INT. RECORDING STUDIO – DAY
We join things in progress, as ROBERT KRAFT sits in front of the microphone telling a ribald story.
ROBERT KRAFT: …and then I say, ‘I think you’re gonna need another towel!’ [slaps desk] Ha ha ha! Ha ha ha ha ha!
DJ 3000: [off air] Good God!
PRODUCER: [punches talkback button] Ha ha ha ha! Good one, Robert. Okay, we’re off to commercial for thirty seconds. Sit tight.
The PRODUCER pretends to punch a button labeled “commercial” that is already lit. ROBERT KRAFT smiles to himself and waits patiently in the recording booth.
DJ 3000: This is even more stomach-churning than I expected.
PRODUCER: I’ll say. I can’t imagine what kind of fines we’d have racked up by now if this were actually being broadcast.
DJ 3000: Do you think the audience is going to notice five full minutes worth of car insurance ads?
PRODUCER: Nah. [punches talkback button] Okay, Robert, no more time for stories – we gotta take requests. You ready?
ROBERT KRAFT: [nods as the PRODUCER counts it down] Okay, folks, we’re back! I’m your host Robert Kraft, and it’s time for the part of Request Line where we take your requests! Today’s topic – and it’s one that is very near, and very dear to my heart, is IMPORTS. That’s right, I’m talking about imported talent. Give us a ring…[DJ 3000 starts snickering and the PRODUCER punches his arm]…and we’ll give your songs a spin. I’ll get us started with Cold War classic, “99 Luftballons” from West Germany’s own Nena.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=La4Dcd1aUcE
Editor’s note: Today’s theme is imports. We’re only accepting songs by bands that are from countries where English is not the primary language. It’s okay if the lyrics to their music are in English (example: Millencolin). Just in case anybody here is heavy into German scheissemetal let’s put a cap at 10 requests per person.
For brazen disrespect to glorious leader punk band, they sound better than most that go to Gouloug, da?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EmlrPaTK1Ww
Norwegian indie duos for 500, Alex
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WOxE7IRizjI
And one more
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OczRpuGKTfY
Here’s The George Baker Selection (a Dutch dude that also wrote Little Green Bag) singing Paloma Blanca (“I’m just a bird in the sky and no one can take my freedom away”) My quite staid older Portugese neighbours would blast this tune after coming home from church on Sundays for one summer.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tBBPhpL1Vl4
They’re foreign
That’s good
They’re Russian
That’s bad
They’re covering the Smiths
That’s good
It’s terrible
That’s bad
They’re lesbians
That’s good
They contain potassium benzoate
That’s bad
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TmJ_hGOVebs
The Pillows basically did the entire soundtrack for FLCL. This one’s my favorite.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7GaGb6etgLk
vive le France!!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HL548cHH3OY
and what they followed up with!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uF3reVVUbio
that is just a fan-fucking-tastic album
Apparently Serge Gainsbourg pulled more French tail in the 60’s than you could possibly imagine. A certain Ms. Bardot is singing along here.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GDAuaStv2Kk
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZyhrYis509A
I’m waiting for Senor to show up with some arias.
Fuck y’all for doing so much Sweden without their very best:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K3P2o5gryfs
Les Rita Mitsouko-“Andy” isn’t even their best tune
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ae-tP-rFJl0
Let’s get creepy
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2TqSyvdqn9c
Iceland, represent! One of my favourite live acoustic performances in ever.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0ecE6_IecmM
No Kraftwerk? Shame
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iukUMRlaBBE
MACH SCHNELL MIT DER ART THINGS, HUH?
Brazil.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F_6IjeprfEs&list=PLoAM52np6eFEfnzY_JOb8TdQRd1AIBbBJ
Okay savages-someone gotta show you what class looks like (live tune kicks in at 1:30)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ANArGmr74u4
5. The singer’s French, the song is in French, and it features a tap solo.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jiA7MrAQvsY
Bonus: English version sung by a cute Icelandic actress
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oO2TtGqY8U4
Norway in the house.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DPyOhP1GTRQ
Screw it, I’m breaking the rules and doing 11.
This chick is pretty amazing. Korean drummer….And also very attractive and has a fashion sense I can get behind. So to speak.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-6w_3P_l5FA
A song that crossed language and front lines.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8jrfluDC9AA
In English.
