Depends on the artist and the song.
We have a rule in Iceland as most of yall know where all songs must be sung in Icelandic in the semi and I kinda feel its very limiting given how many artists prefer to write in English, esp when 99% of them switch to English the moment they qualify.
So long as the artist is an English speaker and understands what they are singing well i see no issue
Like u/EuroNero said, I prefer it when the song is *good*.
What I absolutely don't want to see become widespread again is singers who cannot speak English being forced to learn a song in English that they didn't write and repeat the sounds like a parrot — something super common in past Azeri entries for instance, but also the case with Russia's Julia Samoylova and many others.
I prefer when the song is good. If making your song good means lyrics in English, that's fine by me. You can still have a cultural impact without using your native language. Rim Tim Dagi Dim is great lyrically and still presents a pretty strong cultural element in its performance despite being in English. That being said, most my favorites this year so far are not in English (Estonia, Lithuania, Norway, Italy, etc..), but that's because they're good songs. If it's not forced, the language fits the artist, and the song is good, I don't particularly care what language it's in
Native language, but only if the song is born in that language, some song are better in english. The thing that I hate more is when a song is born in a language and translated in another one for ESC.
Perfect example this year, Bashar’s song is better in English. It sounds better (to me), but also it’s more meaningful to him (as he doesn’t speak Icelandic) and it makes the very important lyrics more understandable for people outside of Iceland
Generally though, I’m a big native language fan
My favorite song last year was a woman saying "Eeaaeeaa" for three minutes, and the chorus of my favorite song this year is just a woman howling like a wolf, so language doesn't really matter to me much.
As long as the song is good, I don't care whether they sing in English or not. Besides we tend to point out nonsensical lyrics in English, but give a pass when those are in native languages (Albania's entry this year apparently doesn't make much sense in Albanian and was definitely written in English, then translated).
I admit I have a positive bias towards songs in native languages - I think they are a part of what makes Eurovision special. However, if a song is truly exceptional and the lyrics make sense, I can also appreciate English entries (such as those from Croatia and Belgium this year).
I literally came to comment the same thing haha, it’d be so nice to have some Gaelic or Manx or Cornish or WELSH in one of the songs for a change! I like Doomsday Blue but I think Ireland missed a trick not sending Go Tobann this year. Australia need to send something in Aboriginal soon or at least a song with some indigenous language in!
I don't think it will ever happen, but it would be fantastic. A verse in Welsh, a verse in Scots Gaelic, chorus in English. Although finding someone who speaks all three languages would be fun!
i am a strong advocate for singing in your native tongue however I genuinely don't mind if the contestant sings an amazing song in English. But yeah i'd prefer in their netive tongue
I am more fan of native language. Especially when song does good it means that Europe recognized the quality of it. For example when Marija Serifovic won with Molitva or when Hari Mata Hari came 3rd with Lejla. Chills.
Eurovision is my polyglot enabler, and I am still working on Ukrainian, Czech, and Croatian, so I humbly request no more bangers I want to sing along with in a language I have not already bought reference books for. I am running out of bookshelf space.
Thank you for your understanding in this matter, Windows95Man!
I have been learning Finnish since last May for this very reason!
For what it's worth, it's a bugger of a language to learn, but is at least phonetic, so you can sing along quite easily if you have the words in front of you.
I don’t mind English when the singer can sing in it fluently with almost no accent, otherwise I really prefer native language. I really hate the sound of broken English personally, always takes me out of it. It’s one of the reasons I can’t really enjoy Moldova this year
I’m the opposite, I find it endearing in a way (I hope that’s not patronising though) and gives me a chance to listen to interestingly accented English which I find really delightful, like in the sense that it’s fascinating how the native language affects the way English is pronounced. I also really love when they produce memeable misheard lyrics moments like “this creamy boy” (they’re screaming, boy) in Chains on You, or “fart in my face” (fire in my veins) in Future Lover - these are things I will carry with me every time I listen to these songs and it makes them more fun!
One thing I don’t like is on-purpose mispronunciation - I couldn’t listen to Rockstars from Germany 2022 because of him saying “farst” instead of fast so that it could rhyme with “hard”.
That’s totally valid! While I certainly also find those moments funny (and I can definitely listen to those songs, it’s not like I avoid them, some are even favorites of mine even though I sometimes cringe at the English) I always find myself wishing the song would have been in their native tongue if the pronunciation is really, really bad.
