--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I don't know why people are so surprised…" description: "\"I don't know why people are so surprised by my live performances. My approach is so simple; every song I sing, every story I tell, every move I make, m..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/588/john-davidson-29855_approach_i-don-t-know-why-people-are-so-surprised_3170836.jpg" --- # I don't know why people are so surprised by my live… ![“I don't know why people are so surprised by my live performances. My approach is so simple; every song I sing, every story I tell, every move I make, must move the audience to laughter, tears or inspiration. Otherwise, why should I do it?” quote by John Davidson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/588/john-davidson-29855_approach_i-don-t-know-why-people-are-so-surprised_3170836.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/588/john-davidson-29855_approach_i-don-t-know-why-people-are-so-surprised_3170836.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/588/john-davidson-29855_approach_i-don-t-know-why-people-are-so-surprised_3170836.jpg) > “I don't know why people are so surprised by my live performances. My approach is so simple; every song I sing, every story I tell, every move I make, must move the audience to laughter, tears or inspiration. Otherwise, why should I do it?” [John Davidson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-davidson/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The speaker believes art must evoke strong emotions; without impact, the effort feels pointless. **In simple terms:** Art should move people emotionally, otherwise it's meaningless. Key Takeaway Create work that provokes laughter, tears, or inspiration. Themes artistic purpose emotional impact audience connection Mood reflective determined Type inspirational philosophical When to use this quote - concert planning - songwriting - stagecraft - public speaking Key Concepts performance theory emotional resonance creative intent Questions to Reflect On - How do you measure whether a performance truly moves its audience? - What if subtlety is more appropriate for a piece? A Different Perspective Audience expectations may differ; not all art needs to be overtly emotional. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Approach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/approach/) [Audience](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/audience/) [Inspiration](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspiration/) [Laughter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/laughter/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Performances](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/performances/) [Song](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/song/) [Story](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/story/) [Surprised](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/surprised/) [Tears](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tears/) ## Related quotes > [I don't know why people are so surprised by my live performances.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-davidson/i-don-t-know-why-people-are-so-surprised-by-my-live-performances/) [John Davidson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-davidson/) > [My approach is so simple; every song I sing, every story I tell, every move I make, must move the audience to laughter, tears,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-davidson/my-approach-is-so-simple-every-song-i-sing-every-story-i-tell-every/) [John Davidson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-davidson/) > [I think acoustic performances and full, live performances are always cool in different ways.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabby-barrett/i-think-acoustic-performances-and-full-live-performances-are-always/) [Gabby Barrett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabby-barrett/) > [I think I was first to do live performances on a modern electronic sound synthesizer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-eaton/i-think-i-was-first-to-do-live-performances-on-a-modern-electronic/) [John Eaton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-eaton/) > [It's got to be hard to be a band that's trading on your 40-year-old hits, where there's a certain thing that's expected of you.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-argetsinger/it-s-got-to-be-hard-to-be-a-band-that-s-trading-on-your-40-year-old/) [Amy Argetsinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-argetsinger/) > [I always put my best into our live performances and most of all it is always important for us to keep true to what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzuka-nakamoto/i-always-put-my-best-into-our-live-performances-and-most-of-all-it-is/) [Suzuka Nakamoto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzuka-nakamoto/) > [Live performances are exhilarating, especially when performing for a young crowd.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amit-trivedi/live-performances-are-exhilarating-especially-when-performing-for-a/) [Amit Trivedi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amit-trivedi/) > [One of the most memorable live performances of my career took place on the 2002 American Music Awards show when I had to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-mcgraw/one-of-the-most-memorable-live-performances-of-my-career-took-place/) [Tim McGraw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-mcgraw/) > [If I think about the way I was drawn into the music, it was much more by recordings than by live performances.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evan-parker/if-i-think-about-the-way-i-was-drawn-into-the-music-it-was-much-more/) [Evan Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evan-parker/) > [Full live performances are always my favorites, and I think a lot of people's favorites too, just because you can feel the energy off…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabby-barrett/full-live-performances-are-always-my-favorites-and-i-think-a-lot-of/) [Gabby Barrett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabby-barrett/) > [Live performances always feel like such a moment with all of the costumes and theatrics.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kat-graham/live-performances-always-feel-like-such-a-moment-with-all-of-the/) [Kat Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kat-graham/) > [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/) > [The music I do in live performances is made for a specific situation. I know that people are sitting down and shutting up and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nils-frahm/the-music-i-do-in-live-performances-is-made-for-a-specific-situation/) [Nils Frahm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nils-frahm/) > [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/) > [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/) ## More by John Davidson > [“...you mustn’t pun, Brumm, puns are produced only in vacant minds. Keep high thoughts and visions of delightful things before you and you won’t…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-davidson/you-mustn-t-pun-brumm-puns-are-produced-only-in-vacant-minds-keep/) [John Davidson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-davidson/) > [It wasn't until I went to college that I met the theatre people and began to admire them because they were learning a trade…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-davidson/it-wasn-t-until-i-went-to-college-that-i-met-the-theatre-people-and/) [John Davidson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-davidson/) > [Physical activity can get you going when you are immobilized. Get action in your life, and don't just talk about it. Get into the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-davidson/physical-activity-can-get-you-going-when-you-are-immobilized-get/) [John Davidson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-davidson/) > [“I’ll be hanged if I can understand how it concerns Evolution to get us out of a mere scrape.” “Out of all kinds of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-davidson/i-ll-be-hanged-if-i-can-understand-how-it-concerns-evolution-to-get/) [John Davidson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-davidson/) > [“You will find, Brumm,” said Earl Lavender, “that one of two things must be sacrificed by every man who lives to be over sixty—the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-davidson/you-will-find-brumm-said-earl-lavender-that-one-of-two-things-must-be/) [John Davidson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-davidson/) > [I don't know why people are so surprised by my live performances.