--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: My personal definition of rock'n'roll is…" description: "\"My personal definition of rock'n'roll is people attempting to do something that's beyond their ability to do it well. And whatever the outward contradi..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3fd/david-first-27656_ability_my-personal-definition-of-rock-n-roll-is_1938489.jpg" --- # My personal definition of rock'n'roll is people attempting… ![“My personal definition of rock'n'roll is people attempting to do something that's beyond their ability to do it well. And whatever the outward contradictions, I do call us a rock'n'roll band.” quote by David First](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3fd/david-first-27656_ability_my-personal-definition-of-rock-n-roll-is_1938489.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3fd/david-first-27656_ability_my-personal-definition-of-rock-n-roll-is_1938489.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3fd/david-first-27656_ability_my-personal-definition-of-rock-n-roll-is_1938489.jpg) > “My personal definition of rock'n'roll is people attempting to do something that's beyond their ability to do it well. And whatever the outward contradictions, I do call us a rock'n'roll band.” [David First](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-first/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Rock'n'roll is about daring to attempt the impossible, embracing contradictions, and forming a collective identity. **In simple terms:** Rock'n'roll means trying the beyond your skill and owning the contradictions. Key Takeaway Embrace challenges and own your contradictions. Themes creativity risk identity Mood energetic rebellious Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - starting a new business - learning a difficult skill - artistic performance - team building Key Concepts Innovation courage collective spirit Questions to Reflect On - Are you willing to fail to achieve greatness? - What contradictions define your creative identity? A Different Perspective Not everyone can sustain the high risk and potential failure. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Ability](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ability/) [Contradiction](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/contradiction/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Rock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rock/) [Rock n roll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rock-n-roll/) [Rocks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rocks/) [Song](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/song/) ## Related quotes > [The hungry and the haunted explode in a rock'n'roll band.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-springsteen/the-hungry-and-the-haunted-explode-in-a-rock-n-roll-band/) [Bruce Springsteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-springsteen/) > [Being in a rock n' roll band was like being in a Sherman tank. Nothing got to you. You were surrounded and protected by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grace-slick/being-in-a-rock-n-roll-band-was-like-being-in-a-sherman-tank-nothing/) [Grace Slick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grace-slick/) > [We thought that's the way you were supposed to be if you were in a rock 'n' roll band. Flamboyant.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-johansen/we-thought-that-s-the-way-you-were-supposed-to-be-if-you-were-in-a/) [David Johansen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-johansen/) > [“Definition of rock journalism: People who can't write, doing interviews with people who can't think, in order to prepare articles for people who can't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-zappa/definition-of-rock-journalism-people-who-can-t-write-doing-interviews/) [Frank Zappa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-zappa/) > [“If we were a rock ‘n’ roll band, We’d travel all over the land. We’d play and we’d sing and wear spangly things, If…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shel-silverstein/if-we-were-a-rock-n-roll-band-we-d-travel-all-over-the-land-we-d-play/) [Shel Silverstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shel-silverstein/) > [Find myself a rock and roll band, that needs a helping hand.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rod-stewart/find-myself-a-rock-and-roll-band-that-needs-a-helping-hand/) [Rod Stewart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rod-stewart/) > [Valets, Uber drivers, Uber Eats drivers, service workers all love Jelly Roll, those are my people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jelly-roll/valets-uber-drivers-uber-eats-drivers-service-workers-all-love-jelly/) [Jelly Roll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jelly-roll/) > [People who got on their feet and freaked about were called idiot dancers. and nobody wants to be called an idiot dancer. But the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-marriott/people-who-got-on-their-feet-and-freaked-about-were-called-idiot/) Steve Marriott > [When you start a rock n' roll band, you've gotta fake it till you make it. You begin by doin' what you love- and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-tyler/when-you-start-a-rock-n-roll-band-you-ve-gotta-fake-it-till-you-make/) [Steven Tyler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-tyler/) > [I want to show everyone what a good rock 'n' roll band we can be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-porcaro/i-want-to-show-everyone-what-a-good-rock-n-roll-band-we-can-be/) [Steve Porcaro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-porcaro/) > [“It’s like George always says: being in a rock ʼn’ roll band is very sexy, even when you’re only the keyboard player and your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-russell/it-s-like-george-always-says-being-in-a-rock-n-roll-band-is-very-sexy/) Christopher Russell > [I know your mama she don't like me, cause I play in a rock and roll band.