--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I had to learn very quickly how to…" description: "\"I had to learn very quickly how to perform, how to act, how to look, to always say what I wanted to say in my songs.\" — Leo Sayer" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c98/leo-sayer-6035_act_i-had-to-learn-very-quickly-how-to-perfo_1993069.jpg" --- # I had to learn very quickly how to perform, how to act… ![“I had to learn very quickly how to perform, how to act, how to look, to always say what I wanted to say in my songs.” quote by Leo Sayer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c98/leo-sayer-6035_act_i-had-to-learn-very-quickly-how-to-perfo_1993069.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c98/leo-sayer-6035_act_i-had-to-learn-very-quickly-how-to-perfo_1993069.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c98/leo-sayer-6035_act_i-had-to-learn-very-quickly-how-to-perfo_1993069.jpg) > “I had to learn very quickly how to perform, how to act, how to look, to always say what I wanted to say in my songs.” [Leo Sayer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-sayer/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The artist learned quickly to master performance, acting, appearance, and honest lyrical expression. **In simple terms:** Learned performance skills fast. Key Takeaway Practice authenticity in art. Themes performance authenticity skill development Mood energetic determined Type musical instructional When to use this quote - live concerts - recording sessions - songwriting workshops Key Concepts music theory stagecraft Questions to Reflect On - How do you balance skill and well‑being? - What authenticity means to you? A Different Perspective Rapid learning can cause burnout. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Song](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/song/) ## Related quotes > [I went to an art school and you learn very quickly there that you're only as good as your next idea, not so much…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-ervin-beam/i-went-to-an-art-school-and-you-learn-very-quickly-there-that-you-re/) [Samuel Ervin Beam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-ervin-beam/) > [You learn quickly at 'SNL' you get in trouble if you compare yourself to other people, where they're at, or what other people had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-hader/you-learn-quickly-at-snl-you-get-in-trouble-if-you-compare-yourself/) [Bill Hader](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-hader/) > [I'm young and I have a lot of experience and I learn quickly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christian-siriano/i-m-young-and-i-have-a-lot-of-experience-and-i-learn-quickly/) [Christian Siriano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christian-siriano/) > [Some of the things I did in my early career were massive learning curves because I had no one to guide me. You learn…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-caudwell/some-of-the-things-i-did-in-my-early-career-were-massive-learning/) [John Caudwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-caudwell/) > [You can't just be a musician; you have to be an entertainer and perform and act just to hit the bar.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brendon-urie/you-can-t-just-be-a-musician-you-have-to-be-an-entertainer-and/) [Brendon Urie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brendon-urie/) > [I've always wanted to perform and act my whole life and to understand people more, so that's the only reason I've got to work…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gayle-rankin/i-ve-always-wanted-to-perform-and-act-my-whole-life-and-to-understand/) [Gayle Rankin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gayle-rankin/) > [There is no wrong way to perform an act of kindness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherine-ryan-hyde/there-is-no-wrong-way-to-perform-an-act-of-kindness/) [Catherine Ryan Hyde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherine-ryan-hyde/) > [I am a performer and my job is to perform and act.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sunil-grover/i-am-a-performer-and-my-job-is-to-perform-and-act/) [Sunil Grover](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sunil-grover/) > [I feel a lot more comfortable being me these days. I'm constantly told that my work is good. A lot of fans and a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucinda-williams/i-feel-a-lot-more-comfortable-being-me-these-days-i-m-constantly-told/) [Lucinda Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucinda-williams/) > [I say no to songs more often than I say yes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrea-jeremiah/i-say-no-to-songs-more-often-than-i-say-yes/) [Andrea Jeremiah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrea-jeremiah/) > [If you want break it down, rock and roll is about saying what you can't say in normal life to girls, so you have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marilyn-manson/if-you-want-break-it-down-rock-and-roll-is-about-saying-what-you-can/) [Marilyn Manson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marilyn-manson/) > [I wouldn't say that my songs are autobiographical.