AfterDawn: News

iTunes to break language barrier with digital music

We have all had an experience of hearing a song in a language we cant understand that grabbed our attention, and it can be frustrating not knowing what the lyrics to the song are. Apple Inc.'s iTunes has decided to take on the language barrier in a very interesting way. The service has launched a new feature called Foreign Exchange which will get two artists from different countries to translate and cover each others' songs in their native language.

Wir Sind Helden, a German electronic act will participate first with +44, an American rock act featuring Mark Hoppus and Travis Barker, formerly of Blink 182. Wir Sind Helden is covering +44's "When Your Heart Stops Beating" and +44 is covering Wir Sind Helden's "Guten Tag." The content will be available exclusively through iTunes.



"The idea is exposing people to bands they may not listen to," Hoppus said. "In America, we don't really listen to music in other languages. I think it's a cool idea to get people to open their ears to music from different parts of the world." iTunes has a presence in 22 countries.

Source:
Reuters

Written by: James Delahunty @ 2 Jun 2007 9:32

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• 3 comments

• chickenR

  the +44 cover of "Guten Tag" has been available for a while now, and its really good. Like the original too, but prefer the +44 cover. Still a really good idea though :D

  2.6.2007 11:06 #1

• borhan9

  I love this new idea and soon to be feature. I have many songs in other languages i listen to and i would love to have the translation for my own and friends understanding.

  2.6.2007 14:42 #2

• Unfocused

  This sounds like a cool idea. I listen to a lot of Korean music (SES, HOT, Jumping Fox, etc.) and would really love to know what they are singing about.

  20.7.2007 13:51 #3