---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Like I say, it depends on how you do…"
description: "\"Like I say, it depends on how you do rock-'n'-roll. If you do it right then I think people will appreciate it for what it is.\" — D'Angelo"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/646/d-angelo-32328_appreciate_like-i-say-it-depends-on-how-you-do-rock_2355962.jpg"
---

#  Like I say, it depends on how you do rock-'n'-roll. If you…

![“Like I say, it depends on how you do rock-'n'-roll. If you do it right then I think people will appreciate it for what it is.” quote by D'Angelo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/646/d-angelo-32328_appreciate_like-i-say-it-depends-on-how-you-do-rock_2355962.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/646/d-angelo-32328_appreciate_like-i-say-it-depends-on-how-you-do-rock_2355962.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/646/d-angelo-32328_appreciate_like-i-say-it-depends-on-how-you-do-rock_2355962.jpg)

> “Like I say, it depends on how you do rock-'n'-roll. If you do it right then I think people will appreciate it for what it is.”

[D'Angelo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/d-angelo/)

## About This Quote

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

The quality of execution determines whether a style is valued for its essence.

**In simple terms:** Execution matters for appreciation.

Key Takeaway

Focus on doing it right.

Themes

music authenticity performance

Mood

reflective inspired

Type

advisory inspirational

When to use this quote

- live performance
- studio recording
- teaching music
- personal practice

Key Concepts

artistic integrity cultural appreciation

Questions to Reflect On

- How can you ensure authenticity in your own work?
- What standards define “right” in creative expression?

A Different Perspective

If the audience lacks context, appreciation may still be limited.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Song](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/song/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/)

## Related quotes

> [We based the look on rock 'n roll right from the beginning.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vivienne-westwood/we-based-the-look-on-rock-n-roll-right-from-the-beginning/)

[Vivienne Westwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vivienne-westwood/)

> [I let things roll right off me. I don't stay mad long.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-crosby/i-let-things-roll-right-off-me-i-don-t-stay-mad-long/)

[Dennis Crosby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-crosby/)

> [If there is truth or merit in the criticism, try to learn from it. Otherwise, let it roll right off you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-clinton/if-there-is-truth-or-merit-in-the-criticism-try-to-learn-from-it/)

[Hillary Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-clinton/)

> [Lets go roll on her. Go roll up on her right now. Just be like, whats your problem?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/spencer-pratt/lets-go-roll-on-her-go-roll-up-on-her-right-now-just-be-like-whats/)

[Spencer Pratt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/spencer-pratt/)

> [Let it go. Let it roll right off your shoulder. Don't you know the hardest part is over?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-thomas/let-it-go-let-it-roll-right-off-your-shoulder-don-t-you-know-the/)

[Rob Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-thomas/)

> [People will appreciate who you are when you're naturally being who you are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ari-lennox/people-will-appreciate-who-you-are-when-you-re-naturally-being-who/)

[Ari Lennox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ari-lennox/)

> [You know, I grew up in a place where people appreciate it when you're very direct.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lynne-ramsay/you-know-i-grew-up-in-a-place-where-people-appreciate-it-when-you-re/)

[Lynne Ramsay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lynne-ramsay/)

> [It's a gift, and a blessing, just to have a voice. And I'm proud that people do appreciate it, you know?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roy-orbison/it-s-a-gift-and-a-blessing-just-to-have-a-voice-and-i-m-proud-that/)

[Roy Orbison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roy-orbison/)

> [I want people to appreciate talent and ability.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-jackson/i-want-people-to-appreciate-talent-and-ability/)

[Michael Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-jackson/)

> [It's always nice when people appreciate your work because it means you've affected them, which is great. And so that feels good.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kirsten-dunst/it-s-always-nice-when-people-appreciate-your-work-because-it-means/)

[Kirsten Dunst](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kirsten-dunst/)

> [Sometimes being alone is better than being with people who do not appreciate your love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/sometimes-being-alone-is-better-than-being-with-people-who-do-not/)

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

> [It's great at this stage in my life to still be in the running, that people appreciate you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dolly-parton/it-s-great-at-this-stage-in-my-life-to-still-be-in-the-running-that/)

[Dolly Parton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dolly-parton/)

> [All I hear is the people that appreciate me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-hardy/all-i-hear-is-the-people-that-appreciate-me/)

[Greg Hardy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-hardy/)

