# Your Favorite Songs in English From Bands Who Dont Speak English As a First Language **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [May 17, 2020, 5:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-songs-in-english-from-bands-who-dont-speak-english-as-a-first-language/853964 "2020-05-17T05:00:53Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Marvin\_the\_Martian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/marvin_the_martian/32/2898_2.png) [@Marvin\_the\_Martian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marvin_the_Martian)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2020, 11:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-songs-in-english-from-bands-who-dont-speak-english-as-a-first-language/853964/21 "2020-05-17T23:53:49Z")
> [@markn\_1](#): > > Radar Love, from Golden Earring. I came to post Golden Earring, but “Twilight Zone”. ---
**Author:** ![Dancer\_Flight](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dancer_flight/32/7601_2.png) [@Dancer\_Flight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dancer_Flight)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2020, 1:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-songs-in-english-from-bands-who-dont-speak-english-as-a-first-language/853964/22 "2020-05-18T01:51:40Z")
> [@madsircool](#): > > Isnt she Canadian? I understand that French is the primary language in Quebec but arent Quebecois bilingual? More generally, not necessarily; in Celine Dion’s case, not before age 20: Per Wiki: Two years after she learned English, Dion made her debut into the Anglophone market with Unison (1990). She was born in 1968, so she learned English at age 20. ---
**Author:** ![TreacherousCretin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/treacherouscretin/32/476_2.png) [@TreacherousCretin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TreacherousCretin)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2020, 2:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-songs-in-english-from-bands-who-dont-speak-english-as-a-first-language/853964/23 "2020-05-18T02:33:01Z")
> [@RealityChuck](#): > > “Venus” by the Shocking Blue Me too. ---
**Author:** ![Grestarian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grestarian/32/3227_2.png) [@Grestarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grestarian)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2020, 8:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-songs-in-english-from-bands-who-dont-speak-english-as-a-first-language/853964/24 "2020-05-18T20:25:58Z")
Ozzy Osbourne sounds great when he singing but unintelligible when he’s speaking in inter-- Oh! You mean he just sounds like that when he’s drunk? :smack: –G! Well, they call me the breeze! I just keep movin’ on! …–Ronnie van Zandt (Lynrd Skynrd) …_Call me the Breeze_ [Written by JJ Cale] …Second Helping ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2020, 9:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-songs-in-english-from-bands-who-dont-speak-english-as-a-first-language/853964/25 "2020-05-18T21:25:05Z")
> [@silenus](#): > > Any band from Scotland. I was specifically going to mention “500 Miles” by the Redeemers. (Now, where’s the tartan smiley? :mad: ) ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2020, 9:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-songs-in-english-from-bands-who-dont-speak-english-as-a-first-language/853964/26 "2020-05-18T21:31:59Z")
> [@madsircool](#): > > Isnt she Canadian? I understand that French is the primary language in Quebec but aren’t Quebecois bilingual? Approximately 75% of Quebecers are francophone. Of those, approximately one third are bilingual; the rest are monolingual French speakers. And even then, that doesn’t mean English is their first language. Someone like Dionne, who apparently learnt English starting at age 20, is not singing in her native language when she sings in English, just like ABBA. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2020, 9:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-songs-in-english-from-bands-who-dont-speak-english-as-a-first-language/853964/27 "2020-05-18T21:54:52Z")
An honorable mention must go here to [Prisencolinensinainciusol](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-VsmF9m_Nt8) ---
**Author:** ![John\_DiFool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_difool/32/19543_2.png) [@John\_DiFool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_DiFool)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2020, 11:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-songs-in-english-from-bands-who-dont-speak-english-as-a-first-language/853964/28 "2020-05-18T23:07:21Z")
Nightwish. It can be an amusing pastime to note when their former lead singer Tarja Turunen would mispronounce certain letters. [Behold the Elvenbath](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=80kk95-zZxI)! ---
**Author:** ![Rhiannon8404](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rhiannon8404/32/17929_2.png) [@Rhiannon8404](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhiannon8404)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2020, 1:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-songs-in-english-from-bands-who-dont-speak-english-as-a-first-language/853964/29 "2020-05-19T01:36:48Z")
> [@Siam\_Sam](#): > > A lot from the Scorpions. This was my first thought. ---
**Author:** ![Mangosteen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Mangosteen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangosteen)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2020, 1:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-songs-in-english-from-bands-who-dont-speak-english-as-a-first-language/853964/30 "2020-05-19T01:54:18Z")
> [@Northern\_Piper](#): > > Approximately 75% of Quebecers are francophone. Of those, approximately one third are bilingual; the rest are monolingual French speakers. > > And even then, that doesn’t mean English is their first language. Someone like Dionne, who apparently learnt English starting at age 20, is not singing in her native language when she sings in English, just like ABBA. Age 20? Meaning she was out of K - 12 schooling. Don’t the schools in Quebec teach English as a second language like schools in Europe? Seems many Continental Europeans speak English quite well. Are Quebecers that anti English? ---
