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The global Rock and Pop genre is characterized by - let me say - 'anglocentrism'. But there is also a variety of good music culture in other languages, which is unfortunately rarely known beyond the borders. This thread is intended to make a modest contribution to changing this.
As an introduction to the topic, here are two German-language titles. The first one in a local dialect, which is only spoken in the city of Cologne ; -)
BAP: 'Verdamp lang her'
Peter Maffay: 'So bist du'
Both of these can be found on YouTube.
@nicoletta I used to listen to Hubert Kah in the 80’s. Very cool tunes…I think they were German. So much good Europop that we missed out on in the States. San Francisco had a really cool modern rock station back then and that’s where I would hear some really good stuff from European bands. I get a bit irritated when I discover a cool new tune on YouTube that I never heard in its original era. I’m making up for lost time when it comes to hearing new music. One of the things I really appreciate about the internet. (In addition to CDH that is.)
GP
@gracepal: Hubert Kah was part of the so-called 'Neue Deutsche Welle' (NDW/German New Wave) in the 80s. His most popular hits were 'Rosemarie' and 'Sternenhimmel (Starry Sky).
Within the NDW there were some really silly songs, but also innovative, sometimes slightly provocative/punky things. The bands "Ideal" (Blaue Augen/'Blue Eyes') and "Extrabreit" (Polizisten/'Policemen') were also typical representatives of this pop genre.
For me it's interesting to dive deeper into American music styles. I especially like Motown and funky music of the 70s and 80s (e.g. 'Sly & the Family Stone', 'Bar-Kays' ...).
Unfortunately, due to commercialization, this kind of thing is no longer played on the radio 😥
I wanted to post some YT links here, but unfortunately it's not allowed (yet). But the platform operators are very friendly and want to discuss and check it.
@nicoletta They definitely need to allow links, that would be great. My fave Hubert Kay is “Picture of You”. I went back and heard it again today and if you listen to it at a sideways angle, it’s almost a metaphor for a married crossdresser😜
@gracepal: What concerns links, Liz Kostas from the administration will decide about it. Let's hope for the best 😉
The German name of 'Picture of You' is 'Wenn der Mond die Sonne berührt' (when the moon touches the sun). The song is of 1984 and was also presented in the 'Hitparade' a well-known evening state TV music show 🙂
Rammstein -- almost all the German I know comes from Rammstein videos.
Emigrate -- off-shoot of Rammstein
Eisbrecher -- another German band.
Off the industrial metal track we have Patty Gurdy, although her collaboration with Scardust--Concrete Cages is pretty heavy. I have to admit, she's German too, so perhaps you can see a trend here 🙂
My favourite German phrase (paraphrased from Rammstein) when talking to someone I don't like: "Du bist Hässlich, du bist ein Schwuler". One day I'm going to say it to a German by mistake, oops.
Hi Becca,
Gurdy's birth name is 'Patricia Büchler'. And the 'hurdy-gurdy' that she plays is her namesake. Most of her (former) titles remember me to Irish Music.
What concerns Rammstein, I especially like "Radio" with its cheeky video. It's a satire of the GDR, where listening to broadcasts from the 'West' was not welcome.
Many Rammstein songs have a deeper meaning. A prime example is the track "Deutschland", which describes the history of the country in many sequences with its artistic movie, from Roman times to the German reunification. The motion picture itself is not for the faint of heart.
Nicoletta
@nicoletta Always fancied a hurdy-gurdy but as usual, I'm sure they are not as easy to play as she makes it appear. I took up saxophone about seventeen years ago and while I don't play as well as I used to (lack of practice) I can make it sound good. However, the saxophone is often described as 'the easiest instrument to play badly' and this is quite true. The alto sax (in particular) in the hands of a beginner makes a flock of geese sound quite harmonious, it's why I took up the tenor sax as it is easier to get a mellow sound (it is also more expensive).
I've always fancied the church organ but since I am unable to get anywhere near adept on the piano, adding feet into the mix would be a step (geddit?) too far.
Watched the Deutschland video, interesting stuff. Will look up the translation later.
@rebeccabaxter: If you are a sax fan, I recommend you to search for the name “Britta Saalbach” on YouTube.
She is a crossdresser and, above all, a gifted musician who has published many self-created saxophone and piano interpretations on her channel.
And she knows a lot of international musicians and stars from the scene.
We met in our local German forum 'Travesta' and she appreciates me, even though I'm actually completely unmusical and don't play an instrument myself 🙄
I love Celtic rock, especially if sung in Scots Gaelic
@annaredhead Did you go and see The Peatbog Faeries at Carnglaze Caverns a couple of years ago?
@annaredhead They were pretty good but they did no actual songs; they were an instrumental band and it started to get a bit 'samey' after a few tunes.
Have you ever been to Carnglaze? It's a unique venue and we have seen quite a few bands there over the years; it's only about 20 minutes from our place.
We did the tourist thing years ago and went to the places in there that weren't available during gigs. There is an underground lake that is lit from underneath and is very atmospheric; they can hold weddings there.
During gigs, they have a bar and the place gets quite warm, but only when there are a lot of people as without them, the temperature is a steady 10C all the year round (so we were told on our tourist visit).
