VIDEO VAULT THURSDAY!
(because exclamation points make all the difference)

This week’s entry into VIDEO VAULT THURSDAY is what could best be described as an oldie but a goodie.

There’s quite the story that built up around this song:

In the US, the song was believed to euphemistically refer to masturbation, specifically referencing certain facial distortions that may resemble the stereotypical image of a Japanese person. In fact, some US media outlets claimed that the phrase “turning Japanese” was a popular euphemism in the UK for masturbation; in reality, however, it has only become such a euphemism subsequent to the release of the song.

As a bit of a treat I was able to find two versions of the song!


Undoubtedly it’s the catchy guitar riffs in the song that make it so listenable. Funny thing though is that for all its popularity at the time as a bit of an underground hit, the Vapors really wound up being one-hit wonders and were never able to cash in on the success of the song:

The band released two albums: New Clear Days (the pun on “nuclear” being intentional) and Magnets. The first was more clearly in the “traditional” New Wave style of music, while touching on social issues such as the nuclear threat as well as love themes. The second album dealt more extensively with themes of alienation, with many dark lyrics about apparently psychotic characters, including the opening track, “Jimmie Jones,” about cult leader Jim Jones. Sales of the second album were poor and the band broke up soon after its release in 1981.