# 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:** 19\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Tertius01](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e99b99/32.png) [@Tertius01](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tertius01)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2003, 4:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-recommendations-for-music-not-sung-in-english/152340/21 "2003-02-03T04:52:22Z")
Sigur Ros - Icelandic “Iceland’s Best Album of the Century” Experimental Pop Rock?..I haven’t really listened to enough to classify them, but they are pretty widely acclaimed. ---
**Author:** ![Tertius01](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e99b99/32.png) [@Tertius01](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tertius01)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2003, 4:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-recommendations-for-music-not-sung-in-english/152340/22 "2003-02-03T04:58:04Z")
And I guess technically it should be “Sigur Rós” ---
**Author:** ![Voyager](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voyager/32/133_2.png) [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2003, 7:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-recommendations-for-music-not-sung-in-english/152340/23 "2003-02-03T07:03:01Z")
Try Ommadawn by Mike Oldfield. There is not much singing, but what there is is in Gaelic, I believe. (On Horseback, the short fun track three is in English, though.) ---
**Author:** ![High\_Priestess](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/ee7513/32.png) [@High\_Priestess](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/High_Priestess)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2003, 9:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-recommendations-for-music-not-sung-in-english/152340/24 "2003-02-03T09:09:49Z")
Heavy rock/metal industrial? Rammstein? 😛 Japanese bands of those genres I recommend: Dir en Grey, Machine, Miyavi, Endorphine, Hakuei. Kagerou’s not bad either. ---
**Author:** ![High\_Priestess](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/ee7513/32.png) [@High\_Priestess](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/High_Priestess)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2003, 9:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-recommendations-for-music-not-sung-in-english/152340/25 "2003-02-03T09:11:23Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Tengu \* > \*\*Gackt and Malice Mizer are good to look for for Japanese rock. \*\* Malice Mizer actually didn’t do much rock… it’s more baroque/gothic, far from industrial or heavy rock. Gackt is more ethereal / gothic experimental at his best and pop / R&B at his worst. ---
**Author:** ![Evil\_Death](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ecccb3/32.png) [@Evil\_Death](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Evil_Death)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2003, 12:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-recommendations-for-music-not-sung-in-english/152340/26 "2003-02-03T12:47:34Z")
The Scottish bands Runrig and Capercaillie frequently sing in Gaelic. ---
**Author:** ![av8rmike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/edb3f5/32.png) [@av8rmike](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/av8rmike)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2003, 4:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-recommendations-for-music-not-sung-in-english/152340/27 "2003-02-03T16:10:06Z")
[Rammstein hijack] Some college friends and I listened to lots of Rammstein. Then this “raver chick” started hanging out with us and would say, “You should listen to (list of industrial & metal bands). Rammstein is just a joke band anyway.” We would usually respond, “that’s why we like them,” and she would get all huffy & stomp off. Guess some people can’t understand other’s tastes. [/Rammstein hijack] I was going to recommend Israeli stuff too, but it’s not usually like German rock. ---
**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 3, 2003, 5:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-recommendations-for-music-not-sung-in-english/152340/28 "2003-02-03T17:42:16Z")
Thanks for the suggestions so far, keep 'em coming! 😉 I love Rammstein (heck, a Rammstein LiveJournal avatar was what made **JarbabyJ** find me there!), but I know that a lot of people look down their nose at them. Who cares? I think it’s fun music. I _love_ these suggestions though! Finnish metal, J-Rock (mmm!), Icelandic pop rock, _these_ are what I’ve been looking for! And I’m using too many exclamation points! More Israeli stuff would be greatly appreciated, I love what I’ve heard so far. Thanks go to **Alessan** for telling me the transliterated name of my Israeli band (it’s been driving me nuts since I got it). I eventually want to learn Hebrew, so I figure it’d be good stuff to listen to (my German music’s been helping with my German classes, so who knows?). ---
**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:** [February 3, 2003, 8:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-recommendations-for-music-not-sung-in-english/152340/29 "2003-02-03T20:28:32Z")
Of course I have to jump in and say “musical theatre.” Most shows are done in German, Japanese, and lots of others. Check out [www.eur.com](http://www.eur.com) cast database. ---
**Author:** ![Sacrilegium](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f05b48/32.png) [@Sacrilegium](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sacrilegium)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2003, 8:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-recommendations-for-music-not-sung-in-english/152340/30 "2003-02-03T20:34:33Z")
Bethlehem’s “Schatten Aus Der Alexander Welt” (review at [http://www.ssmt-reviews.com/db/searchrev.php?artistID=134&showReview=true#R367](http://www.ssmt-reviews.com/db/searchrev.php?artistID=134&showReview=true#R367) ) Finntroll’s “Jaktens Tid” (review at [http://www.ssmt-reviews.com/db/searchrev.php?artistID=448&showReview=true#R1046](http://www.ssmt-reviews.com/db/searchrev.php?artistID=448&showReview=true#R1046) ) ---
