Lost In Japan

"Lost In Japan" is a song about spontaneous, all-consuming romantic longing and the willingness to go to great lengths for a connection. The lyrics narrate the story of the singer being captivated by someone who is physically far away, specifically in Japan. Overcome by this infatuation, he contemplates dropping everything to fly across the world just to spend a few hours with them. The core message revolves around taking bold risks for love and acting on impulse when feelings are strong. It's about closing the distance for a person you can't stop thinking about. Beyond the literal narrative, the song serves as a metaphor for getting lost in the feeling of love and attraction for someone. Japan itself functions as more than just a setting; it symbolizes a dreamlike, almost surreal backdrop for this romantic and adventurous gesture, adding a cinematic quality to the song's theme.

The song's narrative begins with the singer directly addressing a person of interest, asking about their plans for the evening. It's immediately established that there is a significant geographical distance between them, with the singer being 'a couple hundred miles from Japan,' where the other person is presumably staying. Despite the distance, the singer is consumed by thoughts of this person, admitting he can't get them off his mind. This fixation leads to a bold and spontaneous idea: he considers booking a flight to their hotel that very night. The core of his motivation is a powerful infatuation and a desire to close the physical gap separating them.

The chorus amplifies this feeling of impulsive romance and longing. The singer imagines getting 'lost' in the other person's 'paradise,' a metaphor for being completely enveloped in their presence and the intimacy they could share. The repetition of the line 'I can't get you off my mind' reinforces the obsessive nature of his thoughts. He also speaks of a palpable tension between them, something sharp and undeniable 'like a knife,' suggesting a relationship that is more than just friendship. He feels a need to convince his love interest to stay awake for his arrival, emphasizing the fleeting and precious nature of the 'couple hours' they might have together before he has to leave again.

The verses further illustrate the depth of his feelings and the cinematic quality of his romantic impulse. He envisions them being in the 'same time zone' after just 'one flight,' highlighting how close they could be. He admits to looking through their social media timeline, seeing their pictures ('all the rainbows, eyes'), which fuels his 'crazy' idea to fly out to see them. The song is a direct proposition, a hopeful and slightly shy plea wrapped in a confident, groovy soundscape. The repeated question, 'Do you got plans tonight?' serves as a recurring motif, a direct line cast out in hopes of a connection. The entire lyrical journey is about the willingness to take a significant risk, to act on a powerful feeling of attraction and affection, no matter the distance or logistical hurdles. It's a declaration that for a chance at a few hours together, crossing the globe is a price he's willing to pay.

"Lost In Japan" was written by Shawn Mendes, Scott Harris, Nate Mercereau, and Teddy Geiger. The production was handled by Mendes, Mercereau, Geiger, and Louis Bell. The song was released on March 23, 2018, just one day after the release of "In My Blood," as the second single from his self-titled third studio album. Mendes explained that he wanted to give his fans another song right away, inspired in part by Ed Sheeran's dual release strategy.

The inspiration for the song came from two main sources: a dream and the music of Justin Timberlake. Mendes stated in an interview, "I had this dream that I was lost in this country and I woke up the next day and we had this cool piano part and the song was birthed." He was also listening to a lot of Justin Timberlake's album Justified at the time, which heavily influenced the song's funk and R&B-infused sound. The song started as a "slow, piano-driven number" before evolving into the more passionate, hook-laden track that was released. Mendes described the creative process as a 45-minute burst of inspiration where he felt he could experiment with his voice and musical style, pushing himself to a new level.

The rhythmic and rhyming structure of "Lost In Japan" is crucial to its catchy, pop-funk feel.

Rhythm: The song has a tempo of around 104-108 beats per minute, creating an upbeat yet smooth pace that's easy to dance to. The rhythm is built around a syncopated and groovy bassline that provides a funky pulse throughout the track. This contrasts with the softer, piano-led introduction, creating a dynamic shift that grabs the listener's attention. The interplay between the steady pop drum beat and the funk-infused bass creates a compelling and modern dance-pop rhythm.

Rhyme Scheme: The rhyme scheme is relatively straightforward, typical of pop music, which enhances its memorability. It primarily uses couplets and simple alternating patterns. For example, in the verses, you see patterns like AABB (zone/timeline, eyes/crazy - slight slant rhyme). The pre-chorus and chorus sections also follow simple, memorable rhyme patterns that make the hook easy to sing along to. For instance, 'knife' and 'right' in the pre-chorus. The focus is less on complex poetic structure and more on creating a fluid, melodic sound that complements the song's romantic and spontaneous vibe.

