It's very rare that a non-English-language artist gains widespread popularity in NZ, and I think that's a shame. There's a whole other world of awesome music out there. I thought maybe we could recommend our faves to each other, and maybe widen our musical circles a bit.
What's your favourite? From Japan I can recommend Chara and Shikao Suga for some straight ahead pop, as well as the hilarious late-80s-early-90s punk of the Blue Hearts. Brazilian Lenine's brand of folk/bossa/pop is groovy, as is anything from the uber-cool Italian lounge/chill/funk labels Irma and Schema (although these sometimes include English-language artists). Then there's blast-from-the-past French legend Serge Gainsbourg. Obviously bands like Sigur Ros are the exception to the aforementioned "rarely gains widespread popularity"...
What kind of non-English stuff do youse like?
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Does snoop dogg count?...
Does snoop dogg count?
manu chao...
manu chao
I keep getting Die Toten Hosen songs ...
I keep getting Die Toten Hosen songs stuck in my head... which sucks, not knowing a word of German I haven't a clue what they're on about.
Brujeria (sp?) 4TW. Mexican metal band. ...
Brujeria (sp?) 4TW. Mexican metal band. With their hit song, "Peter Wilson"
Amadou and Mariam - a blind couple from ...
Amadou and Mariam - a blind couple from Mali - their latest album is produced by Manu Chao, its called Dimanche A Bamako, check it out. see link....
[ http://www.amadou-mariam.com/ ]
oohh, serge gainsbourg- ever heard ...
oohh, serge gainsbourg- ever heard that album he did in 1979 with Sly and Robbie? Sleazy old french git over reggae riddims, bizarre but great
Yeah, phenomenal album! I haven't ...
Yeah, phenomenal album! I haven't heard that in years. Grace Jones intoning in French over the Sly & Robbie riddim section is pretty nuts too...
Serge & Brigitte Bardot's 'Bonnie & Clyde' is great.. as sampled by MC Solar years later. Actually quite liked him for a bit, and more recently that sleazy French trio on Ninja Tune that I always want to call TLC!? Hmm.
Didn't Sergei Gainsbourg record that ...
Didn't Sergei Gainsbourg record that song Je t'aime (I love you) - considered so filthy in its time radio refused to play it.
Rammstein is another of those ...
Rammstein is another of those exceptions... and Los del Río.
Some Hispanic punk/metal was cool at some point - Puya's Fundamental was Fantastic.
I have been on a bit of a Japanese kick ...
I have been on a bit of a Japanese kick at the moment, so I recommend:
TsuShiMaMiRe - Japanese punk trio, they really mix it up. Throw in some pop and ska and stuff. Nice.
Teriyaki Boyz - Japanese hip hop outfit endorsed by the Beastie Boys. Songs produced by Daft Punk, DJ Shadow... They mix up the English and Japanese in the their lyricising. Just some fun really.
Asian Kung-fu Generation - Basically Japan's answer to Weezer. Power-pop with Japanese lyrics, it sounds odd but good.
Stereolab are the only outfit I listen ...
Stereolab are the only outfit I listen to with many non-English lyrics, I think. I guess some Kraftwerk... I had some pretty cool comps of new wave / post-punk stuff from France and Germany, but I dunno what I did with them.
I listen to lots of instrumental stuff from countries where people are at least not native English speakers... but it doesn't really impact on the music, funnily enough. ;)
Wow! Losta replies. I guess more people ...
Wow! Losta replies. I guess more people are listening to overseas music than the radio programmers realise. I reckon that airplay for good non-English-language artists wouldn't be a complete disaster...
I don't know that Serge Gainsbourg album you talk about... sounds cool, tho'; I'll have to check it out.
I also recommend a guy called BiD. He's a producer (I think he's Brazilian - not sure), and he released an album of songs performed by people he's done production for. The album is called Bambas & Biritas; get it, because it is splendiferously groovy.
I can't go past Buena Vista Social ...
I can't go past Buena Vista Social Club - those old boys sure know how to do their thing.