--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Music is a work in progress. On a record…" description: "\"Music is a work in progress. On a record, it gets frozen in time. And it's oddly unnatural.\" — Linda Ronstadt" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/642/linda-ronstadt-2836_frozen_music-is-a-work-in-progress-on-a-record_3072054.png" --- # Music is a work in progress. On a record, it gets frozen… ![“Music is a work in progress. On a record, it gets frozen in time. And it's oddly unnatural.” quote by Linda Ronstadt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/642/linda-ronstadt-2836_frozen_music-is-a-work-in-progress-on-a-record_3072054.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/642/linda-ronstadt-2836_frozen_music-is-a-work-in-progress-on-a-record_3072054.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/642/linda-ronstadt-2836_frozen_music-is-a-work-in-progress-on-a-record_3072054.png) > “Music is a work in progress. On a record, it gets frozen in time. And it's oddly unnatural.” [Linda Ronstadt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linda-ronstadt/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Music evolves, but recordings capture a static moment, which can feel artificial compared to its living nature. **In simple terms:** Recordings freeze music, making it feel unnatural. Key Takeaway Appreciate the fluidity of music beyond recordings. Themes art music impermanence Mood reflective nostalgic Type observational philosophical When to use this quote - listening to live performances - creating music - archiving songs - teaching music Key Concepts recording temporality authenticity Questions to Reflect On - How does a live performance change your perception of a song? - Can a recording ever fully capture a song's spirit? A Different Perspective Recorded music can still convey emotion despite its static form. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Frozen in time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/frozen-in-time/) [Music](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/music/) [Progress](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/progress/) [Song](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/song/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Work in progress](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/work-in-progress/) ## Related quotes > [“So there the two of us were. Frozen in time, living in the moment, focused only on our immediate desires. Which of course included…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-giffin/so-there-the-two-of-us-were-frozen-in-time-living-in-the-moment/) [Emily Giffin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-giffin/) > [“Something happens and it can't be recreated. I want that experience, like love, that perfect moment frozen in time. 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This is my own prison Im frozen in time, in time, in time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicki-minaj/this-is-my-last-cry-is-this-the-only-way-this-is-my-own-prison-im/) [Nicki Minaj](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicki-minaj/) > [I think that's the way to go - dive into the music and don't think, stay frozen, why don't we all stay frozen in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carlos-alomar/i-think-that-s-the-way-to-go-dive-into-the-music-and-don-t-think-stay/) [Carlos Alomar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carlos-alomar/) > [I'm frozen in time, it's more than just you being a dyme I see the other half of me when I look in your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gift-of-gab/i-m-frozen-in-time-it-s-more-than-just-you-being-a-dyme-i-see-the/) Gift of Gab > [The camera adds a certain sheen to things. 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You work out the chords, which note complements the other, and how they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catriona-gray/my-course-is-about-really-working-on-a-sheet-of-music-you-work-out/) [Catriona Gray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catriona-gray/) > [I like the idea of letting the music do its own work and the stories being more expressionful - if that's a word -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-flynn/i-like-the-idea-of-letting-the-music-do-its-own-work-and-the-stories/) [Johnny Flynn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-flynn/) ## More by Linda Ronstadt > [Rampant eclecticism is my middle name.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linda-ronstadt/rampant-eclecticism-is-my-middle-name/) [Linda Ronstadt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linda-ronstadt/) > [I wish I had as much in bed as I get in the newspapers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linda-ronstadt/i-wish-i-had-as-much-in-bed-as-i-get-in-the-newspapers/) [Linda Ronstadt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linda-ronstadt/) > [Ninety-eight percent of the singing I did was private singing - it was in the shower, at the dishwasher, driving my car, singing with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linda-ronstadt/ninety-eight-percent-of-the-singing-i-did-was-private-singing-it-was/) [Linda Ronstadt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linda-ronstadt/) > [I always thought competition was for horse races and it never belonged in art. I never felt that competitive with other girl singers, really.