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-harrison/i-wouldn-t-say-that-my-songs-are-autobiographical/) [George Harrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-harrison/) > [Do you know what my father used to say?" I ask her. "He used to say that songs had a heart. A crescendo that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauren-destefano/do-you-know-what-my-father-used-to-say-i-ask-her-he-used-to-say-that/) [Lauren DeStefano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauren-destefano/) > [I started writting songs when I was really little because there were things I could say through songs that I couldn't verbalize any other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alanis-morissette/i-started-writting-songs-when-i-was-really-little-because-there-were/) [Alanis Morissette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alanis-morissette/) > [And mostly all I have to say about these songs is that I love them, and want to sing along to them, and force…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-hornby/and-mostly-all-i-have-to-say-about-these-songs-is-that-i-love-them/) [Nick Hornby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-hornby/) ## More by Leo Sayer > [There's nothing better than curling up with a good book and sitting in front of the fire on winter evenings.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-sayer/there-s-nothing-better-than-curling-up-with-a-good-book-and-sitting/) [Leo Sayer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-sayer/) > [I've typical singer's jowls, a bit fat and soggy. If I was really vain, I would have a nip and tuck, but the knife…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-sayer/i-ve-typical-singer-s-jowls-a-bit-fat-and-soggy-if-i-was-really-vain/) [Leo Sayer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-sayer/) > [What keeps a good face is no stress, and I refuse to worry.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-sayer/what-keeps-a-good-face-is-no-stress-and-i-refuse-to-worry/) [Leo Sayer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-sayer/) > [Do you know what, I don't even like dancing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-sayer/do-you-know-what-i-don-t-even-like-dancing/) [Leo Sayer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-sayer/) > [I'm not a golfing man.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-sayer/i-m-not-a-golfing-man/) [Leo Sayer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-sayer/) > [People with learning difficulties are often creative in different ways.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-sayer/people-with-learning-difficulties-are-often-creative-in-different-ways/) [Leo Sayer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-sayer/) > [Because I don't go to showbiz parties, I don't have the right image. The media decides who's in and who's out.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-sayer/because-i-don-t-go-to-showbiz-parties-i-don-t-have-the-right-image/) [Leo Sayer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-sayer/) > [I'm not into 'The Voice.' It's an affair between a television network and a record company.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-sayer/i-m-not-into-the-voice-it-s-an-affair-between-a-television-network/) [Leo Sayer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-sayer/) > [I've always loved what I do and I've always done what I wanted to do... in this business you have got to be yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-sayer/i-ve-always-loved-what-i-do-and-i-ve-always-done-what-i-wanted-to-do/) [Leo Sayer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-sayer/) > [I've found an extraordinary thing happens where I flash an entire finished song. I could be walking along, say over that bridge, and I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-sayer/i-ve-found-an-extraordinary-thing-happens-where-i-flash-an-entire/) [Leo Sayer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-sayer/) > [I am the kind of person who does want very badly to be liked. I'm a right-miserable little show off.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-sayer/i-am-the-kind-of-person-who-does-want-very-badly-to-be-liked-i-m-a/) [Leo Sayer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-sayer/) > [The Seventies was a golden era. Back then we had some incredible talent with bands like the Undertones, the Rolling Stones and artists like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-sayer/the-seventies-was-a-golden-era-back-then-we-had-some-incredible/) [Leo Sayer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-sayer/) > [Marriage can feel like putting a burden on each other and sometimes kids go with that, too.