--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I'd like to be able to make something as…" description: "\"I'd like to be able to make something as good as 'Hunky Dory' or 'Young Americans.'\" — Declan McKenna" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/41b/declan-mckenna-5579_dory_i-d-like-to-be-able-to-make-something-as_121202.jpg" --- # I'd like to be able to make something as good as 'Hunky… ![“I'd like to be able to make something as good as 'Hunky Dory' or 'Young Americans.'” quote by Declan McKenna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/41b/declan-mckenna-5579_dory_i-d-like-to-be-able-to-make-something-as_121202.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/41b/declan-mckenna-5579_dory_i-d-like-to-be-able-to-make-something-as_121202.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/41b/declan-mckenna-5579_dory_i-d-like-to-be-able-to-make-something-as_121202.jpg) > “I'd like to be able to make something as good as 'Hunky Dory' or 'Young Americans.'” [Declan McKenna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/declan-mckenna/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Aspiring to create works comparable to iconic art reflects both admiration and the pressure of high standards. **In simple terms:** Want to match great works. Key Takeaway Great art sets a benchmark for creators. Themes creativity artistic ambition influence Mood inspired anxious Type reflective When to use this quote - songwriting - visual design Key Concepts comparative self‑evaluation Practical Applications - study the structure of admired works Questions to Reflect On - When does emulation become imitation? - How can you honor influences while staying authentic? A Different Perspective Comparisons can stifle originality. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Dory](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dory/) [Film](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/film/) ## Related quotes > [I used to study 'Hunky Dory' - and be mad that I hadn't figured out anything that cool!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brendon-urie/i-used-to-study-hunky-dory-and-be-mad-that-i-hadn-t-figured-out/) [Brendon Urie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brendon-urie/) > [I would love to be able to make short films.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/declan-mckenna/i-would-love-to-be-able-to-make-short-films/) [Declan McKenna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/declan-mckenna/) > [If you make a feelgood film which is complete candyfloss, where everybody is good and everything is beautiful and hunky dory, it won't appeal…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anil-kapoor/if-you-make-a-feelgood-film-which-is-complete-candyfloss-where/) [Anil Kapoor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anil-kapoor/) > [Somebody had given me a copy of 'Hunky Dory,' which had yet to be a hit, although it was starting to percolate. I'd seen…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mick-rock/somebody-had-given-me-a-copy-of-hunky-dory-which-had-yet-to-be-a-hit/) [Mick Rock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mick-rock/) > [She didn’t hurt you? (Acheron) Nope. I’m all hunky-dory. (Tory)](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherrilyn-kenyon/she-didn-t-hurt-you-acheron-nope-i-m-all-hunky-dory-tory/) [Sherrilyn Kenyon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherrilyn-kenyon/) > [For me as a Welsh actor, Richard Burton is one of my biggest idols. And I've got so many: Peter O'Toole, Laurence Olivier and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aneurin-barnard/for-me-as-a-welsh-actor-richard-burton-is-one-of-my-biggest-idols-and/) [Aneurin Barnard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aneurin-barnard/) > [In 'Citadel,' I play a very young father. When I first signed onto 'Hunky Dory,' I was actually 18 years old.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aneurin-barnard/in-citadel-i-play-a-very-young-father-when-i-first-signed-onto-hunky/) [Aneurin Barnard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aneurin-barnard/) > ['Just keep swimming. Just keep swimming.' - Dory](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/finding-nemo/just-keep-swimming-just-keep-swimming-dory/) Finding Nemo > [“I routinely inform people when I meet them that I am like a real life version of Dory the fish, as I am very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-magee/i-routinely-inform-people-when-i-meet-them-that-i-am-like-a-real-life/) [Steven Magee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-magee/) > [“Who is this Marlowe guy anyway? He's an ass. Threw him out. Threatened to have Ysmi sit on him if he returned. Why are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-chance/who-is-this-marlowe-guy-anyway-he-s-an-ass-threw-him-out-threatened/) [Karen Chance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-chance/) > [“Just keep swimming.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dory/just-keep-swimming/) [Dory](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dory/) > [There's plenty of fish in the sea but I'm looking for my Nemo. So I'll take Dory's advice and just keep swimming(:](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/there-s-plenty-of-fish-in-the-sea-but-i-m-looking-for-my-nemo-so-i-ll/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [This is the Ocean, silly, we're not the only two in here. -Dory](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/finding-nemo/this-is-the-ocean-silly-we-re-not-the-only-two-in-here-dory/) Finding Nemo > [“When life gets you down do you wanna know what you’ve gotta do? . . . Just keep swimming. Just keep swimming. Just keep…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colleen-hoover/when-life-gets-you-down-do-you-wanna-know-what-you-ve-gotta-do-just-2/) [Colleen Hoover](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colleen-hoover/) > [ Dory: \[dreaming\] Uhhh... the sea monkeys have my money... yes, I'm a natural blue. