# Musicians By Nation **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [September 14, 2008, 5:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/musicians-by-nation/463574 "2008-09-14T17:10:33Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2008, 5:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/musicians-by-nation/463574/21 "2008-09-16T17:27:05Z")
Israel–David “Dudu” Fisher. Listen to him and prepare to be astonded ---
**Author:** ![Lisa-go-Blind](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7c8e57/32.png) [@Lisa-go-Blind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lisa-go-Blind)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2008, 5:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/musicians-by-nation/463574/22 "2008-09-16T17:37:05Z")
> [@Mahna\_Mahna](#): > > Ummm.. Edith Piaf? Jacques Brel? > > More recently, France has been a forerunner in several electronic music movements, most notably the current revival of the 80s electro sound that blossomed out of the Ed Banger label. Given the fact that they seem to drop out of sight only to reappear on the crest of a new wave, I’d give Daft Punk honourable mention. Jacques Brel is Belgian, not French. On the plus side, can you think of any Belgian musician more influential? Personally, I’d nominate, in terms of INFLUENCE (which does not necessarily equal record sales): France - Serge Gainsbourg Brazil - Caetano Veloso or Os Mutantes - CV is probably more influential within Brazil, but OM for the world as a whole USA - Bob Dylan (or Chuck Berry) New Zealand - The Clean Jamaica - Bob Marley Wales - Manic Street Preachers (or John Cale, although his most influential stuff was in the US) Scotland - The Jesus and Mary Chain (surely not The Bay City Rollers) Northern Ireland - Van Morrison ---
**Author:** ![Mahna\_Mahna](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e47c2d/32.png) [@Mahna\_Mahna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahna_Mahna)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2008, 1:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/musicians-by-nation/463574/23 "2008-09-17T01:55:56Z")
> [@Lisa-go-Blind](#): > > Jacques Brel is Belgian, not French. On the plus side, can you think of any Belgian musician more influential? :smack: Right. That would kind of tie in with the fact that he’s got a whole song about _les flamandes_ and all. ---
**Author:** ![An\_Gadai](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d6d6ee/32.png) [@An\_Gadai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/An_Gadai)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2008, 2:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/musicians-by-nation/463574/24 "2008-09-17T02:00:34Z")
For Germany, for most influential I’d reckon Kraftwerk by a country mile. Other bands might have more record sales but their influence in palpable in many popular genres today. U2 are probably the most influential band out of this island but maybe The Dubliners or Planxty deserve honourable mentions. ---
**Author:** ![Atomicflea](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/58956e/32.png) [@Atomicflea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atomicflea)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2008, 2:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/musicians-by-nation/463574/25 "2008-09-17T02:21:15Z")
Ones that come to mind when I think of a country… England: Beatles US: Rolling Stones, Frank Sinatra Argentina: Carlos Gardel, Los Enanitos Verdes Peru: Chabuca Granda, Eva Ayllon Cuba: Compay Segundo, Perez Prado, La Sonora Matancera Mexico: Pedro Infante, Cafe Tacuba, Mana, Carlos Santana Spain: Hombres G, Manu Chao ---
**Author:** ![5-HT](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/5/f19dbf/32.png) [@5-HT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/5-HT)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2008, 2:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/musicians-by-nation/463574/26 "2008-09-17T02:23:02Z")
This thread has made me feel frustrated at the task of picking one artist from the US to select. It has also left me in awe thinking about the sheer number of terrible canadian musicians. ---
**Author:** ![Sublight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/439d5e/32.png) [@Sublight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sublight)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2008, 2:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/musicians-by-nation/463574/27 "2008-09-17T02:25:10Z")
Japan hasn’t had many musicians who’ve had any influence on the west, but one exception might be Kyu Sakamoto, who wrote _Ue o muite arukō_, aka _The Sukiyaki Song_, which according to [wiki](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sukiyaki_(song)) a ton of western performers have covered. There’s also Puffy, who haven’t influenced western music much, but have become pop culture items with their cartoon. ---
**Author:** ![Atomicflea](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/58956e/32.png) [@Atomicflea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atomicflea)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2008, 2:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/musicians-by-nation/463574/28 "2008-09-17T02:27:49Z")
> [@Atomicflea](#): > > **US: Rolling Stones,** Frank Sinatra Haha, whoops! Knock that one up to Britain and replace with Elvis. Oh, and Sweden: Abba. ---
**Author:** ![bufftabby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/77aa72/32.png) [@bufftabby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bufftabby)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2008, 2:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/musicians-by-nation/463574/29 "2008-09-17T02:33:01Z")
I nominate: France–Manu Chao Mali–Amadou and Mariam Pretty much everything else I listen to is somewhat anglo-centric (and sometimes hispanicentric). p.s. **atomicflea** , Manu Chao is French. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2008, 2:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/musicians-by-nation/463574/30 "2008-09-17T02:34:13Z")
> [@Lisa-go-Blind](#): > > Wales - Manic Street Preachers (or John Cale, although his most influential stuff was in the US) > Scotland - The Jesus and Mary Chain (surely not The Bay City Rollers) You’re fired. Tom Jones is the beginning, middle and end of Welsh popular music. And for Scotland you could have gone with Wet Wet Wet, Simple Minds, Travis, The Proclaimers, Primal Scream, Belle & Sebastian, Del Amitri, Nazereth, or The Shamen, any of whom I’d put in front of TJAMC. ---
