--- title: "Best Russell Mael Sayings" description: "Russell Craig Mael is an American singer who co‑founded the rock duo Sparks with his brother Ron in 1971 and is known for his high falsetto." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ad5/russell-mael-5251_dealing-with-people_in-music-there-seems-to-be-a-myth-that-b_2186188.jpg" --- # Russell Mael (1948) Singer **102** quotes in **327** categories Rate this collection: ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet Russell Mael is a singer. ## Quick Facts About Russell Mael Born October 5, 1948 Profession Singer ## About Russell Mael He is also praised for his wide vocal range and a flamboyant, hyperactive stage presence. ## Quotes by Russell Mael · Page 3 > [In music, there seems to be a myth that being authentic and genuine has to be confessional, and we think what Sparks…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-mael/in-music-there-seems-to-be-a-myth-that-being-authentic-and-genuine/) [Russell Mael](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-mael/) [Dealing with people](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dealing-with-people/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ad5/russell-mael-5251_dealing-with-people_in-music-there-seems-to-be-a-myth-that-b_2186188.jpg) > [I sing and Ron doesn't want to be the singer of the band, he's the keyboard player and predominant writer of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-mael/i-sing-and-ron-doesn-t-want-to-be-the-singer-of-the-band-he-s-the/) [Russell Mael](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-mael/) [Band](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/band/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/860/russell-mael-5251_band_i-sing-and-ron-doesn-t-want-to-be-the-si_58180.jpg) > [I think it's one of our strengths that we can put on blinders when it comes to our history and just focus…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-mael/i-think-it-s-one-of-our-strengths-that-we-can-put-on-blinders-when-it/) [Russell Mael](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-mael/) [Focus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/focus/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/42f/russell-mael-5251_focus_i-think-it-s-one-of-our-strengths-that-w_2311804.jpg) > [We'd been approached various times during our career about a documentary, but we always hesitated to say yes, because what we do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-mael/we-d-been-approached-various-times-during-our-career-about-a/) [Russell Mael](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-mael/) [Better](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/better/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/012/russell-mael-5251_better_we-d-been-approached-various-times-durin_262317.jpg) > [If there is such a thing for Sparks as a mission statement, it's more general in that we want each new album…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-mael/if-there-is-such-a-thing-for-sparks-as-a-mission-statement-it-s-more/) [Russell Mael](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-mael/) [Be the first](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/be-the-first/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0dc/russell-mael-5251_be-the-first_if-there-is-such-a-thing-for-sparks-as-a_1977387.jpg) > [We were so naive. You know, like thinking that playing one gig out in the middle of nowhere in Texas was going…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-mael/we-were-so-naive-you-know-like-thinking-that-playing-one-gig-out-in/) [Russell Mael](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-mael/) [Good](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d6f/russell-mael-5251_good_we-were-so-naive-you-know-like-thinking_376156.jpg) > [There's no question that radio and especially television commercials were a big influence on our style. We love the idea of having…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-mael/there-s-no-question-that-radio-and-especially-television-commercials/) [Russell Mael](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-mael/) [Big influence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/big-influence/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4cc/russell-mael-5251_everything_there-s-no-question-that-radio-and-espec_1355613.jpg) > [When the idea of doing all of our albums in their entirety came up, we went for it because it just seemed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-mael/when-the-idea-of-doing-all-of-our-albums-in-their-entirety-came-up-we/) [Russell Mael](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-mael/) [Albums](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/albums/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c41/russell-mael-5251_albums_when-the-idea-of-doing-all-of-our-albums_2192592.jpg) > [We feel that you kind of learn about our political views and our stance on things in a more general way by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-mael/we-feel-that-you-kind-of-learn-about-our-political-views-and-our/) [Russell Mael](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-mael/) [Kind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kind/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c26/russell-mael-5251_kind_we-feel-that-you-kind-of-learn-about-our_295523.jpg) > [I like to go to the races at Hollywood Park, but I don't usually win with the horses, so afterward I go…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-mael/i-like-to-go-to-the-races-at-hollywood-park-but-i-don-t-usually-win/) [Russell Mael](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-mael/) [Cupcake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cupcake/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/338/russell-mael-5251_cupcake_i-like-to-go-to-the-races-at-hollywood-p_510030.jpg) > [It's a strange thing: We are an L.A.