International Artists and Songs #MusicMovesMe

It's Monday and it's time for music!

Today I am joining up with other Music Moves Me bloggers (and you can join us at the linky above). We are a group of music loving bloggers who blog about music each Sunday or Monday (or even later in the week). If you have music to share with us, you are most welcome to join! (Music Posts Only-meaning at least one music video, please! Otherwise, your post link may be labeled "No Music" or even removed.)   

Our head host is Xmas Dolly, and our co-hosts are Cathy from Curious as a Cathy, joined by the knowledgeable Stacy of Stacy Uncorked and, last but not least, me.

Every other week we have a theme.  This week's theme is  "International Artists/Songs".

Since we have bloggers from several countries participating in this weekly meme, this should be interesting.  As for me, I'm going to somewhat stick to the familiar:  international artists whose songs have charted in the United States (although the song I choose may not be one of their hit songs).  Bonus points if the song is in a language other than English.

This song is a bit outside the genres I usually listen to.  Here's  Ella Marija Lani Yelich-O'Connor, better known as Lorde, who holds dual New Zealand and Croatian citizenship.  She's perhaps best known for her hit song "Royals" but I chose a song "Te Ao Mārama" ("World of Light"), which has had some controversy surrounding it, but here it is.

The Swedish group ABBA has recorded several of their hit songs in their native Swedish language.  Here is "Waterloo". 

And, since the 2025 Eurovision Song Contest concluded this past Saturday, why not also feature the 1974 Eurovision performance of Waterloo by Abba which helped to launch their career?

As a matter of fact, a number of Eurovision Song Contest winning songs have charted in the United States.  Although he was not the artist who won with this song, French musician Paul Mauriat & His Orchestra charted in 1968 with an instrumental version of Love is Blue (L'amour est bleu).

The late, great Austrian artist Johann "Hans" Hölzel, better known to us as Falco, charted in 1982 with Der Kommissar.  He later reached #1 with his 1986 "Rock Me Amadeus" but tragically died in a car/bus accident in 1998.  (Yes, I know the big hit was Rock Me Amadeus but I was in the mood for Der Kommissar.)

Thanks to social media, this arrangement of Barry Manilow's Copacabana by Dutch musician Emma Wieriks went viral several years ago.

Last but not least, although he sings in English, there is Canadian Tom Cochrane, one of many (many, many) musicians who have hit it big in the United States.  Today, with his group Red Rider, is the hit "Lunatic Fringe" from 1981.  I love the beginning of this song.

And that's a wrap!

Join me again next week for another episode of Music Moves Me.