I figured I could do "It's A Man's, Man's, Man's World" because I believe it's the truth.
Etta JamesRead
Jazz took too much discipline. You have to come in at the right place, which is different than me singing the blues, where I can sing, 'Oh, baby,' if there's a pause in the melody. With jazz, you better leave that space open, or put in something real cool.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Jazz requires precision and discipline compared to other forms of music.
Etta James emphasizes the structured nature of jazz music, highlighting that it demands precise timing and skills from musicians. Unlike more freeform styles like the blues, jazz requires a careful consideration of silence and space, along with the addition of cool improvisations to create a compelling performance.
Themes
JazzDisciplineMusicImprovisationPerformance
In practice
Example use cases
When discussing the intricacies of music theory in a classroom setting.
More from Etta James
All quotes →It's not about battling the original artists when I record these songs, it's about paying tribute to them.
Etta JamesRead
I wanna show that gospel, country, blues, rhythm and blues, jazz, rock 'n' roll are all just really one thing. Those are the American music and that is the American culture.
Etta JamesRead
The only time that I am really truly happy—when I feel at my best—is when I'm on the stage.
Etta JamesRead
When I'm singing the blues, I'm singing life.
Etta JamesRead
People always say 'Etta, you know what your problem is? You're neither fish nor fowl. There is no place to rack you.' When I would go in a record shop, you might find one or two records by me in different stacks.
Etta JamesRead
Similar quotes
No, I don't know how to get young people to start listening to jazz again. But I do know this: Any symphony orchestra that thinks it can appeal to under-30 listeners by suggesting that they 'should' like Schubert and Stravinsky has already lost the battle.
Terry TeachoutRead
As a child I always wanted to be a singer. The music my mother played in the house moved me - Aretha Franklin, Chaka Khan, Mahalia Jackson. It was truly spiritual. It made you understand what God was. We are all spirits. We get depressed. But music makes you want to live. I know my music has saved my life.
Mary J. BligeRead
I think my biggest musical hero growing up was probably Ian MacKaye. He set a great example for all of us local musicians. Still, to this day, I see him as the best example of a right-on musician.
Dave GrohlRead
Jazz has the power to make men forget their differences and come together... Jazz is the personification of transforming overwhelmingly negative circumstances into freedom, friendship, hope, and dignity.
Quincy JonesRead
I worked hard all my life as far as this music business. I dreamed of the day when I could go to New York and feel comfortable and they could come out here and be comfortable.
Tupac ShakurRead
You'd be surprised. Drummers ape each other. The way every rock n' roll record sounds like something else but not all together. Everything other drummers play, if you're playing drums, they all hear.
Miles DavisRead