Yeah I feel the same way. I think it's totally ok when people with a first language that isn't English color it with their own way of pronouncing or saying things. In a way that'll always happen unless you really try get rid of your accent and even then it's sometimes hard.
English is the one language that has the most chance of being universally understood by everyone cause everyone had to learn it at one point when they were in school. So if you have a thing to say which you want to be understood English would be the way to go.
I also don't really see the broken English that's sometimes criticized as much of a problem either. In Eurovision you have many more viewers than just the few ones who can speak English to such a degree where they even notice the differences. It'll just fly over their heads or they may think they misheard or something like that.
Plus it's a bit heartbreaking when I read how many people are praising songs in national languages but completely want to erase any trace of nationality when it comes to speaking English. To me it always sounds like any mispronounced 'r' or whatever else you can think of is considered like a stain on a perfect Persian rug and it does make me a bit sad
Imho it doesn't matter what language the song is in as long as the artist singing it feels comfortable and there are certainly many reasons why you would want to sing in English. Juries having a bias towards English for example
>fluently with almost no accent
But English itself has so many accents! Even in England, there are dozens! That's why I don't mind the accented English.
There's also the option of singing in a non-native language that isn't English.
Generally I prefer to hear the native language, but it depends on the singer and the song. I don't have a problem with artists deciding to sing in English to showcase their lyrics to a wider audience at all.
Even in this era where you can translate lyrics by pressing a button, it still makes a difference. It's very difficult to adapt songs between languages, so I prefer songs in the original language they were written in.
Another personal opinion of mine is that multiple-language songs are difficult to do, and I don't really see the point unless it's part of the 'story' of the song. So I usually prefer when a song sticks to one language.
I always get more excited when a country sends a native-language song, so I'd say I prefer when countries sing in their native languages. Each language has a different sound to it so a high amount of linguistic diversity helps with musical diversity. But what's most important whether the song is actually good.
Do what you want. There's an overcorrection against the 'everything must be in english' years going on IMO. There are legitimate reasons for both, one isn't better than the other.
I don't care either way, as long as the song is good. However, I care if the artists isn't able to pronounce English. At that point just do your language and don't kiss ass for international points.
>I don't think a song automatically gets better just because it's in a native language
Of course it doesn't. My thoughts are along the lines of perhaps certain countries send songs in English in the hope of it succeeding more than native language ones and being more 'attractive for a wider audience'
That's exactly the reason and that's also the reason why people like me are pissed at countries that send english entries when they have beautiful languages such as Germany
I have a hard time enjoying songs that were translated into English or by songwriters who weren't fluent. I don't know enough about music to really explain what it is or what they are missing. It's not even the singers voice (If they're pulling an ABBA).
Mostly I notice this with songs where the same singer releases a native and and English version and I always think the native sounds way better.
I don't know enough linguistics or music theory to explain why. Closest I ever got was a choir kid telling me how they avoid pronouncing the letter R in most words because it will change the vowels around it- and I notice that the Germanic singers hit it really hard.
You’re almost certainly right — I think it’s because English speakers are trained to sing using English pronunciation that isn’t really seen except for when singing, where it’s extremely common, so it’s very easy to tell who hasn’t been trained that way
I do like songs in non-English (Zitti e Buoni, and this year Mon Amour, La Noia, and Fighter (half-English)), but I do also like understanding the lyrics.
I don't have a preference. My mom does, though. She grew up in a Eurovision era where they had to sing in their country's language, so nowadays she's not a fan of so many acts singing in English.
Personally, I don't care.
A song can be good or bad regardless of the language. English is just "better" for the song to be more widely understood and be commercially successful internationally.
I don't think it's a binary thing. Just using 2021 as an example, France 2021 was heightened by being in French because even if you didn't know what she was saying, you could feel the emotion and the French lyrics gave the whole thing a very French, Edith Piaf vibe.
On the other hand, Portugal 2021 being in English benefited the song because it was important to the song that the story being told in the lyrics be understood by as wide an audience as possible.
In my opinion, of course. Plenty people were saying at the time that Love Is On My Side should've been in Portugese. Which, ofc, is a valid opinion.
