--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: For the longest time, I was just playing…" description: "\"For the longest time, I was just playing music and not really expecting any success - just kind of doing it because I liked doing it. While doing that,..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5ea/a-c-newman-42955_appreciate_for-the-longest-time-i-was-just-playing_1473725.jpg" --- # For the longest time, I was just playing music and not… ![“For the longest time, I was just playing music and not really expecting any success - just kind of doing it because I liked doing it. While doing that, I went on a lot of shitty tours, playing to nobody, so I think it makes me appreciate it. Our band the New Pornographers have been popular for a…” quote by A.C. Newman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5ea/a-c-newman-42955_appreciate_for-the-longest-time-i-was-just-playing_1473725.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5ea/a-c-newman-42955_appreciate_for-the-longest-time-i-was-just-playing_1473725.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5ea/a-c-newman-42955_appreciate_for-the-longest-time-i-was-just-playing_1473725.jpg) > “For the longest time, I was just playing music and not really expecting any success - just kind of doing it because I liked doing it. While doing that, I went on a lot of shitty tours, playing to nobody, so I think it makes me appreciate it. Our band the New Pornographers have been popular for a few years now, but it still shocks me. I remember thinking we were hugely popular when we sold 15,000 records, and now this one sold 30,000 in two weeks. I'm grateful for the whole thing.” [A.C. Newman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-c-newman/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Early struggles taught humility and gratitude for later success, highlighting how modest beginnings shape appreciation of fame. **In simple terms:** Hard work and early setbacks foster gratitude when success arrives. Key Takeaway Value humility and stay grounded. Themes humility gratitude success music industry growth Mood reflective grateful Type inspirational personal narrative When to use this quote - musician life - record releases - touring - celebrity adjustment Key Concepts Artistic perseverance fan connection career evolution Questions to Reflect On - How do you keep perspective after rapid growth? - What practices maintain gratitude? A Different Perspective Success can breed complacency; staying humble remains challenging. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Appreciate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/appreciate/) [Appreciate Band](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/appreciate-band-330202/) [Band New](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/band-new-2072339/) [Expecting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/expecting/) [Grateful](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/grateful/) [Kind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kind/) [Music](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/music/) [Music making](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/music-making/) [New Pornographers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/new-pornographers-3995202/) [Playing music](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/playing-music/) [Pornographers Popular](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pornographers-popular-5354414/) [Records Sold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/records-sold-913872/) [Remember](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/remember/) [Success](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/success/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Week](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/week/) ## Related quotes > [I have a hard time taking myself seriously. My band the New Pornographers doesn't take me seriously, which is why I love them. We…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neko-case/i-have-a-hard-time-taking-myself-seriously-my-band-the-new/) [Neko Case](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neko-case/) > [You don't fully appreciate your band until you're away from them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-halford/you-don-t-fully-appreciate-your-band-until-you-re-away-from-them/) [Rob Halford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-halford/) > [Lilith Fair was a great experience for us the first time we played it. We were... not a new band, but a new band…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martie-maguire/lilith-fair-was-a-great-experience-for-us-the-first-time-we-played-it/) [Martie Maguire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martie-maguire/) > [I can't wait to front my band with these new songs and play for fans, but I've decided to keep my day job too.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-marx/i-can-t-wait-to-front-my-band-with-these-new-songs-and-play-for-fans/) [Richard Marx](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-marx/) > [I never thought of us as a punk band, a metal band, or a new wave band. Just as a band band.