--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Whatever you do has to be commercial and…" description: "\"Whatever you do has to be commercial and it can't be too distracting - it has to be background music, basically.\" — Beck" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2ad/beck-3337_background-music_whatever-you-do-has-to-be-commercial-and_2909239.png" --- # Whatever you do has to be commercial and it can't be too… ![“Whatever you do has to be commercial and it can't be too distracting - it has to be background music, basically.” quote by Beck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2ad/beck-3337_background-music_whatever-you-do-has-to-be-commercial-and_2909239.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2ad/beck-3337_background-music_whatever-you-do-has-to-be-commercial-and_2909239.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2ad/beck-3337_background-music_whatever-you-do-has-to-be-commercial-and_2909239.png) > “Whatever you do has to be commercial and it can't be too distracting - it has to be background music, basically.” [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. Music should serve its purpose without dominating attention, acting as subtle support. **In simple terms:** Music must stay in the background. Key Takeaway Create unobtrusive, functional sound. Themes music design functionality attention commercial background Mood neutral practical Type advice design When to use this quote - advertising - retail environments - video game soundtracks - public spaces - product demos Key Concepts aesthetic minimalism user experience audio branding Questions to Reflect On - How can background music still convey brand identity? - When does subtlety become unnoticed? A Different Perspective May limit artistic expression or emotional impact. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Background music](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/background-music/) [Music](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/music/) ## Related quotes > [The neo-conservative critics of leftist critics of mass culture ridicule the protest against Bach as background music in the kitchen, against Plato and Hegel,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbert-marcuse/the-neo-conservative-critics-of-leftist-critics-of-mass-culture/) [Herbert Marcuse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbert-marcuse/) > [One of the biggest challenges in the past for me in working on the networks was that audiences have grown accustomed to television being…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-sorkin/one-of-the-biggest-challenges-in-the-past-for-me-in-working-on-the/) [Aaron Sorkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-sorkin/) > [I love when I reach Marcus on the phone and as he says hello, I can hear the music he's listening to in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/megan-mccafferty/i-love-when-i-reach-marcus-on-the-phone-and-as-he-says-hello-i-can/) [Megan McCafferty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/megan-mccafferty/) > [First I think I was interested in the stories, and later on, I became more interested in the language itself, so the stories became…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-robbins/first-i-think-i-was-interested-in-the-stories-and-later-on-i-became/) [Tom Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-robbins/) > [You know, one of the tragedies of real life is that there is no background music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-proulx/you-know-one-of-the-tragedies-of-real-life-is-that-there-is-no/) [Annie Proulx](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-proulx/) > [Moving to L.A., I got really into hip-hop and trap music and basically a lot of the sounds you would maybe normally see in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mija/moving-to-l-a-i-got-really-into-hip-hop-and-trap-music-and-basically/) [Mija](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mija/) > [I hate most of what constitutes rock music, which is basically middle-aged crap.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sting/i-hate-most-of-what-constitutes-rock-music-which-is-basically-middle/) [Sting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sting/) > [My music is basically perceived as folk or softer rock.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shawn-colvin/my-music-is-basically-perceived-as-folk-or-softer-rock/) [Shawn Colvin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shawn-colvin/) > [We all teach from that same frame of reference. We're like neighborhood - the people who have had the opportunity through this music to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wynton-marsalis/we-all-teach-from-that-same-frame-of-reference-we-re-like/) [Wynton Marsalis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wynton-marsalis/) > [Recorded music is basically free now. I used to tour to promote a CD, but now I make a CD to promote a tour.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-frampton/recorded-music-is-basically-free-now-i-used-to-tour-to-promote-a-cd/) [Peter Frampton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-frampton/) > [Music is basically melody, harmony, and rhythm. But people can do much more with music than that. It can be very descriptive in all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-parker/music-is-basically-melody-harmony-and-rhythm-but-people-can-do-much/) [Charlie Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-parker/) > [My music is basically all about witty punchlines and lyric progression that is aimed to make you laugh or say "Woah."](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-stud/my-music-is-basically-all-about-witty-punchlines-and-lyric/) [Mike Stud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-stud/) > [It's all about music, because music is basically what's... been my avenue out of maybe being involved in things I shouldn't be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pitbull/it-s-all-about-music-because-music-is-basically-what-s-been-my-avenue/) [Pitbull](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pitbull/) > [When I'm not doing readings, I just spend a lot of time alone and try to meditate. Going for walks in nature is also…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tyler-henry/when-i-m-not-doing-readings-i-just-spend-a-lot-of-time-alone-and-try/) [Tyler Henry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tyler-henry/) > [“And the way I loved her was like nothing else. This, I decided, was the love all other loves were measured against. They say…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katherine-center/and-the-way-i-loved-her-was-like-nothing-else-this-i-decided-was-the/) [Katherine Center](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katherine-center/) ## 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/) > [ \[Early on,\] the attitude was that what I was doing wasn't music. