--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We gave up on the idea of trying to make…" description: "\"We gave up on the idea of trying to make the record a good representation of the live performance.\" — John Cale" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/979/john-cale-17807_live-performance_we-gave-up-on-the-idea-of-trying-to-make_1446922.jpg" --- # We gave up on the idea of trying to make the record a good… ![“We gave up on the idea of trying to make the record a good representation of the live performance.” quote by John Cale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/979/john-cale-17807_live-performance_we-gave-up-on-the-idea-of-trying-to-make_1446922.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/979/john-cale-17807_live-performance_we-gave-up-on-the-idea-of-trying-to-make_1446922.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/979/john-cale-17807_live-performance_we-gave-up-on-the-idea-of-trying-to-make_1446922.jpg) > “We gave up on the idea of trying to make the record a good representation of the live performance.” [John Cale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-cale/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. They abandoned trying to make studio recordings faithfully replicate live shows, accepting differences. **In simple terms:** Live and recorded music differ; accept that. Key Takeaway Focus on each medium’s strengths. Themes authenticity artistic compromise performance Mood reflective pragmatic Type artistic technical When to use this quote - concert recordings - studio albums - live streaming - music production Key Concepts recording fidelity live energy production choices Questions to Reflect On - Should recordings aim to capture live energy? - What compromises are acceptable in art? A Different Perspective Fans may miss the live feel in recordings. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Live performance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/live-performance/) [Representation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/representation/) [Song](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/song/) ## Related quotes > [If you get a chance to be in a film, that's great. One of my goals is to make a record as good as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glenn-frey/if-you-get-a-chance-to-be-in-a-film-that-s-great-one-of-my-goals-is/) [Glenn Frey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glenn-frey/) > [I'm not in any way selling out by having a record that's good enough for radio.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donnis/i-m-not-in-any-way-selling-out-by-having-a-record-that-s-good-enough/) [Donnis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donnis/) > [I'm a believer in what your record is. I am what my record is - some of it good, some of it bad, some…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-rather/i-m-a-believer-in-what-your-record-is-i-am-what-my-record-is-some-of/) [Dan Rather](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-rather/) > [I think every record, good or bad, is a representation of us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stevie-jackson/i-think-every-record-good-or-bad-is-a-representation-of-us/) [Stevie Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stevie-jackson/) > [It's more important for me to have a good record with good music and be part of a movie that's good and where the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aimee-mann/it-s-more-important-for-me-to-have-a-good-record-with-good-music-and/) [Aimee Mann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aimee-mann/) > [I thought my second record was good, but it didn't have that smash hit we did on the first one that somehow found its…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mat-kearney/i-thought-my-second-record-was-good-but-it-didn-t-have-that-smash-hit/) [Mat Kearney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mat-kearney/) > [The last record was good but lyrically it wasn't focused - I was writing a lot of the lyrics and I am not the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-stump/the-last-record-was-good-but-lyrically-it-wasn-t-focused-i-was/) [Patrick Stump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-stump/) > [My record is good with Birmingham and Wigan. Just study the facts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-bruce/my-record-is-good-with-birmingham-and-wigan-just-study-the-facts/) [Steve Bruce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-bruce/) > [When The B-52s started in the late '70s, music and the business was totally different. Obviously, it's easier for everyone to be able to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cindy-wilson/when-the-b-52s-started-in-the-late-70s-music-and-the-business-was/) [Cindy Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cindy-wilson/) > [Every record has been very different, so I can't really compare them. The first record was good. I originally recorded about half the songs…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/king-tuff/every-record-has-been-very-different-so-i-can-t-really-compare-them/) [King Tuff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/king-tuff/) > [If it's a good record or a good recording, then word of mouth will build for that reason, not before the fact, not before…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/spencer-krug/if-it-s-a-good-record-or-a-good-recording-then-word-of-mouth-will/) [Spencer Krug](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/spencer-krug/) > [I'm working on a proper rock record, a good, old-school rock record. Finally.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liz-phair/i-m-working-on-a-proper-rock-record-a-good-old-school-rock-record/) [Liz Phair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liz-phair/) > [Everyone's films have done well of late. So when your film doesn't do well, you ask yourself, 'Oh, did I make a wrong choice?'