These songs translated flawlessly. Welcome to MsMojo, and today we’re counting down our picks for times artists showed off their multilingual prowess, dropping their bangers in other languages.
Category
🗞
NewsTranscript
00:00 [Music]
00:07 Welcome to MissMojo, and today we're counting down our picks for times artists showed off
00:12 their multilingual prowess, dropping their bangers in other languages.
00:16 [Music]
00:26 10. 99 Luftballons - Nina, English
00:30 In any language, this is a catchy bop with energetic beats and a fresh, cutting-edge
00:35 sound that'll quickly get you dancing.
00:38 [Music]
00:45 Initially dropped by the German group Nina in 1983, the track soon conquered the global
00:51 scene. In 1984, they rolled out the English "99 Red Balloons," where lyricist Kevin McCalley
00:58 took some liberties with the interpretation while keeping the song's dark ending intact.
01:03 [Music]
01:09 Interestingly, the band had reservations about the English re-release, with Uwe Ferencrog
01:14 Petersen, a band member and co-writer, noting that the song "loses something in translation."
01:20 While most audiences seemingly agreed, the translated version reigned supreme among UK,
01:26 Ireland and Canadian audiences, claiming the top spots on their charts.
01:31 [Music]
01:38 9. Ring of Fire - Johnny Cash, Spanish
01:41 If you're a fan of Cash's Ring of Fire, then you might want to give the Spanish version
01:46 a listen too.
01:47 [Music]
01:54 Titled "Fuego de Amor," it's like experiencing the same classic through a different sound
01:59 system. Cash's deep voice, mixed with those vibrant Spanish lyrics, give it a whole new
02:05 vibe.
02:06 [Music]
02:14 Written by his wife, June, this song etched itself as one of his career-defining tracks,
02:19 nabbing a spot in the Grammy Hall of Fame.
02:22 We're not here to critique his Spanish, after all, we've never dropped a foreign language
02:26 track. "Año de Fuego," also known as "Fuego de Amor," proves that a great song, even in
02:32 a different language, can still carry the same timeless charm.
02:37 [Music]
02:44 8. In My Room - The Beach Boys, German
02:48 This Beach Boys classic is a true gem, showcasing the musical brilliance of Brian Wilson and
02:54 Gary Usher. The song's sweet backstory delves into Wilson's childhood, sharing a room with
02:59 his brothers, teaching them "Ivory Tower," and creating cherished memories.
03:04 [Music]
03:11 Today it's a Grammy Hall of Famer, and features on Rolling Stone's 500 Greatest Songs of All
03:16 Time. But did you know they also released it in German? "Ganz allein," translating to
03:21 "All Alone," was first released in 1983 on their Rarities album.
03:26 [Music]
03:33 Reportedly translated by Mike Loves X, who's German, the lyrics may differ, but the core
03:39 of this heartfelt ballad, reflecting on finding comfort in personal spaces away from life's
03:44 chaos, translates perfectly.
03:47 [Music]
03:54 7. Kiss Me - Sixpence Nun The Richer, Japanese
03:58 [Music]
04:03 How many 90s teens could possibly resist the urge to channel their inner Lainey Boggs while
04:09 walking down the stairs as this song plays in their heads?
04:13 The Grammy-nominated hit was a global sensation, topping charts in Australia and Canada. We're
04:18 guessing it also had a major fanbase in Japan, since the group re-recorded the song in Japanese.
04:24 [Music]
04:32 We're by no means fluent, but it sounds pretty good to us. "Kiss Me" may be the only lyrics
04:38 we understand, but it still transports us into our own rom-com teen flip, setting the
04:43 scene for a magical night.
04:45 [Music]
04:52 If you want to update your playlist with another Japanese re-record, how about Charlie XCX's
04:57 "Boom Clap"?
04:59 [Music]
05:06 6. As Tears Go By - The Rolling Stones, Italian
05:11 Here's one you might not have seen coming, but yeah, The Rolling Stones surprised fans
05:15 by translating this particular ballad into Italian under the title "Con Le Mie Le Crime".
05:21 [Music]
05:28 It's an unexpected twist, showing how this song connects with everyone, regardless of
05:33 language. The group enlisted the expertise of Italian lyricist and record producer Dante
05:39 Panzuti, better known as "Dampa", who proved to be a master at accurately conveying not
05:45 just the meaning, but also the tone of the song.
05:48 [Music]
05:55 Even though classic rock can be tricky to translate effectively, this move with "As
06:00 Tears Go By" proves that the emotions and music vibes can reach everyone, no matter
06:05 what language you speak.
06:07 [Music]
06:13 5. Call Me by Blondie - Spanish
06:17 How do you say "Call Me" in Spanish? We think we'll throw this one over to Blondie.
06:22 [Music]
06:30 "Llamame" was initially released to woo the fanbases in Central and Spanish-speaking
06:35 South American countries. However, it also managed to dance its way into the hearts
06:40 of US and UK audiences.
