--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When you sit down and think about what…" description: "\"When you sit down and think about what rock 'n' roll music really is, then you have to change that question. Played up-tempo, you call it rock 'n' roll..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/323/little-richard-8263_down-and_when-you-sit-down-and-think-about-what-r_2327260.jpg" --- # When you sit down and think about what rock 'n' roll music… ![“When you sit down and think about what rock 'n' roll music really is, then you have to change that question. Played up-tempo, you call it rock 'n' roll; at a regular tempo, you call it rhythm and blues.” quote by Little Richard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/323/little-richard-8263_down-and_when-you-sit-down-and-think-about-what-r_2327260.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/323/little-richard-8263_down-and_when-you-sit-down-and-think-about-what-r_2327260.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/323/little-richard-8263_down-and_when-you-sit-down-and-think-about-what-r_2327260.jpg) > “When you sit down and think about what rock 'n' roll music really is, then you have to change that question. Played up-tempo, you call it rock 'n' roll; at a regular tempo, you call it rhythm and blues.” [Little Richard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/little-richard/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The label we give music depends on tempo, not essence, so definitions shift with style. **In simple terms:** Music names change with speed. Key Takeaway Question how labels shape perception. Themes music perception genre definition Mood reflective analytical Type observational critical When to use this quote - music criticism - radio programming - genre classification - artist branding Key Concepts cultural labeling semantic shift Questions to Reflect On - How do tempo changes affect genre perception? - Do labels limit artistic freedom? A Different Perspective Labels can oversimplify complex art forms. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Down and](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/down-and/) [Music](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/music/) [Played Tempo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/played-tempo-5584325/) [Rhythm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rhythm/) [Rhythm and blues](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rhythm-and-blues/) [Rhythm Blues](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rhythm-blues-505342/) [Rock n roll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rock-n-roll/) [Rock Roll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rock-roll/) [Rocks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rocks/) [Roll Music](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/roll-music-709438/) [Tempo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tempo/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) ## Related quotes > [I came from a family where my people didn't like rhythm and blues. Bing Crosby - "Pennies from Heaven" - Ella Fitzgerald, was all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/little-richard/i-came-from-a-family-where-my-people-didn-t-like-rhythm-and-blues/) [Little Richard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/little-richard/) > [I am so weak over love and heartbreak. My music is rhythm and blues and with that said, the blues element of it is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adrian-marcel/i-am-so-weak-over-love-and-heartbreak-my-music-is-rhythm-and-blues/) [Adrian Marcel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adrian-marcel/) > [I'm crazy about James Brown. I'm crazy about soul music. And then the blues. Rhythm and blues.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-nighy/i-m-crazy-about-james-brown-i-m-crazy-about-soul-music-and-then-the/) [Bill Nighy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-nighy/) > [My brother Alex fell in love with rhythm and blues early and gave me a strong dose of it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-taylor/my-brother-alex-fell-in-love-with-rhythm-and-blues-early-and-gave-me/) [James Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-taylor/) > [Our repertoire consisted of rhythm and blues, sort of country rhythm and blues, Sonny Terry things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-davies/our-repertoire-consisted-of-rhythm-and-blues-sort-of-country-rhythm/) [Ray Davies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-davies/) > [Everybody started calling my music rock and roll, but it wasn't anything but the same rhythm and blues I'd been playing down in New…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fats-domino/everybody-started-calling-my-music-rock-and-roll-but-it-wasn-t/) [Fats Domino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fats-domino/) > [“I haven’t sold my soul yet – well, maybe a couple bars of rhythm and blues here and there.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-pynchon/i-haven-t-sold-my-soul-yet-well-maybe-a-couple-bars-of-rhythm-and/) [Thomas Pynchon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-pynchon/) > [Rhythm and blues is about what life is, it's about being able to talk heartbreak and understanding that people go through it, not about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/the-dream/rhythm-and-blues-is-about-what-life-is-it-s-about-being-able-to-talk/) [The-Dream](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/the-dream/) > [Rhythm and blues used to be called race music. ... This music was going on for years, but nobody paid any attention to it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-charles/rhythm-and-blues-used-to-be-called-race-music-this-music-was-going-on/) [Ray Charles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-charles/) > [If you like rock and roll, if you like rhythm and blues, if you like jazz, if you like hip-hop, you might be black-ish.