Lovers In Japan
From WikiColdplay
Lovers In Japan is a track included on Viva La Vida Or Death And All His Friends and is the fourth single from that album.
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Lovers In Japan (Osaka Sun Mix)
The single version of the song, known as the "Osaka Sun Mix", also features on Coldplay's Prospekt's March EP. On Viva La Vida Or Death And All His Friends, the song is combined with another, separate song, Reign Of Love, in the same track. The only difference between the album version and the Osaka Sun Mix is the inclusion of additional backing vocals by Chris Martin, heard during 1:45 - 1:53, and some different musical arrangements, beginning at the 2:56 mark. Additionally, there is an acoustic version of the song that appears on the Lovers in Japan single, as well as a leaked demo version of the song that is much faster, with some alternative lyrics.
Tracklisting
Promotional CD
- "Lovers in Japan (Osaka Sun Mix)" – 3:57
Release
Coldplay released Lovers In Japan in the US on 4th November 2008 as the fourth single of their fourth album. The song is also featured in the band's Prospekt's March EP from 2008, entitled Lovers in Japan (Osaka Sun Mix), when it was released on 21st November 2008. Chris Martin in discussion about the song, said: "We've been playing it live better than it is on the record. So the live version has informed this Osaka Sun version, which is just a bit more lively."
Lovers In Japan appeared on Billboard's Hot Adult Top 40 Tracks chart in the peak position of 32 on 29 November 2008. The track peaked at number 10 on Billboard's Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles chart. The song appeared in Billboard's Pop 100 chart, in the peak position of 65. Although the song did not chart on the UK Singles Chart, as it was released as a radio-only song in the US, the song peaked at number 41 on the Japan Hot 100 Singles chart.
Reception
Critics were positive towards the song. Alexis Petridis of The Guardian review of the album, wrote: "Chris Martin's melodies ... shine: even his loudest detractor could hardly deny his way with a tune as evidenced here by '42' and 'Lovers in Japan'."
Evan Sawdey of PopMatters noted that the song is "stunning, jaw-dropping highlight". He added that "Martin pounds away at a bouncy toy-piano melody ... leading into a chorus where guitarist Jonny Buckland gets to unleash what might be the catchiest guitar riff he's written... (and yes, he absolutely bathes in the moment)."
Joey Guerra of the Houston Chronicle added that Lovers In Japan was a "joyous, romantic anthem that combines wistful rock riffs and gorgeous piano". He also wrote that the song is one of the disc's best moments. Jed Gottlieb of the Boston Herald reported that the piano sound in Lovers In Japan/Reign Of Love hints at the 1968 song "Lady Madonna" by The Beatles, "before taking a neo-classical, Chopin-does-Britpop route".
Jeff Crawford of the City Messenger wrote, "...Lovers In Japan and Strawberry Swing rank among the band's best work".
Josh Hathaway from The Plain Dealer wrote that Lovers In Japan/Reign Of Love works "in just the opposite direction with 'Lovers' playing like an update of vintage Simple Minds, an almost anthem that never fully takes flight, before giving way to the gentle 'Reign of Love'".
Music video
The first half of the video shows the band playing in a courtyard while each member writes certain words from the lyrics in glowing neon on the screen. During the chorus, the camera spins around in circles to go along with the lines "They are turning my head out". The video ends with butterfly-shaped confetti raining on the band, as happens when each chorus is played at live concerts, along with the words "The End" on the screen behind the band, as they take a bow.
Background
When asked about the development of the song, during a track-by-track reveal, Will Champion said: "We were in a studio in New York, this place called the Magic Shop, and it had this thing called a tack piano there, which sounds like an old honky-tonk piano, where you put little tacks in the hammers, so it sounds like more of a harpsichord almost. And so we wanted to use that kind of sound, but we didn't have a tack piano, so rather than sample it, we went and bought an old piano from the shop up the road from our studio, and we bought a load of tacks, and me and Guy and Jon spent a couple of hours pushing tacks into the piano hammers."
Lovers In Japan is a more upbeat, less dense number that sees Martin feeling less oppressed. Key lyric: "I have no doubt one day the sun will come out."
Entertainment Weekly printed an article on Coldplay and the new album with a new song slant on some of the songs - from the band's perspective. Here is the excerpt of Lovers In Japan: "No one associates romance with Japan," says Martin of the song that most resembles the familiar wistful Coldplay style. "Everyone thinks Japan is just about Hitachi and neon signs, but every time we're there, we see these amazing sunrises. It's very sexy."
