Language Trainers’ Foreign Songs Reviews for Language Learners

Learning a new language isn’t just about textbooks and grammar drills—it’s about rhythm, emotion, and connection. And what better way to immerse yourself than through music? Songs are more than just entertainment; they’re language in its most natural form, full of authentic pronunciation, cultural references, and emotional depth. That’s why our team of passionate language teachers, who are just as obsessed with music as they are with teaching, have reviewed their favorite songs in their native languages. Here are 7 foreign songs reviews reviews that highlight what makes these international special.

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1. Karen Zoid – Zoid Africa (Afrikaans)

It’s impossible to choose just one standout song from Zoid Africa—the entire album is a lyrical and emotional journey. Karen Zoid’s sixth and latest studio release cements her status as a maverick of South African rock, blending introspection, social commentary, and raw musicality.

The song “As Die Musiek Begin Speel” stands out as a deeply personal ballad in which Zoid offers advice on how to live one’s life while navigating society’s rules. The opening line—“Hulle sê ons moet glo, net soos die kinders”—references how society demands unquestioning belief, much like the Biblical verse in Matthew 18:3. Zoid responds with a poignant question: “So is this life then only for beginners?”

She continues with, “Seuntjies word manne en gaan sit dan in ‘n kroeg en lyk moeg” (Boys become men, and go sit in bars looking tired). Here, the word “manne” carries cultural weight—it’s a colloquial term for tough, macho Afrikaans men. Zoid paints a picture of adulthood not as empowerment, but as exhaustion and conformity.

The chorus delivers Zoid’s message of hope and resilience: sing when the music begins to play, dance under the summer rain, and search for the “reënboog langs die pad, my skat.” (rainbow along the road, my treasure). The rainbow alludes both to mythic good fortune and to finding one’s place in the Rainbow Nation of South Africa. Zoid tells her son to run into the sea in jeans, look for mermaids, and stay connected to the world around him: “Bly bewus van jouself, nie te veel nie, ook nie te min nie, maar nie te veel nie.” (Be conscious of yourself—not too much, not too little, but not too much.)

She closes with a lesson in empathy: when life feels like one great gesuffer, reach out your hands and help someone else. Zoid has lived by these words, performing at benefit concerts including the 46664 HIV/AIDS event in honor of Nelson Mandela. In Zoid Africa, she transforms her personal journey into an album that speaks to a generation—with wisdom, wit, and fierce heart.

2.  Shosholoza – Various Artists (Ndebele and Zulu)

“Shosholoza” is a traditional song that has been recorded by groups such as The Drakensberg Boys Choir, the Soweto Gospel Choir, and even international artists like Peter Gabriel. The song was famously performed by Dan Moyane at the 1995 Rugby World Cup opening, a historic event later depicted in Clint Eastwood’s Invictus.

Sung in a call-and-response style, “Shosholoza” is full of deep emotions, symbolizing the journey of Ndebele mineworkers traveling on steam trains to South Africa’s mines. The lyrics shift between references to “South Africa” and “Rhodesia” (now Zimbabwe), depending on the miners’ direction—toward work or home. Nelson Mandela himself described this song as a metaphor for the struggle against Apartheid, likening it to the unstoppable force of a train. Today, “Shosholoza” is considered South Africa’s second national anthem, embodying unity and resilience.

3.  Harlekyn – Sonja Herholdt (Afrikaans)

Written by Anton Goosen, often called the father of Afrikaans rock, Harlekyn is a haunting song full of metaphor and quiet resistance. Released in 1979, its eerie, carnival-style introduction sets the stage for something more than a tale about a traveling circus.

Sonja Herholdt sings, “Bring the harlequin more wine; red wine for his laughter, tears, and pain.” The harlequin, hiding sorrow behind a painted smile, becomes a symbol of everyday South Africans enduring the absurdity of Apartheid. As he warns of “a new wind… from the Vaal to Saldanha Bay,” the song hints at approaching change.

