Foreign Language Lyrics Trivia Quiz

Answer: French

"Sont des mots qui vont très bien ensemble" means, "these words that go together well" and "Quand tu sents -- ton coeur se briser / Accroches-toi a ton reve" "when you feel your heart break / Hold on tight to your dream."

Answer: German

When "Rock Me Amadeus" reached number one on the United States Billboard charts, it made Falco the first singer whose principal language was German to record a number one song in the USA. Falco was from Austria and tragically died in the Dominican Republic in 1998 as the result of an auto accident. Lines in the question mean, "He had debts, for he drank, but all the women loved him, and they all shouted, 'Rock me, Amadeus'."

Answer: Latin

"Let us rejoice, therefore, while we are young. After an enjoyable youth, after a troubling old age, the earth will have us." is a translation of the verse in the question.

Answer: Portuguese

And here's the translation: "Good bye, my love, I am going away / I am sorry but I can not stay / It is finished .... it is best for both of us / I am going away and you are going to stay." I must admit I have to rely on the internet for this translation, since I have absolutely no knowledge of Portuguese. I got both the lyrics and the translation from Lyric Wiki.

Answer: Japanese

"Sukiyaki" was a hit by Kyu Sakamoto and up to 2013 is the only Japanese language song to reach number one in the USA. It is about a man walking with his head up and whistling so his tears will not fall. Sukiyaki is a Japanese hot dish and has nothing to do with the song, which has a Japanese title of "Ue o Muite Arukou." The title of "Sukiyaki" was simply used because it would have greater appeal and recognition qualities to English-speaking listeners. Lyrics mean: "I look up when I walk / So the tears won't fall / Remembering those happy spring days / But tonight I'm all alone."

Answer: Italian

"Nel blu, dipinto di blu" was written by Franco Migliacci and Domenico Mundugno, with Mundugno recording it in Italy in February of 1958. It quickly became a hit. It received the Grammy for both Song of the Year and Record of the Year at the initial Grammy Awards in 1959, and as of 2013 is the only song from the Eurovision contest to also win a Grammy. One translation of the quote in the question is "Blue painted in the blue / Happy to be up there".

Answer: Gaelic

This is a toughie unless you know that the Clancy Brothers and Tommy Makem are Irish singers. Again, I did not know what they were singing when I first heard it, but I really liked the song. From the internet I discover these lines as meaning, "Who should I meet but a tan puck goat / And he roaring mad in ferocious mettle," with translation by James N.

Healy. Original lyrics are by Donal O Mullain.

Answer: Spanish

"La Bamba" originated in the Mexican state of Veracruz, and Valens adapted the original style to fit into rock and roll. The term la bamba refers to a style of dance, and traditionally is incorporated into wedding celebrations. Quote in the question translates as "In order to dance the Bamba / you need a little grace."

Answer: Russian

The song is "The Song of the Volga Boatmen." My first recording of the song was on an album by the Don Cossack Chorus and Serge Jaroff, 'way back in the cold war. The lines in my question mean, "Yo, heave ho! Yo, heave ho! Once more, once again, still once more."

Answer: German

This is "Hallo Klaus" by Nickerbocker and Biene, an Austrian duo from the '80s. Nickerbocker is Nikolaus Kalita, and Biene is Sabine Kopera. One translation I found for the lyrics in my question is: "He often talks stupid things / And then I can´t hold myself back / then I smack him / and then we both go crazy."