The Japanese Sandman

{{More citations needed|date=August 2021}}

{{Infobox song

| name = The Japanese Sandman

| cover = Japanese Sandman.pdf

| alt =

| caption =

| type =

| written =

| published =

| artist = Paul Whiteman and His Ambassador Orchestra

| album =

| B-side = Whispering

| released = September 1920{{Cite web|title=Original versions of The Japanese Sandman by Paul Whiteman and His Ambassador Orchestra {{!}} SecondHandSongs|url=https://secondhandsongs.com/performance/276900|access-date=2021-08-02|website=Secondhandsongs.com}}

| recorded = August 19, 1920{{Cite web|title=Victor matrix B-24390. The Japanese sandman / Ambassador Orchestra; Paul Whiteman - Discography of American Historical Recordings|url=https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/index.php/matrix/detail/700009601/B-24390-The_Japanese_sandman|access-date=2021-08-02|website=Adp.library.ucsb.edu}}

| studio = Victor Studios, Camden, New Jersey, U.S.

| venue =

| genre = Jazz, Big band

| length =

| label = Victor 18690

| writer =

| composer = Richard A. Whiting

| lyricist = Raymond B. Egan

| producer =

| prev_title =

| prev_year =

| next_title = Wang Wang Blues

| next_year = 1920

| misc = center
An instrumental version of "The Japanese Sandman", being performed by Paul Whiteman and His Ambassador Orchestra in August 1920.

}}

"The Japanese Sandman" is a song from 1920, composed by Richard A. Whiting and with lyrics by Raymond B. Egan.{{cite book|title=Michigan History Magazine|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=EBIUAAAAYAAJ|volume=85|year=2001|publisher=Michigan Department of State|page=53}}{{cite book|author=Irene Kahn Atkins|title=Source music in motion pictures|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=NeUIAQAAMAAJ|date=1 February 1983|publisher=Fairleigh Dickinson University Press|isbn=978-0-8386-3076-1|page=63}} The song was first popularized in vaudeville by Nora Bayes, and then sold millions of copies as the B-side for Paul Whiteman's song "Whispering".{{cite book|author1=Marvin E. Paymer|author2=Don E. Post|title=Sentimental Journey: Intimate Portraits of America's Great Popular Songs, 1920-1945|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=_MNtkSqYzpoC&pg=PA11|year=1999|publisher=Noble House Publishers|isbn=978-1-881907-09-1|page=11}}

Content

{{Multiple image

|image1="The Japanese Sandman" by Nora Bayes and the Charles A. Prince Orchestra.mp3

|caption1= "The Japanese Sandman", being performed by Nora Bayes and the Charles A. Prince Orchestra in 1920.

|image2="The Japanese Sandman" (1920), by Richard Armstrong Whiting.mid

|image3="The Japanese Sandman", Fox-Trot played by John Milton Delcamp (1920).oga

|caption3=1920s piano roll of "The Japanese Sandman" as played by the pianist John Milton Delcamp.

|caption2=An instrumental rendition of "The Japanese Sandman", being performed on a synthesized piano.

|caption4=Olive Kline performing "The Japanese Sandman" in 1920, with Josef Pasternack conducting.

|image4="The Japanese Sandman" (1920), by Olive Kline and Josef Pasternack.oga

|image5=

|caption5=Red Nichols and His Five Pennies performing "The Japanese Sandman" {{circa}} 1928.

|image6=

|caption6="The Japanese Sandman" being played by Frank Trumbauer & His Orchestra with Bix Beiderbeck in October 1928.

|image7="The Japanese Sandman" (1920) 1920s dance band music for flappers Harry Raderman's Novelty Orchestra.opus

|caption7="The Japanese Sandman" played by Harry Raderman's Novelty Orchestra {{circa}} 1920.

|image8=Roaring 1920s- Isham Jones' Rainbo Orch. - Japanese Sandman, 1920.opus

|caption8="The Japanese Sandman" played by Isham Jones' Rainbo Orchestra in 1920.

|image9=

|caption9=The Japanese Sandman" played by Fred Rich's Orchestra in 1932.

| direction = vertical

|align=left

}}

The song is about a sandman from Japan, who exchanges yesterdays for tomorrows. By doing so he "takes every sorrow of the day that is through" and "he'll bring you tomorrow, just to start a life anew."{{Cite web|url=https://lyricsplayground.com/alpha/songs/t/thejapanesesandman.html|title=THE JAPANESE SANDMAN - Lyrics - International Lyrics Playground|website=Lyricsplayground.com|access-date=21 February 2022}} The number has an Oriental atmosphere, and is similar to many other songs from the interwar period that sing about a dreamy, exotic setting.

Nora Bayes made a popular recording of the song in 1920. In the same year, the song was released as the B-side of Paul Whiteman's first record, "Whispering.” It has been subsequently performed by several musical artists like Art Hickman, Benny Goodman, Bix Beiderbecke, Artie Shaw, Earl Hines, Paul Young, Django Reinhardt, the Andrews Sisters, Freddy Gardner, and in 2010, a high-fidelity recording of Whiteman's historic arrangement, by Vince Giordano and his Nighthawks Orchestra.

Additionally, the song was recorded by the Nazi German propaganda band, Charlie and his Orchestra. For propaganda reasons, the lyrics were changed through references to the Japanese Empire.

The Cellos version

In 1957, the American doo-wop band The Cellos recorded "Rang Tang Ding Dong (I Am the Japanese Sandman)",{{Cite web|url=https://www.discogs.com/master/1004115-The-Cellos-Rang-Tang-Ding-Dong-You-Took-My-Love|title=The Cellos - Rang Tang Ding Dong / You Took My Love|access-date=21 February 2022|website=Discogs.com}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/the-cellos-mn0000156001/biography|title=The Cellos Biography, Songs, & Albums|website=AllMusic|access-date=21 February 2022}} which features the same character, but with different lyrics. Frank Zappa quoted from The Cellos' lyrics in his song "A Little Green Rosetta", from Joe's Garage (1979).{{Cite web|url=https://www.donlope.net/fz/notes/Joe%27s_Garage.html#Rosetta|title=Joe's Garage Acts I, II & III: Notes & Comments|website=Donlope.net|access-date=21 February 2022}}

See also

{{Portal|Music}}

  • "Afghanistan", contemporaneous song with a similar premise

References

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