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My sole inspiration is a telephone call from a director. ... (when asked who wrote 'Some Enchanted Evening') Rodgers and Hammerstein, if you can imagine it taking two men to write one song. ... Good authors, too, who once knew better words now use only four-letter words writing prose. ... Brush up your Shakespeare and they'll all kowtow.
Cole Porter
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Interpretation

What this quote means

The quote emphasizes the collaborative nature of creativity while also critiquing the decline in lyrical quality in modern songwriting.

Cole Porter reflects on the songwriting process, highlighting the influence of collaboration, particularly mentioning the impact of directors in inspiring creativity. He also critiques contemporary authors, suggesting that they have lost their depth and eloquence, resorting instead to simplistic language. By invoking Shakespeare, Porter champions the richness of classic literature and the importance of being well-versed in artistic tradition to achieve greatness in the arts.

Themes

CreativityCollaborationWritingArtInspiration

In practice

Example use cases

In a writing workshop, to inspire participants to explore their creative process.

More from Cole Porter

I get no kick from champagne. Mere alcohol doesn't thrill me at all. So, tell me why should it be true, that I get a kick out of you?
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Every time I look down on this timeless town Whether blue or gray be her skies. Whether loud be her cheers or soft be her tears, More and more do I realize: I love Paris in the springtime. I love Paris in the fall. I love Paris in the winter when it drizzles, I love Paris in the summer when it sizzles. I love Paris every moment, Every moment of the year. I love Paris, why, oh why do I love Paris? Because my love is near.
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It's delightful, it's delicious, it's de-lovely.
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Be like the bluebird who never is blue, For he knows from his upbringing what singing can do
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In olden days a glimpse of stocking was looked on as something shocking. Now, Heaven knows, anything goes. The world has gone mad today, and good's bad today, and black's white today, and day's night today.
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Night and day you are the one,_x000D_ _x000D_ Only you beneath the moon and under the sun.
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