--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: So it's not really whether you talk about…" description: "\"So it's not really whether you talk about politics, but how well were you able to do it. Peter Gabriel and Sting get away with it...U2...the examples a..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/739/jackson-browne-4505_able_so-it-s-not-really-whether-you-talk-abou_162628.png" --- # So it's not really whether you talk about politics, but… ![“So it's not really whether you talk about politics, but how well were you able to do it. Peter Gabriel and Sting get away with it...U2...the examples are there, of people being able to carry these subjects in the music, and the audience is absolutely able to embrace subjects that aren't just the…” quote by Jackson Browne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/739/jackson-browne-4505_able_so-it-s-not-really-whether-you-talk-abou_162628.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/739/jackson-browne-4505_able_so-it-s-not-really-whether-you-talk-abou_162628.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/739/jackson-browne-4505_able_so-it-s-not-really-whether-you-talk-abou_162628.png) > “So it's not really whether you talk about politics, but how well were you able to do it. Peter Gabriel and Sting get away with it...U2...the examples are there, of people being able to carry these subjects in the music, and the audience is absolutely able to embrace subjects that aren't just the stuff they already know about. And they're actually able to learn stuff.” [Jackson Browne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jackson-browne/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Effective political commentary in music depends on skillful delivery, not just the topic, allowing audiences to engage and learn beyond familiar subjects. **In simple terms:** Skillful delivery lets music teach politics. Key Takeaway Focus on craft to convey ideas. Themes communication politics music education audience engagement Mood inspirational thoughtful Type analytical motivational When to use this quote - concerts - radio playlists - social movements - educational programs Key Concepts narrative framing emotional resonance cultural impact Questions to Reflect On - How can artists balance artistry with political messaging? - What makes political lyrics resonate with diverse audiences? A Different Perspective May alienate listeners who prefer escapist entertainment. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Audience](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/audience/) [Gabriel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gabriel/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Politics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politics/) [Song](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/song/) [Songwriting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/songwriting/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) ## Related quotes > [Being beyond politics, I am able to examine the role of the media without worrying about the indignant harrumphing that emanates from many journalists…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-gillard/being-beyond-politics-i-am-able-to-examine-the-role-of-the-media/) [Julia Gillard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-gillard/) > [A true master of politics is able to calculate, down to the smallest fraction, the advantages to which he may put his very faults.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-bonaparte/a-true-master-of-politics-is-able-to-calculate-down-to-the-smallest/) [Napoleon Bonaparte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-bonaparte/) > [If my son enters politics, I will be able to guide him. He too would have learnt a lot from watching me, so he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sharad-pawar/if-my-son-enters-politics-i-will-be-able-to-guide-him-he-too-would/) [Sharad Pawar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sharad-pawar/) > [She could do any job. Let me just say this, I've never known anybody in politics that was more able than her -- including…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-clinton/she-could-do-any-job-let-me-just-say-this-i-ve-never-known-anybody-in/) [Bill Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-clinton/) > [The web really does make the music audience a global community - when I send a tweet, I get responses from Kansas City all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cary-brothers/the-web-really-does-make-the-music-audience-a-global-community-when-i/) Cary Brothers > [I had been to São Paulo the year before and became pretty well acquainted with the music of composer Antonio Carlos Jobim, I had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-byrd/i-had-been-to-s-o-paulo-the-year-before-and-became-pretty-well/) [Charlie Byrd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-byrd/) > [I think maybe we underestimate the country music audience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brandy-clark/i-think-maybe-we-underestimate-the-country-music-audience/) [Brandy Clark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brandy-clark/) > [Well you can see that I'm still in motion. It happens that you share the music with the audience. That is the best happiness…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/manu-dibango/well-you-can-see-that-i-m-still-in-motion-it-happens-that-you-share/) Manu Dibango > [In the world of music, the audience is not just fans of music; they're fans of many things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-avett/in-the-world-of-music-the-audience-is-not-just-fans-of-music-they-re/) [Scott Avett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-avett/) > [This is show business, and there's room for the shows and the personalities. But I think there's also room for music, for people to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/butch-trucks/this-is-show-business-and-there-s-room-for-the-shows-and-the/) [Butch Trucks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/butch-trucks/) > [There is a black folk music audience. They're just very small.