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The Vapors — Turning Japanese
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DaveInVA
(In a hovel in effluent Damnville, VA)
Posted: Jun 03, 2013 - 08:16
 





Lazarus
(Bethany)
Posted: May 02, 2013 - 12:46
 


Flow of Tainted Water Is Latest Crisis at Japan Nuclear Plant



msymmes
(Toronto, CA)
Posted: May 02, 2013 - 12:43
 
Hilarious {#Dancingbanana}

Ballzak
Posted: May 02, 2013 - 12:42
 
Oh man, used to crank this all the way UP on MTV....
Freaking awesome!

skiamigo
Posted: Apr 01, 2013 - 09:24
 
Used to play this on my Radio McGill (CIUT) radio show back in 1980-82
Brilliant! 

Baketown
(Maryland)
Posted: Apr 01, 2013 - 09:21
 
Takes me back,  Great Song!!

d48m02h1918
Posted: Apr 01, 2013 - 09:21
 
Great little pop-ditty from my childhood.....love the spastic sounds!! {#Angel}

kcar
Posted: Feb 28, 2013 - 22:56
 
 krysthal wrote:

I too had heard that "Turning Japanese" is an english euphemism for masturbation, and that's what the Vapours wrote song about, however, that's incorrect. Guitarist Rob Kemp reports, "It's a love song about somebody who had lost their girlfriend and was going slowly crazy, turning Japanese." After a little research, I found this great VH1 Special (YouTube link) explaining the true meaning of the song includes an interview with the band.

 
Those wankers! 

Seriously (but not very): we should force these guys to reunite and re-work the lyrics.  No wonder they were a one-hit wonder. 

lily34
(GTFO)
Posted: Feb 28, 2013 - 22:27
 
igotchyopicture

ottovonb
Posted: Jan 28, 2013 - 15:45
 
Ha!...Seriously?...Well now, THIS was a fun break in the action...I like it.

Heckman what's next?
Uhh..."Mexican Radio" by Wall of Voo-Doo !?    {#Dancingbanana_2}  

Charlie_rijsel
(Lille, France)
Posted: Jan 28, 2013 - 15:40
 
 max_p wrote:
Recall the parody version  "Turning into Cheese"
 
shame we can't hear it instead - this reminds me of crap 1980s music{#War}

Pedro1874
(Newton-le-Willows, England)
Posted: Dec 28, 2012 - 07:19
 
Just worked out that my son was 4 when he got turned on to music! He really loved this track, later graduating to AC/DC and then eclectic music just like his old man!

zurcronium
(Not in Texas)
Posted: Nov 26, 2012 - 22:22
 
I have turned Japanese, I really think so. 

PopKombo
(Up Against the San Gabriels)
Posted: Oct 26, 2012 - 13:37
 
OH, MY! .... I do believe I'm coming down with a case of the vapors ...

max_p
Posted: Oct 26, 2012 - 13:35
 
Recall the parody version  "Turning into Cheese"

krysthal
(Toronto, Canada)
Posted: Aug 24, 2012 - 17:04
 
 lunatic wrote:
Oh sorry, I didn't mean to imply that the band meant that the slang term as the reason for the lyrics. I just know that I and all of my peers used to giggle at the implication when the song first got airplay. Thanks for letting me know the story behind the lyrics.

No worries. That connection is easy one to make. I just wanted to point out that it was not intentional by Dave Fenton (The Vapors' vocalist who wrote the lyrics).

lunatic
Posted: Aug 24, 2012 - 14:29
 
Oh sorry, I didn't mean to imply that the band meant that the slang term as the reason for the lyrics. I just know that I and all of my peers used to giggle at the implication when the song first got airplay. Thanks for letting me know the story behind the lyrics.

krysthal
(Toronto, Canada)
Posted: Aug 24, 2012 - 14:22
 

I too had heard that "Turning Japanese" is an english euphemism for masturbation, and that's what the Vapours wrote song about, however, that's incorrect. Guitarist Rob Kemp reports, "It's a love song about somebody who had lost their girlfriend and was going slowly crazy, turning Japanese." After a little research, I found this great VH1 Special (YouTube link) explaining the true meaning of the song includes an interview with the band.



