Shit or Hit: The Vapors - Turning Japanese

Do talk back

TJ

Shit
6
17%
Hit
24
69%
Onana nana nana nana hey hey goodbye
5
14%
 
Total votes: 35

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Sneelock
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Re: Shit or Hit: The Vapors - Turning Japanese

Postby Sneelock » 03 Jul 2018, 16:53

catchy as hell. always loved it despite my better judgement.
what's good judgement ever done for ME?
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sloopjohnc
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Re: Shit or Hit: The Vapors - Turning Japanese

Postby sloopjohnc » 03 Jul 2018, 17:19

You have to appreciate pop songs that don't try to be any more than what they're trying to be - make their mark, and get in and out quickly, but memorably.

Sounds effortless, but easier said than done.
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toomanyhatz
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Re: Shit or Hit: The Vapors - Turning Japanese

Postby toomanyhatz » 03 Jul 2018, 17:41

I'd always heard it was about masturbation. I was sort of hoping it was, because otherwise it's some sort of racial stereotype, which was, let's face it, embarrassing even in the late 70s.

Undeniably catchy, but even as a kid I wondered why it needed to exist.

I went with "shit," though probably mostly for balance. I wouldn't scold someone for liking it. It's just always caused me to shrug, so I find it easier to dismiss than to defend.
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Davey the Fat Boy
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Re: Shit or Hit: The Vapors - Turning Japanese

Postby Davey the Fat Boy » 03 Jul 2018, 19:08

Just watched the video. Not sure I ever even saw it back in the day.

Does he really use his fingers to slant his eyes? :o

Kind of made me nostalgic for the days when casual, unthinking, misguidedly-intentioned racism was fun for folks of all ages.

If I was in this band, I’d hate to have to live this down. I’m glad that some of the things I did that I used to think of as funny never became famous.

But yeah...it’s catchy.
Last edited by Davey the Fat Boy on 03 Jul 2018, 20:06, edited 1 time in total.
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sloopjohnc
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Re: Shit or Hit: The Vapors - Turning Japanese

Postby sloopjohnc » 03 Jul 2018, 19:16

Davey the Fat Boy wrote:Just watched the video. Not sure I ever even saw it back in the day.

Does he really use his fingers to slant his eyes? :o

Kind of made me nostalgic for the days when casual, unthinking, misguidedly-intentioned racism was fun for folks of all ages.

If I was in this band, I’d hate to have to live in his down. I’m glad that some of the things I did that I used to think of as funny never became famous.

But yeah...it’s catchy.


My daughter loves hip-hop and she's an avowed feminist. I've asked her if she ever has problems with some of the lyrics.

She does, but it doesn't interfere with her enjoyment of the beat and the flow. Maybe that's hypocritical, but I think I'm probably the same way.

Lots of hard rock songs I grew up with are pretty demeaning of women and objectify them. I have my limits, but it's kind of "in for a penny, in for a pound."
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Sneelock
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Re: Shit or Hit: The Vapors - Turning Japanese

Postby Sneelock » 03 Jul 2018, 19:35

every gal I know who likes hip-hop is aware of the lyrics. they make a choice - the choice is that it doesn't matter if they like the lyrics or not. it doesn't hinder their enjoyment of it in the least. racism, sexism - it's all bad but I guess sometimes it's a trade.
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Re: Shit or Hit: The Vapors - Turning Japanese

Postby ConnyOlivetti » 03 Jul 2018, 19:53

"Turning Japanese
Title of 1980 hit record by The Vapors, with a rhythm said to be suitable for masturbation. Title is a reference to the contorted face typical of a guy about to blow his load after a good tommy. The lyrics apparently tell the story of a guy in jail wanking over a picture of his girl."
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Darkness_Fish
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Re: Shit or Hit: The Vapors - Turning Japanese

Postby Darkness_Fish » 03 Jul 2018, 21:41

Oh, that's it settled then. All we needed was one person to quote something anonymously.
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pcqgod
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Re: Shit or Hit: The Vapors - Turning Japanese

Postby pcqgod » 03 Jul 2018, 21:54

The song has been part of my musical consciousness for so long that I just had this "would I even like this if I hadn't first heard it as a teenager?" moment of doubt flit across my brain.

Like the Bangles, The Vapors are much better than their hit(s). They were on the fringes of the Mod movement, apparently, because of similar 60's beat music influences, but there were no awkward attempts at soul like many Mod Revivalists.



