Foreign Songs

[Pensive]

Yesterday, I was listening a music programme on radio. It was based on people calling and listening to the songs of their own choices. There came this call which requested a foreign song (an Indian song I think) and the compere started all about how we shouldn't listen foreign songs at all. Then the next phone call that came also agreed with the host and started to vent about how listening foreign songs showed our discouragement for our country. And that person really said the exact words (am just translating them): "If we love our country even a little bit, we shouldn't hear foreign songs or watch their movies."

I felt as if he were saying if you love your mother, don't appreciate someone else's mother.

This also reminded me of some other people I have met who think like this. It's quite understandable if they don't have a foreign channel but claiming that listening foreign songs is totally wrong is just so umm annoying!

I don't personally care about whomever has sung a song if I like it. (though mostly the songs I like are the songs in my language, it's easier to understand and sing them but still one can appreciate foreign music!) If it's someone from my country, it's good. But even if he isn't, then also it's good.

Do you think the host and the second caller were right? Or should they have not said this? Have you ever met people who think like this or have you heard similar things?

[Koa]

:eek: Well in most European countries I'd say that half of the famous music is in English (maybe sometimes Spanish or some other odd song in any other lang.), and the other half is from the country...at leas it's like this in Italy, and I think it's similar elsewhere.
I think it's narrow-minded to say that you can't listen to foreign music...well of course if you don't like it then ok, but it's a great way to learn about other cultures and languages! (I learnt half of my English from songs!). In italy too some people say you can't like foreign music because you don't understand the words, but then you can like the tune and be curious about the words and learn them...
Some years ago I had heard that in France they wanted to make a law establishing that ...I don't remember which percentage, maybe 60%? of the music on the radio should be French.... but there were big protests about that.

As for me, I mostly listen to music in Italian, English, Russian and Hungarian. On my computer I have also stuff in Polish and Czech, and some other random languages.

[andave_ya]

Man. That's...strange. All I'm doing by listening to world music is picking up a bit of culture.

[Lote-Tree]

"If we love our country even a little bit, we shouldn't hear foreign songs or watch their movies."


I guess you may be in Pakistan and listening to Indian songs ;-)
That can be classed as "Treason" :-) - it is a very sad reflection of the nature of statehood...

[Pensive]

I guess you may be in Pakistan and listening to Indian songs ;-)
That can be classed as "Treason" :-) - it is a very sad reflection of the nature of statehood...

The thing is many say the same about English or other foreign songs.

[Lote-Tree]

The thing is many say the same about English or other foreign songs.

Nay - rarely these days because English has conquered the world ;-) and so listening to foreign songs is seen as something fascinating.

[EAP]

Nationalistic idiots.

[Annamariah]

I'd become crazy if I couldn't listen to foreign music, read foreign books and watch foreign movies and tv-series.

There are many Finnish bands I like, but after all this is a very small country. There's only about 15 new Finnish movies every year, which means that over 90% of the movies shown in theatres are foreign.

And not to talk about books... All my favourite books are foreign, mostly written in England.

So, I'm very glad I can enjoy other countries' culture as well as my own, and that doesn't mean that I didn't respect Finnish culture.

[formality hater]

Actually,I have seen people saying exactly the opposite.Hearing foreign songs is held as a matter of pride!

[Pensive]

Actually,I have seen people saying exactly the opposite.Hearing foreign songs is held as a matter of pride!

Well, that's usually Pakistani upper-class 'burger' family's teenagers' b*******. Not something I approve of either! In all ways, it's extremism. Can't they just be more open towards other people's choices? :(

[formality hater]

Well, that's usually Pakistani upper-class 'burger' family's teenagers' b*******. Not something I approve of either! In all ways, it's extremism. Can't they just be more open towards other people's choices? :(

Very right...
One should care about others too!

[Pensive]

Nay - rarely these days because English has conquered the world ;-) and so listening to foreign songs is seen as something fascinating.

'English has conquered the world' I think is quite an exaggerated statement! :p

But yes, some do find it fascinating while others think totally opposite. Like the man in the radio. As I mentioned before, it's still extremism! In both ways. Really really annoying.

[Bakiryu]

I would probably die if I couldn't listen to T.a.T.u or Miyavi. I don't usually listen to music in my birth-language (Spanish) or in English. I like expanding my horizons and i think is enriching listening to music from other countries. Right now I'm listening to Kalinka (Berry) by Yamboo.

[EAP]

Actually,I have seen people saying exactly the opposite.Hearing foreign songs is held as a matter of pride!

That is understandable.

The opposite isn't.

[Lily Adams]

Whoah! How strange...

Really, what's the big deal? Listening to songs in foreign languages doesn't make you love your country any less. Period. Patriotism doesn't have anything to do with what you like. What you like is called freedom.