These musical groups are recognized as the best in the world. The most musical countries and nations
Speaking about music on a global scale, it is important to understand that different peoples develop their culture in different ways. This is largely influenced by their geographical location, their neighbors and proximity to the sea. If the country is in warm latitudes , the climate is mild, and the land is fertile, the residents will have time for the development of culture, including music. If people live in conditions harsh climate , their musical development will be slowed down as they have to survive in difficult conditions.
One of the famous Russian opera singers said that the more singers in the country, the better it is. climate . Because you can speak loudly only in a mild climate. Agree, when you are cold, you even try to breathe briefly and every other time, what can we say about singing. By the way, he believed that the most musical countries in the world are located in Europe , as there is a mild climate and good social conditions for activities in an entertainment environment.
They also play a big role neighbours . If you have to live side by side with warlike countries or nomads who constantly attack other states, there will be no time for music or cultural development.
In addition to all of the above, the role in the development of music in the country, of course, plays government states. It can regulate both foreign relations and improve the lives of citizens. Of course, a good life is a positive factor for the development of musical culture. However, in addition to improving life, the state can limit culture and give it a certain direction, which can slow down development or stop it altogether.
Despite all this, music still remains an important part of the life of any person at all times. It always influenced him and was created by him, although it was expressed in different ways.
So, sociologists and culturologists carried out several surveys concerning the most musical countries of the world. Here are their results:
1 place
… took by a small margin USA . The culture of this country is widely promoted everywhere, so the place in the ranking is not at all surprising. In the United States, music has absorbed the features of a variety of styles for many years. Popular among Americans are the violin, accordion and wind instruments, in particular the saxophone (think of jazz).
2nd place
… divided Great Britain And India , as strange as it may sound, but you can’t argue with the numbers. Let's see what professional sources tell us about them. When composing music, Indian musicians use special rhythmic and melodic schemes. Tabla drums and stringed instruments - sitars are very popular here. British music is closely connected with the maritime theme, which is not surprising, because Britain was once the queen of the seas.
3rd place
… received in the ranking Korea And Russia . We patriotically admit that in Russia the musical culture has always been highly developed, and even dancing and generally shirking work in the field is simply in our blood. Korea has both its own stars and a very patriotic musical climate, unlike European countries that are literally infected by the onslaught of American culture.
Nobody in the world knows Soviet and Russian pop musicians. Especially in the West. Nevertheless, musicians from Russia at different times fell into the Western charts.
All attempts to promote and impose our popular music on the Western public failed. Russian pop music is very secondary and backward, both technologically and stylistically.
But it has already become a good tradition to hang noodles to the Russian public about the successes of certain performers in the West. It comes down to the ridiculous.
Kirkorov traveled to Monte Carlo for The World Music Awards - a show of the best-selling artists in their countries, while finding a person in Russia who has Kirkorov's album is quite difficult. Pugachev, as you know, in 1997 took only 15 place out of 25 at the useless Eurovision.
Sergey Lazarev sings in English for some reason, the human brain is generally unable to master it. Iosif Prigozhin, whose obsession was to push Valeria to the West, once stated in a paid article in a British newspaper that his wife had sold 100 million albums in Russia.
Timati's rapper had the biggest success when the Swiss DJ Antoine made a remix for Timati's song Welcome to St. Tropez. The song went around the top of the charts in the world, except for the UK and the US. In Switzerland, the song took sixth place at the end of the year. This is the peak for our variety performers lately.
Which of our musicians really achieved high places in the Western (and this, in the musical sense, primarily the USA and Great Britain) charts and is generally more or less known in the West.
1. Composer Aram Khachaturian - 1972
One of the recordings of the music of his ballet "Spartacus" called Spartacus, which Khachaturian made together with the London Symphony Orchestra, hit the British album chart in 1972, reached the 16th position and lasted 15 weeks in it.
By the way, his music is so popular in the world that it was even used in such famous films as Stanley Kubrick's 2001: A Space Odyssey, James Cameron's Aliens and Tinto Brass's Caligula.
