# Good Non-English Foreign Bands? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [October 22, 2004, 6:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-non-english-foreign-bands/270644 "2004-10-22T18:51:08Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Tentacle\_Monster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ba9def/32.png) [@Tentacle\_Monster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tentacle_Monster)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2004, 6:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-non-english-foreign-bands/270644/1 "2004-10-22T18:51:08Z")
Well, here’s my list. Germany: **Rammstein**. Obviously. Loved their brand of industrial for years. **Einstürzende Neubauten** : Picked up on them a little more recently. A different kind of industrial, not quite as heavy as Rammstein. Finland: **Finntroll**. Gotta love a metal band that successfully incorporates tuba, accordion, and banjo. Japan: **Dir en Grey**. Haven’t heard a whole lot of their stuff, but I like what I have. _Child Prey_ is a hell of a track. **Deerhoof**. Again, haven’t heard a whole lot. ---
**Author:** ![ultrafilter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/3d9bf3/32.png) [@ultrafilter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ultrafilter)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2004, 7:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-non-english-foreign-bands/270644/2 "2004-10-22T19:48:08Z")
Ulver’s first three albums are in archaic Dutch. In Extremo does a little bit of English, but for the most part they sing in dead languages. ---
**Author:** ![edwino](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/35a633/32.png) [@edwino](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/edwino)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2004, 9:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-non-english-foreign-bands/270644/3 "2004-10-22T21:25:18Z")
Do you mean non-English as in a foreign language or non-English as not from the country that forms the southeastern part of Great Britain? I’ll limit myself to the bands with recent releases on the pop/rock axis and not go to world music. Sigur Ros, Bjork, and Gusgus from Iceland. Sigur Ros sings in a made up language, and Bjork does the occasional Icelandic song. The Hives are from Sweden and rock out. But they sing in English, so this disqualifies them if you are talking about English language. Since England does not include Wales, Ireland or Scotland, you can list a whole helluva lot from there. In terms of this year’s music I’d list Franz Ferdinand (Scotland), Belle & Sebastian (Scotland) and The Thrills (Ireland). Jem is from Wales, and I quite like her new disc. And of course, Tom Jones… 🙂 But of course they all sing in English. If you are looking for people singing in another language, Sinead has done some stuff in Celtic. From Japan, I’d list Pizzicato Five and Cibo Matto (really Japanese women living in New York). Cibo Matto is in English, but just barely so. There’s this organic electronic disc I have by a Japanese group called Rovo which has also impressed me terribly (kind of in the Tortoise klangfarben style but more electronic). Another electrolounge group that has really got a good thing going is Royksopp from Norway. Check out their disc “Melody AM.” Mostly non-vocal, but they do have some English lyrics. From France, I’d go with Air (who are almost painfully French) and Stereolab (which is Anglo-French). And of course the grandfather of cheeze electrolounge, Dimitri from Paris. Une Very Stylish Fille, indeed. All sing in French and English (around 50/50, with Dimitri using samples mostly in French and English). From Mexico, I’ll go with Volovan. Great Mexican mellow pop. ---
**Author:** ![edwino](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/35a633/32.png) [@edwino](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/edwino)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2004, 9:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-non-english-foreign-bands/270644/4 "2004-10-22T21:28:01Z")
All just add Gigi from Ethiopia who sings in Amharic. Her backup band on the Gigi album consisted of Wayne Shorter and Herbie Hancock. It’s pretty excellent. ---
**Author:** ![Sunspace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunspace/32/1250_2.png) [@Sunspace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunspace)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2004, 10:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-non-english-foreign-bands/270644/5 "2004-10-22T22:11:06Z")
…and from the Esperanto-speaking world, **Dolcxamar** , **Solotronik** , **Esperanto Desperado** , **Ŝako** , **Kore** , and **Persone**. ---
