--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The music that we listen to these days…" description: "\"The music that we listen to these days, everything is right there in your face. There's no real mystery. It's not poetic. I want people to think. I wan..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/18e/ro-james-27960_face_the-music-that-we-listen-to-these-days-e_910100.jpg" --- # The music that we listen to these days, everything is… ![“The music that we listen to these days, everything is right there in your face. There's no real mystery. It's not poetic. I want people to think. I want to make people listen to my lyrics.” quote by Ro James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/18e/ro-james-27960_face_the-music-that-we-listen-to-these-days-e_910100.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/18e/ro-james-27960_face_the-music-that-we-listen-to-these-days-e_910100.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/18e/ro-james-27960_face_the-music-that-we-listen-to-these-days-e_910100.jpg) > “The music that we listen to these days, everything is right there in your face. There's no real mystery. It's not poetic. I want people to think. I want to make people listen to my lyrics.” [Ro James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ro-james/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Contemporary music often lacks depth, focusing on surface appeal rather than thoughtful lyricism. **In simple terms:** Modern songs are superficial and lack meaning. Key Takeaway Seek depth and authenticity in music. Themes art music authenticity Mood thoughtful critical Type analytical inspirational When to use this quote - songwriting - playlist curation - educational workshops Key Concepts cultural critique media studies Questions to Reflect On - What makes lyrics resonate with you? - How can artists balance popularity and substance? A Different Perspective Some listeners prefer catchy over complex content, limiting impact. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Lyrics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lyrics/) [Music](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/music/) [Mystery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mystery/) [Song](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/song/) ## Related quotes > [I want people to listen to the lyrics of each song and absorb the music fully before they look at me and make a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darren-fletcher/i-want-people-to-listen-to-the-lyrics-of-each-song-and-absorb-the/) [Darren Fletcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/darren-fletcher/) > [I'm quite certain that the audience that I've got for my stuff don't listen to the lyrics.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-bowie/i-m-quite-certain-that-the-audience-that-i-ve-got-for-my-stuff-don-t/) [David Bowie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-bowie/) > [I love music. I listen to a lot of it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-murray/i-love-music-i-listen-to-a-lot-of-it/) [Andy Murray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-murray/) > [If you cannot smile when you listen to music, then do not listen to it!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/estelle/if-you-cannot-smile-when-you-listen-to-music-then-do-not-listen-to-it/) [Estelle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/estelle/) > [I listen to some of the lyrics I used to write and I say, "Where was my head at when I wrote that?"](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ozzy-osbourne/i-listen-to-some-of-the-lyrics-i-used-to-write-and-i-say-where-was-my/) [Ozzy Osbourne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ozzy-osbourne/) > [Music is where people who have issues going on actually listen to the lyrics.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-mccarty/music-is-where-people-who-have-issues-going-on-actually-listen-to-the/) [Kevin McCarty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-mccarty/) > [It's a natural tendency of mine to not even listen to lyrics.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zach-condon/it-s-a-natural-tendency-of-mine-to-not-even-listen-to-lyrics/) [Zach Condon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zach-condon/) > [A lot of people don't listen to the lyrics, really.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lenny-kravitz/a-lot-of-people-don-t-listen-to-the-lyrics-really/) [Lenny Kravitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lenny-kravitz/) > [People really listen to your lyrics if you rap. So, I had to make sure that they were clear and concise.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-salling/people-really-listen-to-your-lyrics-if-you-rap-so-i-had-to-make-sure/) [Mark Salling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-salling/) > [“Sometimes we focus too much on the lyrics that we forget to dance to the music. And sometimes we dance to the music and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexa-anderson/sometimes-we-focus-too-much-on-the-lyrics-that-we-forget-to-dance-to/) Alexa Anderson > [People, my age, people older, people younger, it's like they look up to me. They listen to my lyrics for wisdom. They listen to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/young-dolph/people-my-age-people-older-people-younger-it-s-like-they-look-up-to/) [Young Dolph](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/young-dolph/) > [I know that my fans will probably learn a lot about me by listening to my music, if they really listen to the lyrics.