--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Just because people play songs with great…" description: "\"Just because people play songs with great technique doesn't mean the records are better.\" — Kenny G" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b84/kenny-g-14860_mean_just-because-people-play-songs-with-grea_301887.jpg" --- # Just because people play songs with great technique… ![“Just because people play songs with great technique doesn't mean the records are better.” quote by Kenny G](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b84/kenny-g-14860_mean_just-because-people-play-songs-with-grea_301887.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b84/kenny-g-14860_mean_just-because-people-play-songs-with-grea_301887.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b84/kenny-g-14860_mean_just-because-people-play-songs-with-grea_301887.jpg) > “Just because people play songs with great technique doesn't mean the records are better.” [Kenny G](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenny-g/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Technical skill does not guarantee artistic quality; emotional resonance matters more than flawless execution. **In simple terms:** Good technique isn’t enough for great music. Key Takeaway Prioritize feeling over flawless performance. Themes music technique artistry evaluation Mood critical thoughtful Type opinion musical critique When to use this quote - Listening to recordings - choosing music to study - teaching students about expression - reviewing albums Key Concepts Aesthetic judgment subjective taste performance value Questions to Reflect On - What makes a song move you emotionally? - Can a technically perfect piece feel empty? A Different Perspective Technical perfection can mask lack of soul. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Mean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mean/) [Mean Records](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mean-records-2882010/) [Music](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/music/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Play](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/play/) [Play Songs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/play-songs-260766/) [Records](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/records/) [Records Better](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/records-better-625653/) [Song](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/song/) [Songs With Great](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/songs-with-great-217516/) [Technique](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/technique/) [Technique Doesn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/technique-doesn-697961/) ## Related quotes > [The '60s was a magical time in the music business. So much creativity and talent. I think a lot of it came from the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frankie-valli/the-60s-was-a-magical-time-in-the-music-business-so-much-creativity/) [Frankie Valli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frankie-valli/) > [It was a matter of not seeing the woods for the trees. Glorious songs have been in Ireland forever, but a lot of these…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-coulter/it-was-a-matter-of-not-seeing-the-woods-for-the-trees-glorious-songs/) [Phil Coulter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-coulter/) > [But I always loved songs with great lyrics.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/but-i-always-loved-songs-with-great-lyrics/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The music business is rougher than the movie business. In film you get noticed in a small role, even in a movie that bombs.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-madigan/the-music-business-is-rougher-than-the-movie-business-in-film-you-get/) [Amy Madigan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-madigan/) > [All of the technique doesn't matter... only if the feeling is right.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-coltrane/all-of-the-technique-doesn-t-matter-only-if-the-feeling-is-right/) [John Coltrane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-coltrane/) > [For better or worse I'm the writer I am today because of hearing those Dylan records. For better and most certainly not for worse,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-erickson/for-better-or-worse-i-m-the-writer-i-am-today-because-of-hearing/) [Steve Erickson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-erickson/) > [Without technique, it doesn't matter what your ideas are; you would not be able to do what you want. It's something that you always…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-li/without-technique-it-doesn-t-matter-what-your-ideas-are-you-would-not/) [George Li](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-li/) > [I go down to New York, do the project, and leave. I have no interest in participating in the rat race down there. Hip…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-smoker/i-go-down-to-new-york-do-the-project-and-leave-i-have-no-interest-in/) [Paul Smoker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-smoker/) > [The whole point of animation to me is to tell a story, make a joke, express an idea. The technique itself doesn't really matter.