What do the songs “99 Luftballons” and “Gangnam Style” have in common? Both have gone mainstream in the U.S. despite not being performed in English.
Here’s my question: why is that such an uncommon thing in the U.S.? Music isn’t restricted in quite the same way that language is, so why is the spread of non-English music suddenly slower upon hitting the U.S. border?
I’m not calling it “non-American” music for a reason; Americans love music from the U.K., Australia and New Zealand. I would even wager that some Americans don’t even realize that what they are listening to isn’t American half of the
time. How else would you explain Keith Urban, from New Zealand, conquering the country music genre, one of the most culturally exclusive genres in the U.S.?
Maybe I’m not giving Americans enough credit. However, I still think that the main reason Urban gets by so well in the U.S. is the fact that he sings in English.
So what does Spain have to do with all of this? Well, in Spain, songs in English are commonplace. In fact, the first time I heard Macklemore’s “Thrift Shop” was in a cafeteria in Toledo.
Now, I’m a bit of an oddball when it comes to music; Hindi, Mandarin, Japanese, Spanish, French, Arabic and German all have a place on my proverbial playlist. I don’t understand most of what I’m listening to, but I also don’t know how to read music notes or carry a tune, which doesn’t lessen my ability to appreciate music either.
Do you see what I’m getting at here? Not understanding the lyrics is practically inconsequential when you give it a little thought. Most of the time the pop song booming in your car isn’t very densely written anyway. Most of the time that pop song is banking on the catchy beat and not the message.
It’s the same thing in Spain; a good song is a good song regardless of the language in which it is performed. In a country like Spain, non-Spanish music is inevitable, which, in my opinion, changes the atmosphere when dealing with foreigners. After all, music has a beautiful way of bringing people together.
If you’re interested in what they listen to in Spain, it’s very similar to English music. There are several genres in Spain whose modern form is a direct result of English influence, especially rock and roll. In other words, you might be a fan of Spanish music without even knowing it.
If the most foreign music you’ve ever heard is what the Mexican and Chinese restaurants use for ambience, I recommend giving Spanish or any other non-English music a try at least once; and no, Rammstein doesn’t count.