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/finding-nemo/dory-dreaming-uhhh-the-sea-monkeys-have-my-money-yes-i-m-a-natural/) Finding Nemo ## More by Declan McKenna > [I'm used to feeling isolated from people I want to see, it's been a big part of my life since I was a teenager…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/declan-mckenna/i-m-used-to-feeling-isolated-from-people-i-want-to-see-it-s-been-a/) [Declan McKenna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/declan-mckenna/) > [I wrote 'Paracetamol' between the ages of 15 and 16. With many of my songs, I have this strange habit of spending months fumbling…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/declan-mckenna/i-wrote-paracetamol-between-the-ages-of-15-and-16-with-many-of-my/) [Declan McKenna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/declan-mckenna/) > [Not only do we still engage in wars far away from our homes, which settle nothing and fuel extremism in the aftermath, we sell…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/declan-mckenna/not-only-do-we-still-engage-in-wars-far-away-from-our-homes-which/) [Declan McKenna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/declan-mckenna/) > [There's not enough focus put on learning about yourself and how that can teach you more than certain subjects can.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/declan-mckenna/there-s-not-enough-focus-put-on-learning-about-yourself-and-how-that/) [Declan McKenna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/declan-mckenna/) > [I like to think our brains are a bit like algorithms. Whatever you give it and feed it, you get out the product.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/declan-mckenna/i-like-to-think-our-brains-are-a-bit-like-algorithms-whatever-you/) [Declan McKenna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/declan-mckenna/) > [It's important to remind kids who obviously love writing and creating, that's it's going to be the most important part of what they do.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/declan-mckenna/it-s-important-to-remind-kids-who-obviously-love-writing-and-creating/) [Declan McKenna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/declan-mckenna/) > [I'm the youngest of six kids so I got the short straw in terms of bedrooms.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/declan-mckenna/i-m-the-youngest-of-six-kids-so-i-got-the-short-straw-in-terms-of/) [Declan McKenna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/declan-mckenna/) > [With my first album, I was just simply trying to highlight problems within society and put it into pop songs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/declan-mckenna/with-my-first-album-i-was-just-simply-trying-to-highlight-problems/) [Declan McKenna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/declan-mckenna/) > [There's definitely a love-hate relationship I think a lot of bands have with touring.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/declan-mckenna/there-s-definitely-a-love-hate-relationship-i-think-a-lot-of-bands/) [Declan McKenna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/declan-mckenna/) > [Many times you may feel alone in the world, but the right record pulls you back to realizing that many people have gone through…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/declan-mckenna/many-times-you-may-feel-alone-in-the-world-but-the-right-record-pulls/) [Declan McKenna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/declan-mckenna/) > [Releasing a record makes you realise what you want to do with music. It's not something you can understand before you do it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/declan-mckenna/releasing-a-record-makes-you-realise-what-you-want-to-do-with-music/) [Declan McKenna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/declan-mckenna/) > [I'm a big fan of Greta Thunberg and I'm really into Stella Donnelly's music. I think it's really incredible, important music and very relevant;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/declan-mckenna/i-m-a-big-fan-of-greta-thunberg-and-i-m-really-into-stella-donnelly-s/) [Declan McKenna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/declan-mckenna/) > [I tried to be in loads of bands and it hadn't really worked out. My friends weren't as into it as I was, so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/declan-mckenna/i-tried-to-be-in-loads-of-bands-and-it-hadn-t-really-worked-out-my/) [Declan McKenna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/declan-mckenna/) > [Having creative control has always been important to me in different ways.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/declan-mckenna/having-creative-control-has-always-been-important-to-me-in-different/) [Declan McKenna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/declan-mckenna/) > [I think one of the coolest things that you can do with music is when it sounds a certain way and can be kind…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/declan-mckenna/i-think-one-of-the-coolest-things-that-you-can-do-with-music-is-when/) [Declan McKenna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/declan-mckenna/) [Explore all 100 Declan McKenna quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/declan-mckenna/) ## More Dory quotes > [ Dory: \[dreaming\] Uhhh... the sea monkeys have my money... yes, I'm a natural blue. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/finding-nemo/dory-dreaming-uhhh-the-sea-monkeys-have-my-money-yes-i-m-a-natural/) Finding Nemo > [“When life gets you down do you wanna know what you’ve gotta do? . . . Just keep swimming. Just keep swimming. Just keep…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colleen-hoover/when-life-gets-you-down-do-you-wanna-know-what-you-ve-gotta-do-just-2/) [Colleen Hoover](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colleen-hoover/) > [This is the Ocean, silly, we're not the only two in here. -Dory](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/finding-nemo/this-is-the-ocean-silly-we-re-not-the-only-two-in-here-dory/) Finding Nemo > [There's plenty of fish in the sea but I'm looking for my Nemo. So I'll take Dory's advice and just keep swimming(:](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/there-s-plenty-of-fish-in-the-sea-but-i-m-looking-for-my-nemo-so-i-ll/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Just keep swimming.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dory/just-keep-swimming/) [Dory](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dory/) > [“Who is this Marlowe guy anyway? He's an ass. Threw him out. Threatened to have Ysmi sit on him if he returned. Why are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-chance/who-is-this-marlowe-guy-anyway-he-s-an-ass-threw-him-out-threatened/) [Karen Chance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-chance/) > [“I routinely inform people when I meet them that I am like a real life version of Dory the fish, as I am very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-magee/i-routinely-inform-people-when-i-meet-them-that-i-am-like-a-real-life/) [Steven Magee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-magee/) > ['Just keep swimming. Just keep swimming.' - Dory](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/finding-nemo/just-keep-swimming-just-keep-swimming-dory/) Finding Nemo > [Sometimes I'm like Dory from 'Finding Nemo.' I can't remember facts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/sometimes-i-m-like-dory-from-finding-nemo-i-can-t-remember-facts/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Never in my life have I thought, 'What's next?' It's just like 'Finding Dory.' Things just happen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-o-neill/never-in-my-life-have-i-thought-what-s-next-it-s-just-like-finding/) [Ed O'Neill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-o-neill/) > [I used to study 'Hunky Dory' - and be mad that I hadn't figured out anything that cool!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brendon-urie/i-used-to-study-hunky-dory-and-be-mad-that-i-hadn-t-figured-out/) [Brendon Urie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brendon-urie/) > [In 'Finding Dory,' I play a whale shark named Destiny who can't swim very well. We're both extremely clumsy!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kaitlin-olson/in-finding-dory-i-play-a-whale-shark-named-destiny-who-can-t-swim/) [Kaitlin Olson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kaitlin-olson/) > ['Finding Dory' just stole my heart. Little Dory was the most adorable thing in the entire world, and Ellen DeGeneres killed the game. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-mikulak/finding-dory-just-stole-my-heart-little-dory-was-the-most-adorable/) [Sam Mikulak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-mikulak/) > [Dory is what Mum used to call a "strong-looking woman," which means that, from the back, she looked like a man, and, from the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maggie-stiefvater/dory-is-what-mum-used-to-call-a-strong-looking-woman-which-means-that/) [Maggie Stiefvater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maggie-stiefvater/) [Browse all 15 Dory quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dory/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I'd like to be able to make something as good as 'Hunky Dory' or 'Young Americans.'", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Declan McKenna" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/declan-mckenna/i-d-like-to-be-able-to-make-something-as-good-as-hunky-dory-or-young/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Dory" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/declan-mckenna/i-d-like-to-be-able-to-make-something-as-good-as-hunky-dory-or-young/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/41b/declan-mckenna-5579_dory_i-d-like-to-be-able-to-make-something-as_121202.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/41b/declan-mckenna-5579_dory_i-d-like-to-be-able-to-make-something-as_121202.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/41b/declan-mckenna-5579_dory_i-d-like-to-be-able-to-make-something-as_121202.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I'd like to be able to make something as good as 'Hunky Dory' or 'Young Americans.'” — Declan McKenna", "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": "Declan McKenna", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/declan-mckenna/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I'd like to be able to...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/declan-mckenna/i-d-like-to-be-able-to-make-something-as-good-as-hunky-dory-or-young/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/declan-mckenna/i-d-like-to-be-able-to-make-something-as-good-as-hunky-dory-or-young/#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 } } ] } ```