20 Non English Songs That Reached The US top 10 music chart

In recent years, the popularity of non-English songs has skyrocketed, with K-Pop supergroup BTS leading the way. BTS, also known as Bangtan Sonyeondan, has become a global phenomenon with their infectious music, stunning visuals, and relatable lyrics.

BTS has been breaking down language barriers since their debut in 2013, and their popularity has only continued to grow. Their songs are primarily in Korean, but they often incorporate English lyrics and phrases, making their music accessible to a wider audience.

Their breakout hit, “Dope,” was released in 2015 and became a viral sensation, despite being primarily in Korean. Since then, they’ve continued to top charts and break records with their music, even earning a Grammy nomination for their all-English single, “Dynamite.”

BTS has been credited with helping to bring Korean pop culture to the forefront of the global music scene. Their success has paved the way for other non-English speaking artists to gain recognition and popularity outside of their home countries.

In addition to BTS, other non-English speaking artists have also seen success in recent years. Spanish-language songs, in particular, have become increasingly popular, with artists like Bad Bunny, J Balvin, and Rosalía dominating the charts.

The rise of non-English songs can be attributed to several factors, including the growing popularity of streaming services and social media. These platforms have made it easier for fans to discover and share music from around the world.

Furthermore, the increasing diversity and globalization of music have led to a greater appreciation for different cultures and languages. People are more willing to explore music that is outside of their comfort zone, and non-English songs provide a unique and exciting listening experience.

Shakira make history as the first solo woman to score a Hot 100 top 10 recorded in Spanish. (The group Mocedades’ “Eres Tu [Touch the Wind]” became the first such top 10 with lead female vocals in 1974; see below.)

“Bzrp Music Sessions, Vol. 53” drew 20.2 million U.S. streams, 7.9 million radio airplay audience impressions and 9,000 downloads sold its first full tracking week (Jan. 13-19), according to Luminate. Shakira’s previous four top 10s are sung primarily in English: “Whenever, Wherever” (No. 6 peak in 2001), “Underneath Your Clothes” (No. 9, 2002), “Hips Don’t Lie,” featuring Wyclef Jean (No. 1 for two weeks, 2006), and “Beautiful Liar,” with Beyoncé (No. 3, 2007).

Looking at the other non-English-language top 10s, Bad Bunny tallies the most, with seven (four of which are from his 2022 smash album Un Verano Sin Ti), followed by BTS (five) and PSY (two).

Nine of the 30 songs have reached No. 1 on the Hot 100, including Luis Fonsi and Daddy Yankee’s “Despacito” (featuring Justin Bieber), which spent a then-record-tying 16 weeks at No. 1 in 2017, and Los Del Rio’s “Macarena (Bayside Boys Mix),” which ruled for 14 weeks in 1996. The most recent No. 1 is Coldplay and BTS’ “My Universe,” which contains both Korean and English lyrics, from 2021.

Spanish is the most common non-English language listed below (15 of 30 top 10s), followed by Korean (seven), German (three), French and Italian (two each) and Japanese (one).

Meanwhile, 18 of the 30 top 10s have reached the tier since 2012, following a 16-year break between “Macarena” and PSY’s “Gangnam Style.” The influx coincides with music’s increased globalization, as highlighted by hits from Bad Bunny and BTS, among others.

In chronological order of their peak dates, here are all 30 primarily or all non-English-language songs to reach the Hot 100’s top 10 (with thanks to Paul Haney at Joel Whitburn’s Record Research for research assistance). (The list does not include songs with relatively minimal portions in other languages, such as Enrique Iglesias’ “Bailamos” or Cardi B, Bad Bunny and J Balvin’s “I Like It.”)

Nena, “99 Luftballons”

Peak date: March 3, 1984
Peak position: No. 2
Language: German
Falco, “Rock Me Amadeus”

Peak date: March 29, 1986
Peak position: No. 1 (three weeks)
Language: German
Los Lobos, “La Bamba”

Peak date: Aug. 29, 1987
Peak position: No. 1 (three weeks)
Language: Spanish

Listen here.
Enigma, “Sadeness (Part 1)”

Peak date: April 6, 1991
Peak position: No. 5
Language: Latin/French
Los Del Rio, “Macarena (Bayside Boys Mix)”

Peak date: Aug. 3, 1996
Peak position: No. 1 (14 weeks)
Language: Spanish
PSY, “Gangnam Style”

Peak date: Oct. 6, 2012
Peak position: No. 2
Language: Korean
PSY, “Gentleman”

Peak date: May 4, 2013
Peak position: No. 5
Language: Korean
Luis Fonsi & Daddy Yankee feat. Justin Bieber, “Despacito”

Peak date: May 27, 2017
Peak position: No. 1 (16 weeks)
Language: Spanish

Listen here.
J Balvin & Willy William feat. Beyoncé, “Mi Gente

Peak date: Oct. 21, 2017
Peak position: No. 3
Language: Spanish
BTS, “Fake Love”

Peak date: June 2, 2018
Peak position: No. 10
Language: Korean
Bad Bunny feat. Drake, “MIA”

Peak date: Oct. 27, 2018
Peak position: No. 5
Language: Spanish
BTS feat. Halsey, “Boy With Luv”

Peak date: April 27, 2019
Peak position: No. 8
Language: Korean
BTS, “On”

Peak date: March 7, 2020
Peak position: No. 4
Language: Korean
BTS, “Life Goes On”

Peak date: Dec. 5, 2020
Peak position: No. 1 (one week)
Language: Korean
Bad Bunny & Jhay Cortez, “Dakiti”

Peak date: Dec. 12, 2020
Peak position: No. 5
Language: Spanish
Jose Feliciano, “Feliz Navidad”

Peak date: Jan. 2, 2021
Peak position: No. 6
Language: Spanish

Bad Bunny, “Yonaguni”

Peak date: June 19, 2021
Peak position: No. 10
Language: Spanish
Coldplay x BTS, “My Universe”>

Peak date: Oct. 9, 2021
Peak position: No. 1 (one week)
Language: Korean
Bad Bunny, “Moscow Mule”

Peak date: May 21, 2022
Peak position: No. 4
Language: Spanish

Bad Bunny, “Tití Me Preguntó”

Peak date: May 21, 2022
Peak position: No. 5
Language: Spanish
Bad Bunny, “Despues de La Playa”

Peak date: May 21, 2022
Peak position: No. 6
Language: Spanish

Listen here.
Bad Bunny & Chencho Corleone, “Me Porto Bonito”

Peak date: July 23, 2022
Peak position: No. 6
Language: Spanish
Bizarrap & Shakira, “Bzrp Music Sessions, Vol. 53”

Peak date: Jan. 28, 2023
Peak position: No. 9
Language: Spanish

In conclusion, the popularity of non-English songs has surged in recent years, with BTS leading the way. Their success has helped to break down language barriers and bring Korean pop culture to a global audience. With the rise of streaming services and social media, we can expect to see more non-English speaking artists gain recognition and popularity in the years to come.