I have been reading the posts under the “Remakes of 80s Songs” and got to thinking about a related topic. What about those songs remade by artists from different countries in their native language? I can think of many foreign language versions of song originally recorded in the 50s, 60s, and 70s. I am having trouble of thinking of those from the 80s. Here is one that I own:

Original Title: Richard Marx
Original Artist: Right Here Waiting

Remake Artist: Leandro e Leonardo
Remake Title: Eu Sou Desejo, Você É Paixão
Language: Portuguese
Country: Brazil

Has anyone heard this version? What are some other 80s songs originally recorded in English, but were later remade in other languages? Does anyone have opinions on the foreign language versions?

--David

My dear friend from Myanmar played me a Burmese version of Air Supply`s "Making Love out of Nothing at All." I don`t know the singer`s name but she had a beautiful voice.

Also a Japanese singer has covered "Sexy Music" by The Nolans.

Another Japanese singer has covered "I`ve Never Been To Me" by Charlene, but the cover version is called "Love Is All". And the lyrics aren`t stupid like the original. I`m sorry not to be able to tell you the names of these singers though.

I don't know of any remakes, but I know of originals that have been hits in English, but started out in another language. For example Der Kommisar by After the Fire = Der Kommisar by Falco. 99 Redbaloons by Nena = 99 Luftballons by Nena. Suzanna by The Art Company = Suzanne by VOF de Kunst and there are many more.
A lot of European bands first had succes with a song in their native lang. and tried their luck also in the rest of the world with an english translation of the song.

Not only Falco and Nena, but also the German "dadaistic" band Trio had released some of their recordings in English versions:

"Da Da Da (Ich lieb' dich nicht du liebst mich nicht)" became "Da Da Da (I don't love you you don't love me), "Anna - Lassmichrein lassmichraus" was translated to "Anna - Letmein Letmeout" (for more about the international releases, visit http://www.stephan-remmler.de/Trio/diskografie/alben/trio_ausland.htm ).

When Paul Hardcastles "19" became a world wide hit, it was dubbed into various languages - the German lyrics were spoken by Werner Veigel, at this time a neswcaster for the ARD "Tagesschau". There's also a Japanese version, and I've heard about versions in Spanish and even Russian (though never heard them personally).

A pretty "obscure" (others would say "evil" :D ) translation happened to Erasures "Oh L'amour" which was (more or less...sorry but this one is really bad) "performed" by a German singer named Susanne Störrle.
Since no one ever heard of her again, it's possible that she was deported to Novo Sibirsk after the recording... :dgrin:

We forget a very important source of songs. The Eurovision Songcontest. People win singing in Swedish and record the song in English and have a hit. Some even record it in various langs, like Nicole. Ein Bißchen Frieden has been translated in various langs and here in the Netherlands we had 3 different ones charting. English, Germand and the Dutch one.

We has also a few people singing translated songs, for example a song from German band (Münchener) Freiheit had a hit with the song Ohne Dich and a dutch guy Erik Mesie translated it to Zonder Jou and also had a hit with it.

We forget a very important source of songs. The Eurovision Songcontest. People win singing in Swedish and record the song in English and have a hit. Some even record it in various langs, like Nicole. Ein Bißchen Frieden has been translated in various langs and here in the Netherlands we had 3 different ones charting. English, Germand and the Dutch one.
Yup...but I guess that was truly yesterday...now, with the majority of winners coming from Eastern Europe and almost entirely selling their recordings there, I'm afraid that there won't be many translations anymore. :D

We has also a few people singing translated songs, for example a song from German band (Münchener) Freiheit had a hit with the song Ohne Dich and a dutch guy Erik Mesie translated it to Zonder Jou and also had a hit with it.
The Münchener Freiheit has also released a number of songs in English, shortening their name to Freiheit since they thought it would be more accessible for the international audience (hey, coming from Munich...why don't they had renamed themselves "Oktoberfest"? Everyone around the world knows the "Oktoberfest"... :lol: ).

Another ones for the "obscure shelf":
The German remake of Alphavilles "Forever Young" done by Karel Gott (born in the former Czechoslovakia) "Für immer jung" is also the only remake officially approved by the members of Alphaville. 16 years after the original version, the German version charted in 2000.

Sandras second single as a solo artist (her first release actually dates back to the 70s) was another remake of an Alphaville track, "performing" "Big In Japan" with the German title "Japan ist weit". Never charted in Germany...

Until today, it's not unusual that German artists are performing international songs in their native language, though the heydays of those remakes were clearly from the 60s till the early 90s.

Another ones for the "obscure shelf":
The German remake of Alphavilles "Forever Young" done by Karel Gott (born in the former Czechoslovakia) "Für immer jung" is also the only remake officially approved by the members of Alphaville. 16 years after the original version, the German version charted in 2000.



This Karel Gott version sounded real good and I just tried to find it on the web and did, but to my surprise he also sang the song to Biene Maja (Maja de Bij in dutch..), is he serious? I remember the tune realy well and it was not Karel singing... What is the idea behind this one :lol: :rollin:

For ppl who don't know Maja:http://www.pearl.de/images/large/pk-1519_5.jpg

Actually, Karel Gott was the voice of the main melody of this cartoon series - strange but true. Don't ask me why, I guess that they asked him, and he didn't decline, so... ;)