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How often do you listen to foreign music?
Usually when I do, I look for hip-hop. I like listening to what they do with their language when the put it into a hip-hop context. Also, when it's a rather non-threatening language, it's fun to watch their ridiculous rap videos! :D
I am on a Japanese reggae binge as of late. :eep: But I dig it! :monster:
Are we counting England/USA (depending on where you live) as foreign for the purpose of this thread? :p
I'm been into European and Japanese metal/rock bands for about as long as I've been into the genre. I like what the Nordic countries do a lot in regards to black metal or death metal.
If you want to ruin my little thread then FINE. But personally I wouldn't consider a country like Canada to be "foreign" no matter what the context.Quote:
Originally Posted by NorthernChaosGod
omg ok so this chick that I got really drunk with over the past weekend sings in a metal band and was telling me about how Nordic metal bands are so amazing and better than American ones and I was like oh rlyQuote:
Originally Posted by NorthernChaosGod
I wouldn't count Canada as it's USA Jr, but I might include England as it's at least an ocean away. :pQuote:
Originally Posted by Lusty Justy
1. Was she hot?Quote:
Originally Posted by Lusty Justy
2. That's bollocks and she doesn't know what she's talking about.
Quote:
Originally Posted by NorthernChaosGodI wouldn't count Canada as it's USA Jr, but I might include England as it's at least an ocean away. :pQuote:
Originally Posted by Lusty Justy
1. Was she hot?Quote:
Originally Posted by Lusty Justy
2. That's bollocks and she doesn't know what she's talking about.
I love American metal, but when it comes to black metal/death metal I think she's right.
I think America has some of the best experimental/progressive metal. I just think Americans are willing to try more weird stuff.
Black metal is just a given. Death metal though, hell no.
I still maintain that Death is one of the best death metal bands of all time. Even as far as newer bands go the likes of The Black Dahlia Murder and Between the Buried and Me are certainly near the top.
I listen to a bit of Chinese music. I don't understand any of it unless I carefully study the lyrics, but it's all pretty cool. xD
I like rock and pop music from various places around the world, and I'll come up with a few examples soon.
I consider foreign to be in a language I don't speak. Because one of my favorite foreign singers is Canadian. But she's Quebecan so a lot of her stuff is in French. And I don't go actively looking for foreign music, but often I'm pleasantly surprised. I know there's some good Arab pop music out there. Nothing that I've downloaded though. A lot of my foreign music seems to be Russian or German. I adore t.A.T.u., often more-so in their native Russian. And a lot of gothic instrumental and rock bands I listen to are German (not including Rammstein, though I guess they'd probably count as well). And considering how much of an Anime fan I was growing up, I've been exposed to a LOT of Japanese music. Though only very rare do I ever like any of it. (I hate Jpop and Jrock). Though I usually really adore stereotypical cultural music, mostly Celtic and Japanese
If we don't count Swedish music because I'm Swedish, or English-spoken music because it's the biggest music industry there is, then I still listen to this and that. Music in languages I can understand has the benefit that I can, well, understand the lyrics, but if something sounds good I'm just as happy.
Examples!
German: YouTube - Peter Fox: Alles Neu - Official Video - HIGH QUALITY
Sanskrit? YouTube - Sa Ding Ding
Russian: YouTube -
French: YouTube - Vive la Fete - Noir Desir (video features drug use etc. etc. adult themes)
Italian: YouTube - Via della povertą (Desolation Row) Fabrizio De Andrč
Neapolitan! YouTube - Yolanda Be Cool - We No Speak Americano (Video edit by Pink louder)
Punjabi? YouTube - Zeenat Begum sings 'Dhaan ki khet mein naa jeiyo more raaja' - Rare Vintage Song
That's mean.Quote:
Originally Posted by NorthernChaosGod
Wait, does it have to be in a language I don't speak? Most metal bands I was thinking of sing mostly (or entirely) in English. :|
The vast majority of the music I listen to is from foreign countries, specifically the Nordic countries.
Your definition is not correct.Quote:
I consider foreign to be in a language I don't speak.
Just to clear things up, who is from where?
