NationStates Jolt Archive

Pretty self- explanatory... what is you favourite non-English song, and what do you like best about it?

I've got a few, my favourite German song is "Alt wie ein Baum", by the Pudhys. I like the melody, and I love the lyrics. It's a bit old, but still lovely to listen to.
My favourite Austrian song - at the moment - is "Loch amoi", by Georg Danzer. Slow, and sad without being actually sad.

Favourite French song - well, Quebecois really, to be precise, is "Rive Sud" by Beau Dommage.
Also, "Voila l'ete" by Les Negresses Vertes.

For Italian, I would go for "Azuro" sung by Adriano Celentano.

So, what's yours?

I actually haven't heard many non-English songs.

Numa numa song.

Le Chant de l'Hélium by Marie-Jo Thério

I also like Plantation by Kana and Les Abellies by Jeremie Kisling

Gruppa krovi by Gruppa Kino.

I just like it.

"As Renunta" by Nicolae Guta and Carmen Serban is my favourite non-English song... it's Romanian.

It's mixed English, but I do like A Sto'r Mo Chroi'.

I also like Mitternacht and of course a whole bunch of Japanese songs.

I don't listen to much non-English music, since I won't understand the lyrics.

However, the sheer force of awesomenss means that I make an exception for the following:

"Labyrinth" by Oomph! (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FkoQ8-m9i3Q)
"Viðrar vel til loftárása" by Sigur Rós (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=34ZtT4Th9Ys&feature=related)

In both cases, it helps that there's a good video and translations available so I can understand what the song is about.

EDIT: And of course Numa Numa...anyone who claims they don't like that is a big fat LIAR :)
EDIT 2: Oh, yes and Liva, one of my favourite bands, their lyrics are in Latin. Not sure how I forgot that.

Pretty self- explanatory... what is you favourite non-English song, and what do you like best about it?
Embarrassingly enough, it'd be Plastic Bertrand's Ca plane pour moi (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UPU7PQ96D8s&feature=related). :$

I was 6 years old when I first heard it, and became obsessed with it despite not knowing what any of the words meant at the time. What I like about it is that I still find it unbelievably infectious, and I always end up with a stupid grin on my face when it pops up on my iPod :p

A Minha Menina by the great Os Mutantes

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5UP6gfLGcgw&feature=related

nice dancing young man

Ashe zu Ashe by Rammstein.

Funny thing is, I'm not much of a metal-head otherwise.

Probably something from Korpiklaani. Midsummer Night or Tervaskanto or something.

Numa numa song.
It's officially called "dragostea din tei", but that's just a detail of course.

I think I know too many non-english songs to be able to pick one. Might have something to do with living in a non-english-speaking country.

Does instrumental music count? That would make it even harder to choose.

Ummm anything by AC/DC. What, they're not English, they're Ozzies!

Lots of stuff in Latin... :$

Hmm... lots of songs and bands I've never heard off.
I shall spend some time tonight looking them up, and listening into their songs. Thanks. :D

Nessun Dorma!

Embarrassingly enough, it'd be Plastic Bertrand's Ca plane pour moi (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UPU7PQ96D8s&feature=related). :$

I was 6 years old when I first heard it, and became obsessed with it despite not knowing what any of the words meant at the time. What I like about it is that I still find it unbelievably infectious, and I always end up with a stupid grin on my face when it pops up on my iPod :p

Don't be ashamed of it! I've loved that tune ever since i heard it at the end of the film-documentary Claire's Hat.

I think my favourites are probably Les Champs-Elysees by Joe Dassin, and Phashanti by Philip Glass and Ravi Shankar.

If we're going non-classical, then probably something by Zulya and the Children of the Underground, Australia's finest trilingual Russian/Tatar eastern European pop-folk fusion outfit.

Of the Russian-language songs, I'm particularly fond of Танго белого ветра (White Wind Tango).

Audio samples of songs in all three of her languages may be found here (http://www.zulya.com/mp3.htm).

I find the more recent stuff (particularly off 3 Nights) tends to be better, but that may be a taste thing.

Its a tie between Chaya Chaya by (I THINK) Prematho, and 1ожалла я Маршо/Death or Freedom (http://chechenpress.info/nohchicho/gimn/gimn.mp3) (No idea who sings it, but its a Chechen Independence song that was eventually adopted as the defacto national Anthem, despite not being very "anthemly").


They're both great. Another good one is, I believe, called Hunger by Hans Zimmer. Its in Swahili and can be found on the Black Hawk Down soundtrack.

In before J-pop!

Peja Slums Attack - Byc Nie Miec
Pit Baccardi - Si J'Etais

Well, my second favourite is Inner Universe by Yoko Kanno - but I don't think that counts as J-Pop, being real rock, just Japanese.

Radioaktivität by Kraftwerk.

For Spanish: "Si Te Vas" - Shakira.
It sounds so upbeat and happy, but if you actually pay enough attention to the lyrics (I have to really focus to understand Spanish), the song is very bitter.

For French: "Nevrose" - Misanthrope.
My French is practically nonexistent, so I have no idea what is being said, but the instruments are awesome.

For German: "Sonne" - Rammstein.

