--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: That was something we were trying to…" description: "\"That was something we were trying to figure out: Are we allowed to do a jazz song? Are we allowed to do cabaret? Just from hearing the Beatles, it was ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d27/ryan-ross-7154_beatles_that-was-something-we-were-trying-to-fig_241707.jpg" --- # That was something we were trying to figure out: Are we… ![“That was something we were trying to figure out: Are we allowed to do a jazz song? Are we allowed to do cabaret? Just from hearing the Beatles, it was like, 'Well, they did it. It's okay to write something other than a standard rock song.'” quote by Ryan Ross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d27/ryan-ross-7154_beatles_that-was-something-we-were-trying-to-fig_241707.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d27/ryan-ross-7154_beatles_that-was-something-we-were-trying-to-fig_241707.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d27/ryan-ross-7154_beatles_that-was-something-we-were-trying-to-fig_241707.jpg) > “That was something we were trying to figure out: Are we allowed to do a jazz song? Are we allowed to do cabaret? Just from hearing the Beatles, it was like, 'Well, they did it. It's okay to write something other than a standard rock song.'” [Ryan Ross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-ross/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Questioning artistic boundaries, using iconic influences to justify creative experimentation beyond genre norms. **In simple terms:** Artists can break rules by learning from pioneers. Key Takeaway Explore new styles, trust your instincts. Themes creativity genre influence experiment freedom Mood curious determined Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - songwriting - band rehearsals - live performance - music production Key Concepts artistic liberty cultural reference innovation Questions to Reflect On - How far can you stretch a genre? - What does authenticity mean in experimentation? A Different Perspective Risk of losing audience if changes feel too abrupt. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Allowed Cabaret](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/allowed-cabaret-2422596/) [Allowed Jazz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/allowed-jazz-2422594/) [Beatles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/beatles/) [Jazz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/jazz/) [Jazz Song](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/jazz-song-2422597/) [Music](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/music/) [Okay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/okay/) [Rock song](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rock-song/) [Something](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/something/) [Song Allowed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/song-allowed-2422595/) [Trying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trying/) ## Related quotes > [You're not going to hear me do a rap song, you're not going to hear me do a jazz song. We have to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-seger/you-re-not-going-to-hear-me-do-a-rap-song-you-re-not-going-to-hear-me/) [Bob Seger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-seger/) > [I guess certain kinds of jazz music could be Crunk. But the average jazz song, no, it's not Crunk.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lil-jon/i-guess-certain-kinds-of-jazz-music-could-be-crunk-but-the-average/) [Lil Jon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lil-jon/) > [I'm playing jazz throughout the song 'Black Sabbath.' That's what it is there. I mean, I'm moving some other things around, but that is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-ward/i-m-playing-jazz-throughout-the-song-black-sabbath-that-s-what-it-is/) [Bill Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-ward/) > [Don't get me wrong, The Beatles are one of our all-time favourite bands, but there's a lot more we were influenced by.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-ross/don-t-get-me-wrong-the-beatles-are-one-of-our-all-time-favourite/) [Ryan Ross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-ross/) > [My favourite piece of music is actually 'The Dark Side Of The Moon' as a whole. For me, it's the most perfect and brilliant…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-gourley/my-favourite-piece-of-music-is-actually-the-dark-side-of-the-moon-as/) [John Gourley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-gourley/) > [I cut my teeth playing rock songs on the accordion when I was a teenager and my friends always thought that was extremely amusing.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-yankovic/i-cut-my-teeth-playing-rock-songs-on-the-accordion-when-i-was-a/) [Al Yankovic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-yankovic/) > [I write almost all my songs on an acoustic guitar, even if they turn into rock songs, hard rock songs, metal songs, heavy metal…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/corey-taylor/i-write-almost-all-my-songs-on-an-acoustic-guitar-even-if-they-turn/) [Corey Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/corey-taylor/) > [I think have my own style; no one has ever tried playback singing before. I might release a punk rock song that perhaps other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/atif-aslam/i-think-have-my-own-style-no-one-has-ever-tried-playback-singing/) [Atif Aslam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/atif-aslam/) > [I don't really have a favorite genre. I could listen to a rock song, a metal song, jazz, pop music, whatever. For me, whatever…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bakermat/i-don-t-really-have-a-favorite-genre-i-could-listen-to-a-rock-song-a/) [Bakermat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bakermat/) > [If you asked me to write a rock song or a rap song, I couldn't do it because they're not in my fingers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-lehrer/if-you-asked-me-to-write-a-rock-song-or-a-rap-song-i-couldn-t-do-it/) [Tom Lehrer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-lehrer/) > [“That