Most well known English language song

Subject: Most well known English language song af
From: GUEST,bernieandred
Date: 27 May 24 - 07:06 PM

I am substituting for 2 English as a 2nd language classes & want to perform a couple of songs to the mixed class of Vietnamese, Central American, Ukranian, Iranian,Afghani, etc.
I was thinking of "You Are My Sunshine" but would like a couple more. Any ideas?
When I tried a Google search for "most well known songs in the English language, world wide" I got only pop songs.

Subject: RE: Most well known English language song af
From: GUEST,Steve Shaw
Date: 27 May 24 - 07:14 PM

Amazing Grace?

Subject: RE: Most well known English language song af
From: GerryM
Date: 27 May 24 - 08:42 PM

Happy Birthday to You?
Home on the Range?
God Save the King?
Oh, Susannah?

Subject: RE: Most well known English language song af
From: GUEST
Date: 27 May 24 - 08:56 PM

Thanks for the suggestions. Please keep em coming

Subject: RE: Most well known English language song af
From: GUEST,paperback
Date: 27 May 24 - 09:02 PM

The Old Gray Mare

Subject: RE: Most well known English language song af
From: Helen
Date: 27 May 24 - 10:11 PM

Greensleeves (aka My Lady Greensleeves).

Subject: RE: Most well known English language song af
From: vectis
Date: 27 May 24 - 10:30 PM

Early One Morning.
Nursery Rhymes, lots of those.

Subject: RE: Most well known English language song af
From: Helen
Date: 27 May 24 - 10:52 PM

Although this website's title is Top 150 Folk Songs Every Kid Should Know there are some good songs for all ages on the list. The first 50 have info and video links but the last 100 on the list is just a list - easier to scroll through.

Some songs which caught my attention are Danny Boy, and The Parting Glass, The Ash Grove, and Simon & Garfunkle's songs Scarborough Fair/Canticle (#45) and The Sounds of Silence (#48).

Subject: RE: Most well known English language song af
From: The Sandman
Date: 28 May 24 - 12:44 AM

joe hill, this land is your land, imagine, little boxes, we shall overcome

Subject: RE: Most well known English language song af
From: GUEST,Oriel Wynn-Dawe
Date: 28 May 24 - 02:26 AM

Yellow Submarine.

Subject: RE: Most well known English language song af
From: Helen
Date: 28 May 24 - 02:59 AM

I've been thinking about Danny Boy and the lyrics are relevant for people who have left their home country, left loved ones in the old country, and their loved ones are wishing and hoping to see them again.

Subject: RE: Most well known English language song af
From: GUEST,henryp
Date: 28 May 24 - 06:59 AM

The best known English language folk song? That would be a toss-up between Barbara Allen and Old McDonald had a Farm.

If neither fit the bill, what about a love song? The Bunch of Thyme, perhaps, or I live not where I love.

Subject: RE: Most well known English language song af
From: GUEST
Date: 28 May 24 - 08:44 AM

Country Roads

Subject: RE: Most well known English language song af
From: The Sandman
Date: 28 May 24 - 10:46 AM

last nught i had the strangest dream

Subject: RE: Most well known English language song af
From: gillymor
Date: 28 May 24 - 10:53 AM

Shennandoah

Subject: RE: Most well known English language song af
From: The Og
Date: 28 May 24 - 11:28 AM

This Land is Your Land...

Subject: RE: Most well known English language song af
From: GUEST,Jack Campin
Date: 28 May 24 - 12:51 PM

Auld Lang Syne

Subject: RE: Most well known English language song
From: GUEST
Date: 28 May 24 - 03:28 PM

Thanks for all the great suggestions. I'm going to try Old McDonald because the words are very simple & there's an opportunity for humour.

Subject: RE: Most well known English language song
From: GUEST,Steve Shaw
Date: 28 May 24 - 06:44 PM

Yup.

"Old McDonald was dyslexic
OIEIE"

I'll get me coat...

Subject: RE: Most well known English language song
From: GUEST,.gargoyle
Date: 28 May 24 - 10:38 PM

I suggest the children/pupils should learn a song.

