America Quote by Gail Zappa
“The problem with composers is that they are the most unrequired job in America.”
About This Quote
Source Interview: Podcast on Music Industry, 2020
Composers are often undervalued in America, despite their essential creative role.
In simple terms: Composers are seen as unnecessary in the U.S.
Key Takeaway
Advocate for greater recognition of composers.
Themes
art
economics
culture
Mood
reflective
concerned
Type
critical
commentary
When to use this quote
- film scoring
- advertising
- video games
- theatre productions
Key Concepts
creative labor
intellectual property
market demand
Questions to Reflect On
- Why are composers undervalued?
- How can society better support them?
A Different Perspective
Not all composers lack demand; many thrive in niche markets.
![“Frank [Zappa] said he probably would have been a major criminal, given his brain power and his attention to detail, had he not been a composer. But being a composer is not something you can't help.” quote by Gail Zappa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/cc8/gail-zappa-26739_attention_frank-zappa-said-he-probably-would-have_252212.jpg)
![“Frank [Zappa]'s music was never for the mass audience. His music contains specific kinds of information that you won't find elsewhere in rock and roll.” quote by Gail Zappa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/813/gail-zappa-26739_audience_frank-zappa-s-music-was-never-for-the-ma_945222.jpg)
![“It's nice to hear when someone gets something and the sincerity is enough to tickle you. They can have the wrong notes but the essence of it is there, so it makes you laugh, because even when Frank [Zappa]'s music is sad, it makes me laugh.” quote by Gail Zappa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/470/gail-zappa-26739_enough_it-s-nice-to-hear-when-someone-gets-some_999286.jpg)
![“Frank [Zappa] always wanted to do a sound library - he sampled so many great musicians. For piano, for example, he sampled every octave, not just one (that you could just transpose electronically), and he did all different types of attack, with and without pedals, all that kind of stuff.” quote by Gail Zappa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/4f8/gail-zappa-26739_different_frank-zappa-always-wanted-to-do-a-sound_1969237.jpg)
![“I'll smoke, I'll cough, I'll get the tumors, I'll die, deal? Thank you America. [salutes]” quote by Bill Hicks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/3d2/bill-hicks-970_america_i-ll-smoke-i-ll-cough-i-ll-get-the-tumor_655.jpg)
