---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Of course we all know when music's too…"
description: "\"Of course we all know when music's too much in the head, and we define our greatest players by the way they are able to communicate directly from their..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7ff/kurt-elling-6944_greatest_of-course-we-all-know-when-music-s-too-m_1416814.jpg"
---

#  Of course we all know when music's too much in the head…

![“Of course we all know when music's too much in the head, and we define our greatest players by the way they are able to communicate directly from their emotional selves.” quote by Kurt Elling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7ff/kurt-elling-6944_greatest_of-course-we-all-know-when-music-s-too-m_1416814.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7ff/kurt-elling-6944_greatest_of-course-we-all-know-when-music-s-too-m_1416814.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7ff/kurt-elling-6944_greatest_of-course-we-all-know-when-music-s-too-m_1416814.jpg)

> “Of course we all know when music's too much in the head, and we define our greatest players by the way they are able to communicate directly from their emotional selves.”

[Kurt Elling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-elling/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Great musicians convey emotion directly, making music feel personal and impactful.

**In simple terms:** Music is powerful when it conveys true emotion.

Key Takeaway

Prioritize emotional honesty in performance.

Themes

emotion communication authenticity

Mood

introspective passionate

Type

inspirational educational

When to use this quote

- concerts
- recording sessions
- teaching music
- listening deeply

Key Concepts

musical expression empathy

Questions to Reflect On

- How can you connect emotionally with your audience?
- What does authentic expression mean to you?

A Different Perspective

Technical skill alone may not move listeners.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Music](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/music/) [Song](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/song/)

## Related quotes

> [Kane grew into one of the Premier League's greatest players - a shoo-in for my old strike partner Alan Shearer's 260-goal record - and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-sutton/kane-grew-into-one-of-the-premier-league-s-greatest-players-a-shoo-in/)

[Chris Sutton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-sutton/)

> [The compulsive, obsessive, high-end, achieving people, those are the ones that keep pushing harder. I'll name you the greatest players I ever coached, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/urban-meyer/the-compulsive-obsessive-high-end-achieving-people-those-are-the-ones/)

[Urban Meyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/urban-meyer/)

> [I like the big matches against the greatest players.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/petra-kvitova/i-like-the-big-matches-against-the-greatest-players/)

[Petra Kvitova](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/petra-kvitova/)

> [I have music in my head constantly. I have to have a soundtrack in my head.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-mould/i-have-music-in-my-head-constantly-i-have-to-have-a-soundtrack-in-my/)

[Bob Mould](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-mould/)

> [It is all about being open and paying attention to the music in your head. I think most people have original music playing in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tommy-shaw/it-is-all-about-being-open-and-paying-attention-to-the-music-in-your/)

[Tommy Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tommy-shaw/)

> [When I was a young child my folks would ask me why I was rocking back and forth and I'd answer "cause of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geoff-zanelli/when-i-was-a-young-child-my-folks-would-ask-me-why-i-was-rocking-back/)

[Geoff Zanelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geoff-zanelli/)

> [I have music in my head; I can't help it. You can put a gun to my head and it's not going to go…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-saunier/i-have-music-in-my-head-i-can-t-help-it-you-can-put-a-gun-to-my-head/)

[Greg Saunier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-saunier/)

> [I carry music in my head, so I don't need more. It drives me nuts that, in hotels or on boats, people seem to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miranda-richardson/i-carry-music-in-my-head-so-i-don-t-need-more-it-drives-me-nuts-that/)

[Miranda Richardson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miranda-richardson/)

> [It's not instant composing; it's not following any kind of a formula. All you do is hear music in your head and reproduce it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lennie-tristano/it-s-not-instant-composing-it-s-not-following-any-kind-of-a-formula/)

[Lennie Tristano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lennie-tristano/)

> [“Bailey, do you ever hear music in your head ? You know, like even when there's none playing.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-j-howard/bailey-do-you-ever-hear-music-in-your-head-you-know-like-even-when/)

J.J. Howard

> [The 50 greatest players don't matter when you're in the Hall of Fame. We all know that I was not one of the 50…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dominique-wilkins/the-50-greatest-players-don-t-matter-when-you-re-in-the-hall-of-fame/)

[Dominique Wilkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dominique-wilkins/)

> [It's always exciting that you can rub elbows with some of the greatest players who have ever played the game, and just being around…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rickey-henderson/it-s-always-exciting-that-you-can-rub-elbows-with-some-of-the/)

