Peak
66
Weeks
10
Score
530
Chart Year
1985
///
The title of the song is kind of a joke. Many rock bands that are well past their prime continue to be "Big in Japan" long after they cannot draw a large audience in the UK or US. The movie Spinal Tap also made fun of this phenomenon, as the band had a hit single in Japan just as they appeared to be washed up. >> In a 1998 interview with the German online magazine Re.flexion, Alphaville lead signer Marian Gold explained: "I must admit the only ones who understood the meaning of the song correctly were Bernhard (Lloyd) and our then publisher Andy Budde. Bernhard recognized the quality of the song and Andy the ability of its marketing." "'Big In Japan' tells about a couple of lovers trying to get off Heroin. They both imagine how great it would be to love without the drug: no steal, no clients, no ice age in the pupil, real emotions, true worlds. Till nowadays Berlin station Zoo is an important meeting place for junkies. That's why this place became a venue of the song." "In 1977 I was quite regular in a club in Kreuzberg, the SO36. I hoped to meet David Bowie. There was the rumor he would be in Berlin for withdrawal treatment in that period. There was a fellow, who sold stuff of independent bands from US and UK. I bought the album of a British band named Big In Japan. "Big in Japan" meant so much as if you are nothing in your environs, you can be big somewhere else. You can be a king in another world. And if you aren't that, you can tell it at home. Japan is so far away. Anyway that statement fit perfectly to the story of the couple of lovers. So I used it for the refrain of the song." "It was strange: as we released the song later, Frankie Goes To Hollywood was the #1 in the charts with "Relax" and we needed some weeks to edge them out. And Holly Johnson, the singer of the band, was the singer of this band "Big in Japan," who I stole the line some years ago, before he came to Frankie Goes To Hollywood."
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, I see 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 Oh, when you're big in Japan, tonight Big in Japan, be tight Big in Japan, ooh, the eastern sea's so blue Big in Japan, alright Pay, then I'll sleep by your side Things are easy when you're big in Japan Oh, 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 I see Things will happen while they can I will wait here for my man, tonight It's easy when you're big in Japan Oh, when you're big in Japan, tonight Big in Japan, be tight Big in Japan, ooh, the eastern sea's so blue Big in Japan, alright Pay, then I'll sleep by your side Things are easy when you're big in Japan Oh, when you're big in Japan Oh, when you're big in Japan, tonight Big in Japan, be tight Big in Japan, ooh, the eastern sea's so blue Big in Japan, alright Pay, then I'll sleep by your side Things are easy when you're big in Japan Oh, when you're big in Japan Tonight Big in Japan, be tight Big in Japan, ooh, the eastern sea's so blue Big in Japan, alright Pay, then I'll sleep by your side Things are easy when you're big in Japan Oh, when you're big in Japan
| Week | Chart Date | Position | Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Nov 24, 1984 | 90 | 36 |
| 2 | Dec 1, 1984 | 85 | 41 |
| 3 | Dec 8, 1984 | 80 | 46 |
| 4 | Dec 15, 1984 | 76 | 50 |
| 5 | Dec 22, 1984 | 71 | 55 |
| 6 | Dec 29, 1984 | 71 | 55 |
| 7 | Jan 5, 1985 | 68 | 58 |
| 8 | Jan 12, 1985 | 66 | 60 |
| 9 | Jan 19, 1985 | 66 | 60 |
| 10 | Jan 26, 1985 | 92 | 34 |