I rather like "La Marseillaise." Admittedly, this is largely because of that one scene in Casablanca. You know the one. An odd reason to like the song? Perhaps! But I absolutely love that movie.

I also rather like a few songs by Rammstein, though I'll have to get back to you as to which I like best.

"Viðrar vel til loftárása" by Sigur Rós (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=34ZtT4Th9Ys&feature=related)

I likes Glósóli (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=doc1eqstMQQ) best myself, but that's still up my top ten. I adore Sigur Rós.

Radioaktivität by Kraftwerk.
The more modern version or the classic one?


Kraftwerk has done a lot of good shit - Roboter, computerwelt, etc..


However, this topic is silly:
- Does the language matter when the music is good?
- What about instrumentals or classical music?
- What about incoherent vocals? Few pieces by eg. Pink Floyd would fit rather nicely here... :tongue:


Well, fo' shits an' giggles:
Here's Alla Pugacheva and Million Alih Roz (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oIFmhye6fqw), Eppu Normaali with Kitara, Taivas ja Tähdet (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZfDCfF8GWr8), PMMP's jolly Pikkuveli (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W7E3jsATXO4) an' a short bit of Liekki playing Pienokainen (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UEOR5Yf6_wk)

edit:
Might as well give something that's more akin to my normal taste:
Flower Travellin' Band - Satori (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z5SG8LlIqoY&feature=related)

Rammstein - Du Hast (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=doTBT46wMvA&feature=channel_page)

Kraftwerk has done a lot of good shit - Roboter, computerwelt, etc..

Das Hokey Pokey! (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LKtxg1D7vZw):p

Das Hokey Pokey! (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LKtxg1D7vZw):p
No, no, no!

We are the Kraftwurst! (http://www.rathergood.com/kraftwurst)

Senor Coconut (http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=senor+coconut&search=Search) also is a qualified Kraftwerk coverer. :tongue:

I listen to a lot of Reggaeton, so probably something from that genre.

To name a few of my favourites:

Loituma: Ievan Polkka (Nordic/Finnish)
X-Japan: Say Anything (J-pop, and yes, the title is English, but the lyrics are Japanese)
Manu Chao: Clandestino
Clannad: Teidhir Abhaile Riú

btw. does a German Instrumental qualify? :tongue:

Klaus Schulze - Friedrich Nietzsche: 11 minutes of the 18 minute original (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jb42iIKxlHA)

Ysbeidiau Heulog (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NwxMpHhv1O4) by Super Furry Animals. And the rest of their Welsh album 'Mwng'.

I listen to a lot of Reggaeton, so probably something from that genre.

What Reggaeton? What hell is that? I listen to a lot of Reggea, SKA, lovers rock, and roots, but what the hell are you talking about?

Something from J. Karjalainen. Here's his ode to Spain:

J. Karjalainen-Espanja (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0x5ezNh45pQ)

Esta Soy Yo: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a8oEpwAGZUk

What Reggaeton? What hell is that? I listen to a lot of Reggea, SKA, lovers rock, and roots, but what the hell are you talking about?

It is a Latin American genre based on reggae, lyrics quite often in Spanish.

French:
Le vent nous portera (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hIkXK6rxt4c) by Noir Desir
Complainte de la Butte (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wpkdukTWS80) as sung by Rufus Wainwright

Spanish (well, they're instrumental only):
De Ushuaia a la Quiaca (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=53n0gNvgHN8) and Apertura (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0FNlQ7zz8q4)by Gustavo Santaolalla

German:
Denkmal (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ht_Gbt7FUrQ)by Wir sind Helden
Emanuela (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mP_O3dajonU) by Fettes Brot

I'm guessing stuff by Mono doesn't count? (No vocals).

Let's see...Esquirol by Ska-P (as it's in Spanish and I've never bothered finding a translation, I don't know if it's about the French doctor or not), Helden (cover of Bowie's Heroes) by Apocalyptica, and Zwitter by Rammstein (which, looking at a translation, is frankly hilarious).

*insert scandinavian black metal song here*

For reasons of sentiment alone, Sehnsucht ist unheilbar (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=46D36jpZpS0)by Juliane Werding.

It was the first german song that I translated, way back in high school. I really have no idea who the person is (although I just read her wiki, or tried to anyways. The wiki translation is made of fail, and gives me a headache. Und mein Deutsch ist ganz rostig, so kann Ich das nicht lesen. :p ), or if the song had any measure of success (although I assume that it had to have been somewhat successful, otherwise my teacher wouldn't have ended up with it). (Upon further review, it appears to have peaked at # 17 on the german charts in 1986. So I guess it wasn't all that big of a hit.)

So I guess that's my favorite non-english song. I'm curious to know if any of the NSG German crowd has heard of it (or her).

For reasons of sentiment alone, Sehnsucht ist unheilbar (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=46D36jpZpS0)by Juliane Werding.

It was the first german song that I translated, way back in high school. I really have no idea who the person is (although I just read her wiki, or tried to anyways. The wiki translation is made of fail, and gives me a headache. Und mein Deutsch ist ganz rostig, so kann Ich das nicht lesen. :p ), or if the song had any measure of success (although I assume that it had to have been somewhat successful, otherwise my teacher wouldn't have ended up with it). (Upon further review, it appears to have peaked at # 17 on the german charts in 1986. So I guess it wasn't all that big of a hit.)

