David Sylvian
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Beckenham, Kent, UK (1958 – present)
David Sylvian (born, David Alan Batt, 23rd of February 1958, in Beckenham, Kent, UK) is an English singer, musician and composer who first rose to fame as the lead vocalist and main songwriter of the band Japan, and whose subsequent solo career has been influenced by a variety of musical styles and genres, including jazz, ambient music and electronic music.
Japan - which also included Mick Karn, Rob Dean, Richard Barbieri and Sylvian’s brother Steve Jansen - started out as a confusing hybrid rock/sleaze outfit in the mould of David Bowie and The New York Dolls. Their music quickly evolved as, at least to begin with, they drew heavily on the influence of Roxy Music’s art rock stylings. Their visual image developed in parallel and the band were (unwillingly) tagged as forerunners of the new romantic movement.
Japan recorded five studio albums between March 1978 and November 1981. Their biggest hit single, the minimalistGhosts, which reached the Top 5 in the UK charts in 1982, was a clear pointer to Sylvian’s future direction. After a successful tour, the band split in late 1982, and Sylvian embarked upon a solo career.
Around the time of Sylvian’s first solo album he collaborated with 坂本龍一 (Ryuichi Sakamoto) on the soundtrack music for the Nagisa Oshima film Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence (1983), which produced a Top 20 hit single,Forbidden Colours.
Japan - which also included Mick Karn, Rob Dean, Richard Barbieri and Sylvian’s brother Steve Jansen - started out as a confusing hybrid rock/sleaze outfit in the mould of David Bowie and The New York Dolls. Their music quickly evolved as, at least to begin with, they drew heavily on the influence of Roxy Music’s art rock stylings. Their visual image developed in parallel and the band were (unwillingly) tagged as forerunners of the new romantic movement.
Japan recorded five studio albums between March 1978 and November 1981. Their biggest hit single, the minimalist
Ghosts, which reached the Top 5 in the UK charts in 1982, was a clear pointer to Sylvian’s future direction. After a successful tour, the band split in late 1982, and Sylvian embarked upon a solo career. Around the time of Sylvian’s first solo album he collaborated with 坂本龍一 (Ryuichi Sakamoto) on the soundtrack music for the Nagisa Oshima film Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence (1983), which produced a Top 20 hit single,
Forbidden Colours.
Shouts:
447 shouts
Top Albums
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Secrets Of The Beehive
David Sylvian
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Dead Bees on a Cake
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Gone To Earth
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Brilliant Trees
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Shoutbox
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nosmokingpistol wrote:
http://www.davidsylvian.com/news/a_message_from_david_regarding_the_tour_dates.html There is a link to his message regarding tour dates in case anyone was interested. Hope he makes a speedy recovery.
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nosmokingpistol wrote:
Heard David was ill. I hope it's nothing too serious and he recovers soon enough to resume touring. It's a shame.
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memailer wrote:
I agree with DominoDub...not sure why Ireland was not included in the upcoming tour...
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nour-alhariri wrote:
<3
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DominoDub wrote:
It's a shame we do not have an Irish stop on this Tour as I love the new Band Line up ....last gig in Vicar Street was unreal.
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hydecrabs wrote:
numerous Japanese musicians are fans of David. HYDE, etc, it's not uncommon...
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secesse wrote:
http://www.lastfm.pl/music/David+Sylvian/+images/72542732
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teex- wrote:
Furthermore, Yasuhiro Sugihara (aka Sugizo), the lead guitarist of X-Japan is evidently a fan of David as well. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tvMM64_nohY
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Musilov wrote:
God
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pineapple69 wrote:
@spirasen Indeed I am. Now I really think even higher of him because he proved how a person can be that open-minded :)
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spirasen wrote:
Are you serious? That goes completely against his group's music. He is the last person I expected to be into slow ambient
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pineapple69 wrote:
I actually gave him a listen because Kyo, vocalist of a japanese metal band DIR EN GREY said he was one of his favorite artists. I'm amused :)
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hydecrabs wrote:
His voice is otherworldly. [2]
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psynumb wrote:
His voice is otherworldly.
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vincentgilmore wrote:
David Sylvian's music reminds me a lot of The Mad Pride.
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RussellChap wrote:
Scott Walker with better music...A bit unfair...but they do both possess GREAT voices...Also willing to push boundaries other artists wouldn't dream of.
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Tokipon wrote:
Just bought tickets for the Copenhagen concert, ohhh it's gonna be magical!
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Katamai wrote:
For me no other artist even comes close to this guy. David, you are the best!
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JackMcFearless wrote:
When I grow up I want to be David Sylvian. I'm 18 but that's besides the point.
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eterarnial wrote:
IRRESISTIBLE♥
Videos
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Play
Orpheus
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Play
Died In The Wool
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Play
David Sylvian - Transit [live…
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Play
A Certain Slant Of Light (2010)
1 shout
Events
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Mar
1
David Sylvian "Implausible beauty tour"
Gran Teatro GEOX, Padova, Italy
7 going
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Mar
2
David Sylvian "Implausible beauty tour"
Sala Conservatorio Verdi, Milano, Milan, Italy
23 going
5 shouts
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Mar
4
David Sylvian "Implausible beauty tour"
Auditorium Parco della Musica, Roma, Rome, Italy
20 going
3 shouts
News
New German Tour Date Added
21 Oct 2011 | from www.davidsylvian.com/
We have added another German show to the forthcoming Implausible
Beauty 2012 tour.
This will be on the 19th March 2012, in a brand new venue in
Frankfurt called The Gibson.
Tickets can be bought from the link below and are on sale
…
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17 Oct 2011 | from www.davidsylvian.com/ -
23 Sep 2011 | from www.davidsylvian.com/ -
23 Sep 2011 | from www.davidsylvian.com/
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Recent Activity
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Shopgirl_, Knoush, Litaken and 19 other people added David Sylvian to their libraries. 1 hour ago
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anti-confucious tagged David Sylvian with experimental and ambient. Monday morning
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luix63, gwiazdka33, munkee-zero and 5 other people added David Sylvian to their libraries. Monday morning
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Kitty5Kat added David Sylvian to the lineup of David Sylvian and Joan Wasser at Trout Recording. Saturday morning
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raelpg67, vivileb, mcjc64 and 8 other people added David Sylvian to their libraries. Friday afternoon
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RPLastFM tagged David Sylvian with radio paradise and radioparadise. last week
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alicesweetalice and cristinademaria added David Sylvian to their libraries. last week
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Kitty5Kat unlinked David Sylvian from Banlieues Bleues Festival at Banlieues Bleues Festival. last week
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lamyo, bammy35, fredbanger and 1 other person added David Sylvian to their libraries. last week
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qdes wrote about David Sylvian in Best of 2011. last week
Related Journals
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Best of 2011
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Groups (74)
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Japan (as in the band Japan)
89 members
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Japan the band
50 members
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Samadhi Sound
91 members
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Alchemy - The Music of David Sylvian
627 members
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We Love Weird Voices!
2,109 members
More Information
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