[REMOVE ADS]




Results 1 to 31 of 31
  1. #1
    Join Date
    Apr 2015
    Posts
    1,281
    Rep Power
    168

    Songs with other than Engllish language in their lyrics

    Hi all,
    I was thinking about Motown songs that incorporate a word, a line, lines or even a phrase sung or spoken in a language other than English.

    My Cherie Amour - Stevie Wonder
    What Now My Love - The Temptations

    There's gotta be more, right?

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Aug 2010
    Posts
    9,278
    Rep Power
    519
    Ave Maria by Stevie Wonder

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Sep 2014
    Posts
    44,432
    Rep Power
    897
    Ungena za Ulimwengu [Unite the World] - The Temptations [Swahili]

    Ngiculela - Es una historia - I Am Singing - Stevie Wonder [Zulu/Spanish]

    Danke schoen - Martha & The Vandellas [German]

    It’s Wrong [Apartheid] - Stevie Wonder [Xhosa]
    Last edited by sansradio; 07-18-2022 at 12:46 PM.

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Aug 2010
    Posts
    2,661
    Rep Power
    241
    To Love Again [[alternate version) - Diana Ross - French

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Sep 2014
    Posts
    44,432
    Rep Power
    897
    Don’t You Worry ‘Bout a Thing - Stevie Wonder [Spanish]

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Jul 2011
    Posts
    3,942
    Rep Power
    436
    "Bird Of Beauty" from Steve Wonder's Fulfillingness' First Finale featured lyrics in Portuguese provided by Sergio Mendes.

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Jul 2011
    Posts
    3,942
    Rep Power
    436
    Teena Marie's "Portuguese Love" from It Must Be Magic.

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Apr 2015
    Posts
    1,281
    Rep Power
    168
    I knew you guys would not disappoint!

  9. #9
    Join Date
    Aug 2010
    Posts
    3,983
    Rep Power
    351
    All the ones on the Motown Around The World releases.

    Half or more of Jose Feliciano's Motown output.

    All Night Long - Lionel Richie

    Don't Look Any Further - Dennis Edwards.

  10. #10
    Join Date
    Jul 2011
    Posts
    3,942
    Rep Power
    436
    Smokey Robinson's "Te Quiero Como Si No Hubiera Un Mañana [I’m Gonna Love You Like There’s No Tomorrow]" from Smoke Signals.

  11. #11
    Join Date
    Jul 2011
    Posts
    3,942
    Rep Power
    436
    Smokey Robinson's "Tu Me Besas Muy Rico" from Intimate.
    Stevie Wonder's "Ai No Sono" & "Kesse Ye Lolo De Ye" from Secret Life Of Plants.
    Last edited by Motown Eddie; 07-18-2022 at 03:10 PM.

  12. #12
    Join Date
    Feb 2013
    Posts
    119
    Rep Power
    142
    Don't want to see tomorrow - J5

  13. #13
    Join Date
    Jul 2016
    Posts
    169
    Rep Power
    115
    How about that mumbo jumbo in Don’t Look Any Further? Is that even a real language? Anybody know?

  14. #14
    Join Date
    Aug 2010
    Posts
    6,826
    Rep Power
    388
    Michelle - The Supremes

  15. #15
    Join Date
    Sep 2014
    Posts
    44,432
    Rep Power
    897
    Quote Originally Posted by BritishTony View Post
    How about that mumbo jumbo in Don’t Look Any Further? Is that even a real language? Anybody know?
    It is not "mumbo jumbo." It is a loose translation of the phrase "don't look any further" in Swahili.

  16. #16
    Join Date
    Jul 2011
    Posts
    3,942
    Rep Power
    436
    "Michelle"-Four Tops

  17. #17
    Quote Originally Posted by lockhartgary View Post
    Hi all,
    I was thinking about Motown songs that incorporate a word, a line, lines or even a phrase sung or spoken in a language other than English
    On the basis that gibberish isn't strictly speaking, English, I'd like to submit for your consideration:

    "Doobedood'ndoobe, Doobedood'ndoobe, Doobedood'ndoo" by Diana Ross and "Shoo-Be-Doo-Be-Doo-Da-Day" by Stevie Wonder, later by Michael Jackson.