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurence-fishburne/if-you-like-rock-and-roll-if-you-like-rhythm-and-blues-if-you-like/) [Laurence Fishburne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurence-fishburne/) > [The Beatles and The Stones were basically inspired by American Rhythm and Blues](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mick-taylor/the-beatles-and-the-stones-were-basically-inspired-by-american-rhythm/) [Mick Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mick-taylor/) > [Rhythm and blues started even before phonograph records were being produced because black people entertained themselves. It wasn't done for money. It was done…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesse-stone/rhythm-and-blues-started-even-before-phonograph-records-were-being/) [Jesse Stone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesse-stone/) > [Rock 'n' Roll is just New Orleans rhythm and blues under a new name. It's got that Dixieland beat and that's what sells records.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fats-domino/rock-n-roll-is-just-new-orleans-rhythm-and-blues-under-a-new-name-it/) [Fats Domino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fats-domino/) > [When I came to The Moody Blues, we were a rhythm and blues band. I was lousy at rhythm and blues - I think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-hayward/when-i-came-to-the-moody-blues-we-were-a-rhythm-and-blues-band-i-was/) [Justin Hayward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-hayward/) > [Everybody started callin' my music rock and roll, but it wasn't anything but the same rhythm and blues I'd been playin' down in New…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fats-domino/everybody-started-callin-my-music-rock-and-roll-but-it-wasn-t/) [Fats Domino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fats-domino/) ## More by Little Richard > [I decided to come back and teach goodness in this business. To teach love, because music is the universal language. We are God's bouquet,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/little-richard/i-decided-to-come-back-and-teach-goodness-in-this-business-to-teach/) [Little Richard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/little-richard/) > [It was a way out of poverty. It was a way to success. It was a way to education. And it was a way…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/little-richard/it-was-a-way-out-of-poverty-it-was-a-way-to-success-it-was-a-way-to/) [Little Richard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/little-richard/) > [I'm a conductor of revivals. The only minister in the whole package. Little Richard, the evangelist.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/little-richard/i-m-a-conductor-of-revivals-the-only-minister-in-the-whole-package/) [Little Richard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/little-richard/) > [I look back on my life, comin' out of Macon, Georgia - I never thought I'd be a superstar, a living legend. I never…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/little-richard/i-look-back-on-my-life-comin-out-of-macon-georgia-i-never-thought-i-d/) [Little Richard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/little-richard/) > [I gave up rock 'n' roll for the rock of ages! I used to be a glaring homosexual until God changed me!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/little-richard/i-gave-up-rock-n-roll-for-the-rock-of-ages-i-used-to-be-a-glaring/) [Little Richard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/little-richard/) > [I thank God for making me a man.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/little-richard/i-thank-god-for-making-me-a-man/) [Little Richard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/little-richard/) > [No, I've never truly been a minister.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/little-richard/no-i-ve-never-truly-been-a-minister/) [Little Richard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/little-richard/) > [A-bop-bop-a-loom-op-a-lop-bop-boom.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/little-richard/a-bop-bop-a-loom-op-a-lop-bop-boom/) [Little Richard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/little-richard/) > [I don't give the devil credit for creating nothing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/little-richard/i-don-t-give-the-devil-credit-for-creating-nothing/) [Little Richard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/little-richard/) > [They shoulda called me Little Cocaine, I was sniffing so much of the stuff! My nose got big enough to back a diesel truck…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/little-richard/they-shoulda-called-me-little-cocaine-i-was-sniffing-so-much-of-the/) [Little Richard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/little-richard/) > [I never accepted the idea that I had to be guided by some pattern or blueprint.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/little-richard/i-never-accepted-the-idea-that-i-had-to-be-guided-by-some-pattern-or/) [Little Richard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/little-richard/) > [If at first you don't succeed, you get back up and you try ... and you try ... and you try it again ...