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[awardinary]

It's always a bit of a novelty to have a song to do so well in the UK charts which isn't English but it has happened many times. In quite a lot of cases such songs have made the UK Top 10 Singles Chart, and in a few cases, even the highly acclaimed #1 spot!

Here's a work-in-progress list of foreign hits to have made an impact on the UK charts in the past;

Agatino Romero, Jaxomy & Raffaella Carra – Pedro {#57 in 2024} ITALIAN
Air – Sexy Boy {#13 in 1998} FRENCH
Alizee – Moi... Lolita {#9 in 2002} FRENCH (Translation: Me... Lolita)
Andrea Bocelli – Canto Della Terra {#24 in 1999} ITALIAN
Bad Bunny feat. Drake – MIA {#13 in 2018} SPANISH
Bally Sagoo – Chura Liya {#64 in 1994} HINDI
Bally Sagoo – Choli Ke Peeche {#45 in 1995} HINDI
Bally Sagoo – Dil Cheez (My Heart...) {#12 in 1996} HINDI
Bally Sagoo – Tum Bin Jiya {#21 in 1997} HINDI
Barbara Pravi – Voila {#62 in 2021} FRENCH
Bellini – Samba De Janeiro {#8 in 1997} PORTUGUESE
Bhangra Knights feat. Husan – Husan {#7 in 2003} PUNJABI
Billie Eilish x Rosalia – Lo Vas A Olvidar {#35 in 2021} SPANISH
Bizarrap & Shakira – BZRP Music Sessions - Volume 53 {#31 in 2023} SPANISH
BTS – Idol {#21 in 2018} KOREAN
BTS – Life Goes On {#10 in 2020} KOREAN
BTS – On {#21 in 2020} KOREAN
Céline Dion – Pour Que Tu M'aimes Encore {#7 in 1995} FRENCH (Translation: So You Love Me Again)
Clannad – Theme From 'Harry's Game' {#5 in 1982} IRISH
CNCO & Little Mix – Reggaeton Lento {#5 in 2017} SPANISH
Daddy Yankee – Gasolina {#5 in 2005} SPANISH (Translation: Petrol)
Dare – Chihuahua {#45 in 2003} SPANISH
Deep Forest – Marta's Song {#26 in 1995} BAEGU
Deep Forest – Sweet Lullaby {#10 in 1994} BAEGU
Desireless – Voyage Voyage {#5 in 1988} FRENCH
DJ Snake feat. Selena Gomez, Ozuna & Cardi B – Taki Taki {#15 in 2018} SPANISH
Domenico Modugno – Nel Blu Dipinto Di Blu (Volare) {#10 in 1958} ITALIAN
Echobeatz – Mas Que Nada {#10 in 1998} PORTUGUESE
Eddie Calvert – Oh, Mein Papa {#1 in 1953} GERMAN (Translation: Oh, My Daddy)
Edith Piaf – Milord {#24 in 1960}
El Chombo – Chacarron {#20 in 2006} SPANISH
Encore – Le Disc Jockey {#12 in 1998} FRENCH
Enigma – Sadeness (Part 1) {#1 in 1990} LATIN & FRENCH
Enrique Iglesias feat. Matt Terry And Sean Paul – Subeme La Radio (Remix) {#10 in 2017} SPANISH
Enya – The Celts {#29 in 1992} GAELIC
Fairport Convention – Si Tu Dois Partir {#21 in 1969} FRENCH (Translation: If You Gotta Go, Go Now)
Falco – Rock Me Amadeus {#1 in 1986} GERMAN
FloyyMenor & Cris MJ – Gata Only {#58 in 2024} SPANISH
Gigliola Cinquetti – Non Ho L'Eta Per Amarti {#17 in 1964} ITALIAN
Gipsy Kings – Bamboléo {#53 in 1994} SPANISH
Go_A – Shum {#59 in 2021} UKRANIAN
The Gypsy Queens feat. The Boys From Made In Chelsea – L'Americano {#53 in 2012} ITALIAN
Jacqueline Boyer – Tom Pillibi {#33 in 1960}
