---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Actually, my first group was a folkloric…"
description: "\"Actually, my first group was a folkloric group, an Argentine folkloric group when I was 10. By the time I was 11 or 12 I started writing songs in Engli..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/701/gustavo-santaolalla-67462_argentina_actually-my-first-group-was-a-folkloric_1077596.jpg"
---

#  Actually, my first group was a folkloric group, an…

![“Actually, my first group was a folkloric group, an Argentine folkloric group when I was 10. By the time I was 11 or 12 I started writing songs in English. And then after a while of writing these songs in English it came to me that there was no reason for me to sing in English because I lived in…” quote by Gustavo Santaolalla](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/701/gustavo-santaolalla-67462_argentina_actually-my-first-group-was-a-folkloric_1077596.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/701/gustavo-santaolalla-67462_argentina_actually-my-first-group-was-a-folkloric_1077596.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/701/gustavo-santaolalla-67462_argentina_actually-my-first-group-was-a-folkloric_1077596.jpg)

> “Actually, my first group was a folkloric group, an Argentine folkloric group when I was 10. By the time I was 11 or 12 I started writing songs in English. And then after a while of writing these songs in English it came to me that there was no reason for me to sing in English because I lived in Argentina and also there was something important \[about Spanish\], so I started writing in Spanish.”

[Gustavo Santaolalla](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gustavo-santaolalla/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Early cultural immersion shaped his musical language, leading him to switch from English to Spanish songwriting to reflect his identity.

**In simple terms:** He chose Spanish to match his roots.

Key Takeaway

Embrace your cultural background in creative work.

Themes

identity language creativity culture

Mood

reflective inspired

Type

creative personal

When to use this quote

- songwriting
- performing
- teaching
- collaboration

Key Concepts

bilingual expression artistic authenticity cultural heritage

Questions to Reflect On

- How does language choice affect artistic expression?
- What benefits arise from embracing native language?

A Different Perspective

Switching languages may limit audience reach in some markets.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Argentina](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/argentina/) [English writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/english-writing/) [Firsts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/firsts/) [Folkloric Group](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/folkloric-group-2718041/) [Group Folkloric](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/group-folkloric-2718040/) [Groups](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/groups/) [Important](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/important/) [No reason](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/no-reason/) [Reason](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reason/) [Song](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/song/) [Spanish Started](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/spanish-started-2718042/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) [Writing songs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing-songs/) [Writing Spanish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing-spanish-2718043/)

## Related quotes

> [I write entirely in English; Tagalog chauvinists chide me for this. I feel no guilt in doing so. But I am sad that I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/f-sionil-jos/i-write-entirely-in-english-tagalog-chauvinists-chide-me-for-this-i/)

[F. Sionil Jose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/f-sionil-jos/)

> [The best models of English writing are Shakespeare and the Old Testament.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aleister-crowley/the-best-models-of-english-writing-are-shakespeare-and-the-old/)

[Aleister Crowley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aleister-crowley/)

> [I mainly wanted non-english writing poets, because I loved the idea that I was translating translations.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simone-muench/i-mainly-wanted-non-english-writing-poets-because-i-loved-the-idea/)

[Simone Muench](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simone-muench/)

> [“The story of the English writing system is so intriguing, and the histories behind individual words so fascinating, that anyone who dares to treat…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-crystal/the-story-of-the-english-writing-system-is-so-intriguing-and-the/)

[David Crystal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-crystal/)

> [“I craved a form of naive realism. I paid special attention, I craned my readerly neck whenever a London street I knew was mentioned,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-mcewan/i-craved-a-form-of-naive-realism-i-paid-special-attention-i-craned-my/)

[Ian McEwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-mcewan/)

> [In Bulgarian I am much more flowery, the sentences are wilder. In English out of necessity I try to be clear and disciplined. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miroslav-penkov/in-bulgarian-i-am-much-more-flowery-the-sentences-are-wilder-in/)

[Miroslav Penkov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miroslav-penkov/)

