Don’t Let One Language Control Music
Artists should not feel pressured to abandon their native language in order to reach a larger audience. While success and international recognition are important, forcing artists toward dominant languages such as English risks weakening cultural diversity, heritage, and the unique perspectives that different languages bring to the world.
Pommelien Thijs, Belgian pop singer, had five concerts in Antwerp in June 2026, which were sold out. Her songs were sung with so much enthusiasm by the thousands of attendees to the point that they sang every line. However, the majority of the French-speaking part of Belgium didn’t really know who she was. This raises the question of whether artists should use their native language or another language such as English to appeal to the masses.
The English language has been dominant when it comes to movies, music, literature and social media for a few years now. This puts artists under pressure to use English so they can reach a larger public as well as a larger market.
Pommelien Thijs is a perfect example of an artist who uses their native language instead of English in order to fully celebrate her cultural heritage. Although she could write songs in English, she uses Dutch. This means that her songs are closely related to the people’s identity, their lives, and their culture. Many fans said in the article that they deeply identify with her lyrics and even had them tattooed on their bodies. I wonder if the fans would feel so closely related to her songs if she were to start singing in English, in order to grow further as an artist.
It is often said that artists should use the dominant language because art should be appreciated by the widest audience possible. There is something true to that. Artists deserve the chance to grow, to be noticed, and to live from what they love doing. In the modern age however, it’s no longer difficult to appreciate songs in other languages than your own; global stars like Bad Bunny or Rosalía have proven that listeners do not mind enjoying a song in a language they do not fully understand.
Also, the dominance of major languages such as English should not be accepted as a cultural status-quo. Efforts should be made, by streaming services, radio stations, or schools, for example, to put smaller, non-dominant language speakers on the map. Concerts should also offer possibilities to see more international artists and translators for the songs should also be made accessible, if artists do not want to shift languages.
Artists should not have to make a choice between becoming successful and being who they are. Language is culture and identity, and both should not be jeopardised. It should be possible for an artist to do well in their career and use their native language, just like Pommelien Thijs. The more we share linguistic and cultural diversity, the richer and more interesting our culture becomes.
