I was at the library with my kids. After they had excitedly filled their arms with books, they asked me if I wanted to get anything. “Good question,” I thought. “Maybe I do.”

We wandered over to the audio book section (not much of interest today) and then to the CD section. In the “International” section, I discovered an Italian pop singer, Laura Pausini.

It’s well-crafted pop. And I’ve really enjoyed it. I may try to learn a bit more about her.

But one part of a song startlingly disappointed me. She switches over to English. And, when she does that, it suddenly becomes somewhat average to me. Maybe it’s the fact that the English words were so simple. Maybe it was just the song.

I’ve had the same problem with Brazilian pop singer Ivan Lins. I absolutely love some of his native tongue work, but have no desire to replay his English work – (well, at least what I’ve heard of it).

There is something about the sound of a foreign tongue that is so attractive.
Maybe it is the beauty of the language itself. . .

I think the attraction I experience may have something to do with the simple fact that it is “foreign” and therefore captures my attention as something new. Maybe Pausini’s Italian fans love it when she changes up for that reason?

I think there is a lesson or two in there somewhere – maybe one lesson is trying to find ways to incorporate something “fresh” into our work? Maybe another lesson is to stick to what comes most naturally?

What do you think?

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