Foreign music.

[Xambesi]

Recently I've gotten really into French Pop music, specifically Mokobe (French rap!) and Superbus (They're pretty much the French equivalent of Gwen Stefani).
I don't speak any French at all, beyond 'bonjour' and 'Voulez vous coucher avec moi ce soir', but I LOVE listening to their music.

Has anyone else found they enjoy foreign music, even if they have no idea what it's about?
Post some recommendations.

[ericssin]

well, I can understand some French but actually i don't like French music, but I'm pretty open to music in other languages. music in Spanish can be good too, I also like some native music.

[abbey]

I've been getting into French music too. I really like Yelle (or at least the remixes of her songs), the Teenagers, and that song by Yael Naim that's on the Macbook Air ad is really good.

There also a lot of amazing Australian bands/artists that I love. New Buffalo and Architecture in Helsinki especially.

[Warfox]

if you're into french pop i suggest Alizee, she's a pretty good singer, no clue what she is saying but pretty good

[abbey]

Yeah I can't listen to any of my French music around my dad. He speaks French and most of my French songs are dirty. I had no idea until I actually looked up the lyrics though.

[MaxAlcolo]

I listen to some swedish songs, but not on a daily basis. I love how it sounds though.
I'm from Montreal, Canada so I don't know if I can consider english as "foreign". I only listen to one french canadian band anyway.

[Chocoholic]

if you're into french pop i suggest Alizee, she's a pretty good singer, no clue what she is saying but pretty good

I like Alizee as well. It's so damn catchy.

Refused is a kick-ass Swedish band although they sing in English. Don't know if that counts. Rammstein is pretty good too but they're fairly well known. As far as J-Rock goes, Malice Mizer and Dir En Grey are personal favorites.

Otherwise it's pretty much random J-Pop and Japanese techno (thank you Dance Dance Revolution). Utada Hikaru is pretty good too, even beyond her Kingdom Hearts hits (check out Devil Inside).

[InkInYourEye72]

I have a thing for music in Sanskrit and some other music from India, but I don't know any specific artist. I mean, I don't understand a word of it, but it's really catchy.

[BurgerKueen]

I used to have a Superbus song but can't remember it now. I sometimes randomly listen to Turkish pop music but then I'm Turkish so it's not really foreign to me. Oh well.

[Android]

Do you want foreign music in foreign languages or just music from other countries?

[Hats of!]

I love foreign music, like British or American.

Well, but since the thread is about foreign music from the point of view of an english speaking country I will have to say no.

Only listen to British, American and Swedish rock.

[xkittenxsocksx]

Um Hello Saferide are a cute little twee band from Sweden I like linkD= (http://www.myspace.com/saferide)
Apart from that I like a few electronic/ambient artists that aren't from my area:
Pole, Air, Susumu Yokota, Murcof.

[Xambesi]

I used to have a Superbus song but can't remember it now. I sometimes randomly listen to Turkish pop music but then I'm Turkish so it's not really foreign to me. Oh well.

Is it Lola? I love that song.

[Crabstick]

I spent 5 weeks in Costa Rica earlier this year, so I heard a lot of latin rock and what they call 'reggaton' (kinda reggae mixed with hip-hop). It was mostly good, but like any kind of music I guess you get good and bad groups.

There was one band who were thought of us the latino U2, but I can't for the life of me remember their name. Good music, even though I only knew about 1 word in 20.

[TheHighwaySong]

I fucking love Rammstein. I can't completely understand them but just by constantly listening to them and looking a few things up, I'm already learning a few things. I can say the same about OOMPH. Die Apocalyptischen Reider (sp?) is also a great band I like from Germany. I guess Sepultura/Soulfly can sorta count because some of my favorite songs by them are in Portuguese. And speaking of music from Brazil, what's a foreign discussion without the amazing Nacao Zumbi! I don't think anything American could ever recreate what he's done. There's also this small Russian ska band (located in Austria) called Russkaja that are pretty talented. I wish they'd tour in America with the likes of Streetlight Manfiesto or something :frown:

[BlakKohm]

I've listened to Shing02 for a while. He's a Japanese rapper, who does some songs in English, but a lot I have no clue what he's saying because i don't speak Japanese, yet I still love just for the melody. If you've ever watched Samurai Champloo, he's the one on the theme song.