So I guess that's my favorite non-english song. I'm curious to know if any of the NSG German crowd has heard of it (or her).
Wow, a flash from the past. I don't remember the song you posted but I remember being a big fan of hers because of this song (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tBVO1gH0bXY), a cover of Mike Oldfield's "Moonlight Shadow" - not that I think I knew that at the time. Unless I'm making shit up, it came with a cheesy video full of mysteriously romantic imagery, which I loved. I was 10 years old, so give me a break. :tongue:

Pretty self- explanatory... what is you favourite non-English song, and what do you like best about it? So, what's yours?
"Der Mond ist aufgegangen" - brings back childhood memories. ;)
"Ode an die Freude" - it's the most powerful piece of music. Goosebumbs.

I've got a few, my favourite German song is "Alt wie ein Baum", by the Pudhys.
Oh Gott! :eek::eek::eek: Ich bin erschüttert! :p
I like the melody, and I love the lyrics. It's a bit old, but still lovely to listen to.
Now I've got that in my head without even listening to it. :mad:

German:
Emanuela (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mP_O3dajonU) by Fettes Brot
Laß die Finger von Owomoyela :tongue:

Seeed - Wir sind Seeed (Reeemix) (http://www.myvideo.de/watch/5637648/Seeed_Wir_sind_Seeed_Reeemix): I love this video just for the opening sequence when the curtain drops and the crowd goes nuts!
Seeed - Dancehall Caballeros (http://www.myvideo.de/watch/5638327/Seeed_Dancehall_Caballeros): Kicks ass. And the lights are so BRIGHT!
Seeed - Aufstehn (http://www.myvideo.de/watch/5637656/Seeed_Aufstehn): Good start in the morning.
Seeed - Großhirn (http://www.myvideo.de/watch/5637657/Seeed_Grosshirn): Feel like this sometimes.
Seeed - Schwinger (http://www.myvideo.de/watch/5637645/Seeed_Schwinger): Makes me feel good. *nods*
Seeed - Psychedelic Kingdom (http://www.myvideo.de/watch/5637659/Seeed_Psychodelic_Kingdom): Another one of those mood-uppers.


I don't listen much to German music, let alone music sung in languages I don't speak. Seeed is an excellent exception which I had the profound pleasure of watching live even before they became big here. Amazing sound (huge band) and great show. (Also, it's a nice counterpart to my otherwise pretty reduced listening range of classic and metal.)

Seed - Badabash Interlude (http://www.myvideo.de/watch/5637652/Seeed_Bababash_Interlude): Something for the eyes. As is the following one:
Shake Baby Shake (http://www.myvideo.de/watch/5637653/Seeed_Shake_Baby_Shake): If you can sit still while watching this, you're dead!
Seeed - Diseases (http://www.myvideo.de/watch/5638325/Seeed_Diseases): While not in German, the bass makes it worthwhile.

Didn't realize that Warner Music posted the whole concert DVD. Great. I love my DVD of this.

In Hindi: Silsila Yeh Chaahat Ka (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5fEXUSw49H8) I forget who sings it, but the film it's taken from is amazing. This song contains everything that makes Bollywood so intriguing.

In Italian: Ascolta il tuo cuore by Laura Pausini. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mqDJfzIIGRI&feature=related) I am of the firm opinion that Italian should be sung, always.

In French (and some Arabic): Aicha by Cheb Khaled. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iIyyPsqRweE&feature=related)

"Garde tes trésors. Moi, je veux mieux que tout ca. Des barreaux sont des barreaux, même en or. Je veux les mêmes droits que toi. Et du respect pour chaque jour. Moi, je ne veux que de l'amour. Aaaah!"

In Swedish... too hard to choose.

The more modern version or the classic one?
1991 mix.

Ysbeidiau Heulog (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NwxMpHhv1O4) by Super Furry Animals. And the rest of their Welsh album 'Mwng'.


Ooooooh, Welsh - good one; diolch.

I prefer Gorky's Zygotic Mynci (http://video.google.co.uk/videosearch?hl=en&q=gorkys+zygotic+mynci&um=1&ie=UTF-8&ei=j0iTSZLEM5DRjAfXqvS3Cg&sa=X&oi=video_result_group&resnum=4&ct=title#)

This one has to be "Kuunnellaan vaan taivasta" (direct translation would be: "Let us listen the sky/heaven") from the great Finnish musical artist Hector... Too bad the song is only really impressive if you know what he's saying.

Still, I found the song on Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=89WOlVwyTnA&feature=related

Numa Numa song

Yami no Shuen- Gackt.

Two of my favourites:

Strani Amori by Laura Pausini (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QNsbTEjLpWU)
Parce que c'est toi by Axelle Red (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PVa7P0AnY2c&feature=related)

"The Real Folk Blues" -The Seatbelts

Rammstein*

*technically not German either, but not English

Itsumo Nando

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sYeNNOPYElA

I listen to a lot of non-English music. A recent survey of my iPod has revealed to me that I have a large amount of Italian, German, Gaelic, Romanian, Spanish, and Swedish music.