-based band and we do spend all that time in Europe and are visible over…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-mael/it-s-a-strange-thing-we-are-an-l-a-based-band-and-we-do-spend-all/) [Russell Mael](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-mael/) [Band](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/band/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f8f/russell-mael-5251_band_it-s-a-strange-thing-we-are-an-l-a-based_453893.jpg) > [Within pop music, within three-minute songs, the exciting thing is to see how you can reshape the formula and still come up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-mael/within-pop-music-within-three-minute-songs-the-exciting-thing-is-to/) [Russell Mael](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-mael/) [Come](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/come/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2a0/russell-mael-5251_come_within-pop-music-within-three-minute-son_1934234.jpg) > [That album, 'Lil' Beethoven,' was special to us because we wanted to try to figure out a new context to place our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-mael/that-album-lil-beethoven-was-special-to-us-because-we-wanted-to-try/) [Russell Mael](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-mael/) [Energy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/energy/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d6e/russell-mael-5251_energy_that-album-lil-beethoven-was-special-to_1467797.jpg) > [We always turned to the U.K. bands because they were bigger than life and celebrated not only a strong, vital, vibrant musical…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-mael/we-always-turned-to-the-u-k-bands-because-they-were-bigger-than-life/) [Russell Mael](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-mael/) [Always](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/always/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b7f/russell-mael-5251_always_we-always-turned-to-the-u-k-bands-becaus_2563111.jpg) > [With 'A Steady Drip, Drip Drip,' some of the subjects that are written about on the album have come to be even…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-mael/with-a-steady-drip-drip-drip-some-of-the-subjects-that-are-written/) [Russell Mael](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-mael/) [Come](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/come/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7ab/russell-mael-5251_come_with-a-steady-drip-drip-drip-some-of-the_855877.jpg) > [I don't like talking about myself; I like to let the music be the spokesperson for me. So doing a memoir and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-mael/i-don-t-like-talking-about-myself-i-like-to-let-the-music-be-the/) [Russell Mael](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-mael/) [Memoir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/memoir/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7bc/russell-mael-5251_memoir_i-don-t-like-talking-about-myself-i-like_2185780.jpg) > [Leos focused on 'Annette' for eight years. He's not the type of director who'll have 10 films in development at any one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-mael/leos-focused-on-annette-for-eight-years-he-s-not-the-type-of-director/) [Russell Mael](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-mael/) [Director](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/director/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3b3/russell-mael-5251_director_leos-focused-on-annette-for-eight-years_2998891.jpg) > [I like when somebody is able to create their own universe, have a consistency to it and not break from character -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-mael/i-like-when-somebody-is-able-to-create-their-own-universe-have-a/) [Russell Mael](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-mael/) [Character](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/757/russell-mael-5251_character_i-like-when-somebody-is-able-to-create-t_108198.jpg) > [You're always searching for that new thing you can impose on the givens of pop music - that's when the change becomes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-mael/you-re-always-searching-for-that-new-thing-you-can-impose-on-the/) [Russell Mael](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-mael/) [Change](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/change/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ba9/russell-mael-5251_change_you-re-always-searching-for-that-new-thi_2115659.jpg) > [I really love 'Spirited Away,' it's just got an amazingly haunting atmosphere, and the technique is so non-Hollywood CGI - it's really…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-mael/i-really-love-spirited-away-it-s-just-got-an-amazingly-haunting/) [Russell Mael](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-mael/) [Animation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/animation/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/23c/russell-mael-5251_beautiful_i-really-love-spirited-away-it-s-just-go_2028153.jpg) > [As long as it elicits some kind of thought on the listener's part, that's good. If no one's paying attention to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-mael/as-long-as-it-elicits-some-kind-of-thought-on-the-listener-s-part/) [Russell Mael](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-mael/) [Attention](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/attention/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/652/russell-mael-5251_attention_as-long-as-it-elicits-some-kind-of-thoug_222498.jpg) > [Over time I think we've gotten better at kind of sensing when we're just kind of going through the motions and when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-mael/over-time-i-think-we-ve-gotten-better-at-kind-of-sensing-when-we-re/) [Russell Mael](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-mael/) [Better](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/better/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4fd/russell-mael-5251_better_over-time-i-think-we-ve-gotten-better-at_1948775.jpg) ## Russell Mael by topic [Music (27)](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/music/russell-mael/) [Song (26)](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/song/russell-mael/) [Way (13)](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/way/russell-mael/) [Us (13)](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/us/russell-mael/) [Time (13)](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/russell-mael/) [More (11)](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/more/russell-mael/) [Sparks (10)](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sparks/russell-mael/) [Something (10)](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/something/russell-mael/) [Pop music (10)](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pop-music/russell-mael/) [People (10)](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/russell-mael/) [Always (10)](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/always/russell-mael/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "ItemList", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-mael/#itemlist", "name": "Russell Mael Quotes", "numberOfItems": 22, "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "item": { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "In music, there seems to be a myth that being authentic and genuine has to be confessional, and we think what Sparks is doing is 100 per cent authentic and genuine, and still dealing with people's emotions - albeit via a different way of doing it, with situational lyrics that are almost little novellas.