@rebeccabaxter Yes, I've been to Carnglaze a few times for gigs and also to look around as a tourist. It's an impressive place. Midge Ure played there in its early days - I've seen him a couple of times, but not there, unfortunately.
My today's tip for non-English music goes for 'Georges Brassens' from France.
To be found on YT under "Georges Brassens - Je me suis fait tout petit"
A sophisticated ballad from the hand of a sly fox ... 😉
Recommendation for lovers of Italian music:
Adriano Celentano's rocking canzone 'Svalutation' in which he denounces runaway inflation - 1976.
What would he have to say about it today? 😎
Can be found in YT under:
Adriano Celentano - Svalutation Extrait des Rendez-vous du Dimanche
I wrote a post with my fav Eastern European music, but I learned the hard way that the forum removes links.
Well... Shame.
So you have to take my word for it, that Eastern Europe is a interesting music galore 😉
I fully agree with you, Malina, that there are also very interesting tunes in Eastern Europe and Russia as well. Here's my favorite:
To be found in YT under:
КОМУ ЭТО НАДО ♥ РУССКИЙ НАРОДНЫЙ ХИТ
(Translation: "Who needs that? ♥ Russian Folk Hit")
@nicoletta there is actually an interesting aspect to what you posted. I actually wrote my thesis on similar topic, so I am observing it with interest. See, that modern Russain folk, which is actually just a typical modern Russian music dressed as folk, often with the same singers that ditch their sexy costumes to wear babushka's scarfs: this is part of Russian propaganda aimed to turn people away from Western culture, at the same time inciting in them love into all things Russian.
This is nothing new, similar things were being done in Poland when the communists tried to stop the spread of rock-and-roll, they encouraged artists to somehow make it more Polish-folk (which led to such ridiculous things like the videoclip to one of the best Polish blues bands showing the band in an oper air museum, wearing traditional clothes and walking between clay jars or drawing water from the well (search for "BREAKOUT Gdybyś kochał, hej (1969)"). Some bands made the best of it and created their own unique style mixing traditional folk with prog-rock (check "Skaldowie - Uciekaj, Uciekaj"), but of course most of it was shit - as everytihng usually is, when polticians try to influence it - and is rightly forgotten.
Same for this new wave of Russian folk. I failed to find anything worth listening so far, when it comes to Russian folk I'd rather stay to good old bands that were doing it honestly before it was encouraged as part of Z propaganda - like Отава Ё – Сумецкая for example.
@kylikki:
I think there are always two 'threats' to good quality music. Firstly - as you wrote - the instrumentalisation for agitative 'messages'.
Secondly, the increasing commercialisation. If you look at Indian music, you quickly realise that over 95% of it is Bollywood trash.
On the other hand: This now applies to almost all cultures and countries. Folk music has also become commercialised everywhere in order not to appear old-fashioned and to attract younger audiences.
Everything is nicely backed by pop rhythms from the sound machine. Authenticity can really only be found in releases from the 50s to the 70s.
And it takes time to find the pearls among them.
Thanks for the tip about the Polish band.
And with a little wink:
Here's a real babushka, with heart-warming 'home music' at the kitchen table:
YT search term
БАБА ЗОЯ и ВАЛЕРА песня Ваенги "Курю" (Снова стою одна)
I have been thinking about this topic for a few days, could not decide if I should give my opinion, as I am a music lover but haven’t really been exposed to artists from other countries so I am not to knowledgeable.
As the topic say it, we are dominated by the English speaking artists with many great European artists that dedicated their entire careers to sing in English, it’s not to easy to discover other artists unless people like you make an introduction, at least nowadays we have the internet, back in my youth we had to buy our music.
I consider myself very blessed being fluent in English and Spanish, there is plenty of excellent music to go around.
Happy Holidays to you all 🎄⛄️
@carlafirst11:
Full consent, Carla. If you like Spanish 'canciones', here's a nice one from Ecuador:
YT search term
Reminiscencias, Julio Jaramillo - Video Oficial
Nice Holidays,
Nicoletta
I checked the song, very nice to hear songs from that era, thanks to the internet. This song is from my parents teenage years, but still resonates, easy to listen to as much of current music is just too noisy and vulgar. I am a product of 80’s music, mostly from Mexico, Argentina, Spain and a couple of Brazilian crossovers, in later years I discovered bachata from the Caribbean and of course USA and British artists.
Thank you
My today's suggestion goes in the direction of 'World Music', Republic of Niger, Agadez Region, Tuareg Rock, video and music are really awesome, YT search term:
BOMBINO * TUAREG / NIGER
News about nationwide power outages (like in Cuba) has clearly shown where the former 'Switzerland of the Middle East' stands today. What a pity.
Check out 'To Beirut' from the famous Lebanese singer 'Fairuz':
YT search term
FAIRUZ _ LE BEIRUT
Today once again a German - or better: Swabian - language rocking tune:
YT search term
1981 Schwoißfuaß - Oinr isch emmr dr Arsch
Very worthwile to listen in, but don't expect to understand the lyrics 😉