I'm a Eurodance/Celtic fan, so here's my list:

-"Dragostea Din Tei" (a.k.a. Numa Numa)
-"Neon Licht" (Kraftwerk)
-"Leva's Polka"
-"Aramantine" (Enya)
-"Toute prrmière Fois" (Kate Ryan)
-"Moorea" (Gypsy Kings)
And some more German/French/Spanish songs.

Hùg Air A' Bhonaid Mhòir
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w1I2nCAaodI

"Sto Lat," because it reminds me of Poles, who are hilarious.

its gotta be Freuer frei by rammstein or vladimiri putins propaganda :)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_OFOPd6pgjI

putin song!

What Reggaeton? What hell is that? I listen to a lot of Reggea, SKA, lovers rock, and roots, but what the hell are you talking about?

Reggaeton is Latin American based hip hop more or less.

Example: Zion "Fantasma" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n5JaI28poak

Largo al factotum.

"Eres Tu" by Mocedades

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1s3BIX0duKs&feature=PlayList&p=94E4C391EE5DF4D3&playnext=1&index=41

"Sukiyaki" by Kyu Sakamoto

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RtXQ31F1A-k

Rain (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-O4u07x43hQ), by Gackt.
Passion (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7K6m3TRc8us), Utada Hikaru.
Kodou (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=08ouEonSBkU), Buck-Tick.
Dis-Moi Pourquoi? (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m4QihPWBGnc), Amina.
Yuudachi, Agatsuma Hiromitsu.
Dareka no Negai Ga Kanau Koro (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ll1oJ63xhWI), Utada Hikaru.
Cuardaimís e (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6miaTf1gF4g), Aoife Ní Fherráigh.
Puirt a beul (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O-bPRzqVrSk), Karen Matheson.
Kuroi Torikago (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ixPJo4UIaHY), Wakeshima Kanon.

There are so many!

Im Abendrot
(trans: Evening)

This is the final song in Strauss's Four Last Songs

Music: Richard Strauss
Text: Joseph von Eichendorff
Singer: Jessye Norman
Link (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0BzpoSJ42pM)

Mackie Messer. y'all know it by it's english title, "Mack the Knife". Listen to it in German sometime though. It's damn cool.

Oh, just about anything sung by Andre Bocelli but this is just superbe

Aranuez (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QUzs83HBHb4)

or Pavarotti doing Ave Maria (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2uYrmYXsujI)

In a less classical bent

Hold on Me / Halle Om Mig (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SpyRZayFGug)

and Lucy Lawless's Burial (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Tz2WDAsqyM) - supposedly a version of a Hebrew poem titled Sof Ha'olam

Wow, a flash from the past. I don't remember the song you posted but I remember being a big fan of hers because of this song (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tBVO1gH0bXY), a cover of Mike Oldfield's "Moonlight Shadow" - not that I think I knew that at the time. Unless I'm making shit up, it came with a cheesy video full of mysteriously romantic imagery, which I loved. I was 10 years old, so give me a break. :tongue:


Heh. Thanks for the reply.

I was worried for a moment that she was the Lindsay Lohan of 80's german pop music.

Mima'amakim (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i0PWukxRV8U&feature=related) - Idan Raichel (Hebrew, with some Amharic thrown in for flavor)

KomeKome Club -- Romanhikou: Wonderful melody, excellent harmony, bizaar costumes, and showmanship out the wazoo.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YJ2G87LOz-I

In fact, KomeKome Club has a bunch of great songs.

Here's another of my quirky favorites about a gaijin in Japan for the first time.

Funk Fujiyama

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CPuPT_n8sGM

If the song were good enough, it'd be written in English. -_-

zomg I forgot how much fun this could be!

If the song were good enough, it'd be written in English. -_-

zomg I forgot how much fun this could be!
Oof!

In one short English sentence, you managed to set off a 20 page tirade in my head. But I'll try and keep it simple for you.

The language is different so...
1. The structure is different.
2. The intonation is different.
3. The flow is different.
4. The thought process is different.

Therefore: Many songs don't yield to translation.

Or maybe you believe that all those funny furin people just speak those funny furin languages to annoy all the English speakers who are obviously so superior to them...

<sigh>

It's so hard to communicate when people slam their minds in your face.

Oof!

In one short English sentence, you managed to set off a 20 page tirade in my head. But I'll try and keep it simple for you.

The language is different so...
1. The structure is different.
2. The intonation is different.
3. The flow is different.
4. The thought process is different.

Therefore: Many songs don't yield to translation.

Or maybe you believe that all those funny furin people just speak those funny furin languages to annoy all the English speakers who are obviously so superior to them...

<sigh>

It's so hard to communicate when people slam their minds in you face.
You'd think that when you quoted someone, you'd notice the text hidden in white. Perhaps not, though. . .

Or were you just indulging me? Cuz the reaction truly is half the joy! Actually the more I think about your response the more I think the laughter might make me cry.

Although I AM superior to most people (is science, Forum God can 'splain it to you if need be), so obviously people should strive to be like me and speak the languages I speak.

