Depictions of the US in Foreign Music

[Aozora]

Hey guys!

I hope this is in the right forum.

I currently have to take a class about American culture (United States) as a requirement for my school. We have a presentation and paper coming up soon and we can pick any topic we want. I really want to talk about how other countries view and try to portray the US and specifically through songs. Does anyone know any songs (or music videos would be cool too!) that depict the US or its culture but is not in English? Any other language would be awesome! I was thinking of possibly showing Ayumi Hamasaki's "Wake me up," but the only American thing about it is the fact that the music video was shot in Los Angeles (I think).

Both positive AND negative portrayals of the US are welcome. I want to give a true vision of how other countries' medias show the US .

Thanks everyone!

[happiholic★]

I've always seen Koda Kumi's Boom Boom Boys as being "American" music inspired. Same with Ayu's Startin'.

[CatGirl]

You might also be able to use the cover for Kumi's Birthday Eve too

[Polyrhythm]

This definitely came to mind:



I'm not really a Namie fan but she seems to have a very westernized style in general. It's worth looking into.

[Andrenekoi]

^I believe Rock Steady video goes even deeper on the american influence...

Namie Amuro - Rock Steady - 2008


Mylène Farmer - California (couldn't get the official video ) - 1995


Lulu Santos - De repente, California (Suddenly, California) - 1982

Spoiler:

Girl i'm going to California
To live my life among the waves
I will be a movie actor
My destiny is being a star

The wind kisses my hair
The waves licks my legs
The sun embraces my body
My heart happily sings

I go around, jump over the walls
I dive in the dark, get way
On California is all different, brother
It's much more than a dream

Life goes by slowly
And we go suddenly
So suddenly we don't
miss what is already gone

Tim Maia - Somos America (We are America) - 1987

Spoiler:

I'm here to give an warning
This way is hard to stay
Nobody invited me to vote
Decide or even opine

We are America, we are America
Slow down
Don't go on messing without asking
Nobody invited me to vote
Decide or even opine
We are America, we are America

Weapons and missles complicate things my friend
They won't solve anything
We are friends, neighboors my friend
So listen my friend so what

Let's see who makes it till the end
Sober or high
Nobody took the initiative to move way
Solve problems or at least help
We are America, we are America

Being it on north, center or south
Being it anywhere
We are friends, neighboors my friend
Are you listening my friend?
Be sure

Os Incríveis - Era um garoto que como eu amava os Beatles e os Rolling Stones (Was a boy that just like me loved the Beatles and the Rolling Stones) - 1967 (discovered it is a version of a italian song called "C'era un ragazzo che come me amava i Beatles e i Rolling Stones"

Spoiler:

He was a boy that just like me
loved The Beatles and the Rolling Stones

Traveled around the world always singing
the beauties of America

He wasn't handsome and even so
there were one thousand of girls wanting him
Used to sing Help and Ticket to Ride,
Oh Lady Jane and Yesterday

Used to sing long live to freedom
But a mail without waiting
got him away from his guitar
He was called to America

Stop! With Rolling Stones
Stop! With Beatles songs
He was sent to Vietnam
To fight vietcongs

Ratá-tá tá tá...
Tatá-rá tá tá...
Ratá-tá tá tá...
Tatá-rá tá tá...
Ratá-tá tá tá...
Tatá-rá tá tá...
Ratá-tá tá tá...

He was a boy that just like me
loved The Beatles and the Rolling Stones
Traveled around the world
But ended making war on Vietnam

Long hair he doesn't have anymore
And he doesn't play anymore his guitar but
An instrument that always plays the same note
Ra-ta-ta-ta

He doesn't have friends, he doesn't see girls
Only dead people falling on the floor
To his country he won't come back
He is dead at Vietnam

Stop! With Rolling Stones
Stop! With Beatles songs
On this chest there isn't a heart
But two medals

Ayumi Hamasaki - Bold & Delicious - 2006


Ayumi hamasaki - Audience at Dome Tour 2001

[tokyoxjapanxfan]

Lee Hyori - U-Go-Girl


girl next door - Drive away


Wonder Girls - Nobody But You


trf - Brand New Tomorrow


Hope these are ok?

[Andrenekoi]

I put Mylene's California but didn't put the translation! xD

Here: http://lyricstranslate.com/en/califo...ifornia.html-0

One more brazilian song (I'm only picking songs by big stars):
Chico Buarque - A Aurora de Nova Iorque (The dawn of New York) - couldn't find the year

Spoiler:

The dawn of New York has
Four columns of slush
And a hurricane of pidgeons
That explode the rotten waters

The dawn of New York groans
On the wide stairways
Searching between the edges
undefinied anguishes

The dawn comes and nobody on it's mouth greets it
Because there neither hope or morning are possible
And the coins, like a swarm
Devour new borns

Those who rise first, on their bones predict
There won't be paradise or defoliated love
Only numbers, laws and slush
of so much frustrated effort

The streets noise entomb the city lights
And people from the quarters sleepless wobble
Like they just came from
A shipwreck of blood

And this may be an interesting thing to your project:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/...y-translation/

Usually in Brazil USA is portrayed either as a land of dreams, on a very hollywood inspired take or as a giant militaristic capitalistic imperialistic monster.

[Delicious n Bold]

Does this include the adult scene as well? Just look at Ayu's Sparkle PV.

[emi♡]

^is that really about the US? Seemed more about Japan to me.


NEXT LEVEL is all Southern California Scenery~ Not really a portrayal though.

[Andrenekoi]

Originally Posted by Delicious n Bold

Does this include the adult scene as well? Just look at Ayu's Sparkle PV.

Sparkle PV aesthetic is directly taken from japanese fetish porn movies... "Movie", actually, as there is an specific one... Noidea was banned for posting it here on the forum.

[Delicious n Bold]

In my defence, there's a duality of the Sparkle PV. The first part is the parody of Japanese culture. The second one may be about the porn parody in itself, making fun of American? porn. I don't know what country the movie is from. Does anyone know? My bet is not Japan.

[Andrenekoi]

Originally Posted by Delicious n Bold

In my defence, there's a duality of the Sparkle PV. The first part is the parody of Japanese culture. The second one may be about the porn parody in itself, making fun of American? porn. I don't know what country the movie is from. Does anyone know? My bet is not Japan.

The movie (and yeap, I'm talking about the latex part) was from Japan... Actually, it was pretty common porn by japanese standarts :V

Edit: Not japanese, but have japanese performers... I will send you a page with the info (and the info only xD) on PM.

[Aozora]

Thanks for the great suggestions so far everyone; they're all extremely helpful! My boyfriend also suggested some, which I'll post here for those interested in the topic !

Inglish Vinglish - Manhattan


Nancy Ajram - Mashy Haddy


There is also a (pretty hilarious actually) parody of American culture by a South African rap group named Die Antwoord in their video, "Fatty Boom Boom." But I don't know if it's appropriate to post it here ><.

[Andrenekoi]

OMG! I LOVE Mashy Haddy! Gotta start listening to Nancy's discography properly! >_<

And I believe the Die Antwoord video would put you in trouble with the mods xD