Big in Japan (Alphaville song)

"Big in Japan"
Single by Alphaville
from the album Forever Young
B-side "Seeds"
Released 1984
Format
Genre Synthpop[1]
Length
  • 3:52 (single edit)
  • 4:43 (album version)
Label WEA
Writer(s)
Producer(s) Orlando
Certification Gold (BVMI)
Alphaville singles chronology
"Big in Japan"
(1984)		 "Sounds Like a Melody"
(1984)
Music video
"Big in Japan" on YouTube

"Big in Japan" is the debut single of the German band Alphaville. It is from their 1984 album Forever Young.

The single was a great success in many countries, including Switzerland, Germany and Sweden. It was also the group's only UK hit, getting to No. 8 on the UK Singles chart. The song also reached number one on the Hot Dance Club Play in December 1984.

Song and video information

The title comes from a phrase Big in Japan, which was used to describe Western bands who are popular with Japanese audiences while garnering little attention in their home country.

In 1986, Marian Gold recalled that "I bought an album of an unknown British band named Big in Japan. As you know, there's a considerable musical market in Japan. If you wanted to become famous, what you should do was to form a hard rock group and then release an album over there; it would definitely sell well... so the story went ... The statement fitted well to my storyline about a couple of drug addicted lovers and moreover provided the title for the prospective song."[2]

The video was directed by Yello's Dieter Meier.

Original 1984 release

Track listings

7" single
  1. "Big in Japan" (7" Version) – 3:52
  2. "Seeds" – 3:15
12" maxi
  1. "Big in Japan" (7" Version) – 3:52
  2. "Seeds" – 3:15
12" maxi Germany & France WEA 249417-0
  1. "Big in Japan" (Extended Remix) – 7:25
  2. "Big in Japan" (Extended Instrumental) – 6:10
12" maxi US WEA 0-86947
  1. "Big in Japan" (Extended Vocal) – 7:25
  2. "Big in Japan" (Instrumental Version) – 6:10
  3. "Big in Japan" (7" Version) – 3:58

Other Alphaville versions and releases

Charts and sales

Weekly charts

Chart (1984) Peak
position
Australia (Kent Music Report)[3] 67
Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[4] 4
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[5] 2
Canada Top Singles (RPM)[6] 67
Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)[7] 1
France (SNEP)[8] 13
Germany (Official German Charts)[9] 1
Ireland (IRMA)[10] 4
Italy (FIMI)[11] 3
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[12] 2
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[13] 5
Norway (VG-lista)[14] 3
South Africa (Springbok Radio)[15] 5
Spain (AFYVE)[16] 2
Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[17] 1
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[18] 1
UK Singles (Official Charts Company)[19] 8
US Billboard Hot 100[20] 66
US Billboard Hot Dance Club Play[20] 1
Chart (2016) Peak
position
Poland (Polish Airplay Top 100)[21] 81

Year-end charts

Chart (1984) Rank
Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[22] 26
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[23] 27
France (SNEP)[24] 43
Italy (FIMI)[11] 27
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[25] 35
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[26] 42
South Africa (Springbok Radio)[27] 20
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[28] 2

Sales and certifications

Region Certification Certified units/Sales
France 321,000[29]
Germany (BVMI)[30] Gold 250,000^

^shipments figures based on certification alone

1992 Re-release

"Big in Japan 1992 A.D."

Big in Japan 1992 A.D. CD cover

Big in Japan 1992 A.D. CD cover
Single by Alphaville
A-side Big in Japan 1992 A.D.
Released 1992
Format CD
Label Warner Music
Writer(s)
Alphaville singles chronology
"The Mysteries of Love"
(1990)		 "Big in Japan 1992 A.D."
(1992)		 "Fools"
(1994)
Marian Gold singles chronology
"Big in Japan 1992 A.D."
(1992)		 "And I Wonder"
(1992)
"Swemix Remix" Single Cover

Alphaville re-released the song, with new remixes, in 1992 to coincide with the release of their compilation album First Harvest 1984–92.