[Rickey Henderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rickey-henderson/)

> [I can't say it was always in my plans, because I never thought it was possible. But the things that the Miami Heat franchise…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lebron-james/i-can-t-say-it-was-always-in-my-plans-because-i-never-thought-it-was/)

[LeBron James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lebron-james/)

> [Heroes are people who are all good with no bad in them. That's the way I always saw Joe DiMaggio. He was beyond question…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mickey-mantle/heroes-are-people-who-are-all-good-with-no-bad-in-them-that-s-the-way/)

[Mickey Mantle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mickey-mantle/)

> [Paul Konerko is one of the greatest players in White Sox history, not only for his strength and performance on the field, but also…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-reinsdorf/paul-konerko-is-one-of-the-greatest-players-in-white-sox-history-not/)

[Jerry Reinsdorf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-reinsdorf/)

## More by Kurt Elling

> [Man, I just feel so fortunate to be a jazz musician at all. I have a hard time thinking of it any other way.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-elling/man-i-just-feel-so-fortunate-to-be-a-jazz-musician-at-all-i-have-a/)

[Kurt Elling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-elling/)

> [You can start from any source material, and you can approach it with a jazz ear, and then it will become a jazz moment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-elling/you-can-start-from-any-source-material-and-you-can-approach-it-with-a/)

[Kurt Elling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-elling/)

> [I don't really have a more intellectualized approach. After the fact, I can sure talk about stuff a lot - but when I make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-elling/i-don-t-really-have-a-more-intellectualized-approach-after-the-fact-i/)

[Kurt Elling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-elling/)

> [I think my intention was there, and my love for the music was apparent. And there are very few singers who get up and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-elling/i-think-my-intention-was-there-and-my-love-for-the-music-was-apparent/)

[Kurt Elling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-elling/)

> [I've worked with a number of big bands, but there's nothing in life like the Basie band.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-elling/i-ve-worked-with-a-number-of-big-bands-but-there-s-nothing-in-life/)

[Kurt Elling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-elling/)

> [A lot of the commercial world wants to bank in on the cachet that jazz brings.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-elling/a-lot-of-the-commercial-world-wants-to-bank-in-on-the-cachet-that/)

[Kurt Elling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-elling/)

> [The great jazz and jazz-influenced singers carry themselves with a certain panache and a certain elegance and, for lack of a better word, self-confidence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-elling/the-great-jazz-and-jazz-influenced-singers-carry-themselves-with-a/)

[Kurt Elling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-elling/)

> [You work very hard on the lyrics. Getting them to fit the contours of improvised melodies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-elling/you-work-very-hard-on-the-lyrics-getting-them-to-fit-the-contours-of/)

[Kurt Elling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-elling/)

> [There's a wide spectrum of possibilities in how to deliver a song.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-elling/there-s-a-wide-spectrum-of-possibilities-in-how-to-deliver-a-song/)

[Kurt Elling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-elling/)

> [A lot of people are put off by the idea of scat singing. Either that or it's something to be made fun of.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-elling/a-lot-of-people-are-put-off-by-the-idea-of-scat-singing-either-that/)

[Kurt Elling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-elling/)

> [As improvisers, we're acting as composers in front of people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-elling/as-improvisers-we-re-acting-as-composers-in-front-of-people/)

[Kurt Elling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-elling/)

> [You want to be doing your best work whatever field of the arts you're in because your life's going to be over all too…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-elling/you-want-to-be-doing-your-best-work-whatever-field-of-the-arts-you-re/)

[Kurt Elling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-elling/)

> [Why limit yourself to one discipline or field of study?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-elling/why-limit-yourself-to-one-discipline-or-field-of-study/)

[Kurt Elling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-elling/)

> [Sometimes, with vocalese, I'm dealing with something, a great solo from the past, which is so iconic I can't presume to change it or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-elling/sometimes-with-vocalese-i-m-dealing-with-something-a-great-solo-from/)

[Kurt Elling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-elling/)

> [I'm a guy who has more slapstick than Joe Cool moments in his day, so I'm not taking myself so seriously.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-elling/i-m-a-guy-who-has-more-slapstick-than-joe-cool-moments-in-his-day-so/)

[Kurt Elling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-elling/)

[Explore all 96 Kurt Elling quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-elling/)

