--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: An audience will let you know if a song…" description: "\"An audience will let you know if a song communicates. If you see them kind of falling asleep during the song, or if they clap at the end of a song, the..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a47/richard-thompson-13593_audience_an-audience-will-let-you-know-if-a-song_629752.png" --- # An audience will let you know if a song communicates. If… ![“An audience will let you know if a song communicates. If you see them kind of falling asleep during the song, or if they clap at the end of a song, then they're telling you something about the song. But you can have a good song that doesn't communicate. Perhaps that isn't a song that you can sing…” quote by Richard Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a47/richard-thompson-13593_audience_an-audience-will-let-you-know-if-a-song_629752.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a47/richard-thompson-13593_audience_an-audience-will-let-you-know-if-a-song_629752.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a47/richard-thompson-13593_audience_an-audience-will-let-you-know-if-a-song_629752.png) > “An audience will let you know if a song communicates. If you see them kind of falling asleep during the song, or if they clap at the end of a song, then they're telling you something about the song. But you can have a good song that doesn't communicate. Perhaps that isn't a song that you can sing to people; perhaps that's a song that you sing to yourself. And some songs are maybe for a small audience, and some songs are for a wide audience. But the audience will let you know pretty quickly.” [Richard Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-thompson/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Audience reaction reveals whether a song truly communicates; lack of response may indicate a song meant for personal listening. **In simple terms:** Audience feedback shows a song’s communicative success. Key Takeaway Listen to audience cues for song impact. Themes music communication audience performance creativity Mood analytical contemplative Type reflective observational When to use this quote - live concerts - songwriting workshops - studio recordings Key Concepts Aesthetics listener perception artistic intent Questions to Reflect On - How do you gauge a song’s success beyond applause? - When is a private song valuable? A Different Perspective Audience may misinterpret artistic intent. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Audience](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/audience/) [Communication](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/communication/) [Falling asleep](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/falling-asleep/) [Good Son](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good-son/) [Music](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/music/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Song](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/song/) ## Related quotes > [For me, it's all about making a song that communicates something to a big crowd, but you still feel like it's authentic to who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mo/for-me-it-s-all-about-making-a-song-that-communicates-something-to-a/) MO > [There's times, in certain songs, that I might be in my own world, and who cares about who's out there, you know? You have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-scott/there-s-times-in-certain-songs-that-i-might-be-in-my-own-world-and/) [Jimmy Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-scott/) > [Each song, you're telling a story and acting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patti-page/each-song-you-re-telling-a-story-and-acting/) [Patti Page](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patti-page/) > [If the melody is telling me this is what the song is about, then I'm sort of forced into confession, autobiography or fantasy. If…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-folds/if-the-melody-is-telling-me-this-is-what-the-song-is-about-then-i-m/) [Ben Folds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-folds/) > [I feel like you're able to be your most creative in private environments, and not a studio where an A&R person is coming in,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/finneas/i-feel-like-you-re-able-to-be-your-most-creative-in-private/) [Finneas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/finneas/) > [When the band first started, it was so much about carving out some space for myself and our audience and our songs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carrie-brownstein/when-the-band-first-started-it-was-so-much-about-carving-out-some/) [Carrie Brownstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carrie-brownstein/) > [I learnt early on that your audience take the songs in the way they want to rather than the way you might want them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gil-scott-heron/i-learnt-early-on-that-your-audience-take-the-songs-in-the-way-they/) [Gil Scott-Heron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gil-scott-heron/) > [I play shows sometimes, and if everything's connecting, I start blabbing to the audience about anything. Between songs, talking about things in my personal…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-kozelek/i-play-shows-sometimes-and-if-everything-s-connecting-i-start/) [Mark Kozelek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-kozelek/) > [I'll never waste my dreams by falling asleep. Never again.