--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I'm not thinking about what needs to be…" description: "\"I'm not thinking about what needs to be on the radio. I'm not thinking about anything other than - I'm just going to let this music come out of me and ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bad/brian-mcknight-8171_music_i-m-not-thinking-about-what-needs-to-be_2116828.png" --- # I'm not thinking about what needs to be on the radio. I'm… ![“I'm not thinking about what needs to be on the radio. I'm not thinking about anything other than - I'm just going to let this music come out of me and not have any sort of preconceived notion of what I should do. I'm just going to do it.” quote by Brian McKnight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bad/brian-mcknight-8171_music_i-m-not-thinking-about-what-needs-to-be_2116828.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bad/brian-mcknight-8171_music_i-m-not-thinking-about-what-needs-to-be_2116828.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bad/brian-mcknight-8171_music_i-m-not-thinking-about-what-needs-to-be_2116828.png) > “I'm not thinking about what needs to be on the radio. I'm not thinking about anything other than - I'm just going to let this music come out of me and not have any sort of preconceived notion of what I should do. I'm just going to do it.” [Brian McKnight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-mcknight/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The artist emphasizes spontaneous creation, letting music flow without preconceptions, focusing on authenticity over planning. **In simple terms:** Create music instinctively, without over‑thinking. Key Takeaway Embrace spontaneity in creative work. Themes creativity authenticity spontaneity music performance Mood inspired free‑spirited Type artistic motivational When to use this quote - live performances - songwriting sessions - studio recordings Key Concepts improvisation flow state mindfulness Questions to Reflect On - What rituals help you balance preparation and improvisation? - How does letting go affect the quality of your work? A Different Perspective Over‑reliance on spontaneity may lead to inconsistency. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Music](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/music/) [Preconceived notions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/preconceived-notions/) [Radio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/radio/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) ## Related quotes > [When it comes to the music making, that's when we completely are open and just let anything go down in the studio. It's nice…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/georgia-nott/when-it-comes-to-the-music-making-that-s-when-we-completely-are-open/) [Georgia Nott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/georgia-nott/) > [If you're going to be transparent, you're going to have to let the music come that wants to come.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-elling/if-you-re-going-to-be-transparent-you-re-going-to-have-to-let-the/) [Kurt Elling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-elling/) > [Music should come crashing out of your speakers and grab you, and the lyrics should challenge whatever preconceived notions that listener has.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lou-reed/music-should-come-crashing-out-of-your-speakers-and-grab-you-and-the/) [Lou Reed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lou-reed/) > [“THE GAMBLER,THE NUN & THE RADIO He was thinking well, a little too well”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-hemingway/the-gambler-the-nun-the-radio-he-was-thinking-well-a-little-too-well/) [Ernest Hemingway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-hemingway/) > [Well, what's interesting, I try not to think about the radio when I'm writing a song. I want people to love the song, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-legend/well-what-s-interesting-i-try-not-to-think-about-the-radio-when-i-m/) [John Legend](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-legend/) > [Air America Radio was thinking of hiring me, but they discovered something in my past that didn't sit well with them: radio experience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-colmes/air-america-radio-was-thinking-of-hiring-me-but-they-discovered/) [Alan Colmes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-colmes/) > [“When you smile from within good things come to you from without. Just breathe, your music will come.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-fantino/when-you-smile-from-within-good-things-come-to-you-from-without-just/) [Lisa Fantino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-fantino/) > [Our music attracts the people that we rap about and make music about, and they come out and actually do it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/quavo/our-music-attracts-the-people-that-we-rap-about-and-make-music-about/) [Quavo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/quavo/) > [I started doing Bollywood and film music, and now, it has come to a point where I've started to say no. I want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/atif-aslam/i-started-doing-bollywood-and-film-music-and-now-it-has-come-to-a/) [Atif Aslam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/atif-aslam/) > [When I hear music, I come alive. I feel electrified. I just get into the music and I start moving.