--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I didn't feel particularly cool when I…" description: "\"I didn't feel particularly cool when I was 16 or 17 but I felt accepted in a community of alternative music and the gig scene.\" — Matty Healy" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0c8/matty-healy-5022_alternative-music_i-didn-t-feel-particularly-cool-when-i-w_368073.jpg" --- # I didn't feel particularly cool when I was 16 or 17 but I… ![“I didn't feel particularly cool when I was 16 or 17 but I felt accepted in a community of alternative music and the gig scene.” quote by Matty Healy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0c8/matty-healy-5022_alternative-music_i-didn-t-feel-particularly-cool-when-i-w_368073.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0c8/matty-healy-5022_alternative-music_i-didn-t-feel-particularly-cool-when-i-w_368073.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0c8/matty-healy-5022_alternative-music_i-didn-t-feel-particularly-cool-when-i-w_368073.jpg) > “I didn't feel particularly cool when I was 16 or 17 but I felt accepted in a community of alternative music and the gig scene.” [Matty Healy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matty-healy/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Finding identity in a youth subculture offers acceptance despite not feeling traditionally cool. **In simple terms:** Alternative music scene gave belonging despite lack of mainstream cool. Key Takeaway Seek communities that value authenticity. Themes youth identity music community Mood reflective nostalgic Type inspirational personal When to use this quote - concerts - online forums - band rehearsals - festival volunteering Key Concepts subculture social belonging Questions to Reflect On - What does acceptance mean to you? - How does music shape your self‑image? A Different Perspective Subcultures may also pressure conformity. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Alternative music](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/alternative-music/) [Community](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/community/) [Gig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gig/) [Music](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/music/) ## Related quotes > [“If you want fans, you have to be a fan first. If you want to be accepted by a community, you have to first…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/austin-kleon/if-you-want-fans-you-have-to-be-a-fan-first-if-you-want-to-be/) [Austin Kleon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/austin-kleon/) > [I feel like I represent every young dancer, and even non-dancer, who felt they were not accepted by the ballet world. I'd like to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/misty-copeland/i-feel-like-i-represent-every-young-dancer-and-even-non-dancer-who/) [Misty Copeland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/misty-copeland/) > [The world of dance is where I felt accepted as a human being.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/motsi-mabuse/the-world-of-dance-is-where-i-felt-accepted-as-a-human-being/) [Motsi Mabuse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/motsi-mabuse/) > [Being someone that grew up in a biracial household I never really felt accepted by black people when I was a little kid, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vic-mensa/being-someone-that-grew-up-in-a-biracial-household-i-never-really/) [Vic Mensa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vic-mensa/) > [I was always lonesome. The only time I felt accepted or wanted was when I was on stage performing. I guess the stage was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judy-garland/i-was-always-lonesome-the-only-time-i-felt-accepted-or-wanted-was/) [Judy Garland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judy-garland/) > [Even when I was a child, I used to constantly get into trouble at school because I couldn't stop talking and people didn't like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cmat/even-when-i-was-a-child-i-used-to-constantly-get-into-trouble-at/) [CMAT](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cmat/) > [There is not one person going to a High Flying Birds gig or a Liam Gallagher gig that would not rather be at an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matty-healy/there-is-not-one-person-going-to-a-high-flying-birds-gig-or-a-liam/) [Matty Healy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matty-healy/) > [As more people get into indie bands and alternative music, they're also getting more into other genres that fit those categories, like jazz and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hilary-hahn/as-more-people-get-into-indie-bands-and-alternative-music-they-re/) [Hilary Hahn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hilary-hahn/) > [I think it's really cool, but Jimmy Eat World and Gin Blossoms did it better than anyone. People don't realize just how awesome the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nate-ruess/i-think-it-s-really-cool-but-jimmy-eat-world-and-gin-blossoms-did-it/) [Nate Ruess](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nate-ruess/) > [When I was growing up, the alternative-music scene, not just in Ireland but... in the U.K. and in America and stuff... the women were…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cmat/when-i-was-growing-up-the-alternative-music-scene-not-just-in-ireland/) [CMAT](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cmat/) > [When I was in seventh grade, I totally had a crush on a guy who was older than me, and he listened to alternative…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carrie-underwood/when-i-was-in-seventh-grade-i-totally-had-a-crush-on-a-guy-who-was/) [Carrie Underwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carrie-underwood/) > [The formats have changed so much, and even if you look at alternative music today, most of it isn't really that alternative. It's just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/perry-farrell/the-formats-have-changed-so-much-and-even-if-you-look-at-alternative/) [Perry Farrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/perry-farrell/) > [We