Popular music in the European Union

Youth of Estonia probably knows many artists from GBR, Scandinavia and Germany. I assume that I’m not wrong if I say the popular music of other European countries is unknown territory for majority of young people (was partly for me too). I think that people should look for different kinds of music and not only listen to so called mainstream pop-music (of course everyone chooses his/her own favourite artists and „that is not someone else’s business”). In my opinion music unites people, when someone listens to „X nation’s” music then he/she probably feels some kind of connection with that „nation X”.
In the following list I introduce some artists from 10 EU countries. The list is subjective, but I tried not to follow my own music taste and chose different kinds of artists. I hope you’ll find something interesting.

France:
1) Manu Chao (he was born in Spain) – his style is latin-folk (King of the Bongo).

Greece:
1) Vangelis – composer, whose music is a mix of electronical and classical music; he ha been member of several proge-rock bands, for example Aphrodite’s Child (The Four Horseman ). I’m pretty sure that you have heard some of Vangelis’s compositions – especially his film-music(Conquest of paradise ; Chariots of Fire ).

Spain:
1) Ska-P – band, which plays ska-punk music (Cannabis).

Poland:
1) Muscovite – band, which makes alternative rock music (Dla Ciebie).
2) Kapela Ze Wsi Warszawa (in English Warsaw Village Band) – their music is mix of polish folk and modern music (In the forest ).

Czech Republic:
1) Tata Bojs – their style is alternative-rock-electronic (Atention Aux Hommes!)..

Austria:
1) Summoning – they play epic heavy metal music which is inspired by Tolkien’s books (Passing Khazad Dum ).
2) Christina Stürmer – she makes typical mainstream pop-rock music (Nie Genug ).

Hungary:
1) Omega – old band from socialistic era, which makes arenged rock – something like Moody Blues (Gyöngyhajú lány, this song is well-known even in Estonia; mille name of the English version is The Girl With Pearl's Hair).

Belgium:
1) Vive la Fete – they play electronic popular music (Touche le Pas )

Portugal:
1) Madredeus – band which was formed in Ribero (in 1985); it makes folk music (O Pastor).

Italy:
1) Zucchero – artist with hoarse voice, he sings blues-influenced pop-rock (Blue).

EL-i tegevusest seoses levimuusikaga:

With Breaking the Borders award, the European Commission, in partnership with the European Music Industry and MTV, wishes to celebrate and promote the richness and diversity of European music (information ).
European Music Office (EMO) is closely linked with EU. EMO is supported by European Union, it also manages European projects. On EMO’s webpage it is said: The European Music Office is an international non-profit association bringing together international and national professional organisations, associations and federations from the music sector within Europe. It represents through its members and associates more than 600,000 people from all music genres and sectors (authors, composers, performers, publishers, producers, managers; those involved in live music, education and training, etc.), thus representing nearly all the European music professionals. It is, along with its members and other trade organisations and national institutions, an association that promotes the diversity and represents the interests of European music at European level and worldwide.