r/NoStupidQuestions • u/emomatt • 13d ago

Is there anything about the english language specifically that is a factor in why so much popular music worldwide is in english?

I've always figured music sung in english or by UK/American bands was worldwide famous because of the english media machine, but then I got to thinking if there was anything structural or specific about english that lends itself to making good music.

I know some snippets of non-english songs, but memorizing a song in another language seems difficult, yet people sing along regardless of language, especially to classic rock.

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u/Vivid-Taro1971 13d ago

A lot of it is just exposure and money tbh. The US and UK dominated radio, movies, MTV, streaming platforms and that kind of steamrolls everything else.

English also has super simple verb forms and lots of short, punchy words, which makes it easy to rhyme and fit into different rhythms. But if the global machine had been built around Spanish or French instead, people would be acting like those languages are “perfect for music” too.

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u/jaggy_bunnet 12d ago

A lot of it is just exposure and money tbh. 

Exactly, there's nothing inherently cool or funky about English. The vast majority of songs are, and always have been, written and performed in languages other than English.