Foreign songs about flowers: world classics and popular hits

Honeysuckle RoseAnita O’Day

Anita O’Day – Honeysuckle Rose

“Honeysuckle Rose” is a flower with a sweet fragrance and nectar, and the Japanese native suikazura (Japanese honeysuckle) is one variety.

The song is one of the jazz standards, and its lyrics liken a beloved person to a honeysuckle rose—quite sweet and a bit suggestive.

Perhaps for that reason, it’s often performed instrumentally or sung by female vocalists.

Rose Gives a LillyYuck

11 Rose Gives A Lilly – Yuck

This song is by the British indie rock band Yuck.

The group was originally formed mainly by members of Cajun Dance Party, and their sound could be described as airy power pop.

Among their tracks is this song, Rose Gives a Lily.

Days of Wine and RosesElla Fitzgerald

Days of Wine and Roses – Ella Fitzgerald

The Japanese title “Sake to Bara no Hibi” (“Days of Wine and Roses”) is famous as one of the jazz standards, but it was originally the theme song for an American film of the same name.

(It seems the film itself wasn’t much of a hit.

) However, the theme song won the Academy Award for Best Original Song, and it has since been covered by many musicians up to the present day.

Violets For Your FursMatt Dennis

Matt Dennis – “Violets For Your Furs” (1957)

Known in Japan by the title “Violets for Your Furs,” this song is one of the jazz standards.

It was composed and also sung by Matt Dennis, who was a jazz singer-songwriter.

With its contrast of violets against fur and its slightly affected lyrics that evoke spring despite it being winter, it’s a love song with a suave touch.

Marygold SkyDaryl Hall & John Oates

Daryl Hall & John Oates – Marigold Sky

The American blue-eyed soul duo that has been active since the mid-1970s is Daryl Hall & John Oates.

This song is the title track from their album released in the 1990s, Marigold Sky.

The color of the sky on the album cover looks like the color of the marigold flower.

MoonflowerSantana

Moonflower by Santana

Santana is an American Latin rock band centered around guitarist Carlos Santana.

The track bearing the same name, Moonflower, appears on their 1977 album Moonflower.

“Moonflower” refers to the plant commonly known as night-blooming morning glory (yorugao in Japanese).

Like a RoseMeat Loaf ft. Jack Black

Meat Loaf – Like A Rose

It’s not unusual to compare a beautiful woman to a rose, but the woman sung about as “she’s like a rose” in this song might have quite the femme fatale vibe.

Meat Loaf appears alongside actor and comedian Jack Black, who he’s said to be a longtime friend of.