English or native language?
Printed From: Progarchives.com
Category: Progressive Music Lounges
Forum Name: Prog Polls
Forum Description: Create polls on topics related to progressive music
URL: http://www.progarchives.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=18516
Printed Date: February 04 2025 at 16:56
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 11.01 - http://www.webwizforums.com
Topic: English or native language?
Posted By: NotAProghead
Subject: English or native language?
Date Posted: February 05 2006 at 01:06
|
Bands from non English-speaking countries. Some of them sing in their native language, some - in English. Sometimes they make both versions of albums. What do you think is better? ------------- Who are you and who am I to say we know the reason why... (D. Gilmour) |
Replies:
Posted By: andrea
Date Posted: February 05 2006 at 01:10
| I think that is better sing in your native language and put the translation of the lyrics in the booklet than sing with a bad accent... |
Posted By: BaldFriede
Date Posted: February 05 2006 at 04:13
|
It depends; early Amon Düül 2 combined both; they have a little accent when singing English, but it is not annoying, and their mastery of the English language is good. It is all the more astonishing that "Nada Moonshine #" from 1995 seems to prove the opposite; Renate Knaup has a horrible accent on this one, and the lyrics are school English at best.
-------------  BaldJean and I; I am the one in blue. |
Posted By: Snow Dog
Date Posted: February 05 2006 at 04:49
|
Every band should do as they want. I have no problem with someone singing with an "accent". I prefer English though, but will listen to any language. ------------- http://www.last.fm/user/Snow_Dog" rel="nofollow"> 
|
Posted By: Rockin' Chair
Date Posted: February 05 2006 at 05:33
| I prefer English |
Posted By: BaldFriede
Date Posted: February 05 2006 at 05:37
Let's not forget Magma sing in their native language too! 
------------- BaldJean and I; I am the one in blue. |
Posted By: arcer
Date Posted: February 05 2006 at 05:39
|
Take PFM singing in English and in their native Italian (Photos of Ghosts and Per Un Amico). The English lyrics are awful and the band really seems to struggle with them. The Italian vocals on Per un Amico are much more natural sounding, fluid, and comfortable. They also sound amazing (even if I haven't got a clue what they're about, it's such a beautiful language). Not understanding makes no difference to me. And Peter Sinfield's English lyrics ruin PFM for me. It's the same with Sigur Ros. I don't care that they're singing in Icelandic on Agaetis Byrjun and care even less that it's a made up language on (), they're still great records.
|
Posted By: Publius84
Date Posted: February 05 2006 at 07:10
|
Language is not most important.
The most important are feelings. ------------- I know what I like and I like what I know... Prog is in my heart, in my mind, in my soul... |
Posted By: Ricochet
Date Posted: February 05 2006 at 07:17
|
IN THE ORIGINAL LANGUAGE!!!
------------- 
|
Posted By: Tony Fisher
Date Posted: February 05 2006 at 07:58
|
One of my favourite bands is Runrig (Scottish Celt rockers). They sing about 60% of their songs in English and 40% in Scots Gaelic. Capercaillie do likewise. I prefer the Gaelic songs as they are singing about Gaelic culture and the language is far more beautiful. I've also learned Gaelic as a result (well enough to get by, anyway). Horslips also sing songs in Irish Gaelic on some early albums and they sound so right. But it doesn't matter as long as they do it well and the key is that these bands are all top notch. |
Posted By: Zenith
Date Posted: February 05 2006 at 08:33
|
Indeed, you hit the nail there ------------- We're only in it for the music!!! |
Publius84 wrote:Posted By: Publius84
Date Posted: February 05 2006 at 08:35
Tnaks man ------------- I know what I like and I like what I know... Prog is in my heart, in my mind, in my soul... |
Posted By: Rosescar
Date Posted: February 05 2006 at 08:48
|
The singer from CAN kicks so much ass when he sings in Japanese.
