--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Why are bands like Black Flag allowed to…" description: "\"Why are bands like Black Flag allowed to write a song about drinking beer, and they're cult and amazing, and then you write this song that's supposed t..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f64/ellie-rowsell-5162_amazing_why-are-bands-like-black-flag-allowed-to_2252456.jpg" --- # Why are bands like Black Flag allowed to write a song… ![“Why are bands like Black Flag allowed to write a song about drinking beer, and they're cult and amazing, and then you write this song that's supposed to be a burst of anger, and everyone's like, 'That's so lame.'” quote by Ellie Rowsell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f64/ellie-rowsell-5162_amazing_why-are-bands-like-black-flag-allowed-to_2252456.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f64/ellie-rowsell-5162_amazing_why-are-bands-like-black-flag-allowed-to_2252456.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f64/ellie-rowsell-5162_amazing_why-are-bands-like-black-flag-allowed-to_2252456.jpg) > “Why are bands like Black Flag allowed to write a song about drinking beer, and they're cult and amazing, and then you write this song that's supposed to be a burst of anger, and everyone's like, 'That's so lame.'” [Ellie Rowsell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellie-rowsell/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Artists face double standards: casual topics are praised, while angry songs are dismissed as trivial. **In simple terms:** Music criticism is biased by genre expectations. Key Takeaway Challenge genre stereotypes. Themes music culture gender artistic expression Mood critical defiant Type analytical reflective When to use this quote - music journalism - artist branding - festival programming - social media Key Concepts media bias cultural expectations Questions to Reflect On - Why are some themes accepted and others not? - How can artists subvert expectations? A Different Perspective Not all criticism is unfair; context matters. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Amazing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/amazing/) [Anger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/anger/) [Beer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/beer/) [Beer Cult](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/beer-cult-5149854/) [Black Flag](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/black-flag-982391/) [Cult](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cult/) [Drinking beer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/drinking-beer/) [Song](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/song/) [Song Drinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/song-drinking-5138929/) [Song Supposed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/song-supposed-1175262/) [Why](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/why/) ## Related quotes > [I write songs by sitting around in bars, so drinking songs are a little obvious. It's surprising that I don't write entirely drinking songs,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephin-merritt/i-write-songs-by-sitting-around-in-bars-so-drinking-songs-are-a/) [Stephin Merritt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephin-merritt/) > [I'm just the instrument for the song to do whatever it's supposed to do-heal, inspire or encourage. It's not all about me, it's about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martina-mcbride/i-m-just-the-instrument-for-the-song-to-do-whatever-it-s-supposed-to/) [Martina McBride](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martina-mcbride/) > [“The band had morphed into another sweet melancholy song. "I'm Not Supposed To Love You Anymore." If that wasn't the voice of God, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristan-higgins/the-band-had-morphed-into-another-sweet-melancholy-song-i-m-not/) [Kristan Higgins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristan-higgins/) > [Usually a song is supposed to be between three and four minutes; twenty minutes is a little bit long.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-popper/usually-a-song-is-supposed-to-be-between-three-and-four-minutes/) [John Popper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-popper/) > [I always want to do something that just sort of fits the mood. It's supposed to help the song, it's not supposed to take…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ariel-pink/i-always-want-to-do-something-that-just-sort-of-fits-the-mood-it-s/) [Ariel Pink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ariel-pink/) > [The awkward moment when you catch yourself singing a song that you're supposed to hate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-awkward-moment-when-you-catch-yourself-singing-a-song-that-you-re/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Wonderful Christmas Time' is a Christmas song but it was supposed to be an attempt at a traditional song.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denny-laine/wonderful-christmas-time-is-a-christmas-song-but-it-was-supposed-to/) [Denny Laine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denny-laine/) > [When Black Flag and DOA and all those bands were touring in the early 80s, it was kind of a forest and you just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-rollins/when-black-flag-and-doa-and-all-those-bands-were-touring-in-the-early/) [Henry Rollins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-rollins/) > [I mean Black Flag happened. I was lucky. I don't think I could have put together something with one percent of that oomph on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-rollins/i-mean-black-flag-happened-i-was-lucky-i-don-t-think-i-could-have-put/) [Henry Rollins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-rollins/) > [After I left D.C. to join Black Flag, I felt I was in a band.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-rollins/after-i-left-d-c-to-join-black-flag-i-felt-i-was-in-a-band/) [Henry Rollins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-rollins/) > [My dad has totally taken my Cat Stevens T-shirt, but it's OK; I have his Black Flag one, and that's amazing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zoe-kravitz/my-dad-has-totally-taken-my-cat-stevens-t-shirt-but-it-s-ok-i-have/) [Zoe Kravitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zoe-kravitz/) > [Black Flag was formed in 1977. We first recorded in 1978.