The Simsfranchise is known for having interesting, sometimes out-of-pocket gameplay, but that’s what’s made it fun for so many players throughout the years.The Sims 4is geared toward a much younger audience than previousThe Simsentries, so some of its more “out-there” characteristics have unfortunately been reduced. One aspect ofThe Simsthat hasn’t changed throughout many iterations, though, is the existence of the Sims’ language, known as Simlish.
The language was initially developed to cut translation costs between different languages, but also becauseThe Simscreator Will Wright was worried that using one language would eventually get repetitive.The Simsinvolves a lot of playtime, so players would pick up on the same sounds being used over and over. Thus, Simlish was born, and with it came not onlyphrases popular inThe Simscommunity(like “sul sul!”), but popular musicians covering their songs in Simlish to be used in-game as well. Both players and Sims could rock out to pop songs when listening to the radio inThe Simsgames, but there were some popular standouts among the many artists tapped to sing in Simlish.
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‘Chemicals React’ — Aly and AJ
Though the base game of each differentSimsentry featured Simlish covers, the more well-known musicians started coming in via expansion packs. This song, simply referred to as “Chemicals React (Simlish Version),”made its debut inThe Sims 2: Petsexpansion pack. The original song is a throwback nowadays for those who spent their tween years listening to former Disney duo Aly and AJ, but the Simlish version is just as good as its source material.
‘Don’t Cha’ — The Pussycat Dolls
One of the top songs of 2005 made it intoThe Sims 2, again with the addition of thePetsexpansion pack. The Pussycat Dolls dominated the music charts throughout the 2000s, but “Don’t Cha” is the only song of theirs that made it intoThe Simsgames. The girl group disbanded in 2010 and later reunited in 2017, but no matter their status, this song willalways be found inThe Sims 2: Pets.
‘Smile’ — Lily Allen
As a promotion forThe Sims 2: Seasonsexpansion, Lily Allen not only recorded “Smile” for the in-game radio, but got her ownSimsmusic video. This song was most popular in Allen’s home country of England, but managed to make it onto the Top 40 lists of quite a few other countries. However, “Smile” is still her highest-charting song in the United States, and players can listen to its Simlish version in-game.
‘Pocketful of Sunshine’ — Natasha Bedingfield
It seemed like no one could outrun this song in 2008. It didn’t matter where people were,if there was a radio on, “Pocketful of Sunshine” was probably playing. Its success on the charts is probably one of the reasons Natasha Bedingfield recorded it in Simlish forThe Sims 2: FreeTimeexpansion pack. Bedingfield’s massively popular song even got her ownSimsmusic video for promotional purposes.
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‘Hot N Cold’ — Katy Perry
Released in 2008, Katy Perry’s second single “Hot N Cold” quickly climbed the music charts, making it no surprise that she was tapped to sing in Simlish forThe Sims 2: Apartment Life. This expansion was alsothe last to release forThe Sims 2, so it’s not a stretch to say that it went out with a bang thanks to Katy Perry’s vocals andSimsmusic video.
‘Need You Now’ — Lady A
Formerly known as Lady Antebellum, this country trio topped the charts with their single “Need You Now” in 2009. As a promotion forThe Sims 3’s second expansion pack,Ambitions, Lady A recorded this hit song in Simlish for a music video that was released a month before the DLC. The cover is good, but what’s most impressive about this entry is the storytelling of the music video.
‘Na Na Na (Na Na Na Na Na Na Na Na Na)’ — My Chemical Romance
“Na Na Na” wasn’t originally intended to be a single off of My Chemical Romance’s albumDanger Days: The True Lives of the Fabulous Killjoys, but its positive reception made the band change their tune (so to speak). This song didn’t get a music video like some of the others, but itcan be found inThe Sims 3: Late Nightexpansion pack.
‘Last Friday Night’ — Katy Perry
Katy Perry is the only musicianto getThe Simstreatment more than once, even going so far as to collaborate for a Stuff Pack and expansion pack forThe Sims 3. This 2011 chart-topping song was recorded in Simlish forThe Sims 3: Katy Perry’s Sweet Treats, a pack that wasn’t very well-received byThe Simscommunity. Regardless, the Simlish song is still pretty good.
WhileThe Sims 4has had some artists come in to record their songs in Simlish, these are by far the most iconicSimscovers found throughout the franchise.
The Sims 4is available now for Mac, PC, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One.
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