The circus is a thinly veiled metaphor for the political system, with clowns as politicians and the ringmaster—donning a black hat—a clear nod to Prime Minister P.W. Botha. Lines like “en die leeus kom uit hul hok” (the lions come out of their cage) reflect the regime’s harsh control measures.

Tightrope walkers and sighing spectators evoke the tension of a nation on edge. The final line, “weggesteek voel ek klein” (hidden away I feel small), captures the helplessness many felt. Through layered lyrics and theatrical imagery, Harlekyn turns protest into performance.

4.  Hey Staat – Hans Söllner (German)

Bavarian singer-songwriter Hans Söllner is known for his rebellious spirit and criticism of government policies. “Hey Staat” (Hey State) is a melancholic yet powerful song in which Söllner expresses his frustration with a system that demands everything from its citizens but gives little in return.

Instead of outright anger, Söllner’s voice carries a weary tone as he sings, “Hey Staat, hey Staat, hey Staat,” almost pleading for recognition. He describes the struggles of working long hours while the government takes a large portion of his earnings. He also laments how the state dictates personal aspects of life, from education to religion, making people feel trapped. The song’s Bavarian dialect adds authenticity, reinforcing the working-class perspective. “Hey Staat” remains a powerful anthem for those who feel unheard in society.

5.  Llums de Colors – Roger Mas (Catalan)

Catalan singer Roger Mas gained recognition with “Llums de Colors,” a song that showcases his poetic use of language and unique musical style. Winning the Altaveu Award, the song was part of his debut album and helped cement his reputation as one of Catalonia’s most distinctive voices.

The lyrics create a surreal journey, describing colorful lights, natural elements, and fleeting sensations. Mas crafts intricate rhymes, rarely repeating words, making the song feel like a continuous flow of images rather than a linear story. Some lines hint at psychedelic experiences, with references to “the taste of mushrooms” and “sudden incoherence.” While the meaning remains open to interpretation, “Llums de Colors” is an immersive experience—both musically and linguistically.

6.  Dat Ik Je Mis – Maaike Ouboter (Dutch)

Maaike Ouboter captured the nation’s heart with “Dat Ik Je Mis” during her audition on The Best Singer-Songwriter of Holland. The deeply personal song, inspired by the loss of her parents, moved the jury to tears and shot to the top of the Dutch charts within days.

Ouboter’s lyrics are deceptively simple, using short phrases packed with emotion. “Je kust me, je sust me” (You kiss me, you hush me) sets the tone for a song about love, memory, and longing. Though melancholic, the song also acknowledges the necessity of moving forward. It resonated so deeply with listeners that she was invited to perform it at the funeral of Prince Friso. Through her minimalist yet powerful songwriting, Ouboter transformed personal grief into a universal experience.

7. KINO – Blood Type (Russian)

A popular song from legendary Russian band KINO, Blood Type (Группа крови) is a haunting anthem about searching for meaning, finding purpose, and following a call greater than oneself. Released in 1987, it didn’t make an immediate impact, yet over time it became a defining track of its era—what many Russians call “our everything.”

On the surface, the song describes a soldier preparing for war. He asks for luck, and references a blood type on his sleeve—a detail that seems symbolic, given that no army, Soviet or otherwise, marked soldiers this way. What unfolds instead is a poetic meditation on destiny. Twice, Tsoy mentions the stars: “Звездная пыль, на сапогах” (Star-dusted boots) and “высокая в небе звезда, зовет меня в путь” (a star high in the sky calls me on a journey). These lines make it clear: this is not a song about war, but about the pull of something greater, the fear of a life unlived.

“Я хотел бы остаться с тобой… но звезда зовет меня в путь” (I would rather stay here with you… but the star calls me on a journey), he sings. Even love isn’t enough to turn him from his path. The blood type may represent identity, purpose—or the system’s attempt to reduce people to data. Tsoy, who died young and unexpectedly in 1990, became a rebellious icon for a generation. His legacy lives on, with tributes still scrawled across walls in Russia: “Цой жив”—Tsoy lives.

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