The well-known phrase “Big in Japan” is used in English to describe Western bands that are in demand in Japan, but are not yet or no longer popular in their home countries. By the way, something similar has recently been happening in EU, where foreign idols of the eighties and nineties are stretching in a string with concerts, whose music they don’t particularly want to listen to at home.
Big in Japan The Story Behind
The expression “Big in Japan” was borrowed by Marian Gold, the founder of Alphaville, for the title of one of the group’s most popular songs. It was the team’s debut single, thanks to which they became famous.
What is the song about? At first, Marian said that the meaning of the composition Big in Japan corresponds to the meaning of the phrase. Say, we are talking about musicians who have achieved recognition in Japan, selling their records there in huge numbers, and so on. True, not all Alpaville fans believed in the lack of subtext. It turned out not in vain.
In 1998, in an interview with the online publication Re.Flexion, Marian admitted that in Big in Japan he meant something completely different from what he had previously said. It turned out to be a song about “a couple in love trying to get off heroin.” They dream of a quiet and pleasant life without drugs, full of “real emotions, true words.”
In the same interview, Marian recalled where the title of the song came from. In 1977, he often visited one of the Berlin clubs, where he hoped to meet David Bowie. There he once bought an album by the British group Big in Japan and thought about the meaning of this expression. About the fact that you can be significant somewhere far away, even if you are nobody here. It seemed to Marian that this phrase would fit perfectly into his story about lovers, and he included it in the chorus.
Video Big in Japan
Let’s watch the music video of Big in Japan – Alphaville.
The single Big in Japan quickly soared to the top of the charts. It was often covered by other musicians. One of the brightest covers was recorded by the group Guano Apes. We invite you to watch the video clip.
Interesting Facts
- The zoo mentioned in Big in Japan is a Berlin subway station where drug addicts often meet.
- The video clip Big in Japan for Alphaville was directed by Dieter Meyer, and his wife played the “Japanese” in the video.
- Big in Japan ousted the song Relax by Frankie Goes to Hollywood, whose lead singer was Holly Johnson, a former member of the Big in Japan team, on the charts.
Big in Japan by Alphaville Lyrics
winter’s cityside
Crystal bits of snowflakes
All around my head and in the wind
I had no illusions
That I’d ever find a glimpse
Of summer’s heatwaves in your eyes
You did what you did to me
Now it’s history
Here’s my comeback on the road again
Things will happen while they can
I will wait here for my man tonight
It’s easy when you’re big in Japan
When you’re big in Japan tonight
Big in Japan, be tight
Big in Japan, the eastern sea’s so blue
Big in Japan, right
Pay then I’ll sleep by your side
Things are easy when you’re big in Japan
When you’re big in Japan
Neon on my naked skin, passing silhouettes
Of strange illuminated mannequins
Shall I stay here at the zoo
Or should I go and change my point of view
For other ugly scenes
You did what you did to me
Now it’s history
Here’s my comeback on the road again
Things will happen while they can
I will wait here for my man tonight
It’s easy when you’re big in Japan
Lyrics of Big in Japan Alternate
winter city,
Crystal snowflakes
Covered my whole head and fly in the wind
I no longer hope
Ever see a glimpse
Summer heat in your eyes
What you did to me can’t be taken back
I understand now it’s in the past
I come to my senses again
Everything happens in life
Today I’ll be waiting here for my man
It’s easy if you’re cool in Japan
If today you are cool in Japan
Cool in Japan, hold on
Krut in Japan, the east sea is so blue
Cool in Japan, it’s all right
Pay and I’ll sleep next to you
If you are cool in Japan
Neon lights on my naked skin, floating silhouettes
Strange illuminated mannequins
Stay me here at the zoo
Or go away and change your mind
For other ugly scenes
What you did to me can’t be taken back
I understand now it’s in the past
I come to my senses again
Everything happens in life
Today I’ll be waiting here for my man
It’s easy if you’re cool in Japan
