Turning Japanese

DanAmrich@aol.com

===============================================

TURNING JAPANESE

as recorded by The Vapors

Entry Date: November 15, 1980

Highest Chart Position: #36 (US)

Weeks On Chart: 3

For you early 80s buffs (like myself), here's a little one-hit

wonder from our youth. The song is currently available on EMI's

"Living In Oblivion: The Best of the 80's Volume One" and

Priority Records' "Rock of the 80s Volume 3." Enjoy!

--DanAmrich@aol.com

FOR ONE GUITAR

The opening starts with a teriyaki-flavored riff like so:

E --15-15-15-15-13-13-10-10-13---15-15-15-15-13-13-10-10-13------

B --15-15-15-15-13-13-10-10-13---15-15-15-15-13-13-10-10-13------

G ---------------------------------------------------------------

D ---------------------------------------------------------------

A ---------------------------------------------------------------

E ---------------------------------------------------------------

The bass can either double the high-E string line on its low E at

the 15h fret, or better yet, detune the bass' E to D and play:

E(D) ---5--5--5--5--3--3--0--0--3--------------------------------

The verse riff is as follows (don't forget the nice rhythmic

stops in here, 'cause that's what gives the song that "hook"):

E ---------------------------------------------------------------

B --12-12--------13-12-------------------------------------------

G --12-12--------------12----14-14-------------------------------

D --12-12--12-12-------------14-14-----12-13-14------------------

A --10-10--------------------14-14--14---------------------------

E ---------------------------12-12-------------------------------

This is the main riff and gets played under the "I've got your

picture" lyrics, until "I sit there starin' and there's nothing

else to do" which features this:

E ----------------------------------

B --2-----5--7----------------------

G --2-----5--7----------------------

D --2-----5--7----------------------

A --0-----3--5----------------------

E ----------------------------------

I see you star-in' and there's noth-ing I can do

Next time around (after "I often kiss you when there's no one

else around"), this is added:

E --------------------------------------------------------------

B --2----5--7---------------------------------------------------

G --2----5--7------5--9--7--5--5--9--9--7--7--------------------

D --2----5--7---5--5--9--7--5--5--9--9--7--7--------------------

A --0----3--5---5--3--7--5--3--3--7--7--5--5--------------------

E --------------3-----------------------------------------------

E --------------------------------------------------------------

B --12-12-12----------------------------------------------------

G --12-12-12---5--9--7--5--5--9--7--------------7-7-7-7-5-5-2-5-

D --12-12-12---5--9--7--5--5--9--7--------------7-7-7-7-5-5-2-5-

A --10-10-10---3--7--5--3--3--7--5--------------5-5-5-5-3-3-0-3-

E --------------------------------------------------------------

..and back into the main riff. Granted, that jump to the barred

G at the 10th fret is a big one, but that's how it is on the

record, and with a little practice, it can be done. If you have

trouble, or if you wanna squeeze a second guitar in there, play

that G as a power chord on the 3rd fret instead of/in addition to

the 10th barre.

For the refrain, play this:

E ---------------------------------------------------------------

B --12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12--------------

G --12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12--------------

D --12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12--------------

A --10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10--------------

E ---------------------------------------------------------------

Turning Japanese... ...I really

E ---------------------------------------------------------------

B ---------------------------------------------------------------

G --12----12-----------------------------------------------------

D --12----12-----------12-10-9-----------------------------------

A --12----12------9-12---------12--------------------------------

E --10----10---10------------------------------------------------

think so...

E --------------------------------------------------------------

B --10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-------------

G --10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-------------

D --10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-------------

A ---8--8--8--8--8--8--8--8--8--8--8--8--8--8--8--8-------------

E --------------------------------------------------------------

Turning Japanese... ...I really

E --------------------------------------------------------------

B --------------------------------------------------------------

G --10----10----------------------------------------------------

D --10----10------------10-9-7----------------------------------

A --10----10------7-10---------10-------------------------------

E ---8-----8----8-----------------------------------------------

think so...

