--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: People are familiar with my songs…" description: "\"People are familiar with my songs, especially through Eric Clapton. But I have a hard time drawing a crowd, because I have been a songwriter.\" — J. J. ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a01/j-j-cale-6694_crowd_people-are-familiar-with-my-songs-especi_931743.png" --- # People are familiar with my songs, especially through Eric… ![“People are familiar with my songs, especially through Eric Clapton. But I have a hard time drawing a crowd, because I have been a songwriter.” quote by J. J. Cale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a01/j-j-cale-6694_crowd_people-are-familiar-with-my-songs-especi_931743.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a01/j-j-cale-6694_crowd_people-are-familiar-with-my-songs-especi_931743.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a01/j-j-cale-6694_crowd_people-are-familiar-with-my-songs-especi_931743.png) > “People are familiar with my songs, especially through Eric Clapton. But I have a hard time drawing a crowd, because I have been a songwriter.” [J. J. Cale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-j-cale/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He notes that while his songs are well known via famous covers, his own performances attract few listeners because he is primarily a songwriter, not a front‑man. **In simple terms:** His songs are famous, but he struggles to draw crowds as a performer. Key Takeaway Focus on songwriting strengths, consider collaborations for live exposure. Themes songwriting recognition performance identity collaboration Mood reflective determined Type career industry personal growth When to use this quote - concerts - songwriting workshops - collaborative tours - media appearances Key Concepts authorship celebrity music industry public perception Questions to Reflect On - How can a songwriter leverage cover success into personal audience? - What strategies can boost live attendance for behind‑the‑scenes artists? A Different Perspective Fame through others can eclipse personal brand, limiting live audience growth. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Hard time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hard-time/) [Music](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/music/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Song](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/song/) [Songwriter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/songwriter/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) ## Related quotes > [When Eric Clapton cut 'After Midnight,' he sold so many records and it was so big at the time, I decided that I would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-j-cale/when-eric-clapton-cut-after-midnight-he-sold-so-many-records-and-it/) [J. J. Cale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-j-cale/) > [We tolerate differences of opinion in people who are familiar to us. But differences of opinion in people we do not know sound like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brooks-atkinson/we-tolerate-differences-of-opinion-in-people-who-are-familiar-to-us/) [Brooks Atkinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brooks-atkinson/) > [I want to show people how I really am. Most people are only familiar with some of the headlines.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lothar-matthaus/i-want-to-show-people-how-i-really-am-most-people-are-only-familiar/) [Lothar Matthaus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lothar-matthaus/) > [People wrote so negatively about me, but generally, the people who are familiar with football know my strengths and abilities.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mesut-ozil/people-wrote-so-negatively-about-me-but-generally-the-people-who-are/) [Mesut Ozil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mesut-ozil/) > [We want to challenge even the people who are familiar with what we've done in the past.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-mael/we-want-to-challenge-even-the-people-who-are-familiar-with-what-we-ve/) [Ron Mael](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-mael/) > [It's normal to criticise people you are not familiar with.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hulk/it-s-normal-to-criticise-people-you-are-not-familiar-with/) [Hulk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hulk/) > [I think, like most people, we are familiar with Aquaman. We grew up reading or watching this character on the peripheral. I was never…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-wan/i-think-like-most-people-we-are-familiar-with-aquaman-we-grew-up/) [James Wan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-wan/) > [I don't look to play people that are familiar. I look to play people that are different, challenge, unknown, foreign, and therefore scary.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-jessica-parker/i-don-t-look-to-play-people-that-are-familiar-i-look-to-play-people/) [Sarah Jessica Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-jessica-parker/) > [“Research confirms that we are more comfortable with people who are familiar looking, whether we know them very well or have not previously met…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glen-wilson/research-confirms-that-we-are-more-comfortable-with-people-who-are/) [Glen Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glen-wilson/) > [A lot of people aren't familiar with me, but it's not my job to make people familiar with me. There's millions of artists out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/riff-raff/a-lot-of-people-aren-t-familiar-with-me-but-it-s-not-my-job-to-make/) [Riff Raff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/riff-raff/) > [Television is a thing that people get very familiar with. They want to hear your voice in their head.