Christmas is a great time to explore the world through the power of music! Many songs we’re familiar with in English are also sung worldwide in every language ever, and they sound so cool! Here are some of this year’s favorites from Que lo Kayslee and The Fangirl Fulfilled. Enjoy!
“El Burrito de Belen” (Spanish)
First on the list is this adorable Spanish song which, believe it or not, isn’t about food 😁😆😅. It’s actually a story about riding a little donkey (burro) to Bethlehem to see Jesus. So adorable, plus the tune is very catchy. The version I found on Spotify is by La Rondallita.
“Vive le vent” (French)
This is the French version of Jingle Bells, but it’s so much cooler than the original! The version I like best is by Marie-Eve Janvier and Jean-François Breau and has a vaguely Western (American) feel to it, which I appreciate. The lyrics talk about the wind moving through the trees and people getting ready for Christmas and the new year, with older generations sharing their memories. So much cooler!!
“Ela tin protochronia” by Sok FM & Friends (Greek)
I have no idea what this song is about, but I found it on a Greek Christmas music playlist and it sounds soooo cool! Definitely not the type of Christmas music we’re used to listening to, this song combines a 🔥 beat with some soulful vocals and even a hint of strings. Pretty sure the word Hristougenna means Christmas, but that’s all I can give you 😅😹 such an excellent song to jam to though.
“O Holy Night” by Etta James (English/French)
This song is Etta James’ cover of the well-known “O Holy Night.” It starts out in English, but she sings the second half in a different language that sounds like French. I actually just googled the song and discovered that our version is translated from the original French! Super cool, and Etta James’ voice definitely does it justice.
“A Song I Can’t Even Type With My English Keyboard” by Nyusha (Russian)
This is another song that is 100% beyond my comprehension, but it’s super fun to listen to. She uses a beautiful instrumental track and then combines it with a gorgeous singing voice for a wonderful experience.
“Navidad en Mi Tierra” by Trio los Cangrejos (Spanish)
This song is from Paraguay, and has a soothing feel to it. Beautiful guitar trills (I think that’s what they’re called), harmonies, and a soulful lead vocalist. The lyrics talk about Christmas in Paraguay and a general sense of well-being. The rest of this album contains songs from all over Latin America. Definitely worth a listen!
I hope you’ve enjoyed this list of international Christmas songs, and that you are inspired to find more songs in whatever languages you enjoy. Let me know what you find!
Happy Saturday!
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