Track listings

EU CD single "Big in Japan 1992 A.D."
  1. "Big in Japan 1992 A.D. Freedom Mix (Single Edit)" – 3:14
  2. "Big in Japan The Mix (Single Edit)" – 4:14
  3. "Big in Japan 1992 A.D. Freedom Mix (Extended Version)" – 4:51
  4. "Big in Japan The Mix (Extended Version)" – 6:05
EU CD single "Big in Japan Swemix Remix"
  1. "Big in Japan (Swemix Remix 7")" – 3:57
  2. "Big in Japan (Swemix Remix 12")" – 8:27
  3. "Big in Japan (Swemix DUB)" – 6:44
EU 12" vinyl single "Big in Japan 1992 A.D."
  1. "Big in Japan 1992 A.D. Freedom Mix (Extended Version)" – 4:51
  2. "Big in Japan 1992 A.D. Freedom Dub" – 4:56
  3. "Big in Japan The Mix (Extended Version)" – 6:05

Charts

"Big in Japan 1992 AD" reached number two in Finland and number 15 in Sweden.[31]

Guano Apes version

"Big in Japan"
Single by Guano Apes
from the album Don't Give Me Names
B-side
  • "I Want It"
  • "Gogan"
  • "La Noix"
Released 2000
Format CD single
Length 2:49
Label Supersonic
Producer(s)
  • Guano Apes
  • Wolfgang Stach
  • Fabio Trentini
Guano Apes singles chronology
"Don't You Turn Your Back on Me"
(1999)		 "Big in Japan"
(2000)		 "No Speech"
(2000)

In 2000, Guano Apes released a cover version as their lead single for their second album Don't Give Me Names[32] on 12 April 2000. The music video shows the band performing in an empty arena, followed by a fan trying to locate the band.

Track listing

CD single

  1. Big In Japan – 2:49
  2. Gogan – 2:47
  3. I Want It – 3:17

7" single

  1. Big In Japan – 2:48
  2. I Want It – 3:15

Maxi single

  1. Big In Japan – 2:49
  2. Gogan – 2:47
  3. I Want It – 3:17
  4. La Noix – 2:19
  5. Big In Japan (Space Jazz Dubmen Mix) – 4:32

Charts

Chart (2000) Peak
position
Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[33] 19
Belgium (Ultratip Flanders)[34] 4
Germany (Official German Charts)[35] 9
Italy (FIMI)[36] 5
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[37] 82
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[32] 24

Sandra version

"Japan Ist Weit"
Single by Sandra
B-side "Sekunden"
Released 1984
Format
Length 3:51
Label Virgin
Producer(s) Michael Cretu
Sandra singles chronology
"Andy mein Freund"
(1976)		 "Japan Ist Weit"
(1985)		 "(I'll Never Be) Maria Magdalena
(1985)

"Big in Japan" was covered by German singer Sandra in 1984. She sang the song in German, as "Japan ist weit". The song was produced by her future husband Michael Cretu and was Sandra's first try as a solo artist after she separated from the trio Arabesque. The song was not successful, as only 125 copies were sold.[38]

