Music in your language?

[RandomTexanReader]

I go and find a different version somewhere else while uttering maledictions on those who discriminate against 'Mericans. :p

Edit: Is this it? It's really pretty!
[youtube width=200]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Gsdp2zSCjY[/youtube]

[daItrick]

Well, there are a lot of castillian Spanish songs.
For example, my favs:

Efecto Pasillo - Pan con mantequilla:
Title means ''bread and butter''. Basically, love themed.

David Bisbal - Diez mil maneras:
Title means ''ten thousand ways''. Again, a men fell in love with a woman or something like that.

Melendi - Lágrimas desordenadas
Title means ''messy tears''. Aaaaand, again, a men which loves a women and she breaked him (or something like that). Warning bad words/insults.

There are more artists like Malú, Rosario Flores, Antonio Orozco, Pablo Alborán, etc.
But this ones are my favourites (and it's really rare because I don't really like Spanish songs)

[ryagami]

Hm, here in Serbia, we have next to no song which are not in Serbia, but we have many different genres represented (turbo-folk being the most notorious, I guess).

We have this concept called "narodna muzika", which could be translated as "folk music", but that does not really do it justice, as it is pretty common to listen to these days (praised by half the population and frowned upon by the other half). Some of the older stuff can often be heard at weddings, slavas, or any kind of celebration, I would say.

A sample (Note: listen on your own accord. I am not to be held responsible for anything that can and will happen to you.):

But, that aside, one of the songs that I think could represent Serbia very well, to some extent, is our Eurovision song from 2008, I think it was, because of the ethnic sound and theme in general:

The singer has a wonderful voice, in my opinion, so check out a few of her other songs, too. They are quite good, though not very numerous, I think.

[Pessi]

One imo very "Finnish" song is Ievan polska by Loituma. I especially like the long string of pure nonsence the lady in the left sings in the middle of the song.

/>
Another one is Olviräppi by Raptori. The lyrics, a fervent adoration of beer, are from a 19th century play by our esteemed writer Aleksis Kivi, but Raptori turned them into a rap song in 80's.

[fluffernutters]

That's actually Icelandic (though a bit old-fashioned), not Old Norse. He's singing "I want to have a darling, most urgently", lists all the good qualities he wishes for in a girl and ends with a promise of having a three-day wedding and no lack of food or wine for the guests. I can try to get you the lyrics and some translations if you like?

Doh! The comments on the video mentioned old Norse, but I guess it was too cool to be true. I'd love to read a translation, it seems to be quite different from the swedish lyrics (which are about a geographic place rather than a girl...)

I was pleasantly surprised to see how this thread has taken off! Gotta go see how many songs I can find on Spotify now, to listen to while I work. Thank you everyone for posting songs, and keep doing it!

I'll add a less traditional song, Hellfire from Hunchback of Notre Dame, in Swedish. There's something with the pronunciation and the lyrics that gives me chills (although we don't usually roll our r's that much hehe)

Spoiler: show

[Sunflower]

Daéa Reina, I can't see some of your songs because of where I live.  :'(
Murica! This was a song that was written with the express purpose of being nearly incomprehensible to anyone without some knowledge of CB radio slang.
[youtube width=200]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tPTWZQv0liY[/youtube]

That's a 10-4, RTR, but how'd a miniskirt like you ever hear about "Convoy" in the first place?
This is Sunflower, going 10-42. 

[Krisse Kovacs]

https://open.spotify.com/user/11159824955/playlist/6R72s9SuXqlgxvQPz9CILC
or: spotify:user:11159824955:playlist:6R72s9SuXqlgxvQPz9CILC

I actually have a list on spotify with many random hungarian songs (veery few in not-hungarian but by hungarian artist)

I hope the link works, first time I actually linked, I dunno how to spotify actually

[RandomTexanReader]

That's a 10-4, RTR, but how'd a miniskirt like you ever hear about "Convoy" in the first place?
This is Sunflower, going 10-42. 

Read you loud and clear, Sunflower. Daddy was a sand-bagger for a little while, growing up in San Marcos. That's a 10-10, keep bugs off your glass and trouble off your-*chk*

Auctioneering. I can't believe I forgot about Auctioneering.
Here's a song about it:
[youtube width=200]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FItdgMQCYVI[/youtube]
Here's an example:
[youtube width=200]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hM7ITjpyed4[/youtube]
(Yes, they're saying actual words)

[Fenris]

Plumbo, a rock/folk rock group from my fylke, entered this very Norwegian song for Eurovision a few years back.