> [If you go through any newspaper or magazine and look for active, kicking verbs in the sentences, you will realize that this lack of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rudolf-flesch/if-you-go-through-any-newspaper-or-magazine-and-look-for-active/)

[Rudolf Flesch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rudolf-flesch/)

> [“I had not particularly liked the way in which he wrote about literature in Beginnings , and I was always on my guard if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-hitchens/i-had-not-particularly-liked-the-way-in-which-he-wrote-about/)

[Christopher Hitchens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-hitchens/)

> [English writing tends to fall into two categories - the big, baggy epic novel or the fairly controlled, tidy novel. For a long time,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zadie-smith/english-writing-tends-to-fall-into-two-categories-the-big-baggy-epic/)

[Zadie Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zadie-smith/)

> [All the youth now in England of free men, who are rich enough to be able to devote themselves to it, be set to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-the-great/all-the-youth-now-in-england-of-free-men-who-are-rich-enough-to-be/)

[Alfred the Great](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-the-great/)

> [“the best of luck in improving their English writing skills. However, in saying that, it's not up to luck so much as dedication, hard…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-e-dew/the-best-of-luck-in-improving-their-english-writing-skills-however-in/)

[Stephen E. Dew](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-e-dew/)

> [The only thing better than good English writing is - I can't think of anything. You just don't pour it pureed over your potatoes.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-murchison/the-only-thing-better-than-good-english-writing-is-i-can-t-think-of/)

[William Murchison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-murchison/)

> [“There are two main traditions of English writing: the one of perfect liberty, that of Chaucer and Shakespeare, completely outspoken, with a certain liking…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-harris/there-are-two-main-traditions-of-english-writing-the-one-of-perfect/)

[Frank Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-harris/)

> [I think I am less self-assured when I write English than I would be if I were writing in my first language. I have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-begley/i-think-i-am-less-self-assured-when-i-write-english-than-i-would-be/)

[Louis Begley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-begley/)

> [I like the Patagonia in Argentina.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marc-gasol/i-like-the-patagonia-in-argentina/)

[Marc Gasol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marc-gasol/)

## More by Gustavo Santaolalla

> [It's always nice when your work is recognized.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gustavo-santaolalla/it-s-always-nice-when-your-work-is-recognized/)

[Gustavo Santaolalla](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gustavo-santaolalla/)

> [I'm so proud to have work in this movie, "Brokeback Mountain," a movie that once again shows us that love is what makes us…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gustavo-santaolalla/i-m-so-proud-to-have-work-in-this-movie-brokeback-mountain-a-movie/)

[Gustavo Santaolalla](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gustavo-santaolalla/)

> [I have produced all kinds of music because I love all kinds of music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gustavo-santaolalla/i-have-produced-all-kinds-of-music-because-i-love-all-kinds-of-music/)

[Gustavo Santaolalla](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gustavo-santaolalla/)

[Explore all 4 Gustavo Santaolalla quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gustavo-santaolalla/)

## More Argentina quotes

> [I like the Patagonia in Argentina.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marc-gasol/i-like-the-patagonia-in-argentina/)

[Marc Gasol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marc-gasol/)

> [I want to concentrate on winning things with Barcelona and Argentina. Then if people want to say nice things about me when I have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lionel-messi/i-want-to-concentrate-on-winning-things-with-barcelona-and-argentina/)

[Lionel Messi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lionel-messi/)

> [“Many governments employ torture but this was the first time that the element of Saturnalia and pornography in the process had been made so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-hitchens/many-governments-employ-torture-but-this-was-the-first-time-that-the/)

[Christopher Hitchens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-hitchens/)

> [I started playing pro in Argentina. Then I went to second division in Italy. Then after a lot of work, I made it to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/manu-ginobili/i-started-playing-pro-in-argentina-then-i-went-to-second-division-in/)

[Manu Ginobili](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/manu-ginobili/)

> [That's what they do in Argentina. Have a little wine and talk. Then have some coffee and talk. Then, go back to the wine.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grace-jones/that-s-what-they-do-in-argentina-have-a-little-wine-and-talk-then/)

