Music Quotes | Beyond Motive 53/61

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Music Quotes

"I've been here 21 years, and I literally did walk up and down Music Row trying to break into the business. I felt very free to go into any publishing company."

"I've been here 21 years, and I literally did walk up and down Music Row trying to break into the business. I felt very free to go into any publishing company."

Steven Curtis Chapman, American Musician

Music, Business, Company, Publishing

28

"Rush has never been a spontaneous group. We may be spontaneous in our writing, we may be spontaneous as individuals in our day to day lives... certainly I think am and always have been, but I think when it comes to Rush and our presentation of our music it's quite controlled."

"Rush has never been a spontaneous group. We may be spontaneous in our writing, we may be spontaneous as individuals in our day to day lives... certainly I think am and always have been, but I think when it comes to Rush and our presentation of our music it's quite controlled."

Alex Lifeson, Canadian Musician

Music, Day, May, Writing

28

"I got started when I was 3 years old because my father was a music teacher and my lessons were free. Instead of learning to walk, you learn to play the piano."

"I got started when I was 3 years old because my father was a music teacher and my lessons were free. Instead of learning to walk, you learn to play the piano."

Carla Bley, American Musician

Music, Father, Learning, Old

28

"Donald had reached its further edge, and could hear the rush of the stream from the deep obscurity of the abyss below, when there rose from the opposite side a strain of the most delightful music he had ever heard."

"Donald had reached its further edge, and could hear the rush of the stream from the deep obscurity of the abyss below, when there rose from the opposite side a strain of the most delightful music he had ever heard."

Hugh Miller, Scottish Scientist

Music, Deep, Obscurity

28

"Everyone's just extracting meaning and feeling and emotion from almost every aspect of music, and I think that for me, it's a huge antidote to that to have a concept album."

"Everyone's just extracting meaning and feeling and emotion from almost every aspect of music, and I think that for me, it's a huge antidote to that to have a concept album."

Aimee Mann, American Musician

Music, Emotion, Feeling, Meaning

28

"Most music that you hear is in synch with itself. We were experimenting with the music falling out of synch with itself and even though it is out of synch you mind can still understand what it is meant to be doing."

"Most music that you hear is in synch with itself. We were experimenting with the music falling out of synch with itself and even though it is out of synch you mind can still understand what it is meant to be doing."

Wayne Coyne, American Musician

28

"I was in every band class I could get in, like after school jazz band and marching band, and that's where I really learned to read music from elementary all the way through junior high and high school."

"I was in every band class I could get in, like after school jazz band and marching band, and that's where I really learned to read music from elementary all the way through junior high and high school."

Chad Smith, American Musician

Music, Class, Jazz, School

28

"We didn't go for music that sounded like blues, or jazz, or rock, or Led Zeppelin, or Rolling Stones. We didn't want to be like any of the other bands."

"We didn't go for music that sounded like blues, or jazz, or rock, or Led Zeppelin, or Rolling Stones. We didn't want to be like any of the other bands."

Michael Giles, English Musician

Music, Jazz, Want

28

"Unauthorized use of these MP3 files is really creating a problem for artists in the music community."

"Unauthorized use of these MP3 files is really creating a problem for artists in the music community."

Hilary Rosen, American Businessman

Music, Artists, Community

28

"I also dance to music that makes me feel sexy in front of a mirror."

"I also dance to music that makes me feel sexy in front of a mirror."

Alannah Myles, Canadian Musician

28

"We'll see some simplistic players for a while, who'll then get into more complicated things and evolve with their instruments. This is a cycle that happens over and over again in music."

"We'll see some simplistic players for a while, who'll then get into more complicated things and evolve with their instruments. This is a cycle that happens over and over again in music."

Billy Sheehan, American Musician

28

"I've made this decision not to talk to the press about anything that's gone on in my life, but just to write music about it. They can interpret it themselves."

"I've made this decision not to talk to the press about anything that's gone on in my life, but just to write music about it. They can interpret it themselves."

Bijou Phillips, American Actress

Music, Life, Decision, Press

28

"We simply write the kind of music we enjoy most and hope that our audience will enjoy it too."

"We simply write the kind of music we enjoy most and hope that our audience will enjoy it too."

Benny Anderson, Swedish Musician

Music, Hope, Will

28

"Not really, drums found me, I just liked music, all kinds of music."

"Not really, drums found me, I just liked music, all kinds of music."

Pat Mastelotto, American Musician

28

"Well, we play Country music; we're just not sure what country it is."

"Well, we play Country music; we're just not sure what country it is."

Jerry Jeff Walker, American Musician

Music, Country, Country music, Play

28

"My head works in music, so there's always music there."

"My head works in music, so there's always music there."

Ben Harper, American Musician

28

"There are only two things: love, all sorts of love, with pretty girls, and the music of New Orleans or Duke Ellington. Everything else ought to go, because everything else is ugly."

