Every year on June 21st, people around the world come together to celebrate World Music Day, also known as Fête de la Musique. As someone who works with language every day—shaping words, translating meaning, and trying to capture nuance—this day reminds me of something powerful: music is a language in itself. It doesn’t need subtitles or footnotes to be understood. It simply flows, carrying emotion, culture, and identity across borders.
What I love about World Music Day is that it invites everyone, regardless of background or skill level, to join in. It’s not about being a professional musician. It’s about expression, participation, and the joy of sound. In many cities around the world, there are free concerts, spontaneous performances in the streets, and events that encourage people to pick up an instrument or sing out loud. It’s a beautiful, collective moment where the world slows down just a little to listen, to dance, to feel.
For me, as a translator and content creator, music has always been both an inspiration and a challenge. Translating song lyrics, for example, isn’t just about language—it’s about rhythm, emotion, and culture. Music often plays with slang, idioms, and wordplay, which pushes us to be especially creative while still staying faithful to the original meaning. But that’s what makes it so rewarding.
I also think about how music can be a cultural bridge. A song in a language you don’t speak can still move you to tears or make you dance. That universality reminds me of why I chose this career: to help people understand each other better, even if their words are different.
So today, I’m turning up the volume on my favorite playlist (which, by the way, is an eclectic mix of Latin beats, indie folk, and classic rock), and I’m letting myself just enjoy the ride. I invite you to do the same, whether it’s through a live concert, your headphones, or a spontaneous jam session in your kitchen. By the way, do you work with or without music? I work with music, unless I am working on audiovisual translations.
Happy World Music Day! Let’s celebrate the sounds that connect us. 🎶
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Until next time, take care and stay safe!
XX
Translation Expert 