---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I have to write pretty songs; that's what…"
description: "\"I have to write pretty songs; that's what gets them on the charts.\" — Nicky Jam"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fd7/nicky-jam-16232_charts_i-have-to-write-pretty-songs-that-s-what_1015381.jpg"
---

#  I have to write pretty songs; that's what gets them on the…

![“I have to write pretty songs; that's what gets them on the charts.” quote by Nicky Jam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fd7/nicky-jam-16232_charts_i-have-to-write-pretty-songs-that-s-what_1015381.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fd7/nicky-jam-16232_charts_i-have-to-write-pretty-songs-that-s-what_1015381.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fd7/nicky-jam-16232_charts_i-have-to-write-pretty-songs-that-s-what_1015381.jpg)

> “I have to write pretty songs; that's what gets them on the charts.”

[Nicky Jam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicky-jam/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Success in the music industry often hinges on crafting catchy, marketable songs that appeal to mainstream audiences and dominate charts.

**In simple terms:** Hit songs are key to chart success.

Key Takeaway

Focus on creating appealing melodies and lyrics.

Themes

music industry commercial success songwriting pop culture marketing

Mood

hopeful determined ambitious

Type

advice inspirational

When to use this quote

- producing hits
- chart strategy
- branding
- fan engagement

Key Concepts

trend analysis audience targeting creative process

Questions to Reflect On

- Can commercial pressure limit creative expression?
- How balance authenticity with market demands?

A Different Perspective

Overemphasis on formulaic hits may stifle artistic authenticity.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Music](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/music/) [Song](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/song/) [Songs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/songs/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/)

## Related quotes

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> [Writing songs, that's what gets me going. Not the drugs or the sex or the rock'n'roll behaviour, it's the music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noel-gallagher/writing-songs-that-s-what-gets-me-going-not-the-drugs-or-the-sex-or/)

[Noel Gallagher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noel-gallagher/)

> [Some want to do pretty songs with pretty words about pretty people, but that ain't me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sixto-rodriguez/some-want-to-do-pretty-songs-with-pretty-words-about-pretty-people/)

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> [I could turn on my radio in the morning when I was getting dressed for school and hear Frank Sinatra and Duke Ellington and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woody-allen/i-could-turn-on-my-radio-in-the-morning-when-i-was-getting-dressed/)

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> [It's pretty much the songs I write that dictate what vibe it should be and what singers it should be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trentem-ller/it-s-pretty-much-the-songs-i-write-that-dictate-what-vibe-it-should/)

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> [I think a lot of men are afraid of pretty things, and I'm not, I like pretty songs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-townes-earle/i-think-a-lot-of-men-are-afraid-of-pretty-things-and-i-m-not-i-like/)

[Justin Townes Earle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-townes-earle/)

> [If you look at the charts every year, there may be five or ten memorable songs from each year.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randy-jackson/if-you-look-at-the-charts-every-year-there-may-be-five-or-ten/)

[Randy Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randy-jackson/)

> [I write pretty much every day, but I don't have any desire to publish anything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/winona-ryder/i-write-pretty-much-every-day-but-i-don-t-have-any-desire-to-publish/)

[Winona Ryder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/winona-ryder/)

> [I like to go out and write. So I'll often go to a Starbucks or a local coffee bar, and I'll sit there and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harlan-coben/i-like-to-go-out-and-write-so-i-ll-often-go-to-a-starbucks-or-a-local/)

[Harlan Coben](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harlan-coben/)

> [I can write pretty much anywhere if you give me time and some quiet. The home is not usually the best place because I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harlan-coben/i-can-write-pretty-much-anywhere-if-you-give-me-time-and-some-quiet/)

[Harlan Coben](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harlan-coben/)

> [I tend to write a pretty half and half split of, like, slow, morose things and then sort of more upbeat stuff.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-mercer/i-tend-to-write-a-pretty-half-and-half-split-of-like-slow-morose/)

[James Mercer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-mercer/)

> [“I think I was born to write. My mother would put a typewriter on the dining room table and say "there you go". My…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ida-pollock/i-think-i-was-born-to-write-my-mother-would-put-a-typewriter-on-the/)

Ida Pollock

> [I write pretty often. I have a home studio. Music is what I do for fun. I never get tired of it, so to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/queen-latifah/i-write-pretty-often-i-have-a-home-studio-music-is-what-i-do-for-fun/)

[Queen Latifah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/queen-latifah/)

