Ghosts (Japan song)
Encyclopedia
"Ghosts" was a single by the British band Japan
from the 1981 album Tin Drum
. It reached number five in the UK Singles Chart
in 1982. Although it was their biggest hit, this was not enough to stop the band splitting a few months later.
Bereft of drums, the minimalist track would not be described as a "commercially viable" single in most circumstances. However, Japan's popularity at the time, in addition to the early 1980s fashion for New Wave music
, allowed the single to become unexpectedly popular.
In 2000 David Sylvian
re-recorded "Ghosts" using the original Japan backing track and included it on his compilation Everything and Nothing
.
Side A:
Side B:
.
The song was played in episode six in the BBC
series of Ashes to Ashes
, a spin-off of Life on Mars
, and, since April 2008, it has been used in the trailers for another BBC series, Waking the Dead
.
Deftones
covered this song as an iTunes
exclusive for their album "Diamond Eyes
".
Japan (band)
Japan were a British New Wave group, formed in 1974 in Catford, South London. The band achieved success in the late 1970s and early 1980s, when they were often associated with the burgeoning New Romantic fashion movement .- History :The band began as a group of friends...
from the 1981 album Tin Drum
Tin Drum
Tin Drum is the fifth and final studio album produced by the British band Japan. Released in the U.K. in November 1981, the album continued their now developed use of electronic elements coupled with traditional instrumentation, but leans far more towards far-eastern influences than any of their...
. It reached number five in the UK Singles Chart
UK Singles Chart
The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ...
in 1982. Although it was their biggest hit, this was not enough to stop the band splitting a few months later.
Bereft of drums, the minimalist track would not be described as a "commercially viable" single in most circumstances. However, Japan's popularity at the time, in addition to the early 1980s fashion for New Wave music
New Wave music
New Wave is a subgenre of :rock music that emerged in the mid to late 1970s alongside punk rock. The term at first generally was synonymous with punk rock before being considered a genre in its own right that incorporated aspects of electronic and experimental music, mod subculture, disco and 1960s...
, allowed the single to become unexpectedly popular.
In 2000 David Sylvian
David Sylvian
David Sylvian is an English singer-songwriter and musician who came to prominence in the late 1970s as the lead vocalist and main songwriter in the group Japan...
re-recorded "Ghosts" using the original Japan backing track and included it on his compilation Everything and Nothing
Everything and Nothing
Everything and Nothing is a compilation album by David Sylvian. Released in October 2000, the album touches on music from Sylvian's twenty years with Virgin Records.It was released in two versions...
.
Track listings
- 7" VS472, 7" picture disc VSY72, 12" VS47212
Side A:
- "Ghosts" (single mix) - 3:55
Side B:
- "The Art of Parties" ("Version" - live) - 5:18
Trivia
A cover of Ghosts is available on the song list for the dance game DDRMAX: Dance Dance Revolution 6thMIXDDRMAX: Dance Dance Revolution 6thMIX
DDRMAX Dance Dance Revolution 6thMix is the 6th game in the Dance Dance Revolution series of music video games. It was released in the arcades by Konami on October 19, 2001. Although only officially released in Japan, units exist worldwide. 6thMix contains a total of 42 songs, 36 of which are new...
.
The song was played in episode six in the BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
series of Ashes to Ashes
Ashes to Ashes (TV series)
Ashes to Ashes is a British science fiction and police procedural drama television series, serving as the sequel to Life on Mars.The series began airing on BBC One in February 2008. A second series began broadcasting in April 2009...
, a spin-off of Life on Mars
Life on Mars (TV series)
Life on Mars is a British television series broadcast on BBC One between January 2006 and April 2007. The series combines elements of science fiction and police procedural....
, and, since April 2008, it has been used in the trailers for another BBC series, Waking the Dead
Waking the Dead (TV series)
Waking the Dead is a British television police procedural crime drama series produced by the BBC featuring a fictional Cold Case Unit comprising CID police officers, a psychological profiler and a forensic scientist. A pilot episode aired in September 2000 and there have been a total of nine series...
.
Deftones
Deftones
Deftones are an American alternative metal band from Sacramento, California, founded in 1988. The band consists of Chino Moreno , Stephen Carpenter , Chi Cheng , Frank Delgado , and Abe Cunningham . Currently Sergio Vega is standing in on bass while Cheng recovers from a car accident...
covered this song as an iTunes
ITunes
iTunes is a media player computer program, used for playing, downloading, and organizing digital music and video files on desktop computers. It can also manage contents on iPod, iPhone, iPod Touch and iPad....
exclusive for their album "Diamond Eyes
Diamond Eyes
Diamond Eyes is the sixth album by American Alternative metal band Deftones, released worldwide on May 4, 2010 through Warner Bros. and Reprise Records...
".