[MaxAlcolo]

I really love Les Cowboys Fringants. They're a french canadian band playing a kind of modernized Quebec folk music. In some songs you can hear a little touch of rock too, but it's mostly folk. Their lyrics are really politically engaged and also a lot about historical facts (related to Quebec, of course).
They're not foreign for me, but they could be for all of you guys and I thought like sharing. These are two songs:

Plus Rien (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r2D8jOzG7NM)
Les Étoiles Filantes (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=InCeVCGtHak)

[Hickabod]

Girlfriend by Avril Lavigne is pretty good in Japanese

[AngelRedFlame]

Wow, I was surprised to see Les Cowboys Fringants already mentioned! I enjoy listening to them very much.

I really, really like Coralie Clement. She is a soft-voiced French singer. Her stuff is really slow and easy to listen to, I recommend it to anyone who likes really soft music.

2raumwohnung and Klee are good slow-paced German bands, with female singers. Blümchen is a German techno artist, and her stuff is fun to listen to.

I like a lot of Japanese music. My favorites are Ai Otsuka (pop), Ikimonogakari (pop), Monkey Majik (rock/alt.), Pizzicato Five ( alt./jazzy ), and Tokyo Ska Paradise Orchestra (Ska, and very good ska, at that). I would recommend any of these bands in a heartbeat.

[this is not a post]

A French band I like (thank you GH3) is Naast. Maybe give them a try?

[TheHighwaySong]

Well speaking of GH3, they also got me into Die Toten Hosen. I don't know why more people don't know about them. They're music can be considered the closest thing to punk today.

[Tweek]

Les Wampas are a decent French punk band.
Emilie Simon is also good, she is like, electro-pop I think.

Oh, and GISM are a great Japanese punk band.

[Pieman]

Air Gear got me into Back-On, a J-Rock band that does some anime themes. My favourite is still Chain (Air Gears opening). Utada Hikaru is a guilty pleasure, and there is some Filipino rock band I used to listen to but forgot the name of. SOmething to do with switches. Those are my main few, though I do listen to more J-Rock.

[Hickabod]

I've got a thing for music from Sweden too

[Tweek]

Les Wampas are a decent French punk band.
Emilie Simon is also good, she is like, electro-pop I think.

Oh, and GISM are a great Japanese punk band.
Oh, and Thee Michelle Gun Elephant.

[xkittenxsocksx]

I like a French electronic outfit called GOMM.

[ToastmasterAlpha]

Well speaking of GH3, they also got me into Die Toten Hosen. I don't know why more people don't know about them. They're music can be considered the closest thing to punk today.

Yes, a great band. They've done a lot of interesting stuff, including a concept album based on A Clockwork Orange and a Ramones tribute album. And of course, Rammstein rocks my socks.

No Torso is a quality ska band from Norway. They have the most talented horn section ive ever heard in a ska band, though it's hard to compare with Streetlight Manifesto's brass greatness because No Torso is more mellow.

British alternative rock is twice as awesome in that it's both foreign and understandable at the same time (Though No Torso does sing in English). The Kaiser Chiefs and Maxïmo Park are my favorites.

[Zebbs]

When I went skiing in Italy one of the clerks from grocery shop at the foot of the mountain wore a T-shirt with "Ska-P" printed across it. My ski instructor was a complete dude and let me listen to his iPod going up in the chairlift. He told me Ska-P was one of his favourite bands. So I had a listen and they were pretty good, can't understand a friggin' word but Insensibilidad is a good song of theirs.

[Pope]

Machinae Supremacy. Sweedish techno-rock. really good.

[BlakKohm]

Air Gear got me into Back-On, a J-Rock band that does some anime themes. My favourite is still Chain (Air Gears opening). Utada Hikaru is a guilty pleasure, and there is some Filipino rock band I used to listen to but forgot the name of. SOmething to do with switches. Those are my main few, though I do listen to more J-Rock.

Only seen one episode of Air Gear, but i love the theme song.

[makemeshiny]

Although they're not foreign to me, you should check out Kaizers Orchestra. They're a Norwegian alternative rock band, and they're really awesome! The singles Maestro, Dekk Bord and 170 are some of my favourites.

[dandaman5]

what about Irish folk music
and Irish drinking songs
not one mention on here for the Irish

USER WAS PUT IN TIMEOUT FOR THIS POST. (http://forums.explosm.net/eventlog.php)
Reason: You capitalise a country, but not the start of a sentence? Please learn to grammar.

[Raxo]

I quite enjoy K-Pop, such as TVXQ and Super Junior. I know most people would say it's garbage but I get the damn music stuck in my head.

It's just bubblegum pop in some wacky language I can't understand.

[InTransit]

My sister recently got me in to Malaika, a South African pop band. She was introduced to their music when she was in South Africa about two years ago, and they toured here in Australia last month. They make awesome poppy songs to dance to, and you can tell them love what they're doing, and they love making music.

