The Vapors are a British new wave and power pop band best known for their 1980 hit “Turning Japanese.” Formed in 1978 in Guildford, England, the band was discovered by Bruce Foxton of The Jam, who helped secure them a management deal. With a sound that blended punchy punk energy and melodic hooks, The Vapors quickly gained attention in the UK music scene.Their debut album, New Clear Days (1980), featured “Turning Japanese,” a song that became an international success, particularly in the U.S. and Australia. Though often misinterpreted, the song’s catchy riff and emotional intensity made it a defining anthem of the new wave era. The album also included other notable tracks like “News at Ten” and “Waiting for the Weekend.”Despite their early success, the band struggled with commercial momentum, and their second album, Magnets (1981), showcased a darker, more mature sound. Songs like “Jimmie Jones” tackled deeper themes, but the album failed to achieve the same level of popularity. By 1982, The Vapors disbanded, becoming one of many bands from the era known as one-hit wonders.After a decades-long hiatus, The Vapors reunited in 2016, playing live shows and eventually releasing a third album, Together, in 2020. Their legacy remains tied to the energy and innovation of the early new wave movement, with “Turning Japanese” still resonating in pop culture today.

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