--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: [Early on,] the attitude was that what I…" description: "\"[Early on,] the attitude was that what I was doing wasn't music.\" — Beck" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/755/beck-3337_attitude_early-on-the-attitude-was-that-what-i-wa_39878.png" --- # \[Early on,\] the attitude was that what I was doing wasn't… ![“[Early on,] the attitude was that what I was doing wasn't music.” quote by Beck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/755/beck-3337_attitude_early-on-the-attitude-was-that-what-i-wa_39878.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/755/beck-3337_attitude_early-on-the-attitude-was-that-what-i-wa_39878.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/755/beck-3337_attitude_early-on-the-attitude-was-that-what-i-wa_39878.png) > “\[Early on,\] the attitude was that what I was doing wasn't music.” [Beck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beck/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The speaker felt his work was dismissed as not belonging to the music category. **In simple terms:** Artistic identity can be contested. Key Takeaway Perception defines genre boundaries. Themes identity genre creativity authorship culture Mood defiant reflective Type statement observation When to use this quote - new musician releasing experimental tracks - artist facing industry gatekeeping - creator challenging traditional definitions Key Concepts artistic legitimacy genre classification Practical Applications - reframing non‑conventional work as music - advocating for broader genre acceptance Questions to Reflect On - What determines whether something is music? - How does labeling affect artistic freedom? ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Attitude](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/attitude/) [Music](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/music/) ## Related quotes > [I got some big breaks early on, and the attitude around it was always 'You're just lucky to be here.' No one came out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samantha-ponder/i-got-some-big-breaks-early-on-and-the-attitude-around-it-was-always/) [Samantha Ponder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samantha-ponder/) > [I can't control the mistakes I have made, but I can control my attitude towards them. By doing this, I will learn and not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cv-pillay/i-can-t-control-the-mistakes-i-have-made-but-i-can-control-my/) [Cv Pillay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cv-pillay/) > [What are we saying when we say now, something is holy? That means you should take a different attitude to what you are doing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-watts/what-are-we-saying-when-we-say-now-something-is-holy-that-means-you/) [Alan Watts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-watts/) > [I just tried to go out there and play with attitude, doing what I was supposed to do and knowing my role on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-oakley/i-just-tried-to-go-out-there-and-play-with-attitude-doing-what-i-was/) [Charles Oakley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-oakley/) > [I take the toughest challenges and fight against the best women. With that attitude, I will always be doing something big. I'm light-years ahead…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claressa-shields/i-take-the-toughest-challenges-and-fight-against-the-best-women-with/) [Claressa Shields](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claressa-shields/) > [I was working a corporate job for years and it always felt restrictive, it felt like I was doing something I wasn't supposed to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fred-foster/i-was-working-a-corporate-job-for-years-and-it-always-felt/) [Fred Foster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fred-foster/) > [“I had stuff that needed doing. It wasn’t my fault that none of it mattered.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aric-davis/i-had-stuff-that-needed-doing-it-wasn-t-my-fault-that-none-of-it/) [Aric Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aric-davis/) > [I wouldn't be doing this if it wasn't fun. It's just a whole different thing these days.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-kreutzmann/i-wouldn-t-be-doing-this-if-it-wasn-t-fun-it-s-just-a-whole-different/) [Bill Kreutzmann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-kreutzmann/) > [I would feel pretty embarrassed if I was doing what I do and I wasn't at least attempting the eloquent translation of the human…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/el-p/i-would-feel-pretty-embarrassed-if-i-was-doing-what-i-do-and-i-wasn-t/) [El-P](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/el-p/) > [I think for a couple of years I was believing that I was doing it all on my own and I wasn't.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/star-jones/i-think-for-a-couple-of-years-i-was-believing-that-i-was-doing-it-all/) [Star Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/star-jones/) > [When I left I knew I was gonna go back to WWE. But I needed to go because whatever I was doing wasn't working.