---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Becoming a Top Ten artist has surprised me."
description: "\"Becoming a Top Ten artist has surprised me.\" — Billy Squier"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/81b/billy-squier-4506_art_becoming-a-top-ten-artist-has-surprised_1846149.png"
---

#  Becoming a Top Ten artist has surprised me.

![“Becoming a Top Ten artist has surprised me.” quote by Billy Squier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/81b/billy-squier-4506_art_becoming-a-top-ten-artist-has-surprised_1846149.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/81b/billy-squier-4506_art_becoming-a-top-ten-artist-has-surprised_1846149.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/81b/billy-squier-4506_art_becoming-a-top-ten-artist-has-surprised_1846149.png)

> “Becoming a Top Ten artist has surprised me.”

[Billy Squier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-squier/)

## About This Quote

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

Achieving top chart status was unexpected, highlighting unpredictability of success.

**In simple terms:** Success can be surprising.

Key Takeaway

Stay adaptable and open to change.

Themes

music industry success expectation

Mood

motivational contemplative

Type

philosophical inspirational

When to use this quote

- career planning
- goal setting
- music promotion

Key Concepts

Chance market dynamics

Questions to Reflect On

- What defines success for you?
- How do you handle unexpected achievements?

A Different Perspective

Success may be fleeting without sustained effort.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Art](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/art/) [Artist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/artist/) [Artist Surprised](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/artist-surprised-1998424/) [Becoming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/becoming/) [Me](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/me/) [Surprised](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/surprised/) [Top](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/top/)

## Related quotes

> [The artist himself is often surprised at the finished work of art. He cannot tell 'how it happened', nor could he repeat the feat…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-f-carlson/the-artist-himself-is-often-surprised-at-the-finished-work-of-art-he/)

[John F. Carlson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-f-carlson/)

> [I think my first thought on reaching the summit- of course, I was very, very pleased to be there, naturally - but my first…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edmund-hillary/i-think-my-first-thought-on-reaching-the-summit-of-course-i-was-very/)

[Edmund Hillary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edmund-hillary/)

> [I think I am becoming incapable of being too surprised. But it just makes me sad and sick.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mccain/i-think-i-am-becoming-incapable-of-being-too-surprised-but-it-just/)

[John McCain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mccain/)

> [I can't live without my cup of tea. When I was a judge on 'America's Next Top Model,' they had to put me in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/twiggy/i-can-t-live-without-my-cup-of-tea-when-i-was-a-judge-on-america-s/)

[Twiggy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/twiggy/)

> [What I look for in a script is something that challenges me, something that breaks new ground, something that allows me to flex my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-bay/what-i-look-for-in-a-script-is-something-that-challenges-me-something/)

[Michael Bay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-bay/)

> [My brothers and sister and me grew up making fun of each other, the way we'd speak or move. When we get together, everyone's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colman-domingo/my-brothers-and-sister-and-me-grew-up-making-fun-of-each-other-the/)

[Colman Domingo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colman-domingo/)

> [I hear a lot of 'Top Model' girls say they are dismissed by clients because they recognize them, but it never happened to me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fatima-siad/i-hear-a-lot-of-top-model-girls-say-they-are-dismissed-by-clients/)

[Fatima Siad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fatima-siad/)

> [Museums, I think, are becoming more and more aware of how to turn themselves into a must-see spectacle.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jake-barton/museums-i-think-are-becoming-more-and-more-aware-of-how-to-turn/)

[Jake Barton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jake-barton/)

> [I've gradually fooled myself into becoming a real painter... I really just like to sit in my air-conditioned Rome painting studio surrounded by Medieval…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-kostabi/i-ve-gradually-fooled-myself-into-becoming-a-real-painter-i-really/)

[Mark Kostabi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-kostabi/)

> [If you leave someone for another person, don't be surprised if that person leaves you for someone else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-you-leave-someone-for-another-person-don-t-be-surprised-if-that/)

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

> [ David Cameron was wrong on this \[Brexit\]. He didn't get the mood of his country right. He was very surprised to see what happened. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/david-cameron-was-wrong-on-this-brexit-he-didn-t-get-the-mood-of-his/)

[Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/)

> [I am surprised that anyone can profess to be an atheist.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-comfort/i-am-surprised-that-anyone-can-profess-to-be-an-atheist/)

