---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When alternative music - which is…"
description: "\"When alternative music - which is supposed to be the standard-bearer of where white rock is headed - becomes either too cute or too manufactured, that'..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8dd/billy-corgan-1014_alternative_when-alternative-music-which-is-supposed_3195426.png"
---

#  When alternative music - which is supposed to be the…

![“When alternative music - which is supposed to be the standard-bearer of where white rock is headed - becomes either too cute or too manufactured, that's just really not good.” quote by Billy Corgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8dd/billy-corgan-1014_alternative_when-alternative-music-which-is-supposed_3195426.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8dd/billy-corgan-1014_alternative_when-alternative-music-which-is-supposed_3195426.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8dd/billy-corgan-1014_alternative_when-alternative-music-which-is-supposed_3195426.png)

> “When alternative music - which is supposed to be the standard-bearer of where white rock is headed - becomes either too cute or too manufactured, that's just really not good.”

[Billy Corgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-corgan/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

The statement critiques alternative music when it loses its edge and becomes overly commercial or gimmicky, losing authenticity.

**In simple terms:** Music should stay authentic, not become overly commercial.

Key Takeaway

Preserve artistic integrity.

Themes

music authenticity culture

Mood

critical reflective

Type

analysis opinion

When to use this quote

- band branding
- genre evolution
- fan expectations

Key Concepts

artistic expression commercialization

Questions to Reflect On

- When does innovation become inauthentic?
- How to balance originality with audience appeal?

A Different Perspective

It may dismiss innovative sounds that simply differ from tradition.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Alternative music](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/alternative-music/) [Music](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/music/) [Rocks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rocks/)

## Related quotes

> [Pure, white rock 'n' roll, with no blues influence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-ramone/pure-white-rock-n-roll-with-no-blues-influence/)

[Johnny Ramone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-ramone/)

> [Alternative music is no longer alternative once it’s in the mainstream.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-cobain/alternative-music-is-no-longer-alternative-once-it-s-in-the-mainstream/)

[Kurt Cobain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-cobain/)

> [I get a thrill meeting kids who are into alternative music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-cobain/i-get-a-thrill-meeting-kids-who-are-into-alternative-music/)

[Kurt Cobain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-cobain/)

> [I know there's a certain love and affection for the homemade on the Internet, and I'm all for that, too, and I appreciate it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-englund/i-know-there-s-a-certain-love-and-affection-for-the-homemade-on-the/)

[Robert Englund](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-englund/)

> [I think it's really cool, but Jimmy Eat World and Gin Blossoms did it better than anyone. People don't realize just how awesome the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nate-ruess/i-think-it-s-really-cool-but-jimmy-eat-world-and-gin-blossoms-did-it/)

[Nate Ruess](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nate-ruess/)

> [In the '90s, the radio was still alive with all different kinds of points of view, and I think that's why people are longing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shirley-manson/in-the-90s-the-radio-was-still-alive-with-all-different-kinds-of/)

[Shirley Manson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shirley-manson/)

> [We grew up listening to alternative music from the '90s, and there was no shame in being on a major label and still making…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nate-ruess/we-grew-up-listening-to-alternative-music-from-the-90s-and-there-was/)

[Nate Ruess](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nate-ruess/)

> [What bothers me is when music becomes entertainment. Of course, music is supposed to be entertaining, but go back to any period of time…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-corgan/what-bothers-me-is-when-music-becomes-entertainment-of-course-music/)

[Billy Corgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-corgan/)

> [Music is supposed to be interwoven into the fabric of society; it is not supposed to be a plaything that is there to serve…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-corgan/music-is-supposed-to-be-interwoven-into-the-fabric-of-society-it-is/)

[Billy Corgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-corgan/)

> [I didn't feel particularly cool when I was 16 or 17 but I felt accepted in a community of alternative music and the gig scene.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matty-healy/i-didn-t-feel-particularly-cool-when-i-was-16-or-17-but-i-felt/)

[Matty Healy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matty-healy/)

> [As more people get into indie bands and alternative music, they're also getting more into other genres that fit those categories, like jazz and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hilary-hahn/as-more-people-get-into-indie-bands-and-alternative-music-they-re/)

[Hilary Hahn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hilary-hahn/)

> [The thing about me is, coming from an alternative music background and singing for nine years, being basically invisible, I'm so used to writing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lana-del-rey/the-thing-about-me-is-coming-from-an-alternative-music-background-and/)

[Lana Del Rey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lana-del-rey/)