> [I can write pretty much anywhere.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-mitchell/i-can-write-pretty-much-anywhere/)

[David Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-mitchell/)

> [I write pretty much anywhere - on planes, in hotel rooms, anywhere in my house.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffery-deaver/i-write-pretty-much-anywhere-on-planes-in-hotel-rooms-anywhere-in-my/)

[Jeffery Deaver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffery-deaver/)

## More by Nicky Jam

> [Medellin gave me so much. It gave me back who I am: the person I am, the human being I am.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicky-jam/medellin-gave-me-so-much-it-gave-me-back-who-i-am-the-person-i-am-the/)

[Nicky Jam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicky-jam/)

> [I don't see a Spanish song being No. 1 on the Hot 100. I mean, if it happens, fantastic. But I don't think it will.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicky-jam/i-don-t-see-a-spanish-song-being-no-1-on-the-hot-100-i-mean-if-it/)

[Nicky Jam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicky-jam/)

> [Puerto Rico got too futuristic with the electronic reggaeton. It lost the essence of the reggae music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicky-jam/puerto-rico-got-too-futuristic-with-the-electronic-reggaeton-it-lost/)

[Nicky Jam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicky-jam/)

> [I want to go into the English market, all the way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicky-jam/i-want-to-go-into-the-english-market-all-the-way/)

[Nicky Jam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicky-jam/)

> [If I write songs trying to top other songs, it's a lot of pressure.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicky-jam/if-i-write-songs-trying-to-top-other-songs-it-s-a-lot-of-pressure/)

[Nicky Jam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicky-jam/)

> [Vin Diesel is crazy, and when I say crazy, I mean it in a good way. He's crazy about Latinos, and he's not even…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicky-jam/vin-diesel-is-crazy-and-when-i-say-crazy-i-mean-it-in-a-good-way-he-s/)

[Nicky Jam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicky-jam/)

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[Nicky Jam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicky-jam/)

> [I was making too much money. I was too young. I didn't know how to deal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicky-jam/i-was-making-too-much-money-i-was-too-young-i-didn-t-know-how-to-deal/)

[Nicky Jam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicky-jam/)

> [Colombia changed the way I write and sing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicky-jam/colombia-changed-the-way-i-write-and-sing/)

[Nicky Jam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicky-jam/)

> [I've always wanted to work with Mana. I've been a fan of them since I started singing reggaeton in 1992.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicky-jam/i-ve-always-wanted-to-work-with-mana-i-ve-been-a-fan-of-them-since-i/)

[Nicky Jam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicky-jam/)

> [In Colombia is where I discovered myself as a writer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicky-jam/in-colombia-is-where-i-discovered-myself-as-a-writer/)

[Nicky Jam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicky-jam/)

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> [If we sang in English, we would have global No. 1s, and no one would say anything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicky-jam/if-we-sang-in-english-we-would-have-global-no-1s-and-no-one-would-say/)

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> [What happened in my life made me a better artist.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicky-jam/what-happened-in-my-life-made-me-a-better-artist/)

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> [The way you pronounce words the Puerto Rico way, it's not really global for music. Colombians speak some of the best Spanish in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicky-jam/the-way-you-pronounce-words-the-puerto-rico-way-it-s-not-really/)

[Nicky Jam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicky-jam/)

[Explore all 40 Nicky Jam quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicky-jam/)

## More Charts quotes

> [If you look at the charts every year, there may be five or ten memorable songs from each year.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randy-jackson/if-you-look-at-the-charts-every-year-there-may-be-five-or-ten/)

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[Scott Stabile](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-stabile/)

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[Larry Fitzgerald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-fitzgerald/)

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[Bruce Kovner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-kovner/)

> [I never envisioned being number one for five weeks, knocking Mariah Carey and Boyz II Men off the charts. That's the scariest thing and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sir-mix-a-lot/i-never-envisioned-being-number-one-for-five-weeks-knocking-mariah/)

[Sir Mix-a-Lot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sir-mix-a-lot/)

> [I want to speak for people that may not feel like they're being spoken for at the moment. And I want to make a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emeli-sande/i-want-to-speak-for-people-that-may-not-feel-like-they-re-being/)

[Emeli Sande](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emeli-sande/)

> [I'd had my time in the charts and made loads of money. I was no longer hungry for success.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-astley/i-d-had-my-time-in-the-charts-and-made-loads-of-money-i-was-no-longer/)

[Rick Astley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-astley/)

Browse all 65 Charts quotes

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