Written by: McCartney
Recorded: June-July 1979
Producer: Paul McCartney
Released: 16 May 1980 (UK), 26 May 1980 (US)
Paul McCartney: keyboards, drums, handclaps
Available on:
McCartney II
Based on a synthesiser melody which suggested the music of the Far East, ‘Frozen Jap’ was an instrumental recording written and recorded in the summer of 1979.
‘Frozen Jap’ was the second piece to be recorded during sessions for the McCartney II album. It was issued with its original working title, although McCartney toyed with more poetic alternatives.
It was recorded in the summer of 1979 and originally I was working around on synths, again, experimenting and I suddenly got something which sounded very Oriental. When the track was finished, it seemed so Oriental to me and I thought, ‘I’d better get a really lyrical title.’ I tried to think of a suitable title and things came to mind, like ‘Crystalline Icicles Overhang The Little Cabin By The Ice-Capped Mount Fuji’ or ‘Snow Scene In The Orient’, but all the titles sounded clumsy.So that I wouldn’t forget, I scribbled down a working title of ‘Frozen Jap’, you know, frozen being the ice bit for the snow scene idea, and Jap meaning Oriental and somewhere over in that part of the world. And the title stuck. I found that the ‘Crystalline Fuji’ bit just didn’t work.
It was recorded some months prior to McCartney’s arrest and imprisonment in Japan for cannabis possession. However, it was released afterwards and the title was taken by many as a comment on his incarceration.
Now, I’m sure people will think it was recorded after that incident in Japan. We decided to change the title to ‘Frozen Japanese’ for the album release in Japan, since we didn’t want to offend anyone over there. But when the Japanese were told of the album’s track listing, they went spare. They thought it was connected with the fact that I had been busted there. They regard it as an incredible slur.
Frozen Jap? What a dick move to name an instrumental Frozen Jap.
And what a dick comment to challenge Paul on something that doesn’t matter to you.
Did you not read anything in this article?
Always thought, it’s a name of a drink… 🙂
Frozen Jap Tart. I wonder if it’s a dig to you know who
“Jap” is a term that to Japanese-Americans is as offensive as the word “N—-r” is to African-Americans. So, for what that’s worth…..
Maybe he meant “Jewish American Princess”…
Paul is known for doing multiple racist things, including harassing Yoko Ono and referring to her as John’s Jap Tart. So it doesn’t surprise me. Paul was always my least favorite Beatle.
“ Paul is known for doing multiple racist things”. Can you you name any? Oh that’s right, you can’t, because it isn’t true.
Paul has harassed Yoko Ono and referred to her as John’s Jap Tart? Hmmm.. Do you have any actual source for this claim? Oh that’s right you don’t, because it never happened. ( Not publicly anyway?).
And finally, how does Paul being your least favorite Beatle have anything to do with anything? Congratulations, you’re 3 for 3!
Hmmm. I listened to the titled track…it’s good, not necessarily one of my favorites.
As much as I love Paul McCartney and his music generally…as much as I dislike Yoko Ono individually, and I can certainly understand if Paul dislikes her, and I do not believe for a second that Paul is racist, as a person of color, I really don’t like the title of this tune. Crystalline Fuji would have been a better choice even if it did suck as a title.
Interesting comments. But I think many may be thinking too black and white. People aren’t just racists or not racists; the world and people’s feelings and actions aren’t simply yes/no. Paul doesn’t have to be a complete racist to have a moment where he might title a song as a slight to his then recent experience getting busted in Japan. And while this song has a very unfortunate title, it may not have been as offensive as it is now.