**Author:** ![interface2x](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/c0e974/32.png) [@interface2x](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/interface2x)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2004, 10:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-non-english-foreign-bands/270644/6 "2004-10-22T22:36:38Z")
Does Canada count? **Skinny Puppy** would have to be in there. Also … Australia: **Dead Can Dance** Norway: **Apoptygma Berzerk** ---
**Author:** ![vl\_mungo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/bc8723/32.png) [@vl\_mungo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vl_mungo)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2004, 10:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-non-english-foreign-bands/270644/7 "2004-10-22T22:41:48Z")
Not English: **Melt Banana** (from Japan) Non English: **Los Fabulosos Cadillacs** (sing in Spanish) ---
**Author:** ![Gadfly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/aeb1de/32.png) [@Gadfly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gadfly)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2004, 10:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-non-english-foreign-bands/270644/8 "2004-10-22T22:57:03Z")
Dungen, of Sweden. They’re (he’s) amazing. ---
**Author:** ![Kamino\_Neko](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kamino_neko/32/34_2.png) [@Kamino\_Neko](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kamino_Neko)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2004, 11:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-non-english-foreign-bands/270644/9 "2004-10-22T23:02:33Z")
> [@Tentacle Monster](#): > > Japan: > **Dir en Grey**. Haven’t heard a whole lot of their stuff, but I like what I have. _Child Prey_ is a hell of a track. I prever Malice Mizer to Diru, personally. Random selections, different genres, sticking to groups who mostly perform in languages other than English, assuming that’s what the OP meant… E Nomine (German, dancish music with religious and horror themes) Morning Musume (Japanese, the poppest of the pop…insanely cute. The subgroups Mini Moni and Puchi Moni, I prefer to the main group.) Malice Mizer I’ve already mentioned (Japanese ‘Visual Kei’ band. Gothic sensability.) Puffy(AmiYumi) (Japanese, pop. Nicely varied style, really nice vocals by Ami and Yumi.) Hmm… Most of the others I’d really reccomend have enough English songs to disqualify them. ---
**Author:** ![colour\_wolf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/edb3f5/32.png) [@colour\_wolf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/colour_wolf)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2004, 11:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-non-english-foreign-bands/270644/10 "2004-10-22T23:11:56Z")
Also from Japan: **Dragon Ash**. They sing in both Japanese and English. ---
**Author:** ![nitroglycerine](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/c5a1d2/32.png) [@nitroglycerine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nitroglycerine)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2004, 11:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-non-english-foreign-bands/270644/11 "2004-10-22T23:48:54Z")
There’s Thee Michelle Gun Elephant from Japan, [link](http://www.universal-music.co.jp/tmge/), a very cool band whose sound is equal parts Stooges, Yardbirds, Sonics and Pistols. ---
**Author:** ![Already\_in\_Use](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a9adbd/32.png) [@Already\_in\_Use](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Already_in_Use)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2004, 1:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-non-english-foreign-bands/270644/12 "2004-10-23T01:45:36Z")
[The Ruins](http://www.skingraftrecords.com/bandhtmlpages/ruinspg.html), from Japan, are the best band I’ve found out about in quite a while. And I find a lot of electronic music boring, but the French group [DAT Politics](http://www.epitonic.com/artists/datpolitics.html) never fails to delight. ---
**Author:** ![Hunter\_Hawk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/50afbb/32.png) [@Hunter\_Hawk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hunter_Hawk)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2004, 1:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-non-english-foreign-bands/270644/13 "2004-10-23T01:59:31Z")
Here are a few more that spring to mind… Croatia: The Bambi Molestors (surf music) Finland: Wimme (joik music with modern instrumentation and arrangements) Transjoik (ditto) Angelit (aka Girls From Angeli) (ditto) Gjallarhorn (folk-inspired rock) Mari Boine Persen (joik, but more vocals-oriented) Varttina (folk-inspired rock) Germany: Cluster (electronica) Hungary: Marta Sebestyen (purty vocals) Iceland: Mum (ambient pop) Apparat Organ Quartet (synth-based dork rock) Kolrassa Krokridandi (indie rock) Italy: Paolo Conte (piano lounge) Japan: Acid Mothers Temple (plus a shitload of Kawabata Makoto side projects) (balls-to-the-wall spacerock with an appreciation for ethnic music) Pakistan(?): Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan (qawwali) Russia: Alekzander Kopeikin (ambient electronica) Yugoslavia: Kultur Shock (folk-inspired rock/funk…actually based in Seattle, but started by Yugoslavian refugees) Plus any of about a zillion Six Degrees and Putumayo releases. Also see [KEXP](http://www.kexp.org) on Monday and Tuesday nights from 6 to 9 pm Pacific time. Monday is African music, and Tuesday is more general world music. ---