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-springsteen/i-know-your-mama-she-don-t-like-me-cause-i-play-in-a-rock-and-roll/) [Bruce Springsteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-springsteen/) > [I've spent a lot of time in a rock n' roll band trying to fight off the fact that I was old enough to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-isbell/i-ve-spent-a-lot-of-time-in-a-rock-n-roll-band-trying-to-fight-off/) [Jason Isbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-isbell/) > [“I think there's nothing better than seeing a straight up three-chord rock and roll band in your face.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-jett/i-think-there-s-nothing-better-than-seeing-a-straight-up-three-chord/) [Joan Jett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-jett/) > [Go out and support your local rock n' roll band.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-van-zandt/go-out-and-support-your-local-rock-n-roll-band/) [Steven Van Zandt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-van-zandt/) ## More by David First > [Еach song is like starting over. Because somehow, no song's formula works for another. And that's the beauty of it all. Each song's destiny…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-first/ach-song-is-like-starting-over-because-somehow-no-song-s-formula/) [David First](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-first/) > [I like to give clues - titles - that can give a simple, evocative hook into what picture or feeling welled up in my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-first/i-like-to-give-clues-titles-that-can-give-a-simple-evocative-hook/) [David First](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-first/) > [However naïve it sounds, or however inept the result, I think the idea is to try to alchemize the crap, not just mirror it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-first/however-na-ve-it-sounds-or-however-inept-the-result-i-think-the-idea/) [David First](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-first/) > [Back in the day, I came up with the expression "Same Animal - Different Cages" to describe our songs. I suppose over the years…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-first/back-in-the-day-i-came-up-with-the-expression-same-animal-different/) [David First](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-first/) > [Possibly the only thing we Notekillers place on a higher pedestal than music is laughs, so, of course, we also know that the idea…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-first/possibly-the-only-thing-we-notekillers-place-on-a-higher-pedestal/) [David First](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-first/) > [I do think I've learned, in the ensuing years, how to be a more effective bandleader. And maybe, just maybe, we're a little better…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-first/i-do-think-i-ve-learned-in-the-ensuing-years-how-to-be-a-more/) [David First](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-first/) > [I tell people too young to know that we came up during two of the most dogmatic times in recent history - the so-called…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-first/i-tell-people-too-young-to-know-that-we-came-up-during-two-of-the/) [David First](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-first/) > [If you're talking about musically, I think I understand just a little bit more about things that were mostly intuited back then - how…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-first/if-you-re-talking-about-musically-i-think-i-understand-just-a-little/) [David First](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-first/) > [I could easily fill up each week with going to see debuts of friends' compositions alone. When you add in all of the bands…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-first/i-could-easily-fill-up-each-week-with-going-to-see-debuts-of-friends/) [David First](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-first/) > [Inevitably, as much as we loved punk rock, our noise was coming from a slightly different place.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-first/inevitably-as-much-as-we-loved-punk-rock-our-noise-was-coming-from-a/) [David First](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-first/) > [I like to go for a certain over-the-top opulence when naming the drone pieces whereas the song titles are all about concision, I guess.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-first/i-like-to-go-for-a-certain-over-the-top-opulence-when-naming-the/) [David First](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-first/) > [ We \[Notekillers\] are in no way super-earnest about what we do and if you see us live, you see we are cracking up during… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-first/we-notekillers-are-in-no-way-super-earnest-about-what-we-do-and-if/) [David First](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-first/) > [It is inspiring to see bands still trying to do significant and new things in the realm of sound. Most people in any category…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-first/it-is-inspiring-to-see-bands-still-trying-to-do-significant-and-new/) [David First](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-first/) > [Every improv must be song specific. It has to grow organically out of the particular elements involved or it's just glib self-expression. I hate…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-first/every-improv-must-be-song-specific-it-has-to-grow-organically-out-of/) [David First](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-first/) > [The numerous ecstatic traditions - including free jazz and funk - have all been great inspirations.