[Ray Comfort](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-comfort/)

> [Many people would be surprised that, in fact, I'm quite shy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/desmond-tutu/many-people-would-be-surprised-that-in-fact-i-m-quite-shy/)

[Desmond Tutu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/desmond-tutu/)

> [Some friends said they weren't surprised to find out Napoleon and I were related, but it came as quite a shock to me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-conti/some-friends-said-they-weren-t-surprised-to-find-out-napoleon-and-i/)

[Tom Conti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-conti/)

> [You'd be surprised how hard it can often be to translate an action into an idea.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-kraus/you-d-be-surprised-how-hard-it-can-often-be-to-translate-an-action/)

[Karl Kraus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-kraus/)

## More by Billy Squier

> [So everybody is trying to play like Eddie Van Halen. I think it's rubbish. I think Eddie's great, but everyone's trying to do what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-squier/so-everybody-is-trying-to-play-like-eddie-van-halen-i-think-it-s/)

[Billy Squier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-squier/)

> [I think that 'Tell the Truth' is one of the best rock records ever made by me or anyone - I really do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-squier/i-think-that-tell-the-truth-is-one-of-the-best-rock-records-ever-made/)

[Billy Squier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-squier/)

> [For me, music is this incredibly cerebral trip. You turn on the radio or put on a record, and it's your song, it's what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-squier/for-me-music-is-this-incredibly-cerebral-trip-you-turn-on-the-radio/)

[Billy Squier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-squier/)

> [I mean, I would always like to play bigger places and play for more people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-squier/i-mean-i-would-always-like-to-play-bigger-places-and-play-for-more/)

[Billy Squier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-squier/)

> [You guard your hopes and pocket your dreams, you'd trade it all to avoid an unpleasant scene.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-squier/you-guard-your-hopes-and-pocket-your-dreams-you-d-trade-it-all-to/)

[Billy Squier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-squier/)

> [I don't really like fighting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-squier/i-don-t-really-like-fighting/)

[Billy Squier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-squier/)

> [Don't Say No' was the first album I'd done that I felt completely comfortable with.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-squier/don-t-say-no-was-the-first-album-i-d-done-that-i-felt-completely/)

[Billy Squier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-squier/)

> [Studio work is very methodical, while live concerts must be very spontaneous.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-squier/studio-work-is-very-methodical-while-live-concerts-must-be-very/)

[Billy Squier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-squier/)

> [I don't feel I have to be Jackson Browne. Still, I like to say something.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-squier/i-don-t-feel-i-have-to-be-jackson-browne-still-i-like-to-say-something/)

[Billy Squier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-squier/)

> [I don't like pictures of me showing my hair sticking up in back.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-squier/i-don-t-like-pictures-of-me-showing-my-hair-sticking-up-in-back/)

[Billy Squier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-squier/)

> [I try to remember our relative insignificance on this planet and that these seemingly important things do not mean quite as much as we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-squier/i-try-to-remember-our-relative-insignificance-on-this-planet-and-that/)

[Billy Squier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-squier/)

> [Life isn't that complicated on paper. It's made more complex by the day and age we live.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-squier/life-isn-t-that-complicated-on-paper-it-s-made-more-complex-by-the/)

[Billy Squier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-squier/)

> [I do keep my eyes and ears open but I don't spend a lot of time looking at what other people are doing to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-squier/i-do-keep-my-eyes-and-ears-open-but-i-don-t-spend-a-lot-of-time/)

[Billy Squier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-squier/)

> [I always loved music. I liked to go to church because I liked to sing the hymns.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-squier/i-always-loved-music-i-liked-to-go-to-church-because-i-liked-to-sing/)

[Billy Squier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-squier/)

> [I never try to create a different personality or anything like that. I'm not like David Bowie or somebody like that, who changes personas…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-squier/i-never-try-to-create-a-different-personality-or-anything-like-that-i/)

[Billy Squier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-squier/)

[Explore all 110 Billy Squier quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-squier/)

## More Art quotes

> [True works of art contain their own theory and give us the measurement according to which we should judge them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/true-works-of-art-contain-their-own-theory-and-give-us-the/)

[Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/)