------------- http://www.soundclick.com/rosescar/ - My music! "THE AUDIENCE WERE generally drugged. (In Holland, always)." - Robert Fripp |
Posted By: Syzygy
Date Posted: February 05 2006 at 09:34
|
If you're referring to Damo Suzuki, he sang in what he referred to as the language of the stone age - a mixture of German, English, Japanese and gibberish. I can't think of any Can song where he sang more than a couple of odd words of Japanese, but I'm not familiar with his more recent work. Apart from Magma, Sigur Ros and Ruins/Koenji Hyakkei also sing in languages of their own devising, which works extremely well. PFM's albums are much better in their Italian versions IMO, although I do think that Peter Sinfield did a better job than he's generally credited with writing English lyrics to fot the mood of their music. ------------- 'Like so many of you I've got my doubts about how much to contribute to the already rich among us...' Robert Wyatt, Gloria Gloom |
Posted By: sleeper
Date Posted: February 05 2006 at 16:30
same here ------------- Spending more than I should on Prog since 2005 
|
Posted By: Drew
Date Posted: February 05 2006 at 16:35
yep ------------- |
Posted By: razifa
Date Posted: February 05 2006 at 16:52
|
I like lyrics in the native language but it is a fact that I prefer they are in English. The accent is not important for me as long as the grammar is OK...
------------- ********** **razifa** ********** |
Posted By: Ridge
Date Posted: February 05 2006 at 17:09
|
I have no preference for a particular language but if a non english speaking (or singing if you will) band is to sing in english, just like razifa said: get the grammar good (joke!). ------------- Discipline is never an end in it self, only a means to an end. |
Posted By: goose
Date Posted: February 05 2006 at 17:37
| Generally, I'd prefer bands to sing in their native language. As Friede said though, it's very much dependent on the group. I'd add, though, that for folk based music singing in a language foreign to the instruments seems a bit pointless, ultimately. |
Posted By: Politician
Date Posted: February 05 2006 at 18:07
|
Native language for sure, if the band's command of English is shaky. I can
think of several Italian albums in particular where the shocking English pronunciation makes the music very difficult to listen to. |
Posted By: Moogtron III
Date Posted: February 05 2006 at 19:17
| I like both, but if there are several versions of an album (for instance PFM and Le Orme did Italian language albums and English versions) I go for the original one. |
Posted By: micky
Date Posted: February 05 2006 at 19:32
|
native language... and sort of surprised so many voted for English. The voice is an instrument as well.
------------- The Pedro and Micky Experience - When one no longer requires psychotropics to trip |
Posted By: The Miracle
Date Posted: February 05 2006 at 20:03
|
Native language. The voice is indeed an instrument and I think it's better to writw lyrics in the language that you know the best. ------------- http://www.last.fm/user/ocellatedgod" rel="nofollow - last.fm |
Posted By: Prog-jester
Date Posted: February 06 2006 at 04:41
Thanks for poll NotAProghead I wanted to make the same  Definetely the native one(especially in Italian bands  )
|
Posted By: Atkingani
Date Posted: February 06 2006 at 08:34
|
Native language! If a band is aiming the international market the lyrics may be translated to English in the internal folder. ------------- Guigo ~~~~~~ |
Posted By: Phil
Date Posted: February 06 2006 at 08:48
| I think on balance I'd rather hear the band's native language... |
Posted By: Zweck
Date Posted: February 06 2006 at 10:14
| Different languages sound differently, so whatever sounds right for both the lyical subject and music FTW. |
Posted By: Norbert
Date Posted: February 09 2006 at 07:47
| It depends on many things, but I have sympathy for bands who sing in their native language. |
Posted By: Manunkind
Date Posted: February 09 2006 at 07:56
|
But IMO it's almost always easier to convey one's feelings in one's own language. And no offence to anyone here, but singing in English all the time is simply limiting; every language is a music genre of its own. ------------- "In war there is no time to teach or learn Zen. Carry a strong stick. Bash your attackers." - Zen Master Ikkyu Sojun |