Unfortunately, I have no idea what they're saying, or even what language they're singing in. The gig was amazing too because there were alot of African immigrants there and they all looked so happy to be seeing a band familiar to them. There were even points where the crowd all started doing some dance that my sister said was popular over in Africa.

[Pachycephelosaurus]

There's a lot of good stuff coming out of Brazil (screaming vox in spanish kick unbelievable amounts of ass), Britain is always reliable for good music, and Sweden puts out fucking godly technical metal. Australia's got the occasional gem as well.

[JQHA]

I like the Czech band !T.O.O.H.!, though I don't know what they're singing about in the last couple of albums. But I don't really care, too.

I like the Belgian bands Aborted and Leng T'che, brutal death metal, some of the best brutal death there is.

Then Germany: Of course, much of the pornogrind comes from Germany. Being a fan of pornogrind, I'm quite a fan of Germany as well. My favourite bands from Germany include GUT and Cock and Ball Torture. But not only pornogrind comes mainly from Germany, some thrash metal is very nice to, listen to Sodom for example.

Then you have the french NSBM band Ad Hominem, which I really like, and of course ????, I really like them too, they're a sort of a meshuggah (???? is actually their name).

From Finland my favourite bands are Children of Bodom and Kylahullut. Both have the guitarist Alexi Laiho, and he even does vocals on CoB. I kinda like him.

Then of course Sweden, which has brought forth Meshuggah, really crazy mathcore, which any true metalfan must check out.

I also like the Hungarian band Tormentor, with Atilla (who you might know from such bands as MayheM) on vocals. They left their metal roots, but Anno Domini stays a classic album in my eyes.

Norway, of course, is inevitable when you listen to a bit black metal. Gorgoroth, Burzum, Immortal, Emperor, MayheM, Darkthrone, etc. I like all of them, though I am not so interested in black metal anymore lately.

Brazil, of course, may not be missed with bands as Sepultura and Soulfly (especially Sepultura). I really like their old albums.

Great Britain, the home of Ozzy Osbourne, Black Sabbath, Iron Maiden, Judas Priest, Leather Nunn, etc. Without them, heavy metal would not have existed (maybe not even metal overall), so Respect to GB.

Those are the basic bands outside of Holland and America that I like. If you just meant "Outside of America", I have to add Last Days Of Humanity, Cliteater, Anal Penetration, Fluisterwoud, Haatstrijd and Rompeprop.

[hollywood_maggot]

JQHA...I think he means bands that speak different languages than your native tounge. I mean, half of my fave bands at the moment are European, but pretty much none of them sing in other languages.

Really the only band I listen to in another language (that I don't understand) is Megaherz, a German hard rock band.

[Ninjaboy722]

i listen to SOME japanese songs thats soothing :)

[ADevil4LostBoys]

I'm quite fond of Finnish Rock Music, such as "HIM", "The 69 Eyes" and "Uniklubi" (sings only in Finnish).

I also think "Turbonegro" is pretty much amazing.

[SLjimbolian]

J-Pop is one of my guiltiest pleasures, makes me feel like one of those pathetic anime fanboys.

On the other hand, I enjoy my Finnish, Celtic and Norwegian folk music.

[Wackomyjacko]

French- I like Yelle and Plastic Bertrand.
Finnish- Lordi is awesome.
Ukraine- Gogol Bordello.
Japanese- Masu Misairu has one good song.

[cabhats]

German music's good sometimes.
Some Arabic music. Try Daler Mehndi, in particular tunak tunak tun. its a good tune, and the video was hilarious for some reason.

[Nightshayde]

I luuuuuffles Rammstein, they are the win.

Anorexia Nervosa is a pretty amazing French black metal band. :]

And um there's one song I like in Russian... if you've seen that Russian Post-It Animation, it's on that.

[bizzle]

Ska-P!

Amazing Spanish Ska

[fmsc]

Has anyone ever heard FADO?!?
It Sucks, I wouldn't recommend to anyone SANE of his/her head

Tought it might be good to warn you guys...

[Petey2112]

Someone mentioned Thee Michelle Gun Elephant, those guys are really really fun to listen to. I also like garage rock from Sweden (The (International) Noise Conspiracy, The Lost Patrol Band, The Hives), but Ive only heard ones that speak English.

[Pie_Dee]

Some Arabic music. Try Daler Mehndi, in particular tunak tunak tun. its a good tune, and the video was hilarious for some reason.

