Swing & My New Career performed live by Japan on Old Grey whistle Test

Swing & My New Career performed live on Old Grey Whistle Test. David Sylvian, Mick Karn, Richard Barbieri, Steve Jansen and Rob Dean

[@tomflaherty8323]

Never had the massive success they deserved but those of us that know, know.

[@MichelleBab-gy2yx]

Mick walks to the front of the stage like a BOSS. Love and miss him and his gift ❤❤❤

[@davidwylde8426]

He was great. He was influenced by a bass player I liked called Percy Jones. I saw them on two tours in 81/82 and Mick was sublime. He could really play and really perform in his own unique way. I guess I miss him too

[@MichelleBab-gy2yx]

@@davidwylde8426 That must have been so amazing to see him play in person!! Such a talented man 😺💖💖

[@abrokenframe82]

I am so thankful I was a teenager when this band were in their prime.

[@rachelmorgan7751]

Ditto

[@birdzzzondayflu2489]

Did you see them live?

[@user-lr4nk1id3t]

Saw them live... twice! Unforgetable...

[@cguajard]

RIP Mr. Mick Karn, great bassplayer and excellent sound JAPAN.

[@patricknicholson9407]

Coolest band ever - I love their nonchalance as they play their very sophisticated tunes

[@stephenmcculloch7192]

Someone build me a God dam fucking time machine, the best group bar none

[@jorgeandresarango3803]

I love bands who manage to sound very close the same in both record and live.

[@bobz1736]

Probably one of the most underrated bands of the early 80's.I still regularly listen to their albums... On vinyl... Yes I'm old 😉

[@patcha7144]

Nobody wrote music like this before or after. A totally original band that has influenced my music taste for most of my life

[@shamsoni]

I’m Indian and in my mid 50s used wear the make up and named my son Sylvian he’s in his 30s

[@mexicanson]

@@shamsoni That's amazing! How funny, I'm in my 30's like your son, and also love Japan!

[@nrp0504]

One of the most precocious bass players. Ever. Mick Karn. He could do shit to a bass no other player could.

[@christophercully2784]

Just realised Mick played bass with his whole body,like he was in a dance with it 🎼⚘️

[@johns9820]

A great band. One of few who leave a distinct memory in ones aged mind. They were under-rated as I recall they were surrounded by commercial money makers. The whole band were talented and it is testimony to the band they kept true to their path. Wonderful.

[@alanedwards3180]

Why the fuck do people keep saying they thought it was Duran Duran . They sound nothing like them . I like Duran but Japan had a unique sound and David's voice was unique though many bands of the 80s tried to copy

[@deanjones684]

And David Sylvian was copying Bryan Ferry

[@ianblack6963]

The keyboard sound on swing does remind me of save a prayer, but you’re right.

[@PaulBarry.]

One of the best bands, in fact the best band of their time. Just superb.

[@citic101]

The best song and the best band ever , cant understand people who dont understand Japan !

[@RighteousBrother]

Utterly awful, facetious intro by Annie Nightingale, love how Japan just stand there completely unfazed by it all, then bam! Straight into Swing, sounds absolutely incredible and it's great that Rob is still with them. Japan were just never the same after he left.

[@amyjeffs3269]

exactly..what a patronising load of nonsense from nightingale..Pretty boys hey..fk off woman...As impotant as any band that emerged in the early 80`s..

[@rachelmorgan7751]

Agree

[@greeneyes8313]

How she could say something like this, about Them!!! Afwul and offensive words!!!

[@martinfrancis3733]

@@greeneyes8313 completely agree with You and... She looks like... a Clown 🤡

[@timdickinson7304]

@@greeneyes8313 @RighteousBrother I'm not sure that she is being disparaging about them, but referencing how they were perceived up to that point. As far as I recall Annie Nightingale was supportive of them over the years.

