David Sylvian

Songs Written by David SylvianTop Songs / Chart Singles Discography

David Sylvian (born David Alan Batt; 23 February 1958) is an English musician, singer and songwriter who came to prominence in the late 1970s as frontman and principal songwriter of the band Japan. During his time with Japan, Sylvian was known for his unique baritone voice, idiosyncratic approach to songwriting, and his distinctive androgynous appearance. The band's androgynous look and increasingly electronic sound made them an important influence on the UK's early-1980s new wave scene. Following Japan's break-up, Sylvian embarked... [more on Wikipedia]

As a songwriter, David Sylvian first charted in 1980 with Gentlemen Take Polaroids.The artist scored 23 UK Top‑75 entries, including a single Top‑10 placement.

Top songs: #1: Ghosts - #2: Quiet Life - #3: Forbidden Colours - #4: Red Guitar - #5: Cantonese Boy
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  Japan
Gentlemen Take Polaroids
1.
10/1980

Gentlemen Take Polaroids
Japan

from Gentlemen Take Polaroids   Gentlemen Take Polaroids
12 pts
60
UK
written by David Sylvian greentick
The Art of Parties
2.
05/1981

The Art of Parties
Japan

from Tin Drum   Tin Drum
17 pts
48
UK
written by David Sylvian greentick
Quiet Life
3.
09/1981

#2  Quiet Life
Japan

from Quiet Life   Quiet Life
54 pts
19
UK
written by David Sylvian greentick
Visions of China
4.
11/1981

Visions of China
Japan

from Tin Drum   Tin Drum
28 pts
32
UK
written by David Sylvian greentick & Steve Jansen
European Son
5.
01/1982

European Son
Japan

from Assemblage   Assemblage
28 pts
31
UK
written by David Sylvian greentick
Ghosts
6.
03/1982

#1  Ghosts
Japan

from Tin Drum   Tin Drum
126 pts
5
UK
written by David Sylvian greentick
Cantonese Boy
7.
05/1982

#5  Cantonese Boy
Japan

from Tin Drum   Tin Drum
41 pts
24
UK
written by David Sylvian greentick
  David Sylvian & Ryuichi Sakamoto
Bamboo Houses / Bambo Music
8.
08/1982

Bamboo Houses / Bambo Music
David Sylvian & Ryuichi Sakamoto

30 pts
30
UK
written by David Sylvian greentick & Ryuichi Sakamoto
  Japan
Life in Tokyo
9.
10/1982

Life in Tokyo
Japan

from Assemblage   Assemblage
33 pts
28
UK
written by Giorgio Moroder & David Sylvian greentick
Nightporter
10.
11/1982

Nightporter
Japan

from Oil on Canvas   Oil on Canvas
32 pts
29
UK
written by David Sylvian greentick
Canton
11.
05/1983

Canton
Japan

from Oil on Canvas   Oil on Canvas
17 pts
42
UK
live
written by Steve Jansen & David Sylvian greentick
  David Sylvian & Ryuichi Sakamoto
Forbidden Colours
12.
07/1983

#3  Forbidden Colours
David Sylvian & Ryuichi Sakamoto

54 pts
16
UK
written by David Sylvian greentick & Ryuichi Sakamoto
  David Sylvian
Red Guitar
13.
06/1984

#4  Red Guitar
David Sylvian greentick

from Brilliant Trees   Brilliant Trees
50 pts
17
UK
written by David Sylvian greentick
The Ink in the Well
14.
08/1984

The Ink in the Well
David Sylvian greentick

from Brilliant Trees   Brilliant Trees
21 pts
36
UK
written by David Sylvian greentick
Pulling Punches
15.
11/1984

Pulling Punches
David Sylvian greentick

from Brilliant Trees   Brilliant Trees
12 pts
56
UK
written by David Sylvian greentick
Words with the Shaman
16.
12/1985

Words with the Shaman
David Sylvian greentick

from Alchemy: An Index of Possibilities   Alchemy: An Index of Possibilities
9 pts
72
UK
written by David Sylvian greentick & Jon Hassell
Taking the Veil
17.
08/1986

Taking the Veil
David Sylvian greentick

from Gone to Earth   Gone to Earth
14 pts
53
UK
written by David Sylvian greentick
Silver Moon
18.
10/1986

Silver Moon
David Sylvian greentick

from Gone to Earth   Gone to Earth
7 pts
83
UK
written by David Sylvian greentick
  Mick Karn
19.
01/1987

Buoy
Mick Karn

from Dreams of Reason Produce Monsters   Dreams of Reason Produce Monsters
10 pts
63
UK
written by Mick Karn & David Sylvian greentick
  David Sylvian
Let the Happiness In
20.
10/1987

Let the Happiness In
David Sylvian greentick

from Secrets of the Beehive   Secrets of the Beehive
9 pts
66
UK
written by David Sylvian greentick
Pop Song
21.
11/1989

Pop Song
David Sylvian greentick

7 pts
83
UK
written by David Sylvian greentick
  David Sylvian & Ryuichi Sakamoto
Heartbeat (Tainai Kaiki II - Returning to the Womb)
22.
06/1992

Heartbeat (Tainai Kaiki II - Returning to the Womb)
David Sylvian & Ryuichi Sakamoto

13 pts
58
UK
written by Arto Lindsay, Ryuichi Sakamoto & David Sylvian greentick
  David Sylvian and Robert Fripp
Jean the Birdman
23.
08/1993

Jean the Birdman
David Sylvian and Robert Fripp

from The First Day   
11 pts
68
UK
written by Trey Gunn, Robert Fripp & David Sylvian greentick
  The Renegade
24.
07/1994

Terrorist / Something I Feel
The Renegade

6 pts
96
UK
featuring Ray Keith
written by Ray Keith, David Sylvian greentick, Brian Auger & Bobby Womack
  Chris & James
Ghosts
25.
11/1997

Ghosts
Chris & James

3 pts
117
UK
featuring Sally Rodgers
rm
written by David Sylvian greentick
  David Sylvian
I Surrender
26.
03/1999

I Surrender
David Sylvian greentick

from Dead Bees on a Cake   Dead Bees on a Cake
20 pts
40
UK
written by David Sylvian greentick
  Tenth Planet
Ghosts
27.
04/2001

Ghosts
Tenth Planet

12 pts
59
UK
written by David Sylvian greentick
  Japan
Ghosts
28.
04/2008

Ghosts
Japan

3 pts
122
UK
R
written by David Sylvian greentick


See also...

David Sylvian & Ryuichi SakamotoDavid Sylvian and Robert FrippJapan


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