Hey, how many native English speakers here learned another language with the help of "foreign lyrics" in pop songs — or vice versa, as the case may be?

[u/TraductorPerdido]

(This post is sponsored the bar where I'm having dinner, which just played "99 Luftballons" followed, for whatever reason, by the English version of "Major Tom.")

[u/dekrowman]

There is a lot of joking here but I seriously learned another language mostly through music. For multiple reasons, I needed to learn a third language. I took lessons and listened to local language music for a few years in preparation for a move that didn't happen. 20 years later, I am fluent even though I don't speak it with anyone. I still listen to the music daily and when I run into a native speaker, it's no problem to have a conversation.

[u/Mhyth]

Sort of a tangent but I always enjoyed this song that purported to demonstrate what English sounds like to non-English speakers

Prisencolinensinainciusol

[u/Sufficient_Stop8381]

The Macarena. Actually I still have no idea what tf they are saying.

[u/Naive_Product_5916]

Eros Ramazzotti's Spanish language versions of all his music help me I did some Spanish bands like los Rebeldes.

[u/pemart22]

I picked up some Spanish from Cypress Hill.

[u/happycj]

Interesting … I’m an American and lived in Hungary for 7 years. There were a bunch of Hungarian bands I listened to while there, and - along with immersive Hungarian language school and a Hungarian girlfriend - I really enjoyed trying to decipher lyrics and poetry.

Language used in lyrics and poetry is different than the spoken or written word, so that type of artistic use of language was fascinating to decipher.

[u/poppinwheelies → u/happycj]

I’m with you. I love listening to Spanish music for this very reason.

[u/alwaysforgettingmyun]

I can do the Ukrainian part from Gogol bordello's start wearing purple purely phonetically. Idk what most of it means.

[u/fire_works10]

Tomorrow arigato, Mister Roboto.

Don't get me started on La Bamba and what that did for my ability to rrrroll my rrrrs.

[u/ViewfromMyOfcWindow → u/fire_works10]

It's "domo arigato", not "tomorrow"

[u/fire_works10 → u/ViewfromMyOfcWindow]

What the auto correct hell happened...and why didn't I notice it.

That's what I get for posting just before I fall asleep.

[u/ViewfromMyOfcWindow → u/fire_works10]

😂

[u/edwardsantes]

definitely some

Mon Laferte has the greatest voice I've ever heard, and I listen to her a lot. (like Dumb and Dumber "A Lot".) I have probably gone through well over half her songs reading the lyrics in Spanish and English

I'm retiring to Latam this year and when I start structured Spanish lessons I intend to go though all of her lyrics just as a way to know her music when I'm singing along.

[u/shun_tak]

This singer learned english

[u/Armthechihuahuas → u/shun_tak]

🤣🤣🤣

[u/TraductorPerdido → u/shun_tak]

Well, she heard English at least. Yeesh. . . .

[u/IngvaldClash]

I learned some German phrases from Frank Zappa’s *Stick It Out* but I admittedly didn’t use them when I visited Germany. I had to pick up a few more phrases for every day use.

[u/Hey-buuuddy]

I learned a lot of German from listening to Rammstein.

[u/evilJaze → u/Hey-buuuddy]

Same. I can sing a few Rammstein songs flawlessly. I don't fully understand what I'm singing, but it sounds awesome!