lunatic
Posted: Aug 24, 2012 - 14:09
 
The term ' Turning Japanese' is/was slang for the facial expression most men tend to accquire when they achieve organism. I can see why it would upset a Japanese or Japanese/American. Still I enjoyed rhe song way back in a less PC time.

kingart
(Brooklyn NY)
Posted: Aug 24, 2012 - 14:02
 
I once read that this tune is about male masturbation. Repeated references in the song about a lonely guy looking at photos. When a guy is shootin' his pupils dilate, his eyelids narrow and eyes cross. 

ladybinnath
(Buffalo, NY)
Posted: Aug 24, 2012 - 14:01
 
 RobRyan wrote:
We had a Japanese/African American receptionist who brought suit against my firm for alleged harassment based on race. I was deposed and was questioned about the fact that she heard this song played by RP which I usually have on at my desk.

I love the American Civil Justice system.

Not. 
 
Proving that you can find bias anywhere if you really want to, facts and reason be damned.

oldsaxon
(Wales via Vancouver, BC.)
Posted: Aug 24, 2012 - 14:01
 
 AlienRelic wrote:
Depends. Vapors on this side of the pond.....
 
My side is right...if you're lookin' at a map :)
 

us
(Here, as well as there)
Posted: Aug 24, 2012 - 14:00
 
A great fun song. Cranking that thing, woo!!!

MiracleDrug
(Earth)
Posted: Aug 24, 2012 - 13:59
 
 mikexican wrote:
I think I'm turning up the volume, think I'm turning up the volume... I really think so.
 

roger that...

kittyhawk
(Nevada City, CA)
Posted: Aug 24, 2012 - 13:59
 
Takes me back to high school daze!   {#Cool}

AlienRelic
(east of Eden)
Posted: Aug 24, 2012 - 13:59
 
 oldsaxon wrote:
Typo in the name, I think...should be Vapours, shouldn't it?
  Depends. Vapors on this side of the pond.....



Baby_M
(a 100+-year old building in downtown Akron, Ohio)
Posted: Aug 24, 2012 - 13:58
 
Gives a whole new meaning to the phrase "getting the vapors."

idiot_wind
Posted: Aug 24, 2012 - 13:58
 
It's a great silly, danceable tune from the early 1980s. 

The guitar work is not bad and not over mixed (you can hear string squeaks).

 

oldsaxon
(Wales via Vancouver, BC.)
Posted: Aug 24, 2012 - 13:58
 
Typo in the name, I think...should be Vapours, shouldn't it?

neuticle
(fog fog fog)
Posted: Jun 22, 2012 - 17:03
 
You people take this song a little too seriously..lighten up..it's a catchy 1 hit wonder  fun song..

smokingpikachu
(Tucson, Arizona)
Posted: Jun 22, 2012 - 17:02
 
Catchy but this song has always made me uncomfortable.

—Someone who turned Japanese at birth

90_hour_sleep
Posted: May 21, 2012 - 21:21
 
 jen3005545 wrote:
WooHoo!!  {#Bananasplit}
 
where'd you get that banana?  lol.  

Synth80s
(*Beautiful* Southern California (cough, choke, honk))
Posted: Mar 19, 2012 - 11:20
 
 Grammarcop wrote:

Don't hate the civil justice system. Hate lawyers. 
 

A lawyer can't bring a frivolous civil suit without a reckless, money-hungry plaintiff to initiate the action

Grammarcop
(Upriver from Zug Island)
Posted: Mar 19, 2012 - 11:12
 
 RobRyan wrote:
We had a Japanese/African American receptionist who brought suit against my firm for alleged harassment based on race. I was deposed and was questioned about the fact that she heard this song played by RP which I usually have on at my desk.

I love the American Civil Justice system.

Not. 
 
Rob:

Don't hate the civil justice system. Hate lawyers. 

stunix
(Wales, UK)
Posted: Mar 19, 2012 - 11:10
 
 jen3005545 wrote:
WooHoo!!  {#Bananasplit}
 
I couldnt have said it better!!!!
no sex no drugs no wine no women no fun no sin ........ yup, my usual tuesday night!!!!!

RobRyan
(The lovely hills of Anaheim)
Posted: Feb 16, 2012 - 17:25
 
We had a Japanese/African American receptionist who brought suit against my firm for alleged harassment based on race. I was deposed and was questioned about the fact that she heard this song played by RP which I usually have on at my desk.