[@Ross2393]

For me the best of their 3 Whistle Test appearances, at least in part because Rob Dean is still in the band - nice to hear his guitar part of My New Career, which was replaced by Simon House's violin on the album.

[@MisAnnThorpe]

Rob Dean actually does a really good job of standing in for House. On the record, House plays a truly beautiful violin solo that really makes the track and I was expecting that they might try to fill that glaring space with synthesizer but Dean really came into his own and it sounds to my eyes that he replicates it pretty much note for note. Surprised that he didn't use an ebow though.

[@indigojones8]

I do love the almost twang he gives to the word "swing". It has almost as much wiggle as Mick's bass playing. ;)

[@HiGlowie]

Swing has such a cool rhythm and chord progression.

[@captaincomputaa]

Stunning.

[@thepanel2935]

I live in Detroit, MI. and like this music

[@dharr0]

such a tremendously talented group - the were gone before I could see them, but I have seen David solo and w/Fripp, Mick w/Polytown and Richard w/Porcupine Tree - thank you for posting this clip - it's fabulous and not dated

[@Coiln]

Beautiful song's, remember seeing them at the Birmingham Odeon on the Oil On Canvas tour. Fantastic.

[@dermotoblong]

In HD as well. Just beautiful ;)

[@73egg]

I still have a massive crush on David !!! xx Wow, a 30 yr crush !! :)

[@daveclarke68]

Great musicians - the drummer is superb

[@alandeacon1988]

Fantastic! :)

[@robertmcafee4680]

How f ****ng cool is that - leaps and bounds-

[@jeffhopkins4744]

One of top 5 bands of all time 🎶

[@alanedwards3180]

By the way ,they were making music way before .listen to tracks like adolescent sex when punk music was still king of the hill !

[@fsr5046]

Me and the wife actually like both sounds, it's like to different bands but who cares as long as it's good.

[@dreezgreen3793]

Awesome and beautiful

[@donatoiacovino6968]

This is true New Wave music

[@WeCameToDance]

I’m someone you’ll neither know nor care But I’ll sit here and watch from afar

[@ribbonseal2004]

they ate this up

[@Captain_Rhodes]

took me a while to get into japan. they reminded me of duran and i wasnt sure but my drummer loves em so I forced myself to listen a few times. Yea they are a great band. great musicians. great tunes. won over

[@BradleyHansonPhotography]

I highly recommend Mick Karn's book, an autobiography of sorts, called "Japan and Self Existence," a history of the band and a lot of background from touring, his childhood, and the politics of the band. He references this video specifically. Fascinating insight and a captivating book. I'm re-reading it again because it was so good the first time... mickkarn.net/autobiography

[@philippendletonmusic]

I have to agree. Particularly interesting were his thoughts and insights on Gary Numan.

[@synchromystici5m]

+Bradley Hanson It's a really good book. Read it if you haven't already!

[@MisAnnThorpe]

Even more interesting for me, were his insights on Mr Sylvian née Batt! Of course, you always have to bear in mind that autobiographies are by their very nature, subjective and I would be very interested to hear Sylvian's version of events. Also, Karn is less than complimentary about Gary Numan. From some of the harsh comment Numan has made in the past, it would appear that the feelings were mutual. Numan has told a very dubious story, of how he was invited by Japan, to tour Japan with them. He claims that when he arrived there, he was left totally abandoned by them and that if it hadn't been for the kindness of Queen, and Freddie Mercury in particular (who also happened to be (touring?) in Japan at the time), then anything could have happened to him. Seems like a very strange story, so much so, that you ALMOST wonder (but not quite!) if it isn't true. Mick, for his part claims in the book, that at one point, Numan took to "stalking" Japan. Most odd!

[@MrFreud98]

Cheers, very late to the conversation, but I will check this book out. Thanks.

[@kingatecavies]

This is great to see again. I think I have this on a VHS tape somewhere!!

[@robinemanuel5238]

So so good

[@commeunechienne676]

WOW! Amazing live!

