# English-language pop songs rendered in other languages **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [May 26, 2015, 1:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/english-language-pop-songs-rendered-in-other-languages/720875 "2015-05-26T13:21:50Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Waltzes\_with\_Cacti](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/90ced4/32.png) [@Waltzes\_with\_Cacti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Waltzes_with_Cacti)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2015, 7:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/english-language-pop-songs-rendered-in-other-languages/720875/21 "2015-05-27T19:40:54Z")
> [@Waltzes\_with\_Cacti](#): > > Monty Python is big in Germany. Here are the songs “Not Yet Dead,” “Knights of the Round Table” and “Always Look on the Bright Side of Life” from a German-language production of _MP and the HG_ in Cologne: > [www.youtube.com/watch?v=61I-apYwsjA](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=61I-apYwsjA) Er, oops, not _MP and the HG_. It’s _Spamalot._ And to the nitpickers, yes, I know that “Always Look” originally came from _LoB_ but they sing it _Spamalot_, too. ---
**Author:** ![Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e47c2d/32.png) [@Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biffy_the_Elephant_Shrew)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2015, 7:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/english-language-pop-songs-rendered-in-other-languages/720875/22 "2015-05-27T19:56:07Z")
David Bowie: “Heroes” [auf Deutsch](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GXV3rlr9G04) and [en Français](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ASBWw8cg2Nw). Bowie again: [“Ragazzo Solo, Ragazza Sola”](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rm5prJDXxQk); nothing to do with Major Tom. Procol Harum: [“Il Tuo Diamante”](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=14FuLMUPvQc) (“Shine on Brightly” with Italian lyrics). Rolling Stones: “As Tears Go By” becomes [“Con Le Mie Lacrime.”](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y6tUIwW3kRw) ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Drake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ad7895/32.png) [@Dr.Drake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Drake)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2015, 8:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/english-language-pop-songs-rendered-in-other-languages/720875/23 "2015-05-27T20:48:32Z")
The Smiths’ “The Queen Is Dead,” [Ukrainian style](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fLhPfLLlcPU). I think it’s an improvement. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2015, 9:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/english-language-pop-songs-rendered-in-other-languages/720875/24 "2015-05-27T21:33:54Z")
> [@Dr.Drake](#): > > The Smiths’ “The Queen Is Dead,” [Ukrainian style](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fLhPfLLlcPU). I think it’s an improvement. That reminds me. Here’s a [oddball](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g2J4cRJX-Mg) version of Queen’s “Bicycle Race” called “Paseka (Apiary)” that the Russian band N.O.M. did for some sort of soundtrack. ---
**Author:** ![ginman999](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e495f1/32.png) [@ginman999](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ginman999)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2015, 9:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/english-language-pop-songs-rendered-in-other-languages/720875/25 "2015-05-27T21:41:36Z")
More please, makes a good game ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2015, 9:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/english-language-pop-songs-rendered-in-other-languages/720875/26 "2015-05-27T21:59:31Z")
> [@ginman999](#): > > More please, makes a good game OK. When I moved to Hungary in 1998, my roommate (whom I knew from college) left for vacation with his parents the next day. I was alone in a new country, jet-lagged, and coming down with something fierce in the late-July heat. I was feeling totally shitty, the whole world kind of felt surreal to me, having made a transition to a new chapter of my life, living in a place where I had absolutely no idea how to decipher (at the time) the inscrutable language. I already felt like I was hallucinating half the time. I was on the couch, trying to ride out a fever, and then [this came on](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3V6lOjxqMXE). (Smurfs singing Coolio’s “Gangsta’s Paradise” in Hungarian, for those who can’t or don’t want to click on it.) I thought I had completely lost my mind. (ETA: Whoops, that’s not the Hungarian version, but you can get the same effect.) ETA2: [Ah, here we go.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DRk-jTbYEag) ---
**Author:** ![clairobscur](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/839c29/32.png) [@clairobscur](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/clairobscur)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2015, 10:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/english-language-pop-songs-rendered-in-other-languages/720875/27 "2015-05-27T22:13:36Z")
> [@pulykamell](#): > > Here’s a Polish version of [House of the Rising Sun](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Iq9z90oHYVY) by the band Kult. (The lyrics are different in the Polish, about a dying prisoner. The title is a Polish translation of “House of the Rising Sun,” though.) [Same in French](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FuP8TIxXicE). Similarly different lyrics about a man entering prison for a life sentence. ---
**Author:** ![Waltzes\_with\_Cacti](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/90ced4/32.png) [@Waltzes\_with\_Cacti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Waltzes_with_Cacti)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2015, 10:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/english-language-pop-songs-rendered-in-other-languages/720875/28 "2015-05-27T22:25:43Z")
“Feelings,” the most annoying hit song of the 1970’s, was translated into German as “Frühling,” which means springtime. “Frühling, ah-ah-ah Frühling, und wieder verliebt.” (Springtime, ah-ah-ah Springtime, and I’m in love again.) It’s just as dispirited in German as it is in English. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2015, 10:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/english-language-pop-songs-rendered-in-other-languages/720875/29 "2015-05-27T22:43:13Z")
