Japanese Hands

[BiteUrLip]

Music: Elton John

Lyrics: Bernie Taupin

Keyboards and vocals: Elton John

Guitars: Davey Johnstone

Synthesizer: Fred Mandel

Drums: Charlie Morgan

Bass: David Paton

Backing Vocals: Dee Murray, Davey Johnstone, Nigel Olsson

Outside I can hear the fireworks

Beyond the paper walls

Where the symbols painted black and white

Run together when the rain falls

And the wind chimes across Kyoto

Each time the earth moves

Was it the quake that shook me

Or was it something to do with you


And the hot wind heats the bamboo blinds

And your almond eyes always shine

Sitting cool behind your painted fan

All the secrets of the east

Conceal the beauty and the beast

For tender is the man in her Japanese hands


Flesh on silk looks different

Than on a cotton sheet back home

Where no one wears their hair like yours

Beneath those oriental combs

And with your thirsty fingers

Running up and down my spine

You forget the western woman

When you're sleeping on Kyoto time


And the sky explodes

and the moon grows cold

To the distant sound of drums

And the sky explodes

And the moon grows cold

As the dragons on the mainland

Wait to heat the sun

[BiteUrLip]

One of the better ones from this album.

4½ stars.

[dougs]

"Japanese Hands" from REG STRIKES BACK:

The 1988 release of REG STRIKES BACK saw Elton begin to favour his Roland digital piano live and in the studio but on "Japanese Hands" he apparently played piano and synthesizer.  It is a slow atmospheric track which saw Elton actually write the song on synthesizer giving it, what Elton called, a "very ethereal" feel.  Of special note, Dee Murray, Elton's bassist from earlier years, adds backing vocals on what would be his last Elton album appearance. The song does sound somewhat unique in Elton & Bernie's massive catalogue partly because of its spare arrangement and somewhat electronic feel.  The lyrics are presented clearly, expressively, and effectively by Elton in what has been described as an "expression of fascination and occasional passion for a...culture."

Elton apparently played the song twice (June, 1988) for promotional purposes.  In the TV promotional performance EJ is sitting at his Roland digital piano.  One wonders if "Japanese Hands" had been considered as a potential single since it was chosen for TV promotion.  The song, apparently, did not find its way into the REG STRIKES BACK tour set list in 1988 and has never been played since.

Rating: 4 1/2 stars

Doug

[rocketman]

4 stars...a decent addition to an album that is mostly uptempo, as this song's placement seems to break up the otherwise rocking, rollicking pace of songs 3 through 9. I stretch a bit to give it a 4 star rating, and would just as soon make it a 3.75.

[newloneranger]

One of the best songs on the album, unique for Elton.

5 stars

[nix]

4.5
I didn't like it at first... now I think it's very unique, ambiental and very good song.