…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/little-richard/if-at-first-you-don-t-succeed-you-get-back-up-and-you-try-and-you-try/) [Little Richard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/little-richard/) > [Plus I love Tanya Tucker and I love country music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/little-richard/plus-i-love-tanya-tucker-and-i-love-country-music/) [Little Richard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/little-richard/) > [My mother died, and I couldn't stand to look at her bedroom any more. I'd get sick. I've always been a momma's boy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/little-richard/my-mother-died-and-i-couldn-t-stand-to-look-at-her-bedroom-any-more-i/) [Little Richard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/little-richard/) > [If I had my life to live over, I would want to be a man.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/little-richard/if-i-had-my-life-to-live-over-i-would-want-to-be-a-man/) [Little Richard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/little-richard/) [Explore all 82 Little Richard quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/little-richard/) ## More Down and quotes > [Since I worked with Danny Boyle before on Slumdog Millionaire, we have great success and everything. So, when I first got the script and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-r-rahman/since-i-worked-with-danny-boyle-before-on-slumdog-millionaire-we-have/) [A. R. Rahman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-r-rahman/) > [Many Republicans have always reminded me of professional WWF wrestlers. They come into the ring all pumped up and acting like they're invincible and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-feig/many-republicans-have-always-reminded-me-of-professional-wwf/) [Paul Feig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-feig/) > [If I had my brothers I think with just a little bit of the correct marketing, I'd like to be almost exclusively in small…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-bozzio/if-i-had-my-brothers-i-think-with-just-a-little-bit-of-the-correct/) [Terry Bozzio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-bozzio/) > [In relations between the rich and the strong, between the rich and the poor, between the master and the servant, it's liberty that grinds…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/in-relations-between-the-rich-and-the-strong-between-the-rich-and-the/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Sometimes life seems like a dream, especially when I look down and see that I forgot to put on my pants.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-handey/sometimes-life-seems-like-a-dream-especially-when-i-look-down-and-see/) [Jack Handey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-handey/) > [There's a dishonest tyranny in the liberal/progressive/socialist agenda that comes down and says 'we are here because we care about you; we want what's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allen-west/there-s-a-dishonest-tyranny-in-the-liberal-progressive-socialist/) [Allen West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allen-west/) > [If you feel like you want to die, it's time to sit down and make a list of all the things you haven't done…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deacon-jones/if-you-feel-like-you-want-to-die-it-s-time-to-sit-down-and-make-a/) [Deacon Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deacon-jones/) > [Music is how I get free. It's a way to shut the rest of the world down and create your own world within it.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gift-of-gab/music-is-how-i-get-free-it-s-a-way-to-shut-the-rest-of-the-world-down/) [Gift of Gab](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gift-of-gab/) > [Being funny is one of my greatest strengths. I can make girls smile when they're down, and when they're having a good time, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-krasinski/being-funny-is-one-of-my-greatest-strengths-i-can-make-girls-smile/) [John Krasinski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-krasinski/) > [When I look at nature I feel as if I'll be able to paint it all, note it all down, and then you might…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claude-monet/when-i-look-at-nature-i-feel-as-if-i-ll-be-able-to-paint-it-all-note/) [Claude Monet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claude-monet/) > [I think the best Thanksgiving we ever had was one where we didn't even have a turkey. Mom and Dad sat us kids down…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-handey/i-think-the-best-thanksgiving-we-ever-had-was-one-where-we-didn-t/) [Jack Handey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-handey/) > [When an angel comes down and takes me away, memories of me and my songs will always stay until the end of time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tupac-shakur/when-an-angel-comes-down-and-takes-me-away-memories-of-me-and-my/) [Tupac Shakur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tupac-shakur/) > [I think there's too much mult-tasking going on. 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Something made them stronger than the other kids, the ones who had died in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-higson/there-was-a-reason-these-boys-were-still-alive-though-something-made/) [Charlie Higson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-higson/) [Browse all 2,527 Down and quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/down-and/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "When you sit down and think about what rock 'n' roll music really is, then you have to change that question. 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