Lovely nursery rhymes, folk songs, and children's songs

From classic folk dance staples to hidden gems. Introducing recommended tracks!

music writerKOH-1
Started working as a music writer as a side job while employed at a record shop, and for over 18 years I’ve contributed to music magazines, disc guide books, mooks, and web media. As a writer my main field is Western music, but as a listener for over 35 years, I always try to keep my curiosity alive with the motto “I like what I like.” I have experience playing in bands, where I was a bassist who handled songwriting and composition. Instruments I’ve played include bass, guitar, and piano. I began studying English in my mid-40s and continue to do so today.
Editor-in-Chief, RAG MUSICHane Keisuke
Editor-in-chief of RAG MUSIC. JFC-certified fact-checker. After working in a music studio and handling wedding sound, joined the RAG MUSIC editorial team in 2016. Experienced with a variety of instruments: marching band in elementary school, clarinet in junior high school wind ensemble, and drums in a band from high school onward. Drawing on my own musical activities and the experience gained through my work, I produce daily articles, including various song introductions, features on music festivals around the country, and live reports. In music, I enjoy not only rock from Japan and abroad but, lately, a wide range of J-pop as well.

Folk dancing, a familiar sight at school events and recreational activities.There are many nostalgic tunes that make your body start moving the moment the music begins!When it comes to folk dance songs, there’s an incredible variety—from timeless standards everyone has danced to at least once, to pieces that let you enjoy traditional rhythms from around the world.You might have suddenly wondered, “What was the name of that song again?”In this article, we’ll present a broad list of folk dance tracks.Whether you’re unsure what to pick for an event or searching for a song filled with memories, we hope you’ll find this helpful!

From classic folk dance tunes to hidden gems. Introducing recommended tracks! (71–80)

KalinkaIwan Rarionofu

[Russian] Kalinka (Калинка) (Japanese Subtitles)

KalinkaIwan Rarionofu

It began as a beloved Russian song, originally sung on stage in an amateur theater production for which Larionov composed the music.

In Japan, it became famous as the background music for Tetris.

Fans also sing it at the English soccer club Chelsea FC.

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Oh, Dem Golden Slippersjēmusu burando

O! Dem Golden Slippers.wmv

Oh, Dem Golden Slippersjēmusu burando

It’s a song well-known as an American popular tune.

In Japan, it has spread under the Japanese translation “Ano Machi Kono Machi.” It was created as a parody of a Black spiritual written for minstrel shows.

In the United States, it is often performed as an instrumental.

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Patty Cake Polka

Patty Cake Polka

Patty Cake Polka

This dance is a British American folk dance featuring enjoyable clapping and hand-play motions reminiscent of kneading cake.

The accompanying tunes differ between Britain and the United States: in Britain, traditional Mother Goose songs such as “This Old Man” are mainly used, while in the United States, country-style songs like “Buffalo Gals” and “Oh! Susanna” are more commonly used.

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Hirakawa Masako (Bōkarisuto: Sakata Mizumako)

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Cossack dance

Revolutionary Cossack dance by Soviet soldiers

Cossack dance

When you think of folk dancing, the image is often of men and women paired up, but there are also dances performed individually, like this one.

Although the video is labeled as a soldiers’ dance, the performance is so superb that you’d think they were all ballet dancers.

I’ve heard that the Cossack dance was once banned because it was the dance of a people who had been suppressed.

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Hirakawa Masako (Bōkarisuto: Sakata Mizumako)

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Chimes of Dunkirk

Chimes Of Dunkirk [Belgium]

Chimes of Dunkirk

A folk dance handed down in Belgium and the Flemish region.

If you listen to the melody repeatedly, you may notice parts that resemble the song sung by the dwarfs in Disney’s Snow White.

The movements, where dancers twirl around while switching partners, look a bit challenging, but the fairy-tale-like melody is cheerful, and I’m sure it would be great fun to dance.

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Let’s dance, fun Polechke!

Mała Tęcza – “Polka Tramblanka”

Let's dance, fun Polechke!

Often sung in Japanese as well, this song is originally based on the Polish folk tune “Polka.” A polka is a type of folk dance characterized by a fast tempo in 2/4 time, but in Japan this song is often performed as a waltz.

It has a charming feel, evoking the image of people dancing in traditional costumes.

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Gavottegosekku

Gavotte - Gossec, London Philharmonic

Gavottegosekku

First of all, a gavotte is a general term referring to a folk dance from regions of France and the classical dance pieces derived from it.

It is characterized by being written in either 4/4 or 2/2 time.

In principle, many begin on the downbeat of the measure, and the famous gavotte in question is a typical example of this.

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