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christian-cage/when-i-left-i-knew-i-was-gonna-go-back-to-wwe-but-i-needed-to-go/) [Christian Cage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christian-cage/) > [“I can tell you what I wasn’t doing when I wasn’t doing what I was supposed to: I was doing what I was supposed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jarod-kintz/i-can-tell-you-what-i-wasn-t-doing-when-i-wasn-t-doing-what-i-was/) [Jarod Kintz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jarod-kintz/) > [“And if it wasn’t as good as before, what was the point of doing it? There wasn’t a point, as far as I was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ozzy-osbourne/and-if-it-wasn-t-as-good-as-before-what-was-the-point-of-doing-it/) [Ozzy Osbourne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ozzy-osbourne/) > [I believed that we had to answer the question: Why are we doing this? And it wasn’t until we started to articulate, internally as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sebastian-coe/i-believed-that-we-had-to-answer-the-question-why-are-we-doing-this/) [Sebastian Coe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sebastian-coe/) > [By now he had learned enough to know that when he was getting annoyed at somebody else, it was usually because there was something…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lev-grossman/by-now-he-had-learned-enough-to-know-that-when-he-was-getting-annoyed/) [Lev Grossman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lev-grossman/) ## More by Beck > [There are certain records that you love because the songs are great, but you don't go to them as an example of great production.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beck/there-are-certain-records-that-you-love-because-the-songs-are-great/) [Beck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beck/) > [It gets a little bit troublesome when you have something that's overcompressed that shouldn't be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beck/it-gets-a-little-bit-troublesome-when-you-have-something-that-s/) [Beck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beck/) > [Let the desert wind cool your aching head. Let the weight of the world - drift away instead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beck/let-the-desert-wind-cool-your-aching-head-let-the-weight-of-the-world/) [Beck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beck/) > [I'm always looking for older equipment and ways of recording, but you can't escape the fact that it's all going to be digitized and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beck/i-m-always-looking-for-older-equipment-and-ways-of-recording-but-you/) [Beck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beck/) > [I did that Grammys thing - I did a little freeform poem.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beck/i-did-that-grammys-thing-i-did-a-little-freeform-poem/) [Beck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beck/) > [There's a perception that if an artist produces another artist, they're going to imprint on them. But I'm the opposite. I want to hear…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beck/there-s-a-perception-that-if-an-artist-produces-another-artist-they/) [Beck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beck/) > [Tonight the city is full of morgues, and all the toilets are overflowing. There's shopping malls coming out of the walls, as we walk…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beck/tonight-the-city-is-full-of-morgues-and-all-the-toilets-are/) [Beck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beck/) > [I think it's interesting being American, the expectations for an American guy, and the image that has to be projected. 'Oh, I can't wear…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beck/i-think-it-s-interesting-being-american-the-expectations-for-an/) [Beck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beck/) > [Technology was something I avoided when I started out - I didn't even have electric guitars. Only played acoustic.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beck/technology-was-something-i-avoided-when-i-started-out-i-didn-t-even/) [Beck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beck/) > [I'm the artist formally known as Beck. I have a genius wig. When I put that wig on, then the true genius emerges. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beck/i-m-the-artist-formally-known-as-beck-i-have-a-genius-wig-when-i-put/) [Beck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beck/) > [Originally, the lyrics to "Girl" were really upbeat, and then it didn't work for me somehow. You need the dichotomy. If you're doing something…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beck/originally-the-lyrics-to-girl-were-really-upbeat-and-then-it-didn-t/) [Beck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beck/) > [“There's a destination,a little up the road. From the habitations and the towns we know. A place we saw the lights turn low. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beck/there-s-a-destination-a-little-up-the-road-from-the-habitations-and/) [Beck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beck/) > [As society changes, as politics change, as people change, certain songs still seem to resonate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beck/as-society-changes-as-politics-change-as-people-change-certain-songs/) [Beck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beck/) > [With modern recording techniques, and living in the Pro Tools era, the process gets really drawn-out, and it can become painstaking.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beck/with-modern-recording-techniques-and-living-in-the-pro-tools-era-the/) [Beck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beck/) > [In the past it seemed like I was making fun of rap a little bit. But it was more me making fun of myself,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beck/in-the-past-it-seemed-like-i-was-making-fun-of-rap-a-little-bit-but/) [Beck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beck/) [Explore all 133 Beck quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beck/) ## More Attitude quotes > [“WE CAN'T ALWAYS CONTROL OUR CIRCUMSTANCES BUT WE CAN CONTROL OUR ATTITUDE. WE MUST BE MORE CONCERNED WITH WHAT WE DO WITH WHAT HAPPENS…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marvin-j-ashton/we-can-t-always-control-our-circumstances-but-we-can-control-our/) [MARVIN J. ASHTON](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marvin-j-ashton/) > [It's not the method, it's the mindset.