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eug-ne-ionesco/i-ll-never-waste-my-dreams-by-falling-asleep-never-again/) [Eugene Ionesco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eug-ne-ionesco/) > [“There were two people…things at the cave entrance,’ I whispered, shuffling as close to him as possible, my eyes trained on where the strangers…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vanessa-garden/there-were-two-people-things-at-the-cave-entrance-i-whispered/) [Vanessa Garden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vanessa-garden/) > [“What did they think they could accomplish? Maura wondered if there would have been riots if it had been the other half of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-king/what-did-they-think-they-could-accomplish-maura-wondered-if-there/) [Stephen King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-king/) > [You can get anywhere on earth by falling asleep.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/feist/you-can-get-anywhere-on-earth-by-falling-asleep/) [Feist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/feist/) > [“The mind cannot fall asleep as long as it watches itself. Only when the mind moves unwatched and becomes absorbed in images that tug…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-updike/the-mind-cannot-fall-asleep-as-long-as-it-watches-itself-only-when/) [John Updike](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-updike/) > [One of the most Beautiful Things... is Falling Asleep with Someone you Love... Holding them and Feeling Perfectly Safe...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/one-of-the-most-beautiful-things-is-falling-asleep-with-someone-you/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Fear of seeing a police car pull into the drive. Fear of falling asleep at night. Fear of not falling asleep. Fear of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raymond-carver/fear-of-seeing-a-police-car-pull-into-the-drive-fear-of-falling/) [Raymond Carver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raymond-carver/) ## More by Richard Thompson > [People want to be the first with the record, they want to be the first to know which songs are on the record, all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-thompson/people-want-to-be-the-first-with-the-record-they-want-to-be-the-first/) [Richard Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-thompson/) > [You want the audience to be uncomfortable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-thompson/you-want-the-audience-to-be-uncomfortable/) [Richard Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-thompson/) > [People want to hear about the extremes of human nature. They want things that are larger than their own lives, and more romantic, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-thompson/people-want-to-hear-about-the-extremes-of-human-nature-they-want/) [Richard Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-thompson/) > [Amplifying acoustic instruments more than a little is really cheating, and everything becomes a compromise.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-thompson/amplifying-acoustic-instruments-more-than-a-little-is-really-cheating/) [Richard Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-thompson/) > [As the writer, you're always a presence in the song. If you get close to what human beings are like, you're writing about common…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-thompson/as-the-writer-you-re-always-a-presence-in-the-song-if-you-get-close/) [Richard Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-thompson/) > [There is in fact a controversy over Darwin's theory. Clearly both theories have religious implications. But this is not about God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-thompson/there-is-in-fact-a-controversy-over-darwin-s-theory-clearly-both/) [Richard Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-thompson/) > [I want people to come to my music without prejudice. I want them to get the music first. And who I am isn't that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-thompson/i-want-people-to-come-to-my-music-without-prejudice-i-want-them-to/) [Richard Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-thompson/) > [I think it's absolutely possible to write a song and go somewhere where no one's been before, uncharted territory. In terms of content, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-thompson/i-think-it-s-absolutely-possible-to-write-a-song-and-go-somewhere/) [Richard Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-thompson/) > [“I’m a fool with a size one head/ I’ll change this heart of mine/ This time, this time”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-thompson/i-m-a-fool-with-a-size-one-head-i-ll-change-this-heart-of-mine-this/) [Richard Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-thompson/) > [I'm glad I can do both full-band electric and solo acoustic performances. It's nice to have contrast, so if you get fed up with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-thompson/i-m-glad-i-can-do-both-full-band-electric-and-solo-acoustic/) [Richard Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-thompson/) > [When you stand up acoustic in front of an audience, you really are a man without any clothes on. And that can be fun…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-thompson/when-you-stand-up-acoustic-in-front-of-an-audience-you-really-are-a/) [Richard Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-thompson/) > [I think you can refine what you do, and become more consistent. And you write better songs that have a better shape and a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-thompson/i-think-you-can-refine-what-you-do-and-become-more-consistent-and-you/) [Richard Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-thompson/) > [What I wanted to hear didn't exist, so it was necessary for me to go out and create it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-thompson/what-i-wanted-to-hear-didn-t-exist-so-it-was-necessary-for-me-to-go/) [Richard Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-thompson/) > [It's amazing what some people read into songs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-thompson/it-s-amazing-what-some-people-read-into-songs/) [Richard Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-thompson/) > [The