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Original poster

Music/culture that is popular outside the home country

42 replies

Emelee · 29/06/2025 11:01

I'm thinking like Morrissey becoming massive among US based Mexicans, and Mexican Americans. British David Gray first breaking massive in Ireland, Norman Wisdom in Albania- etc. Wondered if you knew of any more examples?

OP posts:
Appalonia · 29/06/2025 14:22

Robbie Williams seems to be big in Latin America, judging by all the positive responses in Spanish to this film A Better Man on Twitter( great film by the way! )

Hibernatingtilspring · 29/06/2025 14:18

@DiscoBob Morrissey has been big in Mexico for years, I remember reading that his 'look' (post Smiths) was acceptable in a their macho culture, but appealed to a lot of young men who weren't exactly encouraged to share their feelings.

The band Suede I think have sold more albums in Europe than the UK, and have a pretty large following in Malaysia apparently!

Steelworks · 29/06/2025 14:14

Chris de Burgh - huge in Europe (especially Germany?)

DiscoBob · 29/06/2025 14:12

Gavin Rossdales band, Bush, were not big in the UK at all but massive in the states.

I didn't know Morrissey was big among Mexicans?

Original poster
Emelee · 29/06/2025 14:08

Amazing answers. I never knew.about most of these!! Now I recall.reading in the late 80s music press that The Cure were absolutely massive in France. Certainly Country & Western is huge in Ireland. They also absolutely love Springsteen and apparently films starring Meryl Streep outperform there.

OP posts:
Redheadedstepchild · 29/06/2025 14:08

Top Moldovan singing combo, "O-Zone" with their worldwide smash hit, "Dragostea din tei."

Jigaliga · 29/06/2025 13:13

Les Mis (the musical) was originally a French production and absolutely tanked.
It only became a thing thanks to the West End in London

Redheadedstepchild · 29/06/2025 12:43

Quite a few of these cultural crossovers seem to be associated with either Christmas or New Year. Since I thought of the Japanese KFC phenomenon, I've come with two more:

Watching a Donald Duck cartoon, "Kalle Anka" In Sweden at Christmas and, "Dinner For One" on New Year's Eve in Germany.

Redheadedstepchild · 29/06/2025 12:21

I don't know whether this exactly counts but the Japanese having KFC at Christmas.

NoraLuka · 29/06/2025 12:08

Mr Bean was popular in Algeria in the 2000s, I have no idea if he still is!

TheKeatingFive · 29/06/2025 12:08

Oh and Enya being big in Japan

TheKeatingFive · 29/06/2025 12:07

Country and Western is hugely popular in some bits of Ireland.

EineReiseDurchDieZeit · 29/06/2025 12:06

Ed Sheeran is well known in India, apparently. He’s done a song partially in Hindi

LongRangeDessertGroup · 29/06/2025 12:02

Sam Fox, David Hasselhoff, were popular in Germany for their music

Redheadedstepchild · 29/06/2025 11:50

Bollywood is very popular in Senegal and I think, in Ghana as well.

Elleherd · 29/06/2025 11:30

BJ Cole, pedal steel player - (been quietly involved in all sorts for decades, and is a well respected session musician) went platinum in Iceland at some point.😎

Dangermoo · 29/06/2025 11:08

Norman Wisdom 😆 🤣 bless him.

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