foreign-language songs
 

Can anyone recommend and hook me up with some songs that are sung in a foreign language?

Basically, I want songs that are quite well-known, from the 1960's onwards that were originally sung in English, but covered in another language.

Cheers

Re: foreign-language songs
 

hmm...

well - off the top of my head, I can only think of Bowie songs... and those he re-did the vocals himself like :

Ragazzo Solo, Ragazza Sola (Bowie/Mogul): this Italian version of 'Space Oddity' (musically spoken) was released as a single (Philips 704208 BW) in Italy. The song has been re-released several times on bootlegs and counterfeits, but the official reissues can only be found on the Rare LP and on the rather obscure Italian Beat 600 CD.

"Heroes"
"Helden" (Bowie/Eno/Maass): this German version of "Heroes" was released as a single in Germany (RCA PB 9168). A 6'07" English/German version appeared on the German album (RCA PL 42372), while a 1982 German 12" contained both full length English-German/English-French versions (RCA PC 9821). A 1989 remix of the single version is found on Sound + Vision and the German/Swiss/Austrian edition of Best Of Bowie.

"Héros" (Bowie/Eno): this French version of "Heroes" was released as a single in France (RCA PB 9167), Canada (RCA PB-50398) and Australia (RCA 20629). A 6'07" English/French version appeared on the French album (RCA PL 42373), which itself was re-released in 1984 as "Take-off Heroes" (RCA NL 83857). This version was also released on a 1982 German 12" (RCA PC 9821) in 1982.

Don't Let Me Down and Down
Indonesian Vocal (also known as 'Jangan Susahkan Hatiku') of the song, which is incorrectly credited to Bowie. It was released in Singapore as a part of the BTWN album, then later appeared in 2003 on the Limited Edition 2CD+DVD of Black Tie White Noise.

Seven Years In Tibet
there is a Mandarin Chinese version of 'Seven Years In Tibet'. This song topped the charts in Hong Kong, and was known as "A Fleeting Moment"


actually... wait - this could go on for a while -> check this link

http://www.algonet.se/~bassman/bootlegs/01/sit.html

it collects most if not all of his foreign language tracks

[edit]
and I'm pretty sure I have all, if not most of his foreign language tracks... although some of them - like the Spanish version of "Day In, Day Out" aren't in that great of soundquality (as that track was only ever played once on some radio station in Latin America) or like the early (pre-Ziggy) tracks were only pressed on acetate

btw - why are you asking about foreign-language tracks?

Re: foreign-language songs
 

I don't know if it counts: Cypress Hill has done a Spanish (?) version of Insane In The Brain :p

Re: foreign-language songs
 

the only one on the top of my head is Laibach's cover of Queen's "One Vision" called "Geburt Einer Nation" which they sing in a kind of like a fascist rally song (in heavy german accent)

Re: foreign-language songs
 

Plastic Bertrand: Ca Plan Pour Moi!

Re: foreign-language songs
 

The Tom Middleton Compil that //\/\/ was talking about here has the most hilarious version of I Will Survive on it. :D

Re: foreign-language songs
 

they're a good start, thanks!
i've got the Tom Middleton comp, dug it out of the racks today, and it's kind of got me inspired!

Re: foreign-language songs
 

oh, there's also a Japanese version of New Order's "Krafty"

and a HORRIBLE version of Moby's "Slipping Away" (Crier La Vie)
...well - I guess it's all a matter of taste, I mean - to me, it's a cheesy overly 'dancy' version of the track

although not really a 'cover' per se... the TERIYAKI BOYZ have a track called "Heart Breaker" which was produced by Daft Punk & it's essentially "Human After All" with Japanese hip hop over it

Re: foreign-language songs
 

i have somewhere a hilarious bollywood version of michael jackson's "don't stop till you get enough"... i think it's that song at least. but it's amazing... i'm sure there are a number of MJ tracks that have been poorly covered in asia

Re: foreign-language songs
 

Faye Wong has covered Dreams by The Cranberries in both Cantonese and Mandarin. It's called Dream Person.

Her song 'Know Oneself and Each Other' is a cover of 'Know Who You Are at Every Age' by The Cocteau Twins. 'Random Thoughts' is a cover of 'Bluebeard'

Re: foreign-language songs
 

rock on!!!

Re: foreign-language songs
 

¡Cypress Hill es chingón!

Re: foreign-language songs
 

Damn you tyler that was my choice!:D


does Trio - Da da da count as its half in english half in german?