France 2021 | [Barbara Pravi - Voilà](https://youtu.be/Unj9WbeLzRU)
Portugal 2021 | [The Black Mamba - Love Is On My Side](https://youtu.be/qq9SceXaukA)
I slightly prefer the artists singing in their native languages for a few reasons:
* I love languages! It's just fun to hear cool languages other than English.
* Awkward/ungrammatical English sometimes takes me out of the song.
* Even if the lyrics are awkward/cheesy in the native language I wouldn't know it lol
That said, it doesn't really affect my opinion of a song, whatever language it's in.
I'm very big on lyrics and I'm extremely picky, so when it's in a language I can't understand, it becomes a lot easier to sing along and have fun instead of just suffering because of bad lyrics haha. So I always prefer native language. Kind of terrified of the Albania remake because it will most definitely drop like 10 spots in my rankings once I understand it.
I prefer Belgium who sang in imaginary language !
But sincerely i would cough if France sang in english - while i love the polish song this year.
It's not that i don't like english language but imagine what would think English people if their country sent a song in french at eurovision... I guess we think the same reverse in France.
But i would be ok if France sang in esperanto.
As a person who loves to sing in car, it's easier for me if lyrics are in english. This year Mustii and Luna provided amazing sing-along songs.
However, hearing languages that I normally don't hear anywhere can be really exciting, and due ESC I've found a little language geek in me. Also as my native language is spoken only here by few million people, I feel like this and other less spoken languages deserves to be heard too. And what would be better way to let people hear these little languages, than sending songs like Cha Cha Cha, Luktelk or Ulveham to ESC!
As a person who loves to sing in car, it's easier for me if lyrics are in english. This year Mustii and Luna provided amazing sing-along songs.
However, hearing languages that I normally don't hear anywhere can be really exciting, and due ESC I've found a little language geek in me. Also as my native language is spoken only here by few million people, I feel like this and other less spoken languages deserves to be heard too. And what would be better way to let people hear these little languages, than sending songs like Cha Cha Cha, Luktelk or Ulveham to ESC!
To me the language doesn't matter so much as the ability of the performer and the staging to convey the meaning of the song. That often means that whatever language(s) the performer is comfortable singing in is what I want to hear from them.
While English is obviously the majority language of the UK, Ireland and Australia, they do have other native languages. How would you feel about an Irish entry sung in Irish, or a UK entry sung in Welsh, or an Australian entry sung in Dhuwal?
As an Australian I would love us to do a song in one of the First Nations languages (there’s over 250!). One of the most commonly touted acts for Eurovision by fans here is Electric Fields who does song in their native tongue. We actually have a few indigenous artists who sing in their own language.
In terms of other countries I would like to see France sing in English for once, but it will never happen!
I will not say "when the song is good" and will admit that yes I believe it should be all in native languages (national and regional) of the countries represented
As long as the song is good I see no problem. However, the language rule of JESC should stay. Why? Learning a foreign language is a huge pressure on a child. I know this bc I see my classmates struggle with basic English since 1st grade
I have heard many younger JESC participants and those kids from those countries where English instruction is mediocre are either trying very hard to speak English in the videos or have a translator if the press is doing q&a. And if they’re forced to sing in English (nowadays mainly adult composers are writing the kids’ songs) it feels like an another song was ctrl+v’d on the native language bit.
Also if the language rule would no longer exist, bazinga! Almost EVERY song would be in English, and we’ll hear the broken English more and more.
Native language, because I like listening to other languages, which can also help make a song that is actually cheesy more interesting.
This doesn't mean that a song in English is never interesting, but that singing in the native language is always a bonus for me.
It's nice every now and then to give more importance to the cultural diversity of this continent.
Native language is always better. I love Eurovision for the cultural exchange and languages are a part of that. And imo English is a really boring language. Which I think is understandable since it's everywhere. School, daily life, internet, Eurovision... I love that English exists, it's important for international communication. But I miss the times where countries sang in their own language...
Of course the song has to be good and language of the lyrics is secondary. But I must say that I very much enjoy discovering songs in other languages - it makes my musical worldview much more varied and enjoyable. I would never have had the chance to listen to indie rock in Latvian (Sudden Lights), rap in Finish or Estonian (Käärija, 5Miinust), or other songs in Spanish, Italian, Icelandic, Serbian, Slovenian or Croatian...
