The Sound Of Your Country!
 

So, I've been thinking: The Drome has members from all corners of the world and we all hang out at the same spot. And yet we don't really show each other what our countries do all day long. Not on a political basis or who shot whom how and when, but on a cultural level. Ask "What makes the people of country XY tick?"

So here's my idea. In this thread, we'll collect musical pieces of our countries, which are rather unknown to the outside world, in the language we speak every day. So if you live in France, you'd have to post a French song by a French band that was or is popular. Just to show everyone what the language sounds like and add some insight as to what the lyrics mean, because obviously, not everyone speaks French here.

And as habit has it, I'll start. Now, Switzerland has four official languages: German, French, Italian and the dying Rumantsch. Therefore, I'll post three songs, because the swiss/italian musicscene is practically nonexistant. Feel free to add comments and questions to every video.

At the moment, the whole country makes its own kind of HipHop.

The most spoken language, and the one I usually speak is Swiss German. IT has little in common with Germany's German and it has a huge number of dialects. The song below is heavily Grischa-Swiss-German, from the canton of Graubünden or Grischa, as its called in Rumantsch.


The song is called "Superschwizer" by Gimma. Translated, the title means "Super swiss guy" and it's a satirical take on swiss pop culture at the moment, cleverly mixed with common swiss stereotypes. Things like "Pimp my Tractor" are probably the best examples of that. The song was popular enough to become the official Football World Cup song in 2006.

Now a french one. Hip Hop Romandais is heavily influenced by french hiphop, so it's no surprise that it sounds different from Gimma's piece.


The song's called "Libéré" by famous romand rapper "Stress." It's basically about how the week's over and how you don't have to work anymore. A song that tells everyone to just not give a crap about the week anymore.

The fourth language my country has is called Rumantsch. It's a dying language. Nobody speaks it anymore in everyday life and there's about 35000 people, mostly elderly folk, left who speak the language. It used to be spoken in the canton of Graubünden aka. Grischa. The canton has had numerous attempts at saving the language, but nothing helped. Then, in 2006, a swiss hiphop band put their second album out. Their name: Liricas Analas, their rap: Rumantsch. I don't know if that helped, but I certainly like the effort.


So here we go. "Siemis" by Liricas Analas. The title translates to "Dreams" and it's about that: What the 7 Liricas Analas Rappers dream of. What they imagine the world to be like should we be able to rewrite the script of reality.

And now it's up to you. What are your country's sounds? What do your countries sound like? And if there are questions or comments about my post, fire away! And enjoy the music!

Now, I've just realized that the majority of the users here are from the USA. So let's add a little extra for the USA: If you're in the USA, post something from your state or your area. So if you live in Boise, Idaho, you'd have to show us Idahoian music or something by a popular local band from Boise.

I come from Florida.

For 8 years I lived in the northern part of the state and my family is still there. Representatives from where I lived would be Tom Petty and Lynyrd Skynyrd.

I now live in the more touristy half of the state. There is A LOT of variety to the music. I cannot think of any musicians native to the city where I am in, though.

Aww, no fair. Travis, The fratellies (Theyre Irish but Glasgow based. Yayy!), Snow Patrol, Wet wet wet, Runrig, Biffy Clyro, the proclaimers, Paolo Nutini, Franz Ferdinand and the sansational alex harvey band (My uncles dad was in SAB, the drummer, George Magowan)

Most people have heard of these bands though as far as I know. If they havent I'd be suprised.

So here are two guys playing bagpipes in Edinburgh.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aQJz_g3CcAg

Straight from my hometown: f***ing Pantera!

All Latverian musical groups are at the mercy of Doom's incination, and they are all required to sing of Doom's greatness.

Out of character, I guess I could link Fallout Boy.

meh.. I don't know squat about Utah (where I was born) music...and Im not keen on Washington State (where I live now) music. Actually don't like American music much period (with some exceptions like Country) I prefer Scandanavian, German, and Irish music.

