A bump for this. We know BTS - Life Goes on can be added as well as the big 2017 reggaetón hits Despacito & Mi Gente.

 

I also spotted in the OP that Gaudete is most definitely not a Spanish song!

and ZITTI E BUONI!

How about Encore - Le Disc Jockey - a no. 12 in February 1998. Entirely in French! Mind you a complete rip off of Encore un Fois

Master KG - Jerusalema (Zulu)

Vegedream - Raminez la coupe a la maison (French)

Kali Uchis - Telepatia (Spanish/English)

Rosalia x Travis Scott - TKN (Spanish/English)

Go_A - Shum (Ukrainian)

Barbara Pravi - Voila (French)

Here's the ones I can think of off the top of my head from 2017 to now (just top 40 hits):

 

Bad Bunny - Mia

Billie Eilish - Lo Vas A Olvidar

BTS - Idol

BTS - Life Goes On

BTS - On

CNCO - Reggaeton Lento [Little Mix version which charted has English parts though]

Luis Fonsi - Despacito [peaked at #4 before the Bieber credit]

J Balvin - Mi Gente

Kaarija - Cha Cha Cha

Kalush - Stefania

Manneskin - Zitti E Buoni

Sidhu Moose Wala - 47

 

I know BTS/Blackpink/Jimin had other hits but they had significantly more English parts than the ones I listed, not sure how far you're stretching the criteria for non-English.

 

I'll get my thinking cap on for some more.

Shakira a few months ago

FLOWER was pretty much 99% in Korean.

Just like Regeton Lento, Enrique - Subeme la Radio ended up with English verses and Spanish chorus for the UK

 

Rosalia & Billie Elish - Lo Vas a Olvidar, is 95% Spanish but also has a bit of English

Rosalia-TKN with Travis Scott is maybe 75% Spanish but also has some English

I know it only made number 87 in the UK charts but I thought the Gipsy Kings - Bamboléo would be on the list.

More foreign language hits

 

DJ Snake/ Tyga and J Balvin - Loco contigo No87 -2019

Inigo Quintero - Si no estas No90 -2023

Corinne Hermes - Si la vie est cadeau no94 1983

Amina - Le dernier qui a parle No97 1991

Deep Forest - Marta's song No26 1995

Sacred Spirit - Tor cheney nahana 1996 No 45

Sacred Spirit - Wishes of Happiness and prosperity - 1995 No37

 

In 2024

Jaxomy/ Raffaella Carra - Pedro No57

Floyymenor & Cris MJ - Gata only N058

Ok, it took me much longer in some cases (over three years since one of the earlier updates), but I have finally got around to updating the opening post with as many qualifying suggestions as possible.

 

A couple of things;

• • I am avoiding songs that charted outside the Top 75, with the exception of the classic mentioned by Tiffer above due to the fact it charted in 1994 as part of a megamix.

 

• I am trying to avoid songs that feature a large percentage of English lyrics, but there are some songs which I have kept in the list for being generally identified as being a non-English song, despite some English lyrics.

 

• I have done my best to identify as many of the languages as possible, but I have made no effort to look up any more English translations, so I won't be looking to update this, but if anyone else wishes to that is fine.

 

• I did not decide to go down the rabbit hole that Bré earlier proposed for songs with afrobeats hits and West African languages with English elements due to the variable factors to this.

 

• I previously mentioned that earlier this year, myself and a few others helped to put together a compilation made on BuzzJack of non-English hits and generally well known songs. This can be located here;

 

I am always looking to add any other songs that I might have missed, so if you look at the opening post and see something you think should be there but is not, then please post it in this thread.

 

Thanks all!

Bhangra Knights feat. Husan – Husan {#7 in 2003}

Hey Wardy, the language for this is Panjabi

Also, very minor nitpick, there's a typo on the Rammsteins.

I found one that you missed - 'La Bamba' by Ritchie Valens. I know you've got the Los Lobos version but Ritchie's is the original and it did chart at #49 around the same time as the Los Lobos version.

Hey Wardy, the language for this is Panjabi

Also, very minor nitpick, there's a typo on the Rammsteins.

I found one that you missed - 'La Bamba' by Ritchie Valens. I know you've got the Los Lobos version but Ritchie's is the original and it did chart at #49 around the same time as the Los Lobos version.

Thanks both, changes made.

