How English sounds to foreign ears

Anyone who’s ever mimicked the French or the Germans or the Italians or any other foreign-speaking folk knows there are certain sounds that characterize other languages. So, for example, you may not be able to understand Italian, but you certainly have a feel for its cadence and the clusters of consonants and vowels that typify it. (And, if you’re Peter Griffin, you can try your hand at faking it.)

I’ve often wondered how English — specifically American English — sounds to others around the world. Over the years, I’ve asked some of my foreign friends, but none have been able to explain it to me. Adriano Celentano, however, manages pretty well, in this song of utter gibberish:

http://music.todaysbigthing.com/betamax/betamax.swf?item_id=2441&fullscreen=1

[via TodaysBigThing]