You'd think that when you quoted someone, you'd notice the text hidden in white. Perhaps not, though. . .

Or were you just indulging me? Cuz the reaction truly is half the joy! Actually the more I think about your response the more I think the laughter might make me cry.

Although I AM superior to most people (is science, Forum God can 'splain it to you if need be), so obviously people should strive to be like me and speak the languages I speak.
Wow!

Sneaky and humble at the same time...I'm impressed. =D

Chiisana Tamhasii (Lisa Ray Furikawa) (jp)
katana (")
gaku raku. (s.h.i.n.t.o.) haven't the slightest idea what its saying but it sounds cool.
kuruturu (") (jp)

kipiki (chyanne50cents) (fr)

Loka (and other ram Bajans) (india)

there's also 3 or 4 form napal i can't find the names of right now.

Wow!

Sneaky and humble at the same time...I'm impressed. =D

What can I say? I'm a girl with talent! :)
aydain, darstu alluCa alCarabia. ahub alluCaat
Also, I studied Arabic. I love languages. I have studied Arabic, French, and Latin, and learned bits of Norwegian, Italian, Spanish, and "chuc mung nam moi!" which is Happy New Year in Vietnamese. I thought obvious troll would be obvious

Im Abendrot
(trans: Evening)

This is the final song in Strauss's Four Last Songs

Music: Richard Strauss
Text: Joseph von Eichendorff
Singer: Jessye Norman
Link (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0BzpoSJ42pM)

Oo, good choice. :)

For Italian, I would go for "Azuro" sung by Adriano Celentano.

It's Azzurro!

Azzurro, il pomeriggio è troppo azzurro
e lungo per me,
Mi accorgo di non avere più risorse
senza di te.
E allora io quasi quasi prendo il treno
e vengo, vengo da te;
Ma il treno dei desideri
nei miei pensieri all'incontrario va.


Anyway, my favourite italian song is "La locomotiva" by Francesco Guccini, a ballad about an anarchist railwayman.
As for french songs, I'll be very standard and say "Et maintenant" by Becaud and "Le deserteur" by Boris Vian (iirc).

hmmm...
Ai Oboete Imasuka
Dogfight
Ai o Kienaide
Ro-ro-ro-Russian Roulette
Mirai No Kioku
Nowhere

and a whole lot more from Anime. :p

Probably something by Rammstein.

It's a toss up between Vaka - Sigur Ros and Oasis - Gackht.

Dragonstea din tea, or Numa Numa Yea by O-zone.

Does it count if the words are -supposed- to be in English, but are completely unintelligible?

A few of mine--

German: "99 Luftballons" by Nena. The original German version is far better than the English version. The politics are a laugh but I always liked the sound, also the image of finding a balloon while the whole world lies in ruins.

Korean:
1) "Uyon" by Baby V.O.X. Lyrically, mostly silly teen-age romance-that-never-quite-was, but again I liked the sound. Also the girls in the band were quite cute. Took me a long time to figure out what they were actually saying, especially the intro which is Spanish spoken in Korean (!). http://www.beautifulvoices.net/ooyon.html (n.b.: English transliteration is pretty confusing.)
2) "Takara" by Uhm Jung-hwa. The singer is basically the Korean version of Madonna. I also liked the way she worked English words into the chorus.

Oo, good choice. :)

Wow! I really didn't think there'd be any likeminded people out there.

Everyone that said the Numa Numa song needs to be punched in the face.

My top list would be pretty much anything by European industrial bands like Rammstein or Cephalgy, a lot of bhangra (Malkit Singh, Lehmber Paji), Croatian dance group Colonia, Gregorian chanting (Latin ftw!), and even a bit of African music. But my absolute favorite would probably be "Alabina" by Alabina (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alabina), a group made up of Spanish band Los Niños de Sara and Israeli singer Ishtar. Great song. :)

It's Azzurro!

Azzurro, il pomeriggio è troppo azzurro
e lungo per me,
Mi accorgo di non avere più risorse
senza di te.
E allora io quasi quasi prendo il treno
e vengo, vengo da te;
Ma il treno dei desideri
nei miei pensieri all'incontrario va.


Anyway, my favourite italian song is "La locomotiva" by Francesco Guccini, a ballad about an anarchist railwayman.
As for french songs, I'll be very standard and say "Et maintenant" by Becaud and "Le deserteur" by Boris Vian (iirc).

Sorry, I don't think I ever saw it spelled out, I only ever heard it... :$

Sorry, I don't think I ever saw it spelled out, I only ever heard it... :$

I'll check and see if I can find the whole lyrics.


Found!


1.Cerco l'estate tutto l'anno
e all'improvviso eccola qua.
Lei è partita per le spiagge
e sono solo quassù in città,
sento fischiare sopra i tetti
un aeroplano che se ne va.

R.Azzurro, il pomeriggio è troppo azzurro
e lungo per me.
Mi accorgo di non avere più risorse,
senza di te,
e allora io quasi quasi prendo il treno
e vengo, vengo da te,
ma il treno dei desideri
nei miei pensieri all'incontrario va.

2.Sembra quand'ero all'oratorio,
con tanto sole, tanti anni fa.
Quelle domeniche da solo
in un cortile, a passeggiar...
ora mi annoio più di allora,
neanche un prete per chiacchierar...