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rhiannon-giddens/there-is-a-black-folk-music-audience-they-re-just-very-small/) [Rhiannon Giddens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rhiannon-giddens/) > [In chamber music, the audience can hear each instrument and understand (and feel) what the composer and the musicians have in mind as they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-decrow/in-chamber-music-the-audience-can-hear-each-instrument-and-understand/) [Karen DeCrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-decrow/) > [Music will always have an audience, no matter how many artists there are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonita-gandhi/music-will-always-have-an-audience-no-matter-how-many-artists-there/) [Jonita Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonita-gandhi/) > [I wanted 'Second Sky' to be my way of recommending truly good music to my audience that I think is worthy of their time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/porter-robinson/i-wanted-second-sky-to-be-my-way-of-recommending-truly-good-music-to/) [Porter Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/porter-robinson/) > [The MTC is known for singing music by great master composers, hymns, American music, Broadway numbers, popular songs, and inspirational music. If the audience…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mack-wilberg/the-mtc-is-known-for-singing-music-by-great-master-composers-hymns/) [Mack Wilberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mack-wilberg/) ## More by Jackson Browne > [People look around you, the signs are everywhere. You've left it for somebody other than you to be the one who to care.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jackson-browne/people-look-around-you-the-signs-are-everywhere-you-ve-left-it-for/) [Jackson Browne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jackson-browne/) > [Say a prayer for the pretender, who started out so young and strong only to surrender.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jackson-browne/say-a-prayer-for-the-pretender-who-started-out-so-young-and-strong/) [Jackson Browne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jackson-browne/) > [I love to read. I love to stretch. In the morning, I get up, and if I'm not in a hurry, I will lie…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jackson-browne/i-love-to-read-i-love-to-stretch-in-the-morning-i-get-up-and-if-i-m/) [Jackson Browne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jackson-browne/) > [I want to know what became of the changes we waited for love to bring/Were they only the fitful dreams of some greater awakening?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jackson-browne/i-want-to-know-what-became-of-the-changes-we-waited-for-love-to-bring/) [Jackson Browne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jackson-browne/) > [You've had to struggle, you've had to fight To keep understanding and compassion in sight You could be laughing at me, you've got the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jackson-browne/you-ve-had-to-struggle-you-ve-had-to-fight-to-keep-understanding-and/) [Jackson Browne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jackson-browne/) > [No matter how close to yours another's steps have grown, in the end there is one dance you'll do alone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jackson-browne/no-matter-how-close-to-yours-another-s-steps-have-grown-in-the-end/) [Jackson Browne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jackson-browne/) > [I've also gotten to play in front of a million people in Central Park when there was a grass roots movement calling for nuclear…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jackson-browne/i-ve-also-gotten-to-play-in-front-of-a-million-people-in-central-park/) [Jackson Browne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jackson-browne/) > [“Please don't confront me with my failures I have not forgotten them”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jackson-browne/please-don-t-confront-me-with-my-failures-i-have-not-forgotten-them/) [Jackson Browne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jackson-browne/) > [I'm losing touch with reality and I'm almost out of blow. It's such a fine line, I hate to see it go. Cocaine, runnin'…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jackson-browne/i-m-losing-touch-with-reality-and-i-m-almost-out-of-blow-it-s-such-a/) [Jackson Browne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jackson-browne/) > [When you've found another soul who see's in to your own...take good care of each other..and remember to be kind..](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jackson-browne/when-you-ve-found-another-soul-who-see-s-in-to-your-own-take-good/) [Jackson Browne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jackson-browne/) > [Oh Lord, are there really people starving still?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jackson-browne/oh-lord-are-there-really-people-starving-still/) [Jackson Browne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jackson-browne/) > [Hunger in the midnight, hunger at the stroke of noon Hunger in the banquet, hunger in the bride and groom Hunger on the TV,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jackson-browne/hunger-in-the-midnight-hunger-at-the-stroke-of-noon-hunger-in-the/) [Jackson Browne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jackson-browne/) > [These days I seem to think about the things I forgot to do for you and all the times I had a chance to.