The legendary British rock band The Rolling Stones have released their 25th studio album, titled Foreign Tongues. This marks their first new material in three years, following the acclaimed Hackney Diamonds.
The band, featuring vocalist Mick Jagger, guitarist Keith Richards, and guitarist Ronnie Wood, has been a constant presence in music for over six decades. Their raw, blues-infused rock and roll sound, which first emerged from London’s Marquee Club in 1962, has transcended generations, proving that their music is a universal language.
Foreign Tongues features 14 tracks that delve into the band’s signature sound. While rooted in blues and rock, the album also showcases their enduring rebellious spirit. Tracks like ‘Mr Charm’ offer a punk-infused energy with lyrics that critique contemporary issues, including a jab at ‘mad mogul Mr Musk’. The album also addresses broader societal anxieties, touching on war, greed, and the power of large capital.
Mick Jagger, 83, spoke about the album’s title in a recent interview, explaining that ‘Foreign Tongues’ was inspired by the lyric “teach me all the foreign tongues” from the opening track, ‘Love and Twisted’. The title also evokes the band’s iconic ‘lips and tongue’ logo, which has become one of the most recognizable symbols in the world and represents the global reach of their music.
“We had a lot of album title suggestions, many from the lyrics, but the members couldn’t agree,” Jagger explained. “Then we settled on this one. The tongue fits well with the Rolling Stones’ image, and it also signifies that this music travels all over the world. Everyone liked it, so I was happy.”
The album includes two cover songs that have garnered significant attention. One is Amy Winehouse’s ‘You Know I’m No Good’, a nod to the British music scene that birthed the band. The other is Chuck Berry’s ‘Beautiful Delilah’, a song the Rolling Stones have cited as a key influence since their early days. This latter track closes the album, providing a full-circle moment by returning to the roots of American blues and rock and roll, reinterpreted through the band’s enduring British lens.
Jagger emphasized the band’s journey from a ‘London local band’ to a ‘global band’, stating, “Music has always been international. It helps break down barriers between us.” He drew parallels to how popular music from the US and UK spread worldwide, and how Korean music is now achieving similar global reach, citing the example of Puerto Rican artist Bad Bunny’s popularity in London and Paris. “People may not understand Spanish or Korean, but the music itself is shared and communicated in some way,” he noted. “You don’t need a passport to enter the world of music or culture; you just become part of it.”
The album also features collaborations with various artists. The late drummer Charlie Watts’s live performance from 2021 is included on the track ‘Hit Me in the Head’. Other notable contributors include Steve Winwood, Robert Smith, Bruno Mars, and Chad Smith. Notably, Paul McCartney, a former rival of the Rolling Stones, makes his second appearance on a Stones album, playing bass on the track ‘Coventry’.
Jagger recalled McCartney’s recording session: “What I remember most is how quickly he fit into the band. As soon as he connected the bass, it was as if he had always been there, and the performance began. It was very comfortable, familiar, and easy.”
Jagger, who was 19 when the band formed, attributes their sustained creativity over more than 50 years to the “energy of the first four-track recording.” He believes that this type of music requires “sudden bursts of high energy.” Even ballads, he feels, become tedious without sufficient energy.
He elaborated, “During the four days of recording, everyone must be at a high energy level. It’s best not to prolong the process; there’s no time to get bored.”
Looking ahead, Jagger expressed a desire to tour internationally, specifically mentioning South Korea. “I want to tour with the band soon. We’ve never performed in Korea, so I definitely want to go there. Hopefully, soon, maybe next year,” he said.