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angus-young/i-never-thought-of-us-as-a-punk-band-a-metal-band-or-a-new-wave-band/) [Angus Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angus-young/) > [I've literally never seen a crowd react to a band the way they react to the Polysics. Signing them to MySpace Records was an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-anderson/i-ve-literally-never-seen-a-crowd-react-to-a-band-the-way-they-react/) [Tom Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-anderson/) > [Seeing our VH-1 Behind the Music shows just how dysfunctional some of the moments of the band were but this new line-up has put…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-young/seeing-our-vh-1-behind-the-music-shows-just-how-dysfunctional-some-of/) [James Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-young/) > [I think all this emphasis on sales is misguided. If you look at the Stone Roses or the Jam, you don't think about how…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-turner/i-think-all-this-emphasis-on-sales-is-misguided-if-you-look-at-the/) [Alex Turner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-turner/) > [Uncle said I'll never sell a million records. I sold a million records like a million times.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-z-2/uncle-said-i-ll-never-sell-a-million-records-i-sold-a-million-records/) [Jay Z](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-z-2/) > [In the UK, tons of records are now sold in grocery stores, because there are no record stores - it's iTunes or the grocery…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/win-butler/in-the-uk-tons-of-records-are-now-sold-in-grocery-stores-because/) [Win Butler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/win-butler/) > [Some musicians like to decorate their walls with discs saying: '1 million records sold in America.' I prefer to put up discs marking sales…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamie-cullum/some-musicians-like-to-decorate-their-walls-with-discs-saying-1/) [Jamie Cullum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamie-cullum/) > [Over 80 million records sold and I ain't got to do it with ten or eleven year olds.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dr-dre-2/over-80-million-records-sold-and-i-ain-t-got-to-do-it-with-ten-or/) [Dr Dre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dr-dre-2/) > [To be truthful, Jay-Z wouldn't have a quarter of the records sold today if it wasn't for the white people buying his records.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vanilla-ice/to-be-truthful-jay-z-wouldn-t-have-a-quarter-of-the-records-sold/) [Vanilla Ice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vanilla-ice/) > [I joke that I've never been burdened by having an actual hit. There's something to that. My records have sold enough to make the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lyle-lovett/i-joke-that-i-ve-never-been-burdened-by-having-an-actual-hit-there-s/) [Lyle Lovett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lyle-lovett/) > [I've heard that Oasis or Coldplay will sell tickets, but they can't sell records. They sold out Madison Square Garden in three hours. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jez-williams/i-ve-heard-that-oasis-or-coldplay-will-sell-tickets-but-they-can-t/) [Jez Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jez-williams/) ## More by A.C. Newman > [Sometimes I'm trying to communicate a feeling. Sometimes I can't piece it together into any kind of coherant thesis. I'm just trying to evoke…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-c-newman/sometimes-i-m-trying-to-communicate-a-feeling-sometimes-i-can-t-piece/) [A.C. Newman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-c-newman/) > [Visualize success, but don't believe your eyes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-c-newman/visualize-success-but-don-t-believe-your-eyes/) [A.C. Newman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-c-newman/) > [Sometimes, even when I'm writing the lyrics, I'm not sure what I'm getting at, but then months will pass and I'll listen to it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-c-newman/sometimes-even-when-i-m-writing-the-lyrics-i-m-not-sure-what-i-m/) [A.C. Newman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-c-newman/) > [As a musician, my job is incredibly easy, and it's a good one, but I've got to work at it occasionally.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-c-newman/as-a-musician-my-job-is-incredibly-easy-and-it-s-a-good-one-but-i-ve/) [A.C. Newman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-c-newman/) > [I was always concerned with making cool-sounding rock records.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-c-newman/i-was-always-concerned-with-making-cool-sounding-rock-records/) [A.C. Newman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-c-newman/) > [While I'm singing complete gibberish to my son when he's in his crib, I'll occasionally think, 'This song I'm making up is actually pretty…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-c-newman/while-i-m-singing-complete-gibberish-to-my-son-when-he-s-in-his-crib/) [A.C. Newman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-c-newman/) > [Having a kid made me realize, "I have to take care of this kid, but I can't have the luxury of dropping everything in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-c-newman/having-a-kid-made-me-realize-i-have-to-take-care-of-this-kid-but-i/) [A.C. Newman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-c-newman/) > [I've always liked using flutes and clarinets. Any time I can use those, I'm really happy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-c-newman/i-ve-always-liked-using-flutes-and-clarinets-any-time-i-can-use-those/) [A.C. Newman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-c-newman/) > [Have you ever walked down the streets of New York and been given the right of way? It's an amazing feeling.