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A little music to set the mood

When I signed up for the Paris & the Heart of France tour last year, I put together a “France” playlist for my iPod. It included French singers/music (e.g., Edith Piaf, Dany Brillant, Offenbach’s “can-can” music, Plastic Bertrand, several of France’s Eurovision entries) and non-French vocalists singing about Paris (e.g., Sinatra crooning about Paris in the springtime, Eartha Kitt purring under the bridges of Paris). I ended up with about 20 songs and loved listening to it on the bus while thinking, “Only __ days till I go to France!”

This year I’ve signed up for the Best of Europe tour. Rick has some music suggestions under the “Resource list” tabs on the tour pages, but they tend -- especially for Germany/Austria -- to lean toward classical. Not that there’s anything wrong with that; in fact, I’ll certainly download a few choice classical tidbits.

I’d really like some suggestions for popular music/artists (any decade) for the Netherlands, Germany, Austria, Italy and Switzerland. And they don’t necessarily have to be from that particular country: you can bet my playlist will have Dean Martin singing “That’s Amore”! Basically, I’m looking for anything that’s likely to set the mood.

Thanks for any ideas.

Posted by
477 posts

I definitely have some Andrea Bocelli for Italian music.

Posted by
97 posts

That's a great idea - I'd love to see (hear) your playlist for Paris!

Posted by
5843 posts

Great idea, I love listening to great music on a trip. Here are a few:

For Italy

O mio babbino caro (from the opera Gianni Schicchi by Puccini) - this is probably my favorite aria and they played this in the opening of the movie "A Room with a View" which is one of my favorite films (and set in Florence)

Volare (the Italian version) by Domenico Modugno - this is the original

Con te partiro - Andrea Bocelli

Mambo Italiano by Rosemary Clooney - I know, this is not authentic but everytime I hear it, it puts me in a good mood and I think of Italy.

Romeo and Juliet by Dire Straits (also not authentic)

Blue by Eiffel 65

Something by Zucchero

For Germany / Austria ---

Rock me Amadeus by Falco

Something by the real Amadeus - perhaps Eine Kleine Nachtmusik

99 Luftballons by Nena (alright, it is 80s but given that you know Plastic Bertrand ...)

Something from the "Sound of Music" soundtrack

Posted by
2297 posts

99 Luftballons by Nena (alright, it is 80s but given that you know Plastic Bertrand ...)

well, only a few days ago they were playing Nena's "Irgendwie, irgendwo, irgendwann" at the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin to celebrate the start into the new year. And 1 million people, myself included, sang along ;-) This song is even better in an English-German version as a duet with Kim Wilde:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TyAmY-SynAw

Posted by
2297 posts

This was my playlist for Italy:

1 Paolo Conte - Max

2 Toto Cutugno - L'italiano

3 Mina & A. Lupo - Parole parole

4 Umberto Tozzi & Cerena - Tu

5 Eros Ramazotti - Ti amo

6 Eros Ramazzotti & Ricky Martin - No Estamos Solos

7 Adriano Celentano - Il Tempo Se Ne Va (Cinema Italiano

8 Adriano Celentano- Ragazzo della via Gluck

9 Eros Ramazotti - Stella Gemella

10 Luciano Pavarotti & Lucio Dalla - Caruso (

Posted by
5843 posts

Beatrix, I may have to go dig up that Nena album that I bought in Germany in the 80s (on the thought that it might help me learn German better :))

Posted by
2349 posts

For Berlin, how about the Mike Myers Sprockets dance?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QHZR9SA5pOg

For Paris, Nat Cole's version of "Lush Life" for the one important and poignant line-
"a week in Paris would ease the bite of it"

Can anyone think of ANY song for the Netherlands?!

Posted by
5843 posts

A song for the Netherlands ... absolutely...

Amsterdam by Guster (not Dutch, they are American, but one of those songs that sticks in your head)

Posted by
199 posts

Andrea Bocelli. I am not sure the name of the song, but something like "Time to say goodbye......" We were at a friends house who are from Italy. They had music playing while we stuffed ourselves with a real Italian meal. When the song came on, I started thinking about our recent trip to Rome. Suddenly, I was getting poked in the arm by my husband. Sorry, wasn't listening to conversation. First heard the song on an episode of the Sopranos of all places. Its a beautiful song.

Posted by
14960 posts

Hi,

Here are some suggestions.