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-ginn/black-flag-was-formed-in-1977-we-first-recorded-in-1978/) [Greg Ginn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-ginn/) > [People from major labels were afraid to go to Black Flag gigs throughout most of the bands existence. They treated our gigs as something…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-ginn/people-from-major-labels-were-afraid-to-go-to-black-flag-gigs/) [Greg Ginn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-ginn/) > [“Reality alone - bleak, elegant, mindless reality - is the null device on the Reactionary's black flag. Anyone who tells the truth, who believes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mencius-moldbug/reality-alone-bleak-elegant-mindless-reality-is-the-null-device-on/) [Mencius Moldbug](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mencius-moldbug/) > [“Darkness came like a black flag waved over the canyon, drawing back the grayness from the shores of the city, then pushing forward the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/iain-m-banks/darkness-came-like-a-black-flag-waved-over-the-canyon-drawing-back/) [Iain M. Banks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/iain-m-banks/) ## More by Ellie Rowsell > [There aren't enough songs about how you feel about your friends. Friendship's far more complicated than a romantic relationship, isn't it?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellie-rowsell/there-aren-t-enough-songs-about-how-you-feel-about-your-friends/) [Ellie Rowsell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellie-rowsell/) > [That's what our songs are, I suppose - visions and little bits of life that somehow get made into music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellie-rowsell/that-s-what-our-songs-are-i-suppose-visions-and-little-bits-of-life/) [Ellie Rowsell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellie-rowsell/) > [When I'd go to karaoke, I'd pretend to do an Ariana Grande impression, or sing songs from Chicago as if I was in musical…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellie-rowsell/when-i-d-go-to-karaoke-i-d-pretend-to-do-an-ariana-grande-impression/) [Ellie Rowsell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellie-rowsell/) > [The best things come from collaboration, I don't think it's possible to create something truly alone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellie-rowsell/the-best-things-come-from-collaboration-i-don-t-think-it-s-possible/) [Ellie Rowsell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellie-rowsell/) > [Los Angeles is very different to the rest of America. It's liberal there, and all the people I met hate Trump, so it's not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellie-rowsell/los-angeles-is-very-different-to-the-rest-of-america-it-s-liberal/) [Ellie Rowsell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellie-rowsell/) > [I think it's incredibly important to vote because politics is for the people, and we shouldn't leave it just to the parties because then…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellie-rowsell/i-think-it-s-incredibly-important-to-vote-because-politics-is-for-the/) [Ellie Rowsell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellie-rowsell/) > [It's quite vulnerable to put out love songs, I think, but then I love listening to love songs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellie-rowsell/it-s-quite-vulnerable-to-put-out-love-songs-i-think-but-then-i-love/) [Ellie Rowsell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellie-rowsell/) > [Shaun Of The Dead' is my absolute favourite. It's so good because it's so sad. Even though it's hilarious and a horror movie, it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellie-rowsell/shaun-of-the-dead-is-my-absolute-favourite-it-s-so-good-because-it-s/) [Ellie Rowsell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellie-rowsell/) > [I haven't read enough books to consider myself a bookworm, but I enjoy reading.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellie-rowsell/i-haven-t-read-enough-books-to-consider-myself-a-bookworm-but-i-enjoy/) [Ellie Rowsell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellie-rowsell/) > [I'm a fan of Olivia Colman, so when I saw she was in a short film called 'The Karman Line' I had to watch…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellie-rowsell/i-m-a-fan-of-olivia-colman-so-when-i-saw-she-was-in-a-short-film/) [Ellie Rowsell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellie-rowsell/) > [When a label gives you money to make a video, it feels so surreal anyway, the best thing to do is to have fun…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellie-rowsell/when-a-label-gives-you-money-to-make-a-video-it-feels-so-surreal/) [Ellie Rowsell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellie-rowsell/) > [I was playing a Fender Mustang before and because I mainly play rhythm I didn't think it was as appropriate and also, I found…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellie-rowsell/i-was-playing-a-fender-mustang-before-and-because-i-mainly-play/) [Ellie Rowsell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellie-rowsell/) > [I feel really hurt when people say I look ugly or whatever.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellie-rowsell/i-feel-really-hurt-when-people-say-i-look-ugly-or-whatever/) [Ellie Rowsell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellie-rowsell/) > [If you're always on the road and you're writing from hotel rooms, or in a van, the songs are just going to be different.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellie-rowsell/if-you-re-always-on-the-road-and-you-re-writing-from-hotel-rooms-or/) [Ellie Rowsell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellie-rowsell/) > [I like '28 Days Later,' because I feel like it's really British.