I know where the Asian riff came from. For one thing, it's not Asian. It's actually from an American stage production of Aladdin that came out in 1847. You're welcome.
The Oriental riff is a Western invention, dating back to the "Aladdin Quick Step" used in an Aladdin stage show, The Grand Chinese Spectacle of Aladdin or The Wonderful Lamp, in 1847. The notes used in the riff are part of a pentatonic scale and often harmonized with parallel open fourths, which makes the riff sound like East Asian music to a typical Western listener.
@zachtuchannelboogaloo5632: Thanks for the tidbit! I’ve been wondering what European concocted that stereopirridge. It begs the question, though: What is a supposedly East Asian riff doing in a production about South Asia? Because of the trope *as long as it sounds foreign*? The same occurred with *Country Maid/ Streets of Cairo*, which became *snake charmer music*, for some reason
I'm watching an American talking about a British band that's only known for a song about the Japanese that was huge in Australia. I'm sure there's a joke in there somewhere but I just can't think of it.
Fun fact about the Vapors, the cover to their second album Magnets was drawn by a then-unknown illustrator named Martin Handford. Handford was already known for his crowd drawings, but to spice things up, he decided to add hidden details in the cover. This inspired him a few years later to start a whole series of books based on finding hidden details in crowds, which we now know as Where is Waldo.
I have been on a binge of videos from this channel and he shows his hate of Air Supply in three different videos. I don´t hate anything but i agree that Air Supply is one of those horrible pop things that seems their goal is annoying people: like Michael Bolton, Ryan Adams or Celine Dion
I hate to admit I actually owned an Air Supply album in my youth. Out of a sudden attack of memory I listened to it a couple weeks afo. Or tried to. Funny thing. I keep falling asleep before All Out of Live is done.
As being half Japanese I hated this song growing up, as all the kids at primary school would sing the chorus and slanted their eyes at me like a taunt.
But watching him suffer is so entertaining... edit: i suppose the closest we can hope for is the year-end lists, which i must admit i've given short shrift in the past
The explanation I've always had is that there was a common stereotype for a while about Japanese tourists taking lots of pictures at everything they saw in another country. So since he's obsessed with taking this girl's picture, he says he's "turning Japanese."
that is so true , why i forget this ?!! in my country japanese tourist always carrying cameras and taking pictures not just selfies like these days but everything that caught their attention .indeed this is common stereotype for japanese tourist.the best explanation and most make sense . fuck those pervert thinks this is about fapping .
Interesting note; one place where that stereotype is alive and well? Japan. No joke; lot of internal tourism, lot of relatively cheap and available camera equipment. That's a self-stereotype, like America and being loud.
Over here in America nobody knows who they are except for me and a few others. I can’t believe they weren’t huge! They’re one of the best bands I’ve ever heard!
The Jam are one of my favorite punk era bands, In The City is one of the all-time essential 70s punk singles! My favorite single of theirs has to be Going Underground which is brimming with some of the tightest social commentary and poetic lyrics this side of Ray Davies in the 60s.
"went from t-shirts and skinny jeans to those weird frilly shirts and it didn't help that the whole band hated eachother" Sounds like Pretty. Odd. Panic! at the disco
Well, the whole band didn't hate each other in P!ATD. There was a split on which direction that they wanted the band to go, so it was more of a difference of opinion rather than malice.
"It's a love song about somebody who had lost their girlfriend and was going slowly crazy, turning Japanese is just all the cliches of our angst... turning into something you never expected to." -Rob Kemp, guitarist for The Vapors. You are welcome!
The _Oriental riff_ you hear at the beginning of the song is a western invention of the movie industry to signify East Asian music to a typical Western listener, dating back to the "Aladdin Quick Step" used in an Aladdin stage show, The Grand Chinese Spectacle of Aladdin or The Wonderful Lamp, in 1847. The notes used in the riff are part of a pentatonic scale and often harmonized with parallel open fourths.
That riff you are talking about, it's called the "Oriental riff". It's uncertain where it originated, but it is definitely a western invention, as it isn't actually used in any oriental music.
"Aladdin" (the play), from like the 1850s, is where that Oriental riff comes from. ... and I see I'm late to the party and 150 million other commenters have already stated it. Yep... keeping it fresh. That's me.
@Fairly Cotard Aladdin is Arabian. The story is set in China, in the same way as English fairy stories are set "once upon a time" somewhere far far away, but the story itself is clearly Arabian. It has a Sheikh in it, for heaven's sake. It's not Chinese at all.
Well I have an old NME article from about 1980 with Paul Weller being interviewed with Pete Townshend (the article was called The Punk & The Godfather). In that interview Weller said that The Jam had no desire or intention to ever go over to try and crack the American market the same way The Who did - Townshend was trying to convince him to go over there. I don't know if The Jam ever toured America after that interview but it would certainly explain why they were virtually unknown over there if Weller stuck to his word after that interview and never toured the US with The Jam.
They were not "popular" in the sense of Michael Jackson or something like that. Nevertheless they motivated the Mod revival movement in Southern California of the early 80s alongside the film Quadrophenia and were quite well known in punk and alternative rock circles outside of that. They actually got to play once in US tv and there is even a video of that that I saw here in youtube. They didn´t have a hit in the US though I guess
I am willing to wait for this day since James Blunt was Blunt to his critics on Twitter. "And no mortgage." Was his response when someone commented on his face and his voice.