> [When I was growing up, the alternative-music scene, not just in Ireland but... in the U.K. and in America and stuff... the women were…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cmat/when-i-was-growing-up-the-alternative-music-scene-not-just-in-ireland/)

[CMAT](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cmat/)

> [The formats have changed so much, and even if you look at alternative music today, most of it isn't really that alternative. It's just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/perry-farrell/the-formats-have-changed-so-much-and-even-if-you-look-at-alternative/)

[Perry Farrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/perry-farrell/)

> [When I was in seventh grade, I totally had a crush on a guy who was older than me, and he listened to alternative…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carrie-underwood/when-i-was-in-seventh-grade-i-totally-had-a-crush-on-a-guy-who-was/)

[Carrie Underwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carrie-underwood/)

## More by Billy Corgan

> [To re-embrace what I once loved about music has been a warming process for me, because it's a good, earned feeling now.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-corgan/to-re-embrace-what-i-once-loved-about-music-has-been-a-warming/)

[Billy Corgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-corgan/)

> [I never wanted to leave the Smashing Pumpkins. That was never the plan.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-corgan/i-never-wanted-to-leave-the-smashing-pumpkins-that-was-never-the-plan/)

[Billy Corgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-corgan/)

> [Everything about life makes me lonely.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-corgan/everything-about-life-makes-me-lonely/)

[Billy Corgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-corgan/)

> [I'm prepared to spend the rest of my life playing clubs, if that means I'm playing music that I believe in.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-corgan/i-m-prepared-to-spend-the-rest-of-my-life-playing-clubs-if-that-means/)

[Billy Corgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-corgan/)

> [We were in Japan once where they had 30 kinds of green tea. I thought there was one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-corgan/we-were-in-japan-once-where-they-had-30-kinds-of-green-tea-i-thought/)

[Billy Corgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-corgan/)

> [All humans are part male and part female. The other side must be explored to gain complete understanding ofourselves and the world we live…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-corgan/all-humans-are-part-male-and-part-female-the-other-side-must-be/)

[Billy Corgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-corgan/)

> [“I used to be a little boy So old in my shoes And what i choose is my choice What's a boy supposed to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-corgan/i-used-to-be-a-little-boy-so-old-in-my-shoes-and-what-i-choose-is-my/)

[Billy Corgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-corgan/)

> [In my case I don't mind playing a character that irritates people or makes people question my sanity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-corgan/in-my-case-i-don-t-mind-playing-a-character-that-irritates-people-or/)

[Billy Corgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-corgan/)

> [There are people out there who are older who are cool. I want that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-corgan/there-are-people-out-there-who-are-older-who-are-cool-i-want-that/)

[Billy Corgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-corgan/)

> [ Everybody can close their eyes, picture a dream house or a perfect place \[where\] they'd like to have a picnic. But actually creating it… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-corgan/everybody-can-close-their-eyes-picture-a-dream-house-or-a-perfect/)

[Billy Corgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-corgan/)

> [In the music business I am surrounded by people who don't view music as a sacred voice. They view music as something that they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-corgan/in-the-music-business-i-am-surrounded-by-people-who-don-t-view-music/)

[Billy Corgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-corgan/)

> [That was a terrible Super Bowl, I have to say. I mean you got the big Peyton Manning walk off into the sunset win,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-corgan/that-was-a-terrible-super-bowl-i-have-to-say-i-mean-you-got-the-big/)

[Billy Corgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-corgan/)

> [We can look you in the eye and talk to you about life, heart, love rock'n'roll, whatever, but we do not have the moral…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-corgan/we-can-look-you-in-the-eye-and-talk-to-you-about-life-heart-love-rock/)

[Billy Corgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-corgan/)

> [I've always been spiritual but I've never had a proper context, and it took me awhile to find the proper context. It's hard to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-corgan/i-ve-always-been-spiritual-but-i-ve-never-had-a-proper-context-and-it/)

[Billy Corgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-corgan/)

> [ Being overly identified with \[a certain period of time\] becomes a noose around your neck, and people don't want you to grow up, they… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-corgan/being-overly-identified-with-a-certain-period-of-time-becomes-a-noose/)

[Billy Corgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-corgan/)

[Explore all 308 Billy Corgan quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-corgan/)

## More Alternative quotes

> [The alternative comedy scene is actually pretty small, I guess.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/casey-wilson/the-alternative-comedy-scene-is-actually-pretty-small-i-guess/)