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellie-rowsell/i-like-28-days-later-because-i-feel-like-it-s-really-british/) [Ellie Rowsell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellie-rowsell/) [Explore all 103 Ellie Rowsell quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellie-rowsell/) ## More Amazing quotes > [My favorite galaxy of all is called the Sombrero, NGC 4594. It's an amazing galaxy that is really two galaxies in one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sandra-faber/my-favorite-galaxy-of-all-is-called-the-sombrero-ngc-4594-it-s-an/) [Sandra Faber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sandra-faber/) > [I don't own designer clothes, or a sports car, or a huge house, but I am seeing the world, experiencing amazing things, and I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roz-savage/i-don-t-own-designer-clothes-or-a-sports-car-or-a-huge-house-but-i-am/) [Roz Savage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roz-savage/) > [There is something about the South that accepts the supernatural. If you don't accept it and you're having a conversation with someone who does,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-englert/there-is-something-about-the-south-that-accepts-the-supernatural-if/) [Alice Englert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-englert/) > [Yoga's an amazing release.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/monica-keena/yoga-s-an-amazing-release/) [Monica Keena](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/monica-keena/) > [I struggled and I did theater for 10 years, for 15 years, I tried to get little parts here and there in TV shows.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-tupper/i-struggled-and-i-did-theater-for-10-years-for-15-years-i-tried-to/) [James Tupper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-tupper/) > [I think cricket is there in Usain Bolt's blood. Since I got to watch from close quarters, it was amazing to see him run…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harbhajan-singh/i-think-cricket-is-there-in-usain-bolt-s-blood-since-i-got-to-watch/) [Harbhajan Singh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harbhajan-singh/) > [Literally every person in my life is so amazing. I even don't understand how I am so blessed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/literally-every-person-in-my-life-is-so-amazing-i-even-don-t/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I got to travel a lot and meet amazing people. That was a lot of fun.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bhavish-aggarwal/i-got-to-travel-a-lot-and-meet-amazing-people-that-was-a-lot-of-fun/) [Bhavish Aggarwal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bhavish-aggarwal/) > [Under Thatcher, who ruled us with an iron rod, great art was made. Amazing designers and musicians. Acid house was born. Very colourful and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noel-gallagher/under-thatcher-who-ruled-us-with-an-iron-rod-great-art-was-made/) [Noel Gallagher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noel-gallagher/) > [A stadium tour would be amazing - that's definitely one of my goals. Just to keep putting out real, honest music that people can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daya/a-stadium-tour-would-be-amazing-that-s-definitely-one-of-my-goals/) [Daya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daya/) > [I definitely want to put together an amazing debut album with some really dreamy collaborations.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bree-runway/i-definitely-want-to-put-together-an-amazing-debut-album-with-some/) [Bree Runway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bree-runway/) > [So crazy to think that we have only known each other 2 years. its been so amazing and we have got to do so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/one-direction/so-crazy-to-think-that-we-have-only-known-each-other-2-years-its-been/) [One Direction](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/one-direction/) > [I saw Frank Frazetta's art, and it seared on my memory. I love his paintings. They're so amazing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-momoa/i-saw-frank-frazetta-s-art-and-it-seared-on-my-memory-i-love-his/) [Jason Momoa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-momoa/) > [When you're true to who you are, amazing things happen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deborah-norville/when-you-re-true-to-who-you-are-amazing-things-happen/) [Deborah Norville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deborah-norville/) > [I want to continue to produce film, television, and theater, and to make the most amazing music that I've made in my life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alicia-keys/i-want-to-continue-to-produce-film-television-and-theater-and-to-make/) [Alicia Keys](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alicia-keys/) [Browse all 6,502 Amazing quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/amazing/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Why are bands like Black Flag allowed to write a song about drinking beer, and they're cult and amazing, and then you write this song that's supposed to be a burst of anger, and everyone's like, 'That's so lame.'", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Ellie Rowsell" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellie-rowsell/why-are-bands-like-black-flag-allowed-to-write-a-song-about-drinking/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Amazing" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellie-rowsell/why-are-bands-like-black-flag-allowed-to-write-a-song-about-drinking/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f64/ellie-rowsell-5162_amazing_why-are-bands-like-black-flag-allowed-to_2252456.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f64/ellie-rowsell-5162_amazing_why-are-bands-like-black-flag-allowed-to_2252456.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f64/ellie-rowsell-5162_amazing_why-are-bands-like-black-flag-allowed-to_2252456.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Why are bands like Black Flag allowed to write a song about drinking beer, and they're cult and amazing, and…” — Ellie Rowsell", "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": "Ellie Rowsell", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellie-rowsell/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Why are bands like Black Flag...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellie-rowsell/why-are-bands-like-black-flag-allowed-to-write-a-song-about-drinking/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellie-rowsell/why-are-bands-like-black-flag-allowed-to-write-a-song-about-drinking/#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 } } ] } ```