**Author:** ![Beadalin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/3be4f8/32.png) [@Beadalin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beadalin)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2003, 8:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-recommendations-for-music-not-sung-in-english/152340/31 "2003-02-03T20:37:00Z")
I’d like to second the vote for **Sigur Rós**. It’s really wonderful stuff. ---
**Author:** ![Beadalin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/3be4f8/32.png) [@Beadalin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beadalin)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2003, 8:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-recommendations-for-music-not-sung-in-english/152340/32 "2003-02-03T20:42:07Z")
I’d like to second the vote for **Sigur Rós**. It’s really wonderful stuff. ---
**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 4, 2003, 4:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-recommendations-for-music-not-sung-in-english/152340/33 "2003-02-04T04:38:59Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by High Priestess \* > \*\*Malice Mizer actually didn’t do much rock… it’s more baroque/gothic, far from industrial or heavy rock. Gackt is more ethereal / gothic experimental at his best and pop / R&B at his worst. \*\* Well, there tends to be a good deal of crossover in my experience, among goth and industrial fans, so I took it from there. To go back to the harder stuff (Gods, I feel like we’re talking about drugs…) - though lower on my list, X-Japan isn’t too bad. ---
**Author:** ![bristlesage](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/edb3f5/32.png) [@bristlesage](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bristlesage)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2003, 4:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-recommendations-for-music-not-sung-in-english/152340/34 "2003-02-04T04:53:52Z")
Well, they’re not industrial or even rock, but Pink Martini sing in French, English, and Spanish. Good in every language. _Sympathique_ is a great album. ---
**Author:** ![SenorBeef](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/senorbeef/32/2220_2.png) [@SenorBeef](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SenorBeef)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2003, 8:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-recommendations-for-music-not-sung-in-english/152340/35 "2003-02-04T08:09:18Z")
“Das Ich” has some electronic stuff that’s not garbage. ---
**Author:** ![Sublight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/439d5e/32.png) [@Sublight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sublight)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2003, 12:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-recommendations-for-music-not-sung-in-english/152340/36 "2003-02-04T12:12:01Z")
**Rajas** , a Japanese Hair-Metal band from the 80’s, has recently reunited and released a new album _Yuugyou_. I wholeheartedly recommend it, and not just because the lead guitarist is my boss. ---
**Author:** ![koeeoaddi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/koeeoaddi/32/408_2.png) [@koeeoaddi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/koeeoaddi)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2003, 5:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-recommendations-for-music-not-sung-in-english/152340/37 "2003-02-04T17:26:19Z")
I mentioned **Khaled** in another thread, but he’s so good, I want to give him another plug. He’s an Algerian and sings in French. I think the style is called Rai - kind of an Arabic feel, with African and Reggae styles intertwined. And what a voice this guy has. I don’t have a clue what he’s singing about, but as soon as he opens his mouth I am riveted. Try \*\*N’ssi N’ssi \*\* and **Sahra** ---
**Author:** ![crinklebat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/dec6dc/32.png) [@crinklebat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/crinklebat)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2003, 8:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-recommendations-for-music-not-sung-in-english/152340/38 "2003-02-05T08:46:29Z")
**Gorky’s Zygotic Mynci** are an absolutely wonderful Welsh band with a few songs in Welsh. None on the latest album, sadly, although the EP before contained the haunting “Sbia ar y Seren.” Their collection “Introducing…” has a few Welsh tunes, though. Their style varies a lot although I guess “Introducing…” has the most raucous sound of any of their albums that I have…they’ve veered toward Fairport-style folk in recent years. ---
**Author:** ![Treviathan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/838e76/32.png) [@Treviathan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Treviathan)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2003, 10:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-recommendations-for-music-not-sung-in-english/152340/39 "2003-02-05T22:14:25Z")
Another vote for **Sigur Rós**. Lead singer Jon Thor Birgisson calls the language he sings in “Hopelandic,” a nonsensical mixture of English, Icelandic, and pure gibberish. I’m not familiar with much of **Cheb Mami** ’s work (the backing singer on Sting’s “Desert Rose”) but he has one amazing song called “Azwaw” - sung in Arabic, I believe - so I’ll also recommend him. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-recommendations-for-music-not-sung-in-english/152340.md?page=1)