Since the 1970s, several songs and albums released by Romanian [A] artists have charted and received certifications in the world's largest music markets. [B] The first Romanian artist to chart in such markets was the nai player Gheorghe Zamfir. His studio albums Music by Candlelight (1978) and Traumland der Panflöte (1979) peaked at number two in the Netherlands and Germany, respectively, while several of his other records released in the 1980s were certified multiple times platinum by Music Canada. Zamfir's singles "Light of Experience (Doina de jale)" and " The Lonely Shepherd" were also successful in selected regions. In the late 1990s and early 2000s, soprano opera singer Angela Gheorghiu charted multiple albums on the US Billboard Classical Albums chart and in European countries. The early 2000s saw twin duo the Cheeky Girls scoring four top ten hits on the UK Singles Chart, with " Cheeky Song (Touch My Bum)" (2002) peaking at number two and being awarded gold by the British Phonographic Industry (BPI).
Singer Haiducii reached the top five of the charts in France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands and Spain in 2004 with " Dragostea din tei", a cover of the 2003 song of the same name by Moldovan group O-Zone. She would go on to have two more top ten hits in Italy around the same time as group Akcent experienced moderate success in some European countries with their single " Kylie" (2005). Inna released several charting singles from her debut studio album Hot (2009), most notably its lead single of the same name in 2008, which reached number one in Spain and the top ten in France, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom. It was one of the first hits of the popcorn genre, a Romanian style of dance music created in the late 2000s that would establish itself as part of the international mainstream over the course of the next few years. Other notable popcorn songs are " Stereo Love" (2009) by Edward Maya and Vika Jigulina, and " Mr. Saxobeat" (2010) by Alexandra Stan, which stand as two of the most successful songs of Romanian origin. [6] [7] Apart from reaching high peak positions and attaining certifications in almost every major music market, "Stereo Love" is the only documented Romanian song to chart in Brazil (number eight), as well as the highest Romanian peak in Canada (number ten in an alternative version released with Canadian singer Mia Martina) and the United States (number 16), while "Mr. Saxobeat" is the only charting Romanian song in Australia (number 19) and the highest-charting release in Japan (number nine).
Throughout the remainder of the 2010s, Inna and Alexandra Stan released other commercially successful singles, such as " Sun Is Up" (2010) and " Get Back (ASAP)" (2011), respectively. Furthermore, Inna would go on to score two top ten hits in Spain with " More than Friends" (2013) and " Cola Song" (2014), while Alexandra Stan charted several top 40 albums and singles in Japan— Saxobeats (2011), " Lemonade" (2012), " Cliché (Hush Hush)" (2012), " Dance" (2014), Unlocked (2014) and Alesta (2016). "Musica" (2011) by the group Fly Project was a top ten hit in Italy, receiving a double platinum certification from Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana (FIMI). Their 2013 single " Toca-Toca" was awarded gold in the same region and peaked at number ten in France. Other notable Romanian successes in the 2010s include "Zalele" (2013) by Claudia and Asu, which peaked at number five in Italy, and " I Need Your Love" featuring Romanian musician Costi, which reached the top 40 in the Netherlands, Spain and the United Kingdom, and peaked at number 66 on the Billboard Hot 100.