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/courtney-hadwin/when-i-hear-music-i-come-alive-i-feel-electrified-i-just-get-into-the/) [Courtney Hadwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/courtney-hadwin/) > [Of course I have bills to pay, but at the same time, it's more about the passion and the love, and I think that's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ludacris/of-course-i-have-bills-to-pay-but-at-the-same-time-it-s-more-about/) [Ludacris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ludacris/) > [People have got no attention span these days with music - I come from the time where I bought the whole album and listened…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rag-n-bone-man/people-have-got-no-attention-span-these-days-with-music-i-come-from/) [Rag'n'Bone Man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rag-n-bone-man/) > [There was a time in the 1980s when music was almost over. If you think about it, it will be tough for you to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/javed-ali/there-was-a-time-in-the-1980s-when-music-was-almost-over-if-you-think/) [Javed Ali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/javed-ali/) > [My biggest dream to connect people through music has come true. In a world where there are enough reasons to separate us, the Oscars…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-r-rahman/my-biggest-dream-to-connect-people-through-music-has-come-true-in-a/) [A. R. Rahman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-r-rahman/) > [People who tend to listen to my music have come back and said, 'Yo, this is my anthem. This is what I live by.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/big-sean/people-who-tend-to-listen-to-my-music-have-come-back-and-said-yo-this/) [Big Sean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/big-sean/) ## More by Brian McKnight > [I've worked with jazz artists, country artists, classical artists, pop artists. I never wanted there to be categories, because when I was a kid…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-mcknight/i-ve-worked-with-jazz-artists-country-artists-classical-artists-pop/) [Brian McKnight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-mcknight/) > [I hope at some point in my career when my name is mentioned, someone will say "Oh yeah he has a good song!" I'd…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-mcknight/i-hope-at-some-point-in-my-career-when-my-name-is-mentioned-someone/) [Brian McKnight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-mcknight/) > [Most of the stuff I learned to play, I learned in high school. I had a band in high school, a jazz-fusion thing, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-mcknight/most-of-the-stuff-i-learned-to-play-i-learned-in-high-school-i-had-a/) [Brian McKnight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-mcknight/) > [Every little kid that steps on the court or the field has aspirations to go pro. I think being a pro basketball player is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-mcknight/every-little-kid-that-steps-on-the-court-or-the-field-has-aspirations/) [Brian McKnight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-mcknight/) > [He knows I rip him off every day. He's the godfather for me. Nobody can say they aren't influenced by what Stevie Wonder has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-mcknight/he-knows-i-rip-him-off-every-day-he-s-the-godfather-for-me-nobody-can/) [Brian McKnight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-mcknight/) > [I wanted to put jazz on the record, all the loves of music that I had on the record, so I could show people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-mcknight/i-wanted-to-put-jazz-on-the-record-all-the-loves-of-music-that-i-had/) [Brian McKnight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-mcknight/) > [I do not wear my emotions on my sleeve; I write about them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-mcknight/i-do-not-wear-my-emotions-on-my-sleeve-i-write-about-them/) [Brian McKnight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-mcknight/) > [I am just like all the jerks and idiots you know. I am just a guy that watches sports all day.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-mcknight/i-am-just-like-all-the-jerks-and-idiots-you-know-i-am-just-a-guy-that/) [Brian McKnight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-mcknight/) > [I should know better but its just not the case.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-mcknight/i-should-know-better-but-its-just-not-the-case/) [Brian Mcknight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-mcknight/) > [I am at my core a singer/songwriter a la James Taylor or a la Billy Joel. It's not that I don't want to work…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-mcknight/i-am-at-my-core-a-singer-songwriter-a-la-james-taylor-or-a-la-billy/) [Brian McKnight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-mcknight/) > [People don't like when you point out to them and remind them that they're not very smart.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-mcknight/people-don-t-like-when-you-point-out-to-them-and-remind-them-that/) [Brian McKnight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-mcknight/) > [Stevie didn't use the technology to drive the song. He used it to enhance. I use the tools to further my work, I don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-mcknight/stevie-didn-t-use-the-technology-to-drive-the-song-he-used-it-to/) [Brian McKnight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-mcknight/) > [I was a nerd academically. But I was also an athlete and a musician. I never wanted to be shut out of any situation.