Other versions

See also

References

  1. ↑ Mason, Stewart. "Big in Japan – Song Review". AllMusic. All Media Network. Retrieved 26 June 2013.
  2. ↑ so80s presents Alphaville (CD liner notes). Alphaville. Blank & Jones (So 80s). 2014. SC0344.
  3. ↑ "Forum – ARIA Charts: Special Occasion Charts – CHART POSITIONS PRE 1989". Australian-charts.com. Hung Medien. Retrieved 22 July 2013.
  4. ↑ "Austriancharts.at – Alphaville – Big In Japan" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved 20 July 2013.
  5. ↑ "Ultratop.be – Alphaville – Big In Japan" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 20 July 2013.
  6. ↑ "Top RPM Singles: Issue 6792." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 4 June 2013.
  7. ↑ MusicSeek.info – UK, Eurochart, Billboard & Cashbox No.1 Hits at the Wayback Machine (archived 14 June 2006). MusicSeek.info.
  8. ↑ "Lescharts.com – Alphaville – Big In Japan" (in French). Les classement single. Retrieved 20 July 2013.
  9. ↑ "Offiziellecharts.de – Alphaville – Big In Japan". GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved 20 July 2013.
  10. ↑ "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Big In Japan". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 20 July 2013.
  11. 1 2 "I singoli più venduti del 1984" (in Italian). Hit Parade Italia. Creative Commons. Retrieved 20 July 2013.
  12. ↑ "Nederlandse Top 40 – Alphaville - Big In Japan search results" (in Dutch) Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 20 July 2013.
  13. ↑ "Dutchcharts.nl – Alphaville – Big In Japan" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 20 July 2013.
  14. ↑ "Norwegiancharts.com – Alphaville – Big In Japan". VG-lista. Retrieved 20 July 2013.
  15. ↑ "South African Rock Lists Website SA Charts 1969 – 1989 Acts (A)". Rock.co.za. Retrieved 20 July 2013.
  16. ↑ Salaverri, Fernando (September 2005). Sólo éxitos: año a año, 1959–2002 (in Spanish) (1st ed.). Spain: Fundación Autor-SGAE. ISBN 84-8048-639-2.
  17. ↑ "Swedishcharts.com – Alphaville – Big In Japan". Singles Top 100. Retrieved 20 July 2013.
  18. ↑ "Swisscharts.com – Alphaville – Big In Japan". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved 20 July 2013.
  19. ↑ "Archive Chart: 1984-09-22" UK Singles Chart. Retrieved 22 July 2013.
  20. 1 2 "Alphaville – Awards". AllMusic. All Media Network. Retrieved 20 July 2013.
  21. ↑ "Listy bestsellerów, wyróżnienia :: Związek Producentów Audio-Video". Polish Airplay Top 100. Retrieved 14 November 2016.
  22. ↑ "Jahreshitparade 1984" (in German). Austriancharts.at. Hung Medien. Retrieved 1 February 2014.
  23. ↑ "Jaaroverzichten 1984" (in Dutch). Ultratop. Hung Medien. Retrieved 1 February 2014.
  24. ↑ "TOP – 1984" (in French). Top-france.fr. Retrieved 1 February 2014.
  25. ↑ "Top 100-Jaaroverzicht van 1984" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 13 May 2016.
  26. ↑ "Jaaroverzichten – Single 1984" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Hung Medien. Retrieved 1 February 2014.
  27. ↑ "Top 20 Hit Singles of 1984". Rock.co.za. Retrieved 1 February 2014.
  28. ↑ "Schweizer Jahreshitparade 1984" (in German). Hitparade.ch. Hung Medien. Retrieved 20 July 2013.
  29. ↑ "Les Meilleures Ventes "Tout Temps" de 45 T. / Singles / Téléchargement" (in French). InfoDisc. Retrieved 13 May 2016.
  30. ↑ "Gold-/Platin-Datenbank (Alphaville; 'Big in Japan')" (in German). Bundesverband Musikindustrie.
  31. ↑ "swedishcharts.com – Alphaville – Big In Japan 1992 A.D.". Swedishcharts.com. Hung Medien. Retrieved 20 July 2013.
  32. 1 2 "Swisscharts.com – Guano Apes – Big in Japan". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved 20 July 2013.
  33. ↑ "Austriancharts.at – Guano Apes – Big in Japan" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved 20 July 2013.
  34. ↑ "Ultratop.be – Guano Apes – Big in Japan" (in Dutch). Ultratip. Retrieved 20 July 2013.
  35. ↑ "Offiziellecharts.de – Guano Apes – Big in Japan". GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved 20 July 2013.
  36. ↑ "Italiancharts.com – Guano Apes – Big in Japan". Top Digital Download. Retrieved 20 July 2013.
  37. ↑ "Dutchcharts.nl – Guano Apes – Big in Japan" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 20 July 2013.
  38. ↑ Japan Ist Weit at the Wayback Machine (archived 3 March 2016). Sandra-cretu.narod.ru.
  39. ↑ (Hungarian) Hirado.hu – Tarol a Bikicsunáj! at the Wayback Machine (archived 10 May 2010). Hirado.hu. 7 May 2010.
  40. ↑ Megasztár 5 – "bikicsunáj" felirattal. YouTube. 2 May 2010. Retrieved 4 January 2012.

External links

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