Exploring English songs growing up felt like venturing into a tempting yet uncharted lane that looked intimidating initially but became more and more captivating every step of the way. I come from a generation where people my age, or at least in my surroundings, had a ‘collective’ exposure to English songs. Celine Dion’s iconic My Heart Will Go On; music by Enrique Iglesias and Backstreet Boys were among the earliest entries in our English playlist.
Not me stating the obvious, but when I say English songs, I mean foreign music in general, or at least that’s how we perceived it. So when ‘Brazil La La La La…’ played in the waterparks, it meant we had to raise one hand and jump on the spot.
![listenting to english songs Zillennials playlist](https://wp.scoopwhoop.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/squidbedcover.jpg)
That is to say, my childhood was awesome. And if you’ve been a Gen-Z or a cusp Gen-Z-Millennial (Zillenials, as they call it) like me, you’d most definitely relate to this English music playlist that coloured our childhood. If not all, these are the first few English songs we COLLECTIVELY heard and vibed to just because it felt COOL (for the lack of a better word) doing it. Take a look:
1. One Love by Blue
![first english songs for Indian gen zs](https://wp.scoopwhoop.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Screenshot-1444.png)
2. Addicted by Enrique Iglesias
![english songs desi gen z heard first time](https://wp.scoopwhoop.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Screenshot-1454.png)
3. Love Story by Taylor Swift
How she wrote this song in 20 minutes remains a mystery to me!
![Taylor Swift Love Story](https://wp.scoopwhoop.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Screenshot-1447.png)
4. Boulevard Of Broken Dreams by Green Day
![green day english songs zillennials heard](https://wp.scoopwhoop.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Screenshot-1450-1.png)
5. TiK ToK by Kesha
Dancing already?
![first english songs playlist for indian gen z kesha](https://wp.scoopwhoop.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Screenshot-1468.png)
6. Show Me The Meaning Of Being Lonely by Backstreet Boys
![gen z heard these english songs first time](https://wp.scoopwhoop.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Screenshot-1466.png)
7. Lonely by Akon
![Akon Gen Z heard these 26 english songs](https://wp.scoopwhoop.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Screenshot-1455.png)
8. Umbrella by Rihanna
This song will now always remind me of Tom Holland.
![english songs for indian Gen Z Rihanna](https://wp.scoopwhoop.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Screenshot-1479.png)
9. Tonight (I’m Lovin’ You) by Enrique Iglesias
Enrique was a phase I have still not recovered from. BY CHOICE.
![gen z zillennials grew up hearing enrique](https://wp.scoopwhoop.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Screenshot-1470.png)
10. In The End by Linkin Park
‘It starts with one thing…’
![english songs gen z heard](https://wp.scoopwhoop.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Screenshot-1476.png)
11. My Heart Will Go On by Celine Dion
Not to generalise or anything, but this song is quite like the FIRST ENGLISH SONG ANY INDIAN GEN-Z HAS EVER HEARD.
![best english songs of gen z](https://wp.scoopwhoop.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Screenshot-1453-1.png)
12. Summer Of ’69 by Bryan Adams
‘Those were the best days of my life!’ (*sighs in nostalgia*)
![english songs gen z heard](https://wp.scoopwhoop.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Screenshot-1471.png)
13. You Belong With Me by Taylor Swift
There’s a reason why I’ve put this song on number 13. ‘What if I told you none of it is accidental?’
![english songs Gen Z heard](https://wp.scoopwhoop.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Screenshot-1478.png)
14. Baby ft. Ludacris by Justin Bieber
I asked my Instagram friends on Gen-Z about the first English song they recall hearing, and literally so many people said this.
![english songs Gen Z heard](https://wp.scoopwhoop.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Screenshot-1439.png)
15. Hips Don’t Lie by Shakira
![first english songs Gen Z heard](https://wp.scoopwhoop.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Screenshot-1481.png)
16. My Happy Ending by Avril Lavigne
Still the most powerful breakup song!
![first english songs Gen Z heard](https://wp.scoopwhoop.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Screenshot-1483.png)
17. The Ketchup Song by Las Ketchup
Who said “Aserejé ja de jé” and not “AZERE HE HA HEHE“?
![first english songs Gen Z heard](https://wp.scoopwhoop.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Screenshot-1461.png)
18. Quit Playing Games by Backstreet Boys
![desis grew up hearing these 26 english songs](https://wp.scoopwhoop.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Screenshot-1484.png)
19. Love The Way You Lie ft. Rihanna by Eminem
![english songs for indians](https://wp.scoopwhoop.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Screenshot-1486.png)
20. To Brazil by Vengaboys
“This is the national anthem of water parks in India“, reads the first comment from the music video.
![best english songs](https://wp.scoopwhoop.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Screenshot-1488.png)
21. Wake Me Up When September Ends by Green Day
I remember a school friend of mine added this song as their Facebook status because September was the month of half-yearly exams. And yes, that’s also how I heard this song for the very first time.
![Green Day top 26 enlish songs in indian early 2000s](https://wp.scoopwhoop.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Screenshot-1490.png)
22. Girlfriend by Avril Lavigne
![best english songs indians heard](https://wp.scoopwhoop.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Screenshot-1491.png)
23. Best of Both Worlds from Hannah Montana
Day 9000 of missing the best of Disney shows.
![best english songs we heard](https://wp.scoopwhoop.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Screenshot-1493.png?w=1024)
24. I Need You by Marc Anthony
![best english songs for indians](https://wp.scoopwhoop.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Screenshot-1494-1.png)
25. Numb by Linkin Park
![best english songs desis heard linkin park](https://wp.scoopwhoop.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Screenshot-1492.png)
26. Rhythm Divine by Enrique Iglesias
Ending with 26 cos the oldest from Gen-Zs will be 26 this year. Rhythm Divine by Enrique was one of my first English songs, happily introduced into my life with the blessings of my cousins.
![Enrique Iglesias english songs we all heard](https://wp.scoopwhoop.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Screenshot-1460.png)
Which song remains timeless for you?
PS – A special thank you to my friends on Instagram who responded to my story, sharing their very first English songs. Collating this piece brought back lots of happy memories. And I hope it did the same for you as it did for me.