ubit Posted January 30, 2019 Author Posted January 30, 2019 I think some people are misunderstanding my point. Or at least bending the rules. We all know that songs sung in English are more popular, certainly in the Western World. Also English is one of the best languages for rhyming. Yes, there may be languages that are more common, like Mandarin or possibly Spanish. That is not in dispute. My point was that there are plenty of good songs out there that are sung in different languages and if you ignore them because they are sung in a foreign language, you are depriving yourself of a plethora of excellent tunes. 7 Quote
Guest oZZma Posted January 30, 2019 Posted January 30, 2019 (edited) 48 minutes ago, Rich said: Yes, the question was is it good. Your main argument seems to be about commercial success, which is something else entirely. I don't value commercial success as a parameter of quality. I don't care about it at all. But I must say I have observed the same phenomenon in genres that are not even much lyrics-driven and where enthusiasts are quite open-minded. Quote English is one of the best languages for rhyming Yes. I'm not a native English speaker so I'm not "ignoring", for example, bands singing in my language. I have listened tons of them. And yet, they ALWAYS sound worse than bands singing in English. Even if the music is good Edited January 30, 2019 by oZZma Quote
Billy Apple Posted January 30, 2019 Posted January 30, 2019 I like those funny foreign songs where the bloke with the beard sings 'Boom Bang a Bang' and then the pretty lady bends over. Or something. Usually Dutch or German 4 Quote
Leonard Smalls Posted January 30, 2019 Posted January 30, 2019 1 hour ago, oZZma said: But I must say I have observed the same phenomenon in genres that are not even much lyrics-driven and where enthusiasts are quite open-minded. Sometimes! However, an English version can sometimes sound cheesey and a bit trite. Like this! And some songs just wouldn't sound right in translation... Quote
Rich Posted January 30, 2019 Posted January 30, 2019 (edited) Just think how much more successful this would have been if it was in English. Edited January 30, 2019 by Rich 1 3 Quote
Guest oZZma Posted January 30, 2019 Posted January 30, 2019 1 minute ago, Leonard Smalls said: However, an English version can sometimes sound cheesey and a bit trite. Like this! And some songs just wouldn't sound right in translation... yeah, I agree, especially on these two examples!! Anyways I listed before German among the languages that IMO sound better than others for music Quote
Leonard Smalls Posted January 30, 2019 Posted January 30, 2019 3 minutes ago, oZZma said: German among the languages that IMO sound better than others for music Not just German! This works well when it goes all furrin' at 3'25 And French? In rap? Surely not! Quote
Guest oZZma Posted January 30, 2019 Posted January 30, 2019 2 minutes ago, Leonard Smalls said: Not just German! This works well when it goes all furrin' at 3'25 And French? In rap? Surely not I prefer not to pronounce myself on genres I dislike in any case Quote
BreadBin Posted January 30, 2019 Posted January 30, 2019 99 Red Balloons sounds loads better in German - it doesn't scan properly in English. 1 Quote
ubit Posted January 30, 2019 Author Posted January 30, 2019 55 minutes ago, BreadBin said: 99 Red Balloons sounds loads better in German - it doesn't scan properly in English. Same with Trust Antisocial. Just fits in French. The English version is lame sounding 1 Quote
Owen Posted January 30, 2019 Posted January 30, 2019 10 hours ago, BreadBin said: Her last album was Cornish, but she has released in Welsh too. Obv, you are correct! Quote
RedVee Posted January 30, 2019 Posted January 30, 2019 7 hours ago, Rich said: Yes, the question was is it good. Your main argument seems to be about commercial success, which is something else entirely. I disagree with you there! If you read my posts again I have mentioned that I personally like to understand what the lyrics are all about in a song. There is no commercial aspect to that, but I aint going to argue about it. Some people will like it and others won't and that goes for most things. Quote
