Pop hits from other parts of the world

Despite the fabled musicality of Filipino artists, local music still has to make a dent in the global hit charts. This, however, is not the case with music by artists from other countries who have found ways to break into the international market. Here are three examples of successful pop albums from Brazil, London and would you believe, also Russia.

While the respect and admiration accorded to classical artists in Russia is unsurpassed anywhere else in the world, this does not mean that Russian music is limited to the works of the likes of Tchaikovsky and Borodin. Russian pop music exists and it has now penetrated the rest of Europe, North America and Asia in the persons of Julia Volkova and Lena Katina, the classically-trained pianists turned pop idols known collectively as the duo t.A.T.u.

That is no typo error. That is the correct spelling of the group’s name. I do not know the reason behind the use of initials in the lower and upper cases. But if the purpose is to attract attention, then the brains behind the choice of names truly succeeded. After seeing those letters, you cannot help but find out more about t.A.T.u., who they are and what kind of music they create.

The music is a young and sassy kind of techno-pop with sparkling arrangements. The first hit song is All the Things She Said, which made number seven in Billboard’s Hot 100 some weeks ago and is also a hit in the Eastern-bloc countries plus Italy, Spain, Sweden, Holland, Norway, Belgium, Finland, Greece and others. The album where it comes from is titled 200 km/h in the Wrong Lane.

Aside from the songs, the album presents a good look at these beautiful girls with the inclusion of the video for All the Things She Said, which was named MTV Video of the Year in Russia and a Behind the Scenes with Julia and Lena interview portion. The other cuts included are Not Gonna Get Us, also a possible hit single, Show Me Love, 30 Minutes, How Soon is Now? Clowns (Can You See Me Now), Malchik Gay, plus a few more in the original Russian language.

From Brazil, the land of Jobim and of the bosa nova, comes the pop duo Sandy & Junior. Only 18 and 19 years old, the brother and sister tandem have been performing together on TV since they were five and six years old. They have sold 12 million albums and have been featured in collaborations with the likes of Andrea Bocelli and Enrique Iglesias. They are also known for sold-out concerts and have also starred in a number of feature films and soap operas, aside from having a regular weekly series.

Nothing has been spared to create a party album that will introduce these two to other parts of the world. Also titled Sandy and Junior, the collection features works by Michael Bolton, Diane Warren plus writers and producers who provided the international breakthrough for acts like S Club 7, Atomic Kitten, Ace of Base, the Backstreet Boys and others. Best of the lot is the first single release, Love Never Fails. Also check out Words are Not Enough, When You Need Somebody and Until I See You Again.

Frou Frou, the name of the group, is French. The album titled Details is in English but was recorded in Switzerland. The performers are singer-songwriter Imogen Heap and songwriter and producer Guy Sigsworth who are both from London. Imogen was formerly a solo act while Guy produced hits for Seal and collaborated with Bjork and Madonna. They decided to do an album together after Guy was asked to produce a cut for one of Imogen’s early recordings. She does all the singing after which they get to work on all the sounds that go into the album.

Nothing can be more symbolic of how totally cosmopolitan pop music has become than Details by Frou Frou. And what is more remarkable is that the album hints at nothing about its origins or that of the artists involved with its production. No barriers here, just hip pop music that appeals to the trendy set. So enter that head-space with the scintillating Let Go, Breathe In, I Must Be Dreaming, Psychobabble, Only Got One, Hear Me Out, Flicks, Dumbing Down Out of Love and the title track.