Also, Marlene
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bnv2ZcVUkJ4
Sweden. In Swedish!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Q2NtjoYj_U
Doubleshot.
Chorus is in Dutch
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TAhyZegVkhw
More from Sweden.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VqoyKzgkqR4
A Spanish singer, singing in French, for a song most famous to Yanks in English. Also a great movie and better books.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3SSIp2J3YHM
Germany strikes again.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MGnqdY9KLAM
This awesomeness can only come from JAPAN!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WIKqgE4BwAY
More Japanese intensity.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ykRcEztUOz8
4. Greatest musical performance ever. MAYBE. Worth a watch. (Netherlands)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g4ouPGGLI6Q
Norwege
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VkVy2FeqIyc
Time for a double shot of aquavit with A-ha.
I can’t believe they haven’t been taken yet.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=djV11Xbc914
This seems like it’s right in tWBS’s wheelhouse:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1DhA69K3fZ4
Actiually no lie, I was just getting ready to post this one…
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DUT5rEU6pqM
Danish, with tats, big boobs, and big bass.
The Horrorpops
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GuOe01gb3o0
Oh goddammit I can’t believe it took me this long.
Double shot from Sweden, then I gotta go cook….
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ysGtBZX32I0
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c4Gp56jnaIs
Meh, fuck it, let’s triple it.
I think runs me out though.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uz1Jwyxd4tE
Redeeming myself with a German pop group, named after a Mongolian war lord, singing about Moscow.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NvS351QKFV4
Peru
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2XKthwUAnps
Belgium….
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8UVNT4wvIGY
I am extremely annoyed that I cannot find the proper version of this very obscure Japanese rap song about owning a sushi parlor in Japan that was created as a joke, but used in my Japanese class. Anyway, here’s the closest I could get:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2siU6Iu1TC4&t=6s
3. More weirdness from Sweden
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pPD8Ja64mRU
Bonus: Cover version, also sung by a Swede, featuring many many balls
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0_bx8bnCoiU
I fucking LOVE that song
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D9w6SEtkeug
Australia
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v2AC41dglnM
Again, I think they might speak English there. Never been, can’t say for sure.
What’s next? Canada’s favorite sons, Rush?
Perhaps some Scottish lads.
This is what I get for misunderstanding the context.
3. Sweden
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OChjVLHlkVE
Wyclef…born in Greece, raised in Haiti…I think that qualifies.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=69VrOmd7qNc
And I’ve been trying to find a way to link Dancing Queen for years!!!!!! Finally.
(too bad Lenny Kravitz speaks English. LMFAO)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xFrGuyw1V8s
2. Finally, an excuse to post this Swedish masterpiece.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2up7su7CeMU
Dude
THIS SONG IS AWESOME AND THE CHICK IS HOT WHAT COULD YOU POSSIBLY COMPLAIN ABOUT
Is she supposed to be eating lollipops with the braces?
That seems contraindicated.
Yes. She’s DANGEROUS AND WACKY.
Speaking of the CFL, I’m gonna go with the original:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8-bgiiTxhzM
“Nobody runs from the cops like Falco!”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=koJlIGDImiU
Dude.
Oh, you “Dude” me on that, but not the K Pop?
Dude.
I mean, K Pop fits the theme, but little bitch Iglesias fits no theme.
He’s a Mexican native.
Right, but he sucks.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j-5elU_dCcI
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bw9CALKOvAI
1. In this video, it’s moar liek big TITTY nights, amirite???
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pmE_l_dN9UM
Japan
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q_benmP9I3o
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W3q8Od5qJio
German Double Shot!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZkW-K5RQdzo
2. Iceland
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8cUhKT6jrZY
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wyQUCYl-ocs
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Ejga4kJUts
JULES: THEY SPEAK ENGLISH IN IRELAND?
SHARKBAIT: Um…no?
LOL, I was thinking that too.
“They speak English in What?”
“What?”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GcOXdd6XEbg
To be fair, LOOK OUT ITCHY, HE’S IRISH!
Ooooh, this is going to be interesting.
I’ll jump off with both feet….
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G3IOBsR7yGM