[Casey Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/casey-wilson/)

> [In my book I specifically discussed the structural nature of injustice and offered Nine Touchstones of Goddess ethics as an alternative to the Ten…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carol-p-christ/in-my-book-i-specifically-discussed-the-structural-nature-of/)

[Carol P. Christ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carol-p-christ/)

> [As the future is never known with certainty, the evaluation of the prospective benefits requires the formation of expectations. An acceptable house, partner or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dale-t-mortensen/as-the-future-is-never-known-with-certainty-the-evaluation-of-the/)

[Dale T. Mortensen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dale-t-mortensen/)

> [Maximise the alternative forms in which a user might receive a service, and the alternative sources of supply.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-chipp/maximise-the-alternative-forms-in-which-a-user-might-receive-a/)

Don Chipp

> [In January 2012, Google Plus started to roll out support for nicknames and pseudonyms, but those registering with a name other than their real-life…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rebecca-mackinnon/in-january-2012-google-plus-started-to-roll-out-support-for-nicknames/)

[Rebecca MacKinnon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rebecca-mackinnon/)

> [It's American Alternative radio stations that bug me. We're considered Alternative, but don't expect us to be played next to Blink 182 and Offspring.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thurston-moore/it-s-american-alternative-radio-stations-that-bug-me-we-re-considered/)

[Thurston Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thurston-moore/)

> [There are some fantastic, brilliant alternative doctors out there.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hayley-mills/there-are-some-fantastic-brilliant-alternative-doctors-out-there/)

[Hayley Mills](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hayley-mills/)

> [The alternative to the market process is government control, and we know where that principle leads.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sheldon-richman/the-alternative-to-the-market-process-is-government-control-and-we/)

[Sheldon Richman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sheldon-richman/)

> [Alternative services would mean that there would be services available to compete with Google, Facebook, Amazon, Dropbox, Skype, etc., and they would be run…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mikko-hypponen/alternative-services-would-mean-that-there-would-be-services/)

[Mikko Hypponen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mikko-hypponen/)

> [I liked a lot of alternative and I like punk stuff.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martie-maguire/i-liked-a-lot-of-alternative-and-i-like-punk-stuff/)

[Martie Maguire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martie-maguire/)

> [I've thought about what is an alternative word to feminism. There isn't one. It's a perfectly good word. And it can't be changed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-lennox/i-ve-thought-about-what-is-an-alternative-word-to-feminism-there-isn/)

[Annie Lennox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-lennox/)

> [The Voice has always been an alternative paper. They have always understood that that was part of their role.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sydney-schanberg/the-voice-has-always-been-an-alternative-paper-they-have-always/)

[Sydney Schanberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sydney-schanberg/)

> [Please don't eat less, eat right, don't hold it in, its okay to cry, do not hurt yourself there is always an alternative.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/please-don-t-eat-less-eat-right-don-t-hold-it-in-its-okay-to-cry-do/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [The Gospel is not an alternative, it’s an ultimatum.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/reinhard-bonnke/the-gospel-is-not-an-alternative-it-s-an-ultimatum/)

[Reinhard Bonnke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/reinhard-bonnke/)

> [Alternative medicine plays into this exaggerated notion that you can prevent disease simply by doing the right thing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcia-angell/alternative-medicine-plays-into-this-exaggerated-notion-that-you-can/)

[Marcia Angell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcia-angell/)

Browse all 400 Alternative quotes

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "When alternative music - which is supposed to be the standard-bearer of where white rock is headed - becomes either too cute or too manufactured, that's just really not good.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Billy Corgan"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-corgan/when-alternative-music-which-is-supposed-to-be-the-standard-bearer-of/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Alternative"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-corgan/when-alternative-music-which-is-supposed-to-be-the-standard-bearer-of/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8dd/billy-corgan-1014_alternative_when-alternative-music-which-is-supposed_3195426.png",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8dd/billy-corgan-1014_alternative_when-alternative-music-which-is-supposed_3195426.png",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8dd/billy-corgan-1014_alternative_when-alternative-music-which-is-supposed_3195426.png",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“When alternative music - which is supposed to be the standard-bearer of where white rock is headed - becomes…” — Billy Corgan",
                "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": "Billy Corgan",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-corgan/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "When alternative music - which is...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-corgan/when-alternative-music-which-is-supposed-to-be-the-standard-bearer-of/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-corgan/when-alternative-music-which-is-supposed-to-be-the-standard-bearer-of/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