@GracieKat Eh? No, not at all. In fact, I like his talk backs on Twitter. So much so, they made a best list on many websites. James Blunt being Blunt. Nice ring to it.
I do struggle a bit to think of James blunt as a one hit wonder, mostly since his album sold quite well and got good reviews, and some of the other tracks on it got some airplay. But I guess he’s mostly remembered these days for “you’re beautiful” and didn’t really have any other “hits” per se
Nice. There are quite a few really good artists that were big in the UK but didn't do well over here in the US. I'm a 60s music fan, so my favourite band like that is Small Faces. They're amazing but they only managed to hit the top 40 in the US once with "Itchycoo Park" in 1967. That song is great but their best is probably "All Or Nothing", which was a number one hit in the UK. "Tin Soldier" is awesome too.
Funny story: around my freshman year of high school I was becoming a fully-fledged anime fangirl. My dad then goes on CZcams to show me a relic from his freshman year of high school: this song.
I love the Jam so much. My dad played their greatest hits CD (I think it was) all the time in the car when was a kid and I would yell “The Yam! The Yam!”
Glad to hear a young person talk about the Jam. I've been listening to them for 40 years - to me they sound like they're somewhere between The Clash and The Who. Their 3 CD compilation Snap! is flawless.
I am here for all the The Jam content I can get. Also, that debut album -- New Clear Days -- from The Vapors is like 10,000 times better than it has any right to actually be. Seriously, it's one of those one-hit wonder albums that's actually a solid listen overall.
Dude, there should totally be a one hit wonderland segment for "cult of personality" unless that group had other big songs. Not really sure. Big fan of the channel btw. Keep goin'
Oingo Boingo, while having done a lot of work for soundtracks and on their own... never really had a hit. You might say "what about 'Weird Science' after all it was the theme for the movie and the tv show" or something like that, and while that was their highest charter... it only hit #45. "Just Another Day" was their only other one that broke into the Hot 100... and peaked at #85.
@@yutuberocks22 While it has been popular, in Back To School, on Malcom in the Middle, Supergirl, and Bones to name a few... it never broke the top 100.
To answer the question more specifically, I don't think he's ever mentioned Oingo Boingo, at least not in a video. Maybe he mentioned them once on Twitter or something.
Blackstar 76 I mean, I like it. Better than meeting her in person. Quite a conceited bitch who thinks everyone should fall over themselves flocking to her for “Betty Davis Eyes” and if you never heard of her, you’re some dumb hick from nowhere who needs to get with the program, because no one ignores Kim Karnes and you will love her because she’s just the best. As you can tell, I’m not exactly a fan in the first place, albeit “More Love”
Just going to leave these here as future songs - (most of these are actually some of my favorite bands) Harvey Danger - Flagpole Sitta Nada Surf - Popular Fuel - Hemmorhage (In My Hands) Silverchair - Tomorrow Spacehog - In The Meantime Local H - Bound To The Floor
The Jam is a favorite of mine too, as is the Clash. The Jam always seemed to be so British in their songs. The Clash had the american glory in a lot of their music, but the Jam had songs about getting jumped in Tube stations, and they revived the Mod movement, for chrissakes. The Clash had a song called " Gates of the West".
The Jam were THE mod band in the late 1970s-early 1980s. They were maybe a little too British for the states. It's shame that those in the US missed out on so many amazing songs, but at the cost of that, The Jam possibly became more meaningful to their British fans.
I actually listened to the Vapors albums after watching this and they're a pretty good jangly guitar post punk band. I can safely say I'm a fan after listening to them more.
heyyy todd - you really had me going there - was looking at the words turning japonese and hearing you talking about james blunt - was totally confused - well played
I'm just bewildered that The Jam are a one-hit-wonder stateside. They're pretty much regarded as a classic band over here. Not as big as The Who, but still pretty highly regarded.
They tried touring the US a few times, but they never seemed to get anywhere. Didn't help that they got paired with a some American hard rock acts on their US tours.
I've always loved this song--AND, I've successfully introduced it to a younger generation! Many years ago, I had this week-long babysitting gig for the kids of one of my mom's friends. And since I knew the mom had boring taste in music (sorry, but yeah) I brought along my own "Living in Oblivion" various artists CD's. The IDEA was to listen to them quietly after the kids had gone to bed. That...didn't happen. I put the CD player on in the mom's bedroom as quietly as possible after the kids were all down and quiet and the lights were out, and I immediately got "WHAT IS THAT THAT'S INTERESTING I WANNA LISTEN TO IT TOO!" and all four of them tromped right on in. The upside is that I introduced a bunch of Zoomers to awesome '80s New Wave. The downside is that they didn't sleep when they were supposed to. But I'm the kinda babysitter that'd rather rock out than be strict anyway. :P The next morning at the breakfast table, the youngest one (we're talking like, 6)...was running around singing "I'M TURNING JAPANESE I THINK I'M TURNING JAPANESE I REALLY THINK SO!" with great gusto, and I fell on the god damn floor laughing. XD Oh, and yes--The Jam was on those CDs too! :)
It doesn't really fit for OHW tho. James Blunt has had at least one hit I can think of (Bonfire Heart) other than "You're Beautiful." He's not really a one hit wonder.