Spoiler: show

[youtube width=250]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EY6sEjWGPzE[/youtube]

Glittertind a folk-rock (occasionally veering into folk metal territory) who makes a mixture of original songs and covers of old songs. Linked below being a cover of a medieval ballad.

Spoiler: show

[youtube width=250]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bBlixPMAkR8[/youtube]

Klovner i Kamp was a pretty big Norwegian hip-hop group in the late 90s/early 2000s with often quite comedic texts (their name would translate as either Battle Clowns or Clowns in a Fight), and among the first to rap in Norwegian.

Spoiler: show

[youtube width=250]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=es3lPfgqCmA[/youtube]

DDE is probably the most famous 'trønderrock' band in Norway, which is basically music that is awfully catchy when combined with moonshine. For anyone learning Norwegian and can't understand a word, don't worry, they sing in fairly thick 'Trønder' dialect.

Spoiler: show

[youtube width=250]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HKHAOsYxkgg[/youtube]

Sie Gubba is a pretty decent Norwegian country band, although in my opinion Norwegian country don't have much to compete with against American country.

Spoiler: show

[youtube width=250]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g-5V16oIT34[/youtube]

Folque is an old folk group, here singing a rendition of Sinclairvisen, a song about the defeat and massacre of a group of invading Scottish mercenaries by Norwegian farmers during the Kalmar War.

Spoiler: show

[youtube width=250]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YSJ2bWS1Jnw[/youtube]

[Viisikielinenkantele]

Music which represents the german language? I think this would require a slightly longer answer than most would want to read...

So if you like you can skip the next part.

Spoiler: show

There is no such thing as The german language. It is a dialect continuum which reaches from the alps to the shores of north sea and baltic sea; you simply can't decide which dialect would represent the german language the most. In fact the standard language was for the longest time the dialect spoken around Weimar because of the big influence of Goethe. In latter days the standard language is shaped by television news and its speakers but most people don't speak it in everyday conversations.
So, what music is there depicting german  language?

Here are a few examples of music in different german dialects (these are only selected examples, there are way more dialects in the german-speaking countries, but this is what I could find relatively quickly):

Swiss (I include swiss, in my opinion it is a political decision to describe it as a own language):

One austrian dialect:

One bavarian dialect:

Cologne:

Berlin:

plattdeutsch (low german):

There are quite a few great artists who sing songs in german. This is a selection of a few favourites of mine:

For equality reasons  :

Or this:

And just because I like him so much and want to shamelessly promote him:

Okay, I need to stop myself now, I am spamming you enough as it is 

[ParanormalAndroid]

The Super Furry Animals do some songs in Welsh, such as the excellent 'Ysbediau Heulog':

/>Gruff Rhys (the lead singer) has a solo career which also includes Welsh songs, such as the unpronounceable 'Ffrwydriad Yn Y Ffurfafen' (in fact, his album 'Yr Atal Genhedlaeth' is entirely in Welsh):

/>Gorky's Zygotic Mynci have a few Welsh songs, as do Cowbois Rhos Botwynnog, and I think Catatonia have done a few too (although that's more of a guess).
Anyway, there's two to start you off (if you liked them, listen to 'Lliwiau Llachar' and 'Gyrru Gyrru Gyrru' for the respective artists and tell me what you think).

[RandomTexanReader]

Swiss (I include swiss, in my opinion it is a political decision to describe it as a own language):

[youtube width=200]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HADZCBu5g2A[/youtube]

One austrian dialect:

[youtube width=200]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l-XYBJOKNMg[/youtube]

One bavarian dialect:

[youtube width=200]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JS0iYM4mPro[/youtube]

Cologne:

[youtube width=200]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tlydkt2CyDw[/youtube]

Berlin:

[youtube width=200]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R1H37fVSu9k[/youtube]

Bouncy music
Bouncy music
Bouncy music
Mexican-radio-station music
...
Berlin is Austin on drugs isn't it.

Random anecdote:
My choir director once visited Germany and while she was there she went to sing with a choir one parish over from where Mozart had been born, and she said that in all her years of studying Mozart she never understood him until she heard him sung by his countrypeople.
She shared this insight with her friend, who answered, "Yeah, but I tried to teach them Jazz and they just couldn't swing it."