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beck/early-on-the-attitude-was-that-what-i-was-doing-wasn-t-music/) [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/) [Explore all 133 Beck quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beck/) ## More Background music quotes > [“And the way I loved her was like nothing else. This, I decided, was the love all other loves were measured against. They say…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katherine-center/and-the-way-i-loved-her-was-like-nothing-else-this-i-decided-was-the/) [Katherine Center](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katherine-center/) > [When I'm not doing readings, I just spend a lot of time alone and try to meditate. Going for walks in nature is also…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tyler-henry/when-i-m-not-doing-readings-i-just-spend-a-lot-of-time-alone-and-try/) [Tyler Henry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tyler-henry/) > [“The trouble with life is that, unlike movies, it doesn't have background music. We never know how we're supposed to feel.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lewis-gardner/the-trouble-with-life-is-that-unlike-movies-it-doesn-t-have/) Lewis Gardner > [One of the biggest challenges in the past for me in working on the networks was that audiences have grown accustomed to television being…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-sorkin/one-of-the-biggest-challenges-in-the-past-for-me-in-working-on-the/) [Aaron Sorkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-sorkin/) > [I don't just sing the song, I also sing the background music and the guitar solo.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-don-t-just-sing-the-song-i-also-sing-the-background-music-and-the/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I love when I reach Marcus on the phone and as he says hello, I can hear the music he's listening to in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/megan-mccafferty/i-love-when-i-reach-marcus-on-the-phone-and-as-he-says-hello-i-can/) [Megan McCafferty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/megan-mccafferty/) > [First I think I was interested in the stories, and later on, I became more interested in the language itself, so the stories became…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-robbins/first-i-think-i-was-interested-in-the-stories-and-later-on-i-became/) [Tom Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-robbins/) > [“My eyes pop out when I catch a glimpse of how much leg she's showing. She's wearing her shortest mini skirt, the one that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janine-caldwell/my-eyes-pop-out-when-i-catch-a-glimpse-of-how-much-leg-she-s-showing/) [Janine Caldwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janine-caldwell/) > [“They were looking for a builder to construct the home they thought they wanted, but he was the architect, coming with a new plan…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/n-t-wright/they-were-looking-for-a-builder-to-construct-the-home-they-thought/) [N.T. Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/n-t-wright/) > [“He never really voice pure, raw outrage to me about Watergate or what it represented. The crimes and abuses were background music. Nixon was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-woodward/he-never-really-voice-pure-raw-outrage-to-me-about-watergate-or-what/) [Bob Woodward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-woodward/) > [“« I guess I tend to think that important events should be solemn, and very grand, with muted violins playing in the background. It´s…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-guess-i-tend-to-think-that-important-events-should-be-solemn-and/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The neo-conservative critics of leftist critics of mass culture ridicule the protest against Bach as background music in the kitchen, against Plato and Hegel,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbert-marcuse/the-neo-conservative-critics-of-leftist-critics-of-mass-culture/) [Herbert Marcuse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbert-marcuse/) > [“One of the tragedies of real life is that there is no background music.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-proulx/one-of-the-tragedies-of-real-life-is-that-there-is-no-background-music/) [Annie Proulx](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-proulx/) > [People sort of imagine Chris Morris and me sitting somewhere dark, with dripping taps and chilling background music. In fact, we like to sit…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-baynham/people-sort-of-imagine-chris-morris-and-me-sitting-somewhere-dark/) [Peter Baynham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-baynham/) > [“Life is just like a movie, except it does not have background music, but you cannot see it in media.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abrar-ahmed-chowdhury/life-is-just-like-a-movie-except-it-does-not-have-background-music/) [Abrar Ahmed chowdhury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abrar-ahmed-chowdhury/) [Browse all 71 Background music quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/background-music/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Whatever you do has to be commercial and it can't be too distracting - it has to be background music, basically.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Beck" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beck/whatever-you-do-has-to-be-commercial-and-it-can-t-be-too-distracting/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Background music" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beck/whatever-you-do-has-to-be-commercial-and-it-can-t-be-too-distracting/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2ad/beck-3337_background-music_whatever-you-do-has-to-be-commercial-and_2909239.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2ad/beck-3337_background-music_whatever-you-do-has-to-be-commercial-and_2909239.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2ad/beck-3337_background-music_whatever-you-do-has-to-be-commercial-and_2909239.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Whatever you do has to be commercial and it can't be too distracting - it has to be background 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": "Whatever you do has to be...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beck/whatever-you-do-has-to-be-commercial-and-it-can-t-be-too-distracting/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beck/whatever-you-do-has-to-be-commercial-and-it-can-t-be-too-distracting/#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 } } ] } ```