# Do you like/listen to music in languages you don't speak? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [December 17, 2008, 2:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-like-listen-to-music-in-languages-you-dont-speak/477511 "2008-12-17T02:59:54Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![GameHat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/ed655f/32.png) [@GameHat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GameHat)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2008, 5:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-like-listen-to-music-in-languages-you-dont-speak/477511/21 "2008-12-17T05:05:30Z")
I’m perfectly happy to listen to songs in languages I don’t understand. Even when a song is in English, I rarely pay attention to the lyrics. This isn’t a conscious decision, just how I hear music. I more or less hear a voice in a song as an instrument. So if the the voice is good, I don’t give a damn about the lyrical content. ---
**Author:** ![Lucky\_13](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lucky_13/32/13209_2.png) [@Lucky\_13](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lucky_13)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2008, 5:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-like-listen-to-music-in-languages-you-dont-speak/477511/22 "2008-12-17T05:15:20Z")
I have several songs in Spanish, one song in 3 or 4 different languages (theme of Cirque du Soleil’s “Alegria”), and the infamous "Dragostea Din Tei."I also have 3 or 4 different Putumayo compilation CDs with songs in French, Creole, Hindi and various African languages. The song I want, but can’t find online, is the latest Naruto Shippuuden ending theme,“Long Kiss Goodbye” by Halcali. ---
**Author:** ![1010011010](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/1/ea666f/32.png) [@1010011010](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/1010011010)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2008, 5:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-like-listen-to-music-in-languages-you-dont-speak/477511/23 "2008-12-17T05:20:48Z")
Russian, Spanish, Japanese, Arabic, Farsi, Hindi, French, Italian. The last two are opera, though. ---
**Author:** ![HMS\_Irruncible](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hms_irruncible/32/7394_2.png) [@HMS\_Irruncible](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HMS_Irruncible)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2008, 5:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-like-listen-to-music-in-languages-you-dont-speak/477511/24 "2008-12-17T05:23:54Z")
Most of my favorite songs, I can’t even tell what language they’re in. Usually somebody laying down some Farsi or Portuguese on top of a deep psytrance groove. I like vocals, but I find most music lyrics are either superficial or overdone. When it’s a foreign language it works out best for everybody. Classic example: [internacional](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tnAxR6AhwNI) by Brazilian Girls. ---
**Author:** ![GargoyleWB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gargoylewb/32/199_2.png) [@GargoyleWB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GargoyleWB)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2008, 5:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-like-listen-to-music-in-languages-you-dont-speak/477511/25 "2008-12-17T05:33:30Z")
I have a few bands I love, that sing in languages that I don’t speak. When musicianship, melody, and beat are superb, then lyrical content doesn’t necessarily become critical to music enjoyment. Hell, most grunge and punk acts are indecipherable in English, and I love them anyway. Some of my faves: Nena (German) – Love her voice, and her song structure is superb. I understand passable german though, so I get a bit of the lyrical content also Puffy Ami Yumi (Japanese) – Infectious guitar powerpop, I love them Hendinggarna (Norwegian) – Excellent electronica/synthpop/worldbeat stuff. Great music. ---
**Author:** ![Kolga](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/e56c9b/32.png) [@Kolga](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kolga)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2008, 5:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-like-listen-to-music-in-languages-you-dont-speak/477511/26 "2008-12-17T05:35:56Z")
I have a lot of Celtic folk songs in Gaelic. I also play djembe and have amassed a collection of African drum and chant stuff. The new beau likes listening to techno on some Israeli Internet channel, so I hear a lot of that and like it. I, too, consider the human voice to be an instrument, so not being able to sing along doesn’t bother me. ---
**Author:** ![Bosstone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/22d042/32.png) [@Bosstone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosstone)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2008, 5:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-like-listen-to-music-in-languages-you-dont-speak/477511/27 "2008-12-17T05:47:33Z")
I listen to some, generally a sample spread out over most languages folks here have already mentioned. Most of my favorites arise through internet memes because I’m a pop/internet culture junkie. [Dragostea din Tei](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qfiVc0X9Ewc), [Moskau](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BQAKRw6mToA), and [Tunak Tunak Tun](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-bAN7Ts0xBo) especially. And because I like throwing it out whenever the opportunity arises, [Jackie Chan](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AFycchFzHP8) singing Mulan’s “I’ll Make A Man Out Of You” in Mandarin. Just excellent. ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2008, 5:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-like-listen-to-music-in-languages-you-dont-speak/477511/28 "2008-12-17T05:54:53Z")
I listen to many, many operas and operettas in languages I don’t speak. Actually, I consider English to be not the best language for these; it just doesn’t sound as melodic as French or, especially, Italian. ---
**Author:** ![Viridiana](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/ebca7d/32.png) [@Viridiana](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Viridiana)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2008, 5:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-like-listen-to-music-in-languages-you-dont-speak/477511/29 "2008-12-17T05:55:04Z")
Sure, I’m more music-and-sound driven than lyrics driven. In some cases I know enough of the language to get the gist of what’s being said; other times I have no idea and just go for the feel of it. Once in a while I look up some lyrics and if they’re particularly pretty or poignant, it’s like a big ol’ bonus. ---