I'm pretty sure this video is a re-re-upload at this point. I dunno who's DMCA'ing Todd's vids, but the idea that this has over 3000 views already means that these OHW videos probably have more re-watch value than most of the actual OHW songs or bands covered therein have.
Here in England at the time 'japs' eye" was slang for the slit at the end of your knob (sorry I don't know the science word for it). It got a lot of use. I suspect this is where the association came from.
The Jam were genuinely iconic in the UK, and they broke up at their peak ... so they never overstayed their welcome. Ageing music lovers like me still like to rave about them, much to the bewilderment of the youngsters. Paul Weller - 'The Modfather', as the press calls him - has had a pretty healthy music career since they broke up, too.
Thanks for doing The Vapors. I loved these guys (and The Knack) back in the late 70s. Fun fact: the cover illustration on their second album "Magnets" was done by Martin Hanford, later of "Where's Waldo" fame. ☺️
I can never hear this song without remembering the cover Rick Moranis did of it playing 70's easy listening crooner "Tom Monroe - On A New Wavelength" And Todd? The Jam? Hell yeah! Cover them some day please.
I was actually watching this some hours ago, and i paused it and went to sleep, i come back and the video is gone :O That was a weird thing that happened.
wouldnt it be great to have a video of just Todds favorite bands and what he likes about them. I really like finding new music and he always has great recommendations.
My godfather was a musician in an obscure folk music scene and for some reason he knew David Fenton, so one day my godfather said "Yer a one hit wonder" to which the frontman responded "Better be a one hit wonder than a no hit wonder". I don't if it's true but I like this story.
Thanks for OHWs Todd, your conclusions about music made before you were born are uncanny; I was there, your balanced explanation nails it every time. Thanks for pushing The Jam, they are genuinely loved in the UK. (Think you put Bruce Foxton's photo in there; Paul Weller discovered them and his Dad managed them and The Jam). Shout out for their Setting Sons album!
Short-lived though they may have been, I absolutely loved The Vapors and bought both of their albums second-hand for three dollars total, not for "Turning Japanese" but for "Civic Hall," which is, without a doubt, their best song.
Love your passion for the jam,..dude. Even letting people know that weller's dad was his manager (right up until his death). I hope people who havn't heard em before listen to some of their classic albums you mentioned..(in the city especially) doing gods work todd
I discovered this song through the first "Jackass" movie when it was used during the "Midnight Pandas" skit which was filmed in Tokyo. And I was going "That's a fun song, who is it by?"
Thanks Tod im Schatten - Franz Kafka aficionado, for a very humorous and well researched piece - "Turning Japanese" and the history of The Vapors is well worth a day of your valuable time. This is a hugely infectious song which, on the surface, boasts quite accessible, if somewhat quirky lyrics. Due the song's huge popularity the lyrics gave rise to a vast number of interpretations - some simplistic and some more extreme. One of the more sophisticated scenarios is of a prisoner in solitary confinement reduced to pleasuring himself over a single photograph - but really, I just like the zany film clip with kimonos, katana and kazari かざり
"Town called Malice" is an absolute banger. It's somehow connected to "She sells Sanctuary" by the Cult in my internal jukebox, and I'm not sure why - sometimes, that just happens. I've heard the Japanese thing was about them Japanese tourists taking pictures all the time, and the guy loves his gall so much he wants to keep taking pictures of her. But hey, your research certainly beats mine so if you didn't come across that rumour I'm not sure it's true :). Good job, as always!
I must say, I'm really thankful for this video having turned me on to The Vapors. New Clear Days is a great album and I'm confident that I wouldn't have found it if I didn't follow Todd's videos.
The guitarist from the Vapours now directs Doctor Who episodes
It's odd how they are a British band, but they spell their name like Americans. No "U"!
Will Shaw cool. What episodes did he direct? I about to make a refference to that show.
Elijah Ford the girl who died, the woman who lived and the return of dr mysterio
Brendan McCabe hm
Elijah Ford that is insane I was looking at your comment when I checked this notification
Fun fact: since this episode was made, The Vapors reunited in 2016 and actually released a third album *this year* .
WAIT WHAT
@@rushdieuoy Yes, it's true.
open.spotify.com/album/6PI3FIFr5W9rE1gGHoAOuJ?si=8tV64KDET6WqxQ2s3KPhSQ
Together is really good
And it's just as good as their first two: perfect.
Whoa!
I know where the Asian riff came from. For one thing, it's not Asian. It's actually from an American stage production of Aladdin that came out in 1847. You're welcome.
+Stephen Leotti Well, according to the original story, Aladdin is supposed to be Chinese, though many people don't know that...
+MrColuber maybe. But either way, not in the play the riff came from. It was not meant to be Asian sounding at all.
+MrColuber I have recently been reading some Herodotus, and it seems in classical times, everything east of Greece was just called Asia.
+GreyPatzer Really? What a shock.
+Stephen Leotti Yep, however it's known as the Oriental riff.
