I’ve been doing some of my own “immersion” activities outside of LingQ and listening to music and watching music videos on youtube in my target language has been one activity.
Sometimes, however, even the most basic sentences seem to turn in to garble and I would get frustrated with myself. Earlier today I stumbled upon a music video and - just like the others - was very hard to understand. in fact, i could understand only about 80% of the chorus and about 10% of the verse(s). One catch, though! The song was in ENGLISH!
It made me sit and think if I am perhaps hitting my head on a brick wall when struggling to understand lyrics in foreign music. It could be that those lyrics are even obscure to a native speaker. Of course, there are many types of songs that have very clear lyrics. I’d say the majority. It just depends. Also, the grammar of lyrics may be contorted in favour of making the song more catchy, hip, cool etc. So saying those phrases in real conversation could very well come out corny or amusing or convoluted.
feel the rush
ohhh feel it in the air
keep on movin’ it forward
and…???..???..???..-air
feel the rush
ohhh feel everywhere
keep on movin’ it forward
and…???..???..???..-air
yo
feel the rush
??? buckle-up
???..???..???..juggle-up
…time…again…double-up
…then…struggle-up
yo
…erm…
nobody can break my stride
…limit…reach the sky
every time you hear it comin’
I like songs and there are many that have comprehensible lyrics. Just some appear to be an exercise in futility.
feel the rush
ohhh feel it in the air
keep on movin’ it forward
and live with no fair
feel the rush
ohhh feel it everywhere
keep on movin’ it forward
and live with no fair
feel the rush
ohhh feel it in the air
keep on movin’ it forward
and live with no fear
feel the rush
ohhh feel it everywhere
keep on movin’ it forward
and live with no fear
The hip-hoppy, regae versus are quite unclear. I think you’re supposed to just enjoy the sound and not worry too much about what he’s saying.
I’m a native speaker of English and I often have trouble making out the lyrics of songs sung in English. This song might especially be tricky for an English learner because of the Jamaican accent. However, I think listening to different types of music sung in different styles and accents is an excellent way to train your ear. Even better if you can read along with the lyrics, memorize and sing along with the songs.
The irony of all this: That song was made for a European audience where english would be the second language (except for England).
I think you’re right ipanema re ear training. I’ve noticed after listening to a few songs for 30+ times (out of pure enjoyment) I get better at picking out the lyrics in other songs.
It kind of goes with the saying: “What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger”.
It’s not just the singers who don’t sing clearly either. I can hear every word that David Bowie sings. I have no idea what it all actually means though
I like listening to the Russian rock band DDT. As far as I can tell their lyrics make perfect sense and could be used as LingQ source material. They are just very gloomy. Sort of “the government are oppressing us yeah!” but with more poetry.
Once I’ve choosen Jethro Tull lyrics to explore
That was almost impossible, even for the fact I had their lyrics in printed form… When I told my friend (who is a linguist) of it he said: that’s easy! Right now - choose any of their songs and I’ll explain it to you at once…
Indeed, songs (and poetry) can be hard to understand, especially if it contains slang and grammar/pronunciation variations. That’s why for my studies in Spanish I sought out those artists that have more standard grammar & vocabulary and that’s who I’m listening to now. But learning language with music is fun!
yes natalie0407 the music draws me in like crazy! i’ve found a heap of songs that have lyrics printed on their youtubes and its so much fun listening to them over and over again. for instance, at the moment i can’t get this song out of my head: Faudel - La main dans la main - YouTube the lyrics (esp verse 2) is so beautiful.
… sometimes i end up youtubing clips until 3 or 4am and i remain completely absorbed. I recently stumbled upon Jean Claude Van Damme doing some comedy routines. It was hilarious! What can I say… to be “aware”! it’s great.
For English learners, I recommend 50’s early 60’s era teen pop, (Paul Anka, The Everly Brothers , early Beach Boys, early Beatles, the Supremes etc…) It is before the experimental/psychedelic pop era so the meaning of the words is usually straight forward and the singing is clearly enunciated. It really works as a break from standard texts for pre intermediate students.
One of my favourites was Jimi Hendrix’s Purple haze and I heard someone who thought he sang " 'scuse me, while I kiss these guys!" That really killed me!!
"I like listening to the Russian rock band DDT. "
So do I. I think they are bonza. Have you ever heard “Rossiskoe Tango”? The funny thing is, even if I look up the lyrics on the internet, I don’t really understand what the song’s about.
In general, I find Russian music to be excellent. I would say that when people first start learning Russian, the cyrillic alphabet is a stumbling block. It shouldn’t be but it can be. But Russian music is so great and interesting it can help you through it.
This reminds me of when I was learning english. I would also listen to the songs I like. I would write them down in the way I thought they were pronounce and not really in English. Then I would learn the whole song and I could sing along not really knowing the meaning but later I would understand the whole song and it made it easier whenever I listened to the same words in a different song. So I think that it does help! and it works for learning the target language! I’m trying to do the same now with Frech even though I don’t know many modern french singers.
re. French music I like Noir Desir, Marie Laforet, Francoise Hardy and that guy who sings “huit cent million du chinois, et moi et moi et moi…” I can’t remember his name right now but he is famous. French music is also great.
Merci MissTake! I forgot how many chinois so I guessed at huit cent million;)
For people looking to improve their English, I would recommend Tom Lehrer. His songs are very witty and funny, and his voice very clear.