> [@pulykamell](#): > > OK. When I moved to Hungary in 1998, my roommate (whom I knew from college) left for vacation with his parents the next day. I was alone in a new country, jet-lagged, and coming down with something fierce in the late-July heat. I was feeling totally shitty, the whole world kind of felt surreal to me, having made a transition to a new chapter of my life, living in a place where I had absolutely no idea how to decipher (at the time) the inscrutable language. I already felt like I was hallucinating half the time. I was on the couch, trying to ride out a fever, and then [this came on](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3V6lOjxqMXE). (Smurfs singing Coolio’s “Gangsta’s Paradise” in Hungarian, for those who can’t or don’t want to click on it.) I thought I had completely lost my mind. (ETA: Whoops, that’s not the Hungarian version, but you can get the same effect.) > > ETA2: [Ah, here we go.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DRk-jTbYEag) Actually, perhaps I should say it was a cover of Stevie Wonder’s “Pastime Paradise” via Coolio’s “Gangsta Paradise.” ---
**Author:** ![from\_a\_to\_z](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/5fc32e/32.png) [@from\_a\_to\_z](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/from_a_to_z)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2015, 11:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/english-language-pop-songs-rendered-in-other-languages/720875/30 "2015-05-27T23:37:09Z")
With all of this cross-cultural sharing, how much longer will we have to wait for the definitive English-language version of [Hooo Ruck](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=757708)? Anyway, Among the thousands of Spanish-language versions available of songs previously in English, one that I enjoy for its energy is Tatiana’s 1994 recording of “[Tan triste como un blues](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aR6j6svs0_U)”. For your comparison: [a 1979 English-language version](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NQ7WyP_qCZk). And for your added enjoyment: [7 different texts for 1967’s “Comme d’habitude”](http://www.lexilogos.com/claude_francois/my_way.htm). ---
**Author:** ![kopek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kopek/32/337_2.png) [@kopek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kopek)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2015, 1:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/english-language-pop-songs-rendered-in-other-languages/720875/31 "2015-05-28T01:01:39Z")
Jefferson Airplane did “Never Argue With a German When You’re Tired” in at least a sort of German on their Bark album – if that counts. ---
**Author:** ![Baker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bb73d2/32.png) [@Baker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baker)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2015, 1:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/english-language-pop-songs-rendered-in-other-languages/720875/32 "2015-05-28T01:41:12Z")
In high school Spanish class we listened to a Spanish language translation of The Letter, by the Boxtops. _Dame un boleto Para un avion No hay tiempo para ir en tren Sola estaba yo Y por fi llego La carta que mi novia escribiera._ I’ve probably mispelled some of that. ---
**Author:** ![Annoying\_Buzz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/eb8c5e/32.png) [@Annoying\_Buzz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annoying_Buzz)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2015, 2:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/english-language-pop-songs-rendered-in-other-languages/720875/33 "2015-05-28T02:00:12Z")
About 20-odd years ago there was a Japanese comedian called O-sama (“The King” Obviously, the name has some problems now) whose shtick was performing classic rock songs, translated word-for-word into Japanese and forced into the original lyric structure no matter how bad the fit. The results were hilarious, especially if you understood both the English and Japanese versions. It helped that he’s a good guitarist. His Deep Purple Medley [王様ライヴ　Highway Star ~ Speed King ~ Burn ~ Smoke on the Water - YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ybFvHbPXe9k) ---
**Author:** ![installLSC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/54ee81/32.png) [@installLSC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/installLSC)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2015, 4:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/english-language-pop-songs-rendered-in-other-languages/720875/34 "2015-05-28T04:08:41Z")
For whatever reason, there was a number of American pop acts that rerecorded their hits in European languages back in the 60s. For example, [here’s the Supremes in German](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ELtdyuB_zHw) and [here’s Lesley Gore in Italian.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aKXUgd62XjU) ---
**Author:** ![Nava](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/da6949/32.png) [@Nava](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nava)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2015, 4:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/english-language-pop-songs-rendered-in-other-languages/720875/35 "2015-05-28T04:21:27Z")
> [@Baker](#): > > In high school Spanish class we listened to a Spanish language translation of The Letter, by the Boxtops. > > _Dame un boleto > Para un avion > No hay tiempo para ir en tren > Sola estaba yo > Y por fi llego > La carta que mi novia escribiera._ > > I’ve probably mispelled some of that. Almost perfect, good job. _Dame un boleto para un avión no hay tiempo para ir en tren solo estaba yo y por fin llegó la carta que mi novia escribió._ (It could have been _sola_, but then the singer is a girl too) Apparently some genius decided to translate the lyrics for We Will Rock You. No, not the song (well, the song too), the singalong musical. “Hey, they did Mamma Mia in Spanish and it’s been a big hit!” - yes, because the songs were already in Spanish and had been from day one! In WWRY’s case, it was a big flop because by forcing an unknown translation on a public who wanted a singalong, they damaged their main point of attraction. Mack the Knife? Well, I didn’t know it, but apparently the original is in German (lyrics and, in this bad recording, voice by [Bertolt Bretch](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_QXJ3OXWaOY)). One of many [English](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YX2n2EE2hls) versions, one of many [Spanish](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zz1ca658FzM) ones. ---