06:42 [Music]
06:48 Can you blame 'em? Debbie Harry's sultry vocals continue their enchantment in this
06:53 rendition, practically commanding listeners to crank up the volume to the max. While the
06:58 original invited fans to embrace full-blown jam sessions, the Spanish version somehow
07:03 amps up that irresistible head-banging energy.
07:06 [Music]
07:14 If you want more of the group's multilingual musical magic, you can also check out their
07:18 song "Sunday Girl" in French.
07:20 [Music]
07:26 4. Waterloo by ABBA - Swedish, French and German
07:31 As you probably know, ABBA's conquest of Europe began with their 1974 Eurovision win
07:37 with "Waterloo". While the English version stills the show as a crowd favourite, the
07:41 fact that they recorded the song in their native Swedish probably won't catch you off
07:46 guard.
07:47 [Music]
07:51 And with their widespread appeal across the continent post-victory, it's equally
07:55 unsurprising that you can also enjoy it in French and German.
07:59 [Music]
08:05 Fun fact, Alain Boublil, the mind behind the French lyrics, later co-penned his own musical
08:11 interpretation of French history alongside Claude-Michel Schoenberg. If you've already
08:17 surrendered to the English version, there are three other language renditions we're
08:21 sure you'll love forever more.
08:23 [Music]
08:29 3. "I Will Survive" by Gloria Gaynor - Spanish
08:33 Gloria Gaynor's empowering anthem "I Will Survive" transcends cultural barriers with
08:39 a universally relatable message of resilience.
08:41 [Music]
08:48 Whether in English or the Spanish "Yo Viviré", the infectious melody, upbeat rhythm, and
08:54 Gaynor's powerhouse vocals create an unforgettable track that defies language barriers. Her voice,
09:00 a force of nature, adds depth to the lyrics, making them soar, even if you can't follow
09:05 word for word.
09:06 [Music]
09:12 Whether belting "I will survive" or "Yo viviré", Gaynor delivers unmatched authenticity,
09:18 hitting us deep in the feels. The danceable, funky melody is an earworm in any language,
09:24 and you don't need to be fluent to appreciate the song's message. We won't just survive,
09:29 we will thrive.
09:31 [Music]
09:39 2. "Heroes" by David Bowie - German and French
09:43 Bowie's "Heroes" spins a tale of love across a divided Germany, so we think it's pretty
09:48 obvious which other language he recorded the track in - French.
09:52 [Music]
09:59 Ok, he did release a French version called "Héro", but this German rendition, "Helden",
10:04 arguably had a greater impact.
10:06 [Music]
10:13 Some say Bowie aimed to champion his support of Europe with this move, and judging by the
10:18 charts, fans rallied behind it. You may have even heard it in the 2019 comedy-drama Jojo
10:24 Rabbit.
10:25 [Music]
10:32 Bowie didn't stop there. He expanded his multilingual playlist with an Italian version
10:37 of "Space Oddity". The man clearly understood the unifying powers of music.
10:42 [Music]
10:50 Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honourable mentions.
10:54 "Poco T'Amem Encore" by Celine Dion - English
10:58 Since the original French version was a hit, why not try it in English?
11:02 [Music]
11:09 "Irreplaceable" by Beyoncé - Spanish
11:12 While the original is irreplaceable, "Irreimplacable" is also excelente.
11:17 [Music]
11:24 "You Don't Own Me" by Lesley Gore - French
11:27 "What Totally Owns" - "Je Ne Sais Plus"
11:29 [Music]
11:37 "Genie in a Bottle" by Christina Aguilera - Spanish
11:41 Spanish-speaking fans got their "Deseo Concedido" with "Genio Atrapado".
11:45 [Music]
11:51 "Walk on By" by Dionne Warwick - German
11:54 You won't want to "gay for bi" this version.
11:57 [Music]
12:05 Before we continue, be sure to subscribe to our channel and ring the bell to get notified about our latest videos.
12:11 You have the option to be notified for occasional videos or all of them.
12:15 If you're on your phone, make sure you go into your settings and switch on notifications.
12:20 1. "She Loves You" and "I Want to Hold Your Hand" by The Beatles - German
12:26 While Beatlemania was in full swing by the mid-60s, some weren't convinced that German audiences would embrace the frenzy.
12:34 [Music]
12:46 Their solution? Get The Beatles to create German versions of "She Loves You" and "I Want to Hold Your Hand"
12:53 or "Seh Lieb Dick" and "Komm, gib mir deine Hand".
12:56 [Music]
13:04 Keen ears will hear the differences not only in the lyrics, but also in the orchestration.
13:09 Anyway, the songs were a hit, with "Komm, gib mir deine Hand" even soaring to number one on the West Germany charts.
13:17 [Music]
13:24 This reportedly was the only time they strayed from their native English.
13:28 Intriguingly, some believe their English-centric repertoire played a role in unifying the language across Europe.
13:35 [Music]
13:41 Got a favorite song recorded in another language that you think everyone should listen to? Share it in the comments.
13:48 [Music]
13:56 Do you agree with our picks? Check out this other recent clip from MsMojo,
14:00 and be sure to subscribe and ring the bell to be notified about our latest videos.
14:04 [Music]