--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If I had a musical identity that was…" description: "\"If I had a musical identity that was definable then it would be time to get into painting or something else. Race car driving.\" — Chris Cornell" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e5e/chris-cornell-2180_car_if-i-had-a-musical-identity-that-was-def_2919222.jpg" --- # If I had a musical identity that was definable then it… ![“If I had a musical identity that was definable then it would be time to get into painting or something else. Race car driving.” quote by Chris Cornell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e5e/chris-cornell-2180_car_if-i-had-a-musical-identity-that-was-def_2919222.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e5e/chris-cornell-2180_car_if-i-had-a-musical-identity-that-was-def_2919222.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e5e/chris-cornell-2180_car_if-i-had-a-musical-identity-that-was-def_2919222.jpg) > “If I had a musical identity that was definable then it would be time to get into painting or something else. Race car driving.” [Chris Cornell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-cornell/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Defining a fixed artistic identity limits growth; exploring new mediums fuels creativity. **In simple terms:** Avoid rigid artistic labels. Key Takeaway Embrace creative evolution. Themes identity creativity art exploration growth Mood inspirational curious Type philosophical creative When to use this quote - career transition - hobby development - cross‑disciplinary projects Key Concepts self‑concept multidisciplinary art Questions to Reflect On - How can artists balance identity and experimentation? - What new mediums could you explore? A Different Perspective Risk of losing core audience. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Car](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/car/) [Car driving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/car-driving/) [Driving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/driving/) [Identity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/identity/) [Ifs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ifs/) [Music](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/music/) [Musical](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/musical/) [Musical Identity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/musical-identity-1811668/) [Painting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/painting/) [Painting Race](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/painting-race-4244747/) [Race](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/race/) [Race car](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/race-car/) [Song](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/song/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Would be](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/would-be/) ## Related quotes > [There is always a chance of failure, of producing something totally unnecessary. But I guess that chance of failure is what makes tightrope walking,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-updike/there-is-always-a-chance-of-failure-of-producing-something-totally/) [John Updike](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-updike/) > [You can take lessons to become almost anything: flying lessons, piano lessons, skydiving lessons, acting lessons, race car driving lessons, singing lessons. But there's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-harvey/you-can-take-lessons-to-become-almost-anything-flying-lessons-piano/) [Steve Harvey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-harvey/) > [My interested in Brazilian music stemmed from wanting to find a musical identity other than the salsa and meringue that I was inundated with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/devendra-banhart/my-interested-in-brazilian-music-stemmed-from-wanting-to-find-a/) [Devendra Banhart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/devendra-banhart/) > [Even though I've been making electronic music since I was 14, it's hard for people to see you as a producer with a musical…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rostam-batmanglij/even-though-i-ve-been-making-electronic-music-since-i-was-14-it-s/) [Rostam Batmanglij](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rostam-batmanglij/) > [I actually don't see that strong of a connection between my background as a rock 'n roller and my early films. In a way…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cliff-martinez/i-actually-don-t-see-that-strong-of-a-connection-between-my/) [Cliff Martinez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cliff-martinez/) > [Diversity is its most consistent characteristic…The characteristics of freely improvised music are established only by the sonic-musical identity of the person or persons playing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derek-bailey/diversity-is-its-most-consistent-characteristic-the-characteristics/) [Derek Bailey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derek-bailey/) > [I didn't understand NASCAR until I met some NASCAR fans. You talk to a couple of NASCAR fans and you'll see where a shiny…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alonzo-bodden/i-didn-t-understand-nascar-until-i-met-some-nascar-fans-you-talk-to-a/) [Alonzo Bodden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alonzo-bodden/) > [I had to stop drinkin, cuz I got tired of waking up in my car driving ninety.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-pryor/i-had-to-stop-drinkin-cuz-i-got-tired-of-waking-up-in-my-car-driving/) [Richard Pryor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-pryor/) > [I get labelled as just being about one thing, but there's lots of layers to what I do. It's just lazy journalism, but people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-weller/i-get-labelled-as-just-being-about-one-thing-but-there-s-lots-of/) [Paul Weller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-weller/) > [Americans still believe they are cut out to be successful-in everything: love, love-making, luck, luck-giving, money-making, sense-making, cancer-avoiding, clothes-wearing, car-driving, and so on.