Share some (more) amazing non-English or World music!

Rich · 2024-07-19T11:39:53.697Z

After the resounding success of its last edition a couple of months ago (https://justabout.com/music/35362/share-some-amazing-non-english-speaking-or-world-music-for-dollar3), we're running this bounty again! The USA and UK tend to dominate popular music, even in many countries where English isn't the first language. While Just About is (for now) an English-language platform, music is universal, and even if we don't understand the lyrics we can all enjoy songs from all over the world. So let's get some recommendations. Please share one or several amazing musical artists whose primary language is anything other than English and/or who exemplify a musical tradition that is not rooted in the UK or the USA. Give us a few words of introduction, tell us what makes them so great, and link us to the video of at least one of their songs....

A

Asim 8/5/2024, 9:33:44 PM

https://www.youtube.com/embed/hcm55lU9knw?feature=oembed

It's got to be Ai Se Eu Te Pego for me, I heard this song 13 years ago at Uni. Such a super catchy song! The brazillian footballer neymar also made this his theme song and he even sang it once! Cool fact

Limal 8/5/2024, 9:04:13 PM

BABYMETAL

BABYMETAL is quite popular and well-known, and absolutely I love their songs. They perfectly bridge classic J-pop and metal, often featuring traditional Japanese culture, instruments, motifs, and legends. The band's live performances are also incredible, combining music with choreography. It's no wonder they've gained a global following.

https://www.youtube.com/embed/cK3NMZAUKGw?feature=oembed

JB

Josh B 8/5/2024, 11:37:52 AM

A good few years old but Tilted by Christine and the Queens is a worth shout out. Much of the song is in English despite native tongue being French - parts are sung in French though and these are arguable my favourite aspects.

The group produce some really catch and unique music and this one is probably the most successful they had had here.

https://www.youtube.com/embed/9RBzsjga73s?feature=oembed

Shovel 8/5/2024, 9:58:23 AM

Before you had BTS and BLACKPINK, there was this one group absolutely dominating KPOP before it became mainstream in America.

I remember first watching and listening to this song 12 years ago! And that is Fantastic Baby by BigBang. Give it a listen and tell me your not up giving yourself a little boogie????

https://www.youtube.com/embed/AAbokV76tkU?feature=oembed

Sturmer 8/4/2024, 2:44:22 PM

Indian metal? Indian Folk metal?! Yes sir!

Introducing Bloodywood

This naturally blends traditional Indian music with heavy metal, creating a distinctive sound that combines the powerful beats of traditional instruments and things you expect from a metal genre.

The band incorporates Indian culture and heritage into their music and visuals. Their music videos often feature vibrant Indian landscapes, traditional attire, and cultural motifs.

https://www.youtube.com/embed/Gsy5sJy5_34?feature=oembed

I recommend watching more of their videos, high production value indeed!

okayameji 8/4/2024, 10:40:57 AM

Day6 is a band that originates from South Korea. They play songs with a love theme, but the tunes or instruments they play are fun, even though some songs have touching meanings, such as one of the songs I recommend, entitled "Congratulations". This song has several English.

https://www.youtube.com/embed/x3sFsHrUyLQ?feature=oembed

One ok rock is a rock band from the land of cherry blossoms, namely Japan, why do I recommend him, because the rock songs he sings are not like other English rock songs that are too passionate, well one example of his song is entitled "WE ARE", this song tells a story, which is to make us rise from feelings of depression such as insults, insults and so on, but it is not a melow song, but also not a song that is too enthusiastic, the feel that I feel is very fitting, which when we feel sad will raise our spirits again.

https://www.youtube.com/embed/nU307tV32B0?feature=oembed

Translator by Google translate

Konquest 8/2/2024, 10:38:58 AM

My choice is actually an EDM remix of a traditional Bulgarian song. After years this song still hits hard :D I love how it still keeps the essence of the traditional sounds, i don't understand the language but it sounds beautiful and this remix just vibes well with it.

https://www.youtube.com/embed/wp-2nbzkVHk?feature=oembed

Lanah Tyra 7/31/2024, 8:15:00 PM

I will join in with another iconic anime OST band, L'Arc～en～Ciel.

They made songs for Rurouni Kenshin, Full Metal Alchemist and ReLIFE. This is one of their later works, the opening of Gundam 00:

https://www.youtube.com/embed/VUOgmg0RXrE?feature=oembed

The singer, Hyde also has solo albums which are just as amazing as the work of the band. Don't get me started on his music, we'll be sitting here all day. They are one of the few bands still on my bucket list, sadly they don't tour Europe anymore, but if I ever get to visit Japan, I would want to go when they are performing somewhere.

