JUSTIFICATION OF SONGS FOR SCENES IN ‘DAGS’
The song “U-G-L-Y” would be useful for the first scene where Gillian is in bedroom talking to herself with a paper
bag over her head when she’s in her pyjamas talking about how she’s ugly. Firstly this fits the scene one where
Gillian says “I guess you’re wondering why I have a paper bag on my head” and when the song says “What you
really need is to wear a mask”. Secondly when Gillian says that she's “Hideous” it fits in the part of the song
where it says “and in a Miss Ugly Pageant, you'd win first prize”. Thirdly when the song says “I should have got a
clue when the kids started screaming” it should be played when Gillian says “I'm a pretty melodramatic sort of
person”. From those reasons the song U-G-L-Y is useful in scene one of DAGS.
The song ‘Parents Just Don’t Understand’ would be appropriate in the second scene in ‘Dags’ where the action
moves from Gillian’s bedroom to the kitchen and Gillian is discussing her family and plonks down dummies onto
the chairs to represent her parents. Firstly, the song demonstrates that the mother is not connected with the
teenager’s identity. The mother says, "You're only sixteen, you don't have a rep yet." Gillian’s mother is similar in
this regard because she says to Gillian, “If you’re so convinced you’re ugly, you’ll just have to develop a lovely
personality to make up for it, won’t you.” Secondly, the mother in the song doesn’t understand the anxiety of going
to school when a teenager doesn’t feel like he or she fits in. She says, "No, you go to school to learn not for a
fashion show." Gillian’s mother is similarly uncaring about whether she feels as though she fits in at school. Gillian
puts it this way: “Mum said I had to go to school. (Mimicking mum) ‘Don’t be ridiculous, Gillian. No one’s
impressed by your drama queen performance.’” Lastly, the mother in the song is not persuaded by her son’s
argument about the clothes and “she wasn't moved - everything stayed the same”. This is like Gillian’s mother
who, Gillian explains, “Sympathy’s never been Mum’s forte.” For these reasons ‘Parents Just Don’t Understand’
should be included in the music soundtrack for ‘Dags’ in the second scene.
The song Love Story would be appropriate for the third scene in the play ‘Dags’. The third scene is in the
schoolyard and Gillian was talking about Wendy as her best friend and along comes Wendy. Love Story talks
about love and in ‘Dags’ Gillian like’s Wendy as her friend but she is scared that she might loose her and never
see her when they finish school. “We were both young when I first saw you”, this refers to the song Love Story
and it connects to the play ‘Dags’. When Gillian and Wendy knew each other they were both at school so this
matches to that they were young when they first knew each other. Gillian and Wendy were best friends they
always talk about everything and say everything thatn happens to them. They were both making an effort to not
loose each other. “Begging you Please don’t go is talking about Romeo doesn’t want to loose Juliet in the song
Love Story. This line matches with what Wendy said to Gillian “Oh wouldn’t it be awful not to know any of your
school friends latyer on. Even when I’m really old I want to have all these amazing friends I’ve known for ages.
‘Cos by then we’ll all be doing fascinating things and we’ll Want to be able to say ‘Oh, I’ve known Gillian for ooh,
let me see – twenty years’. Then Gillian replies by saying “ We will, we just have to make an effort” . This tells us
that they both don’t want to loose each other just like Romeo and Juliet. “ Romeo save me I’ve been feeling so
alone” is a line from the song love story. Wendy goes over and gathers together a huddled group of girls around
her. When gillian speaks to the audience she says “ Okay – so Wendy isn’t all that bright. But she was my best
friend. One problem with Wendy was taht she was always wanting to be in a group. A clique. I could never see
why we needed to have some clique of goony girls to hand around with but I went along with it. When Gillian says
this she was alone before Wendy called her over to the group of girls. Gillian said that ‘Wendy always wanted to
be in a group of girls’ and if Gillian doesn’t join a group and do what Gillian likes their friendship might be over.
