[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
	Title	Playlist	Review
1	Korobushka		A Russian folk song became world-famous through Tetris
2	El Choclo		El Choclo is a representative song of Argentine tango.
3	Tico-Tico no Fubá		The choro classic Tico-Tico no Fubá
4	Funiculi Funicula		Canzone is a Neapolitan folk song
5	El Condor Pasa (The Condor Flies Away)		El Cóndor Pasa is Andean folk music
6	Die LoreleiFriedrich Silcher		Lorelei, a masterpiece of German Lied
7	Winter ade, scheiden tut wehLied		Sing of the symbol of spring’s liberation in a German folk song
8	Horch, was kommt von draußen ‘reinVolkslied		An approachable love song from German folk music
9	Flag of Dublin		The Appeal and Characteristics of Irish Folk Music
10	HeidenrösleinHeinrich Werner		German art songs set to melodies using Goethe’s poems
11	Der letzte AbendVolkslied		A lyrical folk song that sings of the sorrow of leaving one’s hometown
12	Muss i dennVolkslied		A traditional song portraying separation and the hope of reunion
13	SchwefelhölzleVolkslied		An accessible song from a German folk tune where everyday household items take center stage
14	Shiyahanba		Songs of the South African anti-apartheid movement
15	O TannenbaumErnst Anschütz		German folk song Christmas song of the fir tree
16	Bruder JakobKinderlieder		A traditional song of French origin with multilingual support
17	Kuckuck, Kuckuck, ruft’s aus dem WaldKinderlieder		A traditional spring children’s song from the German-speaking world
18	Alle Vögel sind schon daKinderlieder		A globally beloved children's song that expresses the arrival of spring
19	Lasst uns froh und munter seinVolkslied		A joyful song of children awaiting the Feast of St. Nicholas
20	Mein Vater war ein WandersmannVolkslied		A wandering song is adapted into a film and becomes a worldwide choral hit
21	FroschgesangKinderlieder		A round song adapted into Japanese from a German folk song
22	Copacabana		Barry Manilow's samba song
23	Los Gryffindorfitos		Joropo is a passionate folk music of Venezuela.
24	Maria Lisboã		Fado is Portugal’s melancholic folk music
25	Overflowing feelings		A bossa nova classic sparked a worldwide craze.
26	Che Che Kule		An African folk song that is participatory—a piece that connects people across generations and borders.
27	Clarinet Polka		The polka, which originated in Poland, is loved around the world.
28	La Bamba		A Mexican folk song evolves into a global hit
29	Cariñoso		Choro is an old Brazilian folk music
30	Shoshorōza		Ethnic music that sings of the hopes of South African workers
31	Coconut Liqueur		Steelpan folk music of PAN NOTE MAGIC
32	QuimbaraCelia Cruz		Celia Cruz’s classic salsa
33	O Sole Mio		Italian popular music, canzone
34	AoibhneasLúnasa		Lunasa's Innovative Traditional Music Work
35	Noites Cariocas		Brazilian improvised music choro
36	Kalinka		Introduction to Masterpiece Songs of Russian Folk Music
37	Job of Journey Work		The relationship between Irish music and dance
38	Greensleeves		Old folk songs are loved across generations
39	Alma Janera		Performing Venezuelan folk songs on instruments
40	Humahuacaño		Andean music group performs on a live public broadcast
41	Cielito Lindo		The charm of the Mexican classic “Cielito Lindo”
42	Alfonsina and the Sea		Introduction to performances of Argentine folklore music
43	The joy of love		Introduction to France's sophisticated chanson songs
44	A Love Story		Rumba is a love song that evolved from son
45	El Mambo		Concert of Cuban Mambo Music
46	Cherry Pink Cha-Cha		Explanation of the origin and characteristics of the cha-cha-cha
47	BergvagabundenTakeo Ischi		An adventurous folk song set in the Alps
48	This is all fado.		Fado is captivating for its nasal-vowel vocals
49	Danny Boy		Irish traditional ballads continue to be loved
50	Malaika		The allure of classic Swahili love songs
51	What a heartache		Violeta Parra’s classic folkloric masterpiece
52	Living OverGreensky Bluegrass		Greensky Bluegrass’s fresh breeze of bluegrass
53	Recuerdos de Ypacarai		Guarania is a melancholic musical genre that originated in Paraguay.
54	Thank you, life.		Performing a song of gratitude in Chilean folk music
55	A night longing for you		A trio performs a Guarania piece
56	Dead Leaves		Autumn Leaves performed by a chanson singer
57	My Nostalgic Buenos Aires		Singing a famous song from Buenos Aires as a duo
58	The Moon of Tucumán		Natsuko Nagahama from Hokkaido sings a song by Yupanqui
59	Come to my village.		Mercedes Sosa's chacarera