--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: At the 'L.A. Times,' I always wanted to…" description: "\"At the 'L.A. Times,' I always wanted to write about artists I thought were meaningful. So I interviewed Bob Dylan, John Lennon, Bruce Springsteen, U2, ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b59/robert-hilburn-9299_always_at-the-l-a-times-i-always-wanted-to-writ_2519251.jpg" --- # At the 'L.A. Times,' I always wanted to write about… ![“At the 'L.A. Times,' I always wanted to write about artists I thought were meaningful. So I interviewed Bob Dylan, John Lennon, Bruce Springsteen, U2, Stevie Wonder, Michael Jackson, Eminem, White Stripes. And I could understand how almost everybody I interviewed had a sense of artistry.” quote by Robert Hilburn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b59/robert-hilburn-9299_always_at-the-l-a-times-i-always-wanted-to-writ_2519251.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b59/robert-hilburn-9299_always_at-the-l-a-times-i-always-wanted-to-writ_2519251.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b59/robert-hilburn-9299_always_at-the-l-a-times-i-always-wanted-to-writ_2519251.jpg) > “At the 'L.A. Times,' I always wanted to write about artists I thought were meaningful. So I interviewed Bob Dylan, John Lennon, Bruce Springsteen, U2, Stevie Wonder, Michael Jackson, Eminem, White Stripes. And I could understand how almost everybody I interviewed had a sense of artistry.” [Robert Hilburn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-hilburn/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The writer sought to capture the essence of artists he deemed significant, interviewing many iconic musicians to explore their artistic sensibility. **In simple terms:** He wanted to document meaningful artists. Key Takeaway Seek depth in creative stories. Themes art culture journalism music interview Mood reflective inquisitive Type documentary analytical When to use this quote - music journalism - artist profiles - cultural archives Key Concepts artistic expression cultural impact media narrative Questions to Reflect On - What defines a meaningful artist? - How does media shape artistic legacy? A Different Perspective May overemphasize fame over substance. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Art](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/art/) [Artistry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/artistry/) [White stripes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/white-stripes/) [Wonder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wonder/) ## Related quotes > [I'm guilty of being perceived as having narrow taste. I went after the artists that I thought were important - Dylan, Joni Mitchell, Bruce…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-hilburn/i-m-guilty-of-being-perceived-as-having-narrow-taste-i-went-after-the/) [Robert Hilburn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-hilburn/) > [Artists were always referred to as great artists. I thought that's what the profession was. One word: great-artist. There wasn't one moment in my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hedda-sterne/artists-were-always-referred-to-as-great-artists-i-thought-that-s/) [Hedda Sterne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hedda-sterne/) > [I think the great artists (..) have always thought with the heart.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-sirk/i-think-the-great-artists-have-always-thought-with-the-heart/) [Douglas Sirk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-sirk/) > [It used to be that artists thought of nature as their environment. Now media is our environment. It has been for the past 50,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-hell/it-used-to-be-that-artists-thought-of-nature-as-their-environment-now/) [Richard Hell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-hell/) > [While I write for myself, I also write for other artists too.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-sean/while-i-write-for-myself-i-also-write-for-other-artists-too/) [Jay Sean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-sean/) > [“When people really are writers, they write. Artists draw. Golfers golf. Fish swim. Can’t keep them from it; it’s who they are. They may…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-brisbin/when-people-really-are-writers-they-write-artists-draw-golfers-golf/) David Brisbin > [As songwriters, we can go in and write for other artists in a time where you aren't necessarily feeling inspired for yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica-origliasso/as-songwriters-we-can-go-in-and-write-for-other-artists-in-a-time/) [Jessica Origliasso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessica-origliasso/) > [I count myself as not only just an artist, not only as a singer, but a business woman. I write my own songs; I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charli-xcx/i-count-myself-as-not-only-just-an-artist-not-only-as-a-singer-but-a/) [Charli XCX](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charli-xcx/) > [When I go and write with other artists - a lot of the time it's with them - it's like a therapy session almost.