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linda-ronstadt/i-always-thought-competition-was-for-horse-races-and-it-never/) [Linda Ronstadt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linda-ronstadt/) > [I grew up in a big sky country. Then I lived in Manhattan, where you can only see the sky between buildings, and then…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linda-ronstadt/i-grew-up-in-a-big-sky-country-then-i-lived-in-manhattan-where-you/) [Linda Ronstadt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linda-ronstadt/) > [Art is for healing ourselves, and everybody needs their own personal art to heal up their problems.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linda-ronstadt/art-is-for-healing-ourselves-and-everybody-needs-their-own-personal/) [Linda Ronstadt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linda-ronstadt/) > [I grew up singing Mexican music, and that's based on indigenous Mexican rhythms. 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I was interested in songs like 'Heart Like a Wheel,' and I liked the others…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linda-ronstadt/i-never-thought-of-myself-as-a-rock-singer-i-was-interested-in-songs/) [Linda Ronstadt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linda-ronstadt/) > [If you don't have story to tell the public at large - you have to be able to sort of go listen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linda-ronstadt/if-you-don-t-have-story-to-tell-the-public-at-large-you-have-to-be/) [Linda Ronstadt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linda-ronstadt/) > [I am a believer in discipline; it takes a lot to do well. You need discipline for those little excursions into the chaotic that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linda-ronstadt/i-am-a-believer-in-discipline-it-takes-a-lot-to-do-well-you-need/) [Linda Ronstadt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linda-ronstadt/) > [“Since there are always talented players in these emerging categories, no matter how grating they may be to the ear of the more traditionally…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linda-ronstadt/since-there-are-always-talented-players-in-these-emerging-categories/) [Linda Ronstadt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linda-ronstadt/) > [I'd go over to my grandmother's house, and she'd be playing opera. They loved opera. 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For example, a lot of New Yorkers don't buy the frozen Thanksgiving turkey. They…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-letterman/there-are-a-lot-of-new-york-city-thanksgiving-traditions-for-example/) [David Letterman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-letterman/) > [For seven days she lay in bed looking sullenly at the ceiling as though resenting the death she had cultivated for so many years.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-s-burroughs/for-seven-days-she-lay-in-bed-looking-sullenly-at-the-ceiling-as/) [William S. 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Any good…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-saul-wurman/allow-the-information-to-tell-you-how-it-wants-to-be-displayed-as/) [Richard Saul Wurman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-saul-wurman/) > [A poem is a frozen moment melted by each reader for themselves to flow into the here and now.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hilde-domin/a-poem-is-a-frozen-moment-melted-by-each-reader-for-themselves-to/) Hilde Domin > [At home, I watch fights and documentaries - that's it. If it's not about the birth and death of stars, 'Frozen Planet,' or someone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronda-rousey/at-home-i-watch-fights-and-documentaries-that-s-it-if-it-s-not-about/) [Ronda Rousey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronda-rousey/) > [Music is liquid architecture; Architecture is frozen music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/music-is-liquid-architecture-architecture-is-frozen-music/) [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [“don't let the in don't let them see be the good girl you always have to be. Conseal, don't feel don't let them know”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-buck-and-jennifer-lee/don-t-let-the-in-don-t-let-them-see-be-the-good-girl-you-always-have/) chris buck and jennifer lee > [All finite things reveal infinitude: The mountain with its singular bright shade Like the blue shine on freshly frozen snow, The after-light upon ice-burdened…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-roethke/all-finite-things-reveal-infinitude-the-mountain-with-its-singular/) [Theodore Roethke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-roethke/) > [The box was a universe, a poem, frozen on the boundaries of human experience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-gibson/the-box-was-a-universe-a-poem-frozen-on-the-boundaries-of-human/) [William Gibson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-gibson/) > [I opened up a frozen-yogurt business out of college. I didnt finish college; I went halfway, and then I worked for Joel Silver, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-grunberg/i-opened-up-a-frozen-yogurt-business-out-of-college-i-didnt-finish/) [Greg Grunberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-grunberg/) > [But fear is confusing. It tears you in two. 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