Je n’ai rien appris – English hits in other languages
Here we have a bunch of American and British hit singles, with the original artists, re-cut in foreign languages. Why did the world’s biggest artists feel the need to re-record their hit songs with vocals in different languages? To sell more records, of course.
Don’t worry – people like Johnny Cash didn’t know German, or the Police didn’t speak Japanese. They got their song lyrics translated and sang them phonetically. God knows what kind of job they did – if you speak French or German or Japanese, let us know.
MP3: “Fuego d’Amor” (Ring Of Fire) by Johnny Cash (Spanish)
MP3: “Ring Ring” (German version) by ABBA
MP3: “Oui Tu Es Mon Ami” (Sweet City Woman) by the Stampeders (French)
MP3: “Jennifer Juniper” (Italian version) by Donovan
MP3: “De Do Do Do De Da Da Da” (Japanese version) by the Police
MP3: “Ganz Allien” (In My Room) by the Beach Boys (German)
MP3: “Regardez Par Des Fenetres” (Look Through Any Window) by the Hollies (French)
MP3: “Si No Estas Tu” (Without You) by Harry Nilsson (Spanish)
MP3: “Warten Und Hoffen” (Wishin’ and Hopin’) by Dusty Springfield (German)
MP3: “Con Le Mie Lacrime” (As Tears Go By) by the Rolling Stones (Italian)
MP3: “Francene” (Spanish version) by ZZ Top
MP3: “Geh Raus” (Get Back) by the Beatles (German)
30 Days Out 
March 27, 2011 at 6:21 am
Motown artists also recut their songs in French, Spanish, Italian, and German. I understand that Stevie Wonder’s Italian is nearly perfect, but the average Italian would have had trouble understanding Diana Ross. The mighty power of Levi Stubbs is obvious in any language.
Some weird-n-valuable artifacts here–thanks much.
March 27, 2011 at 9:29 am
Ha ha, thanks J.A., I was actually saving some of those for Part 2, coming later today!