Play that twice, then this:

E --------------------------------------------------------------

B ----(a quick down/up/down strum)------------------------------

G --------------------------------------5--9--7--5--5--9--7-----

D ---5-5-5--4-4-4--3-3-3--4-4-4--5-5-5--5--9--7--5--5--9--7-----

A ---5-5-5--4-4-4--3-3-3--4-4-4--5-5-5--3--7--5--3--3--7--5-----

E ---3-3-3--2-2-2--1-1-1--2-2-2--3-3-3--------------------------

E --------------------------------------------------------

B --------------------------------------------------------

G ------------------------7--7--7--7--5--5--2--5----------

D ------------------------7--7--7--7--5--5--2--5----------

A ------------------------5--5--5--5--3--3--0--3----------

E --------------------------------------------------------

I've got your...

The bridge after the second verse ("No sex, no drugs, etc") is

basically the same chord structure as the main riff, with a

rhythm change. The drum beat (hi-hat, actually) is on

"sex...drugs...wine...women" but the chord is played with

upstrokes on the word "no."

E ---------------------------------------------------------------

B -----------12--------12-------12-------------------------------

G -----------12--------12-------12-------------------------------

D -----------12--------12-------12-------------------------------

A -----------10--------10-------10-------------------------------

E ---------------------------------------------------------------

No sex, no drugs, no wine, no women...

Follow the same G - D - F - C chord pattern with that new rhythm

up to "everyone..." Then kick into the refrain and leave out the

full D and C riffs -- that space is taken up by the keyboard

chime sounds. You can throw in harmonics to fill the keyboard

gap, if you like. Over the "space" of the D, the following works

kinda nice:

D (Natural Harmonics)

E --------------------------------------------------------------

B -----------------------7--------------------------------------

G --10--10------------7-----7-----------------------------------

D --10--10-----12--7-----------7-------12-----------------------

A --10--10-------------------------12---------------------------

E ---8---8------------------------------------------------------

think so Turning Japanese...

I haven't found any harmonics that sound nice over the C chord,

but a pickslide will do in the meantime. Those of you with

tremelo prowess might want to divebomb on an F chord there. Just

a thought.

The solo is a little tricky at first, but worth it when executed

properly. It's played over the refrain riff.

E --12--10--12--10---7--10---7--7--5--5--3--5-------------------

B --12--10--12--10---8--10---8--8--7--7--5--7-------------------

G --------------------------------------------------------------

D --------------------------------------------------------------

A --------------------------------------------------------------

E --------------------------------------------------------------

E --5--3--5--3---0--3-------------------------------------------

B --6--5--6--5---1--5----1--3--5--7--8--10--12------------------

G --------------------------------------------------------------

D --------------------------------------------------------------

A --------------------------------------------------------------

E --------------------------------------------------------------

It's repeated twice, then back into the original refrain. It

sneaks in one more time near the end of the song; you'll hear it.

The end of the song is a variant of the riff after the 1st

refrain with a mega-cold ending:

E --------------------------------------------------------------

B ----(a quick down/up/down strum)------------------------------

G --------------------------------------------------------------

D ---5-5-5--4-4-4--3-3-3--4-4-4--5-5-5--4-4-4--3-3-3-3----------

A ---5-5-5--4-4-4--3-3-3--4-4-4--5-5-5--4-4-4--3-3-3-3----------

E ---3-3-3--2-2-2--1-1-1--2-2-2--3-3-3--2-2-2--1-1-1-1----------

FOR TWO GUITARS

The whole song is actally done by TWO guitars (you can tell

because they're stereo panned left and right) so the above

arrangement is correct for ONE guitar. A more accurate

transcription for two guitars (if you really want it) is:

E --15-15-15-15-13-13-10-10-13---15-15-15-15-13-13-10-10-13------

B --------------------------------------------------(Guitar One)

G ---------------------------------------------------------------

D --12-12-12-12-10-10--7--7-10---12-12-12-12-10-10--7--7-10------

A --------------------------------------------------(Guitar Two)-

E ---------------------------------------------------------------

The second guitar (left channel) basically reinforces the riff

guitar by playing the same structure with power chords, or barre

chords with all downstrokes, all an octave or two lower, so it

sounds very aggressive.