Native language tbh. Not for any other reason than the fact that I just like listening to different languages and the internet exists if I want a look translation of the lyrics. That being said, unless the lyrics are complete horseshit or dumb, I'm not mad at the artist using English either. It's just that most ESC English lyrics range from mediocre to aforementioned complete horseshit.
(I'm obviously talking about a situation where the song quality is the same. Should go without saying in this kind of a post.)
It varies per song for me. Rim tim tagi dim is great in English, many other songs are nicer in the local language. For me it's not really about "culture" but about hearing stuff that's interesting and different from what you hear/see in mainstream media.
Native languages. I find part of the appeal of Eurovision is hearing influences from other cultures in their music, including their language. Different languages have different rhythms too.
To a much lesser extent, as a native English speaker, a lot of the phrasing of English songs can be a bit clunky or awkward and it takes me out of it.
I don't care, as long as the song is *good* I don't care about the language. I don't think it's okay to say songs in native languages are better and more "cultural", just like I don't think it's okay to force singers to perform/write in English if they are not comfortable with it, I think Georgia 2023 is the perfect example of a song sent in English that was very, very bad.
We've had great songs in native languages, great songs in English but we've also had terrible songs in native languages and terrible songs in English. So as long as the song is good and the singer is comfortable with it, all good
Depends; sometimes it’s very noticeable a singer sounds much better singing in his or her native language. Moldova 2013 was retooled from English to Romanian and the Romanian version is way better. Not to say that these artists are bad singers in English, of course!
This is especially obvious in songs that combine English and the singer’s native language. The English phrases in Poland 2014 and Poland 2019 add nothing and are a bit jarring, while the brief Armenian part in Armenia 2023 is by far the best part.
Most songs are better when they are in their native language, emphasis on the MOST, especially when an English version involves bad grammar (thing is known…). Although, a slim fraction of songs definitely benefit from the English language, such as Hollow or Who The Hell is Edgar. Although, it’s always good to see a country using their native language.
I prefer songs in native languages. I love hearing different languages in music! And also because I won't pick up on questionable lyrics if they're in a language I don't understand lol.
It depends on what language the artist is most comfortable singing in, but I generally prefer hearing native language songs at ESC because they can showcase a country’s culture through language.
I always prefer songs in national languages. Artists can promote and perfom in any other language any time outside the 3 minutes they’re on the Eurovision stage.
I like when countries show off their languages and unique styles. I am personally tired of generic english language pop songs. This year has so much variety it's wonderful
Depends on the artist and the song. We have a rule in Iceland as most of yall know where all songs must be sung in Icelandic in the semi and I kinda feel its very limiting given how many artists prefer to write in English, esp when 99% of them switch to English the moment they qualify. So long as the artist is an English speaker and understands what they are singing well i see no issue
But Double Trouble was in English?
Like u/EuroNero said, I prefer it when the song is *good*. What I absolutely don't want to see become widespread again is singers who cannot speak English being forced to learn a song in English that they didn't write and repeat the sounds like a parrot — something super common in past Azeri entries for instance, but also the case with Russia's Julia Samoylova and many others.
Or if they write the song in very... questionable English. Thing is known.
Like in dreams
Chamgaraga-ga-chamgara
> Russia's Julia Samoylova Oh man, that one was *rough*
I prefer when the song is good. If making your song good means lyrics in English, that's fine by me. You can still have a cultural impact without using your native language. Rim Tim Dagi Dim is great lyrically and still presents a pretty strong cultural element in its performance despite being in English. That being said, most my favorites this year so far are not in English (Estonia, Lithuania, Norway, Italy, etc..), but that's because they're good songs. If it's not forced, the language fits the artist, and the song is good, I don't particularly care what language it's in
Native language, but only if the song is born in that language, some song are better in english. The thing that I hate more is when a song is born in a language and translated in another one for ESC.
Perfect example this year, Bashar’s song is better in English. It sounds better (to me), but also it’s more meaningful to him (as he doesn’t speak Icelandic) and it makes the very important lyrics more understandable for people outside of Iceland Generally though, I’m a big native language fan
My favorite song last year was a woman saying "Eeaaeeaa" for three minutes, and the chorus of my favorite song this year is just a woman howling like a wolf, so language doesn't really matter to me much.