"Lost In Japan" marks a stylistic evolution for Shawn Mendes, blending his pop sensibilities with new influences.

Literary Techniques:

• Direct Address: The song is written as a direct address to a love interest, using 'you' throughout and opening with the question, 'Do you got plans tonight?' This creates an intimate and personal tone, as if the listener is overhearing a private conversation.
• Rhetorical Questions: Questions like 'Do I gotta convince you?' serve to underscore his eagerness and the perceived hesitation of the other person, adding a layer of playful persuasion to the narrative.
• Imagery: The song uses sensory imagery, such as 'seeing all the rainbows, eyes' from a timeline and the feeling of 'tension we could cut it with a knife,' to create a vivid picture of his longing and the atmosphere between them.

Musical Techniques:

• Genre Fusion: The track is a blend of pop, funk, and R&B, heavily inspired by Justin Timberlake. This was a departure from Mendes' earlier, more acoustic-driven work.
• Instrumentation: It opens with a gentle piano melody before introducing a prominent, funky bassline and groove that drives the song. This shift in instrumentation mirrors the transition from a quiet thought to a decisive, energetic plan.
• Vocal Delivery: Mendes employs a smooth, crooning vocal style, at times bordering on sensual, which complements the intimate and romantic lyrics. His vocal range in the song spans from G3 to C6.
• Arrangement: The song builds dynamically, starting subtly and adding layers of harmonies and background guitars to create a richer, more atmospheric sound as the narrator's obsession and determination grow.

"Lost In Japan" was met with positive critical reception, with many critics praising its funk-infused, mature sound as a welcome evolution for Mendes. It was often highlighted as a standout track on his self-titled album and was named one of the best songs of 2018 by publications like Billboard and Elle. The song charted in over a dozen countries, including the US, UK, Australia, and Canada.

A significant part of its cultural footprint is the official remix featuring DJ and producer Zedd, released in September 2018, which gave the song new life on dance floors and radio. Mendes and Zedd performed the remix at the 2018 American Music Awards.

The most notable cultural impact came from its music video, which is a direct homage to the 2003 Sofia Coppola film Lost in Translation. Mendes reenacts iconic scenes from the movie, playing the part of Bill Murray's character, with actress Alisha Boe from 13 Reasons Why playing Scarlett Johansson's role. This tribute was widely discussed in media and resonated with fans of the film, connecting the song's theme of finding a connection in a foreign land to a well-known cinematic touchstone.

The song uses several key symbols and metaphors to enhance its themes of longing and spontaneity.

• Japan: The country itself is the central symbol. It represents not just a physical distance but an exotic, almost fantastical destination. Being 'Lost in Japan' becomes a metaphor for being completely immersed and lost in the world of another person and the intoxicating feeling of love. It gives the impulsive act a cinematic and adventurous quality.
• Flight/Travel: The act of flying symbolizes the singer's willingness to overcome any obstacle for a chance at connection. The line 'All it'd take is one flight / We'd be in the same time zone' minimizes the vast distance, framing it as a simple action driven by powerful emotion.
• Tension You Could Cut With a Knife: This is a classic metaphor for intense, unspoken feelings. It vividly portrays the palpable romantic or sensual energy between the two individuals, suggesting their connection is much deeper than a simple friendship.
• Paradise: When Mendes sings, 'I was hoping I could get lost in your paradise,' 'paradise' is a metaphor for the blissful, all-encompassing experience of being with his love interest, suggesting a perfect, idyllic state of intimacy.

"Lost In Japan" utilizes several recurring phrases and motifs to reinforce its central theme.

• "Do you got plans tonight?": This question opens the song and is repeated multiple times, acting as the primary lyrical hook and the central proposition of the entire narrative. Its repetition emphasizes the singer's focus and the directness of his romantic impulse.
• "I can't get you off my mind": This phrase is repeated insistently throughout the chorus and bridge, hammering home the obsessive nature of the singer's infatuation. It's the justification for his audacious plan to fly to Japan, serving as the emotional core of the song.
• "Lost in Japan" / "Let's get lost": The title phrase and its variation in the bridge serve as the song's central motif. It works on two levels: the literal idea of being in Japan, and the metaphorical idea of becoming completely absorbed in the romance and the presence of the other person.
• Musical Motif: The song's main musical motif is the groovy, descending bassline that enters after the piano intro. This funky riff is instantly recognizable and defines the song's character, recurring throughout to maintain the cool, confident, and slightly sensual atmosphere.