Memory: “Big in Japan” Alphaville (1984)

Alphaville is a German new wave and synth-pop music group, formed in Münster in 1982. The group is best known for their worldwide hit “Big in Japan". Alphaville was formed by Marian Gold (singing), Bernhard Lloyd (keyboards), and Frank Mertens (keyboards) in 1982. They chose the name “Alphaville” in reference to the science fiction film “Alphaville” realized by Jean Luc Godard. Their first single, “Big in Japan“, released in 1984, met with enormous international success. The song became iconic in the new wave scene and propelled Alphaville on the world music scene. In 1984, Alphaville released his first album entitled “Forever Young“. The album includes iconic tracks such as the title track "Forever Young”And “Sounds Like a Melody“. The album was a great success in Europe and USA, consolidating the group's position on the music scene. The second album, “Afternoons in Utopia“, was released in 1986. Although the album did not enjoy the same level of commercial success as its predecessor, it was well received by critics. Some of the singles from the album include “Dance with Me"And"Universal Daddy“. Over the years, Alphaville continued to release new albums, but none reached the same level of success as “Forever Young“. Some of the albums from this period include “The Breathtaking Blue” (1989) and “prostitute” (1994). After a break, Alphaville returned in the 1990s with projects such as “Salvation” (1997) and “Catching Rays on Giant” (2010). Although the commercial success was not as resounding as in the early years, the group maintained a loyal fan base. Alphaville has continued to tour and release new material over the years, with several lineup changes. Marian Gold is the only original member remaining in the group, while other musicians have joined and left the group over time.