Let’s set sail and discover music around the world. On this cruise, pop music charts in different countries are our regular ports of call.
Rather than going through the chart toppers countdown style, we’ll move sideways instead: one song per country at a time, performed by homegrown artists.
The songs are all handpicked. The posts are written by a human (ignore the typos!). If you like any of the featured songs, feel free to reply to the post and we can chat!
| Captain | @chunshek |
“Don't listen to what people say, because they don’t know me like you know me.” Surinamese R&B singer-songwriter just got married in June. The single “Bouwen met jou” (Building with you), released back in March about starting a new life with a lover, was a personal testimony of love to his fiancée.
№.5 in #Suriname
Lloyd de Meza – “Bouwen met jou”
Listen/Watch: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sJLwzThUsp4
Complete chart: https://nationaletop40.sr/top-40-26-juni-tot-3-juli-2025/
“I'm stuck in times that I no longer control. Can you help me? I want to come home. The flowers are blooming. I can't go outside anymore, because the scent is inspired by your skin.” Swedish singer Lia Lindstén proves that “Mitt hjärta av guld” (My heart of gold) is not fit for dealing with breakups.
№.24 in #Sweden
Lia Lindstén – “Mitt hjärta av guld”
Listen/Watch: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CV7VLKk29Q0
Complete chart: https://sverigetopplistan.se/chart/41/?dspy=2025&dspp=26
Following the chart success of “Capaz (Merengueton)”, Alleh & Yorghaki are back with “La Culpa (Track 11)” (The blame). Here’s a curiosity: Track 11 from their debut album “La Ciudad” was only 14 seconds long, so maybe the parenthesis was a confession of putting in that filler track in the first place.
№.53 in #Spain
Alleh & Yorghaki – “La Culpa (Track 11)”
Listen/Watch: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6qhavljNtKs
Complete chart: https://www.elportaldemusica.es/lists/top-100-canciones/2025/25
Vietnamese indie-pop singer-songwriter Đinh Quang Minh and pop idol Hà An Huy delivers a different kind of ballad with “Nằm Bên Anh” (Lying next to you). I don’t think I’ve seen a music video where the lead singer’s head is transposed onto a walking hand with fingers as limbs.
№.8 in #Vietnam
Minh Đinh × Hà An Huy – “Nằm Bên Anh”
Listen/Watch: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NH2ddCBFDLQ
Complete chart: https://www.officialseacharts.com/weeklychart
“Damn baby, life’s a bitch. I’m bitter wormwood, you’re peppermint. And damn, the universe, the three of us are in a labyrinth.” Macedonian singer-songwriter Тамара Тодевска (Tamara Todevska) co-wrote “Лавиринт” (Labyrinth) with lyricist Игор Џамбазов (Igor Dzambazov).
№.4 in #NorthMacedonia
Тамара Тодевска × Игор Џамбазов – “Лавиринт”
Listen/Watch: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rUqF1X1O2Vg&t=76s
Complete chart: http://www.cityradio.com.mk/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=2113&Itemid=28
Venezuelan funk-disco duo Los Amigos Invisibles (The invisible friends) teamed up with Jonaz, frontman of Mexican electro band Plastilina Mosh, and Venezuelan urban folk singer Mari, on the dance track “Wiki Wiki”. The duo are on tour in Europe until July 18, and in North America in August and September.
№.9 in #Venezuela
Los Amigos Invisibles × Jonaz × Mari – “Wiki Wiki”
Listen/Watch: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7jQCgStGhhE
Complete chart: https://www.recordreport.com.ve/publico/top100/
Slovak band Sám Sebou, comprising brothers Matúš and Marek Fifik, and cousin Róbert Faith, have just their summer hit. The music video of “Mám sa fajn” (I’m fine) features the three of them on the idyllic Slovak countryside with their pickup truck and horses, before arriving at an outdoor dinner party. What a fine way to live!
№.69 in #Slovakia
Sám Sebou – “Mám sa fajn”
Listen/Watch: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8tXN1XOJbr4
Complete chart: https://ifpicr.cz/hitparada/40?weekId=2969
“I was pleading for you to listen to me. I know we are many. We cry to You.” South African afro-house singer-songwriter MaWhoo teamed up with vocalists GL_Ceejay and Thukuthela, and producer Jazzworx, on the spiritual Zulu-language track “Bengicela” (I was pleading).
№.1 in #SouthAfrica
MaWhoo × GL_Ceejay × Thukuthela × Jazzworx – “Bengicela”
Listen/Watch: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mr7cjiP9PYo
Complete chart: https://theofficialsacharts.co.za/charts/local-international-streaming-chart-top-50-week-25-2025-2/
Having joined country-rap duo Hagle and up-and-coming artist Johnny Skinnvest in “Fest i Trøndelag” earlier this year, Norwegian pop singer Carina Dahl drops her own country hit “PickUp Truck” for the summer. Dahl will be on tour from now until September 20.
№.90 in #Norway
Carina Dahl – “PickUp Truck”
Listen/Watch: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A4-UbxShIog
Complete chart: https://topplista.no/charts/singles/2025-w26/
Before getting into music, half-Atayal singer 董柏霖 (PoLin Tung) was a professional dancer, having studied ballet since 10. “足夠的失落” (Perfectly Loss) is the 4th single from his 2nd studio album “允許萬物破碎” (Fragments of Becoming), for which he was nominated for Best Mandarin Male Singer at the 36th Golden Melodies.
№.10 in #Taiwan
柏霖 – “足夠的失落”
Listen/Watch: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3_C6BznUvmg
Complete chart: https://www.hitoradio.com/newweb/chart_1_1.php