bartelby Posted January 30, 2019 Posted January 30, 2019 (edited) 1 hour ago, ubit said: Same with Trust Antisocial. Just fits in French. The English version is lame sounding Anthrax's version seems to work fine (IMHO obvs ) Edited January 30, 2019 by bartelby 1 Quote
ubit Posted January 30, 2019 Author Posted January 30, 2019 1 hour ago, bartelby said: Anthrax's version seems to work fine (IMHO obvs ) Sorry I still think it sounds better in French. Went on to check it out and found this 1 Quote
Billy Apple Posted January 30, 2019 Posted January 30, 2019 3 hours ago, ubit said: Same with Trust Antisocial. Just fits in French. The English version is lame sounding 100% correct. 1 Quote
Leonard Smalls Posted January 30, 2019 Posted January 30, 2019 1 hour ago, RedVee said: I personally like to understand what the lyrics are all about in a song Each to their own! But I find many lyrics to be so deep'n'meaningless that they'd be better in Swahili, then I wouldn't have to hear quite how cheesey they were... However, sometimes cheese in any language can be quite entertaining: And sometimes no specific language is worth a listen... Quote
BassTractor Posted January 30, 2019 Posted January 30, 2019 (edited) I'n on the fence in this. Never liked "Sie liebt dich, jawohl, Herr Obersturmtruppenführer, jawohl, Herr Obersturmtruppenführer, jawohl, Herr Obersturmtruppenführer", but could appreciate the English version "She loves you, yeah, yeah, yeah". Edited January 31, 2019 by BassTractor Quote
SpondonBassed Posted January 30, 2019 Posted January 30, 2019 9 hours ago, Billy Apple said: I like those funny foreign songs where the bloke with the beard sings 'Boom Bang a Bang' and then the pretty lady bends over. You mean Lulu used to have a beard and lesbian tendencies? Scandalous! Quote
Billy Apple Posted January 30, 2019 Posted January 30, 2019 4 minutes ago, SpondonBassed said: You mean Lulu used to have a beard and lesbian tendencies? Scandalous! More this kind of stylee... Quote
SpondonBassed Posted January 30, 2019 Posted January 30, 2019 Much better in German, the lyrics pop more: Quote
Rich Posted January 31, 2019 Posted January 31, 2019 12 hours ago, BreadBin said: 99 Red Balloons sounds loads better in German - it doesn't scan properly in English. The German lyrics are rrrrreally weird if you translate them. If you have some time for me Then I will sing a song for you About ninety-nine balloons On their way to the horizon Do you think of me now? Then I will sing a song for you About ninety-nine balloons And that such a thing comes from such a thing Ninety-nine balloons On their way to the horizon Were taken for UFOs from space Hence, a general sent A squadron after them To give the alarm But there on the horizon Were just ninety-nine balloons Ninety-nine jet fighters Each was a great warrior Regarded themselves as Captain Kirk There was a great display of fireworks The neighbors didn't understand And soon felt offended Then they shot at the horizon At ninety-nine balloons Ninety-nine ministers of war Matches and petrol canisters Regarded themselves as clever people Already on the scent of fat quarry They shouted, "War," and wanted power Man, who would have thought That someday it would come this far Because of ninety-nine balloons 99 years of war Left no place for winners War ministers don't exist anymore And not one jet Today I stroll around See the world in ruins I've found a balloon I think about you and let it fly Quote
BreadBin Posted January 31, 2019 Posted January 31, 2019 @Rich they are really odd, aren't they! Quote
ChrisLovatt Posted January 31, 2019 Posted January 31, 2019 I don't know if anyone's already mentioned these but I've listened to Papanegro a fair bit over the years and loved their funky basslines They do sing some songs in English too. I.AM.GOD in particular is a snazzy little number. Quote
Mykesbass Posted February 4, 2019 Posted February 4, 2019 Another great way is to use a small amount of a non-English language as a highlight. Fabulous example here helping to bring out the true melancholy that the original track possibly didn't convey. Quote
ubit Posted April 24, 2020 Author Posted April 24, 2020 Who can forget this old classic? I still think he is saying Mungo c**t at one point right enough! 1 Quote
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