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-first/the-numerous-ecstatic-traditions-including-free-jazz-and-funk-have/) [David First](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-first/) [Explore all 20 David First quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-first/) ## More Ability quotes > [I don't think there's a direct correlation between my sexuality and my skiing ability. But I think because I was so concerned about it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gus-kenworthy/i-don-t-think-there-s-a-direct-correlation-between-my-sexuality-and/) [Gus Kenworthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gus-kenworthy/) > [“the importance of ability. The things that make a great job great, I discovered, are rare and valuable. If you want them in your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cal-newport/the-importance-of-ability-the-things-that-make-a-great-job-great-i/) [Cal Newport](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cal-newport/) > [Ambition drives you on, ability certainly helps, but the fickle finger of fate and luck are great things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fergus-henderson/ambition-drives-you-on-ability-certainly-helps-but-the-fickle-finger/) [Fergus Henderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fergus-henderson/) > [The ability of the gospel to unite us on common strengths and common truths is one of the great miracles . . . of the gospel.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-r-holland/the-ability-of-the-gospel-to-unite-us-on-common-strengths-and-common/) [Jeffrey R. Holland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-r-holland/) > [Maybe law enforcement would like the ability to turn on the camera on your Mac.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-cook/maybe-law-enforcement-would-like-the-ability-to-turn-on-the-camera-on/) [Tim Cook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-cook/) > [I've seen guys come along with more ability - they've been faster or bigger or stronger - but they never worked hard to develop…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-largent/i-ve-seen-guys-come-along-with-more-ability-they-ve-been-faster-or/) [Steve Largent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-largent/) > [The youth of India has the strength to move the entire World with a click of a mouse, we have generated that ability!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/narendra-modi/the-youth-of-india-has-the-strength-to-move-the-entire-world-with-a/) [Narendra Modi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/narendra-modi/) > [Time hath not yet so dried this blood of mine, Nor age so eat up my invention, Nor fortune made such havoc of my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/time-hath-not-yet-so-dried-this-blood-of-mine-nor-age-so-eat-up-my/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [An absolutely necessary part of a writer's equipment, almost as necessary as talent, is the ability to stand up under punishment, both the punishment…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irwin-shaw/an-absolutely-necessary-part-of-a-writer-s-equipment-almost-as/) [Irwin Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irwin-shaw/) > [I'd be more frightened by not using whatever abilities I'd been given. I'd be more frightened by procrastination and laziness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denzel-washington/i-d-be-more-frightened-by-not-using-whatever-abilities-i-d-been-given/) [Denzel Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denzel-washington/) > [Bring into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ. Take what I cannot give: my heart, body, thoughts, time, abilities, money, health, strength,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-prentiss/bring-into-captivity-every-thought-to-the-obedience-of-christ-take/) [Elizabeth Prentiss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-prentiss/) > [You can only do the work to the very best of your ability.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christine-baranski/you-can-only-do-the-work-to-the-very-best-of-your-ability/) [Christine Baranski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christine-baranski/) > [Judge a person not by his ability to make money but by his ability to retain it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikrant-parsai/judge-a-person-not-by-his-ability-to-make-money-but-by-his-ability-to/) [Vikrant Parsai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikrant-parsai/) > [Balance is the ability to be happy in the midst of the most chaotic or even boring or transient circumstance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/balance-is-the-ability-to-be-happy-in-the-midst-of-the-most-chaotic/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [Bobby had faith in my ability as a singer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-london/bobby-had-faith-in-my-ability-as-a-singer/) [Julie London](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-london/) [Browse all 9,990 Ability quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ability/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "My personal definition of rock'n'roll is people attempting to do something that's beyond their ability to do it well. 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