The power of music

Sarfraz Manzoor’s autobiography Greetings from Bury Park explores the power of music, particularly the music of Bruce Springsteen, the singer who most influenced the author’s life. 

When Sarfraz is first introduced to Springsteen’s music, he experiences complex feelings and feels that the singer understands his deepest concerns. This way, music becomes an outlet through which Sarfraz can express and understand his emotions towards his father:

I identified. ‘Independence Day’ is the story of a son trying to tell his father that he is now his own man and that the old rules don’t apply any more. When Springsteen sings it he doesn’t sing with anger, he is not taking any pleasure when he tells his dad that ‘they ain’t gonna do to me what I watched them do to you’. (My Father’s House, 74%)

Music also helps Sarfraz connect to his s...