2. Boris Grebenshchikov - 1989
His album Radio Silence, released in England and the US, reached #198 on the Billboard200, despite being recorded with the then super-popular Eurythmics. In the video - BG's performance on the popular TV show David Letterman.
3. Gorky Park-1990
The success of Gorky Park in the US cannot be overstated. They did not conquer America. One need only look at their achievements in the charts. In the Billboard Hot 100, they were noted only by the single Try To Find Me (81st place and 6 weeks on the chart), and on the Billboard 200 - the album Gorky Park (80th place and 21 weeks on the chart).
But Gorky Park sold well in general - 300 thousand copies sold in America alone - this is a very good result. The group achieved much more success in Scandinavia. Gorky Park in Norway took 9th place, and the single Bang - 5th. In Denmark, the album Moscow Calling even went platinum.
4. Alsu-2000
With the song Before You Love Me "under Britney Spears" she got to 27th place for only a week, during the period when they tried to promote it in Europe after 2nd place at Eurovision.
5. PPK-2001
The Rostov trance project PPK with the release of a separate single ResuRection (Eduard Artemiev's melody from the film "Siberiada" by Andrei Konchalovsky with the voice of Yuri Gagarin) debuted in the UK immediately in third place!
The song became the first track from Russia to get into the hot rotation of the BBC Radio One radio station. Then ResuRection was released in other countries, where it also charted successfully - 5th in the Netherlands, 9th in Belgium, and 15th in France and 36th in Australia.
6. Tattoo-2003
In 2002, the English version of their album "200 in the opposite direction" was released and "Tatu" became generally the most popular Russian group in the world. The girls did not become stars of the first magnitude, and their success was not so long, but they sold about 10 million of their records abroad. This is an unattainable result for Russian performers.
The English-language album is now gold in four countries and platinum in Europe as a whole, the song "All the Things She Said" occupied the first line of the British chart for several weeks, and the cover of The Smiths in 2009 sounded in the TV series "Gossip Girl".
7. Leonid Agutin - 2007
The author of The Barefoot Boy and husband of Anzhelika Varum graduated from the Moscow Jazz School and from his youth was fond of not only pop music, but also a variety of acoustic guitar music - from jazz to flamenco. In the early 2000s, Agutin began to play concerts, and then he recorded the album "Cosmopolitan Life" together with Al di Meola, an American virtuoso of the genre. In Germany, the album had more than good sales.
8. Eduard Khil - 2009
A famous, sad and beautiful story, as a result of which the great pop singer is known in the world as "Mr. Trololo". On November 26, 2009, a RealPapaPit user uploaded the vocalization "I'm very happy because I'm finally returning home" to YouTube - today this video has 19 million 700 thousand views.
They say that the singer was even offered an international tour - but he refused. Both Gawker and The New York Times wrote about Khil's death.
9. Pussy Riot-2012
This is the only group here that has not been on the Western charts, but it is impossible not to mention it. Musically, it's a comical story. The group, not a single song of which no one really heard anywhere, has become the most famous musical group from Russia in recent times. Suffice it to say that in the West the Cathedral of Christ the Savior is known as the Pussy Riot Church.
Shortly after the arrest of Nadezhda Tolokonnikova, Maria Alyokhina and Ekaterina Samutsevich, musicians around the world began to support them, ranging from Madonna and Paul McCartney to Mike Patton and The Knife and Die Antwoord.
10. Anna Netrebko - 2007-present
The opera singer was able to achieve real world fame, including the United States. She enjoys particular success in Austria, where she received citizenship. Also lives in New York. Her recordings are constantly on the classical music charts, but in some countries they also get into the general music charts. Especially in Austria and Germany. So 15 Netrebko albums got into the Austrian chart .
Bonus: The World's Most Famous Russian Music Video
Bloody viral hit "Bad Motherfucker" by the Russian band Biting Elbows, filmed in the first person and therefore more like an action video game than a music video. The clip was publicly noted by Samuel L. Jackson and Darren Aronofsky. 24.6 million views on Youtube.
