I’m glad I don’t understand Bulgarian - I don’t really want to know what the words to this song are, as the sound of the voices makes me weep every time.
If you don’t want to know, don’t clickthis link.
I love this song by Modeste Hugues: http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x1bcan1_modeste-hugues-eritreritra_music
No idea what the words mean but I find the combination of the melody, guitar, and his lovely voice extremely moving.
It was really the video the moved me rather than the song itself.
I always liked Spirit’s Jewish.
Very nice. I love Jobim. Another good one: Desafinado.
Very haunting: Cirque Du Soleil O, Nostalgie - YouTube
There are a number of Chinese hits that have over 100-million hits on YouTube, that western listeners have never heard of. (“Hey Jude” has only 45 million). One Chinese hit has already gone over 2-billion on Chinese streaming sites. Many are lovely, refreshing songs, performed with sensitivity and feeling, well-suited to the gentle eastern culture. Many ae influenced by Faye Wong.
Here’s a play list of some of the most popular.
Imidiwan Afrik Tendam by Tinariwen
Love that band, and I have very little idea of what they’re singing. But I’m sure it’s something nice.
Here’s an intensely beautiful song by Faye Wong, that it easy to get the feeling for, even if you don’t understand the words
I saw this bloke live recently, fantastic singer, sings in his native Yolngu, an Australian Aboriginal language from Arnhem Land in the NT. This is his best known song so far, very moving.
Stanley Gawurra Gaykamangu - Ratja Yaliyali
There’s a studio version, but I feel it’s overproduced, he’s much better live.
The first thing that came to mind (and I’m surprised that it hasn’t been posted yet) is this one.
My first was Kabutomushi, by aiko. I originally discovered it as an MP3 track (of the studio version) on some random guy’s personal web site back in 2000 or '01, and was immediately hooked on aiko. She sold the emotion so well that I was able to more or less figure out what the song was about long before I finally found an English translation.
Ten Foot Pole - ZZ Top
(Eena Meena Deeka) Ha! I knew before looking it would be either this or Jaan Pehechaan Ho. Both of which I adore. I never get tired of silly dancing to either one of them.
I have two favorites, one pop, one hi-falutin’.
Nel Blu Di Pinto Di Blu (Italian) from the 50’s. One of the first three records I ever owned, I have loved this song since I was eight. Still do.
Anges purs, anges radieux (sung in French) from the finale of Gonoud’s opera Faust. First heard this when I was fifteen (my Dad sang in the San Diego Opera chorus). Ever since, this piece easily moves me to goosebumps and tears of undefined emotion. It was 20 years before I finally read the English libretto, which only made it even better.
[quote=“White SIFL, post:1, topic:778974”]
… Even if you don’t understand the words.
I’m American - I don’t speak or understand french - but this song really resonates with me:
[/QUOTE]If it’s her voice that resonates with you (a lot of people seem to like it very much), you might be partial to this one, too : ZAZ - Gamine
Mine, off the top of my head:
Spanish:
Jeanette - Porque te Vas (one of my earliest musical memories, actually more of a powerful but vague impression than a real memory).
Buena Vista Social Club - Chan Chan
Italian:
Lucio Dalla - Caruso.
Gianna Nannini - I Maschi
Renato Carosone - Tu Vuò Fa’ l’Americano
Amedeo Minghi and Mietta - Vattene Amore (some serious cheese, but that chorus is glorious)
German:
Einstürzende Neubauten - Haus der Lüge / Epilog
Einstürzende Neubauten - Seele Brennt
Falco - Rock me Amadeus (mostly in German)
Kraftwerk- Das Modell
Swedish
Bo Kaspers Orkester - Svårt att Säga nej
Brazilian:
**Chico Buarque **- Essa Moça tá Diferente
Stan Getz & João Gilberto - O Grande Amor
Astrud Gilberto & Stan Getz - Insensatez
Arabic:
**Dahmane El-Harrachi **- Ya Rayah
Hindi:
Lata Mangeshkar - Thoda Resham Lagta Hai(talk about an earworm…)
Oh, thanks for the reminder Shakester - Geoffrey Gurrumul Yunupingu is fantastic as well. I particularly love Djarimirri
The theme from the second half of Season 1 is even grander, I think.
Along those lines, there’s the Gunbuster March from what some consider one of the greatest anime scenes ever, and also the Theme of the Undersea Battleship from Super Atragon.
“Akuma to Tenshi no Kiss” (“Devil and Angel Kiss”) sung by Kinuko “Priss” Oomori from episode four of the original Bubblegum Crisis gets in my blood… always makes me want to drive faster! That probably has something to do with my memories of that episode. Its plot has nothing to do with the other seven episodes, but has some of the more exciting songs.
I still get a tingle inside when I hear the opening chords of “Asu e Touchdown” (“Touchdown to Tomorrow”) from episode three. The first video of the second Hurricane Live! music compilation is a live version!
I’ve long been very partial to Taeko Ōnuki and, well, all of her work, really, but the song “若き日の望楼” from her album Romantique (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EeU38uq0fJI&t=787s) is just amazing.
Part of it is likely that I associate it with the video, but still: