--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I tell my son, when your music becomes…" description: "\"I tell my son, when your music becomes less relevant, your pathetic comic value might be of some use. So you've got to go with it, you know.\" — Michael..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/08a/michael-mcdonald-6275_becomes_i-tell-my-son-when-your-music-becomes-le_1775601.jpg" --- # I tell my son, when your music becomes less relevant, your… ![“I tell my son, when your music becomes less relevant, your pathetic comic value might be of some use. So you've got to go with it, you know.” quote by Michael McDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/08a/michael-mcdonald-6275_becomes_i-tell-my-son-when-your-music-becomes-le_1775601.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/08a/michael-mcdonald-6275_becomes_i-tell-my-son-when-your-music-becomes-le_1775601.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/08a/michael-mcdonald-6275_becomes_i-tell-my-son-when-your-music-becomes-le_1775601.jpg) > “I tell my son, when your music becomes less relevant, your pathetic comic value might be of some use. So you've got to go with it, you know.” [Michael McDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-mcdonald/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. When your artistic relevance fades, humor can still provide value, so adapt and embrace it. **In simple terms:** Humor can replace fading relevance. Key Takeaway Use humor when your art loses impact. Themes adaptation humor relevance Mood lighthearted reflective Type advice observational When to use this quote - career transition - public speaking - social media - entertainment - personal branding Key Concepts self‑deprecation creativity resilience Questions to Reflect On - How can you balance humor with seriousness? - When is humor appropriate in professional settings? A Different Perspective Humor may be seen as self‑mockery, risking credibility. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Music](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/music/) [Son](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/son/) [Value](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/value/) ## Related quotes > [My son has no interest in music other than as a listener. He teaches English to Japanese students.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-sinatra-jr/my-son-has-no-interest-in-music-other-than-as-a-listener-he-teaches/) [Frank Sinatra Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-sinatra-jr/) > [My son is very into music and really familiar with my voice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-hudson/my-son-is-very-into-music-and-really-familiar-with-my-voice/) [Jennifer Hudson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-hudson/) > [I would be devastated if my son could not have music as part of his curriculum in school. It should not be a choice…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-cassidy/i-would-be-devastated-if-my-son-could-not-have-music-as-part-of-his/) [David Cassidy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-cassidy/) > [Besides my son, music is the most important thing to me. I always have music on in my car and playing at house, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/french-montana/besides-my-son-music-is-the-most-important-thing-to-me-i-always-have/) [French Montana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/french-montana/) > [Music full of relevant and money's overrated. That's why I spend it like I look at it with hatred.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wale/music-full-of-relevant-and-money-s-overrated-that-s-why-i-spend-it/) [Wale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wale/) > [Beautiful film music can be made relevant to any period.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-r-rahman/beautiful-film-music-can-be-made-relevant-to-any-period/) [A. R. Rahman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-r-rahman/) > [I'm still grappling with all the things most people resolve by the time they're 35. Maybe that's why I make music that is relevant…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/siobhan-fahey/i-m-still-grappling-with-all-the-things-most-people-resolve-by-the/) [Siobhan Fahey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/siobhan-fahey/) > [Thus, if a composer wants to produce music that is relevant to his contemporaries, his chief problem is not really musical, though it may…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-blacking/thus-if-a-composer-wants-to-produce-music-that-is-relevant-to-his/) [John Blacking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-blacking/) > [I'd rather call it "instrumental creative music," especially the music that I've been doing. If a person would hear that music, they would undoubtedly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eldar-djangirov/i-d-rather-call-it-instrumental-creative-music-especially-the-music/) [Eldar Djangirov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eldar-djangirov/) > [I can put in Bob Marley's music now, and it's still relevant.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tessanne-chin/i-can-put-in-bob-marley-s-music-now-and-it-s-still-relevant/) [Tessanne Chin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tessanne-chin/) > [I think the music is relevant and if people are into the music, they're going to be into it regardless of when it comes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jenny-hoyston/i-think-the-music-is-relevant-and-if-people-are-into-the-music-they/) Jenny Hoyston > [I try to make music that's relevant to my life and relatable to the culture I live in.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-hunt/i-try-to-make-music-that-s-relevant-to-my-life-and-relatable-to-the/) [Sam Hunt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-hunt/) > [I'm a big fan of Greta Thunberg and I'm really into Stella Donnelly's music. I think it's really incredible, important music and very relevant;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/declan-mckenna/i-m-a-big-fan-of-greta-thunberg-and-i-m-really-into-stella-donnelly-s/) [Declan McKenna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/declan-mckenna/) > [Music full of relevant and moneys overrated Thats why I spend it like I look at it with hatred.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wale/music-full-of-relevant-and-moneys-overrated-thats-why-i-spend-it-like/) [Wale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wale/) > [So I tell you, my son, that the secret of true happiness is for him who asks nothing in return. The perfectly unselfish man…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-twitchell/so-i-tell-you-my-son-that-the-secret-of-true-happiness-is-for-him-who/) [Paul Twitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-twitchell/) ## More by Michael McDonald > [Beck is obviously a consummate musician. He plays instruments, many instruments. He can make his own record without having a fleet of computer operators…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-mcdonald/beck-is-obviously-a-consummate-musician-he-plays-instruments-many/) [Michael McDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-mcdonald/) > [I'd say that Ray Charles is definitely the biggest influence on my singing. Also Marvin Gaye and Stevie Wonder.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-mcdonald/i-d-say-that-ray-charles-is-definitely-the-biggest-influence-on-my/) [Michael McDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-mcdonald/) > [Since the '60s, we've lived so much in an age of quick fixes that the culture itself has become a quick fix.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-mcdonald/since-the-60s-we-ve-lived-so-much-in-an-age-of-quick-fixes-that-the/) [Michael McDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-mcdonald/) > [Hey, I'd love to have a hit single, but if that doesn't happen, I'm not going to complain.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-mcdonald/hey-i-d-love-to-have-a-hit-single-but-if-that-doesn-t-happen-i-m-not/) [Michael McDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-mcdonald/) > [I truly cherish the time and experience with friends that I have been making music with for so many years, even decades now.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-mcdonald/i-truly-cherish-the-time-and-experience-with-friends-that-i-have-been/) [Michael McDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-mcdonald/) > [While making any record, you look for the opportunity to bring someone who will help generate something special in the music environments you create.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-mcdonald/while-making-any-record-you-look-for-the-opportunity-to-bring-someone/) [Michael McDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-mcdonald/) > [I do love the Nat King Cole stuff, the classic Christmas records. There's something about putting those records on and hearing his voice at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-mcdonald/i-do-love-the-nat-king-cole-stuff-the-classic-christmas-records-there/) [Michael McDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-mcdonald/) > [I've always written short stories.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-mcdonald/i-ve-always-written-short-stories/) [Michael McDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-mcdonald/) > [I've always felt like the Forrest Gump of the music business. I've been fortunate to work with a lot of great people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-mcdonald/i-ve-always-felt-like-the-forrest-gump-of-the-music-business-i-ve/) [Michael McDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-mcdonald/) > [Rap is like any other genre: There are the people who are very creative with it and do remarkable things... and then there's that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-mcdonald/rap-is-like-any-other-genre-there-are-the-people-who-are-very/) [Michael McDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-mcdonald/) > [I wish I wrote songs like Donald Fagen, Walter Becker, Don Henley, Marvin Gaye, Michael Jackson, so many of the songwriters I admire. They…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-mcdonald/i-wish-i-wrote-songs-like-donald-fagen-walter-becker-don-henley/) [Michael McDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-mcdonald/) > [Most of my life is taken up with family. It takes me awhile to get a record together that I feel is worthy of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-mcdonald/most-of-my-life-is-taken-up-with-family-it-takes-me-awhile-to-get-a/) [Michael McDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-mcdonald/) > ['Livin' on the Fault Line' was kind of a commercial disappointment for us, although it seemed to have a certain buzz with the smaller…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-mcdonald/livin-on-the-fault-line-was-kind-of-a-commercial-disappointment-for/) [Michael McDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-mcdonald/) > [We try to promote the Christmas season and remind people that it is a season of peace. That's what the season's real meaning is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-mcdonald/we-try-to-promote-the-christmas-season-and-remind-people-that-it-is-a/) [Michael McDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-mcdonald/) > [My wife