It is WRONG for you to PERFORM as a substitute.

Songs for students to learn are simple and teach language verb tense.

Perhaps, one of the most common taught/sung is:
My hat it has three corners
Three corners has my hat
If it had not three corners
It would not be my hat

You NEED to focus on the objective/purpose/outcome of the brief time. Students need to depart (45 minutes later)... with a new skill...they never had, before they entered the doorway.

Sincerely,
Gargoyle

Substitute teaching, secondary, (12-17) is probably one of the most difficult gigs in the entire world.

I had a "Felix the Kat" magic bag.
Five days of student engagement ... for:

No lesson plan
No paper
No pencil

Primary was standing at the door when students entered and hearing names. Names of "spark-plugs" in the class are always in conversations, as they enter.

Get on the "preferred list" ... reject others.

Subject: RE: Most well known English language song
From: Monique
Date: 29 May 24 - 02:34 AM

Have a look at Mama Lisa's World English language page, we have a lot of children's and trad songs. You can also choose by country.

Subject: RE: Most well known English language song
From: GUEST,.gargoyle
Date: 29 May 24 - 01:24 PM

Monique - what a fabulous resource.

Lots of love and thought went into its creation.

The Netherlands story and visuals of the paper hat is fun.

Sincerely,
Gargoyle


Hours of exploration lie ahead.

Subject: RE: Most well known English language song
From: GUEST,groovy
Date: 29 May 24 - 01:34 PM

Whale meat again

Subject: RE: Most well known English language song
From: GUEST,Steve Shaw
Date: 29 May 24 - 02:53 PM

M. A. B. it's a big horse I'm a Londoner

Subject: RE: Most well known English language song
From: Monique
Date: 29 May 24 - 05:59 PM

Thanks Gargoyle!

Subject: RE: Most well known English language song
From: Georgiansilver
Date: 31 May 24 - 08:08 AM

Aulde lang syne....sung by so many each New Years Eve.
Greensleeves.
The Water is Wide.
Several more that could fit closely.

Subject: RE: Most well known English language song
From: GUEST,IS
Date: 31 May 24 - 08:24 AM

Auld Lang Syne is a Scots language song, not an English language song! At least it is in Burns's original version.

Subject: RE: Most well known English language song
From: GUEST,Grishka
Date: 31 May 24 - 08:32 AM

If the criterion is that the song is sung in English by non-native speakers, "Happy Birthday" is the winner, by far.

Most of the above songs have versions in other languages, either translated or with completely different lyrics. In many cases the English lyrics may not even be the first ones.

"Happy Birthday" has been translated to many languages as well, but for some mysterious reason, none of them (afaik) has made it to any popularity. Children sing it who don't know any other word of English. Inevitably, the pronunciation is a horror to teachers.

A singular phenomenon.

Subject: RE: Most well known English language song
From: GUEST,.gargoyle
Date: 02 Jun 24 - 02:56 PM

A little of the peculiar battle over,
Happy Birthday Song

https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/the-hunt-for-a-new-copyright-free-happy-birthday-song-23924713/


https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/warner-music-settles-happy-birthday-lawsuit-for-14-million-182584/


Sincerely,
Gargoyle

friends have had issues with Fox, ASCAP and BMI, and none quite through the years.

Subject: RE: Most well known English language song
From: leeneia
Date: 04 Jun 24 - 10:58 PM

I suggest Jingle Bells.

I have a friend who is a piano teacher, and she had a pupil from Kenya, who knew Jingle Bells, to her surprise. He said that everybody knows Jingle Bells.

Subject: RE: Most well known English language song
From: Sol
Date: 05 Jun 24 - 07:52 AM

Green Grow The Rashes-O
What Shall We Do With The Drunken Sailor
She'll Be Coming Round The Mountain When She Comes
Oranges & Lemons
My Bonnie lies Over The Ocean
Ally Bally Bee (aka Coulter's Candy)

Subject: RE: Most well known English language song
From: Pappy Fiddle
Date: 08 Jun 24 - 09:17 PM

Re: the Happy Birthday song

There was a rumor that lawyers are supposed to be held to the highest standards of ethics.