The Oriental riff is a Western invention, dating back to the "Aladdin Quick Step" used in an Aladdin stage show, The Grand Chinese Spectacle of Aladdin or The Wonderful Lamp, in 1847. The notes used in the riff are part of a pentatonic scale and often harmonized with parallel open fourths, which makes the riff sound like East Asian music to a typical Western listener.
@zachtuchannelboogaloo5632: Thanks for the tidbit! I’ve been wondering what European concocted that stereopirridge. It begs the question, though: What is a supposedly East Asian riff doing in a production about South Asia? Because of the trope *as long as it sounds foreign*?
The same occurred with *Country Maid/ Streets of Cairo*, which became *snake charmer music*, for some reason
Okay.
@@globetrekker86Some retellings of Aladdin had the story set in China, such as the Bevanfield version that Phelous has reviewed.
I'm watching an American talking about a British band that's only known for a song about the Japanese that was huge in Australia. I'm sure there's a joke in there somewhere but I just can't think of it.
♪ Draw a circle, that's the Earth. Draw a circle, that's the Earth. Draw a circle, that's the Earth. I am Hetalia... ♪
Kimi FW noooooooo
First of all, how dare you
1st song i played when i bought my epiphone casino. not that they played one. but in my memory this song is up there.
“I’ll never forgive the Japanese.”
Fun fact about the Vapors, the cover to their second album Magnets was drawn by a then-unknown illustrator named Martin Handford. Handford was already known for his crowd drawings, but to spice things up, he decided to add hidden details in the cover. This inspired him a few years later to start a whole series of books based on finding hidden details in crowds, which we now know as Where is Waldo.
"There was not enough room for Vapors in all the Air Supply we had."
Truer words have never been spoken.
I've watched this video probably 30 times and I just now got that pun.
I have been on a binge of videos from this channel and he shows his hate of Air Supply in three different videos. I don´t hate anything but i agree that Air Supply is one of those horrible pop things that seems their goal is annoying people: like Michael Bolton, Ryan Adams or Celine Dion
I hate to admit I actually owned an Air Supply album in my youth. Out of a sudden attack of memory I listened to it a couple weeks afo. Or tried to. Funny thing. I keep falling asleep before All Out of Live is done.
Love not live. Alex's autocorrect feature is even worse than Siri
As being half Japanese I hated this song growing up, as all the kids at primary school would sing the chorus and slanted their eyes at me like a taunt.
YIKES!
Yow
Imagine if you were from egyptian when the Bangles sang that song...
Kids do be shitty and surprisingly bigoted at times!
oof
Hearing you talk about the jam - i think it would be cool for you do a series about bands you actually really like
That would be awesome! I'd love to see Todd a career retrospective on The Jam- they don't get enough love!
But watching him suffer is so entertaining...
edit: i suppose the closest we can hope for is the year-end lists, which i must admit i've given short shrift in the past
disagree, the hatred makes it.
Yeah, like Consequence of Sound’s Masterpiece Reviews
It would be great his research is pretty good the subject matter is a bit limiting
The explanation I've always had is that there was a common stereotype for a while about Japanese tourists taking lots of pictures at everything they saw in another country. So since he's obsessed with taking this girl's picture, he says he's "turning Japanese."
that's exactly what i've always understood it to be, even as a little kid.
that is so true , why i forget this ?!! in my country japanese tourist always carrying cameras and taking pictures not just selfies like these days but everything that caught their attention .indeed this is common stereotype for japanese tourist.the best explanation and most make sense . fuck those pervert thinks this is about fapping .
Interesting note; one place where that stereotype is alive and well? Japan. No joke; lot of internal tourism, lot of relatively cheap and available camera equipment. That's a self-stereotype, like America and being loud.
After reading the lyrics I think it's obvious you're right.
WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT SAM DUNKLEY? WE AMERICANS AREN'T LOUD IN THE SLIGHTEST!
The Vapors: still a lengthier career than the Sex Pistols.
Twice the albums, one fiftieth the compilations
Not counting all the milking and kicking of the dead horse.
@@mariaquiet6211 a 100th of the legacy
1980 was also bad considering Bon Scott, John Bonham, Ian Curtis and John Lennon all died that year
Lizard Jesus And Darby Crash....
So the dude who made American Pie should have also made a song about 1980
Yeah it's sad but the good news is that their music lives on.
Talk about "the day the music died..."
*Todd:* mimes Asian riff
*Also Todd:* has piano right in front of him.
He played it earlier
Its weird hearing someone talk about the The Jam as an obscure band.
+lordwisehammer You're telling me. I'm used to everyone at least hearing of 'That's Entertainment'.
Over here in America nobody knows who they are except for me and a few others. I can’t believe they weren’t huge! They’re one of the best bands I’ve ever heard!
Came here to say this. They’re classic. My band even covered them.
Who are the jams lol, they're unknowns in the states
The Jam!
A great band and popular in Southern California.
It’s been years now, but I’m eternally grateful to Todd for turning me on to The Jam. Seriously solid, under appreciated band here in the states.
Would add The Specials and Madness to this category
The Jam are one of my favorite punk era bands, In The City is one of the all-time essential 70s punk singles! My favorite single of theirs has to be Going Underground which is brimming with some of the tightest social commentary and poetic lyrics this side of Ray Davies in the 60s.