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-c-newman/have-you-ever-walked-down-the-streets-of-new-york-and-been-given-the/) [A.C. Newman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-c-newman/) [Explore all 10 A.C. Newman quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-c-newman/) ## More Appreciate quotes > [All I hear is the people that appreciate me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-hardy/all-i-hear-is-the-people-that-appreciate-me/) [Greg Hardy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-hardy/) > [I think that kind of balance comes with the process of growing together as a band, the Little Dragon. We love to write, we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yukimi-nagano/i-think-that-kind-of-balance-comes-with-the-process-of-growing/) [Yukimi Nagano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yukimi-nagano/) > [Time is really gold,spent it wisely with the people around you.Spread love,appreciate the beauty around you!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jglargosta/time-is-really-gold-spent-it-wisely-with-the-people-around-you-spread/) [Jglargosta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jglargosta/) > [Because there are three classes of intellects: one which comprehends by itself; another which appreciates what others comprehend; and a third which neither comprehends…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niccolo-machiavelli/because-there-are-three-classes-of-intellects-one-which-comprehends/) [Niccolo Machiavelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niccolo-machiavelli/) > [Eventually the consumer will come to appreciate the editorial point of view of every different brand. User-generated content without editorial oversight will simply be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-eisner/eventually-the-consumer-will-come-to-appreciate-the-editorial-point/) [Michael Eisner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-eisner/) > [The connoisseur of art must be able to appreciate what is simply beautiful, but the common run of people is satisfied with ornament](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/the-connoisseur-of-art-must-be-able-to-appreciate-what-is-simply/) [Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [The laws of thermodynamics, as empirically determined, express the approximate and probable behavior of systems of a great number of particles, or, more precisely,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-willard-gibbs/the-laws-of-thermodynamics-as-empirically-determined-express-the/) [J. Willard Gibbs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-willard-gibbs/) > [This time, there were no drugs involved. The hours were completely normal daytime hours. I think we were able to appreciate the interplay, where…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lindsey-buckingham/this-time-there-were-no-drugs-involved-the-hours-were-completely/) [Lindsey Buckingham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lindsey-buckingham/) > [I would like beautiful gymnastics to be recognized as the best. I want the judges to appreciate things that are not necessarily winning points.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kohei-uchimura/i-would-like-beautiful-gymnastics-to-be-recognized-as-the-best-i-want/) [Kohei Uchimura](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kohei-uchimura/) > [One of the most important rules for success is this: Every great success is the result of hundreds and thousands of small efforts and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-tracy/one-of-the-most-important-rules-for-success-is-this-every-great/) [Brian Tracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-tracy/) > [It's great at this stage in my life to still be in the running, that people appreciate you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dolly-parton/it-s-great-at-this-stage-in-my-life-to-still-be-in-the-running-that/) [Dolly Parton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dolly-parton/) > [The sectaries of a persecuted religion, depressed by fear, animated with resentment, and perhaps heated by enthusiasm, are seldom in a proper temper of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-gibbon/the-sectaries-of-a-persecuted-religion-depressed-by-fear-animated/) [Edward Gibbon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-gibbon/) > [Love is too wonderful for us but why we often times do not ever appreciate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mohamad-idrus/love-is-too-wonderful-for-us-but-why-we-often-times-do-not-ever/) [Mohamad Idrus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mohamad-idrus/) > [I think the most important thing is to stay hopeful, to believe wonderful things are possible and do your best. Basically, to not give…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irena-a-hoffman/i-think-the-most-important-thing-is-to-stay-hopeful-to-believe/) [Irena A. Hoffman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irena-a-hoffman/) > [“Admire and appreciate your man and he will be happy on your side”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linda-alfiori/admire-and-appreciate-your-man-and-he-will-be-happy-on-your-side/) [Linda Alfiori](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linda-alfiori/) [Browse all 3,873 Appreciate quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/appreciate/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "For the longest time, I was just playing music and not really expecting any success - just kind of doing it because I liked doing it. While doing that, I went on a lot of shitty tours, playing to nobody, so I think it makes me appreciate it. Our band the New Pornographers have been popular for a few years now, but it still shocks me. 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