---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It's important that people realize that…"
description: "\"It's important that people realize that, with what we do, we aren't necessarily the ones saying what's being said. It's a character within the song.\" —..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c84/ron-mael-5107_being_it-s-important-that-people-realize-that_694408.png"
---

#  It's important that people realize that, with what we do…

![“It's important that people realize that, with what we do, we aren't necessarily the ones saying what's being said. It's a character within the song.” quote by Ron Mael](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c84/ron-mael-5107_being_it-s-important-that-people-realize-that_694408.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c84/ron-mael-5107_being_it-s-important-that-people-realize-that_694408.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c84/ron-mael-5107_being_it-s-important-that-people-realize-that_694408.png)

> “It's important that people realize that, with what we do, we aren't necessarily the ones saying what's being said. It's a character within the song.”

[Ron Mael](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-mael/)

## About This Quote

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

The speaker notes that creators may not be the ones voicing the lyrics; the message belongs to the song's character, not the performer.

**In simple terms:** Artists convey a character's voice, not their own.

Key Takeaway

Recognize the distinction between performer and narrative voice.

Themes

artistic identity authorship interpretation

Mood

reflective analytical

Type

musical philosophical

When to use this quote

- songwriting
- performance
- media analysis

Key Concepts

music storytelling

Questions to Reflect On

- How does this affect your perception of music?
- Can you separate creator intent from character?

A Different Perspective

Listeners may conflate artist with character.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Being](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/being/) [Character](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character/) [Character Song](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character-song-1908127/) [Important](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/important/) [Ones Saying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ones-saying-5510241/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [People Realize](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people-realize-272840/) [Realize Aren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/realize-aren-1707642/) [Saying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/saying/) [Song](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/song/)

## Related quotes

> [I want people to realize that they aren't their bodies. They are something more than their bodies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rain-dove/i-want-people-to-realize-that-they-aren-t-their-bodies-they-are/)

[Rain Dove](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rain-dove/)

> [A lot of people should realize they aren't on this earth for long and if you want to do anything you better hurry.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-simonon/a-lot-of-people-should-realize-they-aren-t-on-this-earth-for-long-and/)

[Paul Simonon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-simonon/)

> [I just like to switch things up all the time. Like when it comes to singing, I try to find a different character for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-frusciante/i-just-like-to-switch-things-up-all-the-time-like-when-it-comes-to/)

[John Frusciante](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-frusciante/)

> [I see pictures in my mind and become the character in the song as I'm writing. It's kind of method songwriting, where you're the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diane-warren/i-see-pictures-in-my-mind-and-become-the-character-in-the-song-as-i-m/)

[Diane Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diane-warren/)

> [Even if you're specific about the character of the song, it's more exciting to place them, juxtapose them in such a way as to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-wyatt/even-if-you-re-specific-about-the-character-of-the-song-it-s-more/)

[Robert Wyatt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-wyatt/)

> [It's almost like a theater, where I can play a character in every song, 'cause Kamelot songs are very... There's always a narrative going…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alissa-white-gluz/it-s-almost-like-a-theater-where-i-can-play-a-character-in-every-song/)

[Alissa White-Gluz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alissa-white-gluz/)

> [“...realize you aren't the first and only person to ever face insurmountable odds.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-o-leary/realize-you-aren-t-the-first-and-only-person-to-ever-face/)

[Jeff O'Leary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-o-leary/)

> [Sometimes you have to realize they are gone.And then you have to realize they aren't coming back](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/sometimes-you-have-to-realize-they-are-gone-and-then-you-have-to/)

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

> [There are so many things we've been brought up to believe that it takes you an awfully long time to realize that they aren't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-gorey/there-are-so-many-things-we-ve-been-brought-up-to-believe-that-it/)

[Edward Gorey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-gorey/)

> [The hardest thing youll ever have to do is realize that you aren't her](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katy-reichl/the-hardest-thing-youll-ever-have-to-do-is-realize-that-you-aren-t-her/)

[Katy Reichl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katy-reichl/)

> [It's sad when you realize you aren't as important to someone as you thought you were](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/se7en/it-s-sad-when-you-realize-you-aren-t-as-important-to-someone-as-you/)

[Se7en](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/se7en/)

> [Some people say we have this inequality because some people have been contributing much more to our society, and so it's fair that they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-stiglitz/some-people-say-we-have-this-inequality-because-some-people-have-been/)