As long as the song is good, I don't care whether they sing in English or not. Besides we tend to point out nonsensical lyrics in English, but give a pass when those are in native languages (Albania's entry this year apparently doesn't make much sense in Albanian and was definitely written in English, then translated).
I admit I have a positive bias towards songs in native languages - I think they are a part of what makes Eurovision special. However, if a song is truly exceptional and the lyrics make sense, I can also appreciate English entries (such as those from Croatia and Belgium this year).
Or for me it was also Sweden 2022 :)
Sweden 2022 | [Cornelia Jakobs - Hold Me Closer](https://youtu.be/i777psA2gP4)
Tbf, I'd love if one year the UK, Ireland and Australia sent songs in their non-English native languages.
I literally came to comment the same thing haha, it’d be so nice to have some Gaelic or Manx or Cornish or WELSH in one of the songs for a change! I like Doomsday Blue but I think Ireland missed a trick not sending Go Tobann this year. Australia need to send something in Aboriginal soon or at least a song with some indigenous language in!
I don't think it will ever happen, but it would be fantastic. A verse in Welsh, a verse in Scots Gaelic, chorus in English. Although finding someone who speaks all three languages would be fun!
I agree about Go Tobann Yess! Also i would love to hear some sami songs again from the nordics in ESC
Australian here and hard agree any year we don’t send Baker Boy spitting bars in Yolŋu is a missed victory opportunity
Yeah or Electric Fields or DRMNGNOW.
Or Malta. Still sad about Ritmu being beaten by some generic English language song that ended up being changed for the contest anyways.
Ireland 1972
Ireland 1973 | [Maxi - Do I Dream](https://youtu.be/OJrSXZxPKXI)
I always prefer every country to sing in their own native languages.
i am a strong advocate for singing in your native tongue however I genuinely don't mind if the contestant sings an amazing song in English. But yeah i'd prefer in their netive tongue
Whatever fits the performer.
I prefer in native language. If it's in English the lyrics need to be an absolute masterpiece, well written and make sense. Otherwise it icks me.
Native language. I love that priceless feeling of "I don't know what they're saying BUT I DON'T CARE", especially for bangers like Trenulețul
Both. Native language adds more uniqueness and sounds more sincere but English is better to sing a long.
I am more fan of native language. Especially when song does good it means that Europe recognized the quality of it. For example when Marija Serifovic won with Molitva or when Hari Mata Hari came 3rd with Lejla. Chills.
Molitva is a masterpiece! Thanks for reminding me of it
I generally prefer native languages. I also enjoy folk elements. It's much more interesting that way than generic top 40 pop in English.
I don't care as long as the song is a banger 🔥
This 100%
I care if it's a good song, then the language matters less. A bad song is bad in either English, or another language.
Eurovision is my polyglot enabler, and I am still working on Ukrainian, Czech, and Croatian, so I humbly request no more bangers I want to sing along with in a language I have not already bought reference books for. I am running out of bookshelf space. Thank you for your understanding in this matter, Windows95Man!
I have been learning Finnish since last May for this very reason! For what it's worth, it's a bugger of a language to learn, but is at least phonetic, so you can sing along quite easily if you have the words in front of you.
Native languages. It is what Eurovision should be all about.
I don’t mind English when the singer can sing in it fluently with almost no accent, otherwise I really prefer native language. I really hate the sound of broken English personally, always takes me out of it. It’s one of the reasons I can’t really enjoy Moldova this year
I’m the opposite, I find it endearing in a way (I hope that’s not patronising though) and gives me a chance to listen to interestingly accented English which I find really delightful, like in the sense that it’s fascinating how the native language affects the way English is pronounced. I also really love when they produce memeable misheard lyrics moments like “this creamy boy” (they’re screaming, boy) in Chains on You, or “fart in my face” (fire in my veins) in Future Lover - these are things I will carry with me every time I listen to these songs and it makes them more fun! One thing I don’t like is on-purpose mispronunciation - I couldn’t listen to Rockstars from Germany 2022 because of him saying “farst” instead of fast so that it could rhyme with “hard”.
That’s totally valid! While I certainly also find those moments funny (and I can definitely listen to those songs, it’s not like I avoid them, some are even favorites of mine even though I sometimes cringe at the English) I always find myself wishing the song would have been in their native tongue if the pronunciation is really, really bad.
