Do you know of any songs that an average person wouldn’t easily find on the internet, but is still worth listening at least once in a lifetime. I highly encourage music that isn’t in English.
Okay these are ‘obscure’ in the fact that not a lot of people know of these particular performances or remixes/covers.
Bluegrass instrumental cover of “Taylor” by Jack Johnson that is a very beautiful version. If I ever got married, I’d probably want this to be the song playing. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q23KUT6W8HA
Another amazingly beautiful song: Roads Must Roll https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U7DYYQ4q4Go
This remix of “Sound of Silence” used in this emotionally powerful video for hearing impaired that I stumbled into over 10 years ago. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bo7fAjfp098
This guitar instrumental cover of Billie Jean by Michael Jackson that this amazing kid does https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CgVqX0a49HM
Throwing Fire by Ronald Jenkees You wanna get pumped listening to a guy rock out on a keyboard? This dude has some amazing jams. (I also recommend Disorganized Fun, Stay Crunchy, Guitar Sound, etc) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0O2aH4XLbto
Destiny by Zero 7 before they were really big, and before Sia blew up as a pop artist. This particular version is really tight. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xxx_MwcfbEs
Hip Hop violin by Paul Dateh and Inka One. Its old, the video quality is awful, but the music is. Amazing. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=36Xt-XeWnHM
I’ll probably add some more as I think of them because I love music.
Lebanese Blonde by Thievery Corporation Okay this is a well known song because it was used in a popular movie called Garden State, but not many people know the band outside of ‘oh yeah that cool song from Garden State!’ But this is such a talented band, if you can see a live show of theirs, do it. One of the best concerts I’ve ever been to in my life. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1t7W6NtTKAw
Cover of No Diggity by The Regulars https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1be7E48Yhas
Broken in All the Right Places by I Am Jen A woman I found on YouTube over 10 years ago https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=832YvQHzFqg
1976 by RJD2 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HC-FGtZrPkU
Staying’ Alive instrumental cover by Luca Stricagnoli https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=buH9qCgK_Qk
Man, I have not heard the name “Ronald Jenkees” for years.
I love his enthusiasm for music so much, makes me smile to this day.
Thievery touring member Frank Orrall is also the lead singer for Poi Dog Pondering, which has a totally different take on world music. Their Pomegranate album is absolutely great, and a notable song from it is Complicated: https://youtu.be/-KLZMKNs7qY
For a cover, they have an awesome version of That’s the Way Love Is: https://youtu.be/k7iaA7x9oc4?si=aHd5ZJsR7KbqFy7o but I haven’t found a high quality audio YouTube version of it.
Not sure if this counts as “obscure”, but one of my favorite songs is Itte by Yorushika. Not only is it a bop, but the lyrics are surprisingly melancholic and dark for such an upbeat song.
As for a band I think is criminally underrated, perhaps check out Evening Light by Vansire.
Here is a little bit of older Canadian indie music you might enjoy. “Local Rabbits - Sally Anne’s Style Denial”
If you dig that try “Stomp your British knights down” same band
This is a old local band from 2000’s that I seen a handful of times when I lived in England https://youtu.be/NcmZZlbeAco?si=6jLkLK9NbxAG_OBt they played some shows with something about Dave before they turned into a pop band.
I bought an old iPod at a garage sale awhile ago and this was on it. It took a surprising amount of searching to find, given just the artist’s name and song title.
It could be an outtake from Velvet Underground’s Loaded. The singer even sounds like a young Lou Reed.
Pure 80’s pop of The Lightning Seeds https://youtu.be/lbqMD7YrGGQ
Growing up in the 80’s, I had never encountered this. Found it randomly last year and it captures that cheesy, but hopefully romantic, danceable vibe.
A very calming and acoustic piece: https://youtu.be/6M4d2SmhSP8
An almost 20 minute metal journey on leaving everything you know behind in search of something greater: https://youtu.be/bw3UygAi2oo
Instrumental: Joe Satriani - The Forgotten, Pt. 2
Old Shriekback, certainly, but they had some success then, so let’s talk new Shriekback. How are these not considered modern rock classics by boomers everywhere I don’t understand:
Shriekback - The Fire Has Brought Us Together
Then there’s The Sparks, who seem to have a measure of success with 100k views, but also are sadly underrated these days, they are Devoing like it’s going out of style, which it is. Nothing is as good as they say it is.
These fuckers are an acquired taste, but try them and you’ll be praising The Adapter
Chilly’s rap. Chilly’s existential rap.
This live performance of Avishai Cohen’s Remembering.
Wicked Light, what a song.
This craziness from Zorn’s Book of Angels.
This performance of Broken Mirror by MM&W
Edit: this (now unlisted) performance of Sunrise by the latest incarnation of Korai Orom
I’ve been listening to a lot of post-hardcore punk lately. To cherry pick a few of my favorites from lesser known bands:
I remember hearing this band on CBC radio 3, years ago, and I thought they had a bunch of catchy songs. 36 views on YouTube and not much on Spotify.
https://open.spotify.com/track/2Upb8b9YEBdpF4p8OO51Qh
From a long gone local Denver band. Saw them play live a few times in bars around town and this track hit me just right.
Instrumental only so it qualifies as non-English. :D
if you liked the Owl City - Fireflies song you might appreciate this genius synth song it was stolen from: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=0r4iUEh2MYI
Cool song, but I don’t really see how fireflies was “stolen from” this.
Peel Dream Magazine - Pad https://youtu.be/rAssFZs5oZU This song reminds me a bit of Toro y Moi, but the next song is pretty different.
Peel Dream Magazine - Reiki https://youtu.be/gPsnUnHQR0g
Prince Rama - Your Life in the End https://youtu.be/jmA1cI1Uxew
Rahill - Growing Pains https://youtu.be/Tx3y83lu3P0 I love this song and despite Rahill collaborating with Beck on a song, this one seems relatively rare.