◁ | Indicates an artist not born Romanian |
Year | Title | Artist | Peak chart positions | Certifications | |||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
CAN [8] |
FRA [9] |
GER [10] [C] |
JPN [11] |
NLD [12] |
SPA [13] |
UK [14] |
US Classical [15] | ||||
1974 | Flûtes de pan | Gheorghe Zamfir | — | — | 36 | — | — | — | — | — | |
1978 | Music by Candlelight | Gheorghe Zamfir and Harry van Hoof◁ | — | — | — | — | 2 | — | — | — | |
1979 | Traumland der Panflöte | Gheorghe Zamfir | — | — | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | |
1980 | Grands thèmes classiques / Classics by Candlelight | Gheorghe Zamfir and Harry van Hoof◁ | — | — | — | — | 15 | — | — | — | |
The Lonely Shepherd | Gheorghe Zamfir | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
Solitude | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| ||
1982 | Romance | 63 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| |
Tranquility | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| ||
1983 | Childhood Dreams | 65 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| |
1984 | Rhapsody | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| |
The Magic of Zamfir | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| ||
A Christmas Portrait | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| ||
1985 | Fantasy | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| |
1986 | Harmony | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| |
1987 | Encore! | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| |
1996 | Duets & Arias | Roberto Alagna◁ and Angela Gheorghiu | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 6 | |
1997 | La rondine | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 32 | ||
1998 | Gounod: Romero et Juliet | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 38 | ||
1999 | Intemporel | Gheorghe Zamfir | — | 14 | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
2000 | Feeling of Romance | — | — | 79 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
2001 | Tosca | Angela Gheorghiu, Roberto Alagna◁ and Ruggero Raimondi◁ | — | 89 | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
2003 | PartyTime | The Cheeky Girls | — | — | — | — | — | — | 14 | — | |
2004 | Puccini | Angela Gheorghiu | — | 69 | — | — | 16 | — | — | 11 | |
Diva | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 21 | |||
2008 | Spirit of the Andes | Gheorghe Zamfir | — | — | — | — | — | — | 31 | — | |
2009 | Madama Butterfly | Angela Gheorghiu | — | 143 | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
Hot | Inna | — | 9 | — | — | 68 | 77 | 32 | — | ||
2011 | Saxobeats | Alexandra Stan | — | 29 | 76 | 15 | — | — | — | — | |
Homage to Maria Callas – Favourite Opera Arias | Angela Gheorghiu | — | 124 | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
I Am the Club Rocker | Inna | — | 23 | — | 45 | — | — | — | — | ||
2013 | Cliché (Hush Hush) | Alexandra Stan | — | — | — | 53 | — | — | — | — | |
Party Never Ends | Inna | — | — | — | 88 [D] | — | — | — | — | ||
2014 | Unlocked | Alexandra Stan | — | — | — | 21 | — | — | — | — | |
2015 | Inna | Inna | — | — | — | 157 [E] | — | — | — | — | |
2016 | Alesta | Alexandra Stan | — | — | — | 34 | — | — | — | — | |
2018 | Mami | — | — | — | 119 | — | — | — | — | ||
The Best | — | — | — | 131 | — | — | — | — | |||
10 ans des hits! | Inna | — | 154 | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
2022 | Champagne Problems | — | — | — [F] | — | — | — | — [G] | — | ||
"—" denotes an album that did not chart or was not released in that territory. |
Year | Title | Artist | Peak chart positions | Certifications | ||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
AUS [23] |
BRA [24] |
CAN [25] |
FRA [9] |
GER [10] [C] |
ITA [26] |
JPN [27] |
NLD [12] |
SPA [13] |
UK [14] |
US [28] | ||||
1976 | "Light of Experience (Doina de jale)" | Gheorghe Zamfir | — | — | — | — | ― | — | — | 22 | — | 4 | — | |
1977 | " The Lonely Shepherd" | James Last◁ and Gheorghe Zamfir | — | — | — | — | 22 | — | — | 5 | — | — | — | |
1982 | "Blue Navajo" | Gheorghe Zamfir | — | — | — [H] | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