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bonnie-mckee/when-i-go-and-write-with-other-artists-a-lot-of-the-time-it-s-with/) [Bonnie McKee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bonnie-mckee/) > [Our poets do not write about it; our artists do not try to portray this remarkable thing. I don't know why. Is nobody inspired…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-p-feynman/our-poets-do-not-write-about-it-our-artists-do-not-try-to-portray/) [Richard P. Feynman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-p-feynman/) > [Whenever I have time, I try to get in the studio and write, whether it's for me or other artists or my catalog of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesse-mccartney/whenever-i-have-time-i-try-to-get-in-the-studio-and-write-whether-it/) [Jesse McCartney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesse-mccartney/) > [I don't know a lot of guys who started out as a hard rock and roller with a white stripe in their hair. Suddenly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rex-smith/i-don-t-know-a-lot-of-guys-who-started-out-as-a-hard-rock-and-roller/) [Rex Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rex-smith/) > [I heard Joby Talbot's Hovercraft piece for orchestra and felt its immediate physical impact - visceral, unsettling, hungry and direct. These short five minutes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wayne-mcgregor/i-heard-joby-talbot-s-hovercraft-piece-for-orchestra-and-felt-its/) [Wayne McGregor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wayne-mcgregor/) > [“Seen under the microscope, Stegomyia is a creature of striking beauty. Its general color is dark gray, but the thorax is marked with a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-mccullough/seen-under-the-microscope-stegomyia-is-a-creature-of-striking-beauty/) [David McCullough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-mccullough/) > [ I'm excited by the band \[White Stripes\]. It really excites me. But it wouldn't excite me if there weren't those limitations, if we weren't… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-white/i-m-excited-by-the-band-white-stripes-it-really-excites-me-but-it/) [Jack White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-white/) ## More by Robert Hilburn > [To many, Courtney Love smells like rock hype. Reviewers may be excited about her, but the rock audience may be skeptical of the credentials…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-hilburn/to-many-courtney-love-smells-like-rock-hype-reviewers-may-be-excited/) [Robert Hilburn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-hilburn/) > [When I began to interview people from the '60s, my first question was always, 'What was your favorite record?'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-hilburn/when-i-began-to-interview-people-from-the-60s-my-first-question-was/) [Robert Hilburn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-hilburn/) > [I didn't have any idea that Gwen Stefani would evolve into this symbol of womanhood in America, but to me, that's not a musical…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-hilburn/i-didn-t-have-any-idea-that-gwen-stefani-would-evolve-into-this/) [Robert Hilburn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-hilburn/) > [When I was in high school in the '50s, all pop music - Elvis, Chuck Berry, Little Richard - was aimed at teenagers. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-hilburn/when-i-was-in-high-school-in-the-50s-all-pop-music-elvis-chuck-berry/) [Robert Hilburn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-hilburn/) > [Because record companies do not routinely release sales figures the way film studios do, the weekly charts in trade publications like 'Billboard' provide the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-hilburn/because-record-companies-do-not-routinely-release-sales-figures-the/) [Robert Hilburn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-hilburn/) > [Even though The Cure helped pioneer the jangly, dance-oriented guitar and keyboard style it continues to embrace, there are other bands that now employ…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-hilburn/even-though-the-cure-helped-pioneer-the-jangly-dance-oriented-guitar/) [Robert Hilburn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-hilburn/) > [The first time I saw Pearl Jam, I thought Eddie Vedder had seen too many Jim Morrison videos, and I didn't like the music…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-hilburn/the-first-time-i-saw-pearl-jam-i-thought-eddie-vedder-had-seen-too/) [Robert Hilburn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-hilburn/) > [His belief in the power of music to convey ideas - not just entertain - has filtered down to musicians in every field, from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-hilburn/his-belief-in-the-power-of-music-to-convey-ideas-not-just-entertain/) [Robert Hilburn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-hilburn/) > [Some writers sit down every day for two or three hours, at least, to write, whether they are in the mood or not. Others…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-hilburn/some-writers-sit-down-every-day-for-two-or-three-hours-at-least-to/) [Robert Hilburn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-hilburn/) > [At times, Singer Johnny Cash rubbed dirt from the earth under his fingernails in order to avoid any arrogance which might stem from his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-hilburn/at-times-singer-johnny-cash-rubbed-dirt-from-the-earth-under-his/) [Robert Hilburn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-hilburn/) > [Some people will never take Madonna seriously - just as many never took Marilyn Monroe seriously. Novelty images - especially that of a sex…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-hilburn/some-people-will-never-take-madonna-seriously-just-as-many-never-took/) [Robert Hilburn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-hilburn/) > [By 27, Bob Dylan had already written 'Highway 61 Revisited,' the Beatles had released 'Rubber Soul,' Bruce Springsteen had recorded 'Born to Run' and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-hilburn/by-27-bob-dylan-had-already-written-highway-61-revisited-the-beatles/) [Robert Hilburn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-hilburn/) > [Without people like Dylan and the Beatles and people like Paul Simon, I think rock n' roll would have died out like Dixieland jazz.