The song " long way to the top" would be appropriate in the fourth scene in "Dags" . where acton takes place
when gillian and wendy are at the rock gig where they're going to meet guys to date with. Firstly, the song
demonstrates that Tony is too good for Wendy or Gillian which makes Gillian feel out of class. "Riding Down the
Highway, Going to The Show". Gillian is forced to go with Wendy to the rock gig because Wendy is very keen on
visiting Tony which is told in the book "As rock music starts up Wendy drags the reluctant Gillian into a dim area
with flashing dance floor lights". Secondly, Gillian doesn't like the way Wendy is treating her. "I tell you folks, It's
harder than it looks". In Dags, Gillian she feels like she is the doggy looking friend which is mentioned in the book
" I worked out pretty soon that Wendy was only using me as a stooge. She wanted to drag a doggy looking friend
like me around so she'd always be the spunky one". Lastly Gillian wants to go home because last time her ears
were ringing for two days. Which is mentioned in the book " Last time my ears were ringing for two days. Maybe I
should go home and you can-" clearly shows that. For these reasons " Long way to the Top" should be included
in the music soundtrack for 'Dags' in the forth scene.
The song “old school yard” would be appropriate for the fifth scene in ‘dags’ where Gillian is sitting in the
schoolyard and Wendy walks over to join her and start talking about Tony , Wendy’s lover boy . Firstly the song
demonstates how the song writer and gillian miss the old days , back when it just used to be just them and their
friends. Cat Stevens is similar to Gillain as he looks to the past “Remember the old days of the shoolyard , we
used to laugh a lot.” And Gillian looks to the future “ Hey , Do you ever get a kind of flash of what you’ll be like in
ten or twenty years? What sort of person you’ll be?” . Secondly , In the song it says “And we laughed and didn’t
need love.” While Gillian feels the same when she tries to talk Wendy out of falling for Tony , with some of the
things she says like : “ haha that old routine” when Wendy was telling her how much Tony said he loved her , she
also was saying things like “amazing” in a sarcastic way showing that she didnt really care . For these reason “
Old school yard” should be included in the music sound tracks for ‘dags’ in the fifth scene
The song “Try again – 2much” would be suitable for the sixth scene in “Dags” where on the school bus Gillian is
sitting on the bus, when Adam, puffed from running, jumps on at the last minute and Gillian admits that she has a
huge crush on Adam. This song demonstrates that Gillian wants to be with Adam and she has a huge crush on
him. In the song try again when it says “I know you don't deserve it, I know I'm not perfect” it matches too when
Gillian says “I know he’d never go for a dag like me. I know it’s hopeless. I know all that. But I can’t help it.”
Another scene is that when Gillian talks about her love for Adam she says “Head over heels. Uncontrollable
passion, etcetera, etcetera. Unrequited passion of course” Matches with the song when it says “I know sometimes
I can be cruel, But how I act don't mean I don't love you, Even thought I might be tripping, Understand it's not from
the heart.” Another one is when Gillian says that “I’m going to admit something I never thought I’d admit to
anyone ever is suitable when the song says “Understand it’s not from the heart and I need you to know.” One
more thing that matches is when Gillian says “Ohh... now it’s like the whole day is over, No chance left. Who
knows what I’m hoping will happen” and when the song says “Just forgive and forget, and let’s move on from
here, I want the chance to make it right, So girl, why don’t we just try again.” Therefore this song is suitable for the
scene “the school bus” because most of the lyrics fit in with the script in the scene.