good part of writing is where it gets out of your control and turns into something else. You look at it and think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-thompson/the-good-part-of-writing-is-where-it-gets-out-of-your-control-and/) [Richard Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-thompson/) [Explore all 50 Richard Thompson quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-thompson/) ## More Audience quotes > [If the audience likes your work, if they like you, they don't think whether you are married or have children or not. I made…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dimple-kapadia/if-the-audience-likes-your-work-if-they-like-you-they-don-t-think/) [Dimple Kapadia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dimple-kapadia/) > [It's those moments, those odd moments that you look for and sometimes by creating this kind of loose atmosphere you find those little moments…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-levinson/it-s-those-moments-those-odd-moments-that-you-look-for-and-sometimes/) [Barry Levinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-levinson/) > [I can skate beautifully. While performing on ice I always try to please the audience and to win as well. Being artistic is very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evgeni-plushenko/i-can-skate-beautifully-while-performing-on-ice-i-always-try-to/) [Evgeni Plushenko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evgeni-plushenko/) > [One of the best moments of any Liars show is hearing the crowd squawk 'We're doomed! We're doomed!' on cue during 'We Fenced Other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-sheffield/one-of-the-best-moments-of-any-liars-show-is-hearing-the-crowd-squawk/) [Rob Sheffield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-sheffield/) > [It's the adrenaline rush you only get from being in front of an audience. It's addictive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raphael-saadiq/it-s-the-adrenaline-rush-you-only-get-from-being-in-front-of-an/) [Raphael Saadiq](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raphael-saadiq/) > [If I had to speak in front of a Korean audience, I would be hard pressed to sound other than a little girl.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/an-na/if-i-had-to-speak-in-front-of-a-korean-audience-i-would-be-hard/) [An Na](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/an-na/) > [The liveness of theater, and the excitement of experiencing it alongside an audience, is something you can't get at home. That makes the theater…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-blaemire/the-liveness-of-theater-and-the-excitement-of-experiencing-it/) [Nick Blaemire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-blaemire/) > [One of the things that touches me most when I play for an audience is that although we may be unable to communicate in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-hough/one-of-the-things-that-touches-me-most-when-i-play-for-an-audience-is/) [Stephen Hough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-hough/) > [I have to feel the audience. I enjoy that feeling of community.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-gahan/i-have-to-feel-the-audience-i-enjoy-that-feeling-of-community/) [Dave Gahan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-gahan/) > [When you lived it for years and years and years and seen different characters just get pummeled and squashed because 'I said so,' it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arn-anderson/when-you-lived-it-for-years-and-years-and-years-and-seen-different/) [Arn Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arn-anderson/) > [“During the first few minutes of your presentation, your job is to assure the audience members that you are not going to waste their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dale-ludwig-and-greg-owen-boger/during-the-first-few-minutes-of-your-presentation-your-job-is-to/) [Dale Ludwig and Greg Owen-Boger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dale-ludwig-and-greg-owen-boger/) > [Donald Trump is a different ball of wax. I've been trying to say for I don't know how many months now that the traditional…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/donald-trump-is-a-different-ball-of-wax-i-ve-been-trying-to-say-for-i/) [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) > [I don't think about who the audience is for my books.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-k-rowling-2/i-don-t-think-about-who-the-audience-is-for-my-books/) [J. K. Rowling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-k-rowling-2/) > [I feel I have been playing all primary characters. And if your character forms a connect with the audience, it doesn't matter if you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angad-bedi/i-feel-i-have-been-playing-all-primary-characters-and-if-your/) [Angad Bedi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angad-bedi/) > [When I was playing piano, it was like, 'I'm going to write a song using all the white keys.' My music director, who knew…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-tesh/when-i-was-playing-piano-it-was-like-i-m-going-to-write-a-song-using/) [John Tesh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-tesh/) [Browse all 9,118 Audience quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/audience/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "An audience will let you know if a song communicates. If you see them kind of falling asleep during the song, or if they clap at the end of a song, then they're telling you something about the song. But you can have a good song that doesn't communicate. Perhaps that isn't a song that you can sing to people; perhaps that's a song that you sing to yourself. And some songs are maybe for a small audience, and some songs are for a wide audience. 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