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Released in 1980

Frozen Jap

Written by Paul McCartney • Instrumental

Last updated on May 21, 2020

Album This song officially appears on the McCartney II Official album.

Timeline This song was officially released in 1980

Master album

Related sessions

This song was recorded during the following studio sessions:

Related interviews

“Frozen Jap” is a song written and performed by Paul McCartney, released on his second solo album, “McCartney II“, released in 1980.

Paul McCartney in The Beatles – The Dream is Over: Off The Record 2, by Keith Badman:

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. 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.

While the version of “McCartney II” lasts 3:39, a version lasting 5:43 was available on bootlegs before its official release on “McCartney II – Archive Collection” in 2011.

‘Nobody Knows’ is craziness, ‘Summer’s Day Song’ is craziness, ‘Frozen Jap’ is craziness, ‘Bogey Music’ is craziness.

Paul McCartney, from McCartney II Archive Collection, 2011

Officially appears on

Bootlegs

Live performances

Paul McCartney has never played this song in concert.

Going further

Paul McCartney: Music Is Ideas. The Stories Behind the Songs (Vol. 1) 1970-1989

With 25 albums of pop music, 5 of classical – a total of around 500 songs – released over the course of more than half a century, Paul McCartney's career, on his own and with Wings, boasts an incredible catalogue that's always striving to free itself from the shadow of The Beatles. The stories behind the songs, demos and studio recordings, unreleased tracks, recording dates, musicians, live performances and tours, covers, events: Music Is Ideas Volume 1 traces McCartney's post-Beatles output from 1970 to 1989 in the form of 346 song sheets, filled with details of the recordings and stories behind the sessions. Accompanied by photos, and drawing on interviews and contemporary reviews, this reference book draws the portrait of a musical craftsman who has elevated popular song to an art-form.

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