The song “Day n Nite” by Kid Cudi would be appropriate in the seventh scene in Dags where the Gillian is sad
and she is stressed but Biggles comes along being annoying. Gillian has a crush on Adam but he hardly knows
she exists and she is a loner in her bedroom. “Day n nite I toss and turn, I keep stress in my mind” that is
similiar to explaining the stress Gillian is going through she hates herself and her looks and she has no one to
share it with. “Madness the magnet keeps attracting me I try to run but see I’m not that fast” that refers to
Gillian and Biggles because Biggles annoying to her he is so happy and Gillian is stressed down and Biggles arm
wrestles her and she wants him to leave her alone. “The girl he wants don’t seem to want him too” This lyrics
show the crush of Gillian for Adam she likes him but adam doesn’t even know that she exists that is what
stressing her down and she is sad. “The pain is Deep” this lyrics show that what Gillian is going through she
likes Adam and Adam doesn’t even know her and she hates the way she looks that is a pain and you can see
how stressing it is. For these reasons “Day n Nite” should be the music soundtrack for Dags in the seventh scene.
The song backstabber by kesha would be appropriate in scene 8 in the story dags where Karen walks by with an
easy grace and waves across to Adam & He flicks he’s head for her to come over, and then Monica says
“speaking of feeling sick”, Gillian “I thought you didn’t let spunks worry you, Monica “there’s something about
Karen that really gets to me, Gillian “look at her like a lapdog. She shouldn’t be at his beck and call like that. She
should have more self respect, Monica “you don’t need self respect when you look like that. Errggh they’re all
over each other like a rash. Wouldn’t you hate someone pawing at you like that? Gillian, “oh yeah horrible. Lots of
people reckon Adams really serious about Karen. Not just like all the others”. For these reason this song is
appropriate for this scene.
Scene 10 MISSING
The song “Faint by Linken Park” would be appropriate in the eleventh scene in “Dags” where Gillian goes on a
blind date with Derek to the cinemas. Firstly, the song demonstrates that Gillian is gets disregarded by people
because she doesn’t have a rep. Its starts off with “I am a little bit of loneliness, a little bit of disregard “.Gillian is
similar because she goes out with Derek because they only went to get there sister and brother off their backs.
They also went out together because they want a better rep. Secondly, “I am, a little bit insecure, a little
unconfident” tells us in the story that Gillian isn’t confident with who she is dating and feels insecure because she
is dating someone who’s a dag just like her. Lastly, “You face away and pretend that I'm not But I'll be here cause
you're all that I've got” tells us that Derek makes the most of what he has. For these reasons Parents “Faint by
Linken Park” should be included in the music soundtrack for “Dags” in the second scene
The song “peer pressure” would be appropriate for scene twelve where Derek and Gillian are together in the
garage and talking to one another and reflecting on how they used to be when they were younger. They used to
be the quiet type and pretty much to themselves and they never used to be the cool, recognised kids and how
they didn’t follow the crowd. In the song when it says:
Should I change or try to fit in?
Or be true to myself, so that I can begin
to discover the person in me
Not who others expect me to be.” this reflects upon Derek and Gillian and how they’re torn
between two worlds the world that they’re in now the unnoticed, shy kids or to be who everyone
else wants them to be the cool kids who are confident and always wearing brand names and the
kids who everyone want to be like.
Secondly in the book when Derek say “I kept thinking I ought to , when I didn’t really want to “ it’s trying to say that
he really doesn’t want to be like everyone else and be something he isn’t but at the same time he feels like he
has to, to feel recognised. Lastly when it says:
My friends like rude noises.
Say it’s cool to be crude.
But sometimes I’m just not in the mood
I wear the name brands like all of the rest
but there are times, I don’t care how I’m dressed”
This reflects upon the book because all the cool kids wear the cool clothes and even though he does he feels like
he’s trying to be something he isn’t and doesn’t feel right. But in the end besides hat he feels like Gillian and him
decide to tell everyone one what they want to hear and really do give in to peer pressure.
