Global Music Stars Who Haven’t Quite Hit The High Notes In America

American movie fans who’ve already seen the “A Complete Unknown” have a chance to check out another musician biopic this weekend, but the subject may not be as familiar as Bob Dylan.

“Better Man” is focused on the life and career of British singer Robbie Williams, who has been a global superstar since the early 1990s despite never gaining traction in the United States.

In fact, Williams’ 1997 hit, “Angels,” his best known song stateside, only reached No. 53 on the charts, while his biggest American chart success came from singing backup vocals on Take That’s No. 7 1995 hit, “Back For Good.” 

Although the film is getting decent reviews, it may not make Williams recognizable in America. That’s partly because the film portrays him as a computer-generated ape.

As a result, Variety predicts the film will earn $2 million from only 1,200 venues, but many audience members may walk away at least singing “Angels,” which is featured prominently in the film.

But Williams isn’t the only singing superstar who, despite charting globally, hasn’t hit the high notes of U.S. success.

Others include...

Kylie Minogue

Although the Australian singer has had some chart success in the U.S. with hits like 1987′s “I Should Be So Lucky,” the 2001 classic, “Can’t Get You Out Of My Head,” and a Grammy win for “Padam Padam” last year, most of her success has been in other parts of the globe, where she remains a superstar.

Paul Weller

Paul Weller led the pioneering British punk band the Jam in the late 1970s and the more soul-oriented Style Council in the early 1980s, and has had his own successful solo career since then.

However, his only chart appearances in the U.S. are from 1984′s “My Ever Changing Moods,” and playing the guitar solo on the 1996 Oasis smash, “Champagne Supernova.”

Boney M.

The late 70s German disco band Boney M. had global hits with songs like “Daddy Cool,” “Mary’s Boychild,” and “Rasputin,” but they only hit the U.S. charts once in 1978, when their remake of the reggae classic, “Rivers Of Babylon,” hit No. 30.

David Hasselhoff

Before David Hasselhoff hit it big with “Baywatch,” he turned his fame from the “Night Rider” series into a recording career in Europe, especially German-speaking countries.

His 1988 song, “Looking For Freedom,” hit No. 1 in three European countries, but he has yet to crack the charts in his home country.

A-ha

The 1980s-era Norwegian band A-ha is considered a one-hit wonder in America thanks to its 1985 classic “Take On Me,” but the band is still popular in other parts of the world, including Brazil, Japan and South Africa.

Cliff Richard

Although Cliff Richard was Britian’s biggest singer before the Beatles, he didn’t have their level of success in the U.S.

He first started recording in 1958, but didn’t have a significant U.S. hit until 1976′s “Devil Woman,” which he followed up with songs like “We Don’t Talk Anymore,” and “Dreamin.’” But he never won the name recognition in the U.S. he has pretty much everywhere else in the world.

S Club 7

A popular teen group from 1999 to 2003, S Club 7 had several huge hits in Britain and other countries.

But they are most remembered by U.S. audiences from their TV series, “S Club 7 In Miami,” and their 2000 No. 10 hit, “Never Had A Dream Come True.”

Carly Rae Jepsen

Although “Call Me Maybe” was one of the biggest hits of 2011 (and a popular meme), the Canadian singer has had more success on global charts than the American charts since then.