The "lead" guitar can do this at the end:

E --------------------------------------------------------------

B --------------------------------------------------------------

G -------12--11--10--11--12--11--10-10-10-10--------------------

D --------------------------------------------------------------

A --------------------------------------------------------------

E --------------------------------------------------------------

Other than playing the rhythm part under the solo, that, just

split up the one-guitar transcription as you see fit, really.

THE LYRICS

V1

I've got your picture

Of me and you

You wrote "I love you"

I love you too

I sit there staring and there's nothing else to do

V2

Oh it's in color

Your hair is brown

Your eyes are hazel

And soft as clouds

I often kiss you when there's no one else around

V3

I've got your picture, I've got your picture

I'd like a million of you over myself

I asked the doctor to take your picture

So I can look at you from inside as well

You've got me turning up and turning down and turning in and

turning 'round

REFRAIN

I'm turning Japanese I think I'm turning Japanese I really think

so

Turning Japanese I think I'm turning Japanese I really think so

I'm turning Japanese I think I'm turning Japanese I really think

so

Turning Japanese I think I'm turning Japanese I really think so

V3

I've got your picture, I've got your picture

I'd like a million of them over myself

I want the doctor to take your picture

So I can look at you from inside as well

You've got me turning up and turning down and turning in and

turning 'round

REFRAIN

I'm turning Japanese I think I'm turning Japanese I really think

so

Turning Japanese I think I'm turning Japanese I really think so

I'm turning Japanese I think I'm turning Japanese I really think

so

Turning Japanese I think I'm turning Japanese I really think so

No sex, no drugs, no wine, no women

No fun, no sin, no you, no wonder it's dark

Everyone around me is a total stranger

Everyone avoids me like a cyclone ranger

Everyone

REFRAIN

That's why I'm turning Japanese I think I'm turning Japanese I

really think so

Turning Japanese I think I'm turning Japanese I really think so

I'm turning Japanese I think I'm turning Japanese I really think

so

Turning Japanese I think I'm turning Japanese I really think so

GUITAR SOLO

REFRAIN

Turning Japanese I think I'm turning Japanese I really think so

Turning Japanese I think I'm turning Japanese I really think so

Turning Japanese I think I'm turning Japanese I really think so

(think so think so think so)

Turning Japanese I think I'm turning Japanese I really think so

So in short, it's a song about a guy who's obsessed with a

woman's photo and, like the Japanese tourist stereotype, wants to

take lots of pictures of her. That's all. The 80s weren't too

heavy on lyrics. :)

From: Gary Chapman <scary@zikzak.apana.org.au>

Turning Japanese - The Vapors - transcribed by Gary Chapman

=============================

/ = slide

x = hit strings percussively

~ = vibrato

--

Guitar 1 = RHS

Guitar 2 = LHS

Guitar 1

E --15-15-15-15-13--13----------13------15-15-15-15-13--13----------13--------

B ----------------------15--15------------------------------15--15------------

G ----------------------------------------------------------------------------

D ----------------------------------------------------------------------------

A ----------------------------------------------------------------------------

E ----------------------------------------------------------------------------

Guitar 2

E ----------------------------------------------------------------------------

B --8--8--8--8--6---6-----------6-------8--8--8--8--6---6-----------6---------

G --7--7--7--7--5---5---7---7---5-------7--7--7--7--5---5---7---7---5---------

D ----------------------7---7-------------------------------7---7-------------

A ----------------------------------------------------------------------------

E ----------------------------------------------------------------------------

Pre-verse:

Guitar 1 A C D

E ------------------8-7----------------------------------- r --------------

B ----8---8-------------8--------------------------------- e ------------3-

G ----7-x-7---7--7-----------------9---9---------7-8-9---- p --2----0----2-

D ----5-x--------------------------9-x-9------9----------- e --2----2----0-

A ---------------------------------7-x-7------------------ a --0--xx3--xx0-

E -------------------------------------------------------- t --------------

Guitar 2

E -------------------------------------------------------- r --------------

B -------------------------------------------------------- e ------------3-

G -------------------------------------------------------- p --2----0----2-

D -----5------5------5------5------2------2------2------2- e --2----2----0-

A --------------------------5\---------------------------- a --0--xx3--xx0-

E --3------3------3------3----000------0------0------0---- t --------------

Guitar 1: rhythm same as pre-verse.