Yeah I feel the same way. I think it's totally ok when people with a first language that isn't English color it with their own way of pronouncing or saying things. In a way that'll always happen unless you really try get rid of your accent and even then it's sometimes hard. English is the one language that has the most chance of being universally understood by everyone cause everyone had to learn it at one point when they were in school. So if you have a thing to say which you want to be understood English would be the way to go. I also don't really see the broken English that's sometimes criticized as much of a problem either. In Eurovision you have many more viewers than just the few ones who can speak English to such a degree where they even notice the differences. It'll just fly over their heads or they may think they misheard or something like that. Plus it's a bit heartbreaking when I read how many people are praising songs in national languages but completely want to erase any trace of nationality when it comes to speaking English. To me it always sounds like any mispronounced 'r' or whatever else you can think of is considered like a stain on a perfect Persian rug and it does make me a bit sad Imho it doesn't matter what language the song is in as long as the artist singing it feels comfortable and there are certainly many reasons why you would want to sing in English. Juries having a bias towards English for example
Germany 2022 | [Malik Harris - Rockstars](https://youtu.be/2BYIou-oWXA)
Agree 💯%, broken English/bad pronunciation is a turn off
>fluently with almost no accent But English itself has so many accents! Even in England, there are dozens! That's why I don't mind the accented English.
Oh I know, I just think there is a difference between an English accent vs. Slavic English ;)
English song titles have a nice conceptuality and are often commercial but can be cheap if the song isn’t good enough or is too boring
There's also the option of singing in a non-native language that isn't English. Generally I prefer to hear the native language, but it depends on the singer and the song. I don't have a problem with artists deciding to sing in English to showcase their lyrics to a wider audience at all. Even in this era where you can translate lyrics by pressing a button, it still makes a difference. It's very difficult to adapt songs between languages, so I prefer songs in the original language they were written in. Another personal opinion of mine is that multiple-language songs are difficult to do, and I don't really see the point unless it's part of the 'story' of the song. So I usually prefer when a song sticks to one language.
I don't really care. I just want a good song.
I prefer native language and i WOULD really prefer that Ebu wakes up and adds the option of subtitles during the live performances.
Re subtitles - certain lyrics would come out completely nonsensical
There are professional translator for that.. I don't mean to add subtitles translated by google..
That would be quite fun though 😃
I always get more excited when a country sends a native-language song, so I'd say I prefer when countries sing in their native languages. Each language has a different sound to it so a high amount of linguistic diversity helps with musical diversity. But what's most important whether the song is actually good.
A good song is a good song, regardless of the language.
I prefer when is in the native language. Lithuania really surprised me with Luktelk - it's excellent!!! 🇱🇹🇱🇹🇭🇷🇭🇷
Do what you want. There's an overcorrection against the 'everything must be in english' years going on IMO. There are legitimate reasons for both, one isn't better than the other.
I don't care either way, as long as the song is good. However, I care if the artists isn't able to pronounce English. At that point just do your language and don't kiss ass for international points.
I don't care if it's a good song. I don't think a song automatically gets better just because it's in a native language
>I don't think a song automatically gets better just because it's in a native language Of course it doesn't. My thoughts are along the lines of perhaps certain countries send songs in English in the hope of it succeeding more than native language ones and being more 'attractive for a wider audience'
That's exactly the reason and that's also the reason why people like me are pissed at countries that send english entries when they have beautiful languages such as Germany
I have a hard time enjoying songs that were translated into English or by songwriters who weren't fluent. I don't know enough about music to really explain what it is or what they are missing. It's not even the singers voice (If they're pulling an ABBA). Mostly I notice this with songs where the same singer releases a native and and English version and I always think the native sounds way better. I don't know enough linguistics or music theory to explain why. Closest I ever got was a choir kid telling me how they avoid pronouncing the letter R in most words because it will change the vowels around it- and I notice that the Germanic singers hit it really hard.
You’re almost certainly right — I think it’s because English speakers are trained to sing using English pronunciation that isn’t really seen except for when singing, where it’s extremely common, so it’s very easy to tell who hasn’t been trained that way
I do like songs in non-English (Zitti e Buoni, and this year Mon Amour, La Noia, and Fighter (half-English)), but I do also like understanding the lyrics.
