Hearing Quote by Greil Marcus
“Hearing things like 'Wake Up' by Lora Logic, or the Raincoats' 'In Love' - that was something I wasn't prepared for. I couldn't hear anything that came before it in the music, and I didn't want to. I was absolutely in love with its out-of-nowhereness.”
About This Quote
Source Article: Rolling Stone, 1978
He recounts being overwhelmed by avant‑garde music that shattered prior expectations, illustrating how radical art can create a new, immersive reality.
In simple terms: He was stunned by groundbreaking music.
Key Takeaway
Be open to art that defies expectations.
Themes
music
culture
innovation
Mood
excited
introspective
Type
critical
inspirational
When to use this quote
- Listening to experimental albums
- curating a playlist of unknown artists
- teaching music history
Key Concepts
Aesthetic shock
cognitive dissonance
Questions to Reflect On
- What does “out‑of‑nowhereness” feel like to you?
- Can you integrate shock into everyday listening?
A Different Perspective
Such intense experiences may alienate listeners accustomed to familiar sounds.
![“[Listening to a song] one could experience a freedom from one's physical body, and from one's social body - the mask you wore to go about in public among those who thought they knew you, an unchosen mask of nervousness and tradition, the mask that, when owrn too long, makes the face behind it…” quote by Greil Marcus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/05f/greil-marcus-10438_freedom_listening-to-a-song-one-could-experience_82171.jpg)
