“Turning Japanese” by The Vapors

"Turning Japanese" is the song the Vapors will always be known for, an international hit from their 1980 album New Clear Days on United Artists, and it hangs on one thing above all: a jagged, instantly recognizable Oriental-style guitar riff that hooks you in the first seconds and never lets go.

David Fenton composed it and sings it, playing guitar alongside Edward Bazalgette, while Steve Smith's electric bass and Howard Smith's drums keep it tight and twitchy. Vic Coppersmith-Heaven produced, and he keeps the sound lean and wired, all nervous energy and sharp edges, an English band at its most fidgety and tuneful. Fenton's vocal climbs from a mutter to a yelp, the band bashes the chorus home, and it's over before you've figured out quite what hit you. Few bands get a song this catchy; the Vapors got one, and it's been their calling card ever since.

Written with AI assistance from RockLists chart data, MusicBrainz and Wikipedia.