Re: foreign-language songs
 

.....how about Hallelujah, paper house, mushroom and Oh yeah! by CAN off the TAGO MAGO album? Damo sings in a mixture of german english and japanese;)

Re: foreign-language songs
 

Ahhh yes I've heard that. I'm a big fan of the guys that make up most of the Teriyaki's, the J-rap group Rip Slyme. And now they're saying that they've collaborated with Daft Punk, Ad Rock, Cornelius, and a dozen other producers? I really expected the album to be a little better didn't you? (although the Cornelius track was really good)


Actually I remember hearing most of it was just jibberish. I can pick out a few lyrics "Did anybody see the snowman...?" "You just can't get back the bone"..????? but I think he's just making it up as he goes along. Listen to "Peking O".......

Re: foreign-language songs
 

yea - I definitely was hoping the Teriyaki's album was going to be much better... I actually ordered it off amazon, and before it was shipped to me, I was able to download it. After I heard the tracks... I cancelled my order. Sure I kept the mp3's, but I rarely ever listen to it.

And actually - the same thing happened with Nigo's "Nigo Presents: (B)ape Sounds"... although, in that case - I got the cd, but kept it sealed.

After those two albums, I decided that I was always going to sample tracks before I buy an album - especially in the case with costly imports

Re: foreign-language songs
 

The Police released De Do Do Do, De Da Da Da in both Spanish and Japanese.

Re: foreign-language songs
 

Der Kommisar originally by Falco, then covered in English by After The Fire

Re: foreign-language songs
 

isn't the bulk of kraftwerk's disography available in both german and english? i guess that wouldn't make it a 'cover' of the original though since it's the same people doing both versions!

Re: foreign-language songs
 

Da Asa - Ofra Haza

Re: foreign-language songs
 

enrique iglesias covered Yazoo's "Only You" called Solo En Ti (multiple versions...one in spanish, one in english and one with both spanish and english)

Re: foreign-language songs
 

Athena - 'Köpek'

http://youtube.com/watch?v=kgf65w4xrqk

cover of Nirvana's 'Breed'

Re: foreign-language songs
 

Hah!

There are loads old british and US hit songs sung in finnish. and they do sound ridicilous.

:D

I couldn't find any in youtube
, but I can do some more extensive searching if you really need these.


edit:

AAARGH I FOUND ONE, PROBABLY THE MOST HORRIBLE EVER MADE, EVEN WITH A "VIDEO" :D
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Xgpn...elated&search=


In the meanwhile you can enjoy these:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sf84AysXGTU
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l9nJq...elated&search=
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CGP1xtVQHwM


-Tomi

Re: foreign-language songs
 

There's a gorgeous cover of No No No by a French trip-hop act called Melaaz on the Lamb Back To Mine.

Re: foreign-language songs
 

And from the Japanese delegation:

The Pillows - Crazy Sunshine, Last Dinosaur, and a bunch more of their stuff. Really excellent rock right there.

Re: foreign-language songs
 

I can vouch for that. Find some Finnhits. Its awful but hilariously awful. Tomi: who's that old finnish guy that murdered Sting's Fields of Gold?

I used to have to put up with this crap on the bus on the way to work when I lived in Finland. Seems to be bus drivers radio.

http://fi.wikipedia.org/wiki/Finnhits

Re: foreign-language songs
 

Oh yeah, it's also on the DJ Kicks by Daddy G from Massive Attack. Great track, that.

Re: foreign-language songs
 

There's a popular mexican group that plays band music that made some time ago covers of well known classics such The Night Chicago Died and Hotel California... they resulted damn funny... and danceable.:p

Re: foreign-language songs
 

I discovered in a gig in Berlin a few months ago this incredible label called
Sublime Frequencies, that compiles music from non-western regions..
the set was min blowing and was foreign foregin though they are in Sf i guess
..
Music from Iraq, palestina, syria, thailand, algeria.. Radio algeria and Choubi Choubi: Pop Sounds from Iraq are awsome.. that's foreign!... Teh music is so funky and they have so many tracks form the 60's (or at least sounds)
it's truly enlighting to hear this music

www.sublimefrequencies.com/ -

If you want to try something more mainstream (spanish!)
you can listen to:
Silverio, Maria Daniela y Su Sonido Lasser, la Monareta...

Re: foreign-language songs
 

Ben Folds Five did a version of their "Song for the Dumped" in Japanese.

also, there's a german-language version of "Rapper's Delight", but i'm not sure who did it.