[Grace Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grace-jones/)

> [Argentina is a marvelous place. Argentines are great bankers of information. They import information; if someone sneezes in Milan or in New York, they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emilio-ambasz/argentina-is-a-marvelous-place-argentines-are-great-bankers-of/)

[Emilio Ambasz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emilio-ambasz/)

> [Venezuela, with Brazil, Argentina, Paraguay, Uruguay, is a full member of Mercosur. And many other Latin American countries, CARICOM, Bolivia have expressed their support…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugo-chavez/venezuela-with-brazil-argentina-paraguay-uruguay-is-a-full-member-of/)

[Hugo Chavez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugo-chavez/)

> [What I love the most is playing with Argentina.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angel-di-maria/what-i-love-the-most-is-playing-with-argentina/)

[Angel Di Maria](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angel-di-maria/)

> [Argentina is a very interesting culture because unlike Europe and the US, they did not abandon rock and roll music, they did not turn…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-raphael/argentina-is-a-very-interesting-culture-because-unlike-europe-and-the/)

[Gordon Raphael](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-raphael/)

> [Messi is not really from Barca's ranks. What they did was sign the most talented kid in the whole of Argentina! Messi was already…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/javier-clemente/messi-is-not-really-from-barca-s-ranks-what-they-did-was-sign-the/)

[Javier Clemente](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/javier-clemente/)

> [Don't Cry For Me, Argentina](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-thatcher/don-t-cry-for-me-argentina/)

[Margaret Thatcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-thatcher/)

> [We arrived in Argentina with a lot of injured players, including our goalkeeper. Also we were unlucky to be drawn in the same group…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-patini/we-arrived-in-argentina-with-a-lot-of-injured-players-including-our/)

[Michel Patini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-patini/)

> [Globalization and the neoliberal economic model have already been rejected in Latin America; it simply hasn't been a solution for our people. At the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evo-morales/globalization-and-the-neoliberal-economic-model-have-already-been/)

[Evo Morales](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evo-morales/)

> [I was born in New York but as a baby moved to Venezuela and Argentina. I've also lived in Denmark, where my father's from.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viggo-mortensen/i-was-born-in-new-york-but-as-a-baby-moved-to-venezuela-and-argentina/)

[Viggo Mortensen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viggo-mortensen/)

> [In Argentina, in Brazil, I remember going to Australia, all the trips I did in Japan, you know how they'd advertise me? 'From Madison…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruno-sammartino/in-argentina-in-brazil-i-remember-going-to-australia-all-the-trips-i/)

[Bruno Sammartino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruno-sammartino/)

[Browse all 241 Argentina quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/argentina/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "Actually, my first group was a folkloric group, an Argentine folkloric group when I was 10. By the time I was 11 or 12 I started writing songs in English. And then after a while of writing these songs in English it came to me that there was no reason for me to sing in English because I lived in Argentina and also there was something important [about Spanish], so I started writing in Spanish.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Gustavo Santaolalla"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gustavo-santaolalla/actually-my-first-group-was-a-folkloric-group-an-argentine-folkloric/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Argentina"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gustavo-santaolalla/actually-my-first-group-was-a-folkloric-group-an-argentine-folkloric/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/701/gustavo-santaolalla-67462_argentina_actually-my-first-group-was-a-folkloric_1077596.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/701/gustavo-santaolalla-67462_argentina_actually-my-first-group-was-a-folkloric_1077596.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/701/gustavo-santaolalla-67462_argentina_actually-my-first-group-was-a-folkloric_1077596.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“Actually, my first group was a folkloric group, an Argentine folkloric group when I was 10. By the time I…” — Gustavo Santaolalla",
                "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": "Gustavo Santaolalla",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gustavo-santaolalla/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "Actually, my first group was a...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gustavo-santaolalla/actually-my-first-group-was-a-folkloric-group-an-argentine-folkloric/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gustavo-santaolalla/actually-my-first-group-was-a-folkloric-group-an-argentine-folkloric/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
