--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I think a comedian has a more specific…" description: "\"I think a comedian has a more specific job. Whereas a musician can fall into different categories, you know, of making background music or doing a soun..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/555/fred-armisen-2330_background-music_i-think-a-comedian-has-a-more-specific-j_2022037.jpg" --- # I think a comedian has a more specific job. Whereas a… ![“I think a comedian has a more specific job. Whereas a musician can fall into different categories, you know, of making background music or doing a soundtrack or wanting to be in a band or writing the song, or writing your own songs. And then comedy is a very black and white thing. You want to make…” quote by Fred Armisen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/555/fred-armisen-2330_background-music_i-think-a-comedian-has-a-more-specific-j_2022037.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/555/fred-armisen-2330_background-music_i-think-a-comedian-has-a-more-specific-j_2022037.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/555/fred-armisen-2330_background-music_i-think-a-comedian-has-a-more-specific-j_2022037.jpg) > “I think a comedian has a more specific job. Whereas a musician can fall into different categories, you know, of making background music or doing a soundtrack or wanting to be in a band or writing the song, or writing your own songs. And then comedy is a very black and white thing. You want to make people happy.” [Fred Armisen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fred-armisen/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Comedy's purpose is straightforward: to bring joy, unlike music's varied roles and creative possibilities. **In simple terms:** Comedy aims to make people happy. Key Takeaway Focus on joy. Themes joy simplicity artistic purpose entertainment contrast Mood lighthearted reflective analytical Type performance philosophical When to use this quote - performing stand‑up - writing jokes - teaching humor basics - comparing art forms Key Concepts creative freedom genre distinction audience impact Questions to Reflect On - How can comedy balance happiness with critique? - What limits does a “black and white” view place on comedic art? A Different Perspective Comedy can also provoke thought, not just happiness. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Background music](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/background-music/) [Black and white](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/black-and-white/) [Comedian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/comedian/) [Comedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/comedy/) [Music](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/music/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) ## Related quotes > [I love Benny Hill. He one of my favourites of aaall time. Like, the way Benny did it, he was just amazing. Just seeing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/snoop-dogg/i-love-benny-hill-he-one-of-my-favourites-of-aaall-time-like-the-way/) [Snoop Dogg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/snoop-dogg/) > [When you deal with a comedian who has a specific act, you can't hold 'em back. You got to work with 'em, dude. What…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pauly-shore/when-you-deal-with-a-comedian-who-has-a-specific-act-you-can-t-hold/) [Pauly Shore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pauly-shore/) > [Music is my life. The things that people do don't seem interesting to me at all - going out to bars, carrying on, going…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-frusciante/music-is-my-life-the-things-that-people-do-don-t-seem-interesting-to/) [John Frusciante](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-frusciante/) > [I'm just doing my job, which is musician, and people have either an issue with me or they're like, 'She's so inspirational.' And actually…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cmat/i-m-just-doing-my-job-which-is-musician-and-people-have-either-an/) [CMAT](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cmat/) > [I never wanted to get a job of musician. That was kind of my thing. I came from somewhat of a musical family. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nate-ruess/i-never-wanted-to-get-a-job-of-musician-that-was-kind-of-my-thing-i/) [Nate Ruess](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nate-ruess/) > [It's a very weird job to have as a musician, because you spend long periods of time alone and then you have to go…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angel-deradoorian/it-s-a-very-weird-job-to-have-as-a-musician-because-you-spend-long/) Angel Deradoorian > [I love my job as a musician, and I am filled with gratitude that good people support my endeavors.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-gilbert/i-love-my-job-as-a-musician-and-i-am-filled-with-gratitude-that-good/) [Paul Gilbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-gilbert/) > [My job of being a musician in a recording studio has nothing to do with being a musician being on tour performing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/moby/my-job-of-being-a-musician-in-a-recording-studio-has-nothing-to-do/) [Moby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/moby/) > [Politics and music should only mix to a point. Me, I think my job as a musician is to make people try to forget…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hank-williams-iii/politics-and-music-should-only-mix-to-a-point-me-i-think-my-job-as-a/) [Hank Williams III](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hank-williams-iii/) > [ I consider my job \[being a musician\] is to have a little idea and nurture it and put it in some form that everybody… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keith-richards/i-consider-my-job-being-a-musician-is-to-have-a-little-idea-and/) [Keith Richards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keith-richards/) > [A lot of people think I'm a comedian.