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Russell Mael" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-mael/in-music-there-seems-to-be-a-myth-that-being-authentic-and-genuine/", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ad5/russell-mael-5251_dealing-with-people_in-music-there-seems-to-be-a-myth-that-b_2186188.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ad5/russell-mael-5251_dealing-with-people_in-music-there-seems-to-be-a-myth-that-b_2186188.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ad5/russell-mael-5251_dealing-with-people_in-music-there-seems-to-be-a-myth-that-b_2186188.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“In music, there seems to be a myth that being authentic and genuine has to be confessional, and we think…” — Russell Mael", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } } }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "item": { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I sing and Ron doesn't want to be the singer of the band, he's the keyboard player and predominant writer of the band. There's not an ego thing about one getting more of the limelight. We both have just a really common vision about what Sparks is and should be.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Russell Mael" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-mael/i-sing-and-ron-doesn-t-want-to-be-the-singer-of-the-band-he-s-the/", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/860/russell-mael-5251_band_i-sing-and-ron-doesn-t-want-to-be-the-si_58180.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/860/russell-mael-5251_band_i-sing-and-ron-doesn-t-want-to-be-the-si_58180.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/860/russell-mael-5251_band_i-sing-and-ron-doesn-t-want-to-be-the-si_58180.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I sing and Ron doesn't want to be the singer of the band, he's the keyboard player and predominant writer of…” — Russell Mael", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } } }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "item": { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I think it's one of our strengths that we can put on blinders when it comes to our history and just focus on what's next, and what do we have to do to get the message out there that's vital for the next period.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Russell Mael" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-mael/i-think-it-s-one-of-our-strengths-that-we-can-put-on-blinders-when-it/", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/42f/russell-mael-5251_focus_i-think-it-s-one-of-our-strengths-that-w_2311804.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/42f/russell-mael-5251_focus_i-think-it-s-one-of-our-strengths-that-w_2311804.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/42f/russell-mael-5251_focus_i-think-it-s-one-of-our-strengths-that-w_2311804.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I think it's one of our strengths that we can put on blinders when it comes to our history and just focus on…” — Russell Mael", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } } }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "item": { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "We'd been approached various times during our career about a documentary, but we always hesitated to say yes, because what we do musically speaks a lot better to what we're trying to do than verbalizing it. Besides, if it wasn't the right person or the right sensibility, it wouldn't be something satisfactory.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Russell Mael" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-mael/we-d-been-approached-various-times-during-our-career-about-a/", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/012/russell-mael-5251_better_we-d-been-approached-various-times-durin_262317.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/012/russell-mael-5251_better_we-d-been-approached-various-times-durin_262317.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/012/russell-mael-5251_better_we-d-been-approached-various-times-durin_262317.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“We'd been approached various times during our career about a documentary, but we always hesitated to say…” — Russell Mael", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } } }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 5, "item": { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "If there is such a thing for Sparks as a mission statement, it's more general in that we want each new album to be musically and lyrically provocative. We want to really go at it as though this might be the first album that anyone will ever hear of Sparks.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Russell Mael" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-mael/if-there-is-such-a-thing-for-sparks-as-a-mission-statement-it-s-more/", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0dc/russell-mael-5251_be-the-first_if-there-is-such-a-thing-for-sparks-as-a_1977387.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0dc/russell-mael-5251_be-the-first_if-there-is-such-a-thing-for-sparks-as-a_1977387.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0dc/russell-mael-5251_be-the-first_if-there-is-such-a-thing-for-sparks-as-a_1977387.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“If there is such a thing for Sparks as a mission statement, it's more general in that we want each new album…” — Russell Mael", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } } }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 6, "item": { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "We were so naive. You know, like thinking that playing one gig out in the middle of nowhere in Texas was going to be a good thing, and not realising that we were going to have objects thrown at us.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Russell Mael" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-mael/we-were-so-naive-you-know-like-thinking-that-playing-one-gig-out-in/", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d6f/russell-mael-5251_good_we-were-so-naive-you-know-like-thinking_376156.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d6f/russell-mael-5251_good_we-were-so-naive-you-know-like-thinking_376156.