Jane Birkin & Serge Gainsbourg – Je T'Aime... Moi Non Plus {#1 in 1969} FRENCH (Translation: I Love You, Neither Do I)
J Balvin & Willy William – Mi Gente {#5 in 2017} SPANISH
Jimmy Somerville & June Miles Kingston – Comment Te Dire Aieu {#14 in 1989} FRENCH
Jisoo – Flower {#38 in 2023} KOREAN
José Carreras, Plácido Domingo & Luciano Pavarotti – Libiamo {#21 in 1994} ITALIAN (Translation: Let's Love)
José Carreras & Sarah Brightman – Amigos Para Siempre {#11 in 1992} SPANISH (Translation: Friends For Life)
José Feliciano – Feliz Navidad {#21 in 2022} SPANISH
Juanes – La Camisa Negra {#32 in 2006} SPANISH
Julio Iglesias – Begin The Beguine (Volver A Empezar) {#1 in 1981} SPANISH
Kaarija – Cha Cha Cha {#6 in 2023} FINNISH
Kali Uchis – Telepatia {#41 in 2021} SPANISH
Kalush – Stefania {#38 in 2022} UKRANIAN
Kaoma – Lambada {#4 in 1989} PORTUGUESE (Translation: Slap)
Kraftwerk – Autobahn {#11 in 1975} GERMAN (Translation: Motorway)
Kraftwerk – Tour De France {#22 in 1983} FRENCH
Kula Shaker – Govinda {#7 in 1996} SANSKRIT
Kyu Sakamoto – Sukiyaki {#6 in 1963} JAPANESE
Ladysmith Black Mambazo – Inkanyezi Nezazi (The Star And The Wiseman) {#33 in 1997}
Las Ketchup – Aserejé (The Ketchup Song) {#1 in 2002} SPANISH
Lesley Garrett & Amanda Thompson – Ave Maria {#16 in 1993} ITALIAN
Los Del Mar feat. Wil Veloz – Macarena {#43 in 1996} SPANISH
Los Del Rio – Macarena {#2 in 1996} SPANISH
Los Lobos – La Bamba {#1 in 1987} SPANISH
Los Umbrellos – No Tengo Dinero {#33 in 1998} SPANISH (Translation: I Have No Money)
Lucenzo & Qwote feat. Pitbull & Don Omar – Danza Kuduro (Throw Your Hands Up) {#13 in 2011}
Luciano Pavarotti – Nessun Dorma {#2 in 1990} ITALIAN (Translation: No One Shall Sleep)
Luis Fonsi & Daddy Yankee feat. Justin Bieber – Despacito (Remix) {#1 in 2017} SPANISH
Måneskin – Zitti E Buoni {#17 in 2021} ITALIAN
The Manhattan Transfer – Chanson D'Amour {#1 in 1977} FRENCH (Translation: Love Song)
Manran – Latha Math {#61 in 2011} GAELIC
Marie Myriam – L'Oiseau Et L'Enfant {#42 in 1977} FRENCH (Translation: The Bird & The Child)
Master KG feat. Nomcebo Zikode – Jerusalema {#55 in 2020} ZULU
Michel Telo – Ai Se Eu Te Pego! {#66 in 2012} PORTUGUESE
Mory Kante – Yeke Yeke {#25 in 1995} MANDINKA
Ofra Haza – Im Nin'Alu {#15 in 1988} HEBREW
O-Zone – Dragostea Din Tei {#3 in 2004} ROMANIAN (Translation: Love From The Lindens)
Panjabi MC – Mundian To Bach Ke {#5 in 2003} PUNJABI (Translation: Beware Of The Boys)
Petula Clark – Casanova/Chariot {#39 in 1963} GERMAN/FRENCH
Plastic Bertrand – Ca Plane Pour Moi {#8 in 1978} FRENCH
PSY – Gangnam Style (강남스타일) {#1 in 2012} KOREAN
PSY – Gentleman {#10 in 2013} KOREAN
Radha Krishna Temple – Hare Krishna Mantra {#12 in 1969}
Radha Krishna Temple – Govinda {#23 in 1970}
Rammstein – Ich Will {#30 in 2002} GERMAN (Translation: I Want You To)