## More Greatest quotes

> [Imagination is the greatest nation in the world!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-proctor/imagination-is-the-greatest-nation-in-the-world/)

[Bob Proctor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-proctor/)

> [My greatest memories as a kid were playing sports with my dad and watching sports with my dad.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-teixeira/my-greatest-memories-as-a-kid-were-playing-sports-with-my-dad-and/)

[Mark Teixeira](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-teixeira/)

> [The last goal I ever scored in professional football was at Goodison Park - a glancing header for Aston Villa in a 1-0 win…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-sutton/the-last-goal-i-ever-scored-in-professional-football-was-at-goodison/)

[Chris Sutton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-sutton/)

> [Shawn Michaels, to me and to so many people, is just the greatest in-ring performer of all time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-cole/shawn-michaels-to-me-and-to-so-many-people-is-just-the-greatest-in/)

[Adam Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-cole/)

> [The hard-working Mexican tries to get up here looking for opportunities because America's one of the greatest countries in the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-ruiz-jr/the-hard-working-mexican-tries-to-get-up-here-looking-for/)

[Andy Ruiz Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-ruiz-jr/)

> [The way the world underestimates me will be my greatest weapon.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/calista-flockhart/the-way-the-world-underestimates-me-will-be-my-greatest-weapon/)

[Calista Flockhart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/calista-flockhart/)

> [I don't mind people want to think Muhammad is the greatest fighter around. Everybody wants to make him great because of his mouth, that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-frazier/i-don-t-mind-people-want-to-think-muhammad-is-the-greatest-fighter/)

[Joe Frazier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-frazier/)

> [“The world is witnessing one of the greatest frauds the Florida government has ever engaged in.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-magee/the-world-is-witnessing-one-of-the-greatest-frauds-the-florida/)

[Steven Magee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-magee/)

> [People used to say my son looked like a Mexican Biggie. And when he was first born, memories of Biggie... you know, we didn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/faith-evans/people-used-to-say-my-son-looked-like-a-mexican-biggie-and-when-he/)

[Faith Evans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/faith-evans/)

> [My greatest work comes in the community.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marion-barry/my-greatest-work-comes-in-the-community/)

[Marion Barry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marion-barry/)

> [“The greatest faith is the willingness to ask in the first place, all evidence to the contrary. Faith not just in God, but in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-cronin/the-greatest-faith-is-the-willingness-to-ask-in-the-first-place-all/)

[Justin Cronin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-cronin/)

> [The greatest of all crimes are the wars that are carried on by governments, to plunder, enslave, and destroy mankind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lysander-spooner/the-greatest-of-all-crimes-are-the-wars-that-are-carried-on-by/)

[Lysander Spooner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lysander-spooner/)

> [One of the greatest of all sources of misery is comparing yourself to others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zhat/one-of-the-greatest-of-all-sources-of-misery-is-comparing-yourself-to/)

[Zhat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zhat/)

> [The greatest failure is the failure to try.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-arthur-ward/the-greatest-failure-is-the-failure-to-try/)

[William Arthur Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-arthur-ward/)

> [To die in battle would be my greatest joy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ramzan-kadyrov/to-die-in-battle-would-be-my-greatest-joy/)

[Ramzan Kadyrov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ramzan-kadyrov/)

Browse all 2,783 Greatest quotes

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "Of course we all know when music's too much in the head, and we define our greatest players by the way they are able to communicate directly from their emotional selves.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Kurt Elling"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-elling/of-course-we-all-know-when-music-s-too-much-in-the-head-and-we-define/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Greatest"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-elling/of-course-we-all-know-when-music-s-too-much-in-the-head-and-we-define/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7ff/kurt-elling-6944_greatest_of-course-we-all-know-when-music-s-too-m_1416814.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7ff/kurt-elling-6944_greatest_of-course-we-all-know-when-music-s-too-m_1416814.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7ff/kurt-elling-6944_greatest_of-course-we-all-know-when-music-s-too-m_1416814.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“Of course we all know when music's too much in the head, and we define our greatest players by the way they…” — Kurt Elling",
                "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": "Kurt Elling",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-elling/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "Of course we all know when...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-elling/of-course-we-all-know-when-music-s-too-much-in-the-head-and-we-define/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-elling/of-course-we-all-know-when-music-s-too-much-in-the-head-and-we-define/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