**Author:** ![Nava](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/da6949/32.png) [@Nava](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nava)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2015, 4:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/english-language-pop-songs-rendered-in-other-languages/720875/36 "2015-05-28T04:35:03Z")
Oh God… **pulykamell** reminded me… there’s many versions of In the mood in Spanish, but yes, [los pitufos](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WSOit_Y511w) did it too 😃 ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2015, 4:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/english-language-pop-songs-rendered-in-other-languages/720875/37 "2015-05-28T04:55:22Z")
Holy crap! This far into the thread, and no one’s mentioned Petula Clark, who recorded in at least four languages (English, German, Italian, and French)?!? :eek: Here she is singing in German. Unfortunately, I couldn’t find her German version of “Downtown,” one of my all-time favorite pop songs (friggin’ lawyers! :mad: ): https://www.youtube.com/embed/gaNFnhBOzBY?feature=oembed&wmode=opaque&list=PLD8ndkR-DouCm0F9HCvniQ0X72C3GQkZa ---
**Author:** ![thelurkinghorror](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7c8e57/32.png) [@thelurkinghorror](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thelurkinghorror)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2015, 6:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/english-language-pop-songs-rendered-in-other-languages/720875/38 "2015-05-28T06:24:41Z")
Off the top of my head: David Bowie - Heroes/Helden, mentioned above Plastic Bertrand - Major Tom (Belgian artist best known for “Ça plane pour moi.” (hoo-ooo-ooo-oooh!) The original was in German by Peter Schilling, then recorded in English by him and is based on the Bowie character). Laibach - Geburt einer Nation (Slovenian band, German cover of Queen’s “One Vision.” The German lyrics and mood _really_ show you how creepy-racist the original lyrics sound out of context!). On the same album they also did “Leben heißt Leben,” covering Opus’ “Live is Life.” Not clear if the OP decided to include these, but the following German bands did German, English, French, and Japanese versions of the same song under local titles: Einstürzende Neubauten did 4 versions of “Blume.” Wir sind Helden (it all comes back Bowie!) did 4 versions of “Von hier an blind” (translates to what you expect it to with a German accent). Kraftwerk did versions of Taschenrechner/Pocket calculator, as well as versions (no Japanese for these as far as I know) of a few of their albums. ---
**Author:** ![EinsteinsHund](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/einsteinshund/32/8400_2.png) [@EinsteinsHund](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EinsteinsHund)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2015, 10:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/english-language-pop-songs-rendered-in-other-languages/720875/39 "2015-05-28T10:20:39Z")
It was a very common occurence in the seventies and eighties that successful international English hits were covered in German by [Schlager](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Schlager_music) artists. I was a kid then and always watched the archetypical Schlager show [Hitparade](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ZDF-Hitparade), and I estimate that every third song performed was a cover of an international song. The typical middle-aged or older viewer didn’t notice because they didn’t listen to English music and probably never heard of the originals, but I was also a rabid radio listener, mostly knew the original versions and thought that it was cheating. There are frequent reruns of the classic Hitparade shows nowadays, and I sometimes watch those with a friend for sentimental reasons, and there are still songs from then I now recognize as covers, often from country songs, I didn’t know then were not original. Here is a typical example of such a cover, a version of Bonnie Tyler’s _It’s a Heartache_: [Wencke Myhre - Lass mein Knie Joe](http://www.dooloop.tv/video/4103724/wencke-myhre-lass-mein-knie-joe-zdf-hitparade-01051978) A Mary Roos cover of Cliff Richard’s _We Don’t Talk Anymore_: [Mary Roos - Ich werde gehen heute Nacht](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iPFNttoAY_g) This practice waned since the late eighties, but there were still some cases of it, like this cover of Cher’s _Believe_: [Mary Roos - Leider lieb ich dich immer noch](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IvQK5Arg69I) ---
**Author:** ![Meurglys](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/258eb7/32.png) [@Meurglys](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Meurglys)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2015, 11:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/english-language-pop-songs-rendered-in-other-languages/720875/40 "2015-05-28T11:03:57Z")
In the film _The Life Aquatic_ a minor character played by Seu Jorge sings [several Bowie songs](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Life_Aquatic_with_Steve_Zissou_%28soundtrack%29) in Portuguese. Later he released a whole album of them. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/english-language-pop-songs-rendered-in-other-languages/720875.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/english-language-pop-songs-rendered-in-other-languages/720875.md?page=3)