Ignorance is Bliss, Vol. 2

As someone living in a place where the predominant language is not English, I have found myself becoming more and more interested in the ways language functions physically as well as intellectually. I enjoy listening to people speak English as a second language because it allows me to become conscious of my mother tongue in ways that I wouldn't if I lived in an Anglophone setting.

For instance, have you ever tried to figure out how to make the V sound? I mean break down what your mouth, tongue and teeth actually do?

I challenge any of you to explain the difference between luggage and

baggagewithout looking it up. Because when I got asked, I wasn't in front of a computer. I was in the gym.

My point here (if indeed there even is one) is that I enjoy having English made particularto me. I like thinking about something I used to notthink about. 

One reason I enjoy (rock) music in other languages is because the melodies must, by necessity, be different. So there's a lot of new melodic content to be found in non-English rock.

I'm sure there's plenty of it in other music too, but frankly I'm not interested.

It's no secret that I am not a fan of Cantopop. But that's mostly a matter of style. I didn't listen to Celine Dion, so why would I listen to her Cantonese equivalent?In fairness, Cantopop singers have what farmers call "a tough row to hoe." It is extremely hard to write lyrics, and by extension melodies, in Cantonese because the nature of the language leaves you very little room to work. Mandarin is easier, and I would venture that English is easier still in that tone plays a very small role by comparison.

When I hear people sing in English as a second language, the most noticeable bad thing is a matter of inflection. It comes from not having an intuitive grasp of the language, of knowing when "we just don't say it that way."I often hear people say they will pur CHASE a new shirt. For all I know, that's British English, but in America we PURchase shirts.

It's a matter of knowing where, when, and how to put the emphasis, knowing how to negotiate the curves, if you will.

  I have an exercise for you: God knows I love Shakalabbits, the greatest J-Ska band in the world. In fact, I'm contemplating going to Nagoya for a week in June because they're playing three dates there.

People tell me Nagoya is a drab city that is also the home of some of Japan's ugliest women. But that relative, innit? I mean, I come from Polish ancestry!

Still, that's not my point. One of my favorite Shakalabbits songs is "Can't Escape the Chocolate Syrup." It's actually sung in English, though that has nothing to do with why I like it.

Listen to this song and note how the inflections are different from 'regular' English. It makes it hard for native speakers to follow, because the melody and delivery violate our usual English rhythm.

Still, I like it, because it goes somewhere different yet not wrong. Sure, some of these lyrical phrases make little or no logical sense, but that also must be said of a phrase like "Champagne Supernova," and Oasis are British!AM I THE ONLY ONE?

AN OLD TREE AND A LONESOME SNOW and CLOUDS, I SEE

I HEARD A CUTE BIRD CALL

HAVEN'T HEARD IN YEARS and SAW A LIGHT OFF A WINDOW.

THERE WAS NO SOUND, I COULD RELAX A WHILE

IT WAS PERFECT, JUST CAN'T BEND MY KNEE

BUT PEOPLE ARE ALWAYS, REPEATING MISTAKES

LIKE A RUNNING MOP, IMAGES ARE IN MY HEAD

AM I THE ONLY ONE?

A MOUNTAIN AND A LONESOME WIND and MOON, I SEE

I HEARD A HAPPY LEAF

HAVEN'T HEARD IN YEARS and SAW A WARM GREETING GROUND

THERE WAS NO SOUND, I COULD RELAX A WHILE

IT WAS PERFECT, JUST CAN'T BEND MY KNEE

BUT PEOPLE ARE ALWAYS, REPEATING MISTAKES

LIKE A RUNNING MOP, IMAGES ARE IN MY HEAD

FEEL IN CHOCOLATE SYRUP

SO SWEET THEY COULD BREATHE GOOD BUT

SO BITTER THEIR CUTS COULD OPEN, EVERYONE

FEEL IN CHOCOLATE SYRUP

HATRED OF MAN FELL DEEP INTO THE GRIME

WISHING THE SYRUP COULD ROT AWAY

LOOK! THE TREE GOT ANGRY and BROKE

NATURE'S RADAR IS FIERCE AND BAD (WATCH OUT)!

LOOK! THE TREE GOT MAD AND FELL DOWN

WITH THIS SOUND IMAGINE FOR A WHILE

A BEAUTIFUL SEVEN SEAS OF THE WORLD.

THERE WAS NO SOUND, I COULD RELAX A WHILE

IT WAS PERFECT, JUST CAN'T BEND MY KNEE

BUT PEOPLE ARE ALWAYS, REPEATING MISTAKES

LIKE A RUNNING MOP, IMAGES ARE IN MY HEAD

FEEL IN CHOCOLATE SYRUP

SO SWEET THEY COULD BREATHE GOOD BUT

SO BITTER THEIR CUTS COULD OPEN, EVERYONE

FEEL IN CHOCOLATE SYRUP

HATRED OF MAN FELL DEEP INTO THE GRIME

WISHING THE SYRUP COULD ROT AWAY

AM I THE ONLY ONE?

AN OLD TREE AND A LONESOME SNOW and CLOUDS, I SEE

I HEARD A CUTE BIRD CALL

HAVEN'T HEARD IN YEARS and SAW A LIGHT OFF A WINDOW

----------------------------------------------Hope you enjoyed that. If you'll excuse me, I need to try and catch the running mop. It will be difficult since I can't bend my knee either...