# I need recommendations for music NOT sung in English **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [February 2, 2003, 7:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-recommendations-for-music-not-sung-in-english/152340 "2003-02-02T19:35:34Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![zweisamkeit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zweisamkeit/32/4360_2.png) [@zweisamkeit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zweisamkeit)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2003, 7:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-recommendations-for-music-not-sung-in-english/152340/1 "2003-02-02T19:35:34Z")
I’ve always had a thing for languages. Even when I don’t know a single word of what’s being spoken, I just love listening to them. I’m a big fan of heavy and/or industrial music (a bit of electronic as well), so of course I have a lot of German language music (which is helping me in my German language classes, actually :)). But I love listening to other languages as well! The problem is that I don’t know any bands to keep an eye out for. So can anyone recommend bands that sing in not-English? ---
**Author:** ![interface2x](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/c0e974/32.png) [@interface2x](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/interface2x)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2003, 7:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-recommendations-for-music-not-sung-in-english/152340/2 "2003-02-02T19:51:28Z")
I’m assuming you’re familiar with **:Wumpscut:**? Industrialish stuff. And, of course, **Einsturzende Neubauten** , as well. ---
**Author:** ![ultrafilter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/3d9bf3/32.png) [@ultrafilter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ultrafilter)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2003, 8:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-recommendations-for-music-not-sung-in-english/152340/3 "2003-02-02T20:28:13Z")
As far as metal bands go, **Brujeria** sings in Mexican Spanish, **In Extremo** sings in various dead languages, **Nile** does some stuff in ancient Egyptian, and **Therion** has done some stuff in German and some Scandinavian language. Those last two sing mostly in English, but they’re worth checking out anyway. ---
**Author:** ![zweisamkeit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zweisamkeit/32/4360_2.png) [@zweisamkeit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zweisamkeit)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2003, 9:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-recommendations-for-music-not-sung-in-english/152340/4 "2003-02-02T21:20:00Z")
Oooh, nifty, **ultrafilter**! I should probably list the non-English speaking bands I listen to already, shouldn’t I? Wumpscut, Rammstein, In Extremo (God, I _love_ them!), Das Ich, Die Toten Hosen, Die Krupps, Einstürzende Neubauten, KMFDM (well, mostly English, but still), Kraftwerk and Tanzwut. There’s also an Israeli rock band that I have a CD of, but since it was purchased in Israel by a friend of mine, I have _no idea_ what their name is, since I can’t read Hebrew. And this computer doesn’t even display the name of the band. I can show you that track 1 of the CD I have is called: “01 סמי חופשי היהודים היהודים” (I hope that it shows as Hebrew for everyone, instead of just blank rectangles). Kind of hard to search for information on them, since everything on all the pages I find is in Hebrew as well. I’m always good for more German language bands, but other languages would be awesome. I’d love to hear Russian, French, Swedish, Danish, Japanese, Latin… the list goes on and on. ---
**Author:** ![ultrafilter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/3d9bf3/32.png) [@ultrafilter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ultrafilter)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2003, 9:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-recommendations-for-music-not-sung-in-english/152340/5 "2003-02-02T21:35:20Z")
Hmm…you might be the person who recommended In Extremo to me. I can’t remember. IIRC, Tatu did a bunch of Russian stuff before their recent English-language debut. They’re more synth-pop, but might be worth checking out. ---
**Author:** ![asterion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/4da419/32.png) [@asterion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/asterion)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2003, 9:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-recommendations-for-music-not-sung-in-english/152340/6 "2003-02-02T21:39:52Z")
Well, I really like Geinoh Yamashirogumi. Unfortunately, the only CD of their’s available in the US is the _Akira_ soundtrack. Anything else, you’d have to import from Japan. I’ll assume you already have Rammstein if you like heavy/industrial. ---