2002 | " Cheeky Song (Touch My Bum)" | The Cheeky Girls | — | — | — | 19 | 52 | — | — | 4 | — | 2 | — | |
2003 | " Take Your Shoes Off" | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 3 | — | ||
"Hooray Hooray (It's a Cheeky Holiday)" | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 3 | — | |||
" Have a Cheeky Christmas" | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 10 | — | |||
"Hip Hop Jam" | Indiggo | — | — | — | — | 57 | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
2004 | "Cheeky Flamenco" | The Cheeky Girls | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 29 | — | |
"Boys and Girls (Xmas Time Love)" | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 50 | — | |||
" Dragostea din tei" | Haiducii | — | — | — | 2 | 2 | 1 | — | 4 | 4 | — | — |
| |
"Nara Nara Na Na (Mne s Toboy Horosho)" | — | — | — | — | — | 5 | — | — | — | — | — | |||
" More 'N' More (I Love You)" | — | — | — | — | — | 8 | — | — | — | — | — | |||
2005 | " Kylie" | Akcent | — | — | — | 21 | 91 | — | — | 4 | — | — | — | |
"Raisa" | Fly Project | — | — | — | 51 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
2006 | " Jokero" | Akcent | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 27 | — | — | — | |
"Be My Boyfriend" | Indiggo | — | — | — | — | 89 | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
2007 | "Angels (Love Is the Answer)" | Morandi | — | — | — | 16 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
2008 | " When You Leave (Numa Numa)" | Alina | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — [I] | |
" I'll Do You Like a Truck" | Geo Da Silva | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 37 | — | — | — | ||
" Hot" | Inna | — | — | 97 | 6 | 80 | 33 | — | 4 | 1 | 6 | — [J] |
| |
2009 | " Déjà Vu" | Bob Taylor and Inna | — | — | — | 6 | — | — | — | 9 | 15 | 60 | — |
|
"I Can Feel" | David Deejay featuring Ela Rose | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 91 | — | — | — | ||
"So Bizarre" | David Deejay featuring Dony | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 100 | — | — | — | ||
" Stereo Love" | Edward Maya featuring Vika Jigulina◁ or with Mia Martina◁ | — | 8 | 10 [K] | 1 | 4 | 4 | — | 5 | 1 | 4 | 16 | ||
" This Is My Life" | Edward Maya featuring Vika Jigulina◁ | — | — | — | 2 | — | — | — | 42 | — | — [M] | — | ||
" Love" | Inna | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 31 | 31 | — | — | ||
" Amazing" | — | — | — | 2 | 36 | 95 | — | 23 | — | 14 | — | |||
"Tyalee" | Sahara [N] | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 47 | — | — | — | ||
"A Beautiful Day" | Tom Boxer featuring Jay | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 34 | — | — | ||
2010 | " Mr. Saxobeat" | Alexandra Stan | 19 | — | 25 | 6 | 1 | 1 | 9 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 21 | |
" I Wanna" | Bob Sinclar◁ and Sahara [N] featuring Shaggy◁ | — | — | — | — | 87 | — | — | 84 | — | — | — | ||
" Disco Romancing" | Elena | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 59 | — | — | — | ||
" Midnight Sun" | Elena | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 21 | — | — | — | ||
" 10 Minutes" | Inna featuring Play & Win | — | — | — | 8 | — | — | — | 76 | — | — | — | ||
" Sun Is Up" | Inna | — | — | — | 2 | 26 | 30 | — | 7 | 22 | 15 | — [O] | ||
" Playing with Fire" | Paula Seling and Ovi | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 200 | — | ||
"Lonely Heart" | Radio Killer | — | — | — | 37 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
2011 | " Get Back (ASAP)" | Alexandra Stan | — | — | — | 19 | 73 [P] | 24 | — | 26 | 25 | 56 | — | |
"Tell Me Why" | Amna | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 29 | — | — | ||
"I Need You More" | Crush and Alexandra featuring Leslie◁ | — | — | — | 54 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
"Never Be Alone" | Deepside Deejays | — | — | — | — | — | 99 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
"Hot Girls" | Dony and Elena | — | — | — | — | 91 | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
"Your Captain Tonight" | Elena | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 95 | — | — | — | ||
"Musica" | Fly Project | — | — | — | 90 | — | 6 | — | — | — | — | — |