Apparently lead singer/songwriter David Fenton had a fascination with Japanese culture. Their debut album also featured "Letter from Hiro," a sympathetic song written about a middle-aged Japanese factory worker who receives his draft notice on the eve of World War II to the amusement of his younger co-workers.



Also like the Bangles, The Vapors are well-respected among power pop fans and have recently reformed and are playing gigs all over the UK, which means fuck all to the miserable bastards on this board, apparently.
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Re: Shit or Hit: The Vapors - Turning Japanese

Postby fange » 04 Jul 2018, 03:56

pcqgod wrote:Also like the Bangles, The Vapors are well-respected among power pop fans and have recently reformed and are playing gigs all over the UK, which means fuck all to the miserable bastards on this board, apparently.

:)
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Tom Waits For No One
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Re: Shit or Hit: The Vapors - Turning Japanese

Postby Tom Waits For No One » 04 Jul 2018, 08:53

Davey the Fat Boy wrote:
Does he really use his fingers to slant his eyes? :o



Like Bowie in this (around 1:14)

Give a shit or be a shit.

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Darkness_Fish
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Re: Shit or Hit: The Vapors - Turning Japanese

Postby Darkness_Fish » 04 Jul 2018, 09:04

pcqgod wrote:Also like the Bangles, The Vapors are well-respected among power pop fans and have recently reformed and are playing gigs all over the UK, which means fuck all to the miserable bastards on this board, apparently.

That means much less than the square root of fuck all to me.
Last edited by Darkness_Fish on 04 Jul 2018, 13:45, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: Shit or Hit: The Vapors - Turning Japanese

Postby ConnyOlivetti » 04 Jul 2018, 10:48

Darkness_Fish wrote:Oh, that's it settled then. All we needed was one person to quote something anonymously.

:lol:
sorry! link got lost, but guess it does not settle anything
https://www.urbandictionary.com/define. ... 20japanese
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Re: Shit or Hit: The Vapors - Turning Japanese

Postby Fonz » 04 Jul 2018, 11:35

ConnyOlivetti wrote:
Darkness_Fish wrote:Oh, that's it settled then. All we needed was one person to quote something anonymously.

:lol:
sorry! link got lost, but guess it does not settle anything
https://www.urbandictionary.com/define. ... 20japanese


More likely than a (bizarre) allusion to being like a Japanese tourist 'cause you have some photos of a girl...
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Darkness_Fish
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Re: Shit or Hit: The Vapors - Turning Japanese

Postby Darkness_Fish » 04 Jul 2018, 11:39

I refer the honourable gentleman to my comments about spurting filthy yoghurt.
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The Prof
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Re: Shit or Hit: The Vapors - Turning Japanese

Postby The Prof » 04 Jul 2018, 11:49

Tom Waits For No One wrote:
Davey the Fat Boy wrote:
Does he really use his fingers to slant his eyes? :o



Like Bowie in this (around 1:14)


It looks to me like he's approaching doing the slant eyes thing then pulls a 'eeeek this is a bit racist - I shouldn't be doing it' face.
Either way, it's not good.

I think I prefer News At 10 as a powerpop song.

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echolalia
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Re: Shit or Hit: The Vapors - Turning Japanese

Postby echolalia » 04 Jul 2018, 15:20

I was looking at the Vapors’ wikipedia entry and sure enough their lead guitarist Ed Bazalgette is the great-great-grandson of the man who cured London of the Great Stink. So maybe bodily functions run in their DNA or something.

Anyway, I love it. Especially those wonky chimes in the 3rd chorus.

News at 10 is great too.

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Re: Shit or Hit: The Vapors - Turning Japanese

Postby 50 Shades Of Blue » 04 Jul 2018, 17:12

I saw them supporting The Jam on a UK tour when the single was out.
Ironically the success of that single with boring folk sealed their fate with the trendies and would be trendies.
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Re: Shit or Hit: The Vapors - Turning Japanese

Postby Jimbly » 04 Jul 2018, 19:31

its fucking rubbish, hated then and hate it now.
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Re: Shit or Hit: The Vapors - Turning Japanese

Postby Polishgirl » 04 Jul 2018, 22:50

Oh God; I love it. It's frequently stuck in my head.

As is the phrase : "spurting filthy yoghurt", unfortunately. :(
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