Had to look at the lyrics.  Kept hearing "I'm Aladdin, I'm Alladin, God's Monkey."  

Not his best but I surely appreciate David Sylvian.

Hmm. Thought this was Cake for a minute.

ok. i don't like this, but strangely i can understand why some people would like it.
that's very odd...
and good on Bill for continuing to give us this kind of exposure, whether we like it or not.

lol

soooosooooosoooo bad

Thanks Bill, for playing this crazy sh*t.
Some of us love it.  ; )
Now I dare you to play the trippy 17-minute "Darshan" from the same album.

the song was released in 1993 ! time flys ! 

Good memories. Caught this tour with Michael Brook opening.

Love this. Haven't heard it in ages...though it sits among my collection. Particularly fond of "Jean the Birdman."

 kaybee wrote: 
You should be able to upload songs by Japan in an MP3 format acceptable to Bill and Rebecca. Here are the technical requirements for uploading: 

https://www.radioparadise.com/#name=musicupload&op=upload

You should be able to find applications that can convert AIFF songs (those found on CDs) to MP3s. For instance, iTunes for OS X will import songs from CDs in MP3 format, although to meet RP's technical requirements you'll have to change the sample and streaming rates with the Custom option found in "import settings" in iTune's Preferences. There's even a Website that convert files into MP3s, although I'm not sure how how good the quality of its encoding is...

PM me if you need more help! 

Great song - a classic duo!

 oooresultooo wrote: 

We're real mature now, aren't we.

What? God's monkey? R E T A R D E D!

 smackiepipe wrote: 

And now it's been almost 5 years since I've heard this song again, as that post was from Sept. 4, 2007.  Tempus Fugit...

I esp. like "Brilliant Trees" and "Secrets of the Beehive". And, ofcourse, his Japan-period!

"God's Monkey" is good. But I particularly like "Jean the Birdman," off this same album. Must upload!!

Here is a plea for help!

I have finally gone over to high-speed and tried and tried to upload something from Japan's "Gentleman Take Polaroids", but because RP will only take MP3s, it has been unsuccessful and frustrating , since there is absolutely nothing by Japan on this station!)   I can't understand it because we all know Bill and Rebecca like New Wave music.  If they like this by David Sylvian, why no Japan?

  Could somebody please, PLEASE try to upload something from Japan, especially Gentlemen take Polaroids (just not Night Porter please) or even one of their other albums.  I would be really happy and I think a few others here would be too.

but what does it all mean?

This song is not available on iTunes, but it is sold on Amazon:

God's Monkey

Cool, here's a very tight live version:

YouTube

Neil

Oh wow!  I heard this and asked myself, "Could it be?  David Sylvian??  Geez, that sounds a lot like Frippertronix....  Fripp??"  YES!  Very cool RP, thank you.

Great to hear Sylvian again on RP. Some more Fripp either solo or with King Crimson never hurts. Or there's even a piece with Daryl Hall, that is awesome,  is it "Dark Moon"? I have it somewhere on vinyl (and never found it digitally).

 Sloggydog wrote:  

Feel sorry for you!
Mine did...!

FRIPPERTRONIC!

I too very much enjoy most of David Sylvian's creations. Thank you for bringing him back to my listening pleasure.

 Sloggydog wrote: 
yer kind of an ass aintcha?

Reminds me a bit of syphilis in so far as that i don't like it and its not going away.

Oh, more David Sylvian please . . .

 dctrpunda wrote: 
Except the atheists, who are their own monkeys.

 Deadwing wrote: 
No, I didn't know that, and it is very interesting, so thanks for posting. I don't have any knowledge of Japan, other than that David Sylvian was the singer and that I had the album way back when. And, err, that's the extent of my knowledge, but thanks for thinking that I knew more than I did :o)

7 8

Reminds me a bit of Jerry Harrison's Casual Gods - but that's a good thing. . . 

I didn't know God had a monkey, But phat groove.

Hey Bill...when ar eyou going to add more david Sylvian to the mix? His solo catalogue is rich with songs appropriate for RP. 

Wow, I thought that guitar work sounded familiar. Nice to hear Fripp some more.

 Pyro wrote: 
I took the phrase as that to serve you are following a will other than your own and do so willingly.  We are all God's monkeys if you think about it..

 diazo wrote: 
Actually, Fripp played with Sylvian on two of Sylvians earliest solo albums - Alchemy: An Index of Possibilities and Gone to Earth, from 1985 and 1986, respectively.

 fredriley wrote:

 
You realize that the keyboard player from Japan (Richard Barbieri) is the brilliant keyboard soundscaper behind the intense wall of atmospheric Porcupine Tree sound? I know you must judging by your knowledge of the band- but other people may be interested to know  

Barbieri has commented that is was hard at first for him to go from a well known band back to a "11 people paying to see us play band" but he had enormous faith in Steven Wilson's talent and vision so he stuck with it. Now he is very proud to be part of a second band that has grown from a miniscule following to a very respectable group of extremely supportive fans,

Besides Wilson (obviously) I think Barbieri's presence is most responsible for PTs overall sound.

I own this CD and it's really very good. The song Jean the Birdman especially stands out for me 

David Sylvian is now recording under the name Nine Horses. The album Snow Borne Sorrow is excellent.

...david sylvian!..i haven't heard anything from him in sixteen years...

...michael brook seems an appropriate match to open...

David Sylvian still going, eh? Judging by this anodyne number he's gone a bit MOR from his 'China' days when he did some very good, original stuff. I used to have the album Tin Drum, which he recorded when part of Japan, and that was really innovative (and apposite these days with the meteoric rise of China as a world power). 4 from the Nottingham jury.

radioparadisehead wrote: Perhaps this is a reference to people who participate in organized religions. This is one of those collaborations (like John Cale and Eno) that just works. Beautifully.

