Music Monday: Pour un instant by Harmonium

Now playing on my French song playlist:

Title: Pour un instant
Songwriters: Michel Normandeau and Serge Fiori

This song from 1974 is by the Québec folk-rock-jazz band, Harmonium. The song was co-written by Serge Fiori, who passed away on June 24, 2025. The lyrics below reflect his support of the Québec sovereignty movement, which advocates for independence from Canada:

« Des inconnus vivent en roi chez moi / Moi qui avais accepté leurs lois » (“Strangers live like kings in my house / and I who had accepted their laws”)

The band was inducted into the Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2019.

Lyrics I like:

Pour un instant, j’ai oublié mon nom
Ça m’a permis enfin d’écrire cette chanson
Pour un instant, j’ai retourné mon miroir
Ça m’a permis enfin de mieux me voir

Translation:

For a moment, I forgot my name

It finally allowed me to write this song

For a moment, I turned over my mirror

It finally allowed me to see myself better

🎶

*music & lyrics | all rights reserved*

The lyrics I like (above) remind me of the practice of using a nom de plume, or pen name. On one hand, I see the benefits. For instance, writers using a pseudonym have more creative freedom. They can use their imaginations, express their emotions, and experiment with writing styles. They can enjoy some privacy while keeping their personal writing and professional lives separate.

On the other hand, I see the downsides. For example, writers using a pen name don’t get recognition – their assumed persona does! Plus, in this age of generative AI, readers are always questioning authenticity.

The way I see it, credibility is important. Unless it would create confusion (e.g., you share a name with a controversial person or another author), writers would fare better using their actual names.

Tell me in the comments: What are your thoughts about writing under a pseudonym?

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Until next Music Monday, have a good week ahead.

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