--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Actually, the first songs I learned were…" description: "\"Actually, the first songs I learned were imitations of Johnny Mathis.\" — Jose Jose" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c84/jose-jose-25865_actually_actually-the-first-songs-i-learned-were_1279962.jpg" --- # Actually, the first songs I learned were imitations of… ![“Actually, the first songs I learned were imitations of Johnny Mathis.” quote by Jose Jose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c84/jose-jose-25865_actually_actually-the-first-songs-i-learned-were_1279962.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c84/jose-jose-25865_actually_actually-the-first-songs-i-learned-were_1279962.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c84/jose-jose-25865_actually_actually-the-first-songs-i-learned-were_1279962.jpg) > “Actually, the first songs I learned were imitations of Johnny Mathis.” [Jose Jose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jose-jose/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. His early musical development involved copying Johnny Mathis, highlighting imitation as a learning step. **In simple terms:** He learned songs by imitating a famous singer. Key Takeaway Use imitation as a stepping stone to develop your own style. Themes learning through imitation musical influences skill development Mood nostalgic inspirational Type reflective educational When to use this quote - vocal training - songwriting - music education Key Concepts emulation creative evolution artistic growth Questions to Reflect On - When did you shift from imitation to original creation? - How can imitation be balanced with innovation? A Different Perspective Imitation may delay original expression. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Music](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/music/) [Songs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/songs/) ## Related quotes > [I am never going to sound like Johnny Mathis.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clay-aiken/i-am-never-going-to-sound-like-johnny-mathis/) [Clay Aiken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clay-aiken/) > [I write almost everything, actually. Songs, poems, stories. And stories out of every genre, too.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jackie-evancho/i-write-almost-everything-actually-songs-poems-stories-and-stories/) [Jackie Evancho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jackie-evancho/) > [I love Neil Young. His songs were the first songs I learned to play, and I recommend anyone who is starting guitar to learn…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesse-harris/i-love-neil-young-his-songs-were-the-first-songs-i-learned-to-play/) [Jesse Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesse-harris/) > [As time went on, we formed a number of different bands. We played in rival, neighborhood bands. We learned more songs and we learned…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wayne-kramer/as-time-went-on-we-formed-a-number-of-different-bands-we-played-in/) [Wayne Kramer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wayne-kramer/) > [The first songs I learned was 'Crazy' by Patsy Cline and 'At Last' by Etta James. I had been growing up with the Beatles,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sabrina-carpenter/the-first-songs-i-learned-was-crazy-by-patsy-cline-and-at-last-by/) [Sabrina Carpenter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sabrina-carpenter/) > [The first songs I learned were 'It Takes a Worried Man' and Woody Guthrie's 'Grand Coulee Dam,' 'Rock Island Line' - those kind of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rory-gallagher/the-first-songs-i-learned-were-it-takes-a-worried-man-and-woody/) [Rory Gallagher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rory-gallagher/) > [I listen to all kinds of songs. There's something to be learned from every type of music and from the one making it, whether…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-mcknight/i-listen-to-all-kinds-of-songs-there-s-something-to-be-learned-from/) [Brian McKnight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-mcknight/) > [I bought a guitar when I was twenty. But I didn't write a song until I was 25 or 26. I never learned to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-berman/i-bought-a-guitar-when-i-was-twenty-but-i-didn-t-write-a-song-until-i/) [David Berman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-berman/) > [Whenever I'd go anywhere with my dad - in his 1980 burgundy Dodge Ram - he'd always listen to mix tapes of country-music stars…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-ross/whenever-i-d-go-anywhere-with-my-dad-in-his-1980-burgundy-dodge-ram/) [Ryan Ross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-ross/) > [As a kid, I used to sit there and figure out how to play everybody's song, and through learning all those songs I learned…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-storch/as-a-kid-i-used-to-sit-there-and-figure-out-how-to-play-everybody-s/) [Scott Storch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-storch/) > [Jordan Peele is famous, in part, for imitations - of rappers and dingbats and the 44th president of the United States. But he would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wesley-morris/jordan-peele-is-famous-in-part-for-imitations-of-rappers-and-dingbats/) [Wesley Morris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wesley-morris/) > [“Nothing important, or meaningful, or beautiful, or interesting, or great ever came out of imitations. The thing that is really hard and really amazing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-quindlen/nothing-important-or-meaningful-or-beautiful-or-interesting-or-great/) [Anna Quindlen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-quindlen/) > [In literature imitations do not imitate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-twain/in-literature-imitations-do-not-imitate/) [Mark Twain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-twain/) > [I did imitations of anyone who came to my parents' house, and that was my identity at school - if there were ten minutes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonardo-dicaprio/i-did-imitations-of-anyone-who-came-to-my-parents-house-and-that-was/) [Leonardo DiCaprio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonardo-dicaprio/) > [“most expensive originals have cheap imitations.