I did see Hyde though with his other band, VAMPS so I'll call that a half success :D

These songs were a constant resident on my playlist back at uni, and I used the lyrics to practice Japanese. I have an old hard drive full of video clips, anime music videos and bad quality Japanese TV recordings of them which we were copying over from each other with my best friend.

Couldn't find an official recording for my favourite live performance from them, this is my favourite song, Anata performed during their 20th anniversary tour in Madison Square Garden:

https://www.youtube.com/embed/eK-y3pAzadk?feature=oembed

M

Marcus 7/24/2024, 12:24:36 PM

Eve Ambivalent

From the artist who has performed the opening and ending themes for anime such as My Hero Academia, Chainsaw Man, and Jujutsu Kaisen. This song was used as the opening for the anime pilot Mechanical Arms (Mecha-Ude). The overall message of the song is about moving on from losing a loved one, the animation and lyrics help to tell this story throughout the video. I highly recommend giving it a listen as despite the music having a sad theme, the music overall is upbeat and hopeful.

https://www.youtube.com/embed/vNa83RXmZdg?feature=oembed

0ffworld 7/23/2024, 7:24:21 PM

Eivør - Í Tokuni

https://www.youtube.com/embed/pqnMkUcTmys?feature=oembed

I don't know if Spotify was watching me play Assassin's Creed: Valhalla, but one day I randomly came across Eivør. She's a Faroese singer/songwriter and makes music that's a mix of synth pop, folk rock and Nordic folk music.

The songs can be very entrancing, even though they're very different from my usual tunes. Í Tokuni is one of her more popular songs and means in the fog. It's beautiful music.

If you like the vibe, I can obviously recommend her albums and especially these two songs that are among my favorites:

https://www.youtube.com/embed/XWHEFi-AOtg?feature=oembed https://www.youtube.com/embed/4_FIwLoIHBY?feature=oembed

I hope you enjoy!

R

Remi 7/21/2024, 11:10:13 PM

https://www.youtube.com/embed/-sag0oFxqKU?feature=oembed

Denez Prigent A Breton folk singer-songwriter. I stumbled upon him when he and Lisa Gerrard did a song for the movie Black Hawk Down

https://www.youtube.com/embed/5nl1WK-uKxw?feature=oembed

Lisa Gerrard speaks English but it technically from Australia

Makster 7/31/2024, 8:04:47 PM

https://www.youtube.com/embed/3kmRuICcxqY?feature=oembed

I have to give a shout out to my boys ASIAN KUNG-FU GENERATION. They ruled my iPod throughout my teenage years in no small feat by their music being featured heavily in 00's anime.

Recently they've re-recorded Haruka Kanata but you may recognise it as Naruto's 2nd Opening Theme song.

Whilst the re-lease has better and cleaner instrumentals, Gotch (singer) has mellowed out somewhat and gone are the punkish and angsty screams. I do think that this is a worser version to the original as when the first iteration came out it was fast, raw, youthful and full of a punky energy that was addictive. I think with time AKFG has mellowed out somewhat thus making for a more muted and neutered sound.

But what does everyone else think?

Lanah Tyra 7/31/2024, 7:54:47 PM

Makster

Oh the good old times of anime opening playlists ❤️

TheGreatestBanana12 7/19/2024, 12:09:15 PM

I recommend checking out Welsh folk singer Eve Goodman

https://www.youtube.com/embed/Nrkgdj0bVAo?feature=oembed https://www.youtube.com/embed/AxTtn5q5844?feature=oembed

K

Kraken 7/21/2024, 10:52:46 AM

So my favourite non-english singers/group that i listen to religiously

Wadruna - a norwegian group that helped create some of the music for the viking series with einar selvik even doing a cameo appearance.

FAUN - German group performing medieval style music using a collection of languages to produces paganistic style musc

Myrkur - a danish black metal singer and again does some folk style musics, amazing vocals

These are some i got seriously into and still listen to now

RichStaff7/24/2024, 12:31:42 PM

Kraken

Thanks for the recommendations! Could you please edit your submission to include at least one link to one of these songs? It's a requirement of the bounty - I've edited the description to make this a little clearer. Cheers!

T

Toyah 7/21/2024, 8:00:43 PM

Like Envolver, Macarena is sung in Spanish, and much like Envolver, some of Macarena's success can be attributed to the dance moves featured in the music video.

RichStaff7/24/2024, 12:31:33 PM

Toyah

Thanks for the recommendations! Could you please edit your submission to include at least one link to one of these songs? It's a requirement of the bounty - I've edited the description to make this a little clearer. Cheers!