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d6f/russell-mael-5251_good_we-were-so-naive-you-know-like-thinking_376156.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“We were so naive. You know, like thinking that playing one gig out in the middle of nowhere in Texas was…” — Russell Mael", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } } }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 7, "item": { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "There's no question that radio and especially television commercials were a big influence on our style. We love the idea of having only one minute to say everything you've possibly got.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Russell Mael" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-mael/there-s-no-question-that-radio-and-especially-television-commercials/", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4cc/russell-mael-5251_everything_there-s-no-question-that-radio-and-espec_1355613.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4cc/russell-mael-5251_everything_there-s-no-question-that-radio-and-espec_1355613.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4cc/russell-mael-5251_everything_there-s-no-question-that-radio-and-espec_1355613.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“There's no question that radio and especially television commercials were a big influence on our style. We…” — Russell Mael", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } } }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 8, "item": { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "When the idea of doing all of our albums in their entirety came up, we went for it because it just seemed so audacious. We thought, no other band would ever do this - and for that alone, we probably should do this.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Russell Mael" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-mael/when-the-idea-of-doing-all-of-our-albums-in-their-entirety-came-up-we/", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c41/russell-mael-5251_albums_when-the-idea-of-doing-all-of-our-albums_2192592.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c41/russell-mael-5251_albums_when-the-idea-of-doing-all-of-our-albums_2192592.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c41/russell-mael-5251_albums_when-the-idea-of-doing-all-of-our-albums_2192592.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“When the idea of doing all of our albums in their entirety came up, we went for it because it just seemed so…” — Russell Mael", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } } }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 9, "item": { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "We feel that you kind of learn about our political views and our stance on things in a more general way by what we choose to write about and just our whole personalities.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Russell Mael" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-mael/we-feel-that-you-kind-of-learn-about-our-political-views-and-our/", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c26/russell-mael-5251_kind_we-feel-that-you-kind-of-learn-about-our_295523.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c26/russell-mael-5251_kind_we-feel-that-you-kind-of-learn-about-our_295523.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c26/russell-mael-5251_kind_we-feel-that-you-kind-of-learn-about-our_295523.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“We feel that you kind of learn about our political views and our stance on things in a more general way by…” — Russell Mael", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } } }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 10, "item": { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I like to go to the races at Hollywood Park, but I don't usually win with the horses, so afterward I go to Auntie Em's and drown my sorrows in a red velvet cupcake. It never fails me.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Russell Mael" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-mael/i-like-to-go-to-the-races-at-hollywood-park-but-i-don-t-usually-win/", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/338/russell-mael-5251_cupcake_i-like-to-go-to-the-races-at-hollywood-p_510030.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/338/russell-mael-5251_cupcake_i-like-to-go-to-the-races-at-hollywood-p_510030.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/338/russell-mael-5251_cupcake_i-like-to-go-to-the-races-at-hollywood-p_510030.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I like to go to the races at Hollywood Park, but I don't usually win with the horses, so afterward I go to…” — Russell Mael", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } } }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 11, "item": { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "It's a strange thing: We are an L.A.-based band and we do spend all that time in Europe and are visible over there. Yet we've had this lengthy career, but no one ever associates us with Los Angeles.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Russell Mael" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-mael/it-s-a-strange-thing-we-are-an-l-a-based-band-and-we-do-spend-all/", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f8f/russell-mael-5251_band_it-s-a-strange-thing-we-are-an-l-a-based_453893.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f8f/russell-mael-5251_band_it-s-a-strange-thing-we-are-an-l-a-based_453893.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f8f/russell-mael-5251_band_it-s-a-strange-thing-we-are-an-l-a-based_453893.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“It's a strange thing: We are an L.A.-based band and we do spend all that time in Europe and are visible over…” — Russell Mael", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } } }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 12, "item": { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Within pop music, within three-minute songs, the exciting thing is to see how you can reshape the formula and still come up with something provocative that hasn't been done.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Russell Mael" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-mael/within-pop-music-within-three-minute-songs-the-exciting-thing-is-to/", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2a0/russell-mael-5251_come_within-pop-music-within-three-minute-son_1934234.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2a0/russell-mael-5251_come_within-pop-music-within-three-minute-son_1934234.