning

Burn
For the art of parties
Burn
Under heavy weather
Burn
For the art of parties
I'm burning
Burning






















Japan – "Visions of China" (vídeo oficial):



Actuação ao vivo na BBC, no dia 20 de Novembro de 1981:



I'm walking young and strong
But just a little too thin
I may be happy,
But I don't have a clue to this life
In my mind

Stay with me
We could learn to fight
Like every good boy should
Cling to me
We are blacked-out
In visions of China tonight

I'm building heroes again
I never thought of before
I remember the fashion
But don't have a clue
To this life
In my mind

Stay with me
We could learn to fight
Like every good boy should
Cling to me
We are blacked-out
In visions of China tonight

We walk backwards, say nothing
My visions of China
We're young and strong in this party
We're building/ living our visions of China






















Japan – "Ghosts"
(Actuação na TV no dia 18 de Março de 1982. Interpretação em playback):



When the room is quiet
The daylight almost gone
It seems there's something I should know
Well I ought to leave but the rain it never stops
And I've no particular place to go

Just when I think I'm winning
When I've broken every door
The ghosts of my life blow wilder than before
Just when I thought I could not be stopped
When my chance came to be king
The ghosts of my life blew wilder than the wind

Well I'm feeling nervous
Now I find myself alone
The simple life's no longer there
Once I was so sure
Now the doubt inside my mind
Comes and goes but leads nowhere

Just when I think I'm winning
When I've broken every door
The ghosts of my life blow wilder than before
Just when I thought I could not be stopped
When my chance came to be king
The ghosts of my life blew wilder than the wind






















Japan – "Cantonese Boy"
(Actuação ao vivo na BBC, no dia 20 de Novembro de 1981):



We're pushing through these farming towns
We've worked hard ploughing over grounds

Red army calls you
The call of the crowd
Red army needs you
It calls you now

Cantonese boy
Bang your tin drum
Cantonese boy
Civilian soldier
Cantonese boy
Bang your tin drum
Cantonese boy
Red army calls you home

We're singing
Marching through the fields
We're changing
The lives we've led for years

Red army calls you
Red army needs you

Gentlemen you heard this call
Raised your glass and called for more
Only young men broke the wall