You could include the Los Del Mar version of Macarena too if you like, which is entirely Spanish

 

Going back to an old debate, I'd probably actually include Ricky Martin's Maria too to be consistent. Though the verses are in English, the chorus is in Spanish, so on that basis is as worthy of inclusion as the Los Del Rio version of Macarena? The Ketchup Song doesn't have much Spanish in it either.

Edited October 7, 2024Oct 7 by AcerBen

Didn't Bally Sagoo have songs in Punjabi make the chart between 1996-97?

You could include the Los Del Mar version of Macarena too if you like, which is entirely Spanish

 

Going back to an old debate, I'd probably actually include Ricky Martin's Maria too to be consistent. Though the verses are in English, the chorus is in Spanish, so on that basis is as worthy of inclusion as the Los Del Rio version of Macarena? The Ketchup Song doesn't have much Spanish in it either.

Agreed, I've added these two now. Thanks AcerBen.

Didn't Bally Sagoo have songs in Punjabi make the chart between 1996-97?

Thanks for this discovery, I've found the following from Polyhex;

 

03/09/1994 Bally Sagoo Chura Liya 64 {64}->1

22/04/1995 Bally Sagoo Choli Ke Peeche 45 {45}->1

19/10/1996 Bally Sagoo Dil Cheez (My Heart...) 12 {12}-19-43->3

01/02/1997 Bally Sagoo Tum Bin Jiya 21 {21}-42-71->3

 

Assuming these are all Punjabi, I'll add them too.

Agreed, I've added these two now. Thanks AcerBen.

 

Thanks for this discovery, I've found the following from Polyhex;

 

03/09/1994 Bally Sagoo Chura Liya 64 {64}->1

22/04/1995 Bally Sagoo Choli Ke Peeche 45 {45}->1

19/10/1996 Bally Sagoo Dil Cheez (My Heart...) 12 {12}-19-43->3

01/02/1997 Bally Sagoo Tum Bin Jiya 21 {21}-42-71->3

 

Assuming these are all Punjabi, I'll add them too.

Those are all based on songs from Bollywood movies, which means they're Hindi, not Punjabi. 'Chura Liya' is an absolute tune btw :wub:

Edited October 7, 2024Oct 7 by Mangø

Those are all based on songs from Bollywood movies, which means they're Hindi, not Punjabi. 'Chura Liya' is an absolute tune btw :wub:

Ah thanks Mangø.

Hi all

 

I am new to the party on this thread and found it whilst researching for my Foreign language songs show on my Internet Radio Station on Sunday.

 

There are loads of great tunes to choose from. I've looked through it a few times now.

 

I know it only made number 87 in the UK charts but I thought the Gipsy Kings - Bamboléo would be on the list.

 

Best wishes,

Tiffer

 

Bamboleo was heavily sampled on the 1996 no14 hit Sunshine by Umboza- it added English lyrics so I think the final version is about 50:50 English/Spanish if that is enough for inclusion on the list

 

Also, not mentioned yet is the 2001 no3 trance/dance hit Resurection by PPK was almost entirely instrumental but had some sampled spoken word Russian

Ricky Martin - "La Copa de la Vida" #29

 

Sebastián Yatra "Dos Oruguitas" from the album Encanto (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) Certified Silver in UK 200,000

Shakira "La Tortura"

Ricky Martin - "La Copa de la Vida" #29

 

Pretty sure the version that charted in the UK was the fully English version.

Pretty sure the version that charted in the UK was the fully English version.

Yeah, it charted here under its English title 'The Cup Of Life' - I don't remember the song well but I presume this version was mostly sung in English.

Sebastián Yatra "Dos Oruguitas" from the album Encanto (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) Certified Silver in UK 200,000

Shakira "La Tortura"

Neither of these are UK chart hits

Edited December 4, 2024Dec 4 by Mangø hø hø!

pretty sure Julio Iglesias had more singles in Spanish

 

Quiereme Mucho(Yours) is in Spanish/English

 

and the follow up Amor, think that one is in Spanish

but someone should confirm

New Stromae one needs to be added

Abor & Tynna's 'Baller' can be added now Looks like Rich was right that it's the first fully German top 40 hit since 'Schnappi', although 'Dancing Lasha Tumbai' was a little more recent with a mostly German language hook. (All legends)

Bad Bunny - DtMF also added from this year ofc. Do not immediately recall any others. How many of the solo BTS hits have been in Korean?

I guess 'Espresso Macchiato' might be considered to be partly in Italian too. But debatable if that really counts lol

Bad Bunny's other two top 75s from this year also- Baile Inolvidable and Nuevayol. Most of "Laho" by Shallipopi is sung a language called Edo