  18. #18
    Join Date
    Jul 2016
    Posts
    169
    Rep Power
    115
    Just My Soul Responding by Smokey with Sioux backing.

  19. #19
    Join Date
    Aug 2010
    Posts
    10,798
    Rep Power
    350
    Motown had the Latino label, so that's a good place to investigate.

  20. #20
    Join Date
    Jun 2020
    Posts
    463
    Rep Power
    71
    There are others on Rare Earth but this one my favourite. And it is original American.

    Last edited by Graham Jarvis; 07-24-2022 at 09:49 AM.

  21. #21
    LuLu - The Jackson 5

  22. #22
    What about the whole song?
    Velvelettes - Tu Perds Le Plus Merveileux Garçon Du Monde [[You Lost The Sweetest Boy)

  23. #23
    Join Date
    Aug 2010
    Posts
    3,983
    Rep Power
    351
    The lovely Isela

  24. #24
    Join Date
    Sep 2014
    Posts
    44,432
    Rep Power
    897
    Mechanical Emotion - Vanity featuring Morris Day [French]

  25. #25
    Join Date
    Aug 2010
    Posts
    14,979
    Rep Power
    402
    Quote Originally Posted by Ed H View Post
    What about the whole song?
    Velvelettes - Tu Perds Le Plus Merveileux Garçon Du Monde [[You Lost The Sweetest Boy)
    Name:  av-5.jpg
Views: 211
Size:  21.1 KB
    Cal led on a whole bunch [[around 10 or more) of totally French language songs by The Velvelettes while with Motown, as she was fully fluent in Français. Those recordings were made for the French language markets of France, Québec, The French Caribbean, and all the former French colonies.

  26. #26
    Join Date
    Aug 2010
    Posts
    14,979
    Rep Power
    402
    Name:  av-5.jpg
Views: 198
Size:  21.1 KB
    You all forgot "I Comma Zimba Zio" by Abdullah, on Soul 35051! A classic from 1968.

    Name:  Abdullah.jpg
Views: 225
Size:  69.7 KB
    Last edited by robb_k; 07-31-2022 at 03:36 PM.

  27. #27
    Join Date
    Aug 2010
    Posts
    14,979
    Rep Power
    402
    Quote Originally Posted by Graham Jarvis View Post
    There are others on Rare Earth but this one my favourite. And it is original American.

    Name:  av-5.jpg
Views: 207
Size:  21.1 KB
    From which language is that line? I can't tell from XIT's probably heavy American accent and notary good elocution. Certainly they are not native speakers of it.

  28. #28
    Join Date
    Aug 2010
    Posts
    18,198
    Rep Power
    389
    I think Flaming Ember - Mind Body & Soul uses French at the end. Ive never quite understand the words but back in the day I would sing Je t'aime vous...not proper French though

  29. #29
    Join Date
    Jul 2011
    Posts
    3,942
    Rep Power
    436
    Here's one more-
    Rustix-"Free Again [Non...C'Est Rien]"

  30. #30
    Join Date
    Jul 2011
    Posts
    3,942
    Rep Power
    436
    And-
    Edwin Starr-"Adios Senoirta" from War & Peace

  31. #31
    Join Date
    Aug 2010
    Posts
    10,798
    Rep Power
    350
    Quote Originally Posted by 144man View Post
    Motown had the Latino label, so that's a good place to investigate.
    Nunca He Ido A Mi - Charlene

Bookmarks

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •  

[REMOVE ADS]

Ralph Terrana
MODERATOR

Welcome to Soulful Detroit! Kindly Consider Turning Off Your Ad BlockingX
Soulful Detroit is a free service that relies on revenue from ad display [regrettably] and donations. We notice that you are using an ad-blocking program that prevents us from earning revenue during your visit.
Ads are REMOVED for Members who donate to Soulful Detroit. [You must be logged in for ads to disappear]
DONATE HERE »
And have Ads removed.