Jade
lastminute.com team member
Music has the powerful ability to transport you somewhere new. It attaches to memories and can remind you of people, events and places. While you’re not able to travel at the moment, we hope this music takes you on a journey to some of the locations that you’ve been dreaming of. We’ve compiled five playlists with songs to transport you to the great music scenes of Germany, Italy, Spain, France and the USA. Close your eyes, listen and you might feel just like you’re there.
This medley of songs will whisk you away to the most beautiful parts of Germany, from the bustling streets of Berlin to the quaint alleys of Heidelberg. The diversity of music in Germany is evident – while Berlin is known for its house and techno scene, and Frankfurt is known for its jazz, there is a lot more to German music than you think.
Many international artists such as Iggy Pop, Elton John and David Bowie, had a love affair with Berlin and they created music inspired by the city. Others sang about the fall of the Berlin Wall, such as Pink Floyd with their hit ‘A Great Day for Freedom’ and David Hasselhoff with ‘Looking for Freedom’.
‘Neue Deutsche Welle’ also really took off in the 80s, with Nena, Peter Schilling and Deutsch Amerikanische Freundschaft becoming big names in the genre. Soon after this, we saw the rise of, ‘Neue Deutsche Härte’ which was born from the heavier sounds of Rammstein and Oomph! The German punk scene has also been growing since the 70s with bands like Die Ärzte and Die Toten Hosen making waves. Hamburger Schule is another genre worth listening to, with bands like Blumfeld and Die Goldenen Zitronen rocking out. Of course, fans of electronic music will know the many gems to come out of Germany with the likes of Kraftwerk and Paul Kalkbrenner. And fans of rap haven’t been forgotten – Bushido and Marteria have made the cut on our playlist.
Fun fact: Over 100bn tracks were streamed in Germany in 2019.
As with Italy, we’ve seen Spain come together through music in these tough times with music being played from balconies. Filled with hope, emotion and perseverance, we’ve chosen songs that are true to the spirit of Spain every day of the year, but particularly in these times of crisis.
While different regions in Spain are known for different kinds of traditional music (for example, Andalusia is known for flamenco while Aragon is known for jota), modern musicians are adding a new spin to the classical sound. For instance, Fuel Fandango take inspiration from the traditional Spanish guitar and add an electronica twist, while Mala Rodríguez and Rosalía combine hip hop with flamenco.
Whatever your taste, our playlist will take you from Málaga to Madrid, from Seville to San Sebastián.
Fun fact:
Most spanish guitars that we see
today originate from the designs of
Andalucian luthier Antonio de
Torres Jurado.
In these challenging times, Italians have proved that music can act as a healer. We’ve all seen the uplifting videos of people singing from their balconies, keeping the community in good spirits. Here is a list of songs chosen by our Italian employees to capture the sound of this wonderful nation, whether that is through songs about Italy or songs by talented Italian musicians.
With Italy known for its opera scene, we had to include the very talented Luciano Pavarotti and Andrea Bocelli, but there are many dimensions to Italian music. From Gué Pequeno to Gemitaiz in the rap scene, to Litfiba or Afterhours in the rock scene, the sound of Italy will get everyone dancing. Pop is also a very prominent genre – Tiziano Ferro, Eros Ramazzotti, Giusy Ferreri are just some of the country’s biggest stars.
Fun fact:
Both the violin and piano were
invented in Italy.
Édith Piaf. David Guetta. Christine and the Queens. The range of French talent is endless. Listen to L’Impératrice and picture a sunny walk through the Jardins du Luxembourg or, for a great rock vibe, listen to Bordeaux’s ultimate band Noir Désir. Alternatively, get a taste of French hip hop, which is heavily influenced by North African culture, with Saïan Supa Crew, MHD and PN. Other popular rappers to listen to include showstoppers Booba and Nekfeu.
‘French touch’ is another genre to explore. It groups together the house music of artists like Daft Punk, Cassius and Étienne de Crécy, to name a few. For some classic vibes, listen to the genre ‘chanson française’ which includes artists like Johnny Hallyday and Jean-Jacques Goldman. Zouk is another popular genre that originated in the French Caribbean islands of Guadeloupe and Martinique. It was popularised by Kassav' in the 80s, who ended up releasing over 20 albums. Whatever your style, we’ve got you covered with this playlist.
Fun fact:
France has its own version of
bagpipes, called cornemuse du centre.
From bluegrass to glam punk, from Motown to metal, from country to hip hop, where do we even begin with the USA? With 50 states, each with their own subcultures and history, the music from this nation is incredibly varied. There is a song for every state, a song for every mood and taste.
If the gentle strumming of a guitar is your vibe, Bob Dylan is your man. If you want to sing the blues, who better with than B.B. King? If you want to put on your dancing shoes and let your hair down, may we suggest the queens of R&B, Beyoncé, Mary J Blige and Alicia Keys? There is also no shame in bopping to pop, so crank up the volume if you’re in the mood for Madonna, Britney or Miley.
Until you can drive through Route 66, we hope some of these classics can take you there.
Fun fact:
Americans spend more than 4.5
hours a day listening to music.
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