I’ve always been interested in learning other languages so it’d be cool to get some recommendations. So far, I’ve come to like Me!Me!Me! by Teddyloid, the instrumental for Headbanger by Baby Metal, J’en Ai Marre by Alizee, and Yuve Yuve Yu by The HU.
Ça Plane Pour Moi by Plastic Bertrand
99 Luftballons by Nena
Both songs were massive hits in Australia when I was a kid and they both are still in high rotation on my playlist.
Interestingly, the English version of 99 Luftballons hardly charted here at all.
Plastic Bertrand’s song was huge due to appearing on the soundtrack of the National Lampoon’s European Vacation movie starring Chevy Chase and Beverley D’Angelo.
Ça Plane Pour Moi by Plastic Bertrand
Covered by Sonic Youth.
Of course!
The funniest part is that the viral part of that song isn’t in any language, it’s just scatting.
Tout là-haut - ZAZ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f2uxifMlIcs Beautiful French song!
I speak Spanish and French. La Femme and Thievery Corporation both have a lot of easily accessible songs in various other languages.
For French music specifically, I love L’Impératrice and Vendredi Sur Mer. Always a fan of the classics like Edith Piaf or Marie LaForêt . A recent discovery was Camille Yembe who is my new obsession.
MI favorita canción enteramente en español es la versión de La Llorona por Natalia LaFourcade.
This fun song by The Limiñanas uses both
I have a couple Rammstein songs on my playlist, does that count? Namely Du Hast and Deutschland.
- Columba aspexit by Hildegard von Bingen
- Armenia by Einstürzende Neubauten
- O Fortuna by Carl Orff
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I like a lot of Brazilian music, so I’d pick something Portuguese. ‘Tropicalia’, by Caetano Veloso, ‘Parabolicamara’ by Gilberto Gil, or ‘Tudo Que Voce Podia Ser’, by Milton Nascimento are all fantastic.
Mon Cheri by Sofi Tukker x Amadou & Marian
A Terrorista Visszatér by HétköznaPICSAlódások
Years ago there was a song that always played for the ads on the Chinese phones. I tracked it down and the English translation of the title is “I caught a cold in that corner” by Fiona Fung. I don’t really consider it foreign language since it sounds mostly non-lexical.
I also have to give Cruel Angel Thesis an honorable mention.
Mandinka (Guinea) - Yeke Yeke by Mory Kante, either the Afro Acid mix or the Hardfloor remix
French - Here I Am (Rutabaga mix) - Lexicon Avenue
Spanish - Llorando - Rebeka del Rio. Spanish language cover of Roy Orbison’s ‘Crying’. Video includes minor spoiler for Mulholland Drive.
Greek - Efige Efige - Stelios Kazantzidis
Malawi (sorry, I don’t know exactly what language this is in - EDIT: possibly Chichewa) - A Bale Ndikuwuzeni - Gasper Nali
Songhai (Mali) - Soubour - Songhoy Blues
French (Burkina Faso) - Taximen - Amadou Balake
99 Luftballons
Came here to say this
Japanese: Olivia Lufkin - Stars Shining Out
Spanish: Bruthal 6 - Todo en mis Manos
