CAA: Christian Anime Alliance

I've noticed that some J-pop/J-rock bands often use English in their songs. Yet, they often tend to butcher the language when they use it. The pronounciation is so horrific, it makes me want to scream.

I mean it's fine if you want to use a foreign language in your song, but at least pronounce it right or don't use it at all.

Just a little pet peeve of mine.

Funny, I find it hilarious when they do that. The ultimate example I have of this is Hot Limit by John Desire, from one of the DDR soundtracks. It was a Japanese song that was translated into English, then given to an Italian band, who didn't speak English, to remake for the soundtrack. Hilarity ensued.

Then you'll hate this song:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l4TG-epVTzc

XD

Davidizer13 (post: 1341500) wrote:Funny, I find it hilarious when they do that. The ultimate example I have of this is Hot Limit by John Desire, from one of the DDR soundtracks. It was a Japanese song that was translated into English, then given to an Italian band, who didn't speak English, to remake for the soundtrack. Hilarity ensued.

Well most Eurobeat tends to be like that anyway (And you're right, most of them originate from Italy). XD

I won't say anything about the american side of the anime culture butchering the Japanese language. I think if you're not native to a langauge, and only dabbling because its cool, odds are you'll be screw it up until you take it seriously.

I like Engrish lyrics. They're charming.

Mr. SmartyPants (post: 1341515) wrote:Then you'll hate this song:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l4TG-epVTzc

How did I know exactly what this was going to be.

Linguistically speaking, it sounds weird to switch pronunciations mid-sentence. If you are using Japanese pronunciation, then switch to English, then back to Japanese, it sounds worse than if you just mispronounce the English.

I am much more offended by American fans butchering Japanese and never progressing beyond stereotypical anime phrases. If I hear another anime fan say "baka neko"... B|


Also, as is my custom on anime topics:
omgjapananimeramuneasiangirlsmangaiwannabeamangaartistjpoppocky!!! @_o!!!

CrimsonRyu17 (post: 1341551) wrote:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HTkLA-5j0AA

That is the most amazing thing I've seen all day.

And so I remain on topic, no, it does not bother me that J-pop/rock artists whose first language is not English butcher the pronunciation of most words in my language for the sake of their music.

XD

Mr. SmartyPants (post: 1341515) wrote:Then you'll hate this song:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l4TG-epVTzc

This song always made me giggle. I loved the song until I realized she was singing in English. Then not so much. Half the time when they switch to english I don't even notice. But once I do then it's all I can notice. I no longer look up the lyrics so this doesn't happen.

That video was awesome. XD ARE YOU READY, GUYS?

I find it cute when Japanese people try to sound cool in English, and am astonished when they succeed.

On the flip side, they think it's hilarious to say Japanese words in eigoppoi -- English style. (I find it funny too actually.) You know, like saying "ta-KE-shi" instead of the proper "TA-ke-shi".

Eh, MELL is more hilariously mangled lyrics than terrible pronunciation.

Also, Date Masamune demonstrates the correct way to use English: while riding on a horse with motorcycle handlebars and mufflers.

That MELL song is hilarious. It doesn't really bother me when English isn't pronounced correctly, and sometimes it's just plain awesome, like Versailles.

Etoh*the*Greato (post: 1341576) wrote:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rW6M8D41ZWU

0_o

Wow.

Um. Wow.

SOU NAN DESS KARR.

Etoh*the*Greato (post: 1341576) wrote:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rW6M8D41ZWU

Win. It's been forever since I've seen that one, and it still manages to be...well, whatever it is.

I've heard some wonderful use of English by a few J artists, but usually it just sounds silly. Generally when it is good is when the artist is (a) good enough to actually be singing in English, (b) singing a song (or complete verses) entirely in English and (c) the lyricist actually had a proper handle on the language.