is, by and large, the best thing that ever happened to me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-mcdonald/my-wife-is-by-and-large-the-best-thing-that-ever-happened-to-me/) [Michael McDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-mcdonald/) [Explore all 99 Michael McDonald quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-mcdonald/) ## More Becomes quotes > [Hollywood is very much an industry town. Your life becomes caught up in all of the parties and this list and that list. That's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-johnson/hollywood-is-very-much-an-industry-town-your-life-becomes-caught-up/) [Don Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-johnson/) > [If you have more downforce, everything becomes much easier. Drivers drive better, engineers they have more room for setup, the tyres are working better…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-kubica/if-you-have-more-downforce-everything-becomes-much-easier-drivers/) [Robert Kubica](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-kubica/) > [I think being on a TV show is amazing but also, people get kind of used to seeing you a certain way and so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aubrey-plaza/i-think-being-on-a-tv-show-is-amazing-but-also-people-get-kind-of/) [Aubrey Plaza](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aubrey-plaza/) > [For someone who works in theatre, the rehearsal is where you discover everything. It is where magic happens, where the script enters you and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ali-fazal/for-someone-who-works-in-theatre-the-rehearsal-is-where-you-discover/) [Ali Fazal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ali-fazal/) > [We spend millions of dollars to remove pain from our lives. It's why so many people get hooked on painkillers. The body becomes addicted…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-rollins/we-spend-millions-of-dollars-to-remove-pain-from-our-lives-it-s-why/) [Henry Rollins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-rollins/) > [As artists, we can't help but infuse our art with our own experience, so your experience becomes informative.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-morrison/as-artists-we-can-t-help-but-infuse-our-art-with-our-own-experience/) [Rachel Morrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-morrison/) > [As politics is disconnected from its ethical and material moorings, it becomes easier to punish and imprison young people than to educate them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-giroux/as-politics-is-disconnected-from-its-ethical-and-material-moorings-it/) [Henry Giroux](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-giroux/) > [It becomes dangerous for somebody who doesn't want their boss to know their sexual preference to use online networks to push for laws supporting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rebecca-mackinnon/it-becomes-dangerous-for-somebody-who-doesn-t-want-their-boss-to-know/) [Rebecca MacKinnon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rebecca-mackinnon/) > [When you try to become a good cook, in the beginning, most likely the dish is not going to be good. But you keep…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jannik-sinner/when-you-try-to-become-a-good-cook-in-the-beginning-most-likely-the/) [Jannik Sinner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jannik-sinner/) > [It's interesting how sleepwalking in a certain way becomes an accumulation of your outside stimuli that's actually there and what's happening in your brain.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-birbiglia/it-s-interesting-how-sleepwalking-in-a-certain-way-becomes-an/) [Mike Birbiglia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-birbiglia/) > [What actor do you really take seriously who becomes a singer? It's kind of ridiculous. I can't think of anybody.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kirsten-dunst/what-actor-do-you-really-take-seriously-who-becomes-a-singer-it-s/) [Kirsten Dunst](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kirsten-dunst/) > [You don't really write a hit song - you write a great song, and then, if the public decides it's a hit, they take…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nuno-bettencourt/you-don-t-really-write-a-hit-song-you-write-a-great-song-and-then-if/) [Nuno Bettencourt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nuno-bettencourt/) > [When an accident or a crime happens, there's a period of time before the yellow tape goes up, before the official response becomes formalized.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-gilroy/when-an-accident-or-a-crime-happens-there-s-a-period-of-time-before/) [Dan Gilroy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-gilroy/) > [Our society is so obsessed with working out to be skinny, and none of that has a purpose. I love that my daughter sees…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/megyn-price/our-society-is-so-obsessed-with-working-out-to-be-skinny-and-none-of/) [Megyn Price](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/megyn-price/) > [It's easier for me to act in Spanish, but as soon as I get the lines in English and I know them by heart,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ana-de-la-reguera/it-s-easier-for-me-to-act-in-spanish-but-as-soon-as-i-get-the-lines/) [Ana de la Reguera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ana-de-la-reguera/) Browse all 1,096 Becomes quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I tell my son, when your music becomes less relevant, your pathetic comic value might be of some use. 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