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/damon-wayans-jr/television-is-a-thing-that-people-get-very-familiar-with-they-want-to/) [Damon Wayans, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/damon-wayans-jr/) > [It's always nice to have the same people that you are familiar with and shorthand with, obviously, to be around you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-macdonald/it-s-always-nice-to-have-the-same-people-that-you-are-familiar-with/) [Kevin Macdonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-macdonald/) > [No. 1, I'm a songwriter, and I don't really get out and tour.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-j-cale/no-1-i-m-a-songwriter-and-i-don-t-really-get-out-and-tour/) [J. J. Cale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-j-cale/) > [I consider myself a songwriter... I guess the business end is my songs and the fun part is playing the guitar.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-j-cale/i-consider-myself-a-songwriter-i-guess-the-business-end-is-my-songs/) [J. J. Cale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-j-cale/) > [I'm a recording studio guy, an engineer, a songwriter and a guitar player, in that order.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-j-cale/i-m-a-recording-studio-guy-an-engineer-a-songwriter-and-a-guitar/) [J. J. Cale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-j-cale/) ## More by J. J. Cale > [I just play my guitar and push my songs and I'd like to keep it quiet.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-j-cale/i-just-play-my-guitar-and-push-my-songs-and-i-d-like-to-keep-it-quiet/) [J. J. Cale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-j-cale/) > [Ask any guitar player - it's hard to feed yourself when you're picking for a living.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-j-cale/ask-any-guitar-player-it-s-hard-to-feed-yourself-when-you-re-picking/) [J. J. Cale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-j-cale/) > [I wanted to be able to play music, and then when I went out in my private life, my personal life, I didn't want…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-j-cale/i-wanted-to-be-able-to-play-music-and-then-when-i-went-out-in-my/) [J. J. Cale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-j-cale/) > [I cut all my early records in Nashville, so I guess that makes me country. I call it country pop, but my love of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-j-cale/i-cut-all-my-early-records-in-nashville-so-i-guess-that-makes-me/) [J. J. Cale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-j-cale/) > [I'm an electronic manipulator. Most people think J.J. Cale, he's organic. There ain't nothing organic about me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-j-cale/i-m-an-electronic-manipulator-most-people-think-j-j-cale-he-s-organic/) [J. J. Cale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-j-cale/) > [That's kinda what happened to me: I listened to jazz, country, R&B, rock 'n' roll. And when I sat down to write a song,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-j-cale/that-s-kinda-what-happened-to-me-i-listened-to-jazz-country-r-b-rock/) [J. J. Cale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-j-cale/) > [Clapton was just picking up ideas. He picked up some of mine like I picked up some from the people before me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-j-cale/clapton-was-just-picking-up-ideas-he-picked-up-some-of-mine-like-i/) [J. J. Cale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-j-cale/) > [If you write songs long enough, you run out of material that's original to yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-j-cale/if-you-write-songs-long-enough-you-run-out-of-material-that-s/) [J. J. Cale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-j-cale/) > [My performing and my singing leave much to be desired, but having other people record my songs is the most flattering thing that can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-j-cale/my-performing-and-my-singing-leave-much-to-be-desired-but-having/) [J. J. Cale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-j-cale/) > [There are entertainers and there are musicians, and I never was an entertainer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-j-cale/there-are-entertainers-and-there-are-musicians-and-i-never-was-an/) [J. J. Cale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-j-cale/) > [What my whole object was is not to really sell records. I was trying to sell songs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-j-cale/what-my-whole-object-was-is-not-to-really-sell-records-i-was-trying/) [J. J. Cale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-j-cale/) > [I'm always doing something that ain't happening, and I'm always happening when there ain't nothing going on.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-j-cale/i-m-always-doing-something-that-ain-t-happening-and-i-m-always/) [J. J. Cale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-j-cale/) > [I sing and play guitar, but songwriting is how I pay my rent. And so I didn't really need a lot of publicity to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-j-cale/i-sing-and-play-guitar-but-songwriting-is-how-i-pay-my-rent-and-so-i/) [J. J. Cale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-j-cale/) > [As the years went by and technology came in, I used a lot of technology.