Do foreign vocalists ruin your prog experience?

Visitor13 wrote: Gargantua sing in Polish and have brilliant lyrics. You'll have to take my word for it, though - they're completely untranslatable as they rely on heavy wordplay. Another reason for singing in your native language, it gives you so much more capacity for expression!

Same could be said for Battiato's lyrics, which rely also on puns and quotations from various Italian cultural sources. They can be masterpieces of nonsense, but unfortunately only native speakers of Italian, or people who are very proficient in the language, can appreciate them fully.

Guys, let's face it... With very few exceptions, rock lyrics are nothing to write home about. They are songs, not literature - if one wants to read a novel or a poem, they'll get a book, not a CD. Opera is held in much higher regard than any subgenre of rock (including prog), but I can assure you that in most cases the librettos are quite ridiculous, not to mention bombastic. However, they suit the music and the singing stye to a T, and no one expects Shakespeare or Dante.

Who cares as long as the music is good? Personally, I think it's cool when artists decide to sing in their native tongue.

^ Nah, that's no invasion, just poor lyrics

Focus recorded only one track in Dutch. I wish they could have done versions of Black Beauty or Moving Waves in Dutch. Thijs has even done vocals in latin.

I was delighted when Céline Dion started singing in English so the whole world could suffer along with us here in Québec when we go to a shopping mall, music store, hockey game you name it. I can`t wait for her French cover of Close To The Edge.

Seriously ( really ) I`m suprised nobody has mentioned the Hungarian band Omega who have recorded in Hungarian English and German. Some of their English language material is difficult to understand but they do a better job in German. Oddly, for the most part I prefer the Hungarian recordings because it sort of adds further mystique to their music which has a lot of imagery if one bothers to try and understand them. They don`t always mirror the English recordings. Fortunately I have a Hungarian friend who is into the band as well.

As for other languages besides French and German which I speak, I don`t care if they`re singing in Klingon as long as I like the music. Some music sung by English singers in English is almost impossible tro understand anyway. I was listening to Rob Zombie in the record store the other day and he might as well have been singing in Swahili.




Edited by Vibrationbaby - December 17 2007 at 13:18

Ghost Rider wrote: What I have heard of Sigur Ros left me somewhat cold, though of course I will have to do some more listening - nevertheless, they sing in one of the oldest languages in Europe. Icelandic is practically identical to Old Norse, the language of the Eddas and the sagas... very prog indeed!

and just found a new rival  for Genesis  in the pantheon of the Big Mick's  insomnia cure's hahahhaha.  Just had a nice nap after those samples.     On topic though... loved the singing.. .the music ...   very sedate.

Ghost Rider wrote: Well, that would be more like the language of extreme metal....

No, the language of extreme metal is the language of beer and make-up.

Seriously, a bunch of Vikings running straight at you, while terrifying, is nowehere near as disturbing as a bunch of Vikings running at you singing Sigur Ros songs.

Ghost Rider wrote: What I have heard of Sigur Ros left me somewhat cold, though of course I will have to do some more listening - nevertheless, they sing in one of the oldest languages in Europe. Icelandic is practically identical to Old Norse, the language of the Eddas and the sagas... very prog indeed!

Yep, the monastery-burning language of prog, carnage, pillage and rape

What I have heard of Sigur Ros left me somewhat cold, though of course I will have to do some more listening - nevertheless, they sing in one of the oldest languages in Europe. Icelandic is practically identical to Old Norse, the language of the Eddas and the sagas... very prog indeed!