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-mcknight/i-was-a-nerd-academically-but-i-was-also-an-athlete-and-a-musician-i/) [Brian McKnight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-mcknight/) > [I think I'd have to say my favorite IWC. They have been around for so long and the craftsmanship is top notch. A watch…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-mcknight/i-think-i-d-have-to-say-my-favorite-iwc-they-have-been-around-for-so/) [Brian McKnight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-mcknight/) > [A lot of musicians put diamonds on things to show they had money. I on the other had felt that Daytona showed I had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-mcknight/a-lot-of-musicians-put-diamonds-on-things-to-show-they-had-money-i-on/) [Brian McKnight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-mcknight/) [Explore all 83 Brian McKnight quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-mcknight/) ## More Music quotes > [I feel like I definitely have a real sporty style, more so than a lot of people in G.O.O.D. Music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/big-sean/i-feel-like-i-definitely-have-a-real-sporty-style-more-so-than-a-lot/) [Big Sean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/big-sean/) > [Before I debuted, it was my goal to make my debut, and afterwards, I aimed at winning champion titles on television music shows, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hyuna/before-i-debuted-it-was-my-goal-to-make-my-debut-and-afterwards-i/) [Hyuna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hyuna/) > [When you step out and do a song in a musical, the easier thing to do is make it funny. But when those transitions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelli-o-hara/when-you-step-out-and-do-a-song-in-a-musical-the-easier-thing-to-do/) [Kelli O'Hara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelli-o-hara/) > [I'm at the edge of the world, Where do I go from here? Do I disappear? Edge of the world, Should I sink or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bring-me-the-horizon/i-m-at-the-edge-of-the-world-where-do-i-go-from-here-do-i-disappear/) [Bring Me The Horizon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bring-me-the-horizon/) > [I've seen a lot of people come out of Carol City, but I had this distinct vision for Carol City, just me coming out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denzel-curry/i-ve-seen-a-lot-of-people-come-out-of-carol-city-but-i-had-this/) [Denzel Curry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denzel-curry/) > [When you listen to someone improvise, the notes that are played are only half the story.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hubert-laws/when-you-listen-to-someone-improvise-the-notes-that-are-played-are/) Hubert Laws > [I understand that it's the music that keeps me alive... That's my lifeblood. And to give that up for, like, the TV, the cars,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-springsteen/i-understand-that-it-s-the-music-that-keeps-me-alive-that-s-my/) [Bruce Springsteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-springsteen/) > [ “Downloading's the same as what I used to do. I used to tape the charts of the songs I liked \[off the radio\]. I… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liam-gallagher/downloading-s-the-same-as-what-i-used-to-do-i-used-to-tape-the-charts/) [Liam Gallagher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liam-gallagher/) > [I've been writing songs since I was 10 years old and always had a penchant for rhyming. I started listening to hip hop through…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hoodie-allen/i-ve-been-writing-songs-since-i-was-10-years-old-and-always-had-a/) [Hoodie Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hoodie-allen/) > [Each woman is like an instrument, waiting to be learned, loved, and finely played, to have at last her own true music made.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-rothfuss/each-woman-is-like-an-instrument-waiting-to-be-learned-loved-and/) [Patrick Rothfuss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-rothfuss/) > [I want people to hear my lyrics and my melodies and say, 'That dude's in pain.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ivan-moody/i-want-people-to-hear-my-lyrics-and-my-melodies-and-say-that-dude-s/) [Ivan Moody](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ivan-moody/) > [I make dance music because I love to dance. But I want to think at the same time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stromae/i-make-dance-music-because-i-love-to-dance-but-i-want-to-think-at-the/) [Stromae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stromae/) > [There is something magical about being able to feel somebody. And that is something that has always moved me with music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-brink/there-is-something-magical-about-being-able-to-feel-somebody-and-that/) [Maria Brink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-brink/) > [I feel very grateful to be alive and well enough to make music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-ant/i-feel-very-grateful-to-be-alive-and-well-enough-to-make-music/) Adam Ant > [I received a beautiful welcome to the world of music. I want to give something back to the younger generation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luciano-pavarotti/i-received-a-beautiful-welcome-to-the-world-of-music-i-want-to-give/) [Luciano Pavarotti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luciano-pavarotti/) [Browse all 55,293 Music quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/music/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I'm not thinking about what needs to be on the radio. I'm not thinking about anything other than - I'm just going to let this music come out of me and not have any sort of preconceived notion of what I should do. 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