**Author:** ![cherry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/da6949/32.png) [@cherry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cherry)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2003, 9:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-recommendations-for-music-not-sung-in-english/152340/7 "2003-02-02T21:49:43Z")
Most of Buddha Bar is not in English and I highly recommend it if you like world music. They have IIRC 4 complilations out now. ---
**Author:** ![ladydisco](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/85f322/32.png) [@ladydisco](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ladydisco)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2003, 9:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-recommendations-for-music-not-sung-in-english/152340/8 "2003-02-02T21:57:24Z")
I don’t know of any bands, but I do have a copy of the theme songs for Fraggle Rock and Bananas in Pajamas in spanish if you want them.😃 ---
**Author:** ![II\_Gyan\_II](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/bbe5ce/32.png) [@II\_Gyan\_II](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/II_Gyan_II)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2003, 10:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-recommendations-for-music-not-sung-in-english/152340/9 "2003-02-02T22:14:04Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by cherry \* > \*\*Most of Buddha Bar is not in English and I highly recommend it if you like world music. They have IIRC 4 complilations out now. \*\* Please, please, please tell me where in the US can I get CDs of Sa Trincha ? I have his cassette of “One Way Flight” back in India. I can’t seem to find anything in the US. ---
**Author:** ![Kantalooppi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/a5b964/32.png) [@Kantalooppi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kantalooppi)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2003, 10:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-recommendations-for-music-not-sung-in-english/152340/10 "2003-02-02T22:33:08Z")
Try some Finnish metal. Viikate and Timo Rautiainen & Trio Niskalaukaus for starters. (TR&TN has also done stuff in German.) ---
**Author:** ![Dryga\_Yes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/838e76/32.png) [@Dryga\_Yes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dryga_Yes)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2003, 10:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-recommendations-for-music-not-sung-in-english/152340/11 "2003-02-02T22:35:55Z")
Stereo Total - _The_ ultimate band if you’re interested in foreign languages. On their albums, they manage to switch between German, French, Italian, Japanese and English. The music is infectious and _really_ kitschy pop. They’re like the ideal band for namedropping hipsters. bob hund - Excellent Swedish indie band, sounds kinda like Devo meets the Pixies. The singer sings in a thick southern Swedish accent which can be a bit off-putting, but it really is excellent stuff. Pluto - Danish mellow, reflective indie pop. Sounds kind of like Pavement’s Terror Twilight or Yo La Tengo’s latest album. It’s got lots of low-key organs, sparse guitars, gentle drums and similar stuff. I don’t know, it’s not very industrial, but still… 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![typhoon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ed8c4c/32.png) [@typhoon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/typhoon)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2003, 11:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-recommendations-for-music-not-sung-in-english/152340/12 "2003-02-02T23:22:23Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by zweisamkeit \* > **There’s also an Israeli rock band that I have a CD of, but since it was purchased in Israel by a friend of mine, I have _no idea_ what their name is, since I can’t read Hebrew. And this computer doesn’t even display the name of the band. I can show you that track 1 of the CD I have is called: “01 סמי חופשי היהודים היהודים” (I hope that it shows as Hebrew for everyone, instead of just blank rectangles). Kind of hard to search for information on them, since everything on all the pages I find is in Hebrew as well.** A Hebrew rock band? I don’t know why, but that’s really cool. ---
**Author:** ![moes\_lotion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7ba0ec/32.png) [@moes\_lotion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/moes_lotion)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2003, 12:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-recommendations-for-music-not-sung-in-english/152340/13 "2003-02-03T00:15:20Z")
While their catalogue is light on the kinds of music you mentioned, I recommend that you check out the Putumayo label, based in New York City. That’s www.putumayo.com. You can hear RealAudio clips of the first 45 seconds of most of the songs on their albums. You may like the World Lounge one in particular. ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2003, 12:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-recommendations-for-music-not-sung-in-english/152340/14 "2003-02-03T00:19:18Z")