"As Gregor Sampsa awoke one morning, he found himself transformed into a Japanese person."
Nah, it's too good.
*Gregor Samsa
It was a sweet reference though. Totally caught me off guard and properly floored me.
+BlackBobby69 Oh I thought it was hilarious. But I was referencing The Producers.
Spring Time for Tojo and Japanese! Nippon is happy and gay!
@Slick Grit Productions My all time favorite movie!
I see what you did there.
"went from t-shirts and skinny jeans to those weird frilly shirts and it didn't help that the whole band hated eachother" Sounds like Pretty. Odd. Panic! at the disco
TRUE
Well, the whole band didn't hate each other in P!ATD. There was a split on which direction that they wanted the band to go, so it was more of a difference of opinion rather than malice.
To be fair, Fever was basically frilly shirts and skinny jeans.
Bro i came here to say that 😂
Adam and the Ants came to mind for me, when he said that.
"It's a love song about somebody who had lost their girlfriend and was going slowly crazy, turning Japanese is just all the cliches of our angst... turning into something you never expected to." -Rob Kemp, guitarist for The Vapors.
You are welcome!
I'd have to say "Bullshit, Rob. We know what it's about.".
Remembering always that Rob Kemp did not write the song.
So it really is closer to the Metamorphosis reference than Todd probably intended.
...or rubbing one out...
So he turned into a Jojo character?
The _Oriental riff_ you hear at the beginning of the song is a western invention of the movie industry to signify East Asian music to a typical Western listener, dating back to the "Aladdin Quick Step" used in an Aladdin stage show, The Grand Chinese Spectacle of Aladdin or The Wonderful Lamp, in 1847. The notes used in the riff are part of a pentatonic scale and often harmonized with parallel open fourths.
That riff you are talking about, it's called the "Oriental riff". It's uncertain where it originated, but it is definitely a western invention, as it isn't actually used in any oriental music.
If i remember correctly, it was invented by an Aladdin musical.
Isn't it from the Mikado?
"Aladdin" (the play), from like the 1850s, is where that Oriental riff comes from.
... and I see I'm late to the party and 150 million other commenters have already stated it. Yep... keeping it fresh. That's me.
The guitar player went on to become a director. He directed a few episodes of the new Doctor Who.
Bryan Merrill II huh neat
...Is it bad that I liked The Girl Who Died/The Woman Who Lived?
I still say he should've stay in the music career
I actually liked the Christmas special, and the other two were alright
@@luckluster Congrats, he's back with his music career. The whole band is.
Cameron Dodge the band is his hobby now according to the interview he gave with vive le rock magazine.
@Todd that riff is just called "The Oriental Riff". If has a wikipedia page.
@Fairly Cotard Aladdin is Arabian. The story is set in China, in the same way as English fairy stories are set "once upon a time" somewhere far far away, but the story itself is clearly Arabian. It has a Sheikh in it, for heaven's sake. It's not Chinese at all.
God how racist is that?!
I'm English and the Jam are one of the greatest bands of all time. I never understood why they never caught on anywhere else but the Beatles did.
Wow, didn't realise The Jam were obscure of in the states
It's a real shame.
Well I have an old NME article from about 1980 with Paul Weller being interviewed with Pete Townshend (the article was called The Punk & The Godfather).
In that interview Weller said that The Jam had no desire or intention to ever go over to try and crack the American market the same way The Who did - Townshend was trying to convince him to go over there.
I don't know if The Jam ever toured America after that interview but it would certainly explain why they were virtually unknown over there if Weller stuck to his word after that interview and never toured the US with The Jam.
I didn't realise 1980 was such a bad year for music in the US
They weren't. They weren't huge, but they weren't obscure. They had a pretty good cult following and everyone from that era knows Town Called Malice.
They were not "popular" in the sense of Michael Jackson or something like that. Nevertheless they motivated the Mod revival movement in Southern California of the early 80s alongside the film Quadrophenia and were quite well known in punk and alternative rock circles outside of that. They actually got to play once in US tv and there is even a video of that that I saw here in youtube. They didn´t have a hit in the US though I guess
Fun fact: their first album, New Clear Days, has a weather man pointing out the nuclear power stations in the UK. It's very aesthetic.
5:09 "I love every little riff of this song". 100%. There is a lot going on in this tune and it's great stuff
Now I'm going to be upset if "You're Beautiful" by James Blunt never appears on One Hit Wonderland
I am willing to wait for this day since James Blunt was Blunt to his critics on Twitter.
"And no mortgage." Was his response when someone commented on his face and his voice.
@@antibishonenyou don't like him because of that? That's a pretty mild response.
Is he a OHW now though? I thought Monsters charted
@GracieKat Eh? No, not at all. In fact, I like his talk backs on Twitter. So much so, they made a best list on many websites.
James Blunt being Blunt.
Nice ring to it.
@@antibishonen lol yeah
I'm sorry, I just have misread you
I do struggle a bit to think of James blunt as a one hit wonder, mostly since his album sold quite well and got good reviews, and some of the other tracks on it got some airplay. But I guess he’s mostly remembered these days for “you’re beautiful” and didn’t really have any other “hits” per se
I just listened to The Jam to the first time and I am a convert! One hell of a group!