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-gilbert/it-s-not-the-method-it-s-the-mindset/) [Andy Gilbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-gilbert/) > [The vision of the left, full of envy and resentment, takes its worst toll on those at the bottom - whether black or white…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-sowell/the-vision-of-the-left-full-of-envy-and-resentment-takes-its-worst/) [Thomas Sowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-sowell/) > [Changes before your eyes, things you can do and things you can't. My attitude is always let it keep rolling.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terrence-malick/changes-before-your-eyes-things-you-can-do-and-things-you-can-t-my/) [Terrence Malick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terrence-malick/) > [Vow to be valiant. Resolve to be radiant. Determine to be dynamic. Strive to be sincere. Aspire to be attuned.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-arthur-ward/vow-to-be-valiant-resolve-to-be-radiant-determine-to-be-dynamic/) [William Arthur Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-arthur-ward/) > [Don't judge me because I'm stupid. Don't judge me because I'm, mean. Don't judge me because I'm weird. Don't judge me for mistakes. Because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaiah-harden-me/don-t-judge-me-because-i-m-stupid-don-t-judge-me-because-i-m-mean-don/) Isaiah Harden (Me > [Your feelings (mood) dictate your thought, your thought determines your attitude (reactions) and your attitude describes your lifestyle, so: be careful how you feel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sheye-hassan/your-feelings-mood-dictate-your-thought-your-thought-determines-your/) Sheye Hassan > [Success will come when the societal attitude changes and not a single woman in America asks herself the question 'What did I do?'.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-biden/success-will-come-when-the-societal-attitude-changes-and-not-a-single/) [Joe Biden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-biden/) > [“Good Seeds! Gratitude is the Greatest Attitude that has no Substitute.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernard-kelvin-clive/good-seeds-gratitude-is-the-greatest-attitude-that-has-no-substitute/) [Bernard Kelvin Clive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernard-kelvin-clive/) > [Jeff Chu's pilgrimage across America to discover his own place as a gay man in the Christian church as well as attitudes about being…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donna-freitas/jeff-chu-s-pilgrimage-across-america-to-discover-his-own-place-as-a/) [Donna Freitas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donna-freitas/) > [One genuine reason to feel jealous of my parents:-) I will never ever have a kid as awesome as their's...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/one-genuine-reason-to-feel-jealous-of-my-parents-i-will-never-ever/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I'm optimistic Hong Kong will achieve universal suffrage - no matter the attitude of Beijing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joshua-wong/i-m-optimistic-hong-kong-will-achieve-universal-suffrage-no-matter/) [Joshua Wong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joshua-wong/) > [My attitude it that you don't give in.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-taylor/my-attitude-it-that-you-don-t-give-in/) [Phil Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-taylor/) > [Transparency pertains to impartial behavior, implies openness, communication, and accountability. Inculcate transparency in attitude and experience a life free of controversy and blame](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dr-anil-kr-sinha/transparency-pertains-to-impartial-behavior-implies-openness/) [Dr Anil Kr Sinha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dr-anil-kr-sinha/) > [And if the mind thinks with a believing attitude one can do amazing things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-vincent-peale/and-if-the-mind-thinks-with-a-believing-attitude-one-can-do-amazing/) [Norman Vincent Peale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-vincent-peale/) [Browse all 9,543 Attitude quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/attitude/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "[Early on,] the attitude was that what I was doing wasn't music.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Beck" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beck/early-on-the-attitude-was-that-what-i-was-doing-wasn-t-music/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Attitude" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beck/early-on-the-attitude-was-that-what-i-was-doing-wasn-t-music/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/755/beck-3337_attitude_early-on-the-attitude-was-that-what-i-wa_39878.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/755/beck-3337_attitude_early-on-the-attitude-was-that-what-i-wa_39878.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/755/beck-3337_attitude_early-on-the-attitude-was-that-what-i-wa_39878.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“[Early on,] the attitude was that what I was doing wasn't music.” — Beck", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "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": "Beck", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beck/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "[Early on,] the attitude was that...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beck/early-on-the-attitude-was-that-what-i-was-doing-wasn-t-music/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beck/early-on-the-attitude-was-that-what-i-was-doing-wasn-t-music/#breadcrumb" }, { "@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 } } ] } ```