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-davidson/i-don-t-know-why-people-are-so-surprised-by-my-live-performances/) [John Davidson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-davidson/) > [My approach is so simple; every song I sing, every story I tell, every move I make, must move the audience to laughter, tears,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-davidson/my-approach-is-so-simple-every-song-i-sing-every-story-i-tell-every/) [John Davidson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-davidson/) > [In White Plains I wasn't theatrical at all. I was a model and I used to take the train into New York three days…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-davidson/in-white-plains-i-wasn-t-theatrical-at-all-i-was-a-model-and-i-used/) [John Davidson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-davidson/) > [“Gentlemen,” said Earl Lavender, with perfect complacence, “it becomes you to make a charge of madness against me. I told my friend Lord Brumm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-davidson/gentlemen-said-earl-lavender-with-perfect-complacence-it-becomes-you/) [John Davidson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-davidson/) > [“Do I believe in Heaven and Hell? I do, we have them here; the world is nothing else.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-davidson/do-i-believe-in-heaven-and-hell-i-do-we-have-them-here-the-world-is/) [John Davidson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-davidson/) > [“Mrs. Scamler,’ she said, ‘do you study French, ma'am?’ ‘I do, indeed,’ I said; ‘two hours a day.’ ‘Then, ma’am,’ she says, ‘we call…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-davidson/mrs-scamler-she-said-do-you-study-french-ma-am-i-do-indeed-i-said-two/) [John Davidson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-davidson/) > [“It is the observer of the pun that makes it, my dear Brumm. Of course, when the word is distorted, as in Evilution, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-davidson/it-is-the-observer-of-the-pun-that-makes-it-my-dear-brumm-of-course/) [John Davidson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-davidson/) > [Singing well has always been important to me, but the most important factor is the connection to the audience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-davidson/singing-well-has-always-been-important-to-me-but-the-most-important/) [John Davidson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-davidson/) > [“Seek for no meaning in it; it has none. What meaning is there in pain and pleasure? They are twins; that is all we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-davidson/seek-for-no-meaning-in-it-it-has-none-what-meaning-is-there-in-pain/) [John Davidson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-davidson/) > [“You’re young, and like anything new. It’s change you want. I’m middle-aged, and there’s nothing staler to me than change. Constant comfort and little…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-davidson/you-re-young-and-like-anything-new-it-s-change-you-want-i-m-middle/) [John Davidson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-davidson/) [Explore all 18 John Davidson quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-davidson/) ## More Approach quotes > [I think a new world will arise out of the religious mists when we approach our Bible with the idea that it is not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aiden-wilson-tozer/i-think-a-new-world-will-arise-out-of-the-religious-mists-when-we/) [Aiden Wilson Tozer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aiden-wilson-tozer/) > [I'm in a business where there's complete anarchy. You can't control it - you can only react to it. The control that people traditionally…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-sorrell/i-m-in-a-business-where-there-s-complete-anarchy-you-can-t-control-it/) [Martin Sorrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-sorrell/) > [When you approach something to photograph it, first be still with yourself until the object of your attention affirms your presence. Then don't leave…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/minor-white/when-you-approach-something-to-photograph-it-first-be-still-with/) [Minor White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/minor-white/) > [We do not want to be reminded that it is we, the indigenous people, who are poor and exploited in the land of our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-biko/we-do-not-want-to-be-reminded-that-it-is-we-the-indigenous-people-who/) [Steven Biko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-biko/) > [One of the things I regret about not putting in that book or I think it's there but I didn't really elaborate on it,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brad-warner/one-of-the-things-i-regret-about-not-putting-in-that-book-or-i-think/) [Brad Warner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brad-warner/) > [Ideal for the child and society in the best of times, Rudolf Steiner's brilliant process of education is critically needed and profoundly relevant now…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-chilton-pearce/ideal-for-the-child-and-society-in-the-best-of-times-rudolf-steiner-s/) [Joseph Chilton Pearce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-chilton-pearce/) > [I don't have any particular method, my approach is very simple. I try to understand the emotional graph of the character.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pratik-gandhi/i-don-t-have-any-particular-method-my-approach-is-very-simple-i-try/) [Pratik Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pratik-gandhi/) > [“But young men have not only this frivolous ambition of being thought masters of execution, inciting them on the one hand, but also their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/but-young-men-have-not-only-this-frivolous-ambition-of-being-thought/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Everything, every part that you approach has to be somehow rooted in yourself. You have to somehow root everything so that it's not just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judi-dench/everything-every-part-that-you-approach-has-to-be-somehow-rooted-in/) [Judi Dench](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judi-dench/) > [Literature transforms and intensifies ordinary language, deviates systematically from everyday speech. If you approach me at a bus stop and murmur Thou still unravished…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-eagleton/literature-transforms-and-intensifies-ordinary-language-deviates/) [Terry Eagleton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-eagleton/) > [The whole secret to mastering the game of golf - and this applies to the beginner as well as the pro - is to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arnold-palmer/the-whole-secret-to-mastering-the-game-of-golf-and-this-applies-to/) [Arnold Palmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arnold-palmer/) > [The essence of Christianity...is an ever-new encounter with... the God who speaks to us, who approaches us and who befriends us!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-benedict-xvi/the-essence-of-christianity-is-an-ever-new-encounter-with-the-god-who/) [Pope Benedict XVI](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-benedict-xvi/) > [Like a morning dream, life becomes more and more bright the longer we live, and the reason of everything appears more clear. What has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-paul/like-a-morning-dream-life-becomes-more-and-more-bright-the-longer-we/) [Jean Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-paul/) > [What begins as a Utopian vision, always - always - ends in bloodshed. 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