Customer Reviews

Turning Japanese: Best of

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Are you serious because if you are then I am sorry for you. There are many many more avenues to choose from if you want to fight against racism. Attacking the vapors because they did a song called "Turning Japanese" is not only the wrong one but a stupid one...period. The song is a spoof, a great spoof, but a spoof none the less. Plus it is as un-racsist as you can get if you listen. Listen to the song, all the words. Do they take themselves seriously? No! Turning Japanese was what your parents told you would happen if you masturbated too much ( a long time ago). The vapors took that old myth and turned it into a great pop song. That's it.. that's all. Only in this day of hyper-inflated racial sensitivity and (lie as much as possible) political correctness could such a review even be considered. Lighten up it's a joke it's a novelty/pop song. And most importantly,while it may be the most well known Vapors song, it is not their best song. Get the album, get the facts. Don't rely on the opinion of everyone who wants to prove how politically correct they are. They "have" to lie in order to make their point.

The vapors are a great band and this is an album to get. My husband told me "Turning Japanese" was about masturbation which I was surprised to hear. So I went to the website stated below and here is the exact quote about the song:
[...]
"Over in the States, "Turning Japanese" was deciphered as a paen to masturbation - more specifically the Oriantal - looking facial distortions one pulls in the moment of climax (so I'm reliably informed). Fenton is characteristically reticent on such matters. "It means whatever you want it to mean," he says, before admitting: "I wrote it as a love song. But when I went to America everyone said to me, "Is it about wanking?" In interviews, I'd say alternatively, "Yes it is", and "No, it's not". It could be about a lot of things. I just woke up with that phrase in my head. It's just an image which captures what that song was all about. But, no it wasn't intended to be about wanking at the time. What surprised me was that the Americans thought it was an English phrase!"

I'm gonna keep this short. I cannot believe people have given this anything less than 5 stars let alone not understand the content of 'Turning Japanese.' Let me put things straight. The Vapors are TOTALLY underrated and blow away all of the mod groups in the UK (They were a mod band there and a new wave band here, if you don't know your punk history). This cd is basically their 1st record and about 1/2 of their 2nd, all their singles and most of the + B-sides which are much stronger than some of the album tracks. A collection does not get any better than this! This is like 'Snap' by The Jam. To me The Vapors are as good as The Jam. They just don't have as much material. T.J. kind of ruined them but that's history. There are other fine songs on here. If you like The Jam, Buzzcocks, 999, Undertones YOU MUST OWN THIS!!!

For the record, out of the mouth of Dave Fenton, "Turning Japanese" is not about masterbation, it is not a British slang term for masterbation and it is not a racist statement. Most of Fenton's songs dealt with angst and separation, and "Turning Japanese" is a love song(?). Being in high school in LA during the early/mid '80s, we had a different perspective on the song. The Japanese tourists seen everywhere around Los Angeles ALWAYS had one thing with them: an expensive 35mm camera and used it at every opportunity. I can't tell you how many pictures I took for people when at Disneyland (them with Mickey, them in fron of the castle, etc.)...

We figured the song was about a guy in prison obcessing over a picture(s) and therefore becoming Japanese. Just a bad propogation of a stereotype. Sorry.

As for the Vapors and "New Clear Days," I traded a tape of Berlin's "Pleasure Victim" for a vinyl copy of NCD when I was 13 because I absolutely loved their style, sound lyrics. I to this day feel this album is a great example of the musical environment of the early '80s and the quality music that was going around. Actually, the best songs on the album are "Waiting For The Weekend," "Prisoners" and "News At Ten" with "Turning Japanese" coming in a close fourth.

Recommendation: Don't talk about things you don't have the facts on or did not experience. For more info, go to www.parengstrom.com/vapors.htm.

Don't get me wrong - the Vapors rock, but I picked this CD up over here coz I needed a Vapors fix and my vinyl is at home (and the Vapors *are* better on vinyl) - and I guess the different song order ruined all the tracks on New Clear Days for me - it was better in the original. Also, you get all of Magnets with the other one - anly most on this one. You get a bonus live track, but it's not worth the price of admission.

Forget about Turning Japanese , just listen to all the other fantastic songs on here .News At ten is up there with Strange Town,At The Edge, & Teenage Kicks !!! . If ya don't know who performed those songs , don't bother buying this... but , if you do ? . Treat Yourself. Dave Fenton was up there with Weller , if only for afew wanks ... sorry i mean weeks. They had a sahort career , but at the time , ... Magic .

The song "Turning Japanese" is a love song. It's about a guy with a broken heart and has become a different person to do this girl whome he is deeply in love with. The phrase "Turning Japanese" refers to becoming something different then what you are. Things like wearing different clothes or hanging out with different people or whatever crazy things women make us do for their love. Whoever thought of the idea that it is about masterbation has too much time on their hands, and that is apparently not all that's on his hands. Furthermore, to say it's racist doesn't even hold water. The song is about turning Japanese, not killing them. My rant is over.

People keep claiming that this song, for which The Vapors will forever be known, is a racist statement. "Turning Japanese" is a euphimism for masturbatory activity. Think about the lyrics... he's sitting alone, with a picture of his girlfriend. He misses her, he starts to .. uh .. i don't need to go into details, but picture your eyes while involved in such an activity... you sort of have a closed eye squinty thing going... thus "Turning Japanese"

I would hardly call this song racist. I think its just a lonely struggling white artist who was stuck in japan and out of his element. It might offend asians, but hey everyones got a song nowadays out there that offends someone.
Im sure if your played a madonna song in church someone would be offended or likewise if you played a newsboys song in a public schools someone would be offended.
America needs to take a chill pill.

Is well known slang for being gay, or coming to the realization that you are gay.
I thought this was well known, but apparently not judging from the other reviews. what do you think the line "I have to kiss you when there's no one else around" refers to???