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ariana-grande/i-know-that-my-fans-will-probably-learn-a-lot-about-me-by-listening/) [Ariana Grande](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ariana-grande/) > [If a voice is just too nice, without an edge, it kinda all flows by. You forget it. You don't listen to the lyrics.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-malkmus/if-a-voice-is-just-too-nice-without-an-edge-it-kinda-all-flows-by-you/) [Stephen Malkmus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-malkmus/) > [When I'm writing, I can't listen to anything with lyrics, because it's too distracting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katy-wix/when-i-m-writing-i-can-t-listen-to-anything-with-lyrics-because-it-s/) [Katy Wix](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katy-wix/) > [When you have a stroke, you must talk slowly to be understood, and I've discovered that when I talk slowly, people listen. They think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kirk-douglas/when-you-have-a-stroke-you-must-talk-slowly-to-be-understood-and-i-ve/) [Kirk Douglas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kirk-douglas/) ## More by Ro James > [My dad... was in the military, a drill sergeant, when he was a preacher. You know how some Christians really get into church and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ro-james/my-dad-was-in-the-military-a-drill-sergeant-when-he-was-a-preacher/) [Ro James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ro-james/) > [For my first album, I thought it was most important for people to hear my voice and to not let it be drowned out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ro-james/for-my-first-album-i-thought-it-was-most-important-for-people-to-hear/) [Ro James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ro-james/) > [My dad and mom used to always say, 'Write your vision down. Write the things that you want to happen.' I would write, 'I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ro-james/my-dad-and-mom-used-to-always-say-write-your-vision-down-write-the/) [Ro James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ro-james/) > [I don't try to worry about sounding like anybody because I know I have my own tone, my own sound. It's just about being…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ro-james/i-don-t-try-to-worry-about-sounding-like-anybody-because-i-know-i/) [Ro James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ro-james/) > [I've been invited to the Grammys with other friends who were nominated. I'm like, 'Naw, I'm not gonna go until it's my time.' And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ro-james/i-ve-been-invited-to-the-grammys-with-other-friends-who-were/) [Ro James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ro-james/) > [My dad got into this group, Commission, with Fred Hammond, and that was my biggest gospel memory. I would hear that all the time,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ro-james/my-dad-got-into-this-group-commission-with-fred-hammond-and-that-was/) [Ro James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ro-james/) > [I listened to a lot of reggae music, a lot of Caribbean, a lot of gospel, a lot of rock, a lot of country,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ro-james/i-listened-to-a-lot-of-reggae-music-a-lot-of-caribbean-a-lot-of/) [Ro James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ro-james/) > [I would sing at home. I would sing in the car with my dad, but whenever he tried to make me sing in church,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ro-james/i-would-sing-at-home-i-would-sing-in-the-car-with-my-dad-but-whenever/) [Ro James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ro-james/) > [For me, my father was a pastor, and my parents are still together. They raised me, you know, to be respectful.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ro-james/for-me-my-father-was-a-pastor-and-my-parents-are-still-together-they/) [Ro James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ro-james/) > [There are so many forms of soul: David Bowie was soulful as hell; Johnny Cash was soulful as hell; you also have a Prince,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ro-james/there-are-so-many-forms-of-soul-david-bowie-was-soulful-as-hell/) [Ro James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ro-james/) > [My first song was called 'Portrait.' It would just be poetry, and I really never understood how to write the structure of writing a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ro-james/my-first-song-was-called-portrait-it-would-just-be-poetry-and-i/) [Ro James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ro-james/) > [You have to definitely be yourself in order to stand out.