Just a brief and idle speculation today – what if the English-speaking world actually listened to foreign-language music as much as the rest of the world listens to English-speaking music? Before moving to Québec, I never gave much thought to the hegemony of the English language, and especially not in the realm of music. But now I realize that English created a rather airless vacuum between me and the outside world, cutting me off from amazing musicians like Malajube, Karka, Stefie Shock, Arianne Moffatt, Gatineau, I could go on and on. I resent it. I have no idea why radio stations from coast to coast will play Nickelback but they won’t play Malajube. Do English-speakers really get that freaked out by the sound of a language they might not understand?
With Michael Jackson obviously established as a global phenomenon, it raises the question, when will Manu Chao become a truly global phenomenon?
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August 21, 2009 at 8:32 pm
ceecee
you should add Amylie to your growing list of french musicians. Coming from Toronto, I was raised to believe that music generated outside the GTA was an urban myth. What a pleasant surprise to discover such wonderful talent here in Quebec, now if I could only figure out what they were saying!!
August 22, 2009 at 9:36 am
Laurence Miall
Ceecee,
Thanks for the recommendation of Amylie. I will check her out. Quebec music is fantastic… as is a lot of Toronto music, actually — but that’s besides the point of my blog! But the whole Broken Social Scene scene is great. Thanks for stopping by.