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-saroyan/americans-still-believe-they-are-cut-out-to-be-successful-in/) [William Saroyan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-saroyan/) > [You get such a visceral thrill driving a race car. You think you've driven, and then you're like, 'Oh, I was doing something for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-segura/you-get-such-a-visceral-thrill-driving-a-race-car-you-think-you-ve/) [Tom Segura](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-segura/) > [“Yes, a guide can help point the way to your own sense of self and your purpose in life. No, a guide can't replace…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deepak-chopra/yes-a-guide-can-help-point-the-way-to-your-own-sense-of-self-and-your/) [Deepak Chopra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deepak-chopra/) > [I don't want to argue with my wife about her car - or my driving.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dale-earnhardt/i-don-t-want-to-argue-with-my-wife-about-her-car-or-my-driving/) [Dale Earnhardt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dale-earnhardt/) > [To understand the intensity of driving an F1 car, you have to be in it. When you're driving a 750hp machine at 320km/h, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jenson-button/to-understand-the-intensity-of-driving-an-f1-car-you-have-to-be-in-it/) [Jenson Button](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jenson-button/) > [“Dr. Karen Singh liked to say that a unwanted thought was like a car driving past you when you're standing on on the side…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-green/dr-karen-singh-liked-to-say-that-a-unwanted-thought-was-like-a-car/) [John Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-green/) ## More by Chris Cornell > [I've had a long career and I want to continue to have a long career. The way to do that is not to go…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-cornell/i-ve-had-a-long-career-and-i-want-to-continue-to-have-a-long-career/) [Chris Cornell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-cornell/) > [Music is supposed to be inspired.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-cornell/music-is-supposed-to-be-inspired/) [Chris Cornell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-cornell/) > [I think it's important for fans to know that but if I'm doing something that inspires me musically then I think it will inspire…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-cornell/i-think-it-s-important-for-fans-to-know-that-but-if-i-m-doing/) [Chris Cornell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-cornell/) > [As a child, I was this record collector/listener that would sit in a room and listen to the entire Beatles catalog alone, over and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-cornell/as-a-child-i-was-this-record-collector-listener-that-would-sit-in-a/) [Chris Cornell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-cornell/) > [When you start your first band and it has an impact on the rest of the world you go through a lot with those…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-cornell/when-you-start-your-first-band-and-it-has-an-impact-on-the-rest-of/) [Chris Cornell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-cornell/) > [In the United States, workouts tend to focus on body image and how you look. For me, it's really all about the brain.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-cornell/in-the-united-states-workouts-tend-to-focus-on-body-image-and-how-you/) [Chris Cornell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-cornell/) > [I don't care what people think of me or for what reason they think of me. I don't feel like I don't know who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-cornell/i-don-t-care-what-people-think-of-me-or-for-what-reason-they-think-of/) [Chris Cornell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-cornell/) > [I would look at older blues musicians who just keep going into their seventies. They keep doing it until they drop dead. And I've…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-cornell/i-would-look-at-older-blues-musicians-who-just-keep-going-into-their/) [Chris Cornell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-cornell/) > [I used to work in jobs I hated because I needed the money to buy a guitar. I know what it feels like to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-cornell/i-used-to-work-in-jobs-i-hated-because-i-needed-the-money-to-buy-a/) [Chris Cornell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-cornell/) > [When that much time goes by, you're really listening to your old music differently. At the time it's written, it was the beginning of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-cornell/when-that-much-time-goes-by-you-re-really-listening-to-your-old-music/) [Chris Cornell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-cornell/) > [Due to irresolvable personality conflicts as well as musical differences, I am permanently leaving the band Audioslave. I wish the other three members nothing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-cornell/due-to-irresolvable-personality-conflicts-as-well-as-musical/) [Chris Cornell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-cornell/) > [It's good for me to be involved in different things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-cornell/it-s-good-for-me-to-be-involved-in-different-things/) [Chris Cornell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-cornell/) > [I started as a drummer, so I sort of took on singing duties by default. I had sung backgrounds and some lead vocals from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-cornell/i-started-as-a-drummer-so-i-sort-of-took-on-singing-duties-by-default/) [Chris Cornell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-cornell/) > [And if you dont believe the sun will rise, stand alone and greet the coming night in the last remaining light.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-cornell/and-if-you-dont-believe-the-sun-will-rise-stand-alone-and-greet-the/) [Chris Cornell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-cornell/) > [Companies figured out that the easiest way to make money was to reissue records that the accounting department had paid for years ago and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-cornell/companies-figured-out-that-the-easiest-way-to-make-money-was-to/) [Chris Cornell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-cornell/) [Explore all 181 Chris Cornell quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-cornell/) ## More Car quotes > [If you restore a car, and you're making money, then you're doing it wrong.