grew up listening to alternative music from the '90s, and there was no shame in being on a major label and still making…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nate-ruess/we-grew-up-listening-to-alternative-music-from-the-90s-and-there-was/) [Nate Ruess](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nate-ruess/) > [In the '90s, the radio was still alive with all different kinds of points of view, and I think that's why people are longing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shirley-manson/in-the-90s-the-radio-was-still-alive-with-all-different-kinds-of/) [Shirley Manson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shirley-manson/) > [The thing about me is, coming from an alternative music background and singing for nine years, being basically invisible, I'm so used to writing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lana-del-rey/the-thing-about-me-is-coming-from-an-alternative-music-background-and/) [Lana Del Rey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lana-del-rey/) ## More by Matty Healy > [I'd love to talk to myself at 40 and see what I've achieved and what I feel... but I will just be the same…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matty-healy/i-d-love-to-talk-to-myself-at-40-and-see-what-i-ve-achieved-and-what/) [Matty Healy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matty-healy/) > [I don't feel the need to be present in the culture unless I have a song out.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matty-healy/i-don-t-feel-the-need-to-be-present-in-the-culture-unless-i-have-a/) [Matty Healy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matty-healy/) > [Songs like 'Radioactive' by Imagine Dragons, it might as well be called 'Pikachu Banana.' It's nothingness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matty-healy/songs-like-radioactive-by-imagine-dragons-it-might-as-well-be-called/) [Matty Healy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matty-healy/) > [People who overshare because they think it's endearing can be quite exhausting. Self-deprecation is fine if it's real but anything performative is annoying.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matty-healy/people-who-overshare-because-they-think-it-s-endearing-can-be-quite/) [Matty Healy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matty-healy/) > [When we make a record, we live together and we wake up every day and we make music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matty-healy/when-we-make-a-record-we-live-together-and-we-wake-up-every-day-and/) [Matty Healy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matty-healy/) > [In a world where people want answers immediately, I'm behaving a lot of the time in ways that contradict certain people's beliefs, or normally…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matty-healy/in-a-world-where-people-want-answers-immediately-i-m-behaving-a-lot/) [Matty Healy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matty-healy/) > [I've been writing about my life and my ideas since before I was even an adult! So you know, if you ask a gymnast…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matty-healy/i-ve-been-writing-about-my-life-and-my-ideas-since-before-i-was-even/) [Matty Healy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matty-healy/) > [“Who's to say tomorrow won't be the best day of your life?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matty-healy/who-s-to-say-tomorrow-won-t-be-the-best-day-of-your-life/) [Matty Healy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matty-healy/) > [I know that I'm not as smart as I think I am.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matty-healy/i-know-that-i-m-not-as-smart-as-i-think-i-am/) [Matty Healy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matty-healy/) > [I don't listen to rock bands.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matty-healy/i-don-t-listen-to-rock-bands/) [Matty Healy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matty-healy/) > [All of my flaws and all the things that make me up are part of who I am. It's about honesty and everything that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matty-healy/all-of-my-flaws-and-all-the-things-that-make-me-up-are-part-of-who-i/) [Matty Healy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matty-healy/) > [If fidelity really mattered, 'Loveless' wouldn't be one of the best records of all time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matty-healy/if-fidelity-really-mattered-loveless-wouldn-t-be-one-of-the-best/) [Matty Healy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matty-healy/) > [Some days I'm cool with getting canceled every week. Some days I'm not cool with it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matty-healy/some-days-i-m-cool-with-getting-canceled-every-week-some-days-i-m-not/) [Matty Healy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matty-healy/) > [I'll die on the hill of my records, but I won't die on the hill of my tweets.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matty-healy/i-ll-die-on-the-hill-of-my-records-but-i-won-t-die-on-the-hill-of-my/) [Matty Healy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matty-healy/) > [It feels like 90 percent of the time, cancel culture itself is far worse than the moral indiscretions of those that have been accused…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matty-healy/it-feels-like-90-percent-of-the-time-cancel-culture-itself-is-far/) [Matty Healy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matty-healy/) [Explore all 104 Matty Healy quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matty-healy/) ## More Alternative music quotes > [I think it's really cool, but Jimmy Eat World and Gin Blossoms did it better than anyone. People don't realize just how awesome the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nate-ruess/i-think-it-s-really-cool-but-jimmy-eat-world-and-gin-blossoms-did-it/) [Nate Ruess](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nate-ruess/) > [We grew up listening to alternative music from the '90s, and there was no shame in being on a major label and still