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-hilburn/without-people-like-dylan-and-the-beatles-and-people-like-paul-simon/) [Robert Hilburn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-hilburn/) > [In the role of Ziggy Stardust, Bowie seemed in 1972 like a strange alien creature, not so much coming from another planet as from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-hilburn/in-the-role-of-ziggy-stardust-bowie-seemed-in-1972-like-a-strange/) [Robert Hilburn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-hilburn/) > [I'm guilty of being perceived as having narrow taste. I went after the artists that I thought were important - Dylan, Joni Mitchell, Bruce…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-hilburn/i-m-guilty-of-being-perceived-as-having-narrow-taste-i-went-after-the/) [Robert Hilburn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-hilburn/) [Explore all 74 Robert Hilburn quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-hilburn/) ## More Always quotes > [I think performing has pretty much always been a part of me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isa-briones/i-think-performing-has-pretty-much-always-been-a-part-of-me/) [Isa Briones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isa-briones/) > [I always thought if I was born 2000 years earlier, I would be a monk, probably carving a monastery or some giant pantheon buildings.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jenova-chen/i-always-thought-if-i-was-born-2000-years-earlier-i-would-be-a-monk/) [Jenova Chen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jenova-chen/) > [I always like a character who makes me laugh.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachael-stirling/i-always-like-a-character-who-makes-me-laugh/) [Rachael Stirling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachael-stirling/) > [It's always great to see old friends, especially those I have not been able to see in 15 months.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-regal/it-s-always-great-to-see-old-friends-especially-those-i-have-not-been/) [William Regal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-regal/) > [When you step out and do a song in a musical, the easier thing to do is make it funny. But when those transitions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelli-o-hara/when-you-step-out-and-do-a-song-in-a-musical-the-easier-thing-to-do/) [Kelli O'Hara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelli-o-hara/) > [I have really good lateral movement. I've always had quick lateral movement.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/austin-rivers/i-have-really-good-lateral-movement-i-ve-always-had-quick-lateral/) [Austin Rivers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/austin-rivers/) > [There is something magical about being able to feel somebody. And that is something that has always moved me with music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-brink/there-is-something-magical-about-being-able-to-feel-somebody-and-that/) [Maria Brink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-brink/) > [Mythology is something that always has opportunities to explore. 'It' has been on Earth for millions of years. He's been in contact with humans…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-muschietti/mythology-is-something-that-always-has-opportunities-to-explore-it/) [Andy Muschietti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-muschietti/) > [It's not writing in the traditional sense, but I've always said that the writing process continues on the set and even into the editing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-b-weide/it-s-not-writing-in-the-traditional-sense-but-i-ve-always-said-that/) [Robert B. Weide](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-b-weide/) > [I always watch my matches back 100 times afterwards because that's how I improve. This is something I've always done, even in NXT.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mandy-rose/i-always-watch-my-matches-back-100-times-afterwards-because-that-s/) [Mandy Rose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mandy-rose/) > [I've always been of the idea that is doesn't really matter where you are geographically - with 'Lonerism,' we made half the album in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-parker/i-ve-always-been-of-the-idea-that-is-doesn-t-really-matter-where-you/) [Kevin Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-parker/) > [It's very easy to fool yourself that you're working, you know, when you're really not working very hard. I mean, I'm very lazy. So…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-caro/it-s-very-easy-to-fool-yourself-that-you-re-working-you-know-when-you/) [Robert Caro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-caro/) > [Whether it was Little League or playing with your brothers or sisters, that was always a problem. If I would lose - because I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cal-ripken-jr/whether-it-was-little-league-or-playing-with-your-brothers-or-sisters/) [Cal Ripken, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cal-ripken-jr/) > [I always say if you put someone from a small town into a big city for ten years, then when they go back, they'll…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-colter/i-always-say-if-you-put-someone-from-a-small-town-into-a-big-city-for/) [Mike Colter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-colter/) > [Bayern is always a team that can win the Champions League title in Europe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lothar-matthaus/bayern-is-always-a-team-that-can-win-the-champions-league-title-in/) [Lothar Matthaus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lothar-matthaus/) Browse all 36,048 Always quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "At the 'L.A. Times,' I always wanted to write about artists I thought were meaningful. 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