Multilingual songs

Having just spent some time in Italy, some Italian language lyrics have crept into my songwriting. (Example: Un Giorno) This was not planned, but it just seemed like what I wanted to say was easier in Italian than in English. Languages can be funny like that.

I've also found that learning a foreign language has changed the way I look at English. I find myself using an Italian-esque way of phrasing things, which I think helps to avoid cliches.

With the rise of the importance Latino culture in the US, we're starting to see some more mixed-language songs, from people like Shakira, Sublime, and that pioneering genius Gerrardo

Anybody have any experience or thoughts on the idea of mixing in foreign words or phrases into song lyrics? What works, what doesn't? Does the audience really need to understand all the words to a song?

Cheers.

Jose Feliciano hits the lotto every December for Feliz Navidad.

Having just spent some time in Italy, some Italian language lyrics have crept into my songwriting. (Example: Un Giorno ) This was not planned, but it just seemed like what I wanted to say was easier in Italian than in English. Languages can be funny like that. I've also found that learning a foreign language has changed the way I look at English. I find myself using an Italian-esque way of phrasing things, which I think helps to avoid cliches. With the rise of the importance Latino culture in the US, we're starting to see some more mixed-language songs, from people like Shakira, Sublime, and that pioneering genius Gerrardo Anybody have any experience or thoughts on the idea of mixing in foreign words or phrases into song lyrics? What works, what doesn't? Does the audience really need to understand all the words to a song? Cheers.

I do agree on how languages influence the way you express some things...Having spent more than 12 years in 5 different countries I seem to associate certain parts of life to certain sounds. No special trick there...in my case feelings are deciding for the language.

I dig your work, because you have that charming amrican pronciation of "yankees in Italy"...plus you sing in my language, which is for me just beautiful. Nice you came by this neighbourhood, Matteo

What Works:

"Lady Marmalade," LaBelle

(Note the above example also became successful and popular cover versions by other artists...)

What Doesn't Work:

"Mr. Roboto," Styx

"Popo Zao," Kevin Federline

I think the above examples speak for themselves

Thanks, Matteo, glad you liked it!

PS: I'm working on my pronunciation.

I do think that knowing a couple of languages does make creating some type of songs easier. I'm like that. My primary language is Spanish but I do have created some songs in English. I was trying to create one in Deutch when I was at the University but it didn't panned out.

I liked your song though.

I don't know much about Italian pronunciation (I do know that there are a lot of words and similar phrases to Spanish) but the song was good.

P.S. Nice Chord generator software also.

hehehehehehe That is soooo true!

What Doesn't Work: "Mr. Roboto," Styx "Popo Zao," Kevin Federline I think the above examples speak for themselves

Yikes!

i've written a few spanish songs, but i feel like an ass when i sing them. i stay at home as far as language is concerned.

Heaven by Los Lonely Boys has a spanish part in it, and for some reason completely turns me off the song...

"You know I don't speak spanish!"

but I like the language, and find it to sound nicer overall than most, but in that song I feel like it was forced.

i've written a few spanish songs, but i feel like an ass when i sing them. i stay at home as far as language is concerned.

I know what you mean. I'm still trying to get up the nerve to perform my cover of Tiziano Ferro's Non me lo so spiegare at the local open mike. I have no idea what the reaction would be.

There is one gent here in my hometown that is growing in popularity across the country. His name is Javier Mendoza.

www.myspace.com/javiermendoza

I have a couple of his CDs and sometimes he plays and only sings in spanish, others in only english. But my favorites are the ones where he does both. He is a very gifted songwriter that has problems hanging on to guitar players (I'm going to try out next time he loses this one, which should be soon I hear!).