Do you feel music? Beyond the language barrier
 

I saw around here that a lot of people look for expression in their music, beyond the lyrics. Evolution, beat, emotion, melody... all that stuff.

But can you find that in a language you dont understand?

Before we can enter the discussion per se, as im sure most of you have music on other languages that you like... just to stretch the point a bit, i picked up 3 songs from various languages and placed down here, just to see what do you think when exposed to new stuff that you cant really know what it means.

The Guideline is simple: Recent Rock Music. Trying to stay away from well known bands

Brazil - http://br.youtube.com/watch?v=roqvv7OfQg4

France - http://br.youtube.com/watch?v=N1WW4Wz7na4

Russia - http://br.youtube.com/watch?v=DL5Su3F1rhI

Arab (Not sure "where") - http://br.youtube.com/watch?v=hrdj16zSk1Q

If you can, pose your opinion about each of the songs above, but also, about the influence on language regarding how you enjoy music or how it effects you.

I listened to the brazilian emo music, it was acutally pretty good much better than the CRAP 3 days grace puts out day, after day.
The langauge barrier usually doesn't stop me when it comes to music heck alot of American music is'nt even english.(i.e Rap.)

Brazil song - It was alright. Not bad, but I probably wouldn't pick it out on my own. I don't know why, but something just didn't stick in my head while listening.

French song - Pretty good. I listen to a lot of French music, so I don't know if that might effect my opinion at all.

Russian - Pretty much the same as above with listening to Russian music. Maybe a little too scream-y at the refrain, but I like it.

Arab - I liked this one probably moreso than the other ones.


As for non-english music, I listen to a lot of it. Actually, my favorite song of all is in French, and I don't speak a lick of French. Although some of it IS in English, so maybe that makes it more appealing in my head.

Although I like to listen to a lot of German (E Nomine), Russian (Tatu), Japanese music, so I think I have a good amount of non-english music.

I listen to mostly instrumental music, so I tend to listen for melody anyway.

Although of my non-english vocal music, I have some German and some Swedish in my library, and some Japanese, I believe.

I actually love music in foreign languages as it allows me to get everything I need out of a song without having to give a shit about yet another set of terrible lyrics.

Plus Spanish-style guitar sounds really cool.

I got this just for you, Fifth.


As many of you know, I'm a French nut. While I wouldn't call myself a conoisseur by any means, I quite enjoy anything by Camille, who I find divine. Plus, les Négresses Vertes are impeccable and anything old-school is a good fit. Also, Nana Mouskouri. Fantastic woman. It's quite nice being able to understand it, but the melodies are the main reason I listen to them.

Japanese music is the same for me, but that's more of a result of years of anime watching and video gaming.

I suppose English music counts as foreign music for me. Anyway, gonna get those rock tracks for you.

I am a filthy, filthy, whore.

Indeed you are, Fenris.
Brazilian music rocks.

I have about a dozen Arabic pop, rock, and techno songs on my iPod, and I enjoy them thoroughly. Elissa and Haifa Wehbe are my favorites, along with the (slightly) more old-school Fadi Shaker. Amal Hijazi is good too, but is more an acquired taste, whereas you could pretty much listen to Elissa regardless of your tastes...she's "easier listening."
I also find Arabic techno much better overall than European techno, but that's a personal preference thing, and a lot of the Arabic songs borrow heavily from Europe (particularly France, for some reason) anyway.

I also have a few Japanese songs I enjoy, but really only because I played a few videogames that featured the artist. (Why hello there, Hikaru Utada. Also, Himekami...Suikoden III's intro song kicked ass.)

Thanks! the Gypsy Kings are one of the Spanish music groups I quite enjoy.

I actually think it's mainly the vocals that I listen for in foreign music. The human voice is a beautiful thing, when you don't have to pay attention to the fantastically stupid things that people use it to say.