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elfriede-jelinek/most-expensive-originals-have-cheap-imitations/) [Elfriede Jelinek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elfriede-jelinek/) ## More by Jose Jose > [Just two years after hitting the top, I hit the bottom. I found myself penniless, deathly ill and getting a divorce. It was all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jose-jose/just-two-years-after-hitting-the-top-i-hit-the-bottom-i-found-myself/) [Jose Jose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jose-jose/) > [My history has been one of ups and downs. But thanks to God, I keep working, drawing from my life experiences songs that I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jose-jose/my-history-has-been-one-of-ups-and-downs-but-thanks-to-god-i-keep/) [Jose Jose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jose-jose/) > [I wanted to honor the memory of my father, who was a great opera singer and died very young, without knowing my success. As…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jose-jose/i-wanted-to-honor-the-memory-of-my-father-who-was-a-great-opera/) [Jose Jose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jose-jose/) > [Under my real name, Pepe Sosa, I recorded 'El Mundo' by Jimmy Fontana and 'Ma Vie' by Alain Barrier.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jose-jose/under-my-real-name-pepe-sosa-i-recorded-el-mundo-by-jimmy-fontana-and/) [Jose Jose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jose-jose/) > [Life prepares you so that you are able to create your own happy ending.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jose-jose/life-prepares-you-so-that-you-are-able-to-create-your-own-happy-ending/) [Jose Jose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jose-jose/) > [The support I've had from all Latin people, and Mexico especially, has allowed me to conquer my alcoholism.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jose-jose/the-support-i-ve-had-from-all-latin-people-and-mexico-especially-has/) [Jose Jose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jose-jose/) > [When young people fall in love, they start to understand my music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jose-jose/when-young-people-fall-in-love-they-start-to-understand-my-music/) [Jose Jose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jose-jose/) > [I am ever thankful to my fans for making me who I am today. I feel I have a real commitment to them-the responsibility…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jose-jose/i-am-ever-thankful-to-my-fans-for-making-me-who-i-am-today-i-feel-i/) [Jose Jose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jose-jose/) > [My father was an opera singer who constantly tried to persuade me not to enter into an artistic career.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jose-jose/my-father-was-an-opera-singer-who-constantly-tried-to-persuade-me-not/) [Jose Jose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jose-jose/) > [I really like acting, but logically getting on stage to transmit the work of a composer who is inspired by God is something magical.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jose-jose/i-really-like-acting-but-logically-getting-on-stage-to-transmit-the/) [Jose Jose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jose-jose/) > [One of the advantages I've had as an interpreter - because I'm not a composer - is I've had the fortune of working with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jose-jose/one-of-the-advantages-i-ve-had-as-an-interpreter-because-i-m-not-a/) [Jose Jose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jose-jose/) > [I view my records as a personal biography.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jose-jose/i-view-my-records-as-a-personal-biography/) [Jose Jose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jose-jose/) > [Before going onstage you can always feel the adrenaline pouring through your veins.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jose-jose/before-going-onstage-you-can-always-feel-the-adrenaline-pouring/) [Jose Jose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jose-jose/) > [Unfortunately, relationships always end for a reason. When it happens it is a time for reflection of course, because one has to always learn…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jose-jose/unfortunately-relationships-always-end-for-a-reason-when-it-happens/) [Jose Jose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jose-jose/) > [That 'adult contemporary' status nearly killed me... C'mon, I'm not a teenager, but I'm not a dinosaur either.