[@adrianfarrell1504]

RIP Annie Nightingale 😢

[@Brock2097]

rip mick karn and annie nightingale

[@johnphantis4420]

Cool AF!

[@spookybaba]

Mick's sick sound, and approach. What a loss to the music world.

[@jasonfinch1342]

I can't understand why they got rid of Rob Dean.

[@recyclat]

Jason Finch no swing

[@synchromystici5m]

+Jason Finch Mick Karn's book explains what happened- Sylvian cut Dean out of the GTP recording sessions, not even telling him that the band was recording! And he vetoed the full band shot for the cover of GTP as he didn't like how Dean looked in the photo.

[@MisAnnThorpe]

I think you must mean the Tin Drum sessions.

[@synchromystici5m]

MisAnnThorpe Nah, GTP. He'd left before Tin Drum.

[@wedginaldmaboy1724]

I can......Rob was always a rocker, the others moved on.

[@MisAnnThorpe]

I heard that Barbieri either gave or sold his main synth here, an Oberheim OBX to Mick Karn, doubtless for very little money. Years later, he decided that he would like to reacquire it but Mick was having none of it! Overnight, with the arrival of the Yamaha DX7 and Roland D50 digital synths, analogue classics like this became almost worthless. That same synth nowadays, depending on condition, can easily make £5000 plus. Nice use of the Moog Micromoog also, on Swing.

[@Ingens_Scherz]

They were just 2000 years ahead of their time, that's all. I sort of remember thinking something like that at the time (1982): somehow, this just does not belong to the current idea of music.They're disconnected. Well, Sylvian was certainly disconnected - in a totally Sylvian way. But I've probably understood why I've been a relatively attentive fan since that time because of their amazing originality and artistic integrity (in spite of that tart, Sylvian).

[@kreutzsungrazers]

Shame that YT removed thumbs down, coz this video was perfect with zero! 371+ 0 👍💥

[@jbqueenfan]

Join Facebook group TeamMickKarn's "Mick Karn Birthday Download Day on 24th July 2013" - Show your love & support for Mick by joining in a collective download & purchase of Mick's work from burningshed in support of his family in celebration of the birthday of this unique artist.

[@realityboost4405]

My New Career…Sounds about right, in 2023!…40 years and a moment further on, and totally applicable……😔

[@recyclat]

it works out fine for David to reduce stage movement ...

[@keeelane]

looks like mick's playing a travis bean bass...they had aluminum necks

[@doyoulikepawn]

Sunday Times compared Japan to the ... *inhales* ... BEA!!!!! ... tles.

[@mexicanson]

That's what I thought! The Beatl- dare I say it! No. Because you can't compare them to Japan! Japan was innovative, suave, talented, and so unique! Whereas, the Bea...tles were boring, dull, and lame. People who say they like them, are either lying to themselves, going along with the crowd, or just never heard actual good music before.

[@jbqueenfan]

Join Facebook group Team Mick Karn

[@dahabintfarah]

+Jenny B Inquiry: Do you think he was influenced by Jaco?

[@dahabintfarah]

Splodge, I meant his bass playing:D

[@RighteousBrother]

I'm team Japan.

[@cmonmappleys]

They say down south ....SHITHOT

[@claytonjones8358]

Jenny B? Is that you at the beginning of this video?

[@ianheath4332]

They should of got back together

[@sexypara]

They did, but as Rain Tree Crow, as David vetoed it being a proper Japan reunion despite protests from the other members. They made one album but David was too controlling so it all fell apart.

[@ianheath4332]

@@sexypara I know this I was on about proper Japan getring back together

[@iamrhino7975]

"A bunch of pretty boys"????

[@robinreid2798]

Then Yori...your a bit of a knob then :P

[@MrFreud98]

Japan made better music than the Beatles.

[@alfierobinson5403]

Duran duran made better than both

[@Bricameron]

David is embarrassed because he’s now a father.