R.

3.Cerco un po' d'Africa in giardino,
tra l'oleandro e il baobab,
come facevo da bambino,
ma qui c'è gente, non si può più,
stanno innaffiando le tue rose,
non c'è il leone, chissà dov'è...

R.

Wow! I really didn't think there'd be any likeminded people out there.

Yeah, I was the one who posted 'Lots of things in Latin' earlier... though many wouldn't be classed as 'songs'.

I love the Four Last Songs. Also, Mahler. Also, something from Schumann's Dichterliebe.

"Tuba Mirum" (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_BuYwbPN3W8&eurl=http://www.last.fm/music/Liva/+videos/+1-_BuYwbPN3W8) by Liva

Yummy orchestral bits? Check
Massive guitar riffs? Check
Death metal, baritone and soprano vocals? Check

Epic. Makes me wish I understood Latin.

Viking metal is way cool. Does part-English count? If so, I like "Lai Lai Hei" by Ensiferum, though only the first verse is in Finnish (the rest in English). If not, my favourite would probably be "Regin Smiður" by Týr (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h5zNK--DUDg), sung in Faroese.

Honourable mentions go to "Trollhammaren" by Finntroll (ironically sung in Swedish), which is a fun song. Also "Kädet Siipinä" by Korpiklaani, sung in Finnish.

Yeah, I was the one who posted 'Lots of things in Latin' earlier... though many wouldn't be classed as 'songs'.

I love the Four Last Songs. Also, Mahler. Also, something from Schumann's Dichterliebe.

Another much loved piece is Der Abschied from "Das Lied von der Erde". (I have been accused of liking morbid music.)

I'm not familiar with Dichterliebe.

O Fortuna
velut luna
statu variabilis,
semper crescis
aut decrescis;
vita detestabilis
nunc obdurat
et tunc curat
ludo mentis aciem,
egestatem,
potestatem
dissolvit ut glaciem.

Sors immanis
et inanis,
rota tu volubilis,
status malus,
vana salus
semper dissolubilis,
obumbrata
et velata
michi quoque niteris;
nunc per ludum
dorsum nudum
fero tui sceleris.

Sors salutis
et virtutis
michi nunc contraria,
est affectus
et defectus
semper in angaria.
Hac in hora
sine mora
corde pulsum tangite;
quod per sortem
sternit fortem,
mecum omnes plangite!

O Fortuna
velut luna
statu variabilis,
semper crescis
aut decrescis;
vita detestabilis
nunc obdurat
et tunc curat
ludo mentis aciem,
egestatem,
potestatem
dissolvit ut glaciem.

Sors immanis
et inanis,
rota tu volubilis,
status malus,
vana salus
semper dissolubilis,
obumbrata
et velata
michi quoque niteris;
nunc per ludum
dorsum nudum
fero tui sceleris.

Sors salutis
et virtutis
michi nunc contraria,
est affectus
et defectus
semper in angaria.
Hac in hora
sine mora
corde pulsum tangite;
quod per sortem
sternit fortem,
mecum omnes plangite!

I'm not sure you can call that a song. It's a chorus piece. Very large chorus piece.

I'm not sure you can call that a song. It's a chorus piece. Very large chorus piece.

It's from the Carmina Burana (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carmina_Burana) so technically, it is a song.

Hmm I have two favorite non-English songs:

The first: Bachata Rosa by Juan Luis Guerra

Te regalo una rosa, la encontré en el camino
no sé si está desnuda o tiene un solo vestido
no, no lo sé
Si la riega el verano o se embriaga de olvido
si alguna vez fue amada o tiene amores escondidos

Ay, ayayay, amor
eres la rosa que me da calor
eres el sueño de mi soledad
un letargo de azul
un eclipse de mar, pero...
Ay, ayayay, amor
yo soy satélite y tú eres mi sol
un universo de agua mineral
un espacio de luz
que sólo llenas tú, ay amor

Ayayayay...

Te regalo mis manos, mis párpados caídos
el beso más profundo el que se ahoga en un gemido,

oh

Te regalo un otoño un día entre Abril y Junio
un rayo de ilusiones un corazón al desnudo

Ay, ayayay, amor
eres la rosa que me da calor
eres el sueño de mi soledad
un letargo de azul
un eclipse de mar, vida...
Ay, ayayay, amor
yo soy satélite y tú eres mi sol
un universo de agua mineral
un espacio de luz
que sólo llenas tú, ay amor

I like it because it's a beautiful song, and I occasionally sing it to my wife ;)

And the second is the theme from The Macross Movie (Hold the cheese, it's a damn good song!) "Do You Remember Love?" Which is in Japanese, and even before I found a translation the song is so well done that you can get a sense of it even without knowing any Japanese.

I'm not sure you can call that a song. It's a chorus piece. Very large chorus piece.
How is it not a song? It's got musical arrangement, and words. Is that not a song in its simplest form?

Well, I have a million. I listen to songs in English, German, Spanish and Italian/French, in about that order.