**Author:** ![Flutterby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/6f9a4e/32.png) [@Flutterby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Flutterby)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2008, 6:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-like-listen-to-music-in-languages-you-dont-speak/477511/30 "2008-12-17T06:07:01Z")
I have quite a bit of Gaelic along with bits of Italian, German, Romanian, Finnish, Hungarian, Swedish, French, Japanese, Spanish and Hebrew. Some of it was introduced to me by friends who suggested I might like it and offered translations for certain songs, others I stumbled across here or other places. Whatever sounds good to me is what I have in my collection, and songs can evoke emotions that cross language barriers. I can get the gist even if I don’t know exactly what they are saying. Them being in other languages never stopped me from singing along either… ---
**Author:** ![Art\_Rock](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/art_rock/32/525_2.png) [@Art\_Rock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Art_Rock)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2008, 6:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-like-listen-to-music-in-languages-you-dont-speak/477511/31 "2008-12-17T06:35:59Z")
Apart from English, my list of about 650 all-time favourite songs has the following languages: - Dutch (my mother tongue) - German (which I am fluent in) - French (which I can understand) but also the following languages I do not understand: Mandarin Italian Portuguese Japanese Spanish Polish Sanskrite In my collection I also have songs in Norwegian, Swedish, Danish, Icelandic, Finnish, Russian, Hungarian, Greek, Cantonese, Gaelic, Welsh - and I’m probably forgetting a few now. ---
**Author:** ![Lawn\_Gnome](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/8491ac/32.png) [@Lawn\_Gnome](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lawn_Gnome)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2008, 6:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-like-listen-to-music-in-languages-you-dont-speak/477511/32 "2008-12-17T06:36:58Z")
Attaque 77 is a awesome, fun Argentinian band. Rahmstein (rammstein?) is a good German band I listen to a lot. ---
**Author:** ![Yookeroo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yookeroo/32/323_2.png) [@Yookeroo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yookeroo)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2008, 6:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-like-listen-to-music-in-languages-you-dont-speak/477511/33 "2008-12-17T06:52:46Z")
Sure. Languages from all over the world. ---
**Author:** ![even\_sven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/dfb087/32.png) [@even\_sven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/even_sven)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2008, 7:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-like-listen-to-music-in-languages-you-dont-speak/477511/34 "2008-12-17T07:03:04Z")
I love bad international pop- from Tatu to Bollywood hits to (my one and only true love) Coupe Decale. My music selection has a lot of music from all over. I hate world music though. It makes me want to go to sleep. Bring on the pop music! ---
**Author:** ![Vox\_Imperatoris](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Vox\_Imperatoris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Vox_Imperatoris)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2008, 7:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-like-listen-to-music-in-languages-you-dont-speak/477511/35 "2008-12-17T07:14:18Z")
Ok, can we get thoughts from anyone who does \*not \*enjoy music in other languages? And **even sven** , I agree about most world music, but the problem with it is that the category is so broad—basically anything that’s not 'Merica or our Euro buddies. Put me down for the pop music, too, though! Guilty pleasure is the only pleasure I have on my iPod. 😛 Valete, Vox Imperatoris ---
**Author:** ![aldiboronti](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9fc348/32.png) [@aldiboronti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aldiboronti)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2008, 7:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-like-listen-to-music-in-languages-you-dont-speak/477511/36 "2008-12-17T07:48:52Z")
Most of the music I listen to is in a language I don’t speak, but that’s a natural consequence of being an opera fanatic. ---
**Author:** ![Vox\_Imperatoris](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Vox\_Imperatoris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Vox_Imperatoris)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2008, 7:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-like-listen-to-music-in-languages-you-dont-speak/477511/37 "2008-12-17T19:33:50Z")
Cafe Society sure does move fast. Valete, Vox Imperatoris ---
**Author:** ![flickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/7bcc69/32.png) [@flickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/flickster)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2008, 2:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-like-listen-to-music-in-languages-you-dont-speak/477511/38 "2008-12-18T02:25:03Z")
Of the 12,000 tunes in my Rhapsody library, there is a significant amount of Salsa by far too many groups to mention - don’t speak Spanish but love the brass sections. Also have some latin pop & Tejano. Brazilian BossaNova Whatever language is is that the Gipsy Kings sing in, African Jazz (Richard Bona), French (Edith Piaf) Music is, after all, the universal language ---
**Author:** ![rivulus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/839c29/32.png) [@rivulus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rivulus)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2008, 2:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-like-listen-to-music-in-languages-you-dont-speak/477511/39 "2008-12-18T02:47:46Z")
Yes, I adore music in other languages. Each language has its own musical qualities – different phonemes, different rhythms. There is constantly a debate (in the US, at least) over opera in English vs. opera in the original language. I’ll take the original language any day. The whole musical palette changes when you change the language. I find it astonishing that people who are otherwise very musically perceptive, who can otherwise hear and appreciate the tiniest nuances in timbre, seem to just shrug off this essential aspect of vocal sound in order to get something in translation. Besides, it’s not like you can actually understand what opera singers are saying, even if it is in English. (Just kidding… well, no, not really.) ---
**Author:** ![OpalCat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/8edcca/32.png) [@OpalCat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OpalCat)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2008, 2:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-like-listen-to-music-in-languages-you-dont-speak/477511/40 "2008-12-18T02:55:15Z")
I have a lot of music in other languages, as well as no language, as mentioned earlier. Dead Can Dance, for example, have a lot of songs where Lisa Gerrard is just making shit up, and it [sounds awesome.](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wkS9jxiCamM) Most of the non-English stuff I have is French or Latin, I would say. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-like-listen-to-music-in-languages-you-dont-speak/477511.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-like-listen-to-music-in-languages-you-dont-speak/477511.md?page=3)