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jackson-browne/these-days-i-seem-to-think-about-the-things-i-forgot-to-do-for-you/) [Jackson Browne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jackson-browne/) > [I never was a very good singer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jackson-browne/i-never-was-a-very-good-singer/) [Jackson Browne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jackson-browne/) > [“any fool can sell a jewell - an angel gives it away”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jackson-browne/any-fool-can-sell-a-jewell-an-angel-gives-it-away/) [Jackson Browne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jackson-browne/) [Explore all 110 Jackson Browne quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jackson-browne/) ## More Able quotes > [I am certain that children always know more than they are able to tell, and that makes the big difference between them and adults,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-lusseyran/i-am-certain-that-children-always-know-more-than-they-are-able-to/) [Jacques Lusseyran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-lusseyran/) > [I have observed this in my experience of slavery, - that whenever my condition was improved, instead of its increasing my contentment, it only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-douglass/i-have-observed-this-in-my-experience-of-slavery-that-whenever-my/) [Frederick Douglass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-douglass/) > [There is something about the South that accepts the supernatural. If you don't accept it and you're having a conversation with someone who does,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-englert/there-is-something-about-the-south-that-accepts-the-supernatural-if/) [Alice Englert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-englert/) > [In the '80s, the way radio was programmed, if you didn't have a hit record you weren't going to be able to make any…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/huey-lewis/in-the-80s-the-way-radio-was-programmed-if-you-didn-t-have-a-hit/) [Huey Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/huey-lewis/) > [I think I've had the longest career of strength, focus, and still being able to sell records. I think I'm that guy. I'm still…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nas/i-think-i-ve-had-the-longest-career-of-strength-focus-and-still-being/) [Nas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nas/) > [I have that need in me, I want everyone to love me, but I'm embarrassed by that need, so I wanted to cover it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-jeselnik/i-have-that-need-in-me-i-want-everyone-to-love-me-but-i-m-embarrassed/) [Anthony Jeselnik](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-jeselnik/) > [Thinking about the things that happened, I don't know any other ball player would could have done what he (Jackie Robinson) did. To be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pee-wee-reese/thinking-about-the-things-that-happened-i-don-t-know-any-other-ball/) [Pee Wee Reese](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pee-wee-reese/) > [I wanted to remember in order to be able to return.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anais-nin/i-wanted-to-remember-in-order-to-be-able-to-return/) [Anais Nin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anais-nin/) > [Government schools, with your tax money, now discourage the teaching of multiplication tables by rote memorization but teach reading by the 'look-and-say' method which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-perry/government-schools-with-your-tax-money-now-discourage-the-teaching-of/) Greg Perry > [I don't know if I would qualify as mainstream. I think I have managed to function pretty successfully on the fringes of the music…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-metheny/i-don-t-know-if-i-would-qualify-as-mainstream-i-think-i-have-managed/) [Pat Metheny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-metheny/) > [What we're supposed to do as actors is be able to portray real human beings and emotions. And if you grow up in this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-browning/what-we-re-supposed-to-do-as-actors-is-be-able-to-portray-real-human/) [Emily Browning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-browning/) > [The reason that Apple is able to create products like iPad is because we always try to be at the intersection of technology and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-jobs/the-reason-that-apple-is-able-to-create-products-like-ipad-is-because/) [Steve Jobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-jobs/) > [It was an important period for us, because even though we weren't a "punk band", and what became a model for a punk band,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-mallinder/it-was-an-important-period-for-us-because-even-though-we-weren-t-a/) [Stephen Mallinder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-mallinder/) > [- You look fine. - Right. I look fine. Except I don't, said Zora, tugging sadly at her man's nightshirt. This was why Kiki…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zadie-smith/you-look-fine-right-i-look-fine-except-i-don-t-said-zora-tugging/) [Zadie Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zadie-smith/) > [There is a way to be a woman, ask for what we deserve and be able to negotiate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracee-ellis-ross/there-is-a-way-to-be-a-woman-ask-for-what-we-deserve-and-be-able-to/) [Tracee Ellis Ross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracee-ellis-ross/) Browse all 17,257 Able quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "So it's not really whether you talk about politics, but how well were you able to do it. Peter Gabriel and Sting get away with it...U2...the examples are there, of people being able to carry these subjects in the music, and the audience is absolutely able to embrace subjects that aren't just the stuff they already know about. 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