Scandanavian groups/singers I love: Wig Wam (a glam metal band. Just think of em as the Norwegien version of Kiss. They were in Eurovision in 2005), Hanne Boell (a Danish singer), Da Buzz (a Swedish group), S.P.O.C.K (Swedish techno group. They mostly sing songs pertaining to Star Trek and Star Wars with a couple about Babylon 5), Sissel (an awesome awesome Norwegien singer), Kurt Nilsen (he won Norwegien Idol), Espen Lind (Norwegien singer), Askil Holm (Norwegien)

Germany:
X-Perience is really the only group I like out of Germany ATM.

Irish:
Brian McFadden, Westlife, Ronan Keating

You do realize that this thread is not about what music you like listening to, but about music of where you live? Seriously, we have about three dozen threads with "What's your favourite kind of music?" in them, and you pick the one thread where that isn't the case? Come on, I know you're literate...

So for you, it would be Washington State and not Germany, which isn't even on the same continent as Washington State.

Anyways, there's this song that was immensely popular a year ago and still is to this day, because it's just awesome. They even play it in bars that usually play only heavy metal. It's called "Für 1 häts immer no glangt" by a band called Breitbild. The title translates to "There's always been room for one more" and it's basically a middle-finger-response to this country's working world without getting too offending. My favourite line from this one is "Hüt bruch i kei westliche Standard, öppis zum esse und trinke söt lange." ("Today, I don't need any western standards, something to eat and drink should be enough.") Anyways, here's the song, once again from the canton of Grabünden, in German again.

The Maritimes have a very large percentage of people of Scottish decent. This is a pipe band that I used to be in about 3 years ago (the band I'm on hiatus from right now has no videos D: ) at their highland gathering last summer!

http://youtube.com/watch?v=KAaUSGSXYGk
Aww! I'm jealous that I left, Kinda miss hanging out with these kids and playing such awesome tunes!

Hey, they don't call me PipingPringle for nuthin', guys. Well, Ok.. right now they do.. but when I'm back in the fall, watch out!

Anyway, other bands from the Maritimes that I enjoy are (off the top of my head) The Joel Plaskett Emergency and Slainte Mhath

In the 1980's and 1990's, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dansband was very popular in Sweden and Norway.

Washington State:
Blake Lewis, Sanjaya (gah), Kurt Cobain, Jimi Hendrix, Sir Mix-a-lot, Kenny Loggins, Kenny G

Utah:
The Osmonds, Jewel, Ryan Shoupe and the Rubberband

My favourite German band "Die Ärzte" (The Doctors) from Berlin with their song "Friedenspanzer" (Peace Tank).

Greetings from Maryland...we're not only responsible for this crap, we've done much more in the darkness.

Good Charlotte

Favorite lyric from this song: Shake it three times, you're playing with yourself.

Mama Cass Elliot

This pretty much sums up Maryland in a nutshell XD
No. No I'm not kidding.

Toni Braxton

Maryland is just really that emo.

And my favorite Maryland musician...Mary Prankster! http://myspace.com/maryprankster

...we are really into our beer and ren faire. Yep yep. If foul language, and sexual themes bother you...don't go listen to her. ^_^

Just remembered another great yet underrated artist from Scotland.
I've met him, hes lovley. My friend idols him.

Heres a song form his first album.
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=l_i9BDrnu40

And "live twice" from his second album.
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=cxhOf1...elated&search=

The Tragically Hip (They are from Kingston, Ontario). They have not one but two Gords in the group - Downie and Sinclair! Not local to London, but in the same province. Check 'em out!

I hail from Michigan, the best local band around is Aisle Five (www.myspace.com/aislefivemusic).


As for famous bands that come from Michigan, the White Stripes, the Von Bondies, the Stooges, and MC5.

opps, www.myspace.com/aislefivemusic

Our Polish top alternative rock band: Myslovitz - "Dla Ciebie" ("For You")



Our Polish Michael Jackson: Ich Troje (Them Three) - "Powiedz" ("Say")



Our Polish Mariah Carey: Edyta Gorniak - "To nie ja" ("It's not me" - 2nd place at the 1994 Eurovision contest):



Our Polish Madonna/Paris Hilton crossover - Doda Elektroda - "Znak pokoju" ("Sign of Peace"):



More to come soon... or not.

Swedish metalband LOKs hitsong LOK Står När De Andra Faller

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NsGKu6EAbfE

Some info: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LOK