Do you listen to music in other languages?

[Skeptisk]

I mean other than English.

I can’t recall many non English language songs getting into the charts when I was growing up. Even European bands generally sang in English (eg ABBA).

I’ve listened to stuff in various languages - mainly Hindi, German, French, Spanish and Japanese - but have very limited knowledge. I found out recently that one song I liked from a French Swiss singer was actually a cover of a Mylene Farmer record…and when I googled her found out that she is the biggest artist in France yet I had never heard of her.

[Jordie Barretts sock]

Ça Plane Pour Moi

99 Luftballons

We Speak No Americano

La Bamba

[CharlesdeGaulle]

I've got quite a few foreign language songs on my playlist. If I hear a song I like on holiday or when travelling I just add it. I don't need to understand the lyrics to like a song.

[generationx]

I spend a lot of time in Cologne, Germany which is the epicentre for Karneval and the related music. There is no escape from the amount of bilge they churn out here, which most locals, inexplicably, love.

[MitchT]

Love the first two albums by Alizée - upbeat French synth-pop produced with Mylène Farmer. She switched to a guitar/indie sound after that which didn't do anything for me, but those first two albums are still high on my playlist a good two decades after their release.

[DodgyGeezer]

One word:

Rammstein

[worsy]

Yes

Rammstein of course



plus I went on German Exchange twice in the 80s and brought back a few cassettes of BAP

[dudleybloke]

I can remember my mother having a fit because she thought the lyrics to Rock Me Amadeus was swearing.

[HIAO]

My children are fans of Stromae, a Belgian artist who blends hip hop, rap and electro music. I liked his ´Alors on danse´

In the French speaking part of Switzerland, there’s a lot of French influence on music, and some rappers use English and French lyrics.

[Prisoner 24601]

I do not speak French, but I love listening to:

Zaz!

Couer de Pirate

[DodgyGeezer]

Also quite keen on other German rock stuff as below..

[harrycovert]

Eros Ramazzotti

[Funk]

I listen to quite a bit of music in Italian and French (I don't speak those though). Typically opera, jazz manouche etc. eg.

[DodgyGeezer]

These lads sing quite a bit in Maori...

[Skeptisk]

harrycovert said:

Eros Ramazzotti

My wife was a fan when we lived in Switzerland (where he was played on the radio).

[Ryyy]

A lot ofcommon ones already listed but...

Gasolina
Macarena
The ketchup song is a 50/50.

[Skeptisk]

worsy said:

Yes

Rammstein of course
]

Yes definitely Rammstein

https://youtu.be/qA7Gg2b1V60?si=KP_BE4wqGSE6EeOp

Lyrics to this one is definitely out there.

[Skeptisk]

MitchT said:

Love the first two albums by Alizée - upbeat French synth-pop produced with Mylène Farmer. She switched to a guitar/indie sound after that which didn't do anything for me, but those first two albums are still high on my playlist a good two decades after their release.

I only know two of her songs. Moi Lolita and one I can’t recall the name of (odd lyrics about bathtub but also extremists).

[MitchT]

Skeptisk said:

I only know two of her songs. Moi Lolita and one I can’t recall the name of (odd lyrics about bathtub but also extremists).

"J'en ai marre" mentions a courgette, which always amuses me, not least because she's very cute and I can't help feeling slightly jealous of the courgette, based on what I'd like to think she's doing with it!

[johnpsanderson]

Discovered https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Malacates_Trébo... when at Uni (one of my housemates was big into ska), listened to their first album a lot despite not understanding a word. Also found https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manu_Chao who switches across languages a bit. And the Buena Vista Social Club album.

Other than that can only think of songs sung in other languages by artists who usually sing in English: Champs Elysees by Nofx; Chris Cornell with his French version of “Can’t Change Me”.