Hey, thanks for playing this, it brought back memories - I got to see them on tour when this album came out, what a great show. Michael Brook opened for them, he was great too!

Sylvian's voice seems to be a combination of James McMurtry and Michael Hutchins. I dunno, I could be daft. Pretty cool tune!

This Monkey gone to heaven.

lee_sf wrote: Me2! Where else but on RP?

Always thought of this as one of my cult albums that nobody else knew about. Darshan is cool but a little long at 17:19. Jean The Birdman might be my favorite. Love the opening on this one.

Great song, great album. Thanks. I like Firepower and Darshan.

This is cool. Never knew these two had teamed up. Always something to learn on RP!

penkle wrote: If Robert Fripp's an "obscure artist to you" you're the one who has been living in a cave....

penkle wrote: Yep! I agree. I only knew a few of Sylvian's ingenious solo parts, but that's interesting stuff, too...

diane wrote: I agree. I like monkeys, though. But, I get the impression that he's calling some human a monkey, which is not as nice.

Cheese n crackers! I haven't heard this in 12-13 years. Great blast from one of my favorite 'lost' CDs. And the rare cover shot of Fripp laughing. I think that was the first time I've ever saw him use those particular muscles.

I love it when RP plays music from my favorite obscure artists!

oh yeah!!!! more more more david sylvian pleeeeease!!!

Bill played "Apeman" after this. Groan.

Much prefer the live version on Damage.

MickMan wrote: The Birth of the Odyssey ~ Monkey Magic by Godiego "In the worlds before Monkey, primal chaos reigned..."

I love this disc. Great piece of work that was dropped on my desk years ago in the world of commercial radio. Try "Jean the Birdman".

jus10 wrote: I'm a monkey by The Stones?

jus10 wrote: Monkey to Man - Elvis Costello.

jus10 wrote: I vote for beastie boys - brass monkey

David Sylvian and Robert Fripp - God's Monkey Peter Gabriel - Shock The Monkey What's next? Everyone's Got Something To Hide Except For Me and My Monkey (Beatles)? Monkey Man (Toots and the Maytals)? Anything by the Monkees? Addendum: Bob Dylan - Highway 61 Revisited. Good thing I'm not a betting man.

mfassett wrote: good song choice

YES ! Now hand me your camera please

This is great, but the live album 'damage' romps all over it in terms of power, depth and heart-rending emotion - tracks like 'wave' and 'damage' are simply gorgeous, together with 'god's monkey' having some fantasic fripp solos...

\:D/ Great track. Fripp's guitar work goes very nicely with Sylvian's voice. This disc is one of my favorites by either of these artists.

Yes, Orpheus too please!!! This is a great cut at any rate, thanks!

Not my favourite, but it's always nice to hear DS.

Ooh, Ooh! Next tune? Monkey in the middle/S. Vega...

Well, it's not been for lack of listener effort. I uploaded some stuff late last year from Secrets of the Beehive, like "Orpheus." It didn't make the cut. I was quite disappointed.

Aah, the sound and rhythm create a feel that's almost tangible! I'm surprised I haven't heard that much of David Sylvian on RP, yet. I think he very much belongs here.

Did I blink when the lyrics other than "..ladder', God's monkey" were playing? Totally annoying repetition. =; And would someone please tell us what/who is the monkey?

Talk about thinking out of the box... There's two completely different things going on here. It's like Fripp got a copy of the original song and was just screwing around in his basement listening to the CD. All I know... is that was really, REALLY cool.

(Japan/Sylvian has a bunch of songs that would make a great addition to RP)

Posted 20 years ago by R_P    [ Reply ]

brighthue wrote: Nicely put!... And, seemingly, true. :D/

OMG not heard this in years. i wore this Album out when it first came out. brilliant !

Wow RP You surprize me.......in a good way. I'm fripperized....sorry

Wow, another big surprise from RP.... great CD, "The First Day" is metal for grownups. "Monkey" is a cool track, but "Darshan" REALLY has it going on.

OMG this song is a joke right?

David Bowie does Talking Heads, different, but wouldn't want to hear it again.

I heard God's monkey can throw his feces in ALL directions AT ONCE!

Fripp--now THERE\'S a guy who has a recognizable guitar...Excellent guitarist and a good tune to boot, though I prefer the Crimson fare--thanks for the treat, though!

totally agree :D :)

Thanks for spinnin\' this tune- 1 of my favorites from an excellent disc!

Great stuff. Most of Sylvian\'s music is too distant and abstract for me, but this is a great tune. Good ol\' Fripp, he should be a studio guy, his technique is huge.

yes, this is a really interesting and engaging sound. it did, though, get some commercial radio play(tripleA,natch) when first released. sound great hearing this again in the excellent RP soup of good music.

Thanx RP! Buy the way, Bill, isn\'t it SylvIAn? You said \"SylvAIn\". But maybe I am mistaken... Greetz, Heeb.

Now that has a groove, very talking heads-ish!

Excellent choice, BillG. A full-flavored and balanced blend of finesse and funk; grit and legendary technique. IMHO, RP has a purpose and selections like "God's Monkey" prove it. The Music Industrial Complex (big labels and commercial stations, the media conglomerates that own them and their lackeys in government and RIAA) usually filters out music that exhibits originality, true talent and intellectual content. Anything with more than 1 dimension is usually rejected. Genuine music must be heard and its creators must be rewarded. Thanks and kudos to Bill, Rebecca, RP listeners -- everyone who makes RP possible.