---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I just figured if I'm going to call…"
description: "\"I just figured if I'm going to call myself a songwriter throughout my life, then writing for most genres of music is something I should at least attemp..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2ce/phil-collins-3028_genre_i-just-figured-if-i-m-going-to-call-myse_1117718.jpg"
---

#  I just figured if I'm going to call myself a songwriter…

![“I just figured if I'm going to call myself a songwriter throughout my life, then writing for most genres of music is something I should at least attempt.” quote by Phil Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2ce/phil-collins-3028_genre_i-just-figured-if-i-m-going-to-call-myse_1117718.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2ce/phil-collins-3028_genre_i-just-figured-if-i-m-going-to-call-myse_1117718.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2ce/phil-collins-3028_genre_i-just-figured-if-i-m-going-to-call-myse_1117718.jpg)

> “I just figured if I'm going to call myself a songwriter throughout my life, then writing for most genres of music is something I should at least attempt.”

[Phil Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-collins/)

## About This Quote

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

Encourages exploring multiple musical styles to broaden creative skill set.

**In simple terms:** Try writing across genres.

Key Takeaway

Expand your songwriting horizons.

Themes

creativity growth versatility

Mood

inspired curious

Type

advice motivational

When to use this quote

- songwriting workshops
- collaborations
- personal projects

Key Concepts

genre exploration skill development

Questions to Reflect On

- Which genre challenges you most?
- How can genre blending enrich your voice?

A Different Perspective

May dilute personal style if not focused.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Genre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/genre/) [Genres of music](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/genres-of-music/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Music](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/music/) [Song](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/song/) [Songwriter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/songwriter/) [Songwriters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/songwriters/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/)

## Related quotes

> ['My Church' - that was really the tipping point of me going from songwriter to artist.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maren-morris/my-church-that-was-really-the-tipping-point-of-me-going-from/)

[Maren Morris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maren-morris/)

> [I thought I was just going to be a songwriter for other people! And now I get to put out my own music, which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kim-petras/i-thought-i-was-just-going-to-be-a-songwriter-for-other-people-and/)

[Kim Petras](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kim-petras/)

> [Vocal music is an attempt to take the whole human being and project it into space. It is the ultimate gesture of getting out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-sellers/vocal-music-is-an-attempt-to-take-the-whole-human-being-and-project/)

[Peter Sellers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-sellers/)

> [Bad music is the attempt to imitate something that has very strong rules and grammar.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carlo-grante/bad-music-is-the-attempt-to-imitate-something-that-has-very-strong/)

[Carlo Grante](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carlo-grante/)

> [As a screenwriter I'm often writing in genres where there have been thousands of movies; whereas when I direct movies they tend to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-sayles/as-a-screenwriter-i-m-often-writing-in-genres-where-there-have-been/)

[John Sayles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-sayles/)

> [I like so many kinds of music, and I work with so many kinds of music as a producer. When you work in 14…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-carter-cash/i-like-so-many-kinds-of-music-and-i-work-with-so-many-kinds-of-music/)

[John Carter Cash](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-carter-cash/)

> [Writing across genres has made me more prolific. When one is fighting me or simply not cutting it, I turn to another.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julianna-baggott/writing-across-genres-has-made-me-more-prolific-when-one-is-fighting/)

[Julianna Baggott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julianna-baggott/)

> [With pretty much everything that I've done, in terms of going from being a songwriter and producer for other artists to doing my stuff,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauv/with-pretty-much-everything-that-i-ve-done-in-terms-of-going-from/)

[Lauv](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauv/)

> [The roughest part for me when I'm writing a song is staring at a blank page. Where am I going from here? If you're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-weir/the-roughest-part-for-me-when-i-m-writing-a-song-is-staring-at-a/)

[Bob Weir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-weir/)

> [I am singing a genre of music that people are very protective of. I am being compared to the greatest vocalist of all time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-buble/i-am-singing-a-genre-of-music-that-people-are-very-protective-of-i-am/)

[Michael Buble](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-buble/)

> [I grew up in the funk, rock and roll, blues and r&amp;b tradition, and I came to this thing we call jazz later. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hamid-drake/i-grew-up-in-the-funk-rock-and-roll-blues-and-r-b-tradition-and-i/)

[Hamid Drake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hamid-drake/)

> [You certainly don't hear any country music on pop radio today. But for a while you did, and it was a lovely thing to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-webb/you-certainly-don-t-hear-any-country-music-on-pop-radio-today-but-for/)