, .Who are they, the best rock bands of all time? Top 50 bands in front of you.
AC/DC
The famous rock band was formed in 1973 in Sydney. Now, probably, there is no person, not even keen on rock music, who has never heard this name - AC / DC. Unfortunately, in 2016 vocalist Brian Johnson was given a disappointing diagnosis. Doctors strongly advised the musician to refuse to perform, otherwise he would face complete hearing loss. As a result, the singer decided to leave the band for health reasons. Axl Rose was invited to take his place.
arcade fire
A unique indie rock project from Canada from the first album found its audience thanks to its unusual and authentic sound. Their third album won a Grammy for Best Album of the Year.
Arctic Monkeys
Possibly the best British band of the millennium. At least the guys from Arctic Monkeys themselves have no doubt about it!
Biffy Clyro
It took the Scottish rockers many years of hard work to gain recognition. In 2007, their album Puzzle reached gold status, and the songs from it hit the top music charts.
block party
The British group was formed in 2003. From the first album to this day, the musicians are tearing the charts and the hearts of fans with new hits.
Blur
Who doesn't know one of the most successful rock bands of the 1990s? The musicians are still "on horseback" - in 2015 the album The Magic Whip was released, which was appreciated by both fans and critics.
cold play
Another British alternative on the list of the best. Recognition came to them after the release of the second album Yellow, which blew up the charts in the US and the UK. At the moment, more than 80 million copies of the group's albums have been sold.
Courteeners
British musicians immediately powerfully declared themselves. The band's first two albums, St. Jude and Falcon - broke into the local music charts and immediately reached places in the top ten.
Doves
The group was quite popular in the 90s. Despite the fact that the musicians have been on sabbatical since 2010, we do not forget them.
editors
The first two platinum discs of the musicians sold over 2 million copies. Many rock fans will remember their amazing performance at Glastonbury, after which their second Editors album reached #1 on the UK Albums Chart.
Elbow
From the very beginning of their musical career, the group received strong support from music critics. They were called "the smartest group in the UK", their third record was called a "masterpiece". Many musicians are their fans, among them such stars as R.E.M., U2.
Foals
The group playing indie rock was born in 2005 in the UK. Their work was influenced by such trends as mathematical rock and dance-punk.
They deservedly can be called the best rock band of the 21st century. It's that simple.
green day
With the release of the single American Idiot, the punks boldly expressed their opinion. And, of course, September for a real rocker will not be complete without listening to Wake Me Up When September Ends.
Guns N' Roses
One of the most famous bands of the 1980s. Their influence on rock music is hard to overestimate.
Joy Division
Musicians were among the first to focus on mood, paving the way for alternative rock.
Kasabian
The British have an impressive number of awards. Over the years, they won in the nominations "Best Performance of the Year", "Best Group of Our Time".
Kings of Leon
The name of the group is due to the name of the father and grandfather of its members. Both were called Leons. The famous song Sex On Fire became the ninth in the list of the 40 best songs in the UK.
The group is considered one of the most popular in rock, with over 300 million albums sold in total. Having created their innovative sound style, the members of the collective have made a huge contribution to the development of music.
Manic Street Preachers
The guys started out as a punk band, but then they began to play rock. Lyrics have always been politicized.
Mumford And Sons
In 2013, the musicians won the prestigious Grammy Award, their album was recognized as the album of the year.
Muse
During their musical career, the group has released 11 albums, 7 studio and 4 live. Record sales exceeded 15 million. More than once the group has been awarded various prestigious awards, including Grammy, MTV Europe Music Awards.
Nirvana
(On the main photo.) The group's history was interrupted due to the suicide of its leader Kurt Cobain in 1994. However, thanks to the musician's personality cult, the band is still popular. Over 75 million albums have been sold.
Oasis
They are one of the most commercially successful rock bands of the 90s.
