# Is Abba the only band... **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [May 30, 2003, 10:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-abba-the-only-band/178638 "2003-05-30T22:06:30Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 15\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Opengrave](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/919ad9/32.png) [@Opengrave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Opengrave)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2003, 5:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-abba-the-only-band/178638/41 "2003-05-31T17:39:09Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by ultrafilter \* > \*\*The underground metal scene in the '90s was pretty much dominated by Scandinavian bands, although I don’t know if you’d count that as “making it”. \*\* … still is. **Finland** Sentenced Amorphis Nightwish **Sweden** In Flames Dark Tranquility Opeth Amon Amarth Katatonia **Norway** Borknagar Emperor Old Man’s Child Theatre of Tragedy from elsewhere **Italy** Lacuna Coil **Portugal** Moonspell **Germany** Too many power bands to even try and start naming them **Brazil** Sepultura **Holland** The Gathering ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2003, 6:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-abba-the-only-band/178638/42 "2003-05-31T18:52:40Z")
If were counting one-hit wonders, then there’s the Paul Mauriat Ochestra (French), which had a big hit with “Love is Blue.” ---
**Author:** ![betenoir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/258eb7/32.png) [@betenoir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/betenoir)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2003, 7:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-abba-the-only-band/178638/43 "2003-05-31T19:41:26Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by The Gaspode \* > \*\*Wha… I resent that! 😛 > > \*\* Oops. Sorry Gaspode. I was really just thinking about ABBA, there 😃 Plastic Bertrand didn’t “make it”, but he had a hit acually sung in a foreign language- Ca Plane Pour Moi. (covered in English…well, covered with entirerly different words, by the Damned as Jet Boy, Jet Girl). Apparently this was the second French language song to make the charts, the first being, I think, the Singing Nun, so that makes two for Belgium. ---
**Author:** ![Biggirl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biggirl/32/3294_2.png) [@Biggirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biggirl)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2003, 8:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-abba-the-only-band/178638/44 "2003-05-31T20:57:30Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Tranquilis \* > \*\*Nope. Ruerto Rico has its own govt and culture. It may be a protectorate, but it’s still distinct from the US. > > What about the [Red Elvises](http://www.redelvises.com/redelvises/)? \*\* The members of Menudo are all US citizens. Puerto Rico is not a forgein country, it is part of the United States. But I’ll stop highjacking this thread. ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2003, 11:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-abba-the-only-band/178638/45 "2003-05-31T23:23:04Z")
Selena. Um, Milli Vanilli-well, sort of. Do they count? ---
**Author:** ![interface2x](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/c0e974/32.png) [@interface2x](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/interface2x)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2003, 12:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-abba-the-only-band/178638/46 "2003-06-01T00:41:29Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by 5-HT \* > \*\*shit, I can’t believe I forgot Nitzer Ebb in that last post. \*\* Nitzer Ebb is actually British. > [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Guinastasia \* > \*\*Selena. Um, Milli Vanilli-well, sort of. Do they count? \*\* I think Selena is actually from Texas. Not far from Mexico, but still in Texas. I think. ---
**Author:** ![jovan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/0ea827/32.png) [@jovan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jovan)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2003, 1:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-abba-the-only-band/178638/47 "2003-06-01T01:49:12Z")
In their own genre, **The Boredoms** , from Japan, are pretty big. Also, I think a case could be made for **Céline Dion**. **Enigma** is actually a guy by the name of Michael Cretu, who is Romanian, so he definitely counts. ---
**Author:** ![Horatio\_Hellpop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e5b9ba/32.png) [@Horatio\_Hellpop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Horatio_Hellpop)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2003, 3:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-abba-the-only-band/178638/48 "2003-06-01T03:50:51Z")
Shakira (Colombia) Pizzicato 5 (Japan) Astrud Gilberto (Brazil) Plastic Bertrands (Belgium; one-hit only) Where are Los Straightjackets from? ---
**Author:** ![wolf\_meister](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolf_meister/32/15202_2.png) [@wolf\_meister](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolf_meister)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2003, 5:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-abba-the-only-band/178638/49 "2003-06-01T05:02:41Z")
Gee you’d think we would have found ALL those bands from Holland but how about “Ma Belle Ami” by the Tee Set !! Yep, they were Dutch. Also, an obscure instrumental from 1968 (still made top 40 though) was “Soul Coaxing” by the Raymond LaFevre Orchestra (France). ---
**Author:** ![Dragon\_Phoenix](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/bcef8e/32.png) [@Dragon\_Phoenix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dragon_Phoenix)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2003, 6:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-abba-the-only-band/178638/50 "2003-06-01T06:50:42Z")
So was the George Baker Selection (little green bag, Paloma blanca), but we like not to be reminded of that. What? ---
**Author:** ![Iteki](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/eada6e/32.png) [@Iteki](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Iteki)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2003, 9:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-abba-the-only-band/178638/51 "2003-06-01T09:54:02Z")
Hmmmm… Leningrad Cowboys! 🙂 Finnish I believe. Are we counting one-hit-wonders? If so Tarkan from Turkey (Kisskiss) and Los Ketchup or whatever they are called. ---
**Author:** ![wolf\_meister](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolf_meister/32/15202_2.png) [@wolf\_meister](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolf_meister)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2003, 6:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-abba-the-only-band/178638/52 "2003-06-01T18:10:20Z")
Dragon Phoenix - George Baker Selection - WOW - great memory - damn - how did I forget them? You are a trivia meister. Now for the new posting: Sade (“Smooth Operator”) is Nigerian. ---
**Author:** ![jovan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/0ea827/32.png) [@jovan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jovan)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2003, 4:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-abba-the-only-band/178638/53 "2003-06-02T04:42:47Z")
I don’t think Sade should count, as she grew up and started her career in England IIRC. ---
**Author:** ![Dragon\_Phoenix](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/bcef8e/32.png) [@Dragon\_Phoenix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dragon_Phoenix)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2003, 5:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-abba-the-only-band/178638/54 "2003-06-02T05:27:58Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by wolf\_meister \* > \*\*Dragon Phoenix - George Baker Selection - WOW - great memory - damn - how did I forget them? You are a trivia meister. > \*\* Nope, just a Dutchman in his mid fourties… 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Tikster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8edcca/32.png) [@Tikster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tikster)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2003, 5:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-abba-the-only-band/178638/55 "2003-06-02T17:10:58Z")
The guy behind Enigma is from France. Also on the song return to innocense the vocals are by his wife Sandra - a german popstar if I recall correctly (had a hit - not sure if it got across the atlantic - in the 80’s called Maria Magdalena or something?). I’m not sure this defines made it, but the Danish band Aqua had a hit ‘Barbie Girl’ a few years back I think? Enrique Englesias has made it, hasn’t he? (Though it beats me, what’s so funky about him?). Hmm… Can’t think of any other bands right now:) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-abba-the-only-band/178638.md?page=2)