…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alia-bhatt/everyone-s-films-have-done-well-of-late-so-when-your-film-doesn-t-do/) [Alia Bhatt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alia-bhatt/) > [I just try to put myself in the sense of being a character, sometimes male. I suppose I just like the idea of trying…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-bush/i-just-try-to-put-myself-in-the-sense-of-being-a-character-sometimes/) [Kate Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-bush/) > [I just like the idea of trying something that no one's ever tried before, and I really wanted to know if it was possible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taj-burrow/i-just-like-the-idea-of-trying-something-that-no-one-s-ever-tried/) Taj Burrow ## More by John Cale > [I never use the word, it's loaded. What love means to me is need.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-cale/i-never-use-the-word-it-s-loaded-what-love-means-to-me-is-need/) [John Cale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-cale/) > [Even if you're improvising, the fact that beforehand you know certain things will work helps you make those improvisations successful. It really helps to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-cale/even-if-you-re-improvising-the-fact-that-beforehand-you-know-certain/) [John Cale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-cale/) > [If you're all loaded up on love, you haven't got anywhere else to go.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-cale/if-you-re-all-loaded-up-on-love-you-haven-t-got-anywhere-else-to-go/) [John Cale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-cale/) > [I am a ham. I've no business being rock 'n' roll. I've said it over and over again that I'm a classical composer, dishevelling…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-cale/i-am-a-ham-i-ve-no-business-being-rock-n-roll-i-ve-said-it-over-and/) [John Cale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-cale/) > [We'd hold a chord for three hours if we could.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-cale/we-d-hold-a-chord-for-three-hours-if-we-could/) [John Cale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-cale/) > [I want to get lean and mean, keep it minimalist.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-cale/i-want-to-get-lean-and-mean-keep-it-minimalist/) [John Cale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-cale/) > [I learn from thinking about the future, what hasn't been done yet. That's kind of my constant obsession.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-cale/i-learn-from-thinking-about-the-future-what-hasn-t-been-done-yet-that/) [John Cale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-cale/) > [I like what the future holds. I don't like thinking about the past.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-cale/i-like-what-the-future-holds-i-don-t-like-thinking-about-the-past/) [John Cale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-cale/) > [I like it here in New York. I like the idea of having to keep eyes in the back of your head all the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-cale/i-like-it-here-in-new-york-i-like-the-idea-of-having-to-keep-eyes-in/) [John Cale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-cale/) > [Time plays a role in almost every decision. And some decisions define your attitude about time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-cale/time-plays-a-role-in-almost-every-decision-and-some-decisions-define/) [John Cale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-cale/) > [The avant-garde makes more sense to me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-cale/the-avant-garde-makes-more-sense-to-me/) [John Cale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-cale/) > [“Books crawl down from the shelves; Read themselves through you; Read themselves at you. - Library of Force ”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-cale/books-crawl-down-from-the-shelves-read-themselves-through-you-read/) [John Cale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-cale/) > [I missed out on my teenage years. I led a sheltered life. I was practicing scales instead of going out there and playing football.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-cale/i-missed-out-on-my-teenage-years-i-led-a-sheltered-life-i-was/) [John Cale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-cale/) > [I'm impatient. I get twitchy. When I get that feeling I just go out and make something happen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-cale/i-m-impatient-i-get-twitchy-when-i-get-that-feeling-i-just-go-out-and/) [John Cale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-cale/) > [In the studio you have pretty much carte blanche with whatever you're doing. You can turn natural instruments into electronic instruments.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-cale/in-the-studio-you-have-pretty-much-carte-blanche-with-whatever-you-re/) [John Cale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-cale/) [Explore all 36 John Cale quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-cale/) ## More Live performance quotes > [Check out the albums, ... Check out the live performances. That's the reality of it all. Music is such an energizing thing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mayall/check-out-the-albums-check-out-the-live-performances-that-s-the/) [John Mayall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mayall/) > [There is something about the live performance of an orchestra that makes it very different to a film. With a film, you can rewrite…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gael-garcia-bernal/there-is-something-about-the-live-performance-of-an-orchestra-that/) [Gael Garcia