Pink Floyd
The British band is known for its acoustic experiments, philosophical lyrics and large-scale live shows. One of the most popular rock bands of our time.
pixies
The band had a notable influence in the rise of the alternative in the 1990s. The team's world tours are still very popular.
Placebo
The famous British alternative group was created by B. Molko and S. Olsdal in 1994. The depressive orientation of the lyrics and music hit right on target. Until now, the group releases albums and goes on tour.
Primal Scream
The musicians showed a fresh sound by combining different directions of rock music.
Pulp
Popularity for the group did not come immediately, the musicians achieved success only in the 1990s.
radiohead
The group has existed since 1985. It is noteworthy that since then its composition has not changed. Radiohead have sold more than 300 million copies of their albums and significantly influenced the formation of modern rock.
Razorlight
The Anglo-Swedish group formed in 2002. She is mostly popular only in her home countries.
Red Hot Chili Peppers
One of the most famous rock bands of our time, over 80 million albums have been sold. RHCP ranked 30th in the "Top 100 Rock Musicians" ranking, and in 2012 the band was included in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
R.E.M.
The band had a very important influence on the development of alternative rock music.
The Rolling Stones
Everyone has probably heard of this group. Over 250 million albums have been sold worldwide. The Rolling Stones are inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Also, Rolling Stone magazine placed the group in an honorable fourth place in the list of "The 50 Greatest Artists of All Time".
The Snow Patrol
The alternative rock band is made up of Scots and Irish. They have received prestigious awards more than once, and their singles can be heard in famous TV shows and films.
The Stereophonics
For a quarter of a century, the group has released ten albums, the circulation of which exceeded 10 million copies.
The Stone Roses
The band's debut album became a classic before it was released.
The team was formed in 1998 in the USA. The musicians play a mix of indie and garage rock.
The Suede
The group appeared in the capital of Great Britain in 1989. Included in the "big four" of British pop, along with Blur, Pulp and Oasis.
The Beatles
Many musicians mention the influence of The Beatles on their work. The team is considered one of the best-selling and popular in the 20th century.
The Charlatans
The group, which appeared in England, played Britpop. The musicians released ten studio albums, three of them became the winners of the British charts.
The Clash
One of the first famous punk rock bands. Big role her appearance was played by the Sex Pistols.
The Cure
Over a thirty-year musical career, the group released 13 albums, which were sold in the amount of 30 million copies.
The Jam
The Jam played hard rock combined with American rhythm and blues.
The Killers
If you have never danced to Mr. Brightside, you've lost a lot.
The Libertines
The group was created by two friends in 1997. After the release of the second album, as a result of a quarrel between colleagues, the band broke up.
The Smiths
It was formed in 1982 in England. After critics noted the influence of the group on the formation of indie rock in the 1980s.
U2
Irish rock band formed in 1976. It is one of the most successful and famous bands in the history of rock. During their career, the musicians have received as many as 22 Grammy awards - this is more than any other band in the world.
The White Stripes
The last three albums received Grammys for Best Alternative Album.
The Who
Considered one of the greatest rock bands of all time. The group became widely popular through unusual live performances.
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization is widely known for its careful selection of World Heritage sites. For connoisseurs of travel and real music, she has also prepared a separate rating of the most musical cities.
Among the selection criteria there is no area and popularity, for the list were selected cities with a special musical history that changed the national or world culture, places where music has become part of the DNA.
These cities have managed to prove that the art of music has become a part of their economy and social life, in addition, travelers will appreciate the stunning sights from the Middle Ages to the postmodern.
9. Seville, Spain
And, of course, we open our list with the city that first staged two of the greatest operas of all time: Rossini's The Barber of Seville and Mozart's The Marriage of Figaro.
This city is covered with dozens of musical legends, it was here that flamenco originated, and it was Seville that managed to absorb the influence of other cultures that were part of the history of the entire region.
The most famous and hugely popular music festival in Seville is the Biennale de Flamenco, where you can hear both classical performances and artistic variations of young people.