"There are only two things: love, all sorts of love, with pretty girls, and the music of New Orleans or Duke Ellington. Everything else ought to go, because everything else is ugly."

Boris Vian, French Writer

Music, Love, Girls, Pretty

27

"We thought everybody read comics. We didn't know we were weird. We didn't know people that collected comics were strange. It was as normal as listening to rock music on the radio."

"We thought everybody read comics. We didn't know we were weird. We didn't know people that collected comics were strange. It was as normal as listening to rock music on the radio."

Gilbert Hernandez, American Artist

Music, Thought, People, Listening

27

"Creativity is much better when it's free. Someone can take it and sell it if that's what it needs, and from that standpoint, you have to have a label. If you could make your music and just give it away and somehow make a living - that would be the best scenario."

"Creativity is much better when it's free. Someone can take it and sell it if that's what it needs, and from that standpoint, you have to have a label. If you could make your music and just give it away and somehow make a living - that would be the best scenario."

Matthew Sweet, American Musician

Music, Creativity, Living, Needs

27

"Music has to be written while people are still excited about a particular melodic or rhythmic sequence. The idea doesn't come out the same if we're not really excited about it."

"Music has to be written while people are still excited about a particular melodic or rhythmic sequence. The idea doesn't come out the same if we're not really excited about it."

Brandon Boyd, American Musician

Music, People, Idea

27

"Music is for people. The word 'pop' is simply short for popular. It means that people like it. I'm just a normal jerk who happens to make music. As long as my brain and fingers work, I'm cool."

"Music is for people. The word 'pop' is simply short for popular. It means that people like it. I'm just a normal jerk who happens to make music. As long as my brain and fingers work, I'm cool."

Eddie Van Halen, Dutch Musician

Music, Work, People, Popular

27

"I think hopefully we've got enough brain cells left to decide if our music is really worth something."

"I think hopefully we've got enough brain cells left to decide if our music is really worth something."

Will Champion, English Musician

27

"So when you enjoy the beats, the rock music - maybe even toned down with an orchestra - you are enjoying the spirit of the black race. And that's what I emphasize to the students."

"So when you enjoy the beats, the rock music - maybe even toned down with an orchestra - you are enjoying the spirit of the black race. And that's what I emphasize to the students."

Warren Jeffs, American Criminal

Music, Race, Spirit, Students

27

"I don't even listen to music when I'm off tour."

"I don't even listen to music when I'm off tour."

Vince Neil, American Musician

27

"I mean, you go to the internet and you can see all these conversations and arguments that our fans have about our music and that's wonderful to know, that people would take the time to be that involved."

"I mean, you go to the internet and you can see all these conversations and arguments that our fans have about our music and that's wonderful to know, that people would take the time to be that involved."

Alex Lifeson, Canadian Musician

Music, Time, People, Arguments

27

"Though everything else may appear shallow and repulsive, even the smallest task in music is so absorbing, and carries us so far away from town, country, earth, and all worldly things, that it is truly a blessed gift of God."

"Though everything else may appear shallow and repulsive, even the smallest task in music is so absorbing, and carries us so far away from town, country, earth, and all worldly things, that it is truly a blessed gift of God."

Felix Mendelssohn, German Composer

Music, God, Country, Earth

27

"I firmly disbelieve that one has to be a tortured soul to write good music."

"I firmly disbelieve that one has to be a tortured soul to write good music."

P. J. Harvey, British Musician

27

"Jazz of the sort we play is a happy, extroverted music. You don't have to think about it too much."

"Jazz of the sort we play is a happy, extroverted music. You don't have to think about it too much."

Chris Barber, English Musician

Music, Jazz, Play

27

"The musicians that didn't know music could play the best blues. I know that I don't want no musicians who know all about music playin' for me."

"The musicians that didn't know music could play the best blues. I know that I don't want no musicians who know all about music playin' for me."

Alberta Hunter, American Musician

Music, Musicians, Play, Want

27

"It can even be a single note which defines the entire song."

"It can even be a single note which defines the entire song."

Leon Redbone, American Musician

27

"I write a lot of music in my time off and I compose most of the songs on guitar. I've actually gone into the studio and recorded a few things, but it's tough trying to sell a song. It's all about finding that hook, that melody."

"I write a lot of music in my time off and I compose most of the songs on guitar. I've actually gone into the studio and recorded a few things, but it's tough trying to sell a song. It's all about finding that hook, that melody."

Scott Patterson, American Actor

Music, Time, Guitar, Song

27

"When I do the music, I make the musicians listen to what's happening in the film. That way they treat the dialogue as if it was a singer."

"When I do the music, I make the musicians listen to what's happening in the film. That way they treat the dialogue as if it was a singer."

Mike Figgis, English Director

Music, Film, Musicians

27

"I sometimes don't know what songs are about for several years after I've written them."

