--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I would be criticized, like, 'You don't…" description: "\"I would be criticized, like, 'You don't talk Korean enough. You sound very American. You sound very white in your music.' And I'm like, 'Whoa.'\" — Eric..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/13a/eric-nam-7940_american_i-would-be-criticized-like-you-don-t-tal_2089440.jpg" --- # I would be criticized, like, 'You don't talk Korean… ![“I would be criticized, like, 'You don't talk Korean enough. You sound very American. You sound very white in your music.' And I'm like, 'Whoa.'” quote by Eric Nam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/13a/eric-nam-7940_american_i-would-be-criticized-like-you-don-t-tal_2089440.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/13a/eric-nam-7940_american_i-would-be-criticized-like-you-don-t-tal_2089440.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/13a/eric-nam-7940_american_i-would-be-criticized-like-you-don-t-tal_2089440.jpg) > “I would be criticized, like, 'You don't talk Korean enough. You sound very American. You sound very white in your music.' And I'm like, 'Whoa.'” [Eric Nam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-nam/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Criticism of cultural authenticity can be harsh; the artist feels surprised by the feedback. **In simple terms:** Artist feels judged for cultural expression. Key Takeaway Reflect on expectations of cultural representation. Themes identity authenticity music industry cultural expectations Mood thoughtful defensive Type personal cultural When to use this quote - songwriting - public image - media interviews - fan reactions Key Concepts Cultural appropriation artistic freedom audience perception Questions to Reflect On - How do you balance personal style with cultural expectations? - What defines ‘authentic’ music? A Different Perspective Authenticity is subjective and varies across audiences. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Music](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/music/) [Sound](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sound/) ## Related quotes > [I was criticized a lot when I was singing in Korean. The producers and people from my agency would point out my accent and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-nam/i-was-criticized-a-lot-when-i-was-singing-in-korean-the-producers-and/) [Eric Nam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-nam/) > [Now, I don't know about my peers, but I get nervous - okay, I genuinely freak out - when an actor starts trying on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rod-lurie/now-i-don-t-know-about-my-peers-but-i-get-nervous-okay-i-genuinely/) [Rod Lurie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rod-lurie/) > [I don't speak cockney and I don't pretend to come from that part of the world. For the longest time the English, like the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gene-simmons/i-don-t-speak-cockney-and-i-don-t-pretend-to-come-from-that-part-of/) [Gene Simmons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gene-simmons/) > [I would never try and play like Harry James, because I don't like his tone - for me. It's just white. You know what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miles-davis/i-would-never-try-and-play-like-harry-james-because-i-don-t-like-his/) [Miles Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miles-davis/) > [Every black kid knows about that voice they moms make when they are on the phone with important people...be trying sound white and so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/every-black-kid-knows-about-that-voice-they-moms-make-when-they-are/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I don't want to interview people. I want to have a conversation. I want to talk to Paul McCartney about the bass sound on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikki-sixx/i-don-t-want-to-interview-people-i-want-to-have-a-conversation-i-want/) [Nikki Sixx](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikki-sixx/) > [A sound American is simply one who has put out of his mind all doubts and questionings, and who accepts instantly, and as incontrovertible…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-l-mencken/a-sound-american-is-simply-one-who-has-put-out-of-his-mind-all-doubts/) [H. L. Mencken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-l-mencken/) > [Americans like things that don't sound American.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/corinne-bailey-rae/americans-like-things-that-don-t-sound-american/) [Corinne Bailey Rae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/corinne-bailey-rae/) > [If you never get criticized, chances are you aren't getting anything done.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-r-swindoll/if-you-never-get-criticized-chances-are-you-aren-t-getting-anything/) [Charles R. Swindoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-r-swindoll/) > [“It is incredibly tempting to disparage people who didn’t “change” with us. I have criticized the words of others when the same words came…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jen-hatmaker/it-is-incredibly-tempting-to-disparage-people-who-didn-t-change-with/) [Jen Hatmaker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jen-hatmaker/) > [No one likes to be criticized, of course, but if the things we successfully strive for do not make our future selves happy, or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-gilbert/no-one-likes-to-be-criticized-of-course-but-if-the-things-we/) [Daniel Gilbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-gilbert/) > [People have said things about me, and wrote and criticized me about things in the past, but it goes in one ear and out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/floyd-mayweather-jr/people-have-said-things-about-me-and-wrote-and-criticized-me-about/) [Floyd Mayweather, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/floyd-mayweather-jr/) > [When 'The Thin Blue Line' came out, I was criticized by many people for using reenactments, as if I wasn't dedicated to the truth…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/errol-morris/when-the-thin-blue-line-came-out-i-was-criticized-by-many-people-for/) [Errol Morris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/errol-morris/) > [“To hear, in the short space of one week, a Scottish terrier booed by an audience and President Roosevelt criticized by Charles Lindbergh was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-b-white/to-hear-in-the-short-space-of-one-week-a-scottish-terrier-booed-by-an/) [E. B. White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-b-white/) > ['The Matrix' is a movie that is all about glamour. I could do a whole talk on 'The Matrix' and glamour. It was criticized…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/virginia-postrel/the-matrix-is-a-movie-that-is-all-about-glamour-i-could-do-a-whole/) [Virginia Postrel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/virginia-postrel/) ## More by Eric Nam > [I learned Spanish as my second language from middle school through high school. I grew up volunteering at homeless shelters and tutoring kids of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-nam/i-learned-spanish-as-my-second-language-from-middle-school-through/) [Eric Nam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-nam/) > [On any collaboration, you want to respect your music and the other's music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-nam/on-any-collaboration-you-want-to-respect-your-music-and-the-other-s/) [Eric Nam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-nam/) > [When you first make money, you're just excited that you have it and just buy things on a whim. You don't really think about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-nam/when-you-first-make-money-you-re-just-excited-that-you-have-it-and/) [Eric Nam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-nam/) > [I actually received a lot of messages from Central and South American artists who complimented my songs and showed interest in collaborating with me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-nam/i-actually-received-a-lot-of-messages-from-central-and-south-american/) [Eric Nam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-nam/) > [I know people love Supreme. 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