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-j-cale/as-the-years-went-by-and-technology-came-in-i-used-a-lot-of-technology/) [J. J. Cale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-j-cale/) > [I didn't really get any success till I was 30 years old. I played music when I was young fella, but I didn't really…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-j-cale/i-didn-t-really-get-any-success-till-i-was-30-years-old-i-played/) [J. J. Cale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-j-cale/) [Explore all 98 J. J. Cale quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-j-cale/) ## More Crowd quotes > [“Every select man strives instinctively for a citadel and a privacy, where he is FREE from the crowd, the many, the majority-- where he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-nietzsche/every-select-man-strives-instinctively-for-a-citadel-and-a-privacy/) [Friedrich Nietzsche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-nietzsche/) > [I want to make myself and the crowd happy by way of something different, and that makes things difficult. I'm never playing something that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tiesto/i-want-to-make-myself-and-the-crowd-happy-by-way-of-something/) [Tiesto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tiesto/) > [I guess because we're essentially a two-man band, we're attracting Wham's crowd. But Wham! are more of a businessman's band.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/curt-smith/i-guess-because-we-re-essentially-a-two-man-band-we-re-attracting/) [Curt Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/curt-smith/) > [Regardless of what I do, whether I write a book or whether I act or whether I host, I'll always do stand-up comedy because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howie-mandel/regardless-of-what-i-do-whether-i-write-a-book-or-whether-i-act-or/) [Howie Mandel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howie-mandel/) > [“An applause is not just the recognition of good performance, but its proof of being different than the crowd.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amit-kalantri/an-applause-is-not-just-the-recognition-of-good-performance-but-its/) [Amit Kalantri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amit-kalantri/) > [Chicago, to me, is the best wrestling crowd on the planet. They are the best. They are loud, they are ruthless, and they will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/goldust/chicago-to-me-is-the-best-wrestling-crowd-on-the-planet-they-are-the/) [Goldust](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/goldust/) > [I always tried to be different from everyone else. Then I found out about boxing. That was the way I could be different from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/riddick-bowe/i-always-tried-to-be-different-from-everyone-else-then-i-found-out/) [Riddick Bowe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/riddick-bowe/) > [It's fun, and a laugh for you... you can boo me and feel happy about yourself because you're part of the crowd that did…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-goodes/it-s-fun-and-a-laugh-for-you-you-can-boo-me-and-feel-happy-about/) [Adam Goodes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-goodes/) > [Yeah, we might have a video on 'TRL,' but when you go to the Warped Tour you're going to see us walking around in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chad-gilbert/yeah-we-might-have-a-video-on-trl-but-when-you-go-to-the-warped-tour/) [Chad Gilbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chad-gilbert/) > [You can have the best production, the best stage in the world, but without a crowd, the festival is nothing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hardwell/you-can-have-the-best-production-the-best-stage-in-the-world-but/) [Hardwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hardwell/) > [“On Broadway it was still bright afternoon and the gassy air was almost motionless under the leaden spokes of sunlight, and sawdust footprints lay…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saul-bellow/on-broadway-it-was-still-bright-afternoon-and-the-gassy-air-was/) [Saul Bellow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saul-bellow/) > [“The crowd wants a hero,not just someone cutting up meat”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dewey-gram/the-crowd-wants-a-hero-not-just-someone-cutting-up-meat/) Dewey Gram > [The crowd, especially at Anfield, want us to win so much that it transmits itself down on to the pitch at times.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamie-carragher/the-crowd-especially-at-anfield-want-us-to-win-so-much-that-it/) [Jamie Carragher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamie-carragher/) > [I like playing with a good crowd.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sergio-garcia/i-like-playing-with-a-good-crowd/) [Sergio Garcia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sergio-garcia/) > [I was DJing for this party promotion called 1st Flight Entertainment, having to DJ on the weekends and then also going to school in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tay-keith/i-was-djing-for-this-party-promotion-called-1st-flight-entertainment/) [Tay Keith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tay-keith/) Browse all 1,548 Crowd quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "People are familiar with my songs, especially through Eric Clapton. 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