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The Vapors

A little something about The Vapors
The Vapors got their crack at making it big when in 1979 they were signed on to tour with the Jam. The exposure led to a major label contract, and the recording of a material for their first album, "Clear New Days." When they released the single for "Turning Japanese" it brought them international success and led to tours in the US and Australia; but it was a level success they could not again attain, and the band has been resigned to the one-hit-wonder category along with a good number of other British new wave acts. As for the song itself, there was a good deal of confusion at the time as to just what the hell it was all about. A rumor spread here in the US that it was about masterbation, and that the "turning Japanese" was a reference to the facial expression made at the moment of climax. At the time the band did little to dispel the rumors... they were no doubt happy to get the press. What can be safely said is that the song was yet another example of the early '80s western world's fascination with Japan, a fascination shared by such contemporaries as the Cure (Japanese Whispers), Styx (Mr. Roboto), Alphaville (Big In Japan), and of course the bands Japan and Big In Japan.
Turning Japanese

I've got your pictureOf me and youYou wrote "I love you"I love you tooI sit there staring and there's nothing else to doOh it's in colorYour hair is brownYour eyes are hazelAnd soft as cloudsI often kiss you when there's no one else aroundI've got your picture, I've got your pictureI'd like a million of you over myselfI asked the doctor to take your pictureSo I can look at you from inside as wellYou've got me turning up and turning down and turning in and turning 'roundI'm turning Japanese I think I'm turning Japanese I really think soTurning Japanese I think I'm turning Japanese I really think soI'm turning Japanese I think I'm turning Japanese I really think soTurning Japanese I think I'm turning Japanese I really think soI've got your picture, I've got your pictureI'd like a million of them over myselfI want the doctor to take your pictureSo I can look at you from inside as wellYou've got me turning up and turning down and turning in and turning 'roundI'm turning Japanese I think I'm turning Japanese I really think soTurning Japanese I think I'm turning Japanese I really think soI'm turning Japanese I think I'm turning Japanese I really think soTurning Japanese I think I'm turning Japanese I really think soNo sex, no drugs, no wine, no womenNo fun, no sin, no you, no wonder it's darkEveryone around me is a total strangerEveryone avoids me like a cyclone rangerEveryoneThat's why I'm turning Japanese I think I'm turning Japanese I really think soTurning Japanese I think I'm turning Japanese I really think soI'm turning Japanese I think I'm turning Japanese I really think soTurning Japanese I think I'm turning Japanese I really think soTurning Japanese I think I'm turning Japanese I really think soTurning Japanese I think I'm turning Japanese I really think soTurning Japanese I think I'm turning Japanese I really think so(think so think so think so)Turning Japanese I think I'm turning Japanese I really think so