[Joseph Stiglitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-stiglitz/)

> [“I believe in love but I do not believe in people. And it is people who realize me. to Do not believe in People”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mohammed-zaki-ansari/i-believe-in-love-but-i-do-not-believe-in-people-and-it-is-people-who/)

[Mohammed Zaki Ansari](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mohammed-zaki-ansari/)

> [If Only People REALIZE How Short Life Time Is Maybe. They Are Going To MAXIMIZE Every Fraction Of A Second To Be Happy Whenever…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pacifiersucker/if-only-people-realize-how-short-life-time-is-maybe-they-are-going-to/)

[Pacifiersucker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pacifiersucker/)

> [I'm a big game show fan. When you're a poor person, you watch game shows. I don't think people realize that. Maybe everybody watches…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louie-anderson/i-m-a-big-game-show-fan-when-you-re-a-poor-person-you-watch-game/)

[Louie Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louie-anderson/)

## More by Ron Mael

> [Even before we had a band, the merging of music and movies just seemed so perfect.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-mael/even-before-we-had-a-band-the-merging-of-music-and-movies-just-seemed/)

[Ron Mael](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-mael/)

> [I can't say it wasn't fun in the 70s having screaming people in the audience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-mael/i-can-t-say-it-wasn-t-fun-in-the-70s-having-screaming-people-in-the/)

[Ron Mael](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-mael/)

> [Having more people accepting what you're doing - that's the kind of limelight we really cherish.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-mael/having-more-people-accepting-what-you-re-doing-that-s-the-kind-of/)

[Ron Mael](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-mael/)

> [We just thought that bands from the U.S. in general were just really boring, and they didn't represent what we felt pop music should…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-mael/we-just-thought-that-bands-from-the-u-s-in-general-were-just-really/)

[Ron Mael](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-mael/)

> [When things are sequenced really hard, it has an effect similar to the one power chords had in the '70s.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-mael/when-things-are-sequenced-really-hard-it-has-an-effect-similar-to-the/)

[Ron Mael](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-mael/)

> [I'm so happy that the first time Russell and I saw 'Annette' with an audience was at the Cannes Film Festival, and even more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-mael/i-m-so-happy-that-the-first-time-russell-and-i-saw-annette-with-an/)

[Ron Mael](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-mael/)

> [We detested folk music because it was cerebral and sedate and we had no time for that. But the Byrds were OK because they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-mael/we-detested-folk-music-because-it-was-cerebral-and-sedate-and-we-had/)

[Ron Mael](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-mael/)

> [Of course everybody wants to be filthy stinking rich. But we've seen the effect that having that kind of massive success has had on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-mael/of-course-everybody-wants-to-be-filthy-stinking-rich-but-we-ve-seen/)

[Ron Mael](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-mael/)

> [People have told me repeatedly of how scared they were of seeing me on television.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-mael/people-have-told-me-repeatedly-of-how-scared-they-were-of-seeing-me/)

[Ron Mael](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-mael/)

> [We kind of have a cranky side of ourselves, so when people get upset about what we're doing, we kind of feel that we're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-mael/we-kind-of-have-a-cranky-side-of-ourselves-so-when-people-get-upset/)

[Ron Mael](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-mael/)

> [There aren't enough people fighting for being conservative with your sexual tastes. There's a little too much adventuresome stuff going on, so it's good…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-mael/there-aren-t-enough-people-fighting-for-being-conservative-with-your/)

[Ron Mael](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-mael/)

> [There is something encouraging about the rebellious spirit of the Internet. It's like the modern equivalent of punk - anyone can make a record.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-mael/there-is-something-encouraging-about-the-rebellious-spirit-of-the/)

[Ron Mael](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-mael/)

> [It's almost as if the most successful people don't put too much effort into being so brilliant at what they do, that they're just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-mael/it-s-almost-as-if-the-most-successful-people-don-t-put-too-much/)

[Ron Mael](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-mael/)

> [We're not trying to be esoteric. There is that about what we do, but we like to be there at the table with everybody…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-mael/we-re-not-trying-to-be-esoteric-there-is-that-about-what-we-do-but-we/)

[Ron Mael](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-mael/)

> [In a personal way, we like to irritate by just staying around.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-mael/in-a-personal-way-we-like-to-irritate-by-just-staying-around/)

[Ron Mael](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-mael/)

[Explore all 103 Ron Mael quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-mael/)

