Communicate Quote by David Byrne
“There's still a feeling that uncensored emotions make a good song. They don't. Pure emotion is just somebody screaming at you, or crying. It doesn't communicate anything. It has to be mediated with some skill and craft, in order to communicate it to a second, a third, or a fourth person. That doesn't make it any less real. And it doesn't make it any less true. But it does mean that, yeah, it's the combination that makes it work.”
About This Quote
Source Interview: Rolling Stone Magazine, 1995
Raw emotion alone lacks structure, so music needs skill to convey meaning effectively.
In simple terms: Emotion needs craft to be understood.
Key Takeaway
Blend feeling with technique.
Themes
music
emotion
craft
communication
Mood
reflective
analytical
Type
artistic
philosophical
When to use this quote
- songwriting
- live performance
- music production
- collaborative creation
Key Concepts
artistic expression
mediated feeling
Questions to Reflect On
- How can artists balance authenticity and technique?
- What role does audience perception play?
A Different Perspective
Pure emotion may alienate listeners without context.