Bernal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gael-garcia-bernal/) > [I used to be a drummer in a band, and I really loved playing the drums, so I look forward to the right opportunity…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zedd/i-used-to-be-a-drummer-in-a-band-and-i-really-loved-playing-the-drums/) [Zedd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zedd/) > [The old forms of entertainment are not extinct. Live performances are the pinnacle. If you can something that people want to see live, then…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bette-midler/the-old-forms-of-entertainment-are-not-extinct-live-performances-are/) [Bette Midler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bette-midler/) > [Everything will be seen on your computer or BlackBerry or whatever devices we will be seeing in the future. Comedians will put their content…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-lopez/everything-will-be-seen-on-your-computer-or-blackberry-or-whatever/) [George Lopez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-lopez/) > [I love musical theatre because I love doing a live performance eight times a week.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gareth-gates/i-love-musical-theatre-because-i-love-doing-a-live-performance-eight/) [Gareth Gates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gareth-gates/) > [“Apart from live performance, vinyl analog recordings were Georgiou’s favorite way to enjoy music. Rich, warm, and so eerily present—that was the enduring appeal…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-mack/apart-from-live-performance-vinyl-analog-recordings-were-georgiou-s/) [David Mack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-mack/) > [I am so excited to perform; I am so ready to perform; I love live performances! I think it's something so different from a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claudia-lee/i-am-so-excited-to-perform-i-am-so-ready-to-perform-i-love-live/) [Claudia Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claudia-lee/) > [Music gets recorded usually in one format, and when you have to take it out and perform it there are other applications and things…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/todd-rundgren/music-gets-recorded-usually-in-one-format-and-when-you-have-to-take/) [Todd Rundgren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/todd-rundgren/) > [The stage is my first love. It gives me immense self-satisfaction, a sort of power because a stage actor carries the audience along; it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/himani-shivpuri/the-stage-is-my-first-love-it-gives-me-immense-self-satisfaction-a/) [Himani Shivpuri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/himani-shivpuri/) > [A Skip live performance is me giving it my all, all of me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/skip-marley/a-skip-live-performance-is-me-giving-it-my-all-all-of-me/) [Skip Marley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/skip-marley/) > [I don't particularly love live performance of my music. I love writing and recording, but you can't make money off of that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-rosenfield/i-don-t-particularly-love-live-performance-of-my-music-i-love-writing/) Ben Rosenfield > [I like a performance, a live performance, so I like little mistakes because that's what makes perfect - the mistakes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jorja-smith/i-like-a-performance-a-live-performance-so-i-like-little-mistakes/) [Jorja Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jorja-smith/) > [I hate every moment of live performance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-mortimer/i-hate-every-moment-of-live-performance/) [Bob Mortimer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-mortimer/) > [I guess I cringe, because sometimes I don't even watch my live performances back. When I edit, it's this feeling of seeing my mistakes.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kalup-linzy/i-guess-i-cringe-because-sometimes-i-don-t-even-watch-my-live/) [Kalup Linzy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kalup-linzy/) [Browse all 133 Live performance quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/live-performance/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "We gave up on the idea of trying to make the record a good representation of the live performance.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "John Cale" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-cale/we-gave-up-on-the-idea-of-trying-to-make-the-record-a-good/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Live performance" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-cale/we-gave-up-on-the-idea-of-trying-to-make-the-record-a-good/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/979/john-cale-17807_live-performance_we-gave-up-on-the-idea-of-trying-to-make_1446922.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/979/john-cale-17807_live-performance_we-gave-up-on-the-idea-of-trying-to-make_1446922.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/979/john-cale-17807_live-performance_we-gave-up-on-the-idea-of-trying-to-make_1446922.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“We gave up on the idea of trying to make the record a good representation of the live performance.” — John Cale", "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": "John Cale", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-cale/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "We gave up on the idea...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-cale/we-gave-up-on-the-idea-of-trying-to-make-the-record-a-good/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-cale/we-gave-up-on-the-idea-of-trying-to-make-the-record-a-good/#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 } } ] } ```