They teach you there's a boundary line to music. But, man, there's no boundary line to art.
Charlie ParkerRead
I don't care who likes it or buys it. Because if you use that criterion, Mozart would never have written Don Giovanni, Charlie Parker would have never played anything but swing music.
Interpretation
What this quote means
This quote emphasizes the importance of creative integrity over commercial approval.
Charlie Parker suggests that true artistry should not be dictated by public opinion or market demand. He highlights how great artists like Mozart and himself took risks and explored their own creative expressions, regardless of whether they were initially accepted or liked by the audience. The essence of this quote is that true art often requires a departure from the expected, and this can lead to greatness, even if it means not being universally appreciated.
Themes
CreativityIntegrityArtistryExpressionMusic
In practice
Example use cases
During a speech at an art exhibition, one might say this quote to encourage artists to stay true to their vision.
More from Charlie Parker
All quotes →If you come on a band tense, you're going to play tense. If you come a little bit foolish, act just a little bit foolish, and let yourself go, better ideas will come.
Charlie ParkerRead
Music is your own experience, your own thoughts, your wisdom. If you don't live it, it won't come out of your horn. They teach you there's a boundary line to music. But, man, there's no boundary line to art.
Charlie ParkerRead
You've got to learn your instrument. Then, you practice, practice, practice. And then, when you finally get up there on the bandstand, forget all that and just wail.
Charlie ParkerRead
I kept thinking there's bound to be something else? I could hear it sometimes, but I couldn't play it.
Charlie ParkerRead
When I first heard music, I thought it should be very clean, very precise. Something that people could understand, something that was beautiful.
Charlie ParkerRead
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