ABSTRACT
For decades the strenuous relation many Flemish people have with the Dutch language made them highly critical of their own efforts in the language; they wanted to do it right, but felt inferior to the efforts by the Dutch who seemed to be able to use their own language without tears. Regional identities mattered to both the Flemish singers and their Flemish audience, but for most commercial singers the choice of language was a tough one. The Belpop label was also applied to an attempt at Dutch-language rap, "Iedereen Doet" by the Waterlanders, a cover of the French Chagrin d'Amour's "Chacun fait," with new lyrics provided by Van het Groenewoud. Lennaert Nijgh, too many fans and people in the music business the best lyricist ever in the Netherlands, was so gifted he could master just about any mood and genre.