[Laufey]

Doh! The comments on the video mentioned old Norse, but I guess it was too cool to be true. I'd love to read a translation, it seems to be quite different from the swedish lyrics (which are about a geographic place rather than a girl...)

Ok, here goes... just a warning, the lyrics may not have lasted time very well.

ATTENTION ALL ICELANDIC-SPEAKERS! There are a few parts of the text I'm totally not certain I got right, if you catch any mistakes please let me know.

Spoiler: show

Ég vil fá mér kærustu sem allra allra fyrst.
En ekki verður gott að finna hana       
því hún skal hafa kinnar eins og hrútaber á kvist
og hvarmaljósin björt sem demantana.

I want to find a sweetheart, I urgently do,
But it won't be easy to find her.
For she will have cheeks like stone bramble on a branch
and eyes bright like diamonds.

Hún skal vera fallegust af öllum innanlands
og iðin við að spinna og léttan stíga dans
og hún skal kunna að haga sér hið besta. 

She shall be the most beautiful of all in the land
and diligent to spin wool and light footed in dance
and she will know how to best behave herself.

Þær eru flestar góðar meðan unnustinn er nær
en oss þær eru vissar til að blekkja   
en ég vil fá mér eina þá sem ei við öðrum hlær
sem elskar mig og bara mig vill þekkja. 

Many girls are good when their darling is near
but they'll be sure to cheat on us
but I want one who won't laugh with others
who loves me and only wants to know me.

Og hún skal líka finna beztu hugarró hjá mér   
ef húsi mínu færir hún iðni og dyggð með sér 
og stóra, fulla kistu beztu klæða. 

And by my side she will find the best peace of mind
if she brings diligence and dutifulness with her to my house
and a big, full chest of best clothes.

Og ef ég svo í eina næ jafnt alveg sem ég vil 
þá óðara til brullups skal ég feta       
og sveitafólk mitt veislu fær sem vantar ekkert til 
en vín og hrokafylli sína éta   

And if I find one such exactly as I want
then right away a wedding I will have
And the people of the area come to my party where nothing's lacking
and wine and their arrogance they will eat

Og þar skal vera dans og drykkja daga þrjá í röð   
hin dýra ást oss gjörir í hjörtunum svo glöð
en til þess verður ofurlitlu að eyða.

And there'll be dance and drinking three days in a row
The expensive* love makes our hearts so glad
but for that we won't have to pay much.


*(I guess I could use "dear" instead but... the meaning I get here is comparison between how the expensive love won't cost anything much)

Actually, since Old Norse was mentioned, let's have an example of that too. Voces Thules are absolutely amazing.

Spoiler: show

Hverir vökðu mér varman dreyra?

Hverir vökðu mér
varman dreyra?
segið mér ok segið mér,
sárt var ek leikinn ;
ætlask virðar,
ok veit Tumi,
gleðr mik ok gleðr mik,
Gizur veiða.

Who rose my
warm blood (to flow)?
Tell me and tell me,
I was played with evilly;
We aspire,
and Tumi knows,
it gladdens me and it gladdens me,
to hunt Gissur.

Notes: Tumi was a powerful chieftain in the age of the Sturlungs. This was the time when Iceland was torn by inner strife and endless blood feuds and ended with Norway gaining control of Iceland. A large part of Icelanders supported this while the rest were strictly against the whole idea; Gissur was the man whose task it was to bring Iceland under Norwegian crown.

[fluffernutters]

Ok, here goes... just a warning, the lyrics may not have lasted time very well.

ATTENTION ALL ICELANDIC-SPEAKERS! There are a few parts of the text I'm totally not certain I got right, if you catch any mistakes please let me know.

Spoiler: show

Ég vil fá mér kærustu sem allra allra fyrst.
En ekki verður gott að finna hana       
því hún skal hafa kinnar eins og hrútaber á kvist
og hvarmaljósin björt sem demantana.

I want to find a sweetheart, I urgently do,
But it won't be easy to find her.
For she will have cheeks like stone bramble on a branch
and eyes bright like diamonds.

Hún skal vera fallegust af öllum innanlands
og iðin við að spinna og léttan stíga dans
og hún skal kunna að haga sér hið besta. 

She shall be the most beautiful of all in the land
and diligent to spin wool and light footed in dance
and she will know how to best behave herself.

