ninasdream

Helsinkiflyer- Thanks for posting the french radio info. I really enjoyed the eclectic mix on the Parisian radio stations this past Spring. Unfortunately the dj's patter was too rapid for me to catch and so the explanations for their selections and mixes were totally lost on me. One of the songs that was played almost daily sounded like it must be a famous song, so when I returned home, I lookied it up on the Net, a hit in the 60's by Pink Martini, "Je ne Veux Pas Travailler". The chorus is funny, but the rest of the song I was disappointed to see is a bit depressing.

I love listening to music from other countries, and also keep up with it by listening to selections and interviews with artists on NPR, but I confess I don't know many of the artists names.

Neil_Oz

European pop music reminds me of a famous passage from Boswell's "Life of Samuel Johnson, LL.D":

"I told him I had been that morning at a meeting of the people called Quakers, where I had heard a woman preach. Johnson: 'Sir, a woman's preaching is like a dog's walking on his hind legs. It is not done well; but you are surprised to find it done at all.'"

Clifton

elle, you're right! Franz Ferdinand and Modest Mouse do sound very similar. I liked them both once I figured out they were different groups.

Clifton

Oh, and thinking of Scottish bands, Travis comes to mind as well...

twoflower

yes

marcus

Hi Helsinkiflyer,

Funny that you mentioned "HIM". I heard them for the first time about 2 weeks ago when travelling around the Baltics. I'll be checking out some sites to see if I can get hold of a cd soon. I love listening to the local (music)stations wherever I go. My favourite to date has been a station in Helsinki called Groove FM. Really wish I could get it on the internet but that's not possible apparently. In general though, I think the rock / pop music on continental Europe (as opposed to Britain & Ireland)is considered, well, for want of a better word - crap. That's not necessarily my opinion and it's probably generalising but let's face it, how many Latvian or Austrian or German bands have made it on the world stage? What I do love is the jazz or acid jazz sound that's worked it's way into a lot of European pop.
BTW, I agree with hanl about there being many more good artists apart from manufactured boy / girl bands in UK. Too much attention is payed to these 2 hit wonders.

Amee

love european dance music! Wish DC had a station that played european music! A good internet station to listen to is http://www.beirutnights.com/

artlover

We listen to a lot of jazz and are fans of Otmar Liebart (sp?) who is German/Japanese and Marc Anton from Spain. Am big fans of all of Andreas Bocelli's CDs and absolutely love Cameron--but doubt these qualify as "pop".

Also are big fans of Brazilian music--especially Ivan Lins.

martytravels

Absolutely. I dig Daft Punk, Les Nubians, Manu Chao, Alejandro Sanz (latin music, but he's from Spain), Alex Ubago, lots of French rap, and a whole host of British artists, from Tricky to Coldplay to Basement Jaxx to Massive Attack.

adoptionisfab

I love European pop music! This summer I got addicted to Anastacia, had to buy the CD on Ebay. I follow top of the pops on the BBC website. My only question is why did Americans win most of the awards at the MTV music awards?

MyriamC

From Christina's posting: <<I'm too old to listen to current pop music in the US or Europe, I guess.>>

Oops, I didn't know there's an age limit to enjoy pop music or rap.
I have a son aged 21 who is a big fan of French rap. Over the years I have learned to appreciate this kind of music.

SuzieC

Harumph! No one mentioned Cliff Richard!

I STILL HAVE HIS ALBUMS! and Can play'em...now THAT's OLD!

MyriamC

SuzieC: that is old indeed! I must confess that I have his albums, too. In fact Cliff Richard was the first artist that I saw live on stage. A true experience!

jnn1964

I'd love to hear more European music, but radio in Washington DC is horrible, and internet radio is inconvenient for me. I did buy a Manu Chau CD after I heard a song in Amsterdam a few years back.

Anybody familiar with XM Satellite radio? Is it worth the cost?

Zeus

Europeans do a lot of things much better than the Yanks but pop music ain't one of 'em! Back in my day the British (who may or may not be "European" according to themselves) gave American pop a good run for the money but those days are long gone. Most of the time when I turn on my car radio in Europe or walk into a fast food spot the music that comes out is American.

zootsi

As much as I love Europe, I find Euro-pop to be pretty awful (USA pop isn't much better!) I do like French Cafe music, gypsy music,Rai dance music, Scandanavian folk music,Celtic music, etc, etc. Of course the UK has had some great pop music in the past, but I can't remember any memorable pop music in my Eurpoean travels. PS to our European friends - most European pop is virtually unknown in the US.

ErinS

>>> From adoptionisfab's post
I love European pop music! This summer I got addicted to Anastacia, had to buy the CD on Ebay. <<<<<

Anastacia is American (from Chicago I think) and I don't understand why she is virtually unknown here in the US. I'd listen to Anastacia over Britney any day.

I'm a big U2 fan (been since 1984); enjoy Massive Attack, Bjork, and Les Nubians. Some of my friends are big fans of Belle & Sebastian and one friend is completely obsessed with HIM.

adoptionisfab

ErinS,
A kindred spirit! Anastacia can sing live without lip syncing. Maybe because she is not an 18 year old pop star she does not have an appeal here. In the early '90's, she appeared regularly on Club MTV. I just don’t understand.