Good on you, mate!
Nice. There are quite a few really good artists that were big in the UK but didn't do well over here in the US. I'm a 60s music fan, so my favourite band like that is Small Faces. They're amazing but they only managed to hit the top 40 in the US once with "Itchycoo Park" in 1967. That song is great but their best is probably "All Or Nothing", which was a number one hit in the UK. "Tin Soldier" is awesome too.
Funny story: around my freshman year of high school I was becoming a fully-fledged anime fangirl. My dad then goes on CZcams to show me a relic from his freshman year of high school: this song.
That's one hell of a story
The vapors were the original weaboos
I don’t know whether we tank Japan for that or remain weirded out by it all
I love the Jam so much. My dad played their greatest hits CD (I think it was) all the time in the car when was a kid and I would yell “The Yam! The Yam!”
Glad to hear a young person talk about the Jam. I've been listening to them for 40 years - to me they sound like they're somewhere between The Clash and The Who. Their 3 CD compilation Snap! is flawless.
I was sure "Turning Japanese" meant getting obsessed with taking pictures.
Bands that were huge in the UK but are pretty much unknown in the US sounds like a great theme for a series of videos
or the converse
Over here in England the jam and it’s leader Paul weller are considered deities amongst a particular subset. I fuckin love em
I am here for all the The Jam content I can get.
Also, that debut album -- New Clear Days -- from The Vapors is like 10,000 times better than it has any right to actually be. Seriously, it's one of those one-hit wonder albums that's actually a solid listen overall.
The Vapors reunited and released a new album in May 2020 ! Apparently it's one of the longest gap between two albums for a band (39 years)
Dude, there should totally be a one hit wonderland segment for "cult of personality" unless that group had other big songs. Not really sure. Big fan of the channel btw. Keep goin'
I just want CM Punk references. :D
Hey Todd! Thank you for the Kafka reverence, it made me feel like a real nerd for understanding it.
The fact that no one else caught that really bugs me. Bugs! Get it? Hahahahaha! Oh, I'm funny as hell, right? Right!?!
Yeah... Like a Dog!
I thought we we're doing Kafka, not Pavlov. I'll do some "investigatios" into the matter. Hahahaha! Still HILARIOUS! Amirite!?! Please just say "yes?"
...yes.
Thank you. Your validation cured my soul-crushing emptiness. Actually, never mind. It's already back...
The Vapors have to be my favorite band ever. I can sing both of their albums beginning to end
The Vapors recently released a new album after 39 years
You did it Todd, you got me to listen to The Jam. I hope you're happy.
rick classik congrats
I love your subtle Franz Kafka “metamorphosis” reference.. great channel, love your videos.
has Todd ever done something with Oingo Boingo? because i feel like there right up his alley
Oingo Boingo, while having done a lot of work for soundtracks and on their own... never really had a hit. You might say "what about 'Weird Science' after all it was the theme for the movie and the tv show" or something like that, and while that was their highest charter... it only hit #45. "Just Another Day" was their only other one that broke into the Hot 100... and peaked at #85.
@@rpgaholic8202 I could've sworn Dead Man's Party was a hit. It's popular where I'm from, at least.
@@yutuberocks22 While it has been popular, in Back To School, on Malcom in the Middle, Supergirl, and Bones to name a few... it never broke the top 100.
To answer the question more specifically, I don't think he's ever mentioned Oingo Boingo, at least not in a video. Maybe he mentioned them once on Twitter or something.
Oingo Boingo are legends, not a OHW.
THE JAM RULES!!!!!!!
You should do "Bette Davis Eyes" by Kim Karnes for your next "One Hit Wonder" show!
She has another hit, “More Love”
Horrible song
Blackstar 76 I mean, I like it. Better than meeting her in person. Quite a conceited bitch who thinks everyone should fall over themselves flocking to her for “Betty Davis Eyes” and if you never heard of her, you’re some dumb hick from nowhere who needs to get with the program, because no one ignores Kim Karnes and you will love her because she’s just the best. As you can tell, I’m not exactly a fan in the first place, albeit “More Love”
She had half a dozen hits.
What about “Crazy In The Night?”
Just going to leave these here as future songs - (most of these are actually some of my favorite bands)
Harvey Danger - Flagpole Sitta
Nada Surf - Popular
Fuel - Hemmorhage (In My Hands)
Silverchair - Tomorrow
Spacehog - In The Meantime
Local H - Bound To The Floor
Danny DalDegan ALL OF THESE PLEASE!!!
I know the first few and they're great. Flag pole sitta is amazing. Fuel also has Shimmer though.
Well, at least he covered the first one.
@@NerdyPro Plus Shimmer is a better song imo.
The Jam is a favorite of mine too, as is the Clash. The Jam always seemed to be so British in their songs. The Clash had the american glory in a lot of their music, but the Jam had songs about getting jumped in Tube stations, and they revived the Mod movement, for chrissakes. The Clash had a song called " Gates of the West".
