Posted July 5, 20169 yr 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.
July 5, 20169 yr Aserejé, ja deje tejebe tude jebere sebiunouba majabi an de bugui an de buididipí :)
July 5, 20169 yr there was also a Moi Lolita years later did you guys in the UK got an Spanish or an English version of Enrique's Bailamos?? and Waka Waka?
July 5, 20169 yr Sia - Chandelier Sia - Elastic Heart :lol: On a serious note though, 'Moi Lolita' must be my favourite non-English single ever :wub: Also, La Bamba was a huge #1 in the 80s.
July 5, 20169 yr Echobeatz - Mas Que Nada (#10 - 1998) Daddy Yankee - Gasolina (#5 - 2005) Schnappi - Schnappi Das Kleine Krokodil (#32 - 2005) I remember when I lived in North Wales I went clubbing with my German housemates and the first two songs we heard were Alors On Danse and We Speak No Americano. One of the guys said "It's great that you listen to so much non-English language music in the UK". Safe to say he was sorely disappointed for the rest of the night, and indeed the year :lol:
July 5, 20169 yr Author Some really good examples of foreign hits being put forward here! Who remembers the brief "Bhangra" era in 2003 which featured these two hits in the charts; Punjabi MC – Mundian To Bach Ke Bhangra Knights feat. Husan – Husan Both featured in the Now Music series, Now 54 & Now 55 respectively. Not sure there were any others of that genre that year.
July 5, 20169 yr Author :lol: On a serious note though, 'Moi Lolita' must be my favourite non-English single ever :wub: Also, La Bamba was a huge #1 in the 80s. La Bamba is a classic from that era. I also liked Kaoma – Lambada.
July 5, 20169 yr Author I feel a new Now compilation coming on :o I'm nothing to do with the Now albums, just an avid fan haha. :D
July 5, 20169 yr Author Bellini – Samba De Janeiro {#8 in 1997} Bhangra Knights feat. Husan – Husan {#7 in 2003} Daddy Yankee – Gasolina {#5 in 2005} Dario G – Sunchyme {#2 in 1997} Deep Forest – Sweet Lullaby {#10 in 1994} Desireless – Voyage Voyage {#5 in 1988} Echobeatz – Mas Que Nada {#10 in 1998} Falco – Rock Me Amadeus {#1 in 1986} Kaoma – Lambada {#4 in 1989} Ladysmith Black Mambazo – Inkanyezi Nezazi (The Star And The Wiseman) {#33 in 1997} Las Ketchup – Aserejé (The Ketchup Song) {#1 in 2002} Los Del Rio – Macarena {#2 in 1996} Los Lobos – La Bamba {#1 in 1987} Los Umbrellos – No Tengo Dinero {#33 in 1998} Mory Kante – Yeke Yeke {#25 in 1995} O-Zone – Dragostea Din Tei {#3 in 2004} Panjabi MC – Mundian To Bach Ke {#5 in 2003} PSY – Gangnam Style (강남스타일) {#1 in 2012} Sigur Ros – Hoppipolla {#24 in 2005} Sash! – Encore Une Fois {#2 in 1997} Sash! – La Primavera {#3 in 1998} Sash! – Adelante {#2 in 2000} Stromae – Alors On Danse {#25 in 2010} Yolanda B Cool & D Cup – We Speak No Americano {#1 in 2010} If anyone feels up to the challenge of identifying the language of these songs, and then translating the titles of these songs to English, I don't envy you at all! :D
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