France----Rina KETTY-J'attendrai,

The Last Time I saw Paris by J.Kern,

Lucienne BOYER-Parlez-moi d'Amour,

Mistinguett- ca c'est Paris!

Germany--Heino-Blauer Enzian

Margot Eskin's songs

You DID say any decade. Happy Listening !

Posted by
922 posts

I'm loving these suggestions. And YES, absolutely any decade!

Keep 'em coming, bitte/per favore/s'il vous-plait!

Posted by
922 posts

And since Chris asked, here's my "France" playlist:

I Love Paris -- Sinatra

Les yeux ouverts - Enzo Enzo

Divine -- Sebastien Tellier

Offenbach: The Can-Can (from Orpheus)

La mer -- Charles Trenet

Via con me -- Paolo Conte*

Non, je ne regrette rien -- Piaf

Belleville Rendezvous -- The Triplets of Belleville soundtrack

French Rat Race -- Double Six of Paris

Les Champs-Elysees -- Paris Magnifique

April in Paris -- Count Basie

Le poinconneur des lilas -- Serge Gainsbourg

Sympathique -- Pink Martini

Viens a Saint Germain -- Dany Brillant

Under the Bridges of Paris -- Eartha Kitt

La vie en rose -- Piaf

Impressions de France -- Walt Disney World Resort Official Album

*Okay, I know Conte is Italian and the song has nothing to do with France, but it was in two movies I saw that were set in Paris, so this song always makes me think of France.

Posted by
12040 posts

I could go on and on for Dutch-language music (both form the Netherlands and Belgium), but here are a few, from many different genres, including pop, rock, childrens' and schlager:

Ramses Shaffy: "Pastorale", and "Zing, Vecht, Huilt, Bid, Lacht, Werk en Bewonder"

Lois Neefs: "Laat Ons een Bloem"

Het Goede Doel: "Belgie"

Dana Winner: "Wordenloos", "Het Kleine Paradijs"

Jeroen van der Boom: "Jij Bent Zo"

Vader Abraham: "Het Kleine Cafe aan de Haven", "Het Smurfenlied", "Bedankt Lieve Ouders"

Marco Borsato: "Rood"

Laura Lynn: "Danse Je de Hele Nacht met Mij", "Je Jebt me 1000 Maal Belogen", "Vlinders in je Buik"

Kabouter Plop: "Het Kabouterdans" (probably one of the most infectiously catchy kids songs I have ever heard)

Herman Emmink: "Tuilpen Uit Amsterdam"

Posted by
32349 posts

Teresa,

Lots of good suggestions so far! A lot of my travel music is focused on Italy, as I'm trying to learn Italian.

Some that I like:

Caruso (Lara Fabian)

Torna a Surriento (Jerry Vale)

In assenza di te (Laura Pausini)

O Mio Babbino Caro (Andre Rieu / Carmen Monarcha version)

Canzone (Lucio Dalla)

L'Amore ci cambia la vita (Gianni Morandi)

Per Dire Di No (Alexia)

Con te Partiro (Bocelli/Brightman)

Un' Emozione per Sempre (Eros Ramazotti)

Ragazza di Periferia (Anna Tatangelo)

L'Appuntamento (Ornella Vanoni - I believe this is version heard at the end of "Ocean's 11").

Quando Senti Che Mi Ami (Sissel with Jose Carreras - ONE OF MY FAVOURITES! This is an older song that was once recorded in English by Diana Ross and others, but this version is fantastic! It's on YouTube for those that want to have a look)

Laura,

O Mio Babbino Caro is also one of my favourites! If you've seen the Andre Rieu Tuscany concert, the song sometimes has the same effect on me as on the old man they showed in the front row, when Carmen sang the song (it's on YouTube but some searching is required to find the version from the Cortona concert).

Kristen,

The song "Time to say Goodbye" is the same as Con Te Partiro AFAIK. The most well known version is the duet that Andrea did with Sara Brightman.

My music collection is a bit weak on songs from countries other than Italy. I'll have to work on that!

Cheers!

Posted by
12040 posts

"Impressions de France -- Walt Disney World Resort Official Album"

From this soundtrack, try the full version of Saint Saens' "Symphony #3" and "Carnival des Animaux", and various Debussy pieces, including "La Mer", "Apres-midi d'une faune", "Jeux" and "Clair de Lune"... I forget exactly which Debussy pieces made it into that film, but they're all great anyway.

