David Sylvian
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David Sylvian (born David Alan Batt, 23 February 1958) is an English singer-songwriter and musician who came to prominence in the late 1970s as the lead vocalist and main songwriter in the group Japan. His subsequent solo work is described by AllMusic critic Jason Ankeny as "a far-ranging and esoteric career that encompassed not only solo projects but also a series of fascinating collaborative efforts." Sylvian's solo work has been influenced by a variety of musical styles and genres, including jazz, avant-garde, ambient, electronic, and progressive rock.
Biography
Early years
Sylvian was born in Beckenham, Kent, the son of a plasterer and a housewife. He was educated at Catford Boys' School, Catford, South East London leaving at 16. As a youth, he listened to glam rock artists such as David Bowie and Roxy Music.
1970s–early 1980s: Japan
The band Japan, whose other members included bassist Mick Karn, guitarist Rob Dean, keyboardist Richard Barbieri and Sylvian's brother Steve Jansen as drummer, began as a group of friends. As youngsters they played music as a means of escape, playing Sylvian's two-chord numbers – sometimes with Karn as the front man, sometimes with Sylvian at the fore.
Podcasts:
David Sylvian
ALBUMS
- There's a Light That Enters Houses With No Other House in Sight released: 2014
- Wandermüde released: 2013
- A Victim of Stars 1982-2012 released: 2012
- Died in the Wool / Manafon Variations released: 2011
- Promise released: 2011
- Sleepwalkers released: 2010
- Manafon released: 2009
- 2007-09-21: The World Is Everything: La Cigale, Paris, France released: 2007
- 2007-10-29: The World Is Everything: Geijutsu Hall, Osaka, Japan released: 2007
- 2007-10-06: The World Is Everything: Schiller Theater, Berlin, Germany released: 2007
- When Loud Weather Buffeted Naoshima released: 2007
- Secrets of the Beehive released: 2006
- The Good Son vs. The Only Daughter released: 2005
- 2004-04-27: Fire in the Forest: Sankei Hall, Osaka, Japan released: 2004
- 2003-10-13: Fire in the Forest: Cirque Royal, Brussels, Belgium released: 2003
- Brilliant Trees released: 2003
- Gone to Earth released: 2003
- Alchemy: An Index of Possibilities released: 2003
- Blemish released: 2003
- 2002-05-05: Everything and Nothing: Town Hall, New York, USA released: 2002
- Camphor released: 2002
- 2001-10-23: Everything and Nothing: Nakano Sun Plaza Hall, Tokyo, Japan released: 2001
- 2001-10-11: Everything and Nothing: Muziek Centrum Vredenburg, Utrecht, Netherlands released: 2001
- Everything and Nothing released: 2000
- Arrow to Shiva released: 1999
- Dead Bees on a Cake released: 1999
- Brilliant Trees / Words With the Shaman released: 1999
- 1995-11-07: Slowfire: Danforth Music Hall, Toronto, Canada released: 1995
- Kings - Second Chapter released: 1994
- 1993-10-06: A New Dream: Nakano Sun Plaza Hall, Tokyo, Japan released: 1994
- Damage released: 1994
- God's Monkey released: 1993
- The First Day released: 1993
- 1992-03-06: The First Day: Shibuya Kokaido, Tokyo, Japan released: 1992
- Ember Glance: The Permanence of Memory released: 1991
- Weatherbox released: 1989
- Flux + Mutability released: 1989
- 1988-05-30: In Praise of Shamans: Hammersmith Odeon, London, UK released: 1988
- In Praise of Shamans released: 1988
- Live in Theatre 1988 released: 1988
- Plight & Premonition released: 1988
- Slow Fire: A Personal Retrospective released:
- 2004-04-24: Showa Joshi Hitomi Kinen Kohdoh, Tokyo, Japan released:
- Exposed in Chicago released:
- Kings released:
2007-10-29: The World Is Everything: Geijutsu Hall, Osaka, Japan
Released 2007- Intro (Harold Budd Music)
- Wonderful World
- It'll Never Happen Again
- World Citizen
- The Day the Earth Stole Heaven
- Ride
- Playground Martyrs/Transit
- A Fire in the Forest/Ghosts
- Snow Borne Sorrow
- Mother & Child
- Jean the Birdman
- Sugarfuel
- Brilliant Trees/Before the Bullfight
- The Librarian
