--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: A lot of that I base on, \"Is it still…" description: "\"A lot of that I base on, \"Is it still going to sound interesting and fresh to me in five years, am I going to be embarrassed by this in five years?\" It..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bbc/mark-linkous-42894_careful_a-lot-of-that-i-base-on-is-it-still-goin_3122956.jpg" --- # A lot of that I base on, "Is it still going to sound… ![“A lot of that I base on, "Is it still going to sound interesting and fresh to me in five years, am I going to be embarrassed by this in five years?" It's easier for me to do stark, moody, pretty stuff, and I have all this pop stuff inside me, but it's a lot more dangerous, and pop is just apt to…” quote by Mark Linkous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bbc/mark-linkous-42894_careful_a-lot-of-that-i-base-on-is-it-still-goin_3122956.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bbc/mark-linkous-42894_careful_a-lot-of-that-i-base-on-is-it-still-goin_3122956.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bbc/mark-linkous-42894_careful_a-lot-of-that-i-base-on-is-it-still-goin_3122956.jpg) > “A lot of that I base on, "Is it still going to sound interesting and fresh to me in five years, am I going to be embarrassed by this in five years?" It's easier for me to do stark, moody, pretty stuff, and I have all this pop stuff inside me, but it's a lot more dangerous, and pop is just apt to sound contrived and sort of pedestrian if you're not careful.” [Mark Linkous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-linkous/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He questions whether his work will stay fresh and avoid embarrassment over time, balancing artistic depth with pop appeal. **In simple terms:** Worry about lasting relevance and authenticity. Key Takeaway Prioritize authenticity over trends. Themes artistic integrity pop culture longevity Mood anxious reflective Type advice philosophical When to use this quote - career planning - artistic projects - public perception - brand management Key Concepts self‑reflection creative risk authenticity Questions to Reflect On - How do you measure lasting artistic value? - What compromises are acceptable for broader reach? A Different Perspective Balancing depth with mass appeal can dilute originality. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Embarrassed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/embarrassed/) [Moody](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/moody/) ## Related quotes > [I grew up listening to Nirvana and then went through some bad '90s pop stuff - a lot of Australian one-hit wonders.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/courtney-barnett/i-grew-up-listening-to-nirvana-and-then-went-through-some-bad-90s-pop/) [Courtney Barnett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/courtney-barnett/) > [In Denver, all we really had was pop radio, so I grew up on all that late '70s pop stuff - Billy Joel, James…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/india-arie/in-denver-all-we-really-had-was-pop-radio-so-i-grew-up-on-all-that/) [India Arie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/india-arie/) > [In 2010, aside from that niche of music that I have no interest in - Black Eyed Peas territory, disposable pop stuff - there's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trent-reznor/in-2010-aside-from-that-niche-of-music-that-i-have-no-interest-in/) [Trent Reznor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trent-reznor/) > [My days are full, I pop around and do stuff.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cliff-williams/my-days-are-full-i-pop-around-and-do-stuff/) [Cliff Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cliff-williams/) > [If I'm honest, my heart and my belly are saying that you're more likely to find me in a greasy spoon than a pop-up,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sadiq-khan/if-i-m-honest-my-heart-and-my-belly-are-saying-that-you-re-more/) [Sadiq Khan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sadiq-khan/) > [I love the Ronettes, the 'do-run-run-run' pop stuff. I love the lyrics, having 'blue, blue blue' being repetitive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ville-valo/i-love-the-ronettes-the-do-run-run-run-pop-stuff-i-love-the-lyrics/) [Ville Valo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ville-valo/) > [I am not a pop musician; I don't want to play bubble-gummy pop stuff.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-schon/i-am-not-a-pop-musician-i-don-t-want-to-play-bubble-gummy-pop-stuff/) [Neal Schon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-schon/) > [Even when I'm about to die I like to sound interesting and special. It was just talk.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-milligan/even-when-i-m-about-to-die-i-like-to-sound-interesting-and-special-it/) [Peter Milligan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-milligan/) > [Don't be precious about anything-much less a certain guitar sound. There is always another interesting sound or effect just waiting to be discovered.