And speaking of France, if you must have your cliched Can-Can... Offenbach's overture to "Orpheus in the Underworld" (something like "Orpheus d'Enfer" in French, if I remember)...

And speaking of French opera, even though the plot takes place in Spain, you can't go wrong with a selection of highlights from "Carmen". Even if you don't know much classical music, you'll instantly recognize some of the tunes.

Posted by
9216 posts

For Germany, try "Rodgau Monotones", as they can be quite good. What about "Munchener Freiheit" or the "Scorpions".
Please not Heino, that is such bad music and the guy is so creepy.

Posted by
1358 posts

How about mixing it up a bit and putting some Rammstein in there?

And I think you have to put "Do Re Mi" from the Sound of Music in there if you're going to Salzburg. I double-dog dare you to run around the gardens at Mirabelle while listening to that on your ipod. :)

Posted by
2297 posts

ah Maureen, I was about to mention Rammstein ;-) Their lyrics are also easy enough to learn some German with. Well, at least on the surface. Once you get into the double meanings it gets more complicated. I like to use "Du hast" with my students.

Most of my favourite German songs are from the 80s and 90s including "Nur einmal noch" by Rosenstolz and anything by Herbert Groenemeyer.

As for something about Amsterdam Jacques Brel comes to mind. Granted, he was Belgian and sang in French but "Amsterdam" is a great song!

Posted by
850 posts

Teresa, I make slide shows from photos of visits to Europe and am always looking for songs that are appropiate for the country, mood or scenery so this topic is of interest to me. I used the Sinatra version of "I Love Paris" for a slide show of a recent trip to France. For Germany and especially along the Rhine, "Die Lorelei" by a group called the S-Bahn is good and is sung in German. A beautiful tune and can be downloaded from Walmart music or I-tunes among other reputable sites for a nominal fee. Another suggestion would be "Edelweiss". Stauss's "The Blue Danube Waltz". Maureen's suggestion of "Do Re Mi" is a good one as well as other songs from the "Sound of Music" when visiting Austria. There are some WWII era songs but that would probably only interest some of us older travelers here.

Posted by
97 posts

Teresa & everyone that posted ideas....THANK YOU! I'm off to itunes to search & listen to some of these!
Chris

Posted by
2297 posts

There are some WWII era songs but that would probably only interest some of us older travelers here.

I don't really consider myself "older" but I still was thinking about recommending Lale Anderson or Marlene Dietrich singing "Lilli Marlene" ;-)

Posted by
850 posts

Beatrix, I agree with "Lil Marlene" by Marlene Dietrich especially in German. Vera Lynn sung some great songs from that era. "White Cliffs of Dover" and she also did "Lil Marlene" among others. Lynn is still living and at age 92 became the oldest living artist to appear in the top 20 album chart in August 2009(UK). This beat out albums by U2 and others. Pretty amazing. Here is a link to that article.

http://www.express.co.uk/posts/view/123996/We-ll-meet-again-Vera-Lynn-s-back-in-the-charts

Posted by
14960 posts

Hi.

France--different renditions of "Ma Normandie", "A

Paris", "Carillon d'Alsace" Jean Sablon--"Paris tu n'as pas change" Piaf--"Sous le Ciel de Paris"

Germany--the traditional BERLIN songs: "Das ist die

Berliner Luft", "Durch Berlin fliesst immer noch

die Spree," "Unten'n Linden", "'ne dufte Stadt is'

mein Berlin" "Solang noch unter'n Linden" "Ich hab' so Heimweh nach dem Kurfurstendamm", and "Ich hab noch einen Koffer in Berlin"-- all sung by various traditional artists

Absolutely right...Vera Lynn is a jewel!

Posted by
850 posts

Also, Vera Lynn became the first British Artist to top the charts in the U.S.A. and the song was, "Auf Wiederseh'n Sweetheart".

Posted by
1631 posts

I would suggest visiting your Library to sign out some world music. You will find lots of music from all over the world by artists you have likely never heard of. You might not like it all but you'll have fun trying it.

Posted by
57 posts

Well, since a lot of Italian artist crossover to Spanish (which is what I listen to primarily), I can offer some suggestions for Italian music!