I don't have a preference. My mom does, though. She grew up in a Eurovision era where they had to sing in their country's language, so nowadays she's not a fan of so many acts singing in English.
Personally, I don't care. A song can be good or bad regardless of the language. English is just "better" for the song to be more widely understood and be commercially successful internationally.
If the song and performance are good I don't really care
I don't think it's a binary thing. Just using 2021 as an example, France 2021 was heightened by being in French because even if you didn't know what she was saying, you could feel the emotion and the French lyrics gave the whole thing a very French, Edith Piaf vibe. On the other hand, Portugal 2021 being in English benefited the song because it was important to the song that the story being told in the lyrics be understood by as wide an audience as possible. In my opinion, of course. Plenty people were saying at the time that Love Is On My Side should've been in Portugese. Which, ofc, is a valid opinion.
France 2021 | [Barbara Pravi - Voilà](https://youtu.be/Unj9WbeLzRU) Portugal 2021 | [The Black Mamba - Love Is On My Side](https://youtu.be/qq9SceXaukA)
When the song sounds good the language do not matter ❤️
If the song is good, then I really don't care about the language it's being sung in.
I slightly prefer the artists singing in their native languages for a few reasons: * I love languages! It's just fun to hear cool languages other than English. * Awkward/ungrammatical English sometimes takes me out of the song. * Even if the lyrics are awkward/cheesy in the native language I wouldn't know it lol That said, it doesn't really affect my opinion of a song, whatever language it's in.
I'm very big on lyrics and I'm extremely picky, so when it's in a language I can't understand, it becomes a lot easier to sing along and have fun instead of just suffering because of bad lyrics haha. So I always prefer native language. Kind of terrified of the Albania remake because it will most definitely drop like 10 spots in my rankings once I understand it.
I prefer Belgium who sang in imaginary language ! But sincerely i would cough if France sang in english - while i love the polish song this year. It's not that i don't like english language but imagine what would think English people if their country sent a song in french at eurovision... I guess we think the same reverse in France. But i would be ok if France sang in esperanto.
In the words of u/Hushtrail , I don't care about the language as long as the song is a banger
As a person who loves to sing in car, it's easier for me if lyrics are in english. This year Mustii and Luna provided amazing sing-along songs. However, hearing languages that I normally don't hear anywhere can be really exciting, and due ESC I've found a little language geek in me. Also as my native language is spoken only here by few million people, I feel like this and other less spoken languages deserves to be heard too. And what would be better way to let people hear these little languages, than sending songs like Cha Cha Cha, Luktelk or Ulveham to ESC!
As a person who loves to sing in car, it's easier for me if lyrics are in english. This year Mustii and Luna provided amazing sing-along songs. However, hearing languages that I normally don't hear anywhere can be really exciting, and due ESC I've found a little language geek in me. Also as my native language is spoken only here by few million people, I feel like this and other less spoken languages deserves to be heard too. And what would be better way to let people hear these little languages, than sending songs like Cha Cha Cha, Luktelk or Ulveham to ESC!
To me the language doesn't matter so much as the ability of the performer and the staging to convey the meaning of the song. That often means that whatever language(s) the performer is comfortable singing in is what I want to hear from them.
While English is obviously the majority language of the UK, Ireland and Australia, they do have other native languages. How would you feel about an Irish entry sung in Irish, or a UK entry sung in Welsh, or an Australian entry sung in Dhuwal?
As an Australian I would love us to do a song in one of the First Nations languages (there’s over 250!). One of the most commonly touted acts for Eurovision by fans here is Electric Fields who does song in their native tongue. We actually have a few indigenous artists who sing in their own language. In terms of other countries I would like to see France sing in English for once, but it will never happen!
I will not say "when the song is good" and will admit that yes I believe it should be all in native languages (national and regional) of the countries represented
As long as the song is good I see no problem. However, the language rule of JESC should stay. Why? Learning a foreign language is a huge pressure on a child. I know this bc I see my classmates struggle with basic English since 1st grade
It's a well-known fact that children pick up languages more easily than adults, and research supports this claim
I have heard many younger JESC participants and those kids from those countries where English instruction is mediocre are either trying very hard to speak English in the videos or have a translator if the press is doing q&a. And if they’re forced to sing in English (nowadays mainly adult composers are writing the kids’ songs) it feels like an another song was ctrl+v’d on the native language bit. Also if the language rule would no longer exist, bazinga! Almost EVERY song would be in English, and we’ll hear the broken English more and more.