On the album, Lovers in Japan shares track #5 with another, seperate song, Reign Of Love.
An acoustic recording of the song was given away exclusively to those who pre-ordered the album through iTunes.
The Oracle on Lovers In Japan
August 30, 2012 - submitted by Jacqueline B , United States of America
Q. Hello Oracle!
Could you confirm for me whether or not part of the Lovers in Japan music video was shot at 33 Portland Place in Marylebone, the same place used in The King's Speech as Lionel's office?
Thanks!
The Oracle replies:
Wow, it's always very impressive when fans spot things that aren't necessarily well-known facts.
Yes, some shots were filmed there as well as some at Alexandra Palace and some at Abbey Mills Pumping Station.
February 22, 2012 - submitted by Logan, United States of America
Q. Dear Oracle,
I am very excited about going to another Coldplay concert this summer. I have seen some of their performances online and have wondered why they haven't played Lovers in Japan. In my opinion it is one of their best songs performed live. Is there any chance they will add it to their set list when they start their tour back up?
The Oracle replies:
Lovers In Japan has been played live so many times as it was part of the Viva tour setlist. It's not on the current MX one though so enjoy these clips to your heart's content.
June 13, 2011 - submitted by Kevin, Singapore
Q. Dear Oracle,
I've noticed that Coldplay have not performed what in my opinion is one of their best live songs, Lovers in Japan, for their past few gigs (eg. Rock am Ring, Pinkpop), so I was just wondering, is it coz there can no longer be the massive rain of paper butterflies onto the audience anymore since they're playing open-air festivals now, so they decided to cut the song from their set list? Please bring the song back Coldplay, I absolutely love it!
The Oracle replies:
I'm assuming that you watched clips online because there IS confetti on the festival tour. I won't say which song in case it spoils it for others who are going to see them.
Also, just to point out that Lovers in Japan obviously isn't dependant on a confetti drop; I mean it could still be played without confetti!
If my memory serves me correctly, during the first Viva dates there was no confetti during the song but Viva la Vida had red, white and blue confetti.
March 30, 2011 - submitted by Helene, Norway
Q. Dear Oracle,
Is there any place where I can buy the acoustic version of Lovers in Japan? I'd never download anything from a band that I adore as much as Coldplay without actually paying for it first.
Thanks in advance!
Best wishes from Norway.
The Oracle replies:
The acoustic version was a bonus track on the pre-ordered Viva album via iTunes, in fact there was only ever a digital version. Unfortunately that also means it was only available for a limited period of time.
It popped up on my iPod's shuffle the other day and I myself wondered how I'd come by it.
March 25, 2009 - submitted by Katie, United States of America
Q. I am getting married in September, and I really want to walk down the aisle to Reign of Love just the piano version, do you know where I can buy that? And if I could get also Lovers in Japan just the piano version?
The Oracle replies:
I'm afraid there are no instrumental versions of those songs. Another option would be to get someone to play the music live on the day or pre-record it. As there's also no official songbook for the latest album that might be easier said than done. Unless you rely on the Internet for unofficial music scores, there's nothing else I can suggest. God luck for the big day!
Lyrics
Lovers Keep on the road you're on Runners Until the race is run Soldiers You've got to soldier on Sometimes Even the right is wrong They are turning my head out To see what I'm all about Keeping my head down To see what it feels like now But I have no doubt One day we're gonna get out Tonight Maybe we're gonna run Dreaming Of the Osaka sun Ohhhh Ohh, ohh Dreaming Of when the morning comes They are turning my head out To see what I'm all about Keeping my head down To see what it feels like now But I have no doubt One day the sun will come out...
| Violet Hill | Viva La Vida | Lost! | Lovers In Japan | Life In Technicolor ii | Strawberry Swing |
| Life In Technicolor | Cemeteries Of London | 42 | Reign Of Love | Yes | Chinese Sleep Chant | Death And All His Friends | The Escapist |
| Postcards From Far Away | Glass Of Water | Rainy Day | Prospekt's March/Poppyfields | Now My Feet Won't Touch The Ground |
| B-Sides/Other Releases |
| A Spell A Rebel Yell | Death Will Never Conquer | The Goldrush | Lhuna (ft. Kylie Minogue) |
| Unreleased Songs |
| LeftRightLeftRightLeft | Famous Old Painters | Lukas | School | The Dubliners |