"I sometimes don't know what songs are about for several years after I've written them."

Justin Hayward, British Musician

Music, Songs, Years

27

"What is music anyway? It's a form of communication, and that's why I play the kind of music that I think - that I hope - can communicate with people."

"What is music anyway? It's a form of communication, and that's why I play the kind of music that I think - that I hope - can communicate with people."

Kenny G, American Musician

Music, People, Hope, Communication

27

"Someone who knows only music, understands nothing about it."

"Someone who knows only music, understands nothing about it."

Hanns Eisler, German Composer

27

"It's kind of hard to get deep with Rodgers and Hammerstein. I can't think of a moral in the music - it's just fun."

"It's kind of hard to get deep with Rodgers and Hammerstein. I can't think of a moral in the music - it's just fun."

Jeff Long, American Writer

Music, Deep, Fun

27

"There's no way I can compete with someone who can write rap or rock and roll. Nor do I wish to. But I've always kept up to date with music changes. I worked very hard not to type myself."

"There's no way I can compete with someone who can write rap or rock and roll. Nor do I wish to. But I've always kept up to date with music changes. I worked very hard not to type myself."

Elmer Bernstein, American Composer

27

"Country's hip; it's cool music."

"Country's hip; it's cool music."

Ricky Skaggs, American Musician

27

"The whole problem can be stated quite simply by asking, "Is there a meaning to music?" My answer would be, "Yes." And "Can you state in so many words what the meaning is?" My answer to that would be, "No.""

"The whole problem can be stated quite simply by asking, "Is there a meaning to music?" My answer would be, "Yes." And "Can you state in so many words what the meaning is?" My answer to that would be, "No.""

Aaron Copland, American Composer

Music, Meaning, State, Words

27

"I don't like all of the music to be serious and deadly."

"I don't like all of the music to be serious and deadly."

Neil Diamond, American Musician

27

"Reviewing music or reviewing anything is a writing job. It's nice if you are experienced in the field you are writing about, but writing is what you are doing."

"Reviewing music or reviewing anything is a writing job. It's nice if you are experienced in the field you are writing about, but writing is what you are doing."

Virgil Thomson, American Composer

Music, Job, Writing

27

"When I first started to get into writing, it was via music. I'd generate ideas for songs that would turn into stories, then they'd turn into novels. I was biased toward music."

"When I first started to get into writing, it was via music. I'd generate ideas for songs that would turn into stories, then they'd turn into novels. I was biased toward music."

Irvine Welsh, Scottish Novelist

Music, Ideas, First, Songs

27

"I know some people will be surprised to hear it, but I've found that my music, whether its blues or rock, or whatever you want to call it, can be channeled into a positive direction that actually helps people."

"I know some people will be surprised to hear it, but I've found that my music, whether its blues or rock, or whatever you want to call it, can be channeled into a positive direction that actually helps people."

Rick Derringer, American Musician

Music, People, Positive, Direction

27

"I just try to do as good job with the material as I can and play some jazz as well, some improvised music, and do that every night. Just see where it goes."

"I just try to do as good job with the material as I can and play some jazz as well, some improvised music, and do that every night. Just see where it goes."

Mose Allison, American Musician

Music, Jazz, Job, Night

27

"I always did each show for about two years. So if you play the music, it just comes back to me."

"I always did each show for about two years. So if you play the music, it just comes back to me."

Gwen Verdon, American Dancer

Music, Play, Years

27

"If you're writing a piece for the Boston Pops, the balance is towards one end. If you're writing a piece for a chamber music society, then it's towards another point. I won't make a final answer on that. I think it changes with every piece."

"If you're writing a piece for the Boston Pops, the balance is towards one end. If you're writing a piece for a chamber music society, then it's towards another point. I won't make a final answer on that. I think it changes with every piece."

Peter Maxwell Davies, English Composer

Music, Society, Balance, Boston

27

"I don't use composers. I research music the way I research the photographs or the facts in my scripts."

"I don't use composers. I research music the way I research the photographs or the facts in my scripts."

Ken Burns, American Director

Music, Composers, Facts, Research

27

"People often complain that music is too ambiguous, that what they should think when they hear it is so unclear, whereas everyone understands words. With me, it is exactly the opposite, and not only with regard to an entire speech but also with individual words."

"People often complain that music is too ambiguous, that what they should think when they hear it is so unclear, whereas everyone understands words. With me, it is exactly the opposite, and not only with regard to an entire speech but also with individual words."

Felix Mendelssohn, German Composer

Music, People, Speech, Words

27

"Once I've written a song, I sometimes refine them."

"Once I've written a song, I sometimes refine them."

Roger McGuinn, American Musician

27

"I give myself strength by staying away from any music."

"I give myself strength by staying away from any music."

Alannah Myles, Canadian Musician

Music, Strength

27

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