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-guthrie/don-t-be-precious-about-anything-much-less-a-certain-guitar-sound/) Robin Guthrie > [I will entertain things that are entertaining and sound interesting and challenge me. But acting just doesn't come second-nature to me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sharon-van-etten/i-will-entertain-things-that-are-entertaining-and-sound-interesting/) [Sharon Van Etten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sharon-van-etten/) > [Instruments sound interesting, not because of their sound, but because of the relationship a player has with them. Instrumentalists build a rapport with their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-eno/instruments-sound-interesting-not-because-of-their-sound-but-because/) [Brian Eno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-eno/) > [“Your name still rings a bell when you say something good, not by causing catastrophe in a bid to sound more interesting.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-bassey-johnson/your-name-still-rings-a-bell-when-you-say-something-good-not-by/) [Michael Bassey Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-bassey-johnson/) > [This isn't meant to make me sound interesting and rock 'n' roll, but I wouldn't want to live with me a lot of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-freeman/this-isn-t-meant-to-make-me-sound-interesting-and-rock-n-roll-but-i/) [Martin Freeman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-freeman/) > [“As I consider myself nothing nor nobody more than Peter Sellers in Being There or at my liveliest as Inspector Clousseau, it is difficult…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susie-duncan-sexton/as-i-consider-myself-nothing-nor-nobody-more-than-peter-sellers-in/) Susie Duncan Sexton > [I made a lot of different experiments with tapes at that time, until I finally realized around 1995, that sound is an interesting subject…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-made-a-lot-of-different-experiments-with-tapes-at-that-time-until-i/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More by Mark Linkous > [Daniel Johnston is the purist and most unpretentious artist of our generation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-linkous/daniel-johnston-is-the-purist-and-most-unpretentious-artist-of-our/) [Mark Linkous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-linkous/) > [It takes me forever to write songs most of the time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-linkous/it-takes-me-forever-to-write-songs-most-of-the-time/) [Mark Linkous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-linkous/) > [I think maybe I'm trying to forget or not be so conscious about plastic circuitry and just go for the feeling.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-linkous/i-think-maybe-i-m-trying-to-forget-or-not-be-so-conscious-about/) [Mark Linkous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-linkous/) > [I'm f\*\*king pathetic when it comes to being an entertainer. People come because they want to see me have a nervous breakdown.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-linkous/i-m-f-king-pathetic-when-it-comes-to-being-an-entertainer-people-come/) [Mark Linkous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-linkous/) > [ When people want me to sign records they usually always have Vivadixie\[submarinetransmissions\], and I think that's a lot of people's favorite record. And that… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-linkous/when-people-want-me-to-sign-records-they-usually-always-have/) [Mark Linkous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-linkous/) > [I've been trying to write really simple songs to make them sound like they're coming out of a satellite that's crashing into a gas…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-linkous/i-ve-been-trying-to-write-really-simple-songs-to-make-them-sound-like/) [Mark Linkous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-linkous/) > [I hate the sound of my own voice. It's just up there, sort of naked and exposed. Live is hard, because on my records,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-linkous/i-hate-the-sound-of-my-own-voice-it-s-just-up-there-sort-of-naked-and/) [Mark Linkous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-linkous/) > [I never really made much money playing music. It's because I've never really worked with a producer who could make my music sound, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-linkous/i-never-really-made-much-money-playing-music-it-s-because-i-ve-never/) [Mark Linkous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-linkous/) > [A lot of the stuff I listen to is glitchy electronic stuff and stuff with beats.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-linkous/a-lot-of-the-stuff-i-listen-to-is-glitchy-electronic-stuff-and-stuff/) [Mark Linkous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-linkous/) [Explore all 10 Mark Linkous quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-linkous/) ## More Careful quotes > [I understand that it's the music that keeps me alive... That's my lifeblood. And to give that up for, like, the TV, the cars,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-springsteen/i-understand-that-it-s-the-music-that-keeps-me-alive-that-s-my/) [Bruce Springsteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-springsteen/) > [“Only careful political manoeuvring will be able to manage the situation.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/davan-yahya-khalil/only-careful-political-manoeuvring-will-be-able-to-manage-the/) Davan Yahya Khalil > [Be careful. I wouldn’t want anything to happen to the worst Spanish student in the history of the language.” I laughed. “No problemo.