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ro-james/you-have-to-definitely-be-yourself-in-order-to-stand-out/) [Ro James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ro-james/) > [My aunt, Rosie Gaines, sung with Prince - 'Diamonds and Pearls.' And at the time, I didn't realize how big of a song that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ro-james/my-aunt-rosie-gaines-sung-with-prince-diamonds-and-pearls-and-at-the/) [Ro James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ro-james/) > [When I got in trouble, my mom would make me read or write - I would have to write my name over and over…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ro-james/when-i-got-in-trouble-my-mom-would-make-me-read-or-write-i-would-have/) [Ro James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ro-james/) > [Nineteen was the first time I really had a real relationship, really fell in love, really had my heart broken, really broke her heart,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ro-james/nineteen-was-the-first-time-i-really-had-a-real-relationship-really/) [Ro James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ro-james/) [Explore all 20 Ro James quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ro-james/) ## More Face quotes > [I just feel like everybody stays on their phone nowadays. People will go to a party and everybody is on their phone, and you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/snow-tha-product/i-just-feel-like-everybody-stays-on-their-phone-nowadays-people-will/) [Snow Tha Product](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/snow-tha-product/) > [I plan on actually governing in a nonpartisan fashion because I think that 90% of the problems we face are nonpartisan.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-e-james/i-plan-on-actually-governing-in-a-nonpartisan-fashion-because-i-think/) [John E. James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-e-james/) > [“You think a few features scattered on your face make you plain? I am ugly to the core. All England knows it. And after…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tessa-dare/you-think-a-few-features-scattered-on-your-face-make-you-plain-i-am/) [Tessa Dare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tessa-dare/) > [A face is too slight a foundation for happiness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-wortley-montagu/a-face-is-too-slight-a-foundation-for-happiness/) [Mary Wortley Montagu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-wortley-montagu/) > [There's nothing like the energy in a small comedy club room or a small theater when it's going really well. I can see everybody's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/drew-carey/there-s-nothing-like-the-energy-in-a-small-comedy-club-room-or-a/) [Drew Carey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/drew-carey/) > [God doesn't love me any more or less because I had some work done on my face.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joyce-meyer/god-doesn-t-love-me-any-more-or-less-because-i-had-some-work-done-on/) [Joyce Meyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joyce-meyer/) > [We are lagging far behind comparable countries in overcoming the disadvantages Indigenous people face.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-fraser/we-are-lagging-far-behind-comparable-countries-in-overcoming-the/) [Malcolm Fraser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-fraser/) > [Growing up with a parent in the army, I saw firsthand the challenges our service members face when transitioning to new jobs after time…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sharice-davids/growing-up-with-a-parent-in-the-army-i-saw-firsthand-the-challenges/) [Sharice Davids](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sharice-davids/) > [“face your fears and live well”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dane/face-your-fears-and-live-well/) [dane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dane/) > [“Take care of your costume and your confidence will take care of itself.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amit-kalantri/take-care-of-your-costume-and-your-confidence-will-take-care-of-itself/) [Amit Kalantri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amit-kalantri/) > [Fans would always want us to sign their sneakers. I'd hold the shoes up to my face and stick my nose in 'em and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marky-ramone/fans-would-always-want-us-to-sign-their-sneakers-i-d-hold-the-shoes/) [Marky Ramone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marky-ramone/) > [There is no other person on the face of this planet that I would rather sit and talk to than my wife.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/willie-aames/there-is-no-other-person-on-the-face-of-this-planet-that-i-would/) [Willie Aames](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/willie-aames/) > [It's wonderful to see a young lady headbutt somebody and kick somebody's face.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-regal/it-s-wonderful-to-see-a-young-lady-headbutt-somebody-and-kick/) [William Regal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-regal/) > [I'm doing my own thing.. GET OUT OF MY FACE!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-m-doing-my-own-thing-get-out-of-my-face/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The golf ball doesn't care about know how hard you're working, or how many hours you slept that night. It only matters, what speed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viktor-hovland/the-golf-ball-doesn-t-care-about-know-how-hard-you-re-working-or-how/) [Viktor Hovland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viktor-hovland/) Browse all 5,631 Face quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The music that we listen to these days, everything is right there in your face. There's no real mystery. It's not poetic. I want people to think. 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