Rammstein – Feuer Frei {#35 in 2002} GERMAN
Rammstein – Mein Teil {#61 in 2004} GERMAN
Rammstein – Amerika {#38 in 2004} GERMAN
Rammstein – Keine Lust {#35 in 2005} GERMAN
Rammstein – Benzin {#58 in 2005} GERMAN
Rammstein – Gegen Mann {#59 in 2006} GERMAN
Ricky Martin – (Un, Dos, Tres) Maria {#6 in 1997} SPANISH
Ritchie Valens – La Bamba {#49 in 1987} SPANISH
Rosalia x Travis Scott – TKN {#41 in 2020} SPANISH
Runrig – An Ubhal As Airde {18 in 1995} GAELIC (Translation: The Highest Apple)
Sacred Spirit – Winter Ceremony (Tor-Cheney-Nahana) {#45 in 1996} NAVAJO
Sacred Spirit – Wishes Of Happiness And Prosperity (Yeha-Noha) {#37 in 1995} NAVAJO
The Sandpipers – Guantanamero {#7 in 1966}
Sarah Brightman & Paul Miles-Kingston – Pie Jesu {#3 in 1985}
Sarah Brightman & Andrea Bocelli – Time To Say Goodbye (Con Te Partiro) {#2 in 1997} ITALIAN
Sash! – Encore Une Fois {#2 in 1997} FRENCH (Translation: One More Time)
Sash! – Ecuador {#2 in 1997} SPANISH
Sash! – La Primavera {#3 in 1998} ITALIAN (Translation: The Spring)
Sash! – Adelante {#2 in 2000} SPANISH
Schnappi – Schnappi {#32 in 2005} GERMAN
Severine – Un Banc, Un Arbre, Un Rue {#9 in 1971} FRENCH (Translation: A Bench, A Tree, A Street)
Sidhu Moose Wala x Mist x Steel Banglez x Stefflon Don – 47 {#17 in 2019} PUNJABI
Sigur Ros – Hoppipolla {#24 in 2005} ICELANDIC (Translation: Jumping In Puddles)
The Singing Nun (Sœur Sourie) – Dominique {#7 in 1963} FRENCH
Snap! feat. Rukmani – Rame {#50 in 1996} SANSKRIT
Steeleye Span – Gaudete {#14 in 1973} LATIN
Stromae – Alors On Danse {#25 in 2010} FRENCH (Translation: So You Might Aswell Dance)
Tigerstyle – Nachna Onda Nei {#62 in 2008} PUNJABI
Trickbaby – Indi-Yarn {#47 in 1996} HINDI
Vanessa Paradis – Joe Le Taxi {#3 in 1988} FRENCH
Vegedream – Raminez La Coupe A La Maison {#60 in 2021} FRENCH
Verka Serduchka – Dancing Lasha Tumbai {#28 in 2007} GERMAN/UKRANIAN/RUSSIAN
Wes – Alane {#11 in 1998} DUALA
Yolanda B Cool & D Cup – We Speak No Americano {#1 in 2010} ITALIAN
Youssou N'Dour feat. Neneh Cherry – 7 Seconds {#3 in 1994} WOLOF/FRENCH
Zucchero feat. Luciano Pavarotti & Michael Kamen – Miserere {#15 in 1992} ITALIAN (Translation: Misery)

Languages and translations courtesy of The Hit Parade and others.

It would appear at first glance that the majority of non-English songs that performed well in the charts were French, and that shouldn't surprise anyone for a lot of musical talent has originated from accross the English Channel, and it continues to do so today.

If you know of any other chartworthy songs that performed very well in the UK charts, and that are not sang in English (including partial English), please be sure to let me know so I can add them to the list. Where possible, please provide the language of the song and what the title translates to in English.