[Jimmy Webb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-webb/)

> [I was fortunate to be connected with bands who later became pioneers for certain genres of music scenes. And my art went along with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arik-roper/i-was-fortunate-to-be-connected-with-bands-who-later-became-pioneers/)

[Arik Roper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arik-roper/)

> [All in all, I think that out of all musical genres, the world of metal is the most escapist one. Metal is also music…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tuomas-holopainen/all-in-all-i-think-that-out-of-all-musical-genres-the-world-of-metal/)

[Tuomas Holopainen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tuomas-holopainen/)

> [I've never recognized 'emo' as a genre of music. I always thought it was the most retarded term ever. I know there is this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guy-picciotto/i-ve-never-recognized-emo-as-a-genre-of-music-i-always-thought-it-was/)

[Guy Picciotto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/guy-picciotto/)

## More by Phil Collins

> [When children see Michael Jackson they see a human being. When adults see him they see money.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-collins/when-children-see-michael-jackson-they-see-a-human-being-when-adults/)

[Phil Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-collins/)

> [I just don't think of myself as a star. This is what I do for a living; I'm fortunate that I make ends meet.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-collins/i-just-don-t-think-of-myself-as-a-star-this-is-what-i-do-for-a-living/)

[Phil Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-collins/)

> [Many people think of me as a perfectionist, someone who polishes and shines each song and performance. I've always been bothered by that assumption.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-collins/many-people-think-of-me-as-a-perfectionist-someone-who-polishes-and/)

[Phil Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-collins/)

> [As I've gotten older and learned more, I realise that Hollywood has not told the truth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-collins/as-i-ve-gotten-older-and-learned-more-i-realise-that-hollywood-has/)

[Phil Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-collins/)

> [I feel terrible for women that have had Phil Collins tattoos. Their poor husbands have to deal with.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-collins/i-feel-terrible-for-women-that-have-had-phil-collins-tattoos-their/)

[Phil Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-collins/)

> [This stupid sensitivity! But then women like sensitivity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-collins/this-stupid-sensitivity-but-then-women-like-sensitivity/)

[Phil Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-collins/)

> [Non-physicality may soon come to dominate our reality. Thanx Quatum Mechanics!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-collins/non-physicality-may-soon-come-to-dominate-our-reality-thanx-quatum/)

[Phil Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-collins/)

> [I know it shouldn't make a difference, but crossing the dateline, we weren't sure what day it was - it was very strange. Now,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-collins/i-know-it-shouldn-t-make-a-difference-but-crossing-the-dateline-we/)

[Phil Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-collins/)

> [Like last night I had a sequence with a gun and, to be honest, for me to be threatening with a gun and not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-collins/like-last-night-i-had-a-sequence-with-a-gun-and-to-be-honest-for-me/)

[Phil Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-collins/)

> [You know, a song is like a kid. You bring it up. And sometimes something you thought was going to be fantastic, by the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-collins/you-know-a-song-is-like-a-kid-you-bring-it-up-and-sometimes-something/)

[Phil Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-collins/)

> [Tattoos don't impress me. For me it's just another awkward part of fame. It's extraordinary - tattoos in basketball and soccer, it's quite extraordinary.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-collins/tattoos-don-t-impress-me-for-me-it-s-just-another-awkward-part-of/)

[Phil Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-collins/)

> [“Why can't they understand the way we feel? They just don't trust what they can't explain. I know we're different, but deep inside us…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-collins/why-can-t-they-understand-the-way-we-feel-they-just-don-t-trust-what/)

[Phil Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-collins/)

> [You know, a song is like a kid. You bring it up. And sometimes something you thought was going to be fantastic, by the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-collins/you-know-a-song-is-like-a-kid-you-bring-it-up-and-sometimes-something-2/)

[Phil Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-collins/)

> [I'd love to work with Disney again.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-collins/i-d-love-to-work-with-disney-again/)

[Phil Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-collins/)

> [When I go on Japanese Airlines, I really love it because I like Japanese food.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-collins/when-i-go-on-japanese-airlines-i-really-love-it-because-i-like/)

[Phil Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-collins/)

[Explore all 142 Phil Collins quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-collins/)

## More Genre quotes

> [I really like a lot of American country stuff, so my music has that influence, but I don't like to be set within a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jade-bird/i-really-like-a-lot-of-american-country-stuff-so-my-music-has-that/)

[Jade Bird](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jade-bird/)

> [ He \[ the son\]'s grown up listening to all types of music, and the natural form of rebellion is to find the one genre… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/solange-knowles/he-the-son-s-grown-up-listening-to-all-types-of-music-and-the-natural/)

