--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Obviously the people that I admired, like…" description: "\"Obviously the people that I admired, like the Beatles, were really into rock'n'roll, but it was already a little past rock'n'roll when I started listen..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/581/elvis-costello-1931_beatles_obviously-the-people-that-i-admired-like_3145324.jpg" --- # Obviously the people that I admired, like the Beatles… ![“Obviously the people that I admired, like the Beatles, were really into rock'n'roll, but it was already a little past rock'n'roll when I started listening and making my own choices about music.” quote by Elvis Costello](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/581/elvis-costello-1931_beatles_obviously-the-people-that-i-admired-like_3145324.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/581/elvis-costello-1931_beatles_obviously-the-people-that-i-admired-like_3145324.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/581/elvis-costello-1931_beatles_obviously-the-people-that-i-admired-like_3145324.jpg) > “Obviously the people that I admired, like the Beatles, were really into rock'n'roll, but it was already a little past rock'n'roll when I started listening and making my own choices about music.” [Elvis Costello](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elvis-costello/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The speaker admired earlier rock icons but chose his own musical path as the genre evolved. **In simple terms:** He respected the past but forged his own taste. Key Takeaway Embrace influences while creating personal style. Themes music evolution personal taste influence Mood reflective inspirational Type advice philosophical When to use this quote - listening habits - songwriting - genre exploration - concert experiences Key Concepts cultural shifts artistic identity Questions to Reflect On - How do you balance admiration and originality? - What drives you to explore new music? A Different Perspective Sticking strictly to past styles can limit growth. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Beatles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/beatles/) [Choices](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/choices/) [Music](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/music/) [Past](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/past/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Rock n roll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rock-n-roll/) [Rocks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rocks/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) ## Related quotes > [I just hope that I can be kind of like the Beatles. I really like that kind of model. I like the way that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/damien-hirst/i-just-hope-that-i-can-be-kind-of-like-the-beatles-i-really-like-that/) [Damien Hirst](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/damien-hirst/) > [I really consider myself fortunate to have been of age during the musical revolution that came in the form of the Beatles. People don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/todd-rundgren/i-really-consider-myself-fortunate-to-have-been-of-age-during-the/) [Todd Rundgren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/todd-rundgren/) > [I remember being turned on to The Beach Boys, hearing 'Surfin' U.S.A.,' I guess, in 1960. But The Beatles really did it to me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joey-ramone/i-remember-being-turned-on-to-the-beach-boys-hearing-surfin-u-s-a-i/) [Joey Ramone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joey-ramone/) > [Everyone loves the Beatles, but if you really dig into their music, they were actually speaking on things. When you have such a following,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/skip-marley/everyone-loves-the-beatles-but-if-you-really-dig-into-their-music/) [Skip Marley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/skip-marley/) > [I'm touched by rock n' roll. I'm touched by the Beatles. I want some of the music I do to reflect that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-jarreau/i-m-touched-by-rock-n-roll-i-m-touched-by-the-beatles-i-want-some-of/) [Al Jarreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-jarreau/) > [The Beatles changed music forever. They took rock n' roll from a medium that was about cars and girls and gave it context, interesting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-spitz/the-beatles-changed-music-forever-they-took-rock-n-roll-from-a-medium/) [Bob Spitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-spitz/) > [The Beatles just changed everything right across the board. They just had that right combination of clean-cut good looks - a cute band -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-perry/the-beatles-just-changed-everything-right-across-the-board-they-just/) [Joe Perry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-perry/) > [There was not a lot of rock n' roll in the house. Our parents didn't think it was very groovy, and I tend to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elvis-costello/there-was-not-a-lot-of-rock-n-roll-in-the-house-our-parents-didn-t/) [Elvis Costello](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elvis-costello/) > [Large like the Beatles, ask all my peoples, never make movies, so don't talk sequels.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pete-rock/large-like-the-beatles-ask-all-my-peoples-never-make-movies-so-don-t/) Pete Rock > [One day, Travi$ is going to be moving like The Beatles.