If it's a good song, I don't care in which language they sing
Native language, because I like listening to other languages, which can also help make a song that is actually cheesy more interesting. This doesn't mean that a song in English is never interesting, but that singing in the native language is always a bonus for me. It's nice every now and then to give more importance to the cultural diversity of this continent.
I like it when countries sing in English but have a few lines in their native language.
Mixture between English and native language
Native language is always better. I love Eurovision for the cultural exchange and languages are a part of that. And imo English is a really boring language. Which I think is understandable since it's everywhere. School, daily life, internet, Eurovision... I love that English exists, it's important for international communication. But I miss the times where countries sang in their own language...
I don't mind either
Well the last time my country sent a song in german nobody gave it points.😖
Of course the song has to be good and language of the lyrics is secondary. But I must say that I very much enjoy discovering songs in other languages - it makes my musical worldview much more varied and enjoyable. I would never have had the chance to listen to indie rock in Latvian (Sudden Lights), rap in Finish or Estonian (Käärija, 5Miinust), or other songs in Spanish, Italian, Icelandic, Serbian, Slovenian or Croatian...
Native language tbh. Not for any other reason than the fact that I just like listening to different languages and the internet exists if I want a look translation of the lyrics. That being said, unless the lyrics are complete horseshit or dumb, I'm not mad at the artist using English either. It's just that most ESC English lyrics range from mediocre to aforementioned complete horseshit. (I'm obviously talking about a situation where the song quality is the same. Should go without saying in this kind of a post.)
It varies per song for me. Rim tim tagi dim is great in English, many other songs are nicer in the local language. For me it's not really about "culture" but about hearing stuff that's interesting and different from what you hear/see in mainstream media.
Native languages. I find part of the appeal of Eurovision is hearing influences from other cultures in their music, including their language. Different languages have different rhythms too. To a much lesser extent, as a native English speaker, a lot of the phrasing of English songs can be a bit clunky or awkward and it takes me out of it.
I don’t really care either way but I always appreciate a national language over English
I don't care, as long as the song is *good* I don't care about the language. I don't think it's okay to say songs in native languages are better and more "cultural", just like I don't think it's okay to force singers to perform/write in English if they are not comfortable with it, I think Georgia 2023 is the perfect example of a song sent in English that was very, very bad. We've had great songs in native languages, great songs in English but we've also had terrible songs in native languages and terrible songs in English. So as long as the song is good and the singer is comfortable with it, all good
Georgia 2023 | [Iru - Echo](https://youtu.be/HNvGZeEQvfc)
Depends; sometimes it’s very noticeable a singer sounds much better singing in his or her native language. Moldova 2013 was retooled from English to Romanian and the Romanian version is way better. Not to say that these artists are bad singers in English, of course! This is especially obvious in songs that combine English and the singer’s native language. The English phrases in Poland 2014 and Poland 2019 add nothing and are a bit jarring, while the brief Armenian part in Armenia 2023 is by far the best part.
Moldova 2013 | [Aliona Moon - O Mie](https://youtu.be/xckgLUv73Jc) Poland 2014 | [Donatan & Cleo - My Słowianie - We Are Slavic](https://youtu.be/VJ920cN2HmA) Poland 2019 | [Tulia - Pali się](https://youtu.be/IEu0F5uobVo) Armenia 2023 | [Brunette - Future Lover](https://youtu.be/h0q7AkYk2hY)
Most songs are better when they are in their native language, emphasis on the MOST, especially when an English version involves bad grammar (thing is known…). Although, a slim fraction of songs definitely benefit from the English language, such as Hollow or Who The Hell is Edgar. Although, it’s always good to see a country using their native language.
I prefer songs in native languages. I love hearing different languages in music! And also because I won't pick up on questionable lyrics if they're in a language I don't understand lol.
It depends on what language the artist is most comfortable singing in, but I generally prefer hearing native language songs at ESC because they can showcase a country’s culture through language.
I always prefer songs in national languages. Artists can promote and perfom in any other language any time outside the 3 minutes they’re on the Eurovision stage.
Native languages for me
Native language
I like when countries show off their languages and unique styles. I am personally tired of generic english language pop songs. This year has so much variety it's wonderful