Þær eru flestar góðar meðan unnustinn er nær
en oss þær eru vissar til að blekkja   
en ég vil fá mér eina þá sem ei við öðrum hlær
sem elskar mig og bara mig vill þekkja. 

Many girls are good when their darling is near
but they'll be sure to cheat on us
but I want one who won't laugh with others
who loves me and only wants to know me.

Og hún skal líka finna beztu hugarró hjá mér   
ef húsi mínu færir hún iðni og dyggð með sér 
og stóra, fulla kistu beztu klæða. 

And by my side she will find the best peace of mind
if she brings diligence and dutifulness with her to my house
and a big, full chest of best clothes.

Og ef ég svo í eina næ jafnt alveg sem ég vil 
þá óðara til brullups skal ég feta       
og sveitafólk mitt veislu fær sem vantar ekkert til 
en vín og hrokafylli sína éta   

And if I find one such exactly as I want
then right away a wedding I will have
And the people of the area come to my party where nothing's lacking
and wine and their arrogance they will eat

Og þar skal vera dans og drykkja daga þrjá í röð   
hin dýra ást oss gjörir í hjörtunum svo glöð
en til þess verður ofurlitlu að eyða.

And there'll be dance and drinking three days in a row
The expensive* love makes our hearts so glad
but for that we won't have to pay much.


*(I guess I could use "dear" instead but... the meaning I get here is comparison between how the expensive love won't cost anything much)

Actually, since Old Norse was mentioned, let's have an example of that too. Voces Thules are absolutely amazing.

Spoiler: show

Hverir vökðu mér varman dreyra?

Hverir vökðu mér
varman dreyra?
segið mér ok segið mér,
sárt var ek leikinn ;
ætlask virðar,
ok veit Tumi,
gleðr mik ok gleðr mik,
Gizur veiða.

Who rose my
warm blood (to flow)?
Tell me and tell me,
I was played with evilly;
We aspire,
and Tumi knows,
it gladdens me and it gladdens me,
to hunt Gissur.

Notes: Tumi was a powerful chieftain in the age of the Sturlungs. This was the time when Iceland was torn by inner strife and endless blood feuds and ended with Norway gaining control of Iceland. A large part of Icelanders supported this while the rest were strictly against the whole idea; Gissur was the man whose task it was to bring Iceland under Norwegian crown.

That's awesome! I never realised until now how similar Icelandic actually is to Swedish, once I have the translation to help me understand the words. And that old norse song was so cool. I'll have to bring one or two of those to a medieval event I'm going to later this summer, they'd fit right in.

My Spotify list is starting to include so many different kinds of music, keep it up!

[fluffernutters]

PHEW - I went through all the music and added most of the songs you guys mentioned to a Spotify list. Here's the link!

In most cases where I didn't add a song, it's because Spotify just didn't have it. Here and there I tried to add the song, performed by a different artist, or just some other songs by the artist mentioned. Occasionally I was a bit biased and didn't add music I didn't like (if you're into punk/hard rock, you'll have to create your own list hehe). I also tried to keep mostly original languages in there and removed some songs sung in english by non-english artists.

Eriaror - we basically have the same taste in music. I loved close to everything you linked! Please give me moooore, english or hungarian doesn't matter.

I also added some swedish music! I'll add the Youtube links below for the people who don't have Spotify.

The first song I added broke all kinds of records in Sweden. I believe it stayed on the top 10 list for 3 years or something (and in the first spot for like a year...) The title is "You are my man", and is basically about a woman trying to cheer up her husband. You have to watch the video, Helen Sjöholm has charisma like no one's business (and a shout out to 1/4 of ABBA playing the piano)! This is by the way a great example of what's called "dance band music" in Sweden.

Spoiler: show

To something completely different, Timbuktu raps with a scanian dialect (southern Sweden, basically danish, ho ho ho). If you're studying swedish you should have a fun time trying to keep up with the lyrics.

Spoiler: show

And finally, this is a mashup of "A god disguised" and "Ronia the Robber's daughter". The latter is a book written by Astrid Lindgren, whom you might recognize as the author of Pippi Longstocking. The guys performing this are called Solala, and they arrange both english and swedish songs for acapella! Not much language in this sorry, just classic swedish songs and awesome arrangement. The build-up is slow, but worth it. Them chills at 2:48...

Spoiler: show