Wednesday, July 28, 2010

New Wave Wednesday: "Turning Japanese", by The Vapors (music video)

This weeks' featured video topped the charts in the US, UK and Australia way back in 1980. British band, The Vapors, achieved "One-hit Wonder" status with their hit "Turning Japanese". Ironically, the band knew they had a hit and made the New Wave classic their second release in order to avoid this dubious distinction.

The true meaning of the song about a guy obsessed with taking pictures of his girlfriend has been the subject of speculation for thirty years. At the time, many people thought the title referred to the face a guy makes when he climaxes during masturbation. The band says that's not true. Band member David Fenton says it's about what can happen when you become obsessed with someone you love. He said in a VH1 interview, "Turning Japanese is all the clichés about angst and youth and turning into something you didn't expect to."

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