## More Being quotes

> [Because of the womb being a central phenomenon in the feminine body, the whole psychology of woman differs: she is non-aggressive, non-inquiring, non-questioning, non-doubting,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rajneesh/because-of-the-womb-being-a-central-phenomenon-in-the-feminine-body/)

[Rajneesh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rajneesh/)

> [Philosopher is a dictator who modifies accepted standards with his thoughts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilkin-santak/philosopher-is-a-dictator-who-modifies-accepted-standards-with-his/)

[Ilkin Santak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilkin-santak/)

> [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/)

> [I love being in Malibu. It's so cool there, and the water is just, it's nice and, and I love the beach. And I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jackie-evancho/i-love-being-in-malibu-it-s-so-cool-there-and-the-water-is-just-it-s/)

[Jackie Evancho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jackie-evancho/)

> [I talk to my mates about our kids, being too tired and being worn out.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/holly-willoughby/i-talk-to-my-mates-about-our-kids-being-too-tired-and-being-worn-out/)

[Holly Willoughby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/holly-willoughby/)

> [I love to fish. I love the peacefulness of being around the water.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evonne-goolagong-cawley/i-love-to-fish-i-love-the-peacefulness-of-being-around-the-water/)

[Evonne Goolagong Cawley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evonne-goolagong-cawley/)

> [When you're in your twenties and starting out, the problem is that you care about being cool. Being older, I can care less about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-righton/when-you-re-in-your-twenties-and-starting-out-the-problem-is-that-you/)

[James Righton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-righton/)

> [I am tired of our characters being so incomplete. When do we ever save the day in a film? When does a Latino actor…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/esai-morales/i-am-tired-of-our-characters-being-so-incomplete-when-do-we-ever-save/)

[Esai Morales](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/esai-morales/)

> [Being a new mother is a blessing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phaedra-parks/being-a-new-mother-is-a-blessing/)

[Phaedra Parks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phaedra-parks/)

> [I think I've had the longest career of strength, focus, and still being able to sell records. I think I'm that guy. I'm still…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nas/i-think-i-ve-had-the-longest-career-of-strength-focus-and-still-being/)

[Nas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nas/)

> [If we accept being talked to any kind of a way, then we are telling ourselves we are not quite worth the best. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-angelou/if-we-accept-being-talked-to-any-kind-of-a-way-then-we-are-telling/)

[Maya Angelou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-angelou/)

> [Having small children and being an investigative reporter would seem like a difficult mix, but it worked well for me. I was often working…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jill-abramson/having-small-children-and-being-an-investigative-reporter-would-seem/)

[Jill Abramson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jill-abramson/)

> [I am just enjoying the dream of being Milan coach at the age of 40.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gennaro-gattuso/i-am-just-enjoying-the-dream-of-being-milan-coach-at-the-age-of-40/)

[Gennaro Gattuso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gennaro-gattuso/)

> [America, you're sending girls a mixed message. On one hand, you're saying to have positive body image and love who we are; on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adora-svitak/america-you-re-sending-girls-a-mixed-message-on-one-hand-you-re/)

[Adora Svitak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adora-svitak/)

> [We should not live in fear, we should all enjoy being able to express our views freely and openly, challenge each other on issues.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tan-cheng-bock/we-should-not-live-in-fear-we-should-all-enjoy-being-able-to-express/)

[Tan Cheng Bock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tan-cheng-bock/)

[Browse all 18,139 Being quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/being/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "It's important that people realize that, with what we do, we aren't necessarily the ones saying what's being said. It's a character within the song.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Ron Mael"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-mael/it-s-important-that-people-realize-that-with-what-we-do-we-aren-t/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Being"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-mael/it-s-important-that-people-realize-that-with-what-we-do-we-aren-t/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c84/ron-mael-5107_being_it-s-important-that-people-realize-that_694408.png",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c84/ron-mael-5107_being_it-s-important-that-people-realize-that_694408.png",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c84/ron-mael-5107_being_it-s-important-that-people-realize-that_694408.png",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“It's important that people realize that, with what we do, we aren't necessarily the ones saying what's being…” — Ron Mael",
                "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": "Ron Mael",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-mael/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "It's important that people realize that,...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-mael/it-s-important-that-people-realize-that-with-what-we-do-we-aren-t/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-mael/it-s-important-that-people-realize-that-with-what-we-do-we-aren-t/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