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kiersten-white/be-careful-i-wouldn-t-want-anything-to-happen-to-the-worst-spanish/) [Kiersten White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kiersten-white/) > [If I held all the thoughts of the world in my hand, I would be careful not to open it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernard-le-bovier-de-fontenelle/if-i-held-all-the-thoughts-of-the-world-in-my-hand-i-would-be-careful/) [Bernard le Bovier de Fontenelle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernard-le-bovier-de-fontenelle/) > [Physical beauty is not everything, but the beauty is more careful than anything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/physical-beauty-is-not-everything-but-the-beauty-is-more-careful-than/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [If you think about what you do, if you become self-conscious about it, you've got to be very careful. Because I really like to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-morgan/if-you-think-about-what-you-do-if-you-become-self-conscious-about-it/) [Peter Morgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-morgan/) > [You've got to be careful against classy fighters, especially counter-punchers because if you go for the finish too early, you can end up getting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-froch/you-ve-got-to-be-careful-against-classy-fighters-especially-counter/) [Carl Froch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-froch/) > [ \[A\]s you partake of the world's bill of fare, that's darned good advice to follow. Do a lot of spitting out the hot air.… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dr-seuss/a-s-you-partake-of-the-world-s-bill-of-fare-that-s-darned-good-advice/) [Dr. Seuss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dr-seuss/) > [Be careful the friends you choose for you will become like them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-clement-stone-2/be-careful-the-friends-you-choose-for-you-will-become-like-them/) W Clement Stone > [A woman who is careful with her words is a gift to all who know her.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lysa-terkeurst/a-woman-who-is-careful-with-her-words-is-a-gift-to-all-who-know-her/) [Lysa TerKeurst](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lysa-terkeurst/) > [We must remember that intelligence is not enough. Intelligence plus character--that is the goal of true education. The complete education gives one not only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-jr/we-must-remember-that-intelligence-is-not-enough-intelligence-plus/) [Martin Luther King, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-jr/) > [I have to be careful to get out before I become the grotesque caricature of a hatchet-faced woman with big knockers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamie-lee-curtis/i-have-to-be-careful-to-get-out-before-i-become-the-grotesque/) [Jamie Lee Curtis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamie-lee-curtis/) > [Success is like a mountain in front of you that keeps growing. If you're not careful, it will take up your whole life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-saunders/success-is-like-a-mountain-in-front-of-you-that-keeps-growing-if-you/) [George Saunders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-saunders/) > [ I just have to deal with it \[injuries\] if and when problems happen. It's obviously a concern and I've been very careful with my… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-james/i-just-have-to-deal-with-it-injuries-if-and-when-problems-happen-it-s/) [Greg James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-james/) > [Our communications reflect in our countenance. Therefore, we must be careful not only what we communicate, but also how we do so. Souls can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/l-lionel-kendrick/our-communications-reflect-in-our-countenance-therefore-we-must-be/) [L. Lionel Kendrick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/l-lionel-kendrick/) Browse all 2,861 Careful quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "A lot of that I base on, \"Is it still going to sound interesting and fresh to me in five years, am I going to be embarrassed by this in five years?\" It's easier for me to do stark, moody, pretty stuff, and I have all this pop stuff inside me, but it's a lot more dangerous, and pop is just apt to sound contrived and sort of pedestrian if you're not careful.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Mark Linkous" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-linkous/a-lot-of-that-i-base-on-is-it-still-going-to-sound-interesting-and/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Careful" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-linkous/a-lot-of-that-i-base-on-is-it-still-going-to-sound-interesting-and/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bbc/mark-linkous-42894_careful_a-lot-of-that-i-base-on-is-it-still-goin_3122956.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bbc/mark-linkous-42894_careful_a-lot-of-that-i-base-on-is-it-still-goin_3122956.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bbc/mark-linkous-42894_careful_a-lot-of-that-i-base-on-is-it-still-goin_3122956.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“A lot of that I base on, \"Is it still going to sound interesting and fresh to me in five years, am I going…” — Mark Linkous", "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": "Mark Linkous", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-linkous/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "A lot of that I base...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-linkous/a-lot-of-that-i-base-on-is-it-still-going-to-sound-interesting-and/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-linkous/a-lot-of-that-i-base-on-is-it-still-going-to-sound-interesting-and/#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 } } ] } ```