what's this?

a song in a foreign language

Some might say music is the universal language.

We are born into this world, clinging like a kitty cat to the familiar rhythm of a heartbeat, letting ourselves become comforted by certain sounds and unsettled by the dissonance of others.

Though my personal collection contains upwards of 550 instrumentals, I have always been more drawn to songs with lyrics. In a manner of speaking an unfamiliar song sets out to be learned like a few new phrases of a language from a foreign land. As popular music has evolved, artists and styles from around the globe have found at least a temporary relationship with the Top Ten, as it were. Even the most middle of the road, tentative listener knows the chorus to Richie Valen's Mexican standard, "LaBamba", the melody of "Frère Jacques", that French nursery rhyme of yore, or comes to the realization that Falco's 1985 hit "Rock Me Amadeus" offers the unique opportunity to learn a bit of useless German.

When assembled onto my iTunes, my personal tastes do seem to play like a layover at an Epcot Center done right. Whether due to country of origin or influence, one can sample a little bit of everything. And for someone who has to live vicariously through Anthony Bourdain for his world traveling extravegenzas, my ears don't particularly mind the present substitute.

That said, here's a poo-poo platter of tasty morsels:

"Isla de Encanta" by The Pixies (1987)

• I know. I know. The Pixies were formed in Boston, Massachusetts. Sure the local accents have more in common with drunken and disorderly lazy speech difficulties and non-lager drinkers might feel out of place, but Pixie head honcho Black Francis (Frank Black) is highly inspired by Latin culture. That's the first type of song in a foreign language: non-native speaker variation. I first encountered this brief ditty about the Island of Enchantment during Jonathan Demme's bright and shiny comedy "Married to the Mob".

 "Concrete Jungle" by CéU (2005)

• Brazilian singer CéU's sensual rendition of Bob Marley's underrated classic represents another variation on this theme: foreign artists performing in English.

"Létt Ma" by Youssou N'Dour (2007)

• Thanks in no small part to Paul Simon's "Graceland" record, musical tones from regions of Africa gained worldwide appeal and recognition. A few years afterward, Peter Gabriel, whose music layers influences that extend the gamut, recorded the spirited and inspirational "Shaking the Tree" with Senegalese legend Youssou N'Dour. "Létt Ma" is a tune from one of his more recent efforts, which I believe spotlights the depths of his beautiful voice and deft, subtle percussian skills.

"Yellow Ledbetter" by Pearl Jam (1992)

• Eddie Veddar brings us to a fourth aspect of foreign language by delivering a famous rock radio tune in his own unique language. Rarely have I enjoyed a song so well without being sure of a single lyric.