> [Nostalgia is also a trait of the organizations that I call lodges - everything from corporate cultures to religious sects. Their bonding power often…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-james/nostalgia-is-also-a-trait-of-the-organizations-that-i-call-lodges/)

[Jennifer James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-james/)

> [The living environment is the biosphere, the thin layer around the world of living organisms. We're part of that. Our existence is dependent on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-o-wilson/the-living-environment-is-the-biosphere-the-thin-layer-around-the/)

[E. O. Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-o-wilson/)

## More by D'Angelo

> [Since I started playing, really, since I was like three. I imagined myself famous but the vision was blurry, I guess. What you see…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/d-angelo/since-i-started-playing-really-since-i-was-like-three-i-imagined/)

[D'Angelo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/d-angelo/)

> [I haven't had the time to do a lot of writing. But nothing's really changed about me. It's just my day-to-day activities have changed,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/d-angelo/i-haven-t-had-the-time-to-do-a-lot-of-writing-but-nothing-s-really/)

[D'Angelo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/d-angelo/)

> [The show is coming from the music. I get on the stage with the band, and I communicate with my musicians, and the music…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/d-angelo/the-show-is-coming-from-the-music-i-get-on-the-stage-with-the-band/)

[D'Angelo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/d-angelo/)

> [Prince is extremely soulful, but he can get real rock-'n'-rollish. So can Lenny Kravitz. Lenny's real soulful but he's got that rock with him,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/d-angelo/prince-is-extremely-soulful-but-he-can-get-real-rock-n-rollish-so-can/)

[D'Angelo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/d-angelo/)

> [I don't know how I want to come across looking, really. I just look how I am.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/d-angelo/i-don-t-know-how-i-want-to-come-across-looking-really-i-just-look-how/)

[D'Angelo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/d-angelo/)

> [It's not too hard to play Fender Rhodes keyboard if you get the right one, with some good action on the keys. If you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/d-angelo/it-s-not-too-hard-to-play-fender-rhodes-keyboard-if-you-get-the-right/)

[D'Angelo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/d-angelo/)

> [In Europe they're more calm, more reserved. Here, in the States, people are more wild, a little more open. I guess it takes a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/d-angelo/in-europe-they-re-more-calm-more-reserved-here-in-the-states-people/)

[D'Angelo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/d-angelo/)

> [Definitely. The way I look is a reflection of who I am. That's how my music is too.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/d-angelo/definitely-the-way-i-look-is-a-reflection-of-who-i-am-that-s-how-my/)

[D'Angelo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/d-angelo/)

> [I'm closest to the music when I'm onstage with the band, playing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/d-angelo/i-m-closest-to-the-music-when-i-m-onstage-with-the-band-playing/)

[D'Angelo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/d-angelo/)

> [Watch us, all stand in line, for a slice of the devil's pie. Who am I to justify, all the evil in our eye.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/d-angelo/watch-us-all-stand-in-line-for-a-slice-of-the-devil-s-pie-who-am-i-to/)

[D'Angelo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/d-angelo/)

> [I don't know what scared me about Marvin Gaye. I just know that he was scary, and that all of his... his aura was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/d-angelo/i-don-t-know-what-scared-me-about-marvin-gaye-i-just-know-that-he-was/)

[D'Angelo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/d-angelo/)

> [I'm making black music. That's the only outline for me, really. That's the only boundary to stay with. It's soul music. I'm going all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/d-angelo/i-m-making-black-music-that-s-the-only-outline-for-me-really-that-s/)

[D'Angelo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/d-angelo/)

> [Especially when I first came up here to New York, everybody wanted to hook me up with this guy who's Prince's sound engineer. Almost…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/d-angelo/especially-when-i-first-came-up-here-to-new-york-everybody-wanted-to/)

[D'Angelo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/d-angelo/)

> [I lived in the house with my mother so she had no choice but to hear what I was doing. I would ask her…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/d-angelo/i-lived-in-the-house-with-my-mother-so-she-had-no-choice-but-to-hear/)

[D'Angelo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/d-angelo/)

[Explore all 15 D'Angelo quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/d-angelo/)

## More Appreciate quotes

> [All I hear is the people that appreciate me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-hardy/all-i-hear-is-the-people-that-appreciate-me/)

[Greg Hardy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-hardy/)

> [I think that kind of balance comes with the process of growing together as a band, the Little Dragon. We love to write, we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yukimi-nagano/i-think-that-kind-of-balance-comes-with-the-process-of-growing/)

[Yukimi Nagano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yukimi-nagano/)

