As an english teacher in Spain, I get the same question all the time! I don't sugarcoat it though, and give them the hard reality of the songs. They usually don't care though. :-)
So many songs I liked as a child were spoiled when I learned English good enough... I loved Enya, but her songs appeared to be so silly... ABBA's Happy New Year is impossible to listen for me now. Now I prefer lyrics-less singing.
I am starting to like Italian and Russian opera though, they at least just sing something predictably meaningfull or meaningless.
I know what you mean - my Italian wife won't let me translate her favorite American pop songs because when she learns what they're about she realizes they're stupid.
Every song is a love song. Just the definition and the target of love differ.
ReplyDeleteI learned that from a movie.
DeleteAs an english teacher in Spain, I get the same question all the time! I don't sugarcoat it though, and give them the hard reality of the songs. They usually don't care though. :-)
ReplyDeleteI guess it depends on the age...! Or rather, the local culture's opinion on the right age for that sort of thing...
DeleteSo many songs I liked as a child were spoiled when I learned English good enough... I loved Enya, but her songs appeared to be so silly... ABBA's Happy New Year is impossible to listen for me now. Now I prefer lyrics-less singing.
ReplyDeleteI am starting to like Italian and Russian opera though, they at least just sing something predictably meaningfull or meaningless.
I know what you mean - my Italian wife won't let me translate her favorite American pop songs because when she learns what they're about she realizes they're stupid.
Delete