Since there are too many to list, I'll just state the ones I'm currently listening to:

Monchy Y Alexandra - Hasta El Final (Bachata) (Que cancion tan bonita!)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QWcZBy_mDEQ

Sido - Herz (So ein geiles Lied! Ich finds echt lustig daß er sagt" Alle tragen echte Nikes und dur nur die aus Polen" :p )
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-ikcvxhaDBg

For Spanish: "Si Te Vas" - Shakira.
It sounds so upbeat and happy, but if you actually pay enough attention to the lyrics (I have to really focus to understand Spanish), the song is very bitter.
Fiddlesticks and fish, I just have to say I have been listening to that song and it's awesome.

For German: "Sonne" - Rammstein.
Nice!

Try this one from Rammstein and see if you like it:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xn6RDtQGnC4

Hmm I have two favorite non-English songs:

The first: Bachata Rosa by Juan Luis Guerra

Te regalo una rosa, la encontré en el camino
no sé si está desnuda o tiene un solo vestido
no, no lo sé
Si la riega el verano o se embriaga de olvido
si alguna vez fue amada o tiene amores escondidos

Ay, ayayay, amor
eres la rosa que me da calor
eres el sueño de mi soledad
un letargo de azul
un eclipse de mar, pero...
Ay, ayayay, amor
yo soy satélite y tú eres mi sol
un universo de agua mineral
un espacio de luz
que sólo llenas tú, ay amor

Ayayayay...

Te regalo mis manos, mis párpados caídos
el beso más profundo el que se ahoga en un gemido,

oh

Te regalo un otoño un día entre Abril y Junio
un rayo de ilusiones un corazón al desnudo

Ay, ayayay, amor
eres la rosa que me da calor
eres el sueño de mi soledad
un letargo de azul
un eclipse de mar, vida...
Ay, ayayay, amor
yo soy satélite y tú eres mi sol
un universo de agua mineral
un espacio de luz
que sólo llenas tú, ay amor

I like it because it's a beautiful song, and I occasionally sing it to my wife ;)

Esa canción es tan bonita.

Abel with Onderweg in dutch

Hijo de la luna by mecano in spanish

But i mostly only listen to english songs

Try this one from Rammstein and see if you like it:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xn6RDtQGnC4
Nice, hadn't heard that one. :)

Abel with Onderweg in dutch

Hijo de la luna by mecano in spanish

But i mostly only listen to english songs

If you like the Mecano version of "Hijo de la luna", try to check if you can find the Niña Pastori version. It truly makes your hair stand on end.

Nice, hadn't heard that one. :)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r99HSzZ54PI&feature=related

If you're a Rammstein fan, try this one. It's quite hard and, well, really sexual. :p (If you understand German, of course)

Tiefer, tiefer! Sag es! Sag es laut! Tiefer, tiefer! Ich fühl' mich wolh in deiner Haut....und tausend Elefanten brechen aus! ;)

A few of mine-- [snip]

But probably my favorite non-English song is in Italian (actually Sicilian): "Luna Mezzo Mare." It's the song Mrs. Corleone sings at Connie's wedding in The Godfather. I like Lou Monte's version:

http://www.pisciotta.net/CD/LouMonte/lyrics-translation_of_lazy_mary.htm

My dad liked this song a lot, but he always used to say it had "risque lyrics." My rough rendering is as follows (some of the Sicilian still escapes me, feel free to correct any errors), so judge for yourself:

Luna Mezzo Mare

1. C’e ‘na luna mezz’u mare
Mamma mia m’a maritare
Figlia mia a cu te dare?
Mamma mia pensace tu?

Se te piglio lu pesciaiole
Isse vai,
Isse vene
Sempe lu pesce mane tene
Se ce ‘ncappa la fantasia
Te pesculia figghiuzza mia.

La lariula pesce fritt’e baccala
Uei cumpa no calamare c’eggi’accatta

1. The moon’s in the middle of the ocean
Momma mia, I have to get married.
My daughter, who should I give you to?
Mamma mia, what do you think?

If I give you to the fisherman
He’ll come and go,
Go and come,
Always his fish’ll be in his hand
And if he has the thought in mind
Then he will fish you, little daughter of mine

La lariula fried fish and baccala
Uei cumpa you better not get any squid

2. C’e ‘na luna mezz’u mare
Mamma mia m’a maritare
Figlia mia a cu te dare?
Mamma mia pensace tu?

Se te piglio lu pulezia
Isse vai,
Isse vene
Semp’a scuppetta mane tene
Se ce ‘ncappa la fantasia
Te scuppettea figghiuzza mia.

La lariula pesce fritt’e baccala
Uei cumpa ‘na scuppetta c’eggi’accatta

2. The moon’s in the middle of the ocean
Momma mia, I have to get married.
My daughter, who should I give you to?
Mamma mia, what do you think?

If I give you to the policeman
He’ll come and go,
Go and come,
Always his rifle in his hand
And if he has the thought in mind
He’ll rifle you, little daughter of mine

La lariula fried fish and baccala
Uei cumpa you better get a rifle

3. Lazy Mary you better get up
She answered back “I am not able.”
Lazy Mary you better get up
We need the sheets for the table.

Lazy Mary you smoke in bed
There’s only one man you should marry.
My advice to you would be
Is to pay attention to me.