I think Daler Mehndi's Punjabi. But yeah I like him too.

I've recently gotten into Silbermond. They're a German band and I love their music, and I especially like Symphonie and Durch Die Nacht.

Boro Boro is a good and really catchy song by an Iranian singer called Arash, which I think is worth listening to.

I also like Rammstein, Ska-P and Opeth, but they've already been mentioned I think.

[The_Omnipotent_Shoe]

Norway
Enslaved
Emperor
Red Harvest

Sweden
Cult of Luna
Shining

Germany
Ahab
Monarch (sometimes Monarch!)
Sodom

Japan
Boris

France
Gojira
Dirge

Brazil
Sepultura

Italy
Ufomammut

Canada
godspeed you! black emperor

There are many more. I just don't feel like having to look up the others.

[Kailtirasleen]

I like lots of foreign music. A lot of the stuff I listen to comes from Finland. Like The Rasmus or Nightwish. I also like some japanese stuff too like Ali Project, Utada, or even Nobuo Uematsu.

I like video game music quite a bit. I dunno, I just do. I like Lacuna Coil from Italy, they're awesome... Um...


Apocalyptica's a big one too, they're also from Finland. Oh! Bjork also, she's great at times.

[INTUNEevolution]

Yelle remixes are the bomb.

Superbus was on GH3 right?

[stagger_lee]

Germany - KMFDM, Bloody Dead and Sexy, Einstürzende Neubauten, Xmal Deutschland
Japan - Yum!Yum!ORANGE, Banana Erectors

And probably others that don't come to mind.

[The_Omnipotent_Shoe]

Britain
Godflesh
Carcass
Bolt Thrower

Switzerland
Knut (pronounced Kay-Nute)

[ElPresidenteMike]

My friend recently got me hooked onto a Dutch band from the 70's named Focus. They have a song called "Hocus Pocus" where it'll go from a catchy riff and a guitar solo (the guitarist even does a sweep and this is '73) to a quick drum fill and the singer will do something fucking crazy/nuts/awesome like he'll yodel, play flute, or just sing gibberish. Then it'll repeat that a few times.

[Android]

Wow, I just checked out Focus. I found a youtube video of Hocus Pocus live from 1973. It's pretty ate up music but these guys are really awesome, thanks for the suggestion Mike.

<object width="425" height="355"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/bpV5InLw52U&hl=en"></param><param name="wmode" value="transparent"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/bpV5InLw52U&hl=en" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="425" height="355"></embed></object>

[ShaunAnator]

I'll probably get flamed for this but i've always liked Basshunter for it's great beat.

Also like Inka Marka which is a traditional South American band here in Australia. Dickson & Martinez are also very good especially in "the mystery", seriously it is a great song.

[johnmusic88]

Brazilian hip hop is where it's at right now.

I'm a dj and people love that stuff when you mix it up with what we've got over in the states

[Ureshii]

I'm suprised no one has mentioned this but: Flight of the Conchords from New Zealand. They sing funny songs.

http://http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendID=58557805

[Android]

I'm suprised no one has mentioned this but: Flight of the Conchords from New Zealand. They sing funny songs.

http://http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendID=58557805

Their TV show on HBO is really awesome. Didn't they just release a new album not to long ago?

[Ureshii]

They released a self titled album in April this year. It's got all their songs from HBO. One of the best albums ever in my opinion.

[TheHighwaySong]

Wow, I just checked out Focus. I found a youtube video of Hocus Pocus live from 1973. It's pretty ate up music but these guys are really awesome, thanks for the suggestion Mike.


Holy shit dude. This is catchy as hell. I just checked out a more recent video of the band. They're still around, and the old dude's still got it going on.

[ElPresidenteMike]

Holy shit dude. This is catchy as hell. I just checked out a more recent video of the band. They're still around, and the old dude's still got it going on.

Yeah, ever since my friend showed them to me I looked up more of their things on youtube and I wanted to know who the guitarist was in that video Android posted. His name is Jan Akkerman.

He ended up doing a duet with a VERY good Flamenco guitarist named Paco de Lucia. They both spoke different languages and had to communicate through broken English and didn't have a lot of time to make up something beforehand.

Clicky for the link to the video. (http://youtube.com/watch?v=Vakx58fh4bA)

[Profane Methane]

I've been really getting into Swedish D beat recently (Krigshot, Mob 47, Disfear, Tolshock etc). I've also been getting into a lot of Japcore (G.I.S.M, ROSEROSE, Fuck On The Beach etc).
I also like a whole bunch of Dub Reggae and old ska.