[Solange Knowles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/solange-knowles/)

> [I don't really think in terms of genre, I think in terms of story and character.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-rudd/i-don-t-really-think-in-terms-of-genre-i-think-in-terms-of-story-and/)

[Paul Rudd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-rudd/)

> [I've just always loved really good projects. The things that draw me into a new project have very little to do with genre and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jewel-staite/i-ve-just-always-loved-really-good-projects-the-things-that-draw-me/)

[Jewel Staite](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jewel-staite/)

> [As a rule, I don't worry about genre. I just want to tell a good story, with characters that interest me and my readers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-king/as-a-rule-i-don-t-worry-about-genre-i-just-want-to-tell-a-good-story/)

[Stephen King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-king/)

> [Trombone virtuoso and innovative composer, Papo combines the best of jazz and Latin music to create a genre that is unique and wild. He's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-brecker/trombone-virtuoso-and-innovative-composer-papo-combines-the-best-of/)

Michael Brecker

> [Gothic in its purest sense is actually a very powerful, twisted genre, but the way it was being used by by journalists - 'goff'…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/siouxsie-sioux/gothic-in-its-purest-sense-is-actually-a-very-powerful-twisted-genre/)

[Siouxsie Sioux](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/siouxsie-sioux/)

> [The great thing about the arts, and especially popular music, is that it really does cut across genres and races and classes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bonnie-raitt/the-great-thing-about-the-arts-and-especially-popular-music-is-that/)

[Bonnie Raitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bonnie-raitt/)

> [“What we've done is make the categories of science fiction and fantasy larger, freer, and more inclusive than any other genre of contemporary literature.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orson-scott-card/what-we-ve-done-is-make-the-categories-of-science-fiction-and-fantasy/)

[Orson Scott Card](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orson-scott-card/)

> [I knew what kind of genre 'Casa de mi Padre' was going for. But my character, specifically, I think is very real.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/genesis-rodriguez/i-knew-what-kind-of-genre-casa-de-mi-padre-was-going-for-but-my/)

[Genesis Rodriguez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/genesis-rodriguez/)

> [In television, women can really run anything. It can be a comedy, it can be a drama, it can be genre, it can be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-michelle-gellar/in-television-women-can-really-run-anything-it-can-be-a-comedy-it-can/)

[Sarah Michelle Gellar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-michelle-gellar/)

> [I'm not a fan of any genre but am a fan of movies that are intelligent and/or funny. That goes across all genres: a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-m-not-a-fan-of-any-genre-but-am-a-fan-of-movies-that-are/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [The excellence of this important contribution to genre literature CANNOT be overstated A masterwork.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-f-nolan/the-excellence-of-this-important-contribution-to-genre-literature/)

William F. Nolan

> [I have finally become my own genre, and now that's what publishers want. I have a wonderful publisher now, Mulholland, very innovated, very fine…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-r-lansdale/i-have-finally-become-my-own-genre-and-now-that-s-what-publishers/)

[Joe R. Lansdale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-r-lansdale/)

> [There is a real problem with the lack of diversity, specifically in genre films and the superheroes our kids grow up watching and emulating,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/djimon-hounsou/there-is-a-real-problem-with-the-lack-of-diversity-specifically-in/)

[Djimon Hounsou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/djimon-hounsou/)

[Browse all 2,187 Genre quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/genre/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "I just figured if I'm going to call myself a songwriter throughout my life, then writing for most genres of music is something I should at least attempt.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Phil Collins"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-collins/i-just-figured-if-i-m-going-to-call-myself-a-songwriter-throughout-my/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Genre"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-collins/i-just-figured-if-i-m-going-to-call-myself-a-songwriter-throughout-my/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2ce/phil-collins-3028_genre_i-just-figured-if-i-m-going-to-call-myse_1117718.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2ce/phil-collins-3028_genre_i-just-figured-if-i-m-going-to-call-myse_1117718.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2ce/phil-collins-3028_genre_i-just-figured-if-i-m-going-to-call-myse_1117718.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“I just figured if I'm going to call myself a songwriter throughout my life, then writing for most genres of…” — Phil Collins",
                "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": "Phil Collins",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-collins/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "I just figured if I'm going...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-collins/i-just-figured-if-i-m-going-to-call-myself-a-songwriter-throughout-my/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-collins/i-just-figured-if-i-m-going-to-call-myself-a-songwriter-throughout-my/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
