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[World Music] A Guide to Folk Music: A Collection of Traditional Songs from Around the Globe

Traditional and folk music has a charm that’s different from works categorized into genres like rock, jazz, or R&B, doesn’t it? It’s like you catch a glimpse of a world different from where you are now… scenes you can’t quite put into words start to unfold in your heart.

In this article, we’ll be introducing a wide variety of folk music loved around the world.

From pieces brimming with exotic flair to songs that feel surprisingly familiar, we’ve gathered a truly broad selection! Listen to the tracks featured here and open a new door.

Playlist

[World Music] A Guide to Folk Music: A Collection of Traditional Songs from Around the Globe
show_chartTitlePlaylistReview
1Korobushka
Korobushkaplay_arrow
A Russian folk song became world-famous through Tetris
2Tico-Tico no Fubá
Tico-Tico no Fubáplay_arrow
Brazil’s “sho…” known as a prototype of samba
3El Choclo
El Chocloplay_arrow
Composed by the composer Ángel Villoldo…
4Funiculi Funicula
Funiculi Funiculaplay_arrow
In Japan, when referring to Italian folk songs...
5Shiyahanba
Shiyahanbaplay_arrow
Songs of the South African anti-apartheid movement
6El Condor Pasa (The Condor Flies Away)
El Condor Pasa (The Condor Flies Away)play_arrow
Many of you probably remember learning this in school classes...
7Flag of Dublin
Flag of Dublinplay_arrow
The timbre of a wind instrument called the uilleann pipes is impres…
8Copacabana
Copacabanaplay_arrow
Samba, Brazil’s world-famous folk music…
9Los Gryffindorfitos
Los Gryffindorfitosplay_arrow
From Venezuela’s folk music genre “Joropo,” “Ro…
10Maria Lisboã
Maria Lisboãplay_arrow
The ethnic music born in Portugal, fado, is emotio...
11Overflowing feelings
Overflowing feelingsplay_arrow
A relaxing moment, like during coffee time...
12La Bamba
La Bambaplay_arrow
A Mexican folk song evolves into a global hit
13Shoshorōza
Shoshorōzaplay_arrow
Sung by the workers of the Republic of South Africa…
14Che Che Kule
Che Che Kuleplay_arrow
An African folk song that is participatory—a piece that connects people across generations and borders.
15Clarinet Polka
Clarinet Polkaplay_arrow
The polka, which originated in Poland, is loved around the world.
16Cariñoso
Cariñosoplay_arrow
Born in Rio de Janeiro in the 19th century…
17Coconut Liqueur
Coconut Liqueurplay_arrow
Steelpan folk music of PAN NOTE MAGIC
18QuimbaraCelia Cruz
QuimbaraCelia Cruzplay_arrow
Celia Cruz’s classic salsa
19AoibhneasLúnasa
AoibhneasLúnasaplay_arrow
Known as an innovator of traditional Irish music…
20O Sole Mio
O Sole Mioplay_arrow
The music that represents Italy, “canzone,” right…
21Noites Cariocas
Noites Cariocasplay_arrow
Music genres that took root in Brazil in the 1800s…
22Job of Journey Work
Job of Journey Workplay_arrow
Ethnic music and dance are inseparably intertwined…
23Greensleeves
Greensleevesplay_arrow
The world of folk songs where the good old traditions of Britain live on...
24Kalinka
Kalinkaplay_arrow
This song is a folk tune that shines in the cultural history of Russia...
25Alma Janera
Alma Janeraplay_arrow
【Holopo (Venezuela)】Rafael Bo...
26Alfonsina and the Sea
Alfonsina and the Seaplay_arrow
[Argentine Folklore] Ariel...
27Humahuacaño
Humahuacañoplay_arrow
[Andean Folklore] In the eastern part of Shizuoka Prefecture...
28Cielito Lindo
Cielito Lindoplay_arrow
It is also inscribed on UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage list…
29Malaika
Malaikaplay_arrow
The allure of classic Swahili love songs
30Living OverGreensky Bluegrass
Living OverGreensky Bluegrassplay_arrow
In Kalamazoo, Michigan, in the United States, in 2000…
31The joy of love
The joy of loveplay_arrow
The musical tradition of the French-speaking world, chanson. The words...
32Danny Boy
Danny Boyplay_arrow
As a timeless classic that carries on the heart of Ireland, the wor…
33BergvagabundenTakeo Ischi
BergvagabundenTakeo Ischiplay_arrow
Set against the mountains of the Alps, brimming with exhilaration…
34A Love Story
A Love Storyplay_arrow
Rumba, which is famous as a ballroom dance program...
35This is all fado.
This is all fado.play_arrow
Portugal’s traditional music, fado. It’s a bit…
36What a heartache
What a heartacheplay_arrow
An activist who tried to change society through music...
37Recuerdos de Ypacarai
Recuerdos de Ypacaraiplay_arrow
Guarania, a musical genre born in Paraguay...
38El Mambo
El Mamboplay_arrow
[Mambo (Cuba)] Cuban musician,…
39Cherry Pink Cha-Cha
Cherry Pink Cha-Chaplay_arrow
Famous as a program in social dance and competitive dance...
40Thank you, life.
Thank you, life.play_arrow
[Chilean Folklore] Violeta Parra…
41A night longing for you
A night longing for youplay_arrow
[Guarania (Paraguay)] Demetrio …
42Dead Leaves
Dead Leavesplay_arrow
[Chanson (France)] Jacques Pré…
43My Nostalgic Buenos Aires
My Nostalgic Buenos Airesplay_arrow
[Argentine Tango] Alfredo Re...
44The Moon of Tucumán
The Moon of Tucumánplay_arrow
[Argentine Folklore] Atahua...
45Come to my village.
Come to my village.play_arrow
[Argentine Folklore] Argen...