Tonight, tonight, won't be just any night. Tonight there will be no morning star.
Stephen SondheimRead
When I'm writing a song, I try to be the character.
Interpretation
What this quote means
This quote emphasizes the importance of immersing oneself in the character's perspective while creating art, particularly in songwriting.
Stephen Sondheim highlights the creative process of songwriting, suggesting that the songwriter should embody the character they are writing about. This approach allows for a more authentic and relatable song, as understanding the character’s emotions and motivations can lead to deeper and more powerful storytelling through music.
Themes
SongwritingCharacterCreativityArtExpression
In practice
Example use cases
In a songwriting workshop, one might say, 'As Sondheim once stated, when you're creating, you must be the character to make your music resonate.'
More from Stephen Sondheim
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