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-sayer/marriage-can-feel-like-putting-a-burden-on-each-other-and-sometimes/) [Leo Sayer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-sayer/) > [Everybody writes about love and cheating and heartbreak. We've done all that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-sayer/everybody-writes-about-love-and-cheating-and-heartbreak-we-ve-done/) [Leo Sayer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-sayer/) > [In the '70s, Leo-mania was the equivalent of Beatle-mania down there and they still love me. In Australia they still want heroes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-sayer/in-the-70s-leo-mania-was-the-equivalent-of-beatle-mania-down-there/) [Leo Sayer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-sayer/) [Explore all 100 Leo Sayer quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-sayer/) ## More Act quotes > [I once told someone I could act. They totally bought it. I've been getting away with it ever since.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/akshay-kumar/i-once-told-someone-i-could-act-they-totally-bought-it-i-ve-been/) [Akshay Kumar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/akshay-kumar/) > [Teachers' unions don't act in the interest of most teachers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sal-khan/teachers-unions-don-t-act-in-the-interest-of-most-teachers/) [Sal Khan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sal-khan/) > [“I take my actions because of my passion not because of compulsion.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amit-kalantri/i-take-my-actions-because-of-my-passion-not-because-of-compulsion/) [Amit Kalantri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amit-kalantri/) > [People take years learning how to act; it's a skill, not just a job. If I tried it out and thought I'd be OK,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/travis-fimmel/people-take-years-learning-how-to-act-it-s-a-skill-not-just-a-job-if/) [Travis Fimmel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/travis-fimmel/) > [Self-discipline is an act of cultivation. It require you to connect today's actions to tomorrow's results. There's a season for sowing a season for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-ryan-blair/self-discipline-is-an-act-of-cultivation-it-require-you-to-connect/) [Gary Ryan Blair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-ryan-blair/) > [“Don’t turn your face away. Once you’ve seen, you can no longer act like you don’t know. Open your eyes to the truth. It’s…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vashti-quiroz-vega/don-t-turn-your-face-away-once-you-ve-seen-you-can-no-longer-act-like/) Vashti Quiroz-Vega > [I always advise people not to act upon the advice that I give them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikrant-parsai/i-always-advise-people-not-to-act-upon-the-advice-that-i-give-them/) [Vikrant Parsai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikrant-parsai/) > [I have no interest in watching myself act.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-wesley/i-have-no-interest-in-watching-myself-act/) [Paul Wesley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-wesley/) > [“Don't wait, just sweat.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amit-kalantri/don-t-wait-just-sweat/) [Amit Kalantri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amit-kalantri/) > [I do believe some people can naturally act and don't know it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrea-arnold/i-do-believe-some-people-can-naturally-act-and-don-t-know-it/) [Andrea Arnold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrea-arnold/) > [Regardless of what I do, whether I write a book or whether I act or whether I host, I'll always do stand-up comedy because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howie-mandel/regardless-of-what-i-do-whether-i-write-a-book-or-whether-i-act-or/) [Howie Mandel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howie-mandel/) > [On 'Workaholics,' I feel like I'm just hanging out with my buddies being filmed, but on 'Mindy,' I'm around professional funny people who act.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anders-holm/on-workaholics-i-feel-like-i-m-just-hanging-out-with-my-buddies-being/) [Anders Holm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anders-holm/) > [I'm not an artist, and I want to take risks, and when the possibility of failure occurs, it's because the idea is all exciting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-morgan/i-m-not-an-artist-and-i-want-to-take-risks-and-when-the-possibility/) [Peter Morgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-morgan/) > [I don't have a huge amount of gear, but on the software side, I have a number of plug-in chains that act as abstracted…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-hopkins/i-don-t-have-a-huge-amount-of-gear-but-on-the-software-side-i-have-a/) [Jon Hopkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-hopkins/) > [I honestly didn't know that I wanted to act until I was probably 12.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miranda-rae-mayo/i-honestly-didn-t-know-that-i-wanted-to-act-until-i-was-probably-12/) [Miranda Rae Mayo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miranda-rae-mayo/) Browse all 1,802 Act quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I had to learn very quickly how to perform, how to act, how to look, to always say what I wanted to say in my songs.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Leo Sayer" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": 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