'Everybody gets a tag. If you listen to a Velvet Underground record, you don't think, 'Godfathers of Punk.' You just think, 'This sounds great.' The tags are there in order to help try to sell something by giving it a name that's going to stick in somebody's memory. But it doesn't describe it. So 'depressing' isn't a word I would use to describe my music. But there is some sadness in it -- there has to be, so that the happiness in it will matter.'
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- Labels simplify art for marketing but fail to capture its essence; sadness is necessary for happiness to matter.
- In plain terms
- Tags are for selling music not describing it and sadness is needed for joy.
- What can you take from it?
- Labels simplify art but miss the nuance.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- How do you want to be described?
- Why do we need labels for art?
Another view
The distinction between sadness and depression is not clearly defined.
More from Elliott Smith
[when asked about cigarettes] 'I don't recommend them... but I smoke them.' - seen at http://youtube.com/watch?v=nJN1wdDUpDg
Permalink to quote #2 'I don't intend to write depressing songs and I'd probably rather write happy ones'
Permalink to quote #4 'I think the music business will eventually crush me, but I [smiles]... I'm ready.' - in Strange Parallel
Permalink to quote #1
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