--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I've always said that musicians are the…" description: "\"I've always said that musicians are the comics of my generations and comedians are the politicians of my generation.\" — Devendra Banhart" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/25b/devendra-banhart-3176_comedians_i-ve-always-said-that-musicians-are-the_141174.png" --- # I've always said that musicians are the comics of my… ![“I've always said that musicians are the comics of my generations and comedians are the politicians of my generation.” quote by Devendra Banhart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/25b/devendra-banhart-3176_comedians_i-ve-always-said-that-musicians-are-the_141174.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/25b/devendra-banhart-3176_comedians_i-ve-always-said-that-musicians-are-the_141174.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/25b/devendra-banhart-3176_comedians_i-ve-always-said-that-musicians-are-the_141174.png) > “I've always said that musicians are the comics of my generations and comedians are the politicians of my generation.” [Devendra Banhart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/devendra-banhart/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Musicians shape culture like comics, while comedians influence politics like politicians. **In simple terms:** Artists reflect and affect society. Key Takeaway Recognize creative roles in shaping discourse. Themes culture art politics media Mood critical playful Type analytical inspirational When to use this quote - concerts - stand‑up shows - media analysis - public debates Key Concepts satire social commentary Questions to Reflect On - How do humor and music drive change? - What responsibilities do creators hold? A Different Perspective Artists may be limited by censorship or market forces. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Comedians](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/comedians/) [Generation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/generation/) [Music](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/music/) [Musicians](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/musicians/) [Politicians](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politicians/) [Politics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politics/) ## Related quotes > [For generations comedians have made jokes about Scots-Irish in the South inter-breeding. "I am my own grandpa" and all that stuff; you know, because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ishmael-reed/for-generations-comedians-have-made-jokes-about-scots-irish-in-the/) [Ishmael Reed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ishmael-reed/) > [“More importantly, as comedians, our job is to say what is on our minds. Unfiltered and un-focus-group-tested. 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She's my mom number one, and then she's this lady most comedians know as being a legendary…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pauly-shore/my-mom-is-two-people-to-me-she-s-my-mom-number-one-and-then-she-s/) [Pauly Shore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pauly-shore/) > [At one point when I was very young, when I was first starting out, I thought, 'Well, one day I'll be able to put…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bo-burnham/at-one-point-when-i-was-very-young-when-i-was-first-starting-out-i/) [Bo Burnham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bo-burnham/) > [I would say most comedians have a very cynical worldview of the way the world can work. It's almost like if you didn't, you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-quinn/i-would-say-most-comedians-have-a-very-cynical-worldview-of-the-way/) [Colin Quinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-quinn/) > [“Comedians and artists are some of the loneliest, self-destructive people on the planet. If you enjoy what they produce, take the time to appreciate…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roz-inga/comedians-and-artists-are-some-of-the-loneliest-self-destructive/) Roz Inga ## More by Devendra Banhart > [I was born with a beard. We're quite hairy down in Latin America. We don't have to use sponges when we wash dishes. We…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/devendra-banhart/i-was-born-with-a-beard-we-re-quite-hairy-down-in-latin-america-we/) [Devendra Banhart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/devendra-banhart/) > [People love to take sides, but it's not effective. It's not really an effective way of communicating something, because you're either already part of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/devendra-banhart/people-love-to-take-sides-but-it-s-not-effective-it-s-not-really-an/) [Devendra Banhart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/devendra-banhart/) > [I think five percent of all songs can be love songs, and another five percent can be miscellaneous or political, but the rest should…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/devendra-banhart/i-think-five-percent-of-all-songs-can-be-love-songs-and-another-five/) [Devendra Banhart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/devendra-banhart/) > [Growing up in Caracas, Venezuela, the ubiquitous music is salsa, cumbia, merengue, a little bit of samba.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/devendra-banhart/growing-up-in-caracas-venezuela-the-ubiquitous-music-is-salsa-cumbia/) [Devendra Banhart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/devendra-banhart/) > [I've always wanted to write a song that goes, "I love you" and a book that goes, "Something happened." Something very direct.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/devendra-banhart/i-ve-always-wanted-to-write-a-song-that-goes-i-love-you-and-a-book/) [Devendra Banhart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/devendra-banhart/) > [We live in an age where many things are working hard to conk us out and anesthetize us. Anything we can do to shake…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/devendra-banhart/we-live-in-an-age-where-many-things-are-working-hard-to-conk-us-out/) [Devendra Banhart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/devendra-banhart/) > [R. Kelly is my favorite singer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/devendra-banhart/r-kelly-is-my-favorite-singer/) [Devendra Banhart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/devendra-banhart/) > [When the Internet came along, the first thing I did was look up Wu-Tang so I could print out their symbol and glue it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/devendra-banhart/when-the-internet-came-along-the-first-thing-i-did-was-look-up-wu/) [Devendra Banhart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/devendra-banhart/) > [And because my teeth don't bite, I can take them out dancing I can take my little teeth out and show them a real…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/devendra-banhart/and-because-my-teeth-don-t-bite-i-can-take-them-out-dancing-i-can/) [Devendra Banhart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/devendra-banhart/) > [I've always noticed talking about lyrics is like talking about a duality. It's like a Gemini time every time I talk about one line.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/devendra-banhart/i-ve-always-noticed-talking-about-lyrics-is-like-talking-about-a/) [Devendra Banhart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/devendra-banhart/) > [My number-one hero in terms of interdisciplinary art is Laurie Anderson, but I've always admired anyone who can think way beyond any one medium.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/devendra-banhart/my-number-one-hero-in-terms-of-interdisciplinary-art-is-laurie/) [Devendra Banhart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/devendra-banhart/) > [I've always thought it'd be nice to be seaweed, kind of just floating about.