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-leno/if-you-restore-a-car-and-you-re-making-money-then-you-re-doing-it/) [Jay Leno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-leno/) > [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/) > [My embarrassing confession is that my father is a 'Camelot: The Musical' obsessive. So as a child, when we were going to visit relatives…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-chibnall/my-embarrassing-confession-is-that-my-father-is-a-camelot-the-musical/) [Chris Chibnall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-chibnall/) > [I don't own designer clothes, or a sports car, or a huge house, but I am seeing the world, experiencing amazing things, and I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roz-savage/i-don-t-own-designer-clothes-or-a-sports-car-or-a-huge-house-but-i-am/) [Roz Savage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roz-savage/) > [Television, radio, social media. The 24/7 news cycle plows forward mercilessly on our desks, in our cars and in our pockets. Thousands and thousands…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-prince/television-radio-social-media-the-24-7-news-cycle-plows-forward/) [Joseph Prince](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-prince/) > [I don't own a yacht or a flashy car. I've always had safe cars because I do so much driving. I don't think I've…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angela-rippon/i-don-t-own-a-yacht-or-a-flashy-car-i-ve-always-had-safe-cars-because/) [Angela Rippon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angela-rippon/) > [I am a horrible visual artist. I can't fix a car, sew, knit, cook, etc. Statistically, there is more I don't do than do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carrie-brownstein/i-am-a-horrible-visual-artist-i-can-t-fix-a-car-sew-knit-cook-etc/) [Carrie Brownstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carrie-brownstein/) > [I mean, you've kind of got the track down, especially with ovals. The only thing that improves is that when race conditions come, you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/danica-patrick/i-mean-you-ve-kind-of-got-the-track-down-especially-with-ovals-the/) [Danica Patrick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/danica-patrick/) > [I was with Dre when he was just selling tapes. He didn't have a car, a license or a job.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-le/i-was-with-dre-when-he-was-just-selling-tapes-he-didn-t-have-a-car-a/) [Michel'le](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-le/) > ['Melanin Man' was inspired by the words of an Uber driver in L.A. Before I got out of the car he said, 'They're scared…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/masego/melanin-man-was-inspired-by-the-words-of-an-uber-driver-in-l-a-before/) [Masego](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/masego/) > [The things that don't happen to us that we'll never know didn't happen to us. The nonstories. The extra minute to find the briefcase…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anita-shreve/the-things-that-don-t-happen-to-us-that-we-ll-never-know-didn-t/) [Anita Shreve](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anita-shreve/) > [“I hate the way you talk to me And the way you cut your hair I hate the way you drive my car I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-levithan/i-hate-the-way-you-talk-to-me-and-the-way-you-cut-your-hair-i-hate/) [David Levithan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-levithan/) > [It is amazing how may drivers, even at the Formula One Level, think that the brakes are for slowing the car down.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mario-andretti/it-is-amazing-how-may-drivers-even-at-the-formula-one-level-think/) [Mario Andretti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mario-andretti/) > [Whether you are buying a car or casting a ballot, choosing a job or planning a family, follow your moral compass. Don't let others…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denis-hayes/whether-you-are-buying-a-car-or-casting-a-ballot-choosing-a-job-or/) [Denis Hayes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denis-hayes/) > [I don't have to have the biggest house or the biggest car or the longest mink, but quality of life is really glamorous.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eartha-kitt/i-don-t-have-to-have-the-biggest-house-or-the-biggest-car-or-the/) [Eartha Kitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eartha-kitt/) [Browse all 6,849 Car quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/car/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "If I had a musical identity that was definable then it would be time to get into painting or something else. Race car driving.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Chris Cornell" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-cornell/if-i-had-a-musical-identity-that-was-definable-then-it-would-be-time/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Car" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-cornell/if-i-had-a-musical-identity-that-was-definable-then-it-would-be-time/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e5e/chris-cornell-2180_car_if-i-had-a-musical-identity-that-was-def_2919222.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e5e/chris-cornell-2180_car_if-i-had-a-musical-identity-that-was-def_2919222.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e5e/chris-cornell-2180_car_if-i-had-a-musical-identity-that-was-def_2919222.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“If I had a musical identity that was definable then it would be time to get into painting or something else…” — Chris Cornell", "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": "Chris Cornell", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-cornell/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "If I had a musical identity...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-cornell/if-i-had-a-musical-identity-that-was-definable-then-it-would-be-time/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-cornell/if-i-had-a-musical-identity-that-was-definable-then-it-would-be-time/#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 } } ] } ```