making…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nate-ruess/we-grew-up-listening-to-alternative-music-from-the-90s-and-there-was/) [Nate Ruess](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nate-ruess/) > [As more people get into indie bands and alternative music, they're also getting more into other genres that fit those categories, like jazz and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hilary-hahn/as-more-people-get-into-indie-bands-and-alternative-music-they-re/) [Hilary Hahn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hilary-hahn/) > [In the '90s, the radio was still alive with all different kinds of points of view, and I think that's why people are longing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shirley-manson/in-the-90s-the-radio-was-still-alive-with-all-different-kinds-of/) [Shirley Manson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shirley-manson/) > [The thing about me is, coming from an alternative music background and singing for nine years, being basically invisible, I'm so used to writing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lana-del-rey/the-thing-about-me-is-coming-from-an-alternative-music-background-and/) [Lana Del Rey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lana-del-rey/) > [The formats have changed so much, and even if you look at alternative music today, most of it isn't really that alternative. It's just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/perry-farrell/the-formats-have-changed-so-much-and-even-if-you-look-at-alternative/) [Perry Farrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/perry-farrell/) > [When I was in seventh grade, I totally had a crush on a guy who was older than me, and he listened to alternative…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carrie-underwood/when-i-was-in-seventh-grade-i-totally-had-a-crush-on-a-guy-who-was/) [Carrie Underwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carrie-underwood/) > [When I was growing up, the alternative-music scene, not just in Ireland but... in the U.K. and in America and stuff... the women were…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cmat/when-i-was-growing-up-the-alternative-music-scene-not-just-in-ireland/) [CMAT](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cmat/) > [As a kid I was super into all kinds of pop. It wasn't until I became a teenager that I moved more into alternative…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mo/as-a-kid-i-was-super-into-all-kinds-of-pop-it-wasn-t-until-i-became-a/) MO > [I've always seen myself as the person listening to alternative music and all that - generic indie person. I always tried to be the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jenny-hval/i-ve-always-seen-myself-as-the-person-listening-to-alternative-music/) [Jenny Hval](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jenny-hval/) > [I have periods where I listen to regular rap, Jay-Z, Eminem and Lil Wayne. The next day I might have some Christian alternative music.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-blake/i-have-periods-where-i-listen-to-regular-rap-jay-z-eminem-and-lil/) [Steve Blake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-blake/) > [I don't want to pooh-pooh modern pop. I appreciate that as well, but my personal favorite kind of music is guitar-based rock. I like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-yankovic/i-don-t-want-to-pooh-pooh-modern-pop-i-appreciate-that-as-well-but-my/) [Al Yankovic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-yankovic/) > [I know there's a certain love and affection for the homemade on the Internet, and I'm all for that, too, and I appreciate it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-englund/i-know-there-s-a-certain-love-and-affection-for-the-homemade-on-the/) [Robert Englund](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-englund/) > [When I became a 'rock musician,' I assumed pop music was easy to write and that interesting rock music, or alternative music, was hard.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-parker/when-i-became-a-rock-musician-i-assumed-pop-music-was-easy-to-write/) [Kevin Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-parker/) > [“For the life of me I cannot remember, what made us think that we were wise and we'd never compromise. For the life of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/the-verve-pipe/for-the-life-of-me-i-cannot-remember-what-made-us-think-that-we-were/) The Verve Pipe [Browse all 25 Alternative music quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/alternative-music/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I didn't feel particularly cool when I was 16 or 17 but I felt accepted in a community of alternative music and the gig scene.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Matty Healy" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matty-healy/i-didn-t-feel-particularly-cool-when-i-was-16-or-17-but-i-felt/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Alternative music" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matty-healy/i-didn-t-feel-particularly-cool-when-i-was-16-or-17-but-i-felt/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0c8/matty-healy-5022_alternative-music_i-didn-t-feel-particularly-cool-when-i-w_368073.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0c8/matty-healy-5022_alternative-music_i-didn-t-feel-particularly-cool-when-i-w_368073.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0c8/matty-healy-5022_alternative-music_i-didn-t-feel-particularly-cool-when-i-w_368073.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I didn't feel particularly cool when I was 16 or 17 but I felt accepted in a community of alternative music…” — Matty Healy", "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": "Matty Healy", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matty-healy/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I didn't feel particularly cool when...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matty-healy/i-didn-t-feel-particularly-cool-when-i-was-16-or-17-but-i-felt/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matty-healy/i-didn-t-feel-particularly-cool-when-i-was-16-or-17-but-i-felt/#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 } } ] } ```