Who are the most important artists that aren't from the major English speaking countries?

Musically they are very important, tastes aside

 

And Freddie Mercury was born in Tanzania.

 

Gilberto Gil

 

I don't know who is most important but Hatsune Miku from Japan has more recorded songs released than anyone else in the world. Of course she's not really an artist but a software package.

 

Horst Jankowski!

 

I am a dinosaur.

 

Nico

 

Jacques Brel

 

Os Mutantes

 

TETSU YAMAUCHI


Ron Wood, Tetsu Yamauchi, Rod Stewart

 

Heino

 

Camilo sesto

 

Serge Gainsbourg surement!

 

Rush, Triumph, April Wine or Tragically Hip, all from the great white North!

 

If ever there was a Master of the Pan Flute...

 

And they are not english speaking?

 

alright then smarty pants.....Celine Dion

 

Plastic People Of The Universe - Czechoslovakia
P***y Riot - Russia

 

Cat Stevens (Greece)

 

According to my accumulation/collection, with music not having English lyrics, I'd have to say:

Antonio Carlos Jobim
Clannad
Astrud Gilberto
Jorge Ben
Angelique Kidjo
Os Mutantes
Kraftwerk
Los Machucambos
Tamba Trio
Mahotella Queens
Los Indios Tabajaras
Meic Stevens
The Pizzicato Five

Honorable mentions to The Spotnicks, '60s intrumental group from Sweden, and Shonen Knife and Puffy Ami-Yumi who did record some numbers in Japanese (even if they were only used as bonus tracks on the American editions).

 

Gipsy Kings

 

I was just about to post the same thing. At least he got in before somebody tried to suggest The Beatles.

From the Arab world, Oum Kalthoum.

 

MANU CHAO.......popular all over the world except the US and UK