“Komm gib mir deine Hand” and “Sie lieby mich” and “Song of Joy\*,” all by “Die Beatles.” Pink Lady :rolleyes: \*Sung in **Help!** ---
**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:** [February 3, 2003, 12:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-recommendations-for-music-not-sung-in-english/152340/15 "2003-02-03T00:31:50Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by zweisamkeit \* > \*\* > > There’s also an Israeli rock band that I have a CD of, but since it was purchased in Israel by a friend of mine, I have _no idea_ what their name is, since I can’t read Hebrew. And this computer doesn’t even display the name of the band. I can show you that track 1 of the CD I have is called: “01 סמי חופשי היהודים היהודים” (I hope that it shows as Hebrew for everyone, instead of just blank rectangles). Kind of hard to search for information on them, since everything on all the pages I find is in Hebrew as well. > \*\* zweisamkeit, the name of the group is “HaYehudim” (the track you listed is called “Free Sammy”). I’m not that familiar with them - they’re pretty much a niche group, and I’ve been away from the country for a while - but I hear they’re good. My brother-in-law’s a fan, and I can ask him the name of your album if you’d like. **typhoon** , Israel has had a thriving mjusic scene for decades now, mainly rock, folk rock and “smart pop”. Think Paul Simon, James Taylor, Springsteen and REM, add Brit-pop and French balladeers and you’ll get a pretty accurate picture of Israeli music. It’s a lot more lyric-oriented that most American popular music, so it doesn’t travel all that well. ---
**Author:** ![cherry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/da6949/32.png) [@cherry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cherry)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2003, 3:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-recommendations-for-music-not-sung-in-english/152340/16 "2003-02-03T03:15:34Z")
here try this [http://nrgmusic.com/artists.nrg?a=SA+TRINCHA](http://nrgmusic.com/artists.nrg?a=SA+TRINCHA) ---
**Author:** ![CuriousCanuck](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/d2c977/32.png) [@CuriousCanuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CuriousCanuck)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2003, 4:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-recommendations-for-music-not-sung-in-english/152340/17 "2003-02-03T04:12:00Z")
[hijack] adydisco is from Ottawa? cool 🙂 HI! (waves) And I’ll take a Fraggle Rock theme… heh… [/hijack] How about La Bamba? 😉 When I lived in Europe the ballady/rock stuff that people liked (for that type of music) was Cbrel and Jean Jaques Goldman… but they might not be what you are looking for… though I think Cabrel’s “Je l’aime a mourir” is one of the most beautiful songs lyrically. ---
**Author:** ![CuriousCanuck](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/d2c977/32.png) [@CuriousCanuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CuriousCanuck)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2003, 4:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-recommendations-for-music-not-sung-in-english/152340/18 "2003-02-03T04:13:03Z")
Oh… Cabrel’s first name is Francis… anyway… ---
**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:** [February 3, 2003, 4:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-recommendations-for-music-not-sung-in-english/152340/19 "2003-02-03T04:39:43Z")
Gackt and Malice Mizer are good to look for for Japanese rock. ---
**Author:** ![Lodrain](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c4cdca/32.png) [@Lodrain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lodrain)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2003, 4:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-recommendations-for-music-not-sung-in-english/152340/20 "2003-02-03T04:51:50Z")
Although Einstürzende Neubauten’s already been mentioned, may I second it? They’re that good. I also recommend KMDFM, who does most of their stuff in English, but quite a few songs in German. I personally think their stuff in German’s better than their stuff in English, which makes sense, since most of the members are either Dutch or German, IIRC. And then there’s Gry. I’m obsessed with her. She’s a Danish singer, very obscure and linked to Einstürzende Neubauten through FM Einheit. Her lyrics are… haunting. Good luck finding her material–you’d have to import it, definitely. She’s not industrial, but she does most of her songs in Danish and has some elements of industrial in them–things like crashing metal and electronic effects. Very subdued, but to a wonderful effect. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-recommendations-for-music-not-sung-in-english/152340.md?page=2)