The song ‘’just haven’t met you yet’’ would be appropriate for the 12th scene in the play ’Dags.’the 12th scene is in
Dereks garage and Gillian was on her first date with Derek they went to the movies but it finished early so they
decided to go back to dereks garage because they didn’t want Bronwyn and biggles to think that the date went
bad because they were the ones that set up the date. The two sat down and talked at first it was awkward but
they then started to interact and communicate well. I think the song ‘’just haven’t met you yet’’ is great for this
scene because Michael buble is sing about a girl who he has know for ages but hasn’t really met her yet and
Derek has known Gillian since primary school though they haven’t met each other until know. That’s how the
song and this scene go together. ‘’Its every kid for himself out there’ Derek thinks that every kid can be what they
want and do what they want, and he doesn’t need to do what other kid’s do and dress how they dress it also is
trying to say that there is always someone out there if it’s not this girl it is the next one.
The song Lying From you would be appropriate in the school yard (Page 51-54) scene in ‘Dags’ where the action
starts in the schoolyard and Gillian is lying about her and Derek’s date to Monica telling her that she kissed him
when really she didn’t. Firstly, the song demonstrates … not completed (Yousha)
The song ‘Girlfriend’ sung by Avril Lavigne is appropriate for this scene, ‘Cinema’, in ‘Dags’. Firstly, the song
demonstrates that Gillian thinks that Adam is connected with her identity.
These three Stanzas explain how Gillian is feeling when she is around Adam and Karen:
I can see the way; I see the way you look at me,
And even when you look away I know you think of me,
I know you talk about me all the time, again and again.’
Secondly, Gillian expresses her jealousy for Adam and Karen, while they are at the movies. Adam is kissing and
mauling over Karen while she is sitting there face-straight to the screen eating choc-top.
Gillian is very bored with them,’ it was the same teenage slob comedy I’d seen part of Derek. So I was pretty
bored.’ These three stanzas show how Gillian is feeling when she doesn’t like this situation:
Hey, hey, you, you, I don’t like your Girlfriend,
No way, no way, I think you need a new one,
Hey, hey, you, you, I could be your Girlfriend.
Lastly, Gillian is very frustrated by Adams decision that he has made for Karen. She feels very sick and runs out
without looking back:
(Gillian, on the verge of tears, jumps up.) Sorry, I feel sick. I’ll have to go. I think I’m gonna throw up.
Despite by Gillian’s behaviour Adam is left speechless. Without second thoughts Adam says, ‘Oh, Bye, Gillian.’
These four stanzas explain how disgusted she is in him:
In a second, you’ll be wrapped around my fingers
Cause I can, cause I can do better
There’s no other, so when it gonna sink in?
She’s so stupid, just were you thinking?’’
The song Dynamite relates to the scene where Gillian goes to the party because it demonstrates how she is
expecting to have a “fun” night. The song states how relaxed you can be when you’re at a party. The song is
telling us to get up and dance but gillian isn’t really having fun. Gillian really expects to be “a centre of attention” in
Adam’s eyes. However, when she discovers that adam had dumped karen she feels ashamed and a slight bit
disappointed. When Adam asks Gillian to go out with him, Gillian was a bit happy but was disgusted in the Adam
that she nows sees. The music describes someones happiness ina party. This song should be included when
Giliian rejects Adam. The song would reveal that Gillian could really enjoy being at the party.
Hello, hello relates to the scene where Gillian discovers her feelings for Adam are lost. Firstly, Gillian had listened
to all the problems that Adam had during his relationship. She had encouraged the man she had loved even
though he didn’t notice her feelings. The song describes how the person was in love with another, opening up to
them and then losing the love and trust that was entrusted into that person. This song should be used in this
scene because it relates to when Gillian realises that Adam isn’t good enough for her, after he dumps Karen.
Secondly, Gillian had always wished that he’d like her for the way she is or at least NOTICE her. “I don’t wanna
hear, you’re doing fine now, don’t wanna hear... “This line describes how disgusted the person is because the
person they’d love wasn’t who they thought was. It reminds us of how Gillian was disgusted in Adam. Towards
the end of the play, Gillian is proud of herself for not only gaining self consciousness but also because she got rid
of her feelings towards Adam. She is finally happy with herself and knows she can get on with her life. The last
line in the song I’m without you now, I’m without you, can relate to Gillian, ending her feeling of love towards
Adam.