Quotable Quotes

From: Mark Turner (nugroove@pacbell.net)
Date: Fri Jul 06 2001 - 06:15:44 CEST

  • Next message: Leslie Shill: "POWER OF SOUND - JULY 5, 2001"

    > >I once heard this line in a movie: "Talking about music is like dancing
    > >about algebra."
    >
    > Hmmm. That actually sounds like a T. Monk qoute that goes something
    > like..."Writing about music is like dancing about architecture."

    With due respect to both of the above posters, I am here to set the record
    straight on this quote, once and for all! :-)

    If you do a web search on this quote, and you'll find it has been attributed
    to everyone from Laurie Anderson to Frank Zappa. In fact, it was Elvis
    Costello who actually said it. In Musician Magazine No. 60, October 1983,
    page 52, in an interview with Timothy White. I have a copy of the original
    magazine in front of me, and here is the exact quote in full context:

    "My main interest in this business is music and if I'm not concerned with
    the making of my own, I'd much rather just be thinking, "God, this other
    person's record is great" and enjoying it for what it is. I don't think,
    "What am I getting out of this? How is this changing my life?" One of the
    greatest joys I've yet found in life is to listen to Bobby Bland--it doesn't
    have to have any further point than that, unless I want to tell someone else
    they should perhaps check him out for themselves. Framing all the great
    music out there only drags down its immediacy. The songs are lyrics, not
    speeches, and they're tunes, not paintings. Writing about music is like
    dancing about architecture--it's a really stupid thing to want to do."

    So please, help reduce any further confusion on this topic and start
    correcting people whenever you see this quote mis-attributed again. And you
    will! ;-)

    Thanks.

    ___________________________________________
    Mark Turner
    nugroove@pacbell.net

    THE WEEKEND STARTS HERE (w/DJ Rocky Rococo)
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