The Jam were THE mod band in the late 1970s-early 1980s. They were maybe a little too British for the states. It's shame that those in the US missed out on so many amazing songs, but at the cost of that, The Jam possibly became more meaningful to their British fans.
Oh yeah, I love The Jam, but it's obvious why they didn't cross over. They're almost comically British.
"Prisoners" is actually a favorite song of mine. I've listened to it all the time since this episode. I honestly can't believe it wasn't a hit
I actually listened to the Vapors albums after watching this and they're a pretty good jangly guitar post punk band. I can safely say I'm a fan after listening to them more.
heyyy todd - you really had me going there - was looking at the words turning japonese and hearing you talking about james blunt - was totally confused - well played
The cover art for their second album "Magnets" was designed by Martin Handford - aka the author of the Where's Wally books.
Amazing!
I'm just bewildered that The Jam are a one-hit-wonder stateside. They're pretty much regarded as a classic band over here. Not as big as The Who, but still pretty highly regarded.
Omicron9999 Actually they would probably be considered a no-hit wonder here in the states,I don't get it either!!!
They tried touring the US a few times, but they never seemed to get anywhere. Didn't help that they got paired with a some American hard rock acts on their US tours.
I've always loved this song--AND, I've successfully introduced it to a younger generation! Many years ago, I had this week-long babysitting gig for the kids of one of my mom's friends. And since I knew the mom had boring taste in music (sorry, but yeah) I brought along my own "Living in Oblivion" various artists CD's. The IDEA was to listen to them quietly after the kids had gone to bed.
That...didn't happen.
I put the CD player on in the mom's bedroom as quietly as possible after the kids were all down and quiet and the lights were out, and I immediately got "WHAT IS THAT THAT'S INTERESTING I WANNA LISTEN TO IT TOO!" and all four of them tromped right on in. The upside is that I introduced a bunch of Zoomers to awesome '80s New Wave. The downside is that they didn't sleep when they were supposed to. But I'm the kinda babysitter that'd rather rock out than be strict anyway. :P
The next morning at the breakfast table, the youngest one (we're talking like, 6)...was running around singing "I'M TURNING JAPANESE I THINK I'M TURNING JAPANESE I REALLY THINK SO!" with great gusto, and I fell on the god damn floor laughing. XD
Oh, and yes--The Jam was on those CDs too! :)
Who else wanted him to do You're Beautiful by James Blunt?
+MagikarpGamer Now I want him to
+Redem10 next time he does it buy that slot immediately
+MagikarpGamer Since I have never heard more than 7 words to that song, I'd much rather he do this one instead.
+MagikarpGamer Nope, I abhor that song
It doesn't really fit for OHW tho. James Blunt has had at least one hit I can think of (Bonfire Heart) other than "You're Beautiful." He's not really a one hit wonder.
Turning weeaboo I think I'm turning weeaboo I really think so.
After the uncontrollable 'baka' outbursts started, I realized I had stage 3 weeaboo-itis.
+Mattata G Embrace it. It's a good thing.
Weeaboo's 30 years before 4chan
+Mattata G Turning Wapanese I think I'm turning Wapanese I really think so.
+Mattata G Baka...
Absolutely adored that intro talk about the Jam! Incredibly solid band.
The Jam was so underrated and ironically I discovered The Jam through Paul Weller's second band The Style Council
I'm pretty sure Daniel Powter was the biggest one hit wonder of 2006
Don't go there man. I've heard his album. It's terrible.
@@averagebritishguy7082 It's like New Radicals if they sucked.
@@iliketrains3495 Are you even a Todd fan?
the fakeout intro made me laugh so hard
The Vapors got back together and put out a new album last year!
Man, love you for that Kafka reference:)
Aw man I was shitting my pants when I got a notification for a new Todd in the Shadows upload :'(
+Mike Moynihan He just uploaded the new Cinemadonna yesterday.
The Vapors has reunited lol
I'm pretty sure this video is a re-re-upload at this point. I dunno who's DMCA'ing Todd's vids, but the idea that this has over 3000 views already means that these OHW videos probably have more re-watch value than most of the actual OHW songs or bands covered therein have.
Here in England at the time 'japs' eye" was slang for the slit at the end of your knob (sorry I don't know the science word for it). It got a lot of use. I suspect this is where the association came from.
Its urethra
@@Goblinking-ps7fs thanks! There was no way I was going to try and google it :)
@@PirateBBS haha
@@Goblinking-ps7fs More specifically it's the male urinary meatus
Thank you for The Jam recommendation. I heard about them from my British dad but forgot about them, and nobody in the US knows much about them at all.
The Jam were genuinely iconic in the UK, and they broke up at their peak ... so they never overstayed their welcome. Ageing music lovers like me still like to rave about them, much to the bewilderment of the youngsters. Paul Weller - 'The Modfather', as the press calls him - has had a pretty healthy music career since they broke up, too.
Thought it might be worth mentioning they came out with another album last year
Thanks for doing The Vapors. I loved these guys (and The Knack) back in the late 70s. Fun fact: the cover illustration on their second album "Magnets" was done by Martin Hanford, later of "Where's Waldo" fame. ☺️
Ridiculously underrated band. Everyone of their songs is tight AF.