> [Before Noah, men having only water to drink, could not find the truth. Accordingly...they became abominably wicked, and they were justly exterminated by the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/before-noah-men-having-only-water-to-drink-could-not-find-the-truth/)

[Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/)

> [“Hear the sum of the whole matter in the compass of one brief word — every art possessed by man comes from Prometheus.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aeschylus/hear-the-sum-of-the-whole-matter-in-the-compass-of-one-brief-word/)

[Aeschylus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aeschylus/)

> [I think most artists feel like they're outside society - no matter how many accolades they receive, or how much money is in your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-rose/i-think-most-artists-feel-like-they-re-outside-society-no-matter-how/)

[Aaron Rose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-rose/)

> [The capacity to be puzzled is the premise of all creation, be it in art or in science.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erich-fromm/the-capacity-to-be-puzzled-is-the-premise-of-all-creation-be-it-in/)

[Erich Fromm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erich-fromm/)

> [That's the great secret of creativity. You treat ideas like cats: you make them follow you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-bradbury/that-s-the-great-secret-of-creativity-you-treat-ideas-like-cats-you/)

[Ray Bradbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-bradbury/)

> [“So, really," continued Jacob as if this were perfectly normal to expound on art in these circumstances, "when you think about it, the artists…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justina-chen-headley/so-really-continued-jacob-as-if-this-were-perfectly-normal-to-expound/)

[Justina Chen Headley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justina-chen-headley/)

> [“There are two options in art; either to adopt philosophical life by dissecting art, or to write your own philosophical life and claim it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taf-teh/there-are-two-options-in-art-either-to-adopt-philosophical-life-by/)

[Taf Teh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taf-teh/)

> [The house has to serve comfort. The work of art is revolutionary; the house is conservative.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adolf-loos/the-house-has-to-serve-comfort-the-work-of-art-is-revolutionary-the/)

[Adolf Loos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adolf-loos/)

> [During human progress, every science is evolved out of its corresponding art.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbert-spencer/during-human-progress-every-science-is-evolved-out-of-its/)

[Herbert Spencer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbert-spencer/)

> [In literature and art memory is a synonym for invention. It is the life-blood of imagination, which faints and dies when the veins are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-aris-willmott/in-literature-and-art-memory-is-a-synonym-for-invention-it-is-the/)

[Robert Aris Willmott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-aris-willmott/)

> [I think a business guy is different from an artist. They walk different paths. Artists create the best outputs when they're having fun. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/g-dragon/i-think-a-business-guy-is-different-from-an-artist-they-walk/)

[G-Dragon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/g-dragon/)

> [“The only thing--I tell you this straight from the heart--that disgusts me in Salzburg is that one can't have any proper social intercourse with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wolfgang-amadeus-mozart/the-only-thing-i-tell-you-this-straight-from-the-heart-that-disgusts/)

[Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wolfgang-amadeus-mozart/)

> [The sublime in art is the attempt to express the infinite without finding in the realm of phenomena any object which proves itself fitting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/georg-wilhelm-friedrich-hegel/the-sublime-in-art-is-the-attempt-to-express-the-infinite-without/)

[Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/georg-wilhelm-friedrich-hegel/)

> [Art isn't done to decorate apartments, but to wage war against the enemy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pablo-picasso/art-isn-t-done-to-decorate-apartments-but-to-wage-war-against-the/)

[Pablo Picasso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pablo-picasso/)

[Browse all 48,643 Art quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/art/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "Becoming a Top Ten artist has surprised me.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Billy Squier"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-squier/becoming-a-top-ten-artist-has-surprised-me/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Art"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-squier/becoming-a-top-ten-artist-has-surprised-me/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/81b/billy-squier-4506_art_becoming-a-top-ten-artist-has-surprised_1846149.png",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/81b/billy-squier-4506_art_becoming-a-top-ten-artist-has-surprised_1846149.png",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/81b/billy-squier-4506_art_becoming-a-top-ten-artist-has-surprised_1846149.png",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“Becoming a Top Ten artist has surprised me.” — Billy Squier",
                "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 Squier",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-squier/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "Becoming a Top Ten artist has...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-squier/becoming-a-top-ten-artist-has-surprised-me/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-squier/becoming-a-top-ten-artist-has-surprised-me/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```