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jose-jose/that-adult-contemporary-status-nearly-killed-me-c-mon-i-m-not-a/) [Jose Jose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jose-jose/) [Explore all 22 Jose Jose quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jose-jose/) ## More Actually quotes > [I actually think acting is a form of self-hypnosis. You have to be hyper, hyper aware of what's going on around you. You have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julianne-moore/i-actually-think-acting-is-a-form-of-self-hypnosis-you-have-to-be/) [Julianne Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julianne-moore/) > [I just think my own ambition would not allow me to sit on the gifts that my creator had given me. And so that's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janelle-monae/i-just-think-my-own-ambition-would-not-allow-me-to-sit-on-the-gifts/) [Janelle Monae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janelle-monae/) > [I actually like getting out of my comfort zone. It shakes me up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gail-sheehy/i-actually-like-getting-out-of-my-comfort-zone-it-shakes-me-up/) [Gail Sheehy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gail-sheehy/) > [You have to talk about why things happened the way they did. You can't actually explain my political life except by a series of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-lange/you-have-to-talk-about-why-things-happened-the-way-they-did-you-can-t/) [David Lange](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-lange/) > [Failure actually makes you strong.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neha-sharma/failure-actually-makes-you-strong/) [Neha Sharma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neha-sharma/) > [There's always that discussion about fiction about how do you market it - these are books for boys, these are books for girls, these…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/l-a-weatherly/there-s-always-that-discussion-about-fiction-about-how-do-you-market/) [L.A. Weatherly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/l-a-weatherly/) > [I'm from Europe, England, and I actually lived in Italy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adewale-akinnuoye-agbaje/i-m-from-europe-england-and-i-actually-lived-in-italy/) [Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adewale-akinnuoye-agbaje/) > [The alternative comedy scene is actually pretty small, I guess.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/casey-wilson/the-alternative-comedy-scene-is-actually-pretty-small-i-guess/) [Casey Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/casey-wilson/) > [I was a very good student. Procrastinating gives me anxiety, and getting a B really ticked me off. Sure, I didn't always want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josie-loren/i-was-a-very-good-student-procrastinating-gives-me-anxiety-and/) [Josie Loren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josie-loren/) > [The shelves of many evangelicals are full of books that point out the flaws in evolution, discuss it only as a theory, and almost…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-collins/the-shelves-of-many-evangelicals-are-full-of-books-that-point-out-the/) [Francis Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-collins/) > [Somebody said that part of my reaction to British cinema is actually, paradoxically, a patriotic one. I'm so disappointed that we're not better.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-brownlow/somebody-said-that-part-of-my-reaction-to-british-cinema-is-actually/) [Kevin Brownlow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-brownlow/) > [I actually do sing sometimes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/morten-harket/i-actually-do-sing-sometimes/) [Morten Harket](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/morten-harket/) > [I've actually got quite a good memory. I've good recall. It's often things which other people might not notice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-frame/i-ve-actually-got-quite-a-good-memory-i-ve-good-recall-it-s-often/) [Ronald Frame](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-frame/) > [Because there is actually something very interesting in Goodfellas, how the style of the film changes as time goes by and based on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-cox/because-there-is-actually-something-very-interesting-in-goodfellas/) [Alex Cox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-cox/) > ['Inequality' has become the political theme/slogan of our time in both Europe and the U.S., yet political leaders do not even bother to consider…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-singer/inequality-has-become-the-political-theme-slogan-of-our-time-in-both/) [Paul Singer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-singer/) Browse all 4,248 Actually quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Actually, the first songs I learned were imitations of Johnny Mathis.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Jose Jose" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jose-jose/actually-the-first-songs-i-learned-were-imitations-of-johnny-mathis/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Actually" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jose-jose/actually-the-first-songs-i-learned-were-imitations-of-johnny-mathis/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c84/jose-jose-25865_actually_actually-the-first-songs-i-learned-were_1279962.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c84/jose-jose-25865_actually_actually-the-first-songs-i-learned-were_1279962.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c84/jose-jose-25865_actually_actually-the-first-songs-i-learned-were_1279962.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Actually, the first songs I learned were imitations of Johnny Mathis.” — Jose Jose", "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": "Jose Jose", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jose-jose/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Actually, the first songs I learned...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jose-jose/actually-the-first-songs-i-learned-were-imitations-of-johnny-mathis/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jose-jose/actually-the-first-songs-i-learned-were-imitations-of-johnny-mathis/#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 } } ] } ```