Singers Who Dared: 10 Songs in Unfamiliar Languages

Music transcends boundaries, and sometimes, so do musicians. Many artists have ventured beyond their native tongues to sing in languages they don’t speak fluently. This bold move can be driven by artistic expression, a desire to reach new audiences, or even a touch of serendipity. Let’s dive into ten remarkable instances where singers embraced unfamiliar languages, creating memorable and unique musical moments.

Paul McCartney in “Michelle”

The Beatles’ classic “Michelle,” released in 1965 on the album Rubber Soul, features Paul McCartney singing primarily in English but peppered with French phrases. McCartney’s foray into French stemmed from his teenage years when he aimed to impress the art-school crowd and attract girls at parties. He believed singing in French, inspired by the popularity of French singer Sacha Distel, would do the trick. Although he didn’t actually speak French, he’d strum a French-sounding tune while singing faux French. Lennon later encouraged McCartney to turn this into a real song, leading to the creation of “Michelle.” A friend who taught French helped with the lyrics. ^[1]

Dave Mustaine in “A Tout le Monde”

Megadeth’s Dave Mustaine, known for his thrash metal intensity, surprised fans by incorporating French into the chorus of “A Tout Le Monde.” He cited his appreciation for The Beatles’ “Michelle” as a partial inspiration. Mustaine also mentioned his French last name and a relationship with a French-Canadian woman as contributing factors. During the relationship, he started learning French to converse with her. Initially, he experimented with several languages. He said the chorus also worked in Spanish, but attempts in German and Japanese were unsuccessful. ^[2]

John Lennon in “Across the Universe”

John Lennon incorporated a Sanskrit mantra into his lyrics for “Across the Universe.” The phrase “Jai guru deva, om” translates to “Victory to God Divine” or “I give thanks to Guru Dev.” Lennon stated that the phrase “came through” him the night he penned the lyrics, which he wrote following an argument with his first wife. Guru Dev was the teacher of Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, with who the Beatles studied meditation. It’s said that the Maharishi disliked the following line in the song: “Nothing’s gonna change my world,” because he believed meditation could change everything. ^[3]

Joe Strummer and Joe Ely in “Should I Stay or Should I Go”

The Clash, known for their punk rock anthems, aimed for commercial success in the 1980s. “Should I Stay or Should I Go” exemplifies this ambition and became one of their most popular songs. The Spanish backing vocals, sung by Joe Strummer and American singer Joe Ely, were a spontaneous addition during a recording session. The lyrics were translated over the phone by the mother of the studio’s tape operator. Strummer remembers her as Ecuadorian, while Ely said she was Puerto Rican. Ely described the result as “the weirdest Spanish ever.” ^[4]

Bananarama in “Aie a Mwana”

Bananarama’s first release, “Aie a Mwana,” was sung entirely in Swahili. The trio had heard a version of it by the African group Black Blood in a French disco. Not knowing Swahili, the girls learned the lyrics phonetically before recording the song as their first demo. It reached number 92 in the UK chart, getting them noticed by influential figures like radio DJ John Peel and Terry Hall of The Specials fame, leading to Bananarama’s rise to musical stardom in the 1980s. ^[5]

Andy Ellison in “Whangdepootenawah”

The song “Whangdepootenawah” was written and performed by members of the ’70s glam pop supergroup Jet. Townson and Ellison brought the lyrics of “Whangdepootenawah” to Gordon, who thought the words were “witty” and set them to music. Gordon only found out years later that his bandmates had lifted the words almost wholesale from the satirical Devil’s Dictionary written by Ambrose Bierce.

According to Bierce, the word comes from the language of the Native American Ojibwa people and means a disaster or “unexpected affliction that strikes hard.” It has also been suggested that the word might have been made up. ^[6]

Conway Twitty’s Russian version of “Hello Darlin’”

In 1975, country music star Conway Twitty re-recorded his 1970 hit “Hello Darlin’” entirely in Russian. As a gesture of goodwill from the Americans to the Russians during the Apollo-Soyuz Project, he learned to pronounce the words phonetically. The Apollo-Soyuz Project was announced as a joint U.S.-Soviet space mission at a time of high tension between the two countries.

David Bowie in “Warszawa”

Inspired by his visits to Warsaw, David Bowie wrote “Warszawa,” featuring a choral part influenced by a Polish ensemble’s song called “Helokanie.” The words he sings are not English but made-up phonetics that he believed expressed the emotions he wanted, even if the words did not mean anything. Bowie found the record while looking for a vocal part that could express the feelings of people who yearn to be free.” ^[8]

David Byrne in “I Zimbra”

Talking Heads’ “I Zimbra” uses nonsense words inspired by a “poem without words” by Hugo Ball. David Byrne was attempting to create a similar sound to some African music he had been listening to. Brian Eno suggested that Byrne use a “poem without words” by the avant-garde author Hugo Ball instead, called “Gadji Beri Bimba.” Byrne took his advice, taking the words “i zimbra” from the last line as the song’s title. ^[9]

Enya in “The River Sings”

Enya, known for singing in various languages, including Latin, Welsh, and even Elvish, faced a challenge with “The River Sings.” She tried Gaelic but felt it didn’t suit the melody. Her lyricist, Roma Ryan, created a new language called “Loxian,” which Enya used for the song and continued to use on future albums. ^[10]

From The Beatles’ charming French phrases to Enya’s entirely constructed language, these artists demonstrate the power of music to transcend linguistic barriers. Whether driven by artistic ambition, cultural curiosity, or sheer experimentation, their forays into unfamiliar languages have enriched the world of music, offering unique and unforgettable listening experiences.

Which of these multilingual musical adventures intrigues you the most? Leave your comment below!