| |
" Club Rocker" | Inna featuring Flo Rida◁ | — | — | — | 32 [Q] | 55 | 89 | 55 | 79 | — | — | — | ||
" Un Momento" | Inna featuring Juan Magán◁ | — | — | — | 42 | — | 88 | — | 98 | 46 | — | — | ||
"Ya BB" | Play & Win | — | — | — | 69 | — | 87 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
"All My People" | Sasha Lopez◁ and Andreea D featuring Broono◁ | — | — | 41 | — | 42 | — | — | — | 30 | — | — |
| |
" Deep in Love" | Tom Boxer and Morena featuring J Warner◁ | — | — | — | — | — | 37 | — | — | — | — | — |
| |
2012 | " 1.000.000" | Alexandra Stan featuring Carlprit◁ | — | — | — | — | — | 34 | — | — | — [R] | — | — | |
" Lemonade" | Alexandra Stan | — | — | — | — | — | 25 | 27 | — | — | — | — |
| |
" Cliché (Hush Hush)" | — | — | — | — | — | 28 | 11 | — | — | — | — | |||
"Back In My Life" | Fly Project | — | — | — | — | — | 43 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
" Caliente" | Inna | — | — | — | — | — | 99 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
" Crazy Sexy Wild" | — | — | — | — | — | — | 49 | — | — | — | — | |||
"Ok" | — | — | — | 185 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |||
" Zaleilah" | Mandinga | — | — | — | — | 92 | — | — | — | — | — [S] | — | ||
2013 | " All My People" | Alexandra Stan vs. Manilla Maniacs | — | — | — | — | — | 55 | 50 | — | — | — | — | |
"Zalele" | Claudia and Asu | — | — | — | — | — | 5 | — | — | — | — | — |
| |
" Toca-Toca" | Fly Project | — | — | — | 10 | — | 36 | — | — | 17 | — | — | ||
" Baby, It's OK" | Follow Your Instinct◁ featuring Alexandra Stan | — | — | — | — | 17 | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
" More than Friends" | Inna featuring Daddy Yankee◁ | — | — | — | 92 | — | 52 | — | — | 7 | — | — |
| |
" In Your Eyes" | Inna featuring Yandel◁ | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 31 | — | — | ||
"Portilla de Bobo" | LoL Deejays◁ vs. Minelli and Follow Your Instinct◁ | — | — | — | 52 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
2014 | " Thanks for Leaving" | Alexandra Stan | — | — | — | — | — | 83 | — | — | — | — | — | |
" Cherry Pop" | — | — | — | — | — | — | 64 | — | — | — | — | |||
" Dance" | — | — | — | — | — | — | 25 | — | — | — | — | |||
" Mamma Mia (He's Italiano)" | Elena | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 47 | — | — | ||
" Cola Song" | Inna featuring J Balvin◁ | — | — | — | — | 77 | 93 | — | — | 8 | — | — |
| |
" Miracle" | Paula Seling and Ovi | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 174 | — | ||
2015 | " We Wanna" | Alexandra Stan and Inna featuring Daddy Yankee◁ | — | — | — | — | — | 60 | 72 | — | 83 | — | — |
|
" I Need Your Love" | Shaggy◁ featuring Mohombi◁, Faydee◁ and Costi | — | — | 74 | 147 | 91 | — | — | 10 | 25 | 36 | 66 | ||
2016 | " Balans" | Alexandra Stan featuring Mohombi◁ | — | — | — | — | — | — | — [T] | — | — | — | — | |
"Love On Repeat" | Dave Ramone◁ featuring Minelli | — | — | — | — | 87 | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
2017 | " Yodel It!" | Ilinca and Alex Florea | — | — | — | — | 93 | — | — | 90 | — | — [U] | — | |
2018 | " Miami" | Manuel Riva featuring Alexandra Stan | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — [V] | |
2021 | " It Don't Matter" | Alok◁, Sofi Tukker◁ and Inna | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — [W] | |
"Summer's Not Ready" | Flo Rida◁ featuring Inna and Timmy Trumpet◁ | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — [X] | ||
" Up" | Inna featuring Sean Paul◁ | — | — | — | 125 | — [Y] | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
" Rampampam" | Minelli | — | — | — | — | — [Z] | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
2022 | " Redrum" | Sorana and David Guetta◁ | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 71 | — | — | — | |
" Llámame" | Wrs | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 91 | — [AA] | — | ||
2023 | "Rock My Body" | Inna with R3hab◁ and Sash!◁ | — | — | — | 32 | — | — | — | 21 | — | — | — |
|
2024 | "Queen of My Castle" | Kris Kross Amsterdam◁ with Inna | — | — | — | 134 | — | — | — | 41 | — | — | — | |
"—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory. |