What bands in your country would be more internationally renowned if they sang in English? In my time abroad, I’ve heard some incredible bands whom I’m sure would be much more famous internationally if they sang in English (I’m not saying they should sing in English). For instance, I think Tryo would garner huge followings in the jam-band community. Emilie Loizeau (who does sometimes sing in/is part English) would have a fair share of the Norah Jones fanbase.
These are just French examples. I can’t think of any Taiwanese groups (thinking of the two places I’ve lived) that I would put in these categories, but I’m sure they exist. This is just off the top of my head.
NOTE: I’m not interested in foreign pop stars whom one could argue would be famous by virtue of their music sounding like Brittany Spears or J-Lo. I’m asking which groups would be more appreciated for their talent, innovation, lyrical content, etc., rather than their ability to get people to dance (I know in some cases this is a fine line).
I think Os Mutantes (“The Mutants”) could have been a great hit in the late 60’s and early 70’s had they sung in English and been marketed internationally. They were part of the Tropicalia movement of the time, along with Gilberto Gil, Caetano Veloso, Tom Zé and others. Think of Revolver/Pepper’s/Magical Mistery Tour era Beatles with a latin beat (for the first few albums - it then disintegrated into prog rock boredom). The sad thing is that they the group did go to France and recorded an album with some of their hits in English in 1970 but it wasn’t released until 2000, decades after they had disbanded. They reformed in 2006 but I haven’t listened to the new formation yet.
Chico Buarque also would have been successful anywhere had he sung in the local tongue, however, seeing as he is my favorite lyricist along with Cole Porter, I’m just glad he didn’t. (He has a great portuguese version of Porter’s Let’s Do It that even manages to add a few verses.
I don’t think just singing in English would be enough. There are plenty of Japanese bands that have songs in English, for example, and they don’t succeed overseas. Some of them even have perfectly comprehensible songs in English–but that’s not enough. You need talent too, of course, but you also need the structure. The Japanese music industry is so dramatically different from the American industry that cross-pollination seems to be very difficult, if not impossible. Of course, American bands succeed in the Japanese pop charts–that’s inevitable–but Japanese indie bands in America, for example… there are a few that have succeeded to some extent, like Melt Banana, but they basically have to move to America and change the way they do things–thus becoming uncompetitive in the Japanese music market.
(Not that I’m Japanese, but I do live here and listen to quite a bit of Japanese music…)
I guess the flip side of this question is someone like Nana Mouskouri. She’s sold over 300 million records. How? She records in like 15 languages (or more)
Kent are probably the biggest band in Sweden, definitely bigger than the likes of the internationally-known The Cardigans and The Hives, yet are largely unknown outside of the Nordic region. They did release two albums in English, rerecorded versions of Swedish albums but with new lyrics, but didn’t really get anywhere with them so they’ve given up with that.
Doe Maar had a bunch of huge hits in the 80s - Ska/Pop crossover style with some amazing music and lyrics. Singer/songwriter Hennie Vrienten is still writing some great stuff (mostly movie soundtracks AFAIK).
Andre Manuel writes hauntingly beautiful songs (lyrics in the side bar on the link). He’s hardly popular even here (one of his best CDs has all the lyrics in Achterhoeks which is almost a different language which probably didn’t help, and he’s not exactly shy about touching sensitive subjects in a pretty brutal way). Should be popular with the Tom Waits fans.
And just to prove it’s in fact possible for Dutch bands singing in English to have some success in the UK/US: George Baker Selection & Golden Earring.
ETA: And I forgot about 2unlimited.
I enjoyed that Emilie Loizeau track - thanks for sharing.
Add to me to the list of those who say just singing in English would be enough. Most of you who live outside of Australasia won’t be familiar with any New Zealand acts other than Crowded House or possibly Split Enz (although Bic Runga had some success with the Lilith Fair tours) & there are lots of reasons for that - Op Shop messed up on their UK work visa, Hello Sailor & Dragon spent their time in the States in the 70s getting trashed (& in Dragon’s case insulting their audiences)& Annica Moa was found “difficult” by her record label. But really its just a very crowded market now.
They’re not from my country, but the band Movits! from Sweden played on The Colbert Report last year. He really hyped them up. I bought their album and I really enjoy it, but I’d enjoy it a lot more if it were in English.
Also Rowwen Heze would do considerably better if they sang in Dutch, never mind English. They sing in a south of The Netherlands dialect that many Dutch people can’t understand either. Their musical style is local oompa mixed with tex-mex (the link is somewhat a-typical but my fave). Shane McGowan and Flaco Jimenez are fans. The lyrics are fantastic, trust me.
I’m not actually from Bulgaria, but I’ll pretend I am for the purpose of this post. I don’t know that Bulgarian pop music (aka pop folk, or chalga) would actually have a lot of crossover appeal outside of the Balkans, even if it were in English. Balkan pop, which is a sort of combination of traditional folk music with a heavy Roma influence (a couple of the biggest chalga stars in Bulgaria are Roma) with rather cheesy Western pop music. Generally inane lyrics. The singers all have one name and are chosen more for their physical appearance than singing ability.
That said, Azis might get some attention, if only for the curiosity factor. How a cross-dressing, openly bisexual Roma got to be the most popular singer in a country where homosexuality is NOT accepted and the Roma suffer extreme discrimination is something of a mystery to me.
Wasn’t getting the email updates about this thread. I’m stoked that there were some answers. I’m listening to Andre Manuel right now. It’s great stuff (I’m a Tom Waits fan).
To the folks who have noted that English isn’t the only factor: I know. Even in the US, if talent + English = fame, then I would think people like Aesop Rock, Sage Francis, Iron & Wine, etc. would have much more notoriety in their respective genres than they do.
What I’m really trying to get at is, who are the under-appreciated musicians in different countries that we in the English speaking world might pass over because they don’t speak English, but obviously that’s not the only factor.
I’m interested in hearing more. An Algerian friend introduced me to Idir (scroll down to “avava inouva”) recently, and I think it’s great.
They sing in a south of The Netherlands dialect that many Dutch people can’t understand either. Their musical style is local oompa mixed with tex-mex (the link is somewhat a-typical but my fave). Shane McGowan and Flaco Jimenez are fans. The lyrics are fantastic, trust me. 