Finnish Quote by Olivia Merilahti
“English has always been my musical language. When I started writing songs when I was 13 or 14, I started writing in English because it's the language in between. I speak Finnish, I speak French, so I'll write songs in English because that's the music I listen to. I learned so much poetry and the poetic way of expressing myself is in English.”
About This Quote
Source Interview: Musician Profile, Finnish Radio, 2020
She explains that English serves as a bridge language for her songwriting, allowing her to blend influences from Finnish and French backgrounds.
In simple terms: English is her musical bridge language.
Key Takeaway
Use a lingua franca to express artistic ideas.
Themes
creativity
language
identity
music
culture
Mood
reflective
inspirational
Type
personal
artistic
When to use this quote
- songwriting
- multilingual performance
- cultural exchange
Key Concepts
Linguistic hybridity
artistic expression
Questions to Reflect On
- Why choose English over native tongues?
- How does language shape musical style?
A Different Perspective
Relying on a non-native language may limit nuanced expression.
![“There was a lot that was tricky about playing with [Thelonious Monk]. It's a musical language where there's really no lyrics. It's something you feel and you're hearing. It's like an ongoing conversation. You really had to listen to this guy. Cause he could play the strangest tempos, and they…” quote by Roy Haynes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/0ee/roy-haynes-43782_arrangements_there-was-a-lot-that-was-tricky-about-pl_1862413.jpg)
![“Mÿnna tachton gernast spuho somen gelen Emÿna daÿda" [modern: Minä tahdon kernaasti puhua suomen kieltä, [mutta] en minä taida] ("I willingly want to speak Finnish, [but] I am not able") (found in a German travel journal c.1450)” quote by Christine Wulff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/50e/christine-wulff-228094_finnish_m-nna-tachton-gernast-spuho-somen-gelen_12051.jpg)