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/travis-scott/one-day-travi-is-going-to-be-moving-like-the-beatles/) [Travis Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/travis-scott/) > [The reason I got into music was obviously because of bands like The Beatles and Pink Floyd, things like that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-gourley/the-reason-i-got-into-music-was-obviously-because-of-bands-like-the/) [John Gourley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-gourley/) > [I wanted to have a band that could rock as hard as the Who and sing like the Beatles and the Beach Boys; a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-carmen/i-wanted-to-have-a-band-that-could-rock-as-hard-as-the-who-and-sing/) [Eric Carmen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-carmen/) > [One of my favorite albums is Bob Gibson and Bob Camp, 'At the Gate of Horn.' It was a really dynamic album, almost like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-mcguinn/one-of-my-favorite-albums-is-bob-gibson-and-bob-camp-at-the-gate-of/) [Roger McGuinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-mcguinn/) > [I think that one of the nice things about the Yellow Submarine movie is that it seems to be perennial. People enjoy watching from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-martin/i-think-that-one-of-the-nice-things-about-the-yellow-submarine-movie/) [George Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-martin/) > [When I first started making music, it was learning other people's songs and putting them onto four-track. Like Beatles songs and stuff. When I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-ward/when-i-first-started-making-music-it-was-learning-other-people-s/) [M. Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-ward/) ## More by Elvis Costello > [Good manners and bad breath will get you nowhere.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elvis-costello/good-manners-and-bad-breath-will-get-you-nowhere/) [Elvis Costello](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elvis-costello/) > [History repeats the old conceits, the glib replies, the same defeats.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elvis-costello/history-repeats-the-old-conceits-the-glib-replies-the-same-defeats/) [Elvis Costello](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elvis-costello/) > [People think it is all about country music, and I know a lot of country music has come out of there, but like Blonde…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elvis-costello/people-think-it-is-all-about-country-music-and-i-know-a-lot-of/) [Elvis Costello](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elvis-costello/) > [I get very frustrated by this term 'genre exercise.' I mean, what exactly is that? Genre is not really relevant when you are writing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elvis-costello/i-get-very-frustrated-by-this-term-genre-exercise-i-mean-what-exactly/) [Elvis Costello](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elvis-costello/) > [Even in a perfect world where everyone was equal. I'd still own the film rights and be working on the sequel.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elvis-costello/even-in-a-perfect-world-where-everyone-was-equal-i-d-still-own-the/) [Elvis Costello](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elvis-costello/) > [Somebody should clip Sting around the head and tell him to stop using that ridiculous Jamaican accent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elvis-costello/somebody-should-clip-sting-around-the-head-and-tell-him-to-stop-using/) [Elvis Costello](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elvis-costello/) > [There is something wrong with you if you don't get angry about something.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elvis-costello/there-is-something-wrong-with-you-if-you-don-t-get-angry-about/) [Elvis Costello](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elvis-costello/) > [“Was it a millionaire who said "imagine no possessions?" A poor little schoolboy who said "we don't need no lessons?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elvis-costello/was-it-a-millionaire-who-said-imagine-no-possessions-a-poor-little/) [Elvis Costello](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elvis-costello/) > [Though the passion still flutters and flickers, it never got into our knickers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elvis-costello/though-the-passion-still-flutters-and-flickers-it-never-got-into-our/) [Elvis Costello](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elvis-costello/) > [My dad's father was a White Star Line trumpet player in the '20s. It shaped the way that I think about music. My grandfather…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elvis-costello/my-dad-s-father-was-a-white-star-line-trumpet-player-in-the-20s-it/) [Elvis Costello](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elvis-costello/) > [Life for me is about movement.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elvis-costello/life-for-me-is-about-movement/) [Elvis Costello](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elvis-costello/) > [Maybe I just never learned my harmony part, because what everybody says sounds odd to them sounds perfectly natural to me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elvis-costello/maybe-i-just-never-learned-my-harmony-part-because-what-everybody/) [Elvis Costello](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elvis-costello/) > [There are a lot of things that you can like at a distance without spending a huge amount of time pondering. It's not so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elvis-costello/there-are-a-lot-of-things-that-you-can-like-at-a-distance-without/) [Elvis Costello](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elvis-costello/) > [Don't wear your heart on your sleeve when your remarks are off the cuff.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elvis-costello/don-t-wear-your-heart-on-your-sleeve-when-your-remarks-are-off-the/) [Elvis Costello](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elvis-costello/) > [I'm just the mere shadow of my former selfishness. I crave the silhouette of your kiss.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elvis-costello/i-m-just-the-mere-shadow-of-my-former-selfishness-i-crave-the/) [Elvis Costello](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elvis-costello/) [Explore all 197 Elvis Costello quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elvis-costello/) ## More Beatles quotes > [When I first started making music, it was learning other people's songs and putting them onto four-track. Like Beatles songs and stuff. When I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-ward/when-i-first-started-making-music-it-was-learning-other-people-s/) [M. Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-ward/) > [I am a big Beatles fan. And, you know, unbeknownst to anyone, I used to be one. But I have no problems of putting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ringo-starr/i-am-a-big-beatles-fan-and-you-know-unbeknownst-to-anyone-i-used-to/) [Ringo Starr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ringo-starr/) > [As a child, I was this record collector/listener that would sit in a room and listen to the entire Beatles catalog alone, over and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-cornell/as-a-child-i-was-this-record-collector-listener-that-would-sit-in-a/) [Chris Cornell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-cornell/) > [I thought my Beatles LPs sounded pretty good on a record player, but that was before I had heard a CD.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alastair-wood/i-thought-my-beatles-lps-sounded-pretty-good-on-a-record-player-but/) [Alastair Wood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alastair-wood/) > [Growing up in San Diego, my main interests were the Beatles, Louis Armstrong, 'Star Wars,' baseball cards, and drawing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kyle-mooney/growing-up-in-san-diego-my-main-interests-were-the-beatles-louis/) [Kyle Mooney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kyle-mooney/) > [He's (Ringo Starr) not even the best drummer in the Beatles…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-mccartney/he-s-ringo-starr-not-even-the-best-drummer-in-the-beatles/) [Paul McCartney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-mccartney/) > [It was great fun to be able to work with so many different artists. And I'm paying a tribute to the Beatles. I've just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-preston/it-was-great-fun-to-be-able-to-work-with-so-many-different-artists/) [Billy Preston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-preston/) > ['The X Factor' seems to be more about building up personalities and people in tears. And it's not a new idea. The pre-Beatles pop…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jools-holland/the-x-factor-seems-to-be-more-about-building-up-personalities-and/) [Jools Holland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jools-holland/) > [Oh, I think country has changed tremendously. I think country has totally changed. Country music when I was a kid was Hank Williams. If…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mellencamp/oh-i-think-country-has-changed-tremendously-i-think-country-has/) [John Mellencamp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mellencamp/) > [Elvis Presley's music said, 'Free your body.' The Beatles said, 'Free your mind.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-sheff/elvis-presley-s-music-said-free-your-body-the-beatles-said-free-your/) [David Sheff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-sheff/) > [The Beatles have a deeper appreciation of all music. There's a humor, there's a Broadway sense, and later on, the Indian stuff came in.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-vivino/the-beatles-have-a-deeper-appreciation-of-all-music-there-s-a-humor/) Jimmy Vivino > [The Beatles, Rolling Stones, Barbra Streisand, Bruce Springsteen, these are just some of the people who threatened to sue if we used their songs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-mochrie/the-beatles-rolling-stones-barbra-streisand-bruce-springsteen-these/) [Colin Mochrie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-mochrie/) > [If you look in my CD case, you'll see it's Pink Floyd, The Rolling Stones, The Beatles, now I can't think of anyone else,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-angarano/if-you-look-in-my-cd-case-you-ll-see-it-s-pink-floyd-the-rolling/) [Michael Angarano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-angarano/) > [ “Like almost all of Beefheart's recorded work, \[Trout Mask Replica\] was not even "ahead" of its time in 1969. Then and now, it stands… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lester-bangs/like-almost-all-of-beefheart-s-recorded-work-trout-mask-replica-was/) [Lester Bangs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lester-bangs/) > [It's marvelous when you visit Tokyo: they have these clubs, and they'll have 'Motown Night' or 'The Beatles - Totally Authentic and Live!' You…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-palmer/it-s-marvelous-when-you-visit-tokyo-they-have-these-clubs-and-they-ll/) [Robert Palmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-palmer/) [Browse all 786 Beatles quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/beatles/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Obviously the people that I admired, like the Beatles, were really into rock'n'roll, but it was already a little past rock'n'roll when I started listening and making my own choices about music.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Elvis Costello" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elvis-costello/obviously-the-people-that-i-admired-like-the-beatles-were-really-into/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Beatles" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elvis-costello/obviously-the-people-that-i-admired-like-the-beatles-were-really-into/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/581/elvis-costello-1931_beatles_obviously-the-people-that-i-admired-like_3145324.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/581/elvis-costello-1931_beatles_obviously-the-people-that-i-admired-like_3145324.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/581/elvis-costello-1931_beatles_obviously-the-people-that-i-admired-like_3145324.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Obviously the people that I admired, like the Beatles, were really into rock'n'roll, but it was already a…” — Elvis Costello", "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": "Elvis Costello", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elvis-costello/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Obviously the people that I admired,...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elvis-costello/obviously-the-people-that-i-admired-like-the-beatles-were-really-into/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elvis-costello/obviously-the-people-that-i-admired-like-the-beatles-were-really-into/#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 } } ] } ```