> [Time is really gold,spent it wisely with the people around you.Spread love,appreciate the beauty around you!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jglargosta/time-is-really-gold-spent-it-wisely-with-the-people-around-you-spread/)

[Jglargosta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jglargosta/)

> [Because there are three classes of intellects: one which comprehends by itself; another which appreciates what others comprehend; and a third which neither comprehends…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niccolo-machiavelli/because-there-are-three-classes-of-intellects-one-which-comprehends/)

[Niccolo Machiavelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niccolo-machiavelli/)

> [Eventually the consumer will come to appreciate the editorial point of view of every different brand. User-generated content without editorial oversight will simply be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-eisner/eventually-the-consumer-will-come-to-appreciate-the-editorial-point/)

[Michael Eisner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-eisner/)

> [The connoisseur of art must be able to appreciate what is simply beautiful, but the common run of people is satisfied with ornament](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/the-connoisseur-of-art-must-be-able-to-appreciate-what-is-simply/)

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

> [The laws of thermodynamics, as empirically determined, express the approximate and probable behavior of systems of a great number of particles, or, more precisely,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-willard-gibbs/the-laws-of-thermodynamics-as-empirically-determined-express-the/)

J. Willard Gibbs

> [This time, there were no drugs involved. The hours were completely normal daytime hours. I think we were able to appreciate the interplay, where…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lindsey-buckingham/this-time-there-were-no-drugs-involved-the-hours-were-completely/)

[Lindsey Buckingham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lindsey-buckingham/)

> [I would like beautiful gymnastics to be recognized as the best. I want the judges to appreciate things that are not necessarily winning points.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kohei-uchimura/i-would-like-beautiful-gymnastics-to-be-recognized-as-the-best-i-want/)

[Kohei Uchimura](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kohei-uchimura/)

> [One of the most important rules for success is this: Every great success is the result of hundreds and thousands of small efforts and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-tracy/one-of-the-most-important-rules-for-success-is-this-every-great/)

[Brian Tracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-tracy/)

> [It's great at this stage in my life to still be in the running, that people appreciate you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dolly-parton/it-s-great-at-this-stage-in-my-life-to-still-be-in-the-running-that/)

[Dolly Parton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dolly-parton/)

> [The sectaries of a persecuted religion, depressed by fear, animated with resentment, and perhaps heated by enthusiasm, are seldom in a proper temper of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-gibbon/the-sectaries-of-a-persecuted-religion-depressed-by-fear-animated/)

[Edward Gibbon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-gibbon/)

> [Love is too wonderful for us but why we often times do not ever appreciate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mohamad-idrus/love-is-too-wonderful-for-us-but-why-we-often-times-do-not-ever/)

[Mohamad Idrus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mohamad-idrus/)

> [I think the most important thing is to stay hopeful, to believe wonderful things are possible and do your best. Basically, to not give…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irena-a-hoffman/i-think-the-most-important-thing-is-to-stay-hopeful-to-believe/)

[Irena A. Hoffman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irena-a-hoffman/)

> [“Admire and appreciate your man and he will be happy on your side”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linda-alfiori/admire-and-appreciate-your-man-and-he-will-be-happy-on-your-side/)

[Linda Alfiori](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linda-alfiori/)

Browse all 3,873 Appreciate quotes

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "Like I say, it depends on how you do rock-'n'-roll. If you do it right then I think people will appreciate it for what it is.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "D'Angelo"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/d-angelo/like-i-say-it-depends-on-how-you-do-rock-n-roll-if-you-do-it-right/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Appreciate"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/d-angelo/like-i-say-it-depends-on-how-you-do-rock-n-roll-if-you-do-it-right/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/646/d-angelo-32328_appreciate_like-i-say-it-depends-on-how-you-do-rock_2355962.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/646/d-angelo-32328_appreciate_like-i-say-it-depends-on-how-you-do-rock_2355962.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/646/d-angelo-32328_appreciate_like-i-say-it-depends-on-how-you-do-rock_2355962.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“Like I say, it depends on how you do rock-'n'-roll. If you do it right then I think people will appreciate…” — D'Angelo",
                "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": "D'Angelo",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/d-angelo/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "Like I say, it depends on...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/d-angelo/like-i-say-it-depends-on-how-you-do-rock-n-roll-if-you-do-it-right/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/d-angelo/like-i-say-it-depends-on-how-you-do-rock-n-roll-if-you-do-it-right/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