There's an artist, Nek (pronounced neck), that sings music a lot like Eros Ramazzotti. Also, Ligabue has similar songs as well. I also like Paola e Chiara as well as Tiziano Ferro.

What I do to find music in a language I don't speak, in a country I'm not in, I find one artist I like and then go to yahoo music or lastfm. At the bottom of the description, there's a, "If you like this artist, you might like _____"

Specific song suggestions:

Sei solo tu - Nek e Laura Pausini

Il Giorno dei giorni - Ligabue
Happy Hour - Ligabue

Perdorame - Tiziano Ferro
Rosso Relativo - Tiziano Ferro

Lascia Che Io Sia - Nek
L'inquietudine - Nek
Contromano - Nek

Cosa Della Vita - Nek and Tina Turner

fuoco nel fuoco - Eros Ramazzotti
and I second Un'Emozione Per Sempre - Eros Ramazzotti
(those are my favorite Eros songs but I usually listen to them in Spanish)

Tu No - Gemelli Diversi

Amoremidai - Paola e Chiara
Fino Alla Fine - Paola e Chiara
Bella (I like the newer version better) - Paola e Chiara
Fatalita - Paola e Chiara

Un Raggio di Sole - Jovanotti

If any one wants Spanish song suggestions, I have a TON of those!

Posted by
2704 posts

I don't think this has been suggested, but you can change the country in iTunes (way down at the bottom, under the "manage" link, it says "change country"). Just remember where the link is because it will be in Italian/Spanish/French when you go to change back.

This is a great way to get caught up on current hits from the various countries. Of course, they do love American and British music...nine of the top ten best sellers in France are American singers. But, you can get a flavor for what is current.

As a side note, I will never forget my surreal experience of getting on the shuttle bus at the Milan airport, excited at the prospect of Italia, and hearing blaring over the bus loudspeakers, not a beautiful Italian aria, but "Sweet Child-o-mine" by Guns and Roses.

Posted by
922 posts

Thanks, CL, that's a great suggestion. I didn't know you could do that in iTunes.

I remember going to Italy after my junior year of high school, and the two biggest songs blaring out of radios were "Shout" (Tears for Fears) and "Get into the Groove" (Madonna). The Italian boys who followed our group around kept asking us what exactly "the groove" was!

Posted by
32349 posts

CL,

I've tried the "Change My Country" option in I-Tunes to purchase some music from the U.S. site that wasn't available in Canada. However, I found that the Apple legalities won't allow me to change unless I'm actually living in that country. Last time I renewed my I-Tunes contract, I believe I noticed a clause in the "Terms & Conditions" that prohibits changing countries.

I'd be interested to hear if anyone has actually done this recently.

Cheers!

Posted by
276 posts

Thank you for posting this question! You made me remember and rediscover Stephan Eicher. He's Swiss but sings in French as well as German. We used a couple of his songs in French class as listening exercises. I love "Durant un Long Moment".

Posted by
3112 posts

I second Beatrix's suggestion of Eros Ramazzotti for Italy. His soft rock is very enjoyable. Amazon has a good selection of his CDs at good prices.

Posted by
2297 posts

Oh my ... I remember having had a crush on Stefan Eicher ;-) That was of course before I ran into my husband!

"Combien de temps combien de temps ...."

Posted by
386 posts

For Austria a little Alpenrock or Austro Pop might be fun! Try Hubert von Goisern

or Reinhard Fendrich
I Am From Austria, which is Austria's inofficial National anthymn

For Italy, Eros Ramazotti is always great.

Have fun, I also do this with the music and traveling :-))

Posted by
1358 posts

I got another idea for you, heard it on my ipod yesterday. Brazilian Girls do a lot of songs in other languages, including German. I was listening to "Berlin" yesterday, loved it.

Posted by
209 posts

There are already a ton of great songs listed. I think it's also fun to listen to the European radio stations. This doesn't work for on-the-go listening (unless you have internet with you always, of course) but at home it is fun. I use this website to find stations:

http://www.multilingualbooks.com/online-radio.html

and I load them up in iTunes. It is neat to listen to the songs and also the radio DJs talking.

Posted by
922 posts

Ah, Kraftwerk! There's a song that I think might be called "Music Non-Stop" that used to kind of freak me out. I swear they had a pig singing backing vocals.

Posted by
14960 posts

Teresa,

For great romantic songs in French and German, don't forget to add the numerous ones from the lovely Nana Mouskouri.