I love the American Civil Justice system.

Not. 

jen3005545
(Fort Worth, TX)
Posted: Feb 16, 2012 - 17:24
 
WooHoo!!  {#Bananasplit}

ofanansky
Posted: Dec 15, 2011 - 05:54
 
ok, have not that in a very long time. worth it just for that.
 

That_SOB
(In at least 2 places at once)
Posted: Nov 13, 2011 - 13:05
 
 Stingray wrote:
STUPID!!!
 

Your all too kind. If through some freakish turn in nature I ended up with this
record it would be placed #1 on the top of my clay pigeons.  PULL  !

dolumo
(A´burg)
Posted: Oct 12, 2011 - 23:34
 
For all I care the Vapors can DISSIPATE!!  To each his own.At least in this aspect we live in a free world....

Jelani
(Home of the freak, land of the vague)
Posted: Sep 11, 2011 - 11:11
 
 Stingray wrote:
STUPID!!!
 
Don't be so hard on yourself!

JGM
Posted: Sep 11, 2011 - 11:10
 
Haven't heard this in a while - still fun.

Should have played it next to that Nerina Pallot tune about 'banging my drum', though. . .


Stingray
(JULIAN'S NWO)
Posted: Sep 11, 2011 - 11:10
 
STUPID!!!

mikexican
Posted: May 08, 2011 - 11:23
 
I think I'm turning up the volume, think I'm turning up the volume... I really think so.

Cynaera
(South of Neanderthal)
Posted: Apr 06, 2011 - 20:06
 
 aelfheld wrote:

What does that have to do with this song?

 
My original comment mentioned that I hate this song, but I appreciated the instrumentalist aspect of it.  That's pretty ambiguous. But why am I explaining this to you?  The song is NOT good for my ears, but I hate it because of that, and not because the singer can't sing or the guitarist has ten left thumbs (neither of which is true.)  It's just not something I enjoy hearing.  Probably, some people don't like fingernails down a chalkboard (I don't mind it, because I know that chalk washes off easily). I don't like chewing tin foil, but probably, some people do.

Feh.  Different strokes for different folks.  Can we move on now? Lots of other good music to explore and rip apart. {#Lol}

haretic
(toward Abad, just south of Maitri)
Posted: Jan 02, 2011 - 17:31
 
This song is so (off the scale) much fun to me. Maybe you had to be in my skin and in my mind back when this came out to know how much of a great relief it was to laugh my ass off while rocking out. I appreciate that objectively, it may not be much of a song. But I love it. 10.

aelfheld
Posted: Jan 02, 2011 - 17:24
 
 Cynaera wrote:
Am I ambiguous?
 
What does that have to do with this song?


horstman
(Syracuse, New York)
Posted: Oct 31, 2010 - 10:45
 
 Cynaera wrote:
This is a terrible song. I hate it. Rated it sucko-barfo (but I refuse to use that stupid vomit-icon.)  As a comic-relief song, it's great. And yeah, they've got some good instrumentals.  Other than that (and their wicked-cunning humor), I just would rather not listen to this song.

Am I ambiguous? *blinka-blinka*
 

Wow, you're serious? I even checked your rating and low and behold, you did rate it a 1. Never should have doubted you but there is thing called sarcasm that is used to great effect here.

That being said, you have to remember the period of time when this came out. DEVO was on the scene and they were very similar in their compositions.

I rated it a 7, good song, not a great song, but certainly not hateable. Hell, they're trying to be funny and it came off (ha ha) quite well.
{#Cheesygrin}

DeemerDave
(The Gate City of NH, USA)
Posted: Aug 28, 2010 - 19:01
 
 sirdroseph wrote:
This a terrible song! I love it!!{#Cheers} 7
 

So bad, it's GOOOOOOOOOOOD!
{#Bananajam}{#Redface}

Cynaera
(South of Neanderthal)
Posted: Aug 28, 2010 - 19:00
 
This is a terrible song. I hate it. Rated it sucko-barfo (but I refuse to use that stupid vomit-icon.)  As a comic-relief song, it's great. And yeah, they've got some good instrumentals.  Other than that (and their wicked-cunning humor), I just would rather not listen to this song.

Am I ambiguous? *blinka-blinka*