>>For years, I’ve enjoyed some popular Finnish bands without necessarily having much of a clue what they’re singing about. It's not a strange as it might sound.
I always found it funny when native English speakers first realise that this is possible. But as a person whose first language is not English, I grew up surrounded by songs which I couldn't understand - and I could still enjoy them.
I'd have thought that was pretty common for native English speakers who listen to opera or other classical music. Or indeed most people from the UK who like Rammstein....
Not really relevant to anything, but I could never get why so few of the Finnish bands got so little international traction compared to Swedish bands. There are lots of good musicians, even without importing from St Petersburg, not only in hard rock and metal.
(I remember walking into a Finnish pub the first time and checking the jukebox. Half of the selection were good hard rock and metal; do the same in Sweden and it will be mostly slimy pop produced as a business.)
I always found it funny when native English speakers first realise that this is possible. But as a person whose first language is not English, I grew up surrounded by songs which I couldn't understand - and I could still enjoy them.