World Music Day: Indian Music in America

When I started writing this, I typed out “In the last two years, we have seen Indian movies and music coming to the international forefront.” But in actuality, countries like Germany, the UAE, and even Brazil have showcased and enjoyed Indian cinema for years. American audiences have actually joined us late in the game. From the blockbuster success of "RRR" in the awards circuit last year, to Diljit Dosanjh's historic performance at Coachella 2023 and appearance on "The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon" on June 18th, and the Los Angeles premiere of "Heeramandi" earlier this year, Indian entertainment is now capturing American audiences' attention like never before.

While there is a newfound interest and push in this movement, the influence of Indian music in particular has been present in American entertainment for many years, often in ways that are not explicitly recognized. Here are some songs and artists that you might not have realized were inspired by Indian music.

The Beatles (Norwegian Wood)
The Beatles have a rich history of embracing Indian music and even spirituality. George Harrison not only played the sitar in "Norwegian Wood" but also continued to create music influenced by his Hindu beliefs after the Beatles broke up.

The Black Eyed Peas (Don’t Phunk With My Heart)
The Black Eyed Peas have incorporated Indian influences into multiple songs. "Don’t Phunk With My Heart" samples "Yeh Mera Dil" from the Bollywood film "Don" and includes melodies from "Ae Naujawan Hai Sab Kuch Yahan" from "Apradh."

Britney Spears (Toxic)
"Toxic" samples "Tere Mere Beech Mein" from the Bollywood movie "Ek Duje Ke Liye," infusing Britney Spears' hit with Indian musical elements while making it one of her most successful songs. Fun fact: One of the actors who features in this music video, Martin Henderson, also stars opposite Aishwarya Rai in the film “Bride and Prejudice.”

CJ (Whoopty)
The popular song "Whoopty," catapulted to fame through TikTok, heavily samples "Sanam Re" from the Bollywood film of the same name, showcasing Indian music's appeal across digital platforms.

Erick Sermon (React)
"React" samples "Chandi Ka Badan" from the Bollywood movie "Taj Mahal," brings Hindi lyrics and melodies into the hip-hop genre, illustrating the cross-cultural compatibility of Indian and Western music.

Bonus Video
Watch Timbaland discuss his influence from Bollywood in this interesting video.

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