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2a0/russell-mael-5251_come_within-pop-music-within-three-minute-son_1934234.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Within pop music, within three-minute songs, the exciting thing is to see how you can reshape the formula…” — Russell Mael", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } } }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 13, "item": { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "That album, 'Lil' Beethoven,' was special to us because we wanted to try to figure out a new context to place our music in, and not rely on the usual instrumentation - guitars, bass and drums - that gives rock or pop music its power, energy and excitement.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Russell Mael" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-mael/that-album-lil-beethoven-was-special-to-us-because-we-wanted-to-try/", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d6e/russell-mael-5251_energy_that-album-lil-beethoven-was-special-to_1467797.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d6e/russell-mael-5251_energy_that-album-lil-beethoven-was-special-to_1467797.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d6e/russell-mael-5251_energy_that-album-lil-beethoven-was-special-to_1467797.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“That album, 'Lil' Beethoven,' was special to us because we wanted to try to figure out a new context to…” — Russell Mael", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } } }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 14, "item": { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "We always turned to the U.K. bands because they were bigger than life and celebrated not only a strong, vital, vibrant musical sensibility, but also image was important when they came here looking sharp or provocative.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Russell Mael" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-mael/we-always-turned-to-the-u-k-bands-because-they-were-bigger-than-life/", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b7f/russell-mael-5251_always_we-always-turned-to-the-u-k-bands-becaus_2563111.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b7f/russell-mael-5251_always_we-always-turned-to-the-u-k-bands-becaus_2563111.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b7f/russell-mael-5251_always_we-always-turned-to-the-u-k-bands-becaus_2563111.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“We always turned to the U.K. bands because they were bigger than life and celebrated not only a strong…” — Russell Mael", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } } }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 15, "item": { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "With 'A Steady Drip, Drip Drip,' some of the subjects that are written about on the album have come to be even more prescient in a certain way than we had hoped for when they were written.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Russell Mael" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-mael/with-a-steady-drip-drip-drip-some-of-the-subjects-that-are-written/", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7ab/russell-mael-5251_come_with-a-steady-drip-drip-drip-some-of-the_855877.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7ab/russell-mael-5251_come_with-a-steady-drip-drip-drip-some-of-the_855877.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7ab/russell-mael-5251_come_with-a-steady-drip-drip-drip-some-of-the_855877.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“With 'A Steady Drip, Drip Drip,' some of the subjects that are written about on the album have come to be…” — Russell Mael", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } } }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 16, "item": { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I don't like talking about myself; I like to let the music be the spokesperson for me. So doing a memoir and all that chronological 'and then this happened and then blah blah' doesn't appeal to me that much. I think there's more mystique in what you don't know about.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Russell Mael" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-mael/i-don-t-like-talking-about-myself-i-like-to-let-the-music-be-the/", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7bc/russell-mael-5251_memoir_i-don-t-like-talking-about-myself-i-like_2185780.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7bc/russell-mael-5251_memoir_i-don-t-like-talking-about-myself-i-like_2185780.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7bc/russell-mael-5251_memoir_i-don-t-like-talking-about-myself-i-like_2185780.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I don't like talking about myself; I like to let the music be the spokesperson for me. So doing a memoir and…” — Russell Mael", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } } }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 17, "item": { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Leos focused on 'Annette' for eight years. He's not the type of director who'll have 10 films in development at any one time. He had this one film going for the entire eight years. We knew his focus was on the same wavelength as ours. And with that kind of intensity and passion, it had to turn out to be something special.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Russell Mael" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-mael/leos-focused-on-annette-for-eight-years-he-s-not-the-type-of-director/", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3b3/russell-mael-5251_director_leos-focused-on-annette-for-eight-years_2998891.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3b3/russell-mael-5251_director_leos-focused-on-annette-for-eight-years_2998891.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3b3/russell-mael-5251_director_leos-focused-on-annette-for-eight-years_2998891.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Leos focused on 'Annette' for eight years. He's not the type of director who'll have 10 films in development…” — Russell Mael", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } } }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 18, "item": { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I like when somebody is able to create their own universe, have a consistency to it and not break from character - that's something that's always been important to Sparks.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Russell Mael" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-mael/i-like-when-somebody-is-able-to-create-their-own-universe-have-a/", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/757/russell-mael-5251_character_i-like-when-somebody-is-able-to-create-t_108198.