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-gilliam/the-whole-point-of-animation-to-me-is-to-tell-a-story-make-a-joke/) [Terry Gilliam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-gilliam/) > [I'm not a guitarist as far as a technician goes, I just pick it up and play it. Technique doesn't come into it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-page/i-m-not-a-guitarist-as-far-as-a-technician-goes-i-just-pick-it-up-and/) [Jimmy Page](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-page/) > [If you wait four or five years between records, it better be a masterpiece, you know? And if you keep putting them out, you're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-finn/if-you-wait-four-or-five-years-between-records-it-better-be-a/) [Craig Finn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-finn/) > [There's not anything I can fix, change, make better its out to the world. I'd like to say that I like my records but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shelby-lynne/there-s-not-anything-i-can-fix-change-make-better-its-out-to-the/) [Shelby Lynne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shelby-lynne/) > [When the technique doesn't arrive at the best level, arrive with your heart, with head, with enthusiasm, with passion, with work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antonio-conte/when-the-technique-doesn-t-arrive-at-the-best-level-arrive-with-your/) [Antonio Conte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antonio-conte/) > [I have a radio show on Sirius XM. I put it up as a free download on my Soundcloud and on iTunes. That's a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-trak/i-have-a-radio-show-on-sirius-xm-i-put-it-up-as-a-free-download-on-my/) [A-Trak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-trak/) > [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/) ## More by Kenny G > [I learned so much about playing and touring being on the road and in the studio with Jeff, but I'd always played a lot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenny-g/i-learned-so-much-about-playing-and-touring-being-on-the-road-and-in/) [Kenny G](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenny-g/) > [What is music anyway? It's a form of communication, and that's why I play the kind of music that I think - that I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenny-g/what-is-music-anyway-it-s-a-form-of-communication-and-that-s-why-i/) [Kenny G](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenny-g/) > [I'm very serious about what I do. I practice every day for three hours. I work on my scales; I work on my tone.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenny-g/i-m-very-serious-about-what-i-do-i-practice-every-day-for-three-hours/) [Kenny G](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenny-g/) > [The criticism is that it's too simple, but my feeling is it's more of a challenge making someone feel an emotion in four notes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenny-g/the-criticism-is-that-it-s-too-simple-but-my-feeling-is-it-s-more-of/) [Kenny G](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenny-g/) > [I'm responsive to my public, but I also follow my heart.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenny-g/i-m-responsive-to-my-public-but-i-also-follow-my-heart/) [Kenny G](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenny-g/) > [I started realizing that music is the one area where I've always let go. When that saxophone goes into my mouth, I get into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenny-g/i-started-realizing-that-music-is-the-one-area-where-i-ve-always-let/) [Kenny G](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenny-g/) > [If you go to Tiananmen Square, or go to any public area in China, you will hear my music at some point.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenny-g/if-you-go-to-tiananmen-square-or-go-to-any-public-area-in-china-you/) [Kenny G](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenny-g/) > [Sure, I love people, and I want to communicate with people. I mean, what is music anyway? It's a form of communication - at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenny-g/sure-i-love-people-and-i-want-to-communicate-with-people-i-mean-what/) [Kenny G](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenny-g/) > [I really create everything I do from the heart.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenny-g/i-really-create-everything-i-do-from-the-heart/) [Kenny G](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenny-g/) > [With the sax, I learned technique well enough so that it feels like part of my body, and I just express myself. That's where…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenny-g/with-the-sax-i-learned-technique-well-enough-so-that-it-feels-like/) [Kenny G](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenny-g/) > [Unless I've got Katy Perry on the cover of my CD, it's going to be tough to sell a lot of records.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenny-g/unless-i-ve-got-katy-perry-on-the-cover-of-my-cd-it-s-going-to-be/) [Kenny G](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenny-g/) > [I don't go to clubs. I don't know what club mixes are supposed to sound like.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenny-g/i-don-t-go-to-clubs-i-don-t-know-what-club-mixes-are-supposed-to/) [Kenny G](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenny-g/) > [I just started as a part of the public school music program. I took lessons at the school every Friday and was a part…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenny-g/i-just-started-as-a-part-of-the-public-school-music-program-i-took/) [Kenny G](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenny-g/) > [Finally, I was no longer a student and was making music for myself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenny-g/finally-i-was-no-longer-a-student-and-was-making-music-for-myself/) [Kenny G](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenny-g/) > [I was really amazed when I started hearing 'Songbird' on the radio. I couldn't believe that the record company promotion department had actually convinced…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenny-g/i-was-really-amazed-when-i-started-hearing-songbird-on-the-radio-i/) [Kenny G](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenny-g/) [Explore all 45 Kenny G quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenny-g/) ## More Mean quotes > [That we have the vote means nothing. That we use it in the right way means everything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lou-henry-hoover/that-we-have-the-vote-means-nothing-that-we-use-it-in-the-right-way/) [Lou Henry Hoover](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lou-henry-hoover/) > [The problem posed by indirect speech acts is the problem of how it is possible for the speaker to say one thing and mean…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-searle/the-problem-posed-by-indirect-speech-acts-is-the-problem-of-how-it-is/) [John Searle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-searle/) > [When you're scared - and I mean really scared, not just hearing a noise in the night, or standing toe to toe with someone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-gordon-smith/when-you-re-scared-and-i-mean-really-scared-not-just-hearing-a-noise/) [Alexander Gordon Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-gordon-smith/) > [It's like the query letter problem that I just mentioned, magnified a hundredfold. You might be good at telling a story, but that doesn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-rothfuss/it-s-like-the-query-letter-problem-that-i-just-mentioned-magnified-a/) [Patrick Rothfuss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-rothfuss/) > [A home is not a museum. It doesn't have to be furnished with Picasso paintings, or Sheraton suites, or Oriental rugs, or Chinese pottery.