**Author:** ![Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/son_of_a_rich/32/5439_2.png) [@Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Son_of_a_Rich)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2020, 1:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-songs-in-english-from-bands-who-dont-speak-english-as-a-first-language/853964/31 "2020-05-19T01:58:20Z")
Astrud Gilberto. ---
**Author:** ![yanceylebeef](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yanceylebeef/32/12290_2.png) [@yanceylebeef](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yanceylebeef)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2020, 2:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-songs-in-english-from-bands-who-dont-speak-english-as-a-first-language/853964/32 "2020-05-19T02:00:42Z")
Anything from Guitar Wolf, the 5.6.7.8s, Teengenerate or Thee Michelle Gun Elephant. ---
**Author:** ![Tabco](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tabco/32/7644_2.png) [@Tabco](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tabco)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2020, 2:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-songs-in-english-from-bands-who-dont-speak-english-as-a-first-language/853964/33 "2020-05-19T02:17:11Z")
Dunno if this would count, but the song “[Que Sera Sera](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OhlW2roqg7Y)” from the OST for the video game “Katamari Damacy.” Pretty sure English isn’t the singer’s native tongue. ---
**Author:** ![eschereal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eschereal/32/18939_2.png) [@eschereal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eschereal)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2020, 2:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-songs-in-english-from-bands-who-dont-speak-english-as-a-first-language/853964/34 "2020-05-19T02:24:47Z")
> [@Northern\_Piper](#): > > Approximately 75% of Quebecers are francophone. Of those, approximately one third are bilingual; the rest are monolingual French speakers. AIUI, the language they speak in Quebec is about as similar to the language spoken in France as Portuguese is to Italian. ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2020, 3:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-songs-in-english-from-bands-who-dont-speak-english-as-a-first-language/853964/35 "2020-05-19T03:32:13Z")
> [@eschereal](#): > > AIUI, the language they speak in Quebec is about as similar to the language spoken in France as Portuguese is to Italian. No, that’s not the case at all. There are Quebec accents, but standard Quebec French compared to French French is much like standard North American English, compared to British English. In high school and university, we used Quebec French and French French texts and learning aids interchangeably. ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2020, 3:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-songs-in-english-from-bands-who-dont-speak-english-as-a-first-language/853964/36 "2020-05-19T03:36:01Z")
> [@Mangosteen](#): > > Age 20? Meaning she was out of K - 12 schooling. Don’t the schools in Quebec teach English as a second language like schools in Europe? Seems many Continental Europeans speak English quite well. Are Quebecers that anti English? No more than the other provinces are anti French. It’s avaiable, but not mandatory, and few kids leave school fully bilingual, in my experience. For example, in my school in Saskatchewan, there were only three years of French required, and most kids dropped it as a subject as soon as they hit Grade 10, when it became optional. If you’re interested in learning the other language, whether French or English depending on your location, you can do it, but it’s not required. Sounds to me like Dionne got serious about learning English as she started her singing career. Having English would be a clear advantage to a professional singer in North America. ---
**Author:** ![eschereal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eschereal/32/18939_2.png) [@eschereal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eschereal)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2020, 5:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-songs-in-english-from-bands-who-dont-speak-english-as-a-first-language/853964/37 "2020-05-19T05:42:22Z")
I rather liked that song _Who Can It Be Now_. Not sure what those guys native language was. ---
**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:** [May 19, 2020, 6:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-songs-in-english-from-bands-who-dont-speak-english-as-a-first-language/853964/38 "2020-05-19T06:52:57Z")
Keren Ann - [Not Going Anywhere](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IzDwyyXtKbQ) ---
**Author:** ![madsircool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madsircool/32/3432_2.png) [@madsircool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madsircool)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2020, 7:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-songs-in-english-from-bands-who-dont-speak-english-as-a-first-language/853964/39 "2020-05-19T07:10:21Z")
> [@eschereal](#): > > I rather liked that song _Who Can It Be Now_. Not sure what those guys native language was. Men at Work? They’re Aussie. ---
**Author:** ![RivkahChaya](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rivkahchaya/32/8919_2.png) [@RivkahChaya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RivkahChaya)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2020, 7:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-songs-in-english-from-bands-who-dont-speak-english-as-a-first-language/853964/40 "2020-05-19T07:14:39Z")
> [@silenus](#): > > ABBA, forever and always. Amen! [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-songs-in-english-from-bands-who-dont-speak-english-as-a-first-language/853964.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-songs-in-english-from-bands-who-dont-speak-english-as-a-first-language/853964.md?page=3)