Comments on: Lost in translation

By: Peter Krogholm

Peter Krogholm — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 08:24:14 +0000

We always care for outsider opinions – it is essentially why we do this…

I’m not gonna say anything about metal bands’ lyrical level as the “another instrument” part is about production more than anything else, but I think many bands, at least when starting out, have lyrics with the main purpose of having something, anything to sing. And then English (or any other language but their native) is the perfect choice. I do find it interesting that you’re into the hybrid, which a few bands practice, especially since that means you loose out on part of the lyrics. But then again; if it’s metal you loose out on everything anyway ;o)

Thanks for sharing your opinion, Raven, and have a grand time when you make it over here…

Cheers,
Peter

By: Raven

Raven — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 19:42:32 +0000

If you’d care for an outsider opinion, I’m American and listen to a lot of Scandinavian metal. Half the time you can’t understand metal vox anyway , you’re just listening like the voice is another instrument in the band. I personally like it when bands sing in both English AND their native tongue. Makes it that much more interesting! Volbeat is one of my favorite bands (even my Illinois license plate reads ‘Volbeat’) and I’m listening right now to Ensiferum, will probably follow it with some COB. Can’t wait to take my dream vacation and visit all of your beautiful Scandinavian countries and wonderful people!

By: Peter Krogholm

Peter Krogholm — Tue, 08 Sep 2009 16:17:25 +0000

If you really have something on your mind I think Eduardo is right above: Then something can be lost, if not meaning then intensity or honesty as stated, when singing in another language than your first. It is much more direct and vulnerable for a Danish artist to sing in Danish to a Danish audience that understand every nuance – and this also calls for much higher lyrical quality. In this respect choosing to sing in English could be called the easy solution with the added bonus of perhaps making it outside your own country.

However, if we look at especially Sweden and Iceland they’ve had plenty of bands enjoying success outside their borders even though singing in the native tongues. So, it comes down to more than mere pronunciation in my opinion. Of course it doesn’t count as an advantage if an accent is too thick (like Gasolin as you mentioned, although that probably had as much to do with timing, lack of promotion when they finally toured the US and other practical bits), but apart from the universal language of music it depends on what the bands or artists want to say – if anything.

PS: It is with double “n”… Fin is the paddle-like organ on fish and other aquatic animals

By: mate

mate — Tue, 08 Sep 2009 09:09:25 +0000

I cannot speak for Finland – but I find that many Danish bands perform quite well in the English tongue. I can’t hear a Danish accent listening to “Mew”, “Powersolo”, “Raveonettes” etc… But history has some bad examples off course – “Gasolin” tried to translate their songs to English – not a good idea. “D:A:D” has tried to break through abroad – but unfortuneately they don’t speak English that well.
But generally speaking I think that Danish bands know their English well enough to sell records both in Denmark and abroad.

Maybe Danes just speak better English than Finns (is that with a single or double “n”?)…