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-m-cain/a-home-is-not-a-museum-it-doesn-t-have-to-be-furnished-with-picasso/) [James M. Cain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-m-cain/) > [I painted the words "GREAT ADVENTURE" in Beijing, Dallas, San Francisco, Copenhagen, and Japan. What it means to me is completely different to everybody…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-eine/i-painted-the-words-great-adventure-in-beijing-dallas-san-francisco/) [Ben Eine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-eine/) > [We find few historians who have been diligent enough in their search for truth; it is their common method to take on trust what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dryden/we-find-few-historians-who-have-been-diligent-enough-in-their-search/) [John Dryden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dryden/) > [Being blonde, for me, means never having to say: 'I'll have the honey-striped half-head of highlights for £200,' to a bored colourist in a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-johnson/being-blonde-for-me-means-never-having-to-say-i-ll-have-the-honey/) [Rachel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-johnson/) > [It's very easy to fool yourself that you're working, you know, when you're really not working very hard. I mean, I'm very lazy. So…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-caro/it-s-very-easy-to-fool-yourself-that-you-re-working-you-know-when-you/) [Robert Caro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-caro/) > [What is a moderate interpretation of the text? Halfway between what it really means and what you'd like it to mean?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antonin-scalia/what-is-a-moderate-interpretation-of-the-text-halfway-between-what-it/) [Antonin Scalia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antonin-scalia/) > [You have expressive nationalism, I mean very identity driven, which shaped each other a lot of that in the Middle East.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/subrahmanyam-jaishankar/you-have-expressive-nationalism-i-mean-very-identity-driven-which/) [Subrahmanyam Jaishankar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/subrahmanyam-jaishankar/) > [The one means that wins the easiest victory over reason is terror and force.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adolf-hitler/the-one-means-that-wins-the-easiest-victory-over-reason-is-terror-and/) [Adolf Hitler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adolf-hitler/) > [The word 'mundane' has come to mean 'boring' and 'dull', and it really shouldn't - it should mean the opposite. Because it comes from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-dawkins/the-word-mundane-has-come-to-mean-boring-and-dull-and-it-really/) [Richard Dawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-dawkins/) > [ Neither Italian fascism nor German national "socialism" have anything in common with such a \[Soviet socialistic\] society, primarily because private ownership of factories, plants,… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-stalin/neither-italian-fascism-nor-german-national-socialism-have-anything/) [Joseph Stalin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-stalin/) > [I am attracted to looking at the different things language can mean even in one sometimes quite ordinary utterance. Writing is partly about listening…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rae-armantrout/i-am-attracted-to-looking-at-the-different-things-language-can-mean/) [Rae Armantrout](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rae-armantrout/) [Browse all 33,959 Mean quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mean/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Just because people play songs with great technique doesn't mean the records are better.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Kenny G" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenny-g/just-because-people-play-songs-with-great-technique-doesn-t-mean-the/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Mean" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenny-g/just-because-people-play-songs-with-great-technique-doesn-t-mean-the/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b84/kenny-g-14860_mean_just-because-people-play-songs-with-grea_301887.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b84/kenny-g-14860_mean_just-because-people-play-songs-with-grea_301887.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b84/kenny-g-14860_mean_just-because-people-play-songs-with-grea_301887.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Just because people play songs with great technique doesn't mean the records are better.” — Kenny G", "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": "Kenny G", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenny-g/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Just because people play songs with...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenny-g/just-because-people-play-songs-with-great-technique-doesn-t-mean-the/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenny-g/just-because-people-play-songs-with-great-technique-doesn-t-mean-the/#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 } } ] } ```