--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I know jazz is completely un-American…" description: "\"I know jazz is completely un-American. But the reason why America doesn't like it is because it's not funny. We [americans] have made jazz funny.\" — Pa..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/49f/paul-provenza-39458_america_i-know-jazz-is-completely-un-american-bu_2308644.png" --- # I know jazz is completely un-American. But the reason why… ![“I know jazz is completely un-American. But the reason why America doesn't like it is because it's not funny. We [americans] have made jazz funny.” quote by Paul Provenza](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/49f/paul-provenza-39458_america_i-know-jazz-is-completely-un-american-bu_2308644.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/49f/paul-provenza-39458_america_i-know-jazz-is-completely-un-american-bu_2308644.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/49f/paul-provenza-39458_america_i-know-jazz-is-completely-un-american-bu_2308644.png) > “I know jazz is completely un-American. But the reason why America doesn't like it is because it's not funny. We \[americans\] have made jazz funny.” [Paul Provenza](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-provenza/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Jazz is seen as un-American because it challenges mainstream expectations, yet Americans have commercialized it. **In simple terms:** Jazz challenges norms, yet is commercialized. Key Takeaway Recognize cultural roots beyond commercial versions. Themes culture music commercialization American identity artistic freedom Mood analytical critical insightful Type culture music social critique When to use this quote - music education - cultural festivals - media representation - artistic critique Key Concepts cultural appropriation artistic expression commercial pressure Questions to Reflect On - What aspects of jazz remain authentic today? - How does commercialization affect cultural art forms? A Different Perspective Commercialization can dilute original cultural meaning. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [America](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/america/) [Jazz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/jazz/) [Reason](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reason/) [Song](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/song/) ## Related quotes > [It's funny - Americans are the colonials who ran away from the royals, and yet we're fascinated by them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-bryan/it-s-funny-americans-are-the-colonials-who-ran-away-from-the-royals/) [David Bryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-bryan/) > [It's just funny that Americans have to contend with 2000 channels, and 60 different specific news sources, and the confusion that it creates, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-mckay/it-s-just-funny-that-americans-have-to-contend-with-2000-channels-and/) [Adam McKay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-mckay/) > [You know, jazz is the mother of all American music. R&B and pop and rap and everything are the branches on the main tree…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-burdon/you-know-jazz-is-the-mother-of-all-american-music-r-b-and-pop-and-rap/) [Eric Burdon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-burdon/) > [It's not jazz as we know jazz here in America.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/les-paul/it-s-not-jazz-as-we-know-jazz-here-in-america/) [Les Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/les-paul/) > [ The people know more about \[Jazz\] in other countries than in America. America is the last country to know about anything, because we're too… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/art-blakey/the-people-know-more-about-jazz-in-other-countries-than-in-america/) [Art Blakey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/art-blakey/) > [I don't know any jazz stuff. I don't know how to jam in that way. So jamming, for me, is writing a tune.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-adams/i-don-t-know-any-jazz-stuff-i-don-t-know-how-to-jam-in-that-way-so/) [Ryan Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-adams/) > [Do you think Duke Ellington didn't listen to Debussy? Louis Armstrong loved opera, did you know that? Name me a jazz pianist who wasn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-brubeck/do-you-think-duke-ellington-didn-t-listen-to-debussy-louis-armstrong/) [Dave Brubeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-brubeck/) > [Gospel music rhythms are not African in origin, although I know that's what the jazz experts say.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahalia-jackson/gospel-music-rhythms-are-not-african-in-origin-although-i-know-that-s/) [Mahalia Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahalia-jackson/) > [It's not enough to just be a good singer. You have to know where your roots come from. 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I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-provenza/i-actually-go-to-church-i-know-it-s-hard-for-you-to-believe-it-s-only/) [Paul Provenza](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-provenza/) [Explore all 11 Paul Provenza quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-provenza/) ## More America quotes > [The costs of the Bush-Obama wars in Iraq and Afghanistan are now estimated to run as high as $4.4 trillion - a major victory…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/the-costs-of-the-bush-obama-wars-in-iraq-and-afghanistan-are-now/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [Young men, especially in America, write to me and ask me to recommend “a course of reading.” Distrust a course of reading! People who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-lang/young-men-especially-in-america-write-to-me-and-ask-me-to-recommend-a/) [Andrew Lang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-lang/) > [Well, The Day the Earth Caught Fire was a story... 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