Shnootz - Reaction Video (Japan - The Other Side of Life)

What's up, folks! I'm back with another Japan reaction, and this time we finish off their 1979 album Quiet Life with the song "The Other Side of Life." I enjoyed this entire album (despite not always hearing the words clearly!), and this was an excellent end to the record. So join me as we conclude the Quiet Life album. Cheers!

#ShnootzReactions #Japan #QuietLife #SynthRock #SynthPop #DavidSylvian #JapanReactions #SynthPopReactions #Shnootz

[izzyworld]

What I love about this track is that it lets the music BREATHE, that it's not all about the singing and let the music take it's own way. It's not an instrumental, this IS the song.

[michik]

This is another group I´m discovering and like thanks to you!
I came across an interview with Simon Napier Bell today who talked about a George Michael documentary he was promoting. And when he was asked about his own musical journey he mentioned quite a few groups he managed including Wham, Ultravox and Japan.
He talked about how Japan were the most left field rock group and nobody thought they would actually have hits. And once they managed to have hits they became one of the most influential rock groups in Europe. He also mentioned the Duran Duran connection.

I found it quite the coincidence to hear this interview while going thru this deep dive. And I certainly wouldn´t have made a connection between those artists.

[txxredtache]

I'm glad you like Sylvian's voice and vocal styling cos with out that there's no way can deal with Japan. Like with other singers, bands, albums that obscure the lyrics, such as Cocteau Twins, it's best to surrender yourself to the whole.

[TweedSuit]

Japan were a new type of prog band who seemed to be totally at odds with their contemporary music fashions.

[sebzematik]

What a relief for my ears to listen to this after I got through your reaction to JT's "Down Again". ;D
I love how this moster of a tune ends this brilliant album. It's a nice monster, soothing on the one hand, growling on the other.

[davidashley]

I was so lucky in the early 1980’s, I picked up this album in a record store in the bargain bin for next to nothing. The group Japan were massive in the country Japan but only had minor success in the U.K., they charted but were nowhere near as big as in Japan itself. I became a huge fan of David Sylvian and Mick Karen.
Here’s the lyrics

Well it's been a long time
How should I feel?
What can I say?
With fantastic stories
You present yourself
In different ways
Some particular places
Remembered so well
Are hard to forget
We've travelled so far now
Then we were young
Hard to impress
But she comes and goes
The other side of life
Sheltering only
The other side of life
These single occasions
We seem to share
Stumble and fall
If you could remember to wave
A sign of life my way
But she comes and goes
The other side of life
Sheltering only
The other side of life

[GlennPreston]

"Well, it's been along time. How should I feel, what can I say.
With fantastic stories, you present yourself in different ways.

Some particular places, remembered so well are hard to forget. We've travelled so far, now. Then we were young and hard to impress.

She comes and goes, the other side of life. Sheltering only the other side of life.

These singular occasions we seem to share, stumble and fall. If you could remember to wave a sign of life my way.

[johnthewiz]

This was the first album I listened to as a teenager which seemed adult to me. It was quietly but importantly influential in the UK at the time.

[handsolo]

Have I missed some reactions to this album? There are 5 more tracks in the folder after this song.

[izzyworld]

By the way I used the title of this song for one of my comic strips I wrote and drew

[Ingens_Scherz]

Superb "reaction". It's not a reaction to me, it's a review - and a very smart one at that.