A good example would be Maaya Sakamoto / Yoko Kanno stuff when they use Enlish. These tend to be good because Kanno-san has a number of English speakers in her stable, especially American Tim Jensen.

As for me, the number one attraction for me learning Japanese has not been Anime and Manga, but music. I absolutely love the sound of Japanese lyrics. I think it may be one of the greatest lyrical languages out there, right up there with Italian and Latin. So I truly wish they would have a greater love for their own language and not feel the need to rely on English words.

It really doesn't bug me that Jpop and Jrock uses Engrish lyrics in a song. They do this, because they think its cool to do and people of Japan think its cool as well.

After all, the same thing can be said for American side of the anime culture butchering the Japanese language or any other language.

[color="Red"]Col. Roy Mustang[/color]

I think it's really funny when artists release a song in their native language and then the same one but in English. The English one is completely mangled but if you look at a translated version of the original it completely makes sense. My favorite example is Do As Infinity's Fukai Mori. Makes me giggle every time.

Eternity - Blue Dragon OST

(Yes, that is Ian Gillian, of Deep Purple fame, singing.)

Hot Limit - John Desire

Gold Rush - IIDX 14th Gold OST

All those songs purport to be English-language.

It's only cute when it's girls who sing in butchered English.

You see there's a difference between otaku culture in American and Japanese music. You expect individuals to butcher a language but generally not singers.

It's not a huge pet peeve of mine, I just got kinda irritated when I listened to the butchered English in the new Bleach ED.

Yamamaya wrote:You see there's a difference between otaku culture in American and Japanese music. You expect individuals to butcher a language but generally not singers.

I don't. Otakus do it to be cool as the same thing that singers do it as well.

So, if we are going to be annoyed with singers, then the same thing should be said about otakus doing it.

You have American singers that will sing stuff in other languages as well and they are not spot on with it as well and I don't hear people irritated about them doing it.

[font="Book Antiqua"][color="Red"]Col. Roy Mustang[/color][/font]

I dislike this in all permutations. In my mind there's no real difference between a middle-aged white guy scrunching up his eyes while saying "KAH_WAYYY" and Japanese use of English words to sound cool, except perhaps in degree. You can be fine with both or hate both, but I think feeling different about them is a double standard.

Not that there's such a thing as a correct pronunciation, but I do wish people would make an effort when doing something in a different language or with a different culture. Whenever I have to write anything in Spanish I always try to run it past a native speaker first to ensure a basic level of quality. I think anything less than a sincere effort at correctness is a mild form of cultural imperialism.

uc pseudonym (post: 1341804) wrote:I dislike this in all permutations. In my mind there's no real difference between a middle-aged white guy scrunching up his eyes while saying "KAH_WAYYY" and Japanese use of English words to sound cool, except perhaps in degree. You can be fine with both or hate both, but I think feeling different about them is a double standard.

Not that there's such a thing as a correct pronunciation, but I do wish people would make an effort when doing something in a different language or with a different culture. Whenever I have to write anything in Spanish I always try to run it past a native speaker first to ensure a basic level of quality. I think anything less than a sincere effort at correctness is a mild form of cultural imperialism.

Yeah. That there.

I find engrish in Jpop no more offensive than I find the misuse of the japanese language by american fans, although occasionally a sting on engrish.com does turn up some pretty entertaining stuff. I'm about 90% they have an equitable website for all of the misuses of japanese writing in T-shirts, tatoos, and other stuff.

uc pseudonym (post: 1341804) wrote:I dislike this in all permutations. In my mind there's no real difference between a middle-aged white guy scrunching up his eyes while saying "KAH_WAYYY" and Japanese use of English words to sound cool, except perhaps in degree.

Yeah, it ticks off my son when I do that. Of course I only do it to get that reaction out of him.

When a 49 year old man says Kawaii desu, it's just plain creepy.

Anyway, I guess I think of them differently since music is an actual industry while what a few fans say is not.(and you don't run into that many otaku every day.)