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/devendra-banhart/i-ve-always-thought-it-d-be-nice-to-be-seaweed-kind-of-just-floating/) [Devendra Banhart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/devendra-banhart/) > [I love Meredith Monk, and with Instagram, I get a chance to see if she has a cat, and what's she reading.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/devendra-banhart/i-love-meredith-monk-and-with-instagram-i-get-a-chance-to-see-if-she/) [Devendra Banhart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/devendra-banhart/) > [I do have very small handwriting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/devendra-banhart/i-do-have-very-small-handwriting/) [Devendra Banhart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/devendra-banhart/) > [Venezuela is incredible, but Caracas? Oh God, I hate it. The sidewalks get smaller every time I go back.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/devendra-banhart/venezuela-is-incredible-but-caracas-oh-god-i-hate-it-the-sidewalks/) [Devendra Banhart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/devendra-banhart/) [Explore all 137 Devendra Banhart quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/devendra-banhart/) ## More Comedians quotes > [“Comedians and artists are some of the loneliest, self-destructive people on the planet. If you enjoy what they produce, take the time to appreciate…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roz-inga/comedians-and-artists-are-some-of-the-loneliest-self-destructive/) Roz Inga > [I would say most comedians have a very cynical worldview of the way the world can work. It's almost like if you didn't, you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-quinn/i-would-say-most-comedians-have-a-very-cynical-worldview-of-the-way/) [Colin Quinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-quinn/) > [At one point when I was very young, when I was first starting out, I thought, 'Well, one day I'll be able to put…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bo-burnham/at-one-point-when-i-was-very-young-when-i-was-first-starting-out-i/) [Bo Burnham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bo-burnham/) > [My mom is two people to me. She's my mom number one, and then she's this lady most comedians know as being a legendary…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pauly-shore/my-mom-is-two-people-to-me-she-s-my-mom-number-one-and-then-she-s/) [Pauly Shore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pauly-shore/) > [There's a fallacy with stand up comedy, which is, people come up to comedians, and they go, 'You say what I think but I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-jefferies/there-s-a-fallacy-with-stand-up-comedy-which-is-people-come-up-to/) [Jim Jefferies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-jefferies/) > [At comedy festivals, we always get grouped with other musical comedians, so you can get to know them and see what everyone is doing.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-micucci/at-comedy-festivals-we-always-get-grouped-with-other-musical/) [Kate Micucci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-micucci/) > [A lot of female comedians will go up there in a sweatshirt and Converses, trying to dress themselves down, because it is sort of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carly-craig/a-lot-of-female-comedians-will-go-up-there-in-a-sweatshirt-and/) [Carly Craig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carly-craig/) > [I'd say Jon Stewart has remained funny the entire time. Jon always makes it funny first. And he's just, he's talking about serious things,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norm-macdonald/i-d-say-jon-stewart-has-remained-funny-the-entire-time-jon-always/) [Norm MacDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norm-macdonald/) > [Oftentimes, the funniest comedians are people who've gone through personal torment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cole-sprouse/oftentimes-the-funniest-comedians-are-people-who-ve-gone-through/) [Cole Sprouse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cole-sprouse/) > [Successful comedians are just as neurotic as I am.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-widdicombe/successful-comedians-are-just-as-neurotic-as-i-am/) [Josh Widdicombe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-widdicombe/) > [For me, comedians are like the epitome for everything great, and they terrify me. I just want to be them. I want to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tatiana-maslany/for-me-comedians-are-like-the-epitome-for-everything-great-and-they/) [Tatiana Maslany](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tatiana-maslany/) > [Comedians have to challenge the power. Comedians should be dangerous and devastating - and funny. That's the hardest part.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mort-sahl/comedians-have-to-challenge-the-power-comedians-should-be-dangerous/) [Mort Sahl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mort-sahl/) > [I don't want to follow comedians because I don't want to see what they're thinking about, 'cause then maybe I won't stumble across a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-thune/i-don-t-want-to-follow-comedians-because-i-don-t-want-to-see-what/) [Nick Thune](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-thune/) > [As far as stand-ups go, I always loved Richard Pryor, Chris Rock, and Sinbad. Basically, I love black comedians because they're the funniest. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-devine/as-far-as-stand-ups-go-i-always-loved-richard-pryor-chris-rock-and/) [Adam DeVine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-devine/) > [Some comedians are silly or goofy or straight joke writers who avoid anything subversive or political. Others are drawn to it. The beauty of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-alexandro/some-comedians-are-silly-or-goofy-or-straight-joke-writers-who-avoid/) [Ted Alexandro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-alexandro/) [Browse all 656 Comedians quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/comedians/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I've always said that musicians are the comics of my generations and comedians are the politicians of my generation.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Devendra Banhart" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/devendra-banhart/i-ve-always-said-that-musicians-are-the-comics-of-my-generations-and/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Comedians" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/devendra-banhart/i-ve-always-said-that-musicians-are-the-comics-of-my-generations-and/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/25b/devendra-banhart-3176_comedians_i-ve-always-said-that-musicians-are-the_141174.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/25b/devendra-banhart-3176_comedians_i-ve-always-said-that-musicians-are-the_141174.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/25b/devendra-banhart-3176_comedians_i-ve-always-said-that-musicians-are-the_141174.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I've always said that musicians are the comics of my generations and comedians are the politicians of my…” — Devendra Banhart", "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": "Devendra Banhart", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/devendra-banhart/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I've always said that musicians are...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/devendra-banhart/i-ve-always-said-that-musicians-are-the-comics-of-my-generations-and/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/devendra-banhart/i-ve-always-said-that-musicians-are-the-comics-of-my-generations-and/#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 } } ] } ```