there are many small and big factors that influenced the craze of East Asia culture in the Western pop industry: some songs where referencing to war conflicts e.g. Cambodian, Vietnam wars; in the U.S. asian population grew by 70% in the 80s; Japan was the leading exporter of computers, sound systems, photo cameras, other electronic devices - Japan was seen as a country of the future; the new romantics were always in search of ways to breathe new life into their wardrobe - the aesthetics of traditional asian looks were a great influence on them.
I got inspired by Radiolab's Colors episode to make not a simple song mix, but rather a song collage just to introduce you with the variety of songs which refer to East Asia.
song list:
(0.20) David Bowie - China Girl
(0.50) Brian Ice - Tokyo
(1.09) The Vapours - Turning Japanese
(1.23) Japan - Visions of China
(1.45) Lee Marrow - Shanghai
(2.02) Fancy - Chinese Eyes
(2.21) Vivabeat - Man from China
(2.34) Mozzart - Jasmin China Girl
(2.43) Men Without Hats - Living in China
(3.00) The Synthetics - Japanese Toys
(3.10) Devo - Mongoloid
(4.25) Siouxsie and the Banshees - Hong Kong Garden
(4.41) The Creatures - Japan
(4.57) A Flock of Seagulls - Tokyo
(5.13) Go West - Chinese Whispers
(5.29) Kim Wilde - Cambodia
(5.45) The Adicts - Chinese Takeaway
(5.54) Rational Youth - Holiday in Bangkok
(6.10) Vicious Pink Phenomena - My Private Tokyo
(6.28) Murray Head - One Night in Bangkok
(6.50) Japan - Life in Tokyo
(7.09) The Dead Milkmen - Beach Party Vietnam
(7.23) Heaven 17 - Geisha Boys And Temple Girls
(7.39) The Flirts - Oriental Boy
(7.58) Pel Mel - No Word from China
(8.10) Dead Kennedys - Holiday in Cambodia
(8.20) Aneka - Japanese Boy
(8.43) Fun Fun - Living in Japan
(8.58) Level 42 - The Chinese Way
(9.14) Red Rockets - China