Peak
36
Weeks
17
Score
1,390
Chart Year
1980
One of the more misinterpreted songs of all time, word was that "Turning Japanese" refers to the Asian facial features people get at the moment of climax during masturbation. In a VH1 True Spin special, they asked The Vapors about this song, and they explained that it is a love song about someone who lost their girlfriend and was going slowly crazy. Lead singer Dave Fenton said: "Turning Japanese is all the clichés about angst and youth and turning into something you didn't expect to." It was inspired by Fenton's relationship problems. That recognizable opening riff repeated a few places in the song is actually called "the oriental riff" (example here). It is often used when a Western song wants to invoke the Far East; other popular examples are Carl Douglas' "Kung Fu Fighting" and Siouxsie and the Banshees' "Hong Kong Garden." The Vapors were a British pub-rock group formed by David Fenton (vocals), Edward Bazalgette (guitar), Steve Smith (bass) and Howard Smith (drums). They were discovered and managed by Bruce Foxton of the Jam. Ironically The Vapors enjoyed a bigger hit in America with this song than The Jam would ever have. The Vapors' did not chart again in the US, however they had a couple of other minor hits in the UK. After releasing another album in 1981 they called it quits. After the band disbanded Fenton retired from creating music and went to work in the music industry as a lawyer. Bazalgette became a television producer at the BBC. This song turns up in the weirdest places, like in an episode of Bill Nye: The Science Guy where it was Weird-Al'd into a song about electricity. A Dr. Pepper commercial uses the tune, as does a commercial for KFC restaurants where it's sung on karaoke. The song also featured in the films Romy And Michele's High School Reunion (1997), Beverly Hills Ninja (1997) and Charlie's Angels (2000). This song topped the Australian charts for two weeks. It was also a minor hit in Japan. A commonly misheard lyric is at the end of the bridge, "Everyone avoids me like a psyched lone ranger." It is not "Everyone avoids me like a psycho ranger." Kirsten Dunst recorded this song for a video that was shown at a 2009 exhibition in London called Pop Life: Art In A Material World. The video was directed by McG (Charlie's Angels, Terminator Salvation) and shot in Tokyo, where Dunst performs as a Japanese schoolgirl.
I've got your picture Of me and you You wrote "I love you" I wrote "me too" I sit there staring and there's nothing else to do Oh it's in color Your hair is brown Your eyes are hazel And soft as clouds I often kiss you when there's no one else around I've got your picture, I've got your picture I'd like a million of you all 'round my cell I want the doctor to take your picture So I can look at you from inside as well You've got me turning up and turning down, I'm turning in, I'm turning 'round I'm turning Japanese, I think I'm turning Japanese, I really think so Turning Japanese, I think I'm turning Japanese, I really think so I'm turning Japanese, I think I'm turning Japanese, I really think so Turning Japanese, I think I'm turning Japanese, I really think so I've got your picture, I've got your picture I'd like a million of them all 'round my cell I want a doctor to take your picture So I can look at you from inside as well You've got me turning up and turning down, I'm turning in, I'm turning 'round I'm turning Japanese, I think I'm turning Japanese, I really think so Turning Japanese, I think I'm turning Japanese, I really think so I'm turning Japanese, I think I'm turning Japanese, I really think so Turning Japanese, I think I'm turning Japanese, I really think so No sex, no drugs, no wine, no women No fun, no sin, no you, no wonder it's dark Everyone around me is a total stranger Everyone avoids me like a cyclone ranger Everyone That's why I'm turning Japanese, I think I'm turning Japanese, I really think so Turning Japanese, I think I'm turning Japanese, I really think so I'm turning Japanese, I think I'm turning Japanese, I really think so Turning Japanese, I think I'm turning Japanese, I really think so Turning Japanese, I think I'm turning Japanese, I really think so Turning Japanese, I think I'm turning Japanese, I really think so Turning Japanese, I think I'm turning Japanese, I really think so (Think so think, so think so, think so) Turning Japanese, I think I'm turning Japanese, I really think so
| Week | Chart Date | Position | Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sep 27, 1980 | 86 | 40 |
| 2 | Oct 4, 1980 | 76 | 50 |
| 3 | Oct 11, 1980 | 66 | 60 |
| 4 | Oct 18, 1980 | 56 | 70 |
| 5 | Oct 25, 1980 | 49 | 77 |
| 6 | Nov 1, 1980 | 46 | 80 |
| 7 | Nov 8, 1980 | 42 | 84 |
| 8 | Nov 15, 1980 | 38 | 88 |
| 9 | Nov 22, 1980 | 37 | 89 |
| 10 | Nov 29, 1980 | 36 | 90 |
| 11 | Dec 6, 1980 | 47 | 79 |
| 12 | Dec 13, 1980 | 47 | 79 |
| 13 | Dec 20, 1980 | 65 | 61 |
| 14 | Dec 27, 1980 | 75 | 51 |
| 15 | Jan 3, 1981 | 75 | 51 |
| 16 | Jan 10, 1981 | 75 | 51 |
| 17 | Jan 17, 1981 | 81 | 45 |