**Author:** ![interface2x](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/c0e974/32.png) [@interface2x](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/interface2x)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2004, 6:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-non-english-foreign-bands/270644/14 "2004-10-23T06:14:44Z")
And only now, hours down the line, do I realize that by English, you mean language and not nationality :smack: ---
**Author:** ![Snooooopy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ee7513/32.png) [@Snooooopy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snooooopy)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2004, 7:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-non-english-foreign-bands/270644/15 "2004-10-23T07:26:51Z")
I think we can count Oasis. The Gallagher brothers’ Mancunian mumbling is so hard to cut through that I remember MTV subtitling an interview with them. ---
**Author:** ![Tentacle\_Monster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ba9def/32.png) [@Tentacle\_Monster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tentacle_Monster)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2004, 12:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-non-english-foreign-bands/270644/16 "2004-10-23T12:07:16Z")
> [@Hunter Hawk](#): > > The Bambi Molestors Best. Band Name. Ever! ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2004, 1:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-non-english-foreign-bands/270644/17 "2004-10-23T13:10:44Z")
ABBA–They did some Swedish songs early in their run, and opened up the market for bands whose first language wasn’t English. Not a band, but I cannot praise Dudu Fisher’s singing enough, especially since I saw him in concert on Thursday. In English he’s wonderful, in Hebrew he’s divine. ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2004, 2:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-non-english-foreign-bands/270644/18 "2004-10-23T14:25:18Z")
Current Israeli bands, in Hebrew: **Shotei Hanevuah** (The Fools of Prophecy) **The Idan Reichel Project** - some of their stuff is also in Amharic. and Israel’s two leading hip-hop combos, **Subliminal and the Shadow** and **Hadag Nachash** (The Snake Fish). As for classic Israeli bands, there are too many to count. You have to understand the language to really appreciate them, though. ---
**Author:** ![Kantalooppi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/a5b964/32.png) [@Kantalooppi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kantalooppi)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2004, 2:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-non-english-foreign-bands/270644/19 "2004-10-23T14:58:16Z")
Well, as a Finn, I’m at a prime position to recommend good Finnish-language rock bands: **CMX:** I’ve always thought of them as analoguous to The Pixies, though they don’t sound all that similar - expect when they do. Influenced by Finnish folk music, among other things, but don’t get me wrong - it’s rock, that’s what it is, and great rock at that. **YUP:** Often described as “Finland’s Jethro Tull of punk”, but don’t let that keep you away of them. They’ve got many great, odd songs, especially around the middle of their career. **Ultra Bra:** It’s like an Eurovision band, expect that it’s good! Also influenced by Communist folk songs of the 70s. One foreigner I recommended them to told me they reminded him of J-pop. Excellent, in any case. **Anything made by Ismo Alanko:** Ismo is a seminal Finnrock artist, with career starting at 1980 and still going as strong as ever. This includes his first two bands, Hassisen Kone and Sielun Veljet, as well as his career as the head of various bands with names that start with ‘Ismo Alanko’. There’s really a wealth of all sorts of stuff that he’s made, with Clash-punk of Hassisen Kone, alt. rock of Sielun Veljet, and all the pop, rock, electronic, folk music, and everything else he’s made after those bands. Highly recommended. He’s also got some English-language material, though it’s a bit hard to find. ---
**Author:** ![Crusoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/49beb7/32.png) [@Crusoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crusoe)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2004, 9:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-non-english-foreign-bands/270644/20 "2004-10-23T21:17:16Z")
**Royksopp** , Norway **The Knife** , Sweden **Sigur Ros** , Iceland **Soulwax** , Belgium **MC Solaar** , France **Jimi Tenor** , Finland