You’d better marry a fireman
He’ll come and go, go and come
Sempe la pompa mane tene
Se ce ‘ncappa la fantasia
Te pomperia figghiuzza mia.

La lariula pesce fritt’e baccala
Uei cumpa ‘na pompina c’eggi’accatta

3. (in English, then: )

Always his hose’ll be in his hand
And if he has the thought in mind
Then he will hose you, little daughter of mine

La lariula fried fish and baccala
Uei cumpa you better get a little hose

4. O cummà ca m' voglio marità
Trovame 'na uagliotta
Ca me voglio marità
Trovame 'na uagliotta
Ca me voglio marità
Trovame 'na uagliotta
Ca me voglio marità
Hey!

4. O cummà I want a wife
Find me a girl
Because I want a wife (x3)

(Obviously the last verse wasn't meant to be taken seriously.)


There are many other verses, all with the same general idea, and many other versions, including one by Dean Martin:

http://www.lyricskeeper.com/dean_martin-lyrics/221348-luna_mezzo_mare-lyrics.htm

It's from the Carmina Burana (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carmina_Burana) so technically, it is a song.

I know what it's from. Textual form doesn't mean it must be a song when set to music.

How is it not a song? It's got musical arrangement, and words. Is that not a song in its simplest form?

It depends on definition, and I tend not to use it too broadly. I'd define a song as, most likely, single-line melodies with text and an adherence to a genre. This can be sung by a group, and I'm sure the Orff has been performed like this, but it's not how he wrote it.

I know what it's from. Textual form doesn't mean it must be a song when set to music.

O Fortuna was writen, on the Burana, as a song.

Oh my, I got a new favorite, foreign song:

Hanamizuki- Hitoto Yo

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NBVbWzNnSuU

At the moment, this. :)

I love the rhythm, melody and the lyrics. (Sorry if there isn't a translation)

O Fortuna was writen, on the Burana, as a song.

Yes, but the Orff version he was most likely referring to I would not define as such.

Pretty self- explanatory... what is you favourite non-English song, and what do you like best about it?

I've got a few, my favourite German song is "Alt wie ein Baum", by the Pudhys. I like the melody, and I love the lyrics. It's a bit old, but still lovely to listen to.
My favourite Austrian song - at the moment - is "Loch amoi", by Georg Danzer. Slow, and sad without being actually sad.

Favourite French song - well, Quebecois really, to be precise, is "Rive Sud" by Beau Dommage.
Also, "Voila l'ete" by Les Negresses Vertes.

For Italian, I would go for "Azuro" sung by Adriano Celentano.

So, what's yours?Cantara by Dead Can Dance (yes i know) and
Voices by Yoko Kanno.
There's a few others, but these ones first spring to mind.
Cantara for its sheer awesomeness and power (live of course)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wcMxTWx3_v0
(odd how we know the vid is considerably different)
and
Voices for the point in the movie where it comes up, as well as its subtlety.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E-vWFCM03EQ
.... the a capella version is good too.
That one is dedicated to Nanatsu.

Cantara by Dead Can Dance (yes i know) and
Voices by Yoko Kanno.
There's a few others, but these ones first spring to mind.
Cantara for its sheer awesomeness and power (live of course)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wcMxTWx3_v0
(odd how we know the vid is considerably different)
and
Voices for the point in the movie where it comes up, as well as its subtlety.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E-vWFCM03EQ
.... the a capella version is good too.
That one is dedicated to Nanatsu.

That a capella song is gorgeous... If it's actually dedicated to me, thanks Straughny.:)

Arrrrgh, I hate picking 'favourites', and there are sooo many non-English songs I love that I have a really hard time making any sort of short list. The bulk of what I listen to is not in English.

I was going to try to list some anyway, but I just can't, it's an impossible task. I'll just lift some songs that are on my 25 last played...

Aicha (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v711/sinuhue/DSCN2050.jpg), Khaled

Hijo de la Luna (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v711/sinuhue/DSCN2050.jpg), Mecano

Ojala (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v711/sinuhue/DSCN2050.jpg), Silvio Rodriguez

Capoeira do Brasil (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v711/sinuhue/DSCN2050.jpg), Sergio Mendes

I don't remember the name of it but there is this song which an Italian friend of mine always sings about an evil woman who gets this man who loves her to do all of these horrible things to prove his love to her including killing his mother and giving her her heart so she can step on it with her spiky high heels. Brutal.

Btw, if anyone knows it I'd like to know the title!

I don't remember the name of it but there is this song which an Italian friend of mine always sings about an evil woman who gets this man who loves her to do all of these horrible things to prove his love to her including killing his mother and giving her her heart so she can step on it with her spiky high heels. Brutal.

Btw, if anyone knows it I'd like to know the title!

That's hot.

That's hot.

Yeah it's a pretty great song. It's also very long! That girl makes that poor bastard jump through a lot of hoops.

He dies in the end.

Yeah it's a pretty great song. It's also very long! That girl makes that poor bastard jump through a lot of hoops.

He dies in the end.

Does she eat his head during sex?

No but I'm sure my friend could ad-lib that part in for ya.