We are told over and over again that American culture dominates the world, that we are on the verge of a monoculture McWorld. BBC World Service just finished a poll of the world's favorite songs. Guess how many are American?
- 1. A Nation Once Again — The Wolfe Tones.
2. Vande Mataram — various artists.
3. Dil Dil Pakistan — Vital Signs.
4. Rakkamma Kaiya Thattu — Ilayaraja.
5. Poovum Nadakkuthu Pinchum Nadakkuthu — Thirumala Chandran
6. Ana wa Laila — Kazem El Saher.
7. Reetu Haruma Timi — Arun Thapa.
8. Believe — Cher.
9. Chaiyya Chaiyya — A R Rahman.
10. Bohemian Rhapsody — Queen.
One American song and we are represented by Cher! There are only three songs in English. I've frankly never heard of the other artists, worthy though they may be. I'm in a good mood so I don't want to talk about "Bohemian Rhapsody", but the point isn't the quality of the songs, it's the non-American, non-English-speaking nature of the list.
In the rock era, the US and UK have combined to produce the Beatles, Bob Dylan, Rolling Stones, Elvis Presley, Chuck Berry, Buddy Holly, David Bowie, U2, the Who, the Doors, Creedence, and including those who sing in English, Bob Marley. None of these made the Top 10. Some domination: an Irish group I've never heard of, Queen, and Cher. Based upon these selections I'd say the world hasn't really grasped our good stuff yet, and maybe never will. The world remains quite safe from us.
There are profiles of the Top 10 artists on the site as well as sundry information on the vote.
Article comments
1 - James Russell
Seems the English-speaking world is also quite safe from the non-English-speaking world, too...
2 - Paul
Believe by Cher? Who knew that global adoration could be had with just a Casio keyboard and Mr. Microphone.
3 - Tim Hall
Thank got there's nothing by The Smiths on the list!
4 - Pat
Sorry, but U2 are not from the USA or the UK. They're Irish.
5 - Eric Olsen
The Uk includes Ireland
6 - James Russell
More precisely, the UK includes Northern Ireland. U2 are Dubliners, hence from southern Ireland (or Ireland proper), hence not actually from the UK.
7 - James Russell
More precisely, the UK includes Northern Ireland. U2 are Dubliners, hence from southern Ireland (or Ireland proper), hence not actually from the UK.
8 - Eric Olsen
Well then I guess I was mostly wrong - shocking - the recent BBC show on the Greatest Britons specifically listed Irish as eligible, so I guess I was going by that.
9 - Israa Amr
Hi,I just wanna say I'm really proud that my favourite artist Kazem El Saher made it to the top 10,and I'm telling u guys he's worth listening to.
10 - ciaran
u2 arent from the uk
11 - ciaran
the uk does not include ireland
12 - maya
my favorite song in the world is everysongs but halo by mrs.beyonce will always stay in my heart.but also i made a song bymyself it's called "linkin girls,rockin world,& rude girls.my favorite is "linkin girls cuz it's fast,naughty,& crazy talks in it.love it.
13 - Akshay
"In the rock era, the US and UK have combined to produce the Beatles, Bob Dylan, Rolling Stones, Elvis Presley, Chuck Berry, Buddy Holly, David Bowie, U2, the Who, the Doors, Creedence, and including those who sing in English, Bob Marley. None of these made the Top 10" hahahaha...... may be they didn't deserve to be there.... may be it's just the crowd that made them larger than life.... or may be UK US forgot that there's more than 6.7 billion population in world which doesn't belong to either UK US and it's quite possible that they could also have produced great musicians who did not get so famous, that doesn't mean they lacked in quality..... stay safe dudes best of you couldn't even make to top 10 that tells itself the story of so called rock era or rather the era of self proclaimed musical superiority....