**Author:** ![Askance](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/askance/32/8281_2.png) [@Askance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Askance)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2008, 2:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/musicians-by-nation/463574/31 "2008-09-17T02:47:14Z")
> [@Ataraxy](#): > > Canada-Shania Twain Not in a million years. Neil Young? Leonard Cohen? k d lang? Rush? There must be 50 other Canadians more influential than her. Even in country music there’s Hank Snow at the very least. ---
**Author:** ![Askance](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/askance/32/8281_2.png) [@Askance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Askance)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2008, 2:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/musicians-by-nation/463574/32 "2008-09-17T02:48:49Z")
> [@Sublight](#): > > Japan hasn’t had many musicians who’ve had any influence on the west. Sadly the answer here is going to be **Yoko Ono,** for some meanings of “influence” anyway. ---
**Author:** ![Atomicflea](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/58956e/32.png) [@Atomicflea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atomicflea)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2008, 3:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/musicians-by-nation/463574/33 "2008-09-17T03:00:09Z")
> [@bufftabby](#): > > p.s. **atomicflea** , Manu Chao is French. I think he was born in France, but he’s Spanish Galician. [MySpace location listed as Barcelona, Spain.](http://www.myspace.com/manuchao) ---
**Author:** ![Lisa-go-Blind](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7c8e57/32.png) [@Lisa-go-Blind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lisa-go-Blind)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2008, 3:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/musicians-by-nation/463574/34 "2008-09-17T03:06:44Z")
> [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > You’re fired. Tom Jones is the beginning, middle and end of Welsh popular music. > > And for Scotland you could have gone with Wet Wet Wet, Simple Minds, Travis, The Proclaimers, Primal Scream, Belle & Sebastian, Del Amitri, Nazereth, or The Shamen, any of whom I’d put in front of TJAMC. But how influential was Tom Jones? Or almost any of those Scottish bands on your list (I will give you Primal Scream and Belle & Sebastian). Those are all bands with monster hits, but how many bands can say that Travis inspired them to get into music, or that they aspire to sound like Del Amitri, or that they copped some ideas from The Proclaimers? Compare to how many times _Psychocandy_ has been referenced in album reviews. I don’t even like the Manics, but there’re oodles of (mostly shitty) bands who’ve based their entire careers on _Everything Must Go_ and _The Holy Bible_. (I would listen to an argument in favor of Shirley Bassey, though.) ---
**Author:** ![An\_Gadai](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d6d6ee/32.png) [@An\_Gadai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/An_Gadai)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2008, 3:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/musicians-by-nation/463574/35 "2008-09-17T03:11:49Z")
> [@Atomicflea](#): > > I think he was born in France, but he’s Spanish Galician. [MySpace location listed as Barcelona, Spain.](http://www.myspace.com/manuchao) He’s French but of Spanish (Galician and Basque) parentage. He moved to Barcelona in recent years. He’s European. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2008, 3:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/musicians-by-nation/463574/36 "2008-09-17T03:14:07Z")
> [@Lisa-go-Blind](#): > > But how influential was Tom Jones? Or almost any of those Scottish bands on your list (I will give you Primal Scream and Belle & Sebastian). Those are all bands with monster hits, but how many bands can say that Travis inspired them to get into music, or that they aspire to sound like Del Amitri, or that they copped some ideas from The Proclaimers? Compare to how many times _Psychocandy_ has been referenced in album reviews. I don’t even like the Manics, but there’re oodles of (mostly shitty) bands who’ve based their entire careers on _Everything Must Go_ and _The Holy Bible_. The Shamen were horrible, but laid the groundwork for a lot of modern dance music, and arguably (along with Depeche Mode and Faith No More) for much of today’s synth-rock: Orgy, Linkin Park, and so on. ---
**Author:** ![Lisa-go-Blind](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7c8e57/32.png) [@Lisa-go-Blind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lisa-go-Blind)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2008, 3:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/musicians-by-nation/463574/37 "2008-09-17T03:21:15Z")
But were The Shamen really more influential than, say, Primal Scream or The Happy Mondays or The Prodigy in influencing modern dance music? That said, I agree with your argument for The Shamen much more than if you had argued for Wet Wet Wet. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![koeeoaddi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/koeeoaddi/32/408_2.png) [@koeeoaddi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/koeeoaddi)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2008, 3:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/musicians-by-nation/463574/38 "2008-09-17T03:32:55Z")
Algeria - Khaled India - Ravi Shankar, Sheila Chandra Iceland - Sigur Rós Canada - Joni Mitchell ---
**Author:** ![An\_Gadai](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d6d6ee/32.png) [@An\_Gadai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/An_Gadai)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2008, 3:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/musicians-by-nation/463574/39 "2008-09-17T03:34:17Z")
Nigeria - Fela Kuti South Africa - Al Bowlly (he invented crooning) ---
**Author:** ![bufftabby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/77aa72/32.png) [@bufftabby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bufftabby)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2008, 3:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/musicians-by-nation/463574/40 "2008-09-17T03:59:36Z")
> [@An\_Gadai](#): > > He’s French but of Spanish (Galician and Basque) parentage. He moved to Barcelona in recent years. He’s European. 🙂 I can get on board with that! Pardon my nitpick, **atomicflea**! 😃 [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/musicians-by-nation/463574.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/musicians-by-nation/463574.md?page=3)