The 6 Most Translated Songs of All Time

Last Updated On: February 24, 2021 by The Migration Translators

1. Pop songs
When it comes to song translation of pop songs “This Too Shall Pass” sung by the United States rock band OK Go is the most translated pop song of all time. It was first released in 2010 and was heard often in a variety of shows, like the television series “My Generation” and “The Vampire Diaries.” It was heard also in the movie ‘Vow’s soundtrack which was first released in 2012. This song can be heard in 18 different languages.

2. Christmas Carols
For Christmas carols, “Silent Night” comes out first as the most translated song translation and this is in more than 100 languages. Joseph Mohr, an Austrian pastor wrote the original song. The music to the song was composed by the choir director and organist Franz Xaver Grube. The first title for this carol was “Stille Nacht, Heilige Nacht.” It was first heard in 1818 on Christmas Eve at Oberndorf in St. Nicholas Church.

3. Hymns
“Amazing Grace.” a hymn written by clergyman and poet John Newton in 1779, has had the honor of having its song translated into 50 or more languages which include Spanish, German, Inuit, Russian, French, Cherokee, and English.

4. Children’s Songs
“It’s a Small World (After All),” written by The Sherman Brothers in 1963, was written for a Disney production but it wasn’t under copyright rules. It has since been translated into more than 25 languages and is one of the most translated songs for children.

5. Birthday Songs
In 1998, the Guinness Book of World Records stated that the song, “Happy Birthday to You” has the status as being the most recognized English song in English. Patty Hill, a Kentucky kindergarten principal, with her sister wrote this song in 1893. It has been translated into at least 30 languages, which is one of the most translated songs for birthdays.

6. Folk Songs
The most translated Filipino song “Anak” was written by Freddie Aguilar, a folk singer and means daughter or son was first sung in Manila in 1977 at the 1st Metropop Song Festival when it became a finalist. By 2015 it has been translated into 27 languages one of the most translated songs in the folk song genre it has been and released in 56 countries around the world. It was a song featured in “Gangnam Blues,” a South Korean film.