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/757/russell-mael-5251_character_i-like-when-somebody-is-able-to-create-t_108198.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/757/russell-mael-5251_character_i-like-when-somebody-is-able-to-create-t_108198.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I like when somebody is able to create their own universe, have a consistency to it and not break from…” — Russell Mael", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } } }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 19, "item": { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "You're always searching for that new thing you can impose on the givens of pop music - that's when the change becomes something exciting, and not just because we want to say we're chameleons all the time.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Russell Mael" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-mael/you-re-always-searching-for-that-new-thing-you-can-impose-on-the/", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ba9/russell-mael-5251_change_you-re-always-searching-for-that-new-thi_2115659.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ba9/russell-mael-5251_change_you-re-always-searching-for-that-new-thi_2115659.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ba9/russell-mael-5251_change_you-re-always-searching-for-that-new-thi_2115659.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“You're always searching for that new thing you can impose on the givens of pop music - that's when the…” — Russell Mael", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } } }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 20, "item": { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I really love 'Spirited Away,' it's just got an amazingly haunting atmosphere, and the technique is so non-Hollywood CGI - it's really refreshing to see other beautiful styles of animation that don't have to be the Hollywood bombast.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Russell Mael" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-mael/i-really-love-spirited-away-it-s-just-got-an-amazingly-haunting/", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/23c/russell-mael-5251_beautiful_i-really-love-spirited-away-it-s-just-go_2028153.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/23c/russell-mael-5251_beautiful_i-really-love-spirited-away-it-s-just-go_2028153.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/23c/russell-mael-5251_beautiful_i-really-love-spirited-away-it-s-just-go_2028153.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I really love 'Spirited Away,' it's just got an amazingly haunting atmosphere, and the technique is so…” — Russell Mael", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } } }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 21, "item": { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "As long as it elicits some kind of thought on the listener's part, that's good. If no one's paying attention to the lyrics it's a different situation. Ron especially puts a lot of care and time into them, it's not just wallpaper in the background.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Russell Mael" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-mael/as-long-as-it-elicits-some-kind-of-thought-on-the-listener-s-part/", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/652/russell-mael-5251_attention_as-long-as-it-elicits-some-kind-of-thoug_222498.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/652/russell-mael-5251_attention_as-long-as-it-elicits-some-kind-of-thoug_222498.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/652/russell-mael-5251_attention_as-long-as-it-elicits-some-kind-of-thoug_222498.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“As long as it elicits some kind of thought on the listener's part, that's good. If no one's paying attention…” — Russell Mael", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } } }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 22, "item": { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Over time I think we've gotten better at kind of sensing when we're just kind of going through the motions and when we're doing something that really kind of shows the passion that we want to demonstrate in the record.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Russell Mael" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-mael/over-time-i-think-we-ve-gotten-better-at-kind-of-sensing-when-we-re/", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4fd/russell-mael-5251_better_over-time-i-think-we-ve-gotten-better-at_1948775.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4fd/russell-mael-5251_better_over-time-i-think-we-ve-gotten-better-at_1948775.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4fd/russell-mael-5251_better_over-time-i-think-we-ve-gotten-better-at_1948775.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Over time I think we've gotten better at kind of sensing when we're just kind of going through the motions…” — Russell Mael", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } } } ] }, { "@type": "Person", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-mael/#person", "name": "Russell Mael", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-mael/", "description": "Russell Craig Mael is an American singer who co‑founded the rock duo Sparks with his brother Ron in 1971 and is known for his high falsetto." }, { "@type": "ProfilePage", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-mael/page/3/#webpage", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-mael/page/3/", "name": "Russell Mael", "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "mainEntity": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-mael/#person" }, "primaryImageOfPage": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ad5/russell-mael-5251_dealing-with-people_in-music-there-seems-to-be-a-myth-that-b_2186188.jpg" }, "description": "Russell Craig Mael is an American singer who co‑founded the rock duo Sparks with his brother Ron in 1971 and is known for his high falsetto.", "breadcrumb": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-mael/page/3/#breadcrumb" } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-mael/page/3/#breadcrumb", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Authors", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/authors/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Russell Mael", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-mael/page/3/" } ] }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```