My favorite songs from around the world.
“Take a trip across time and culture with me!”
Although I am a music lover to the highest degree and am never without my headphones, I tend to get bored if I listen to the same tunes over and over. To solve this, I am constantly searching for new, interesting artists or genres. In the past couple of years, I have found so much joy in the search for music from around the world; from Ethiopian jazz to Japanese bossa nova, I have encountered and embraced so many sounds I had never heard before, and so many gems that I have been absolutely bursting with excitement to share. However, packing everything I love into one article is a truly Herculean task, so I only chose songs which I believe follow an overarching theme: the fusion of multiple styles, cultures, tonalities, and/or moods.
artwork by Eliana Schiller.
Come with me on a journey through six of my favorite songs from around the world!
“Habibi (Albanian Remix)” - Ricky Rich, ARAM Mafia, Dardan, DJ Gimi-O
Although it is an unexpected pick, and different from everything else on this list, “Habibi (Albanian Remix)” has been at the top of my Spotify for over a year. The song is certainly a strange mix; it is entitled “Habibi” (an Arabic word), yet Ricky Rich is Swedish, Dardan German-Kosovan, and DJ Gimi-O Albanian-German. However, this smorgasbord of cultures is precisely what makes it so good. The instrumentation and melody, resembling both traditional and modern Middle Eastern music, combines with various European influences to create the perfect Eastern European club banger—one which anyone would find themselves dancing along to. Minimal lyrics, over-the-top production, and general goofiness make it almost feel like a joke to put this song on aux, and yet something about it draws you in. It is one of those songs that warrants a chuckle at first, but, after a couple of listens, will have you saying “hey, this song is actually kinda fire…” So take a drive, blast it on your speakers, and give it a listen (or three)!
“Simé Love” - DOWDELIN
“Simé Love” will forever be one of my favorite songs. A feel-good auditory masterpiece, it occupies a unique place in the world of cultural music. Hailing from Lyon, France, DOWDELIN’s infusion of many different cultures reflects the diversity of its members, creating an afro-futuristic kaleidoscope of Creole Jazz, traditional Afro-Caribbean songwriting, and European electronics. “Simé Love” is no exception. The song production incorporates unmistakably modern mixing and instrumentation, while the swing-style rhythm, funky bassline and melodies evoke the long history of music in Haiti and the French Caribbean. Even the title, “Simé Love”–meaning “spread love”–comes from Haitian Creole, as do the lyrics. “Simé Love” is simultaneously a perfect representation of DOWDELIN’s modernization of traditional music and the emergence of an entirely new sound for the group. Yet, within this extensive catalog of influences, “Simé Love” remains amazingly simplistic; vocals, bassline, beat, and instrumentation are separate entities here, and the choppiness of each of these elements, far from being harsh, creates a wonderfully empty space in which the delicate and complex production choices can shine through.
“Soso” - Omah Lay
One of my first introductions into the world of Nigerian music, Omah Lay encapsulates the cultural and musical fusion which defines much of modern West African music. He frequently incorporates many themes and trends which are common within the umbrella of “Afrobeats” and which pervade much of modern Nigerian music; swung, polyrhythmic beats which act as a sort of constant metronome are perhaps the clearest example. Yet Omah Lay cannot be confined to one category. With a discography that reaches into typical rap, dance beats, and more, “Soso” is a great example of his more soulful sound. Much of Omah Lay’s work incorporates incredible storytelling, and “Soso’s” potent yearning for someone who can “take [his] pain away” is no exception; you can almost feel his emotional turmoil yourself. Romantic, lush production and instrumentals at first seem to contradict the lyrics; however, the serene ambiance of the song soon elicits the feeling of those tumultuous emotions which one can only quietly grapple with internally. It seems quite heavy, but “Soso” is a great listen for even the most lighthearted of situations, so add it to your playlist and jam away!
“Tudo Que Você Podia Ser” - Quarteto Em Cy
I could listen to this song every day for the rest of my life and never get tired of it. “Tudo Que Você Podia Ser” is a soulful expression of the fear of not living up to expectations and the exhaustion that comes with trying. The song is deeply moving when one understands the Portuguese lyrics; yet, somehow, although I don’t speak Portuguese, its meaning still seems clear to me, transcending linguistic boundaries. Quarteto Em Cy’s synergy as a band of four sisters is evident as they expertly blend their vocal harmonies, creating a unification of what sounds like many iterations of the same voice–a perfect recipe to recall the mental turmoil that comes with battling these internal fears. This turbulence is also conveyed through the song’s unique melodic pattern, which combines major and minor in a continuous back-and-forth cycle between happy and melancholy. It is a piece which is unlike anything I have ever heard in my life. An important escape from Quarteto Em Cy’s other, more traditional bossanova works, “Tudo Que Você Podia Ser” marks a defining moment in music history, transcending the typical boundaries of Brazilian music and influencing the emergence of many musical movements to come.
“KLIMT + TERMINAL 2” - Disiz
Disiz is one of countless incredible artists within the lively world of French music, particularly in its booming rap scene. Amongst a noteworthy discography of rap and other similar styles, however, Disiz truly finds himself within his slower, sung pieces. Of these unique songs, “KLIMT + TERMINAL 2” is undoubtedly my favorite. The track starts with a tale of the singer’s love, depicted through recollections of summertime and vivid emotional imagery; this part is awash in a tranquil, almost formless soundscape which clearly gives the impression of a memory or dream. Suddenly, the song shifts. The music cuts, and sounds of airport announcements play. Then, the second part begins, and the listener realizes that the singer is flying to see his love, putting everything aside in his life to do so. The deep fervor of the scene is expertly conveyed through Disiz’s vocals that become a passionate and overwhelming rush of leaping intervals and glissandos. The emotional repetition of the English phrase “Love is a losing game” further emphasizes his desperation and determination to lose everything for love. “KLIMT + TERMINAL 2” is a magnificent listen, and a piece which, to me, epitomizes the intertwining of music and storytelling.
“Maktoub Aleina” - Hamid Al Shaeri
When listening to “Maktoub Aleina,” you would likely guess that it originated from somewhere within the last two decades due to its seemingly modern instrumentation and production. It certainly doesn’t seem like a song from the 80s. Perhaps this predisposition comes from the ignorance of my Western ear; before finding Hamid Al Shaeri, I had not heard much music sung in Arabic which seems to depart so completely from traditional musical customs of the Middle East or North Africa. Yet this departure is precisely what makes this Egyptian-Libyan artist so important within the musical world. Several years in the UK as a young man gave Al Shaeri exposure to the Western, 80s pop scene which was emerging at that time. He brought this sound back to Egypt, where he introduced this foreign style of music-making, becoming one of the most influential musical figures in North African history. The use of Egyptian-influenced melodies on top of heavy synths and Western-inspired drums creates a soundscape which transcends temporal boundaries; his music sounds like it could be released today and still be popular. The soft, unchanging quality of his voice on top of lively instrumentation is even reminiscent of many indie hits which would arrive on the scene decades later. “Maktoub Aleina” is part of a revolutionary time in music that makes for quite an interesting view into the past. But don’t get me wrong; the song is incredible even without the historical aspect, so go take a listen!
edited by Alex Oder.
artwork by Eliana Schiller.