Guitar 2: I've split the notes into groups for ease of reading.

E ------------------------------------------------------------------------

B ------------------------------------------------------------------------

G ------------------------------------------------------------------------

D ------------------------------------------------------------------------

A ------------------------------------------------------------------------

E -3-3-3-3--3-3-3-3--3-3-3-3--3-3-3-330-0-0-0--0-0-0-0--0-0-0-0--0-0-0-00-

Verse 1:

I got your picture, of me and you.

You wrote "I love you". I wrote "me too".

I sit and stare at it there's nothing I can do.

Oh it's in colour. Your hair is brown.

Your eyes are hazel. And soft as clouds.

I often kiss you when there's no-one else around.

E --3-------------------------------------------------------------

B --3-----------------------------------------------------------7-

G --4---5---9---7--5---5---9--9\7--7/12--------9---7--5---5---9\7-

D --5---5---9---7--5---5---9--9\7--7/12---10---9---7--5---5---9\7-

A --5---3---7---5--3---3---7--7\5--5/10---10---7---5--3---3---7\5-

E --3-------------------------------------8-----------------------

E ------------------------

B ------------------------

G --7-7-7-7-5--5--------5-

D --7-7-7-7-5--5--7--7--5-

A ----------------7--7----

E ------------------------

Verse 2:

I've got your picture, I've got your picture.

I'd like a million of you over my cell.

I want a doctor to take a picture,

so I can look at you from inside as well.

You got me turning up, I'm turning down, I'm turning in, I'm turning 'round,

Lick 1 (Both guitars) Lick 2 (Both guitars)

E ----------------------------- ---------------------------

B ----------------------------- ---------------------------

G ---------7---5---4---2---/5-- -------5---4---2---0---/4--

D -----4-7--------------------- ---2-5---------------------

A ---5------------------------- -3-------------------------

E ----------------------------- ---------------------------

I'm turning Japanese, I think I'm turning Japanese,

D (Lick 1)

I really think so.

Turning Japanese, I think I'm turning Japanese,

C (Lick 2)

I really think so.

(repeat)

E ------------------------------3--------------------------

B ------------------------------3--------------------------

G ------------------------------4---5---9---7--5---5---9\7-

D --5------4------3------4------5---5---9---7--5---5---9\7-

A --5------4------3------4------5---3---7---5--3---3---7\5-

E --3--3-3-2--2-2-1--1-1-2------3--------------------------

(verse 2)

(chorus)

Interlude:

Lick 3 (Guitar 1)

E --10---10---10---10-

B --10---10---10---10-

G --------------------

D --------------------

A --------------------

E --------------------

Guitar 2: G G G G G G

No sex, no drugs, no wine, no women, no fun, no sin, no you,

Guitar 1: (Lick 3)

Guitar 2: G G D D D D

no wonder it's dark.

Guitar 2: F F F F F F

Everyone around me is a total stranger, everyone abhors me like

Guitar 2: F F C C C C

a psyched lone ranger, everyone.

(chorus, without the Licks, guitar 2 plays power chords instead)

(chorus)

Harmony:

E -12-10-12--10-------10------------------------------------------

B -12-10-12--10---12--10----12-12-10-10-8-10----10-8-10-8------8--

G ----------------12--------12-12-11-11-9-11----10-9-10-9---9--9--

D ---------------------------------------------------------10-----

A ----------------------------------------------------------------

E ----------------------------------------------------------------

E -----------------------8- r -10-

B ----------------8--10---- e ----

G ------7--9--10----------- p ----

D -10---------------------- e ----

A ------------------------- a ----

E ------------------------- t ----

(chorus)

(chorus, with harmony)

E ----------------------------------------------------

B -------------------------------------------6-6-6-6--

G ----------------------------------------------------

D --5------4------3------4------5------4--------------

A --5------4------3------4------5------4--------------

E --3--3-3-2--2-2-1--1-1-2--2-2-3--3-3-2--------------

---

Mr.Scary (Gary Chapman) -- scary@zikzak.apana.org.au

----------------------------------------------------------

WWW - http://zikzak.apana.org.au/home/scary/html/home.html