- Every Colour You Are/River Man
- Wanderlust
2007-10-06: The World Is Everything: Schiller Theater, Berlin, Germany
Released 2007- Wonderful World
- It'll Never Happen Again
- World Citizen
- The Day the Earth Stole Heaven
- Ride
- Playground Martyrs + Transit (medley)
- A Fire in the Forest + Ghosts (medley)
- Snow Borne Sorrow
- Mother and Child
- Atom and Cell
- Sugarfuel
- Brilliant Trees + Before the Bullfight (medley)
- The Librarian
- Every Colour You Are + Riverman (medley)
- Wanderlust
The Good Son vs. The Only Daughter
Released 2005- The Only Daughter (remixed by Ryoji Ikeda)
- Blemish (remixed by Burnt Friedman)
- The Heart Knows Better (remixed by Sweet Billy Pilgrim)
- A Fire in the Forest (remixed by Readymade FC)
- The Good Son (remixed by Yoshihiro Hanno)
- Late Night Shopping (remixed by Burnt Friedman)
- How Little We Need to Be Happy (remixed by Tatsuhiko Asano)
- The Only Daughter (remixed by Jan Bang and Erik Honore)
- Blemish (remixed by Akira Rabelais)
2004-04-27: Fire in the Forest: Sankei Hall, Osaka, Japan
Released 2004- Entrance
- Blemish
- The Good Son
- The Only Daughter
- The Heart Knows Better
- She Is Not
- Late Night Shopping
- How Little We Need to Be Happy
- A Fire in the Forest
- The Other Side of Life
- When Poets Dreamed of Angels + Cries and Whispers (medley)
- The Shining of Things
- Blue Skinned Gods
- Praise
- Maria
- Wasn't I Joe?
- World Citizen
- Jean the Birdman
2003-10-13: Fire in the Forest: Cirque Royal, Brussels, Belgium
Released 2003- Blemish
- The Good Son
- The Only Daughter
- The Heart Knows Better - She Is Not
- Late Night Shopping
- How Little We Need to Be Happy
- A Fire in the Forest
- The Other Side of Life
- When Poets Dreamed of Angels - Cries & Whispers
- The Shining of Things
- Blue Skinned Gods
- Praise
- Maria
- Wasn't I Joe?
- World Citizen
- Jean the Birdman
Camphor
Released 2002- All of My Mother's Names
- Red Earth (As Summertime Ends)
- Answered Prayers
- The Song Which Gives the Key to Perfection
- New Moon at Red Deer Wallow
- Praise (Pratah Smarami)
- Wave (version)
- Mother and Child (remix)
- Plight (The Spiralling of Winter Ghosts) (exerpt)
- Upon This Earth
- Big Wheels in Shanty Town
- The Healing Place
- Camphor
- A Brief Conversation Ending in Divorce
2001-10-11: Everything and Nothing: Muziek Centrum Vredenburg, Utrecht, Netherlands
Released 2001- Camphor
- The Scent of Magnolia
- Blackwater
- God Man
- I Surrender
- Jean the Birdman
- Midnight Sun
- Boy With the Gun
- Orpheus
- Waterfront
- Heartbeat
- Linoleum
- Rooms of the Sixteen Shimmers
- Ghosts
- Pollen Path
- Cover Me With Flowers
- Zero Landmine
- Forbidden Colours
- Introducing the Band
- Krishna Blue
- Nightporter
- Bhajan
- Red Guitar
1988-05-30: In Praise of Shamans: Hammersmith Odeon, London, UK
Released 1988- Ancient Evening
- Incantation
- Orpheus
- Before the Bullfight
- Taking the Veil
- Weathered Wall
- The Boy With the Gun
- Riverman
- The Grand Parade (Mark Isham)
- Band Introduction
- The Ink in the Well
- Nostalgia
- Forbidden Colours
- Backwaters
- Brilliant Trees
- Steel Cathedrals
- Let the Happiness In
- Gone to Earth
- Awakening
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The Only Daughter
by: David SylvianShe was, she was
A friend of mine
Do us a favour, your one and only warning
Please be gone by morning
She was, she was
A friend of mine
Inconsistencies
Words on paper
The track still warm
I came to hate her
Smitten no longer
Me, the only daughter
Render the vow
It's my home now
This, your one and only warning
Please be gone by morning
And if the ending is clean
The quirk, the fuss, the vaseline
She won't even see it coming
Roll them over, roll them over, roll them over
Me, the only daughter
She was, she was a friend of mine
Smitten no longer
Me, the only daughter
Render the vow
It's my home now
The penny's dropped
The room's in order
I masked the spot
Me, the only daughter
Do us a favour, your one and only warning