http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-9zMBj-Uxy4
Fifty years ago today, The Beatles recorded "Komm, Gib Mir Deine Hand," a version of "I Want to Hold Your Hand" translated into German.
The German division of EMI had convinced their manager that the record wouldn't be successful in Germany if the English version was released there. So, while they were on tour in Paris, the Beatles learned the lyrics phonetically, went into a studio and recorded German vocals for this song and "She Loves You."
It was the only recording session the group ever had outside of England. The notion that songs sung in English wouldn't sell in Germany was soon dispelled by subsequent Beatles releases.
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