It's six years later Todd - you'll have to get "You're Beautiful' by James Blunt sooner or later. (I'm sure it'd be an interesting episode!).
I always figured this song was made because the band had a big hit in japan and fell in love with the Japanese culture. apparently not
I can never hear this song without remembering the cover Rick Moranis did of it playing 70's easy listening crooner "Tom Monroe - On A New Wavelength"
And Todd? The Jam? Hell yeah! Cover them some day please.
Such a great bit on SCTV
I was actually watching this some hours ago, and i paused it and went to sleep, i come back and the video is gone :O
That was a weird thing that happened.
+Derpy Dude That happens a lot. Tried watching WWE on CZcams, and pause it then same kind of thing. Copyright and all that crap.
wouldnt it be great to have a video of just Todds favorite bands and what he likes about them. I really like finding new music and he always has great recommendations.
The requester calling him "Mr In The Shadows" XD
Reminds me of being in high school and addressing Weird Al as “Mr. Weird” because I got really flustered.
Same energy.
@@wfbgenius Wow, how embarrassing. You should have called him Mr. Al.
Always glad to hear folks repping The Jam
I legit was so confused with the "you're beautiful" intro
Yeah dude. I was about to turn the video off. That is a very annoying song.
I listen to this song on repeat right before getting a root canal when I was 6 and it stopped me from crying.
My godfather was a musician in an obscure folk music scene and for some reason he knew David Fenton, so one day my godfather said "Yer a one hit wonder" to which the frontman responded "Better be a one hit wonder than a no hit wonder". I don't if it's true but I like this story.
It is incredibly surreal seeing the Jam referred to as this obscure underground band you've probably never heard of but should definitely check out.
The Jam is one of my favorites so I was also really surprised by this statement
Update on The Vapors: They are fucking back. They reformed in 2016 and have alluded to a new album coming out this year.
Thanks for OHWs Todd, your conclusions about music made before you were born are uncanny; I was there, your balanced explanation nails it every time. Thanks for pushing The Jam, they are genuinely loved in the UK. (Think you put Bruce Foxton's photo in there; Paul Weller discovered them and his Dad managed them and The Jam). Shout out for their Setting Sons album!
Short-lived though they may have been, I absolutely loved The Vapors and bought both of their albums second-hand for three dollars total, not for "Turning Japanese" but for "Civic Hall," which is, without a doubt, their best song.
Love your passion for the jam,..dude. Even letting people know that weller's dad was his manager (right up until his death). I hope people who havn't heard em before listen to some of their classic albums you mentioned..(in the city especially) doing gods work todd
"Jimmy Jones" kind of reminds me of early Who stuff like "Substitute" and "The Kids Are Alright."
I love the Night Court theme when it plays in the background
I discovered this song through the first "Jackass" movie when it was used during the "Midnight Pandas" skit which was filmed in Tokyo.
And I was going "That's a fun song, who is it by?"
Thanks Tod im Schatten - Franz Kafka aficionado, for a very humorous and well researched piece - "Turning Japanese" and the history of The Vapors is well worth a day of your valuable time. This is a hugely infectious song which, on the surface, boasts quite accessible, if somewhat quirky lyrics. Due the song's huge popularity the lyrics gave rise to a vast number of interpretations - some simplistic and some more extreme. One of the more sophisticated scenarios is of a prisoner in solitary confinement reduced to pleasuring himself over a single photograph - but really, I just like the zany film clip with kimonos, katana and kazari かざり
This song was a weirdly big part of my childhood
Thanks todd for introducing me to both the Jam and the vapours. The jam has fast become one of my favourite groups since this video was posted
Good on you, mate- it's proper quality stuff!
Another interesting band you've covered. Fenton also seems like a genuinely nice fellow. :-)
"Town called Malice" is an absolute banger. It's somehow connected to "She sells Sanctuary" by the Cult in my internal jukebox, and I'm not sure why - sometimes, that just happens.
I've heard the Japanese thing was about them Japanese tourists taking pictures all the time, and the guy loves his gall so much he wants to keep taking pictures of her. But hey, your research certainly beats mine so if you didn't come across that rumour I'm not sure it's true :).
Good job, as always!
Oh god, I really want Todd to review Chelsea Dagger by The Fratellis
Bob as a one hit wonderland episode? Because they definitely were not one hit wonders
@@Dawnbreakerr they are in America
@@peteaxe2067 no. Chelsea Dagger and Flathead were both hits.
@@Dawnbreakerr was Whistle for the Choir not also a hit of that album? I couldn't escape it for years in the UK
@@ancomfin4270
I only know those two were hits here in the States. Whistle for the Choir is a good song though.
"A Town Called Malice" would be a great name for the must-be-made TV show about the punk musician-turned-lawyer.
A common slang term for your pee-hole is "Jap's eye". I always thought it was connected to that, somehow.
I think it's the aftermath when you finish and it shrinks. My best bet
I must say, I'm really thankful for this video having turned me on to The Vapors. New Clear Days is a great album and I'm confident that I wouldn't have found it if I didn't follow Todd's videos.
"That guitar work is just awesome." As a fellow musician/guitarist, yes, yes it is :)
Hey Todd, I was listening to the jam way back in the nineties when I was in high school. You're preaching to the converted.