8. Mannheim, Germany
Mannheim is an incredibly dynamic multicultural center of creativity. Who hasn't heard of the American rock band Mannheim Steam roller? These guys borrowed their name from local composers of the 18th century. Mannheim Steam - became a real revolution for large orchestras at the court of Charles III and influenced the work of Beethoven and Mozart.
UNESCO notes that no city can boast such a complete and deep musical pedigree, because it has been a leader and innovator for centuries, moreover, with a developed musical infrastructure.
But not only classical music flourishes in Mannheim. The local pop academy is considered the best in Germany. And the annual Time Warp festival gathers connoisseurs of techno music from all over the world.
7. Hannover, Germany
Hannover is made for festivals and cabarets. The most famous European rock band Scorpion is from this city.
The inhabitants of Hanover confidently declare that they are in the center of the musical planet, and their statement is not far from the truth.
The hugely influential Hannover University of Music, Drama and Media attracts talented students from all over the world. They teach chamber music, contemporary music, ancient music, jazz, rock and, of course, pop.
In addition, it was in Hannover that the first music cassette, the first CD and the first vinyl record were created.
6. Hamamatsu, Japan
Have you ever heard of Roland, Yamaha and Kawai? But the headquarters of these companies is not without reason located in Hamamatsu.
It hosts 10 major music festivals at once, two of which have international status. This city is home to one of the most famous Shizuoka University of Arts and Culture in the world and a stunning museum of musical instruments with an extensive collection of ancient artifacts.
And most importantly - Hamamatsu is the leader in the production of musical instruments in Japan.
5. Ghent, Belgium
This city became famous due to the fact that it was within its walls that Great Britain and the United States signed an agreement to end the War of 1812. Now Ghent in an unusual way has managed to combine centuries-old heritage and modern trends.
The city hosts many interesting festivals. In 1843, when the "Festivals of Ghent" were first held, the whole city filled with numerous concert venues for all kinds of music.
It is in Ghent that the best jazz performers love to gather. So, in a few decades, jazz performances have turned into an international festival.
4. Glasgow, Scotland
Of course, it is Glasgow that will become the home of the World Bagpipe - the main trophy of one music competition. But Glasgow is not just a city, it is part of the history of the Old World with its unique creativity.
For nearly a century, St. Andrew's Hall has been one of the most famous music venues in Europe. It burned down in 1962 due to the carelessness of one smoker, but, in spite of everything, continues to maintain its reputation.
Together with UNESCO, Scottish musicians have published the book "Dear Green Sounds", which tells the musical history of Glasgow, where they talk not only about the great past, but also about the concerts of Frank Sinatra and Freddie Mercury.
3. Brazzaville, Congo
Speaking of the most significant and famous musical cities around the world, one cannot forget about Brazzaville. Trying to escape from the terrible reality, the inhabitants of this city gave the world a bewitching rumba and incendiary soukous movements.
The city is home to the Pan-African Music Festival and the Festival of Lights, an annual explosion of African music and cultural expression.
2. Bologna, Italy
Italy became famous all over the world thanks to its opera. But if we think first of all of Milan with its opera houses and melodic Venice, UNESCO placed Bologna in second place on its top list. And no wonder, because in Bologna there was a legendary university, which since 1088 raised the bar for musicians and artists.
And how many music festivals are held here. For example, on the streets of Bologna one can easily hear classical music, opera, baet, jazz-blues and even Jewish jazz. Only the Congolese rumba festival gathers more than 50,000 fans.
1. Bogota, Colombia
Bogota is known to music lovers for its rich music scene. But new forms of creativity play an important role in the life of the city.
It hosts 60 festivals every year, the most important of which is Festivales Al Parque, where everyone plays: from opera and jazz to hip-hop and salsa.
UNESCO believes that the city plays an important role in creating and maintaining new musical trends and directions. In addition, Bogota has become a regional cultural center and represents the musical interests of all of Latin America and the Caribbean.