I'm from texas, and before you ask, no we don't ride horses to school, thats Montana, no we dont have shoot outs, thats las vegas, no we don't live in dusty small towns, Fort worth has several buildings well over 30 stories, and over a million people
I wasn't pretending it was :P I was just making a clarification before answering so that my answer was in context. Everyone else can answer however they want xDQuote:
Your definition is not correct.Quote:
I consider foreign to be in a language I don't speak.
euuhhm.. i dnt rlly have a specifik type of music i like :)
but i watch japanese anime, and often download a song from it that i like (the biggest part is from Bleach though ^^)
I like foreign music from like england, the US, etc. Lots of good stuff, but quite a bit that's pretty bad too,
I like german music. Probably cause I semi understand it. :p
Silbermond, I'm in love with this band.
YouTube - SILBERMOND - KRIEGER DES LICHTS
Frauenarzt & Manny Marc, They are just silly. I love it.
YouTube - Frauenarzt & Manny Marc - Das Geht Ab (Official Video HQ)
Xavier Naidoo, This song is good, even if you don't know german. There is a bit of english though.
YouTube - Xavier Naidoo - Alles kann besser werden (Official Video)(HQ)
A lot of music from countries that don't use English as the predominant language still write songs in it because it's easier to write lyrics in English. Another reason is because it's a widely know, and taught language so a lot of different nationalities can understand it. Not my own personal opinion, but something I've read in multiple interviews.Quote:
Originally Posted by NorthernChaosGod
So I'd say it still counts.
I'd certainly agree, and add that bands or artists will write in English because the music they like or admire is in English.Quote:
Originally Posted by sharkythesharkdoggA lot of music from countries that don't use English as the predominant language still write songs in it because it's easier to write lyrics in English. Another reason is because it's a widely know, and taught language so a lot of different nationalities can understand it. Not my own personal opinion, but something I've read in multiple interviews.Quote:
Originally Posted by NorthernChaosGod
So I'd say it still counts.
Foreign, as in non-English? Not really. I'll listen to Andrea Bocelli, but I know most of what he's saying.
Why would I listen to music in a language that I don't understand? Kinda defeats the purpose, I think.
How? I've listened to music in German, Swedish, Japanese and other languages. I don't see how it changes anything, the music is still good.Quote:
Originally Posted by Doomie
Because the lyrics are the things that cause the deep stirring emotion.
/sarcasm
I listen to stuff here and there, nothing noteworthy. Most of the "foreign" stuff I listen to is instrumental anyway. There's some crazy pianists out there ya know!
Jargon with a guitar solo doesn't do it for me. I don't listen to techno for the same reason.Quote:
Originally Posted by NorthernChaosGodHow? I've listened to music in German, Swedish, Japanese and other languages. I don't see how it changes anything, the music is still good.Quote:
Originally Posted by Doomie
And here I thought it was always the music that was important. Go figure.
80% of the music i listen to don't even have lyrics. And just a minority of that is techno.
Caravan Palace and Oreskaband are the first to that pop into my head. There are other bands that are foreign to me, but sing their lyrics in English with little to no accent so I dunno where that falls on this thing.
@ doomie, rlly gotta disagree on that
i listen to (some) japanese song, and got pretty much all Shakira's songs (wich i prever in spanish)... i dnt speak the languag and have no idea what they sing, but perhaps sometimes it makes it only better :P
i love shakira's music, though i find her (english) lyrics a bit weak.. :)
I just looove UK Grime, I find it a deeper, edgier rap then the overly commercial fare we get here in US.Quote:
Originally Posted by NorthernChaosGod
sample
Also listen to a lot of african singers, celtic music and other kinds of "World beat".
PS: Tell me you need lyrics here and I slap you
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OlVbEclPj4c
I prefer hip-hop in languages other than English, mostly because with the majority of American Rap or Hip-Hop I can't get past the subject matter enough to enjoy the music. Listening to foreign rap reduces the voice to another instrument (Same theory as Sigur Ros or Cold War Kids' Cryptomnesia.)
I really like French rap, the language just seems to flow together more naturally.
I've also been pretty stupid addicted to The Pillows and Brain Failure lately. Brain Failure in particular gets points for maintaining true Punk essence when most bands don't really seem to have a lot to rebel against. Punks from Beijing? Win.
I like Japanese music. Not really the metal or rock though. I also love French music and even though I'm from America I'll count Canada as foreign (Les Trois Accords anyone?)
The majority of my music however comes from England. They produce the best singers (Morrissey, moan for meh!)
I do like a bit of Indian music now and then, but it gets annoying.