Writing Rights: Diane Pasague (16) - Music and Lyrics

Inspired by talking to fellow Fighting Words companion and song writer Sam Bradshaw in the first of two workshops, Diane wrote a piece about her opinion on the universal language that is music, and the influence it has on people's lives. Diane's piece alludes to the right to music as a language , as well as the right to express yourself through music, being it to write a happy song when you're feeling down, or to share

someone else's story.

Below is a transcript of her piece - Music and Lyrics

0:00 (Music) 0:05 I'm Diane, I'm 16 and I'm from the Philippines. 0:09 This is a piece about music in my life and music in other people's lives 0:15 Music and Lyrics ‘Music’ and ‘lyrics’, two very scary words to someone who has never written or composed songs in their life. Before the beat and the melody, how to you make the words that give meaning to a song. Would you make them abstract or easy? Would you write about the truth or a lie? Would you write a happy song when you’re at the lowest point of your life? Would you write about yourself or would you tell someone else’s story? Would you write about what’s wrong or what’s right? I thought about it and realised I had no idea. And that the only explanation could be that every song is both terrible and amazing. But, then I vaguely remembered this one quote I saw on a poster on my school’s music room. It was said by an American poet and went along the lines of music being a universal language. So, if you think about it, there isn’t really a general question of why is my music good or bad? Rather than a story or poem, music can speak to everyone in a language that words alone can’t express. It speaks to every individual in different ways and ways only you can understand. Shouldn’t we have the right to set and believe in our own standard of what’s good or bad for ourselves, so maybe that is the reason why the only acknowledged language of universe is language.

© Diane Pasague 2014

Accompanying Music: 'Light on, Light off' by Ana Gog. http://www.anagogmusic.com/

Fighting Words is a creative writing centre established by Roddy Doyle and Sean Love. http://www.fightingwords.ie/