This week’s global musical journey brings us to Europe, a continent full of diverse musical styles and languages:

Germany

Popular Music Genres:

* Rock, Pop, Oldies, Classical, Jazz, Hip Hop & Rap, EDM (Electronic Dance Music), & German “Schlager”

> Schlager, meaning “Hit” in German, combines traditional German music with pop elements to form catchy tunes that often contain sentimental lyrics

Artist Spotlight – Scorpions

Quick Facts:

* German band formed in 1965 in Hannover

            > Over 50 years later, the band is still releasing new music

* The band’s music genres include hard rock and heavy metal

* Members have changed multiple times throughout the years

> Band founder Rudolf Schenker has been the only continuous member

Global Achievements:

* Performed at Brazil’s Rock in Rio festival (1985, 2019)

* Performed at the Moscow Music Peace Festival (1989)

* Won the Rock Legend Award at the World Music Awards (2010)

* Received a Star on the Hollywood Rock Walk of Fame in Los Angeles (2010)

* The band’s albums Blackout, Love at First Sting, and Savage Amusement all peaked within the Top 10 on the Billboard 200 chart

* Scorpions had 5 albums peak within the Top 10 on Billboard’s Hard Rock Albums chart

* Scorpions had 8 songs peak within the Top 10 on Billboard’s Mainstream Rock Songs chart

> Their single “No One Like You” reached #1

* The band has sold over 100 million records worldwide and played thousands of concerts globally

Song Recommendations:

1. “Thank You [Not So Bad]” by VIZE & Felix Jaehn
2. “Never Let Me Down” by VIZE & Tom Gregory
3. “Lovefool” by twocolors
4. “No One Like You” by Scorpions

Italy

Popular Music Genres:

* Pop, Rock, Classical, Opera, Hip Hop, & Cantautori

          > Cantautori is music created by singer-songwriters

Artist Spotlight – Andrea Bocelli

Quick Facts:

* Born in 1958

* Italian opera singer, songwriter, and record producer

* Known for his pop, classical, and opera music

            > Can play 7 instruments

* Was left partially blind after his birth due to congenital glaucoma

> Lost his sight completely at age 12 after a football head injury

Global Achievements:

* Has been nominated for 5 Grammy Awards, 5 Latin Grammy Awards, and 1 Emmy

* Has won 7 World Music Awards, 6 Classical BRIT Awards, and 2 Billboard Latin Music Awards

* Has collaborated with various artists including Ariana Grande, Christina Aguilera, Dua Lipa, Celine Dion, and more

* 9 of his albums peaked within the Top 10 on Billboard’s Album Sales chart

* 6 of his albums peaked within the Top 10 on Billboard’s World Albums chart

> 3 reached spot #1

* 33 of his albums peaked within the Top 10 on Billboard’s Classical Albums chart

> 19 reached spot #1

Song Recommendations:

1. “Calma” by Gaia
2. “Coco Chanel” by Gaia
3. “E Più Ti Penso” by Andrea Bocelli feat. Ariana Grande
4. “On An Evening In Roma (Sott’er Celo De Roma)” by Dean Martin

Sweden

Popular Music Genres:

          * Pop, Rock, R&B and Soul, Dance Music, & EDM

Artist Spotlight – ABBA

Quick Facts:

* Swedish pop group formed in 1972 in Stockholm

* ABBA is an acronym of the first letters of the members’ first names: Agnetha Fältskog, Björn Ulvaeus, Benny Andersson, and Anni-Frid Lyngstad

* ABBA’s music was developed into the popular musical Mamma Mia! which was later adapted into a movie series

Global Achievements:

* Performed at The Music for UNICEF Concert: A Gift of Song in NYC (1979)

> This was a fundraiser for the United Nations Children’s Fund

* Inducted into the Vocal Group Hall of Fame (2002)

* Inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame (2010)

* ABBA’s song “Dancing Queen” was inducted into the Recording Academy’s Grammy Hall of Fame (2015)

* ABBA has sold over 375 million records worldwide

* ABBA had 4 songs peak in the Top 10 on Billboard’s Hot 100 chart

> The song “Dancing Queen” reached #1

* ABBA’s Gold: Greatest Hits album:

> Peaked at #3 on Billboard’s Germany Albums chart

> Peaked at #6 on Billboard’s Official U.K. Albums chart

> Peaked at #6 on Billboard’s Album Sales chart

Song Recommendations:

1. “Ta mig tillbaka” by Darin
2. “NERÅT/UPPÅT” by Miriam Bryant
3. “Keep You Mine (Acoustic Version)” by NOTD feat. SHY Martin
4. “Dancing Queen” by ABBA
5. “Running Out Of Love (Acoustic Version)” by Jubël

France

Popular Music Genres:

          * Pop, Classical, Folk, Hip Hop & Rap, EDM, & House Music

Artist Spotlight – David Guetta

Quick Facts:

* Born in Paris, France in 1967

* French DJ, songwriter, and record producer

* His main music genres include House Music & EDM

Global Achievements:

* Collaborated with artists including Nicki Minaj, Rihanna, Sia, and more

* Won Best Remixed Recording, Non-Classical at the Grammy Awards (2010, 2011)

* Won International Electronic Music Album of the Year at the Hungarian Music Awards (2008, 2010)

* Won the Best Electronic award at the MTV Europe Music Awards (2012, 2017)

* Won Favorite Electronic Dance Music Artist at the American Music Awards (2012)

* Won Top EDM Artist at the Billboard Music Awards (2013)

Song Recommendations:

1. “Boite En Argent” by Indila
2. “Sous le ciel de Paris” by Édith Piaf
3. “Les Champs-Elysées” by Joe Dassin
4. “Titanium” by David Guetta feat. Sia

Ireland

Popular Music Genres:

          * Pop, Rock, and Traditional Irish & Folk Music

Artist Spotlight – The Cranberries

Quick Facts:

* Irish rock band formed in Limerick, Ireland in 1989

* Gained widespread, global popularity during the 1990s

Global Achievements:

* Won Best Song at the MTV Europe Music Awards (1995)

* Won the Juno Award for International Album of the Year (1996)

* Nominated for Best Rock Album at the Grammy Awards (2020)

* Had at least two albums peak within the Top 10 on Billboard’s Album Sales chart, Top Rock Albums chart, and Billboard 200 chart

* Sold over 40 million albums worldwide

Song Recommendations:

1. “Rome” by Dermot Kennedy
2. “Linger” by The Cranberries
3. “Take Me to Church” by Hozier
4. “Beautiful Day” by U2
5. “This Christmas (Orchestral Version)” by Picture This

Click Here: Spotify International Playlist #2 Music of Europe