i’d suggest a compilation Cd i bought for my mother called “Women of the World”, it’s on Union Square music.
it features singers from africa, asia, america and europe and has some well known and some not-so well known songs, by some singers that you may or may not know, but definitely should.
i will add
Amalia (portuguese fado)
and
Asha Bhosle (indian classical music and bollywood songs)
to the list of ladies already named
If you want to give traditional Irish music a go, try Altan. The singer, Mairéad Ní Mhaonaigh, sings mostly in Irish.
Mexican singer Rocio Banquels and German singer Angelika Milster are my favorites for show music, along with the above mentioned Ute. If you get into cast recordings, there are plenty of songs sung by female singers.
Frida & Agnetha Faltskog, the ladies from ABBA, have both recorded in Swedish (well, duh), and Agnetha has a German CD.
Another vote for Sheila Chandra here.
Also, Nomiya Maki of Pizzicato Five. I guess technically it’s more J-Pop, but I love P5 and can’t stand much of J-Pop so take that as you will. And she’s got a fantastic voice.
Daniela Mercury- sings in Portuguese
Mercedes Sosa- sings in Spanish
Another vote for Zap Mama, though I prefer their earlier stuff – I especially like the almub “Sabylma.”
I also like Dorothy Masuka, who’s from Zimbabwe.
I’m assuming you’ve checked out allmusicguide.com?
Cesaria Evora: Cape Verdean, sings in Creole and Portugese. Amazing voice.
She’s not English, she’s Scottish. And at least some of the words are Gaelic.
Seriously, if you liked Pief (and I do) may I suggest Lota Lenya; a German version of that soulful European sound from the first half of the 20th century. There are a few recordings out there and some have been remastered and make good listening.
On a possibly less serious note, The Singing Nun actually put out two albums in the late 60s. Her voice was not polished, her songs were a bit repetitive, but, on the other hand, a couple were OK. A ringing endorsement, no?
If you are even mildly interested in men singers, you might try Yves Montand. He was considered the French Sinatra for quite a while and he was a longtime lover of Piaf (well, longtime for Piaf, at least).
TV
Julie Doiron is French-Canadian; she has a very distinct, very alluring voice, and sings in both French and English. The independent/university music scene loves her, for good reason.
Your post inspired me to put together a playlist just for you on my Shoutcast. It’s not 100% non-English, but close.
Here’s an example:
Played @ Song Title
Alkistis Protopsalti - Kathreftis Current Song
Yma Sumac - Llulla Mak’Ta (Andean Don Juan)
Madredeus - O Sonho
Antonella Ruggiero - stasera che sera, ars ludi
Capercaillie - Fosgail an Dorus Nighean Bhuaidh’ Ruadh
Dagmar Krause - Der Song von Mandelay
Edith Piaf - Non, Je Ne Regrette Rien
Marta Sebestyen - Vetettem violÿt
Emma Shapplin - Vedi, Maria
Francoise Hardy - Voila
Haris Alexiou - Ola sou thimizoun
Humpe & Humpe - Geschrien im Schlaf
Komeda - Glod
Iva Bittova - Viola I
Le Mystere Des Voix Bulgares - Polegnala E Todora
Mari Boine Persen - Oppskrift for Herrefolk (Recip
Irina Mikhailova - Molihta
Marisa Monte - Beija Eu
Mercedes Sosa - Todo Cambia
Mouth Music - Seinn O! (sing!)
You could try Gal Costa- sings in Portuguese, or Maria Bethania- sings in Portuguese as well
Surely I’m not the only Enya fan on the board? Many of her songs are English, but she also does Gaelic and Latin, and I think she’s done one or two in Spanish as well.
Mylene Farmer.
Nah, Chronos, you are not the only Enya fan…
Maki Nomiya, of Pizzicato Five is quite good. I have her solo album Miss Maki Nomiya Sings but none of her pre P5 stuff.
Laetitia Sadier of Stereolab sings in french about half the time.
Well If you like rock specially 70 I can’t recommend Sui Generis enough. If you speak spanish “confesiones de invierno” will be one of the greatest songs you have ever heard.
Two persons mentioned Mercedes Sosa, I don’t like her but if you can find it try listening to the “Misa criolla” it’s a mass using traditional argentinian instruments pluss orchestra it’s composer is Ariel Ramirez and it has great moments.
As an argentinian I have to recommend Tango, I love it:
“La Cumparsita”, “El choclo”, “El firulete”, “Media luz”, “Por una Cabeza”, “Sur”, “Flor de Lino” “Adios Pampa mia”, “Yira, yira”, “Mi Buenos Aires querido”, “Uno”, “El dia que me quieras”,
Astor Piazzolla is considered the second gardel, his works is mostly intrumental and he mixes tango with jazz and classical music. It’s tango but it is a lot more. Incidentally if there are any dutch in here his most famous composition “Adios nonino” was used in Prince William wedding. “Libertango”, “Toccata y fuga”, are also great.
I was going to say the same (and not just because she and I used to be drinking buddies in Berlin).
She starred in the original German version of Cats (in Vienna) and has done a lot of musical theater - she also has some decent non-show tune CD’s out.
Faye Wong
Teresa Teng
Sandy Lim
Laura Pansini
Dalida
Juliane Werding
Check out a Portugese singer (from Canada) who goes by only one name, Lhasa. She has one of the sexiest voices I’ve ever heard. Look for her CD entitled Llorando. The cut El Desierto is absolutely magnificent!