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dolly-parton/a-lot-of-people-think-i-m-a-comedian/) [Dolly Parton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dolly-parton/) > [ I think, as a comedian, the funniest you can be is with people you know, and \[whom\] you've known for years, in a pub.… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ricky-gervais/i-think-as-a-comedian-the-funniest-you-can-be-is-with-people-you-know/) [Ricky Gervais](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ricky-gervais/) > [I wouldn't say I have comedy chops. I guess you get lucky with good writing because I don't think I'm a comedian by any…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-pena/i-wouldn-t-say-i-have-comedy-chops-i-guess-you-get-lucky-with-good/) [Michael Pena](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-pena/) > [I think that if you, as a comedian, are trying to be in people's face, then you've got to come up with new stuff…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keenen-ivory-wayans/i-think-that-if-you-as-a-comedian-are-trying-to-be-in-people-s-face/) [Keenen Ivory Wayans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keenen-ivory-wayans/) > [I don't think a comedian should even be concerned with being cool or sexy, as soon as you do, you aren't a comedian any…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ricky-gervais/i-don-t-think-a-comedian-should-even-be-concerned-with-being-cool-or/) [Ricky Gervais](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ricky-gervais/) ## More by Fred Armisen > [There are bands that I am friends with, who will invite me up on stage. Like Les Savy Fav, who have had me on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fred-armisen/there-are-bands-that-i-am-friends-with-who-will-invite-me-up-on-stage/) [Fred Armisen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fred-armisen/) > [Steve Jobs was a real rock star to me. I looked forward to his products like people look forward to albums.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fred-armisen/steve-jobs-was-a-real-rock-star-to-me-i-looked-forward-to-his/) [Fred Armisen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fred-armisen/) > [I like to think Portland and L.A. are not rivals; they're cousins. As cities on the West Coast, they're distinct in their own way…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fred-armisen/i-like-to-think-portland-and-l-a-are-not-rivals-they-re-cousins-as/) [Fred Armisen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fred-armisen/) > [Panned or not, 'Dune' is a real part of science-fiction filmmaking.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fred-armisen/panned-or-not-dune-is-a-real-part-of-science-fiction-filmmaking/) [Fred Armisen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fred-armisen/) > [Something about Portland just really resonated with me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fred-armisen/something-about-portland-just-really-resonated-with-me/) [Fred Armisen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fred-armisen/) > [Sometimes I think I'm a really interesting guy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fred-armisen/sometimes-i-think-i-m-a-really-interesting-guy/) [Fred Armisen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fred-armisen/) > [I met Steve Jobs once. In '06? He had a sense of humor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fred-armisen/i-met-steve-jobs-once-in-06-he-had-a-sense-of-humor/) [Fred Armisen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fred-armisen/) > [I loved our music discussion. I live for discussions like that. It's my favorite thing because it means that people care about music, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fred-armisen/i-loved-our-music-discussion-i-live-for-discussions-like-that-it-s-my/) [Fred Armisen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fred-armisen/) > [Bill Hader does a really good impression of me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fred-armisen/bill-hader-does-a-really-good-impression-of-me/) [Fred Armisen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fred-armisen/) > [When you're being mean to someone, you can feel the audience just get cold.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fred-armisen/when-you-re-being-mean-to-someone-you-can-feel-the-audience-just-get/) [Fred Armisen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fred-armisen/) > [There's no judgment on bands that continue on who aren't popular; some people get enjoyment out of it. I'm just not one of those…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fred-armisen/there-s-no-judgment-on-bands-that-continue-on-who-aren-t-popular-some/) [Fred Armisen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fred-armisen/) > [There's something really easy and just somehow un-crowded about the Portland airport. Every time I go there I'm like, 'Why is this so easy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fred-armisen/there-s-something-really-easy-and-just-somehow-un-crowded-about-the/) [Fred Armisen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fred-armisen/) > [When punk came along, it made perfect sense to me. I found it melodic. The Clash, Buzzcocks.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fred-armisen/when-punk-came-along-it-made-perfect-sense-to-me-i-found-it-melodic/) [Fred Armisen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fred-armisen/) > [As a kid, 'The Monkees' was such a cool show. I had such a thrill saying, 'OMG, I was in a sketch with one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fred-armisen/as-a-kid-the-monkees-was-such-a-cool-show-i-had-such-a-thrill-saying/) [Fred Armisen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fred-armisen/) > [ Just a lot of those bands \[like The Blue Jean Committee\] started off in blues, and then they all transformed into other kinds. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fred-armisen/just-a-lot-of-those-bands-like-the-blue-jean-committee-started-off-in/) [Fred Armisen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fred-armisen/) [Explore all 171 Fred Armisen quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fred-armisen/) ## More Background music quotes > [“And the way I loved her was like nothing else. This, I decided, was the love all other loves were measured against. They say…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katherine-center/and-the-way-i-loved-her-was-like-nothing-else-this-i-decided-was-the/) [Katherine Center](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katherine-center/) > [When I'm not doing readings, I just spend a lot of time alone and try to meditate. Going for walks in nature is also…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tyler-henry/when-i-m-not-doing-readings-i-just-spend-a-lot-of-time-alone-and-try/) [Tyler Henry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tyler-henry/) > [“The trouble with life is that, unlike movies, it doesn't have background music. We never know how we're supposed to feel.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lewis-gardner/the-trouble-with-life-is-that-unlike-movies-it-doesn-t-have/) Lewis Gardner > [One of the biggest challenges in the past for me in working on the networks was that audiences have grown accustomed to television being…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-sorkin/one-of-the-biggest-challenges-in-the-past-for-me-in-working-on-the/) [Aaron Sorkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-sorkin/) > [I don't just sing the song, I also sing the background music and the guitar solo.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-don-t-just-sing-the-song-i-also-sing-the-background-music-and-the/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I love when I reach Marcus on the phone and as he says hello, I can hear the music he's listening to in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/megan-mccafferty/i-love-when-i-reach-marcus-on-the-phone-and-as-he-says-hello-i-can/) [Megan McCafferty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/megan-mccafferty/) > [First I think I was interested in the stories, and later on, I became more interested in the language itself, so the stories became…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-robbins/first-i-think-i-was-interested-in-the-stories-and-later-on-i-became/) [Tom Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-robbins/) > [“My eyes pop out when I catch a glimpse of how much leg she's showing. She's wearing her shortest mini skirt, the one that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janine-caldwell/my-eyes-pop-out-when-i-catch-a-glimpse-of-how-much-leg-she-s-showing/) [Janine Caldwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janine-caldwell/) > [“They were looking for a builder to construct the home they thought they wanted, but he was the architect, coming with a new plan…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/n-t-wright/they-were-looking-for-a-builder-to-construct-the-home-they-thought/) [N.T. Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/n-t-wright/) > [“He never really voice pure, raw outrage to me about Watergate or what it represented. The crimes and abuses were background music. Nixon was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-woodward/he-never-really-voice-pure-raw-outrage-to-me-about-watergate-or-what/) [Bob Woodward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-woodward/) > [“« I guess I tend to think that important events should be solemn, and very grand, with muted violins playing in the background. It´s…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-guess-i-tend-to-think-that-important-events-should-be-solemn-and/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The neo-conservative critics of leftist critics of mass culture ridicule the protest against Bach as background music in the kitchen, against Plato and Hegel,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbert-marcuse/the-neo-conservative-critics-of-leftist-critics-of-mass-culture/) [Herbert Marcuse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbert-marcuse/) > [“One of the tragedies of real life is that there is no background music.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-proulx/one-of-the-tragedies-of-real-life-is-that-there-is-no-background-music/) [Annie Proulx](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-proulx/) > [People sort of imagine Chris Morris and me sitting somewhere dark, with dripping taps and chilling background music. In fact, we like to sit…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-baynham/people-sort-of-imagine-chris-morris-and-me-sitting-somewhere-dark/) [Peter Baynham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-baynham/) > [“Life is just like a movie, except it does not have background music, but you cannot see it in media.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abrar-ahmed-chowdhury/life-is-just-like-a-movie-except-it-does-not-have-background-music/) [Abrar Ahmed chowdhury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abrar-ahmed-chowdhury/) [Browse all 71 Background music quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/background-music/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I think a comedian has a more specific job. Whereas a musician can fall into different categories, you know, of making background music or doing a soundtrack or wanting to be in a band or writing the song, or writing your own songs. And then comedy is a very black and white thing. 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