girl in the backseat of the beater, I wonder if she's bored d restless, stuck in this small town, hating the slow, stoned…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rebecca-godfrey/that-girl-in-the-backseat-of-the-beater-i-wonder-if-she-s-bored-d/) [Rebecca Godfrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rebecca-godfrey/) > [What we feel most comfortable doing is playing loud, screaming rock songs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-grohl/what-we-feel-most-comfortable-doing-is-playing-loud-screaming-rock/) [Dave Grohl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-grohl/) > [I've always believed that there's an amazing number of things you can do through a rock'n'roll song and that you can do serious writing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lou-reed/i-ve-always-believed-that-there-s-an-amazing-number-of-things-you-can/) [Lou Reed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lou-reed/) > [Well, after Zombie Birdhouse came out, I toured behind it in the fall of 1982, into the spring, and in the summer in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/iggy-pop/well-after-zombie-birdhouse-came-out-i-toured-behind-it-in-the-fall/) [Iggy Pop](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/iggy-pop/) > [I'll cover just about anything - except for a Kid Rock song.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-malkmus/i-ll-cover-just-about-anything-except-for-a-kid-rock-song/) [Stephen Malkmus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-malkmus/) ## More by Ryan Ross > [I've been not giving an F since like 92' or 93'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-ross/i-ve-been-not-giving-an-f-since-like-92-or-93/) [Ryan Ross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-ross/) > [Some aspects of the fame are annoying, but at the end of the day it's something we're most grateful for. It's certainly opened the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-ross/some-aspects-of-the-fame-are-annoying-but-at-the-end-of-the-day-it-s/) [Ryan Ross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-ross/) > [We want to be good at our craft, whether it's writing music or playing it live.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-ross/we-want-to-be-good-at-our-craft-whether-it-s-writing-music-or-playing/) [Ryan Ross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-ross/) > [I never hurts to ask, unless you ask for hurt.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-ross/i-never-hurts-to-ask-unless-you-ask-for-hurt/) [Ryan Ross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-ross/) > [We wanted to grow, and we were really over the circus theme at that point. We went out in the woods and got new…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-ross/we-wanted-to-grow-and-we-were-really-over-the-circus-theme-at-that/) [Ryan Ross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-ross/) > [I'd like to think that people see there's two ways to do things. You can put a lot of money into a band and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-ross/i-d-like-to-think-that-people-see-there-s-two-ways-to-do-things-you/) [Ryan Ross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-ross/) > [In Japan, the way they act at shows is very different from home because they don't yell, they clap for about 10 seconds after…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-ross/in-japan-the-way-they-act-at-shows-is-very-different-from-home/) [Ryan Ross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-ross/) > [You don't have to be the best guitar player, or have the best voice, or even be the best looking person - writing a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-ross/you-don-t-have-to-be-the-best-guitar-player-or-have-the-best-voice-or/) [Ryan Ross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-ross/) > [Did anyone see "the situation" roasting Donald Trump? What in the..](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-ross/did-anyone-see-the-situation-roasting-donald-trump-what-in-the/) [Ryan Ross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-ross/) > [Some people would say Counting Crows or Third Eye Blind would be a guilty pleasure, but they're two of my favorite bands - I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-ross/some-people-would-say-counting-crows-or-third-eye-blind-would-be-a/) [Ryan Ross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-ross/) > [The Boomers are a core audience for us, and we want them to have a resort experience](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-ross/the-boomers-are-a-core-audience-for-us-and-we-want-them-to-have-a/) [Ryan Ross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-ross/) > [I don't think I listen to anything that I did when I was 17. I've changed a great deal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-ross/i-don-t-think-i-listen-to-anything-that-i-did-when-i-was-17-i-ve/) [Ryan Ross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-ross/) > [Really need to get these skunks to start paying rent. Or at least help out with utilities. Using up all the hot water all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-ross/really-need-to-get-these-skunks-to-start-paying-rent-or-at-least-help/) [Ryan Ross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-ross/) > [Fever' was good for how young we were, but for me it's kind of like a yearbook picture. You look at it like, 'Oh,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-ross/fever-was-good-for-how-young-we-were-but-for-me-it-s-kind-of-like-a/) [Ryan Ross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-ross/) > [The well-heeled Baby Boomer demographic, which has discretionary money to spend on gambling, has long been a primary target for casinos ...And given yesterday's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-ross/the-well-heeled-baby-boomer-demographic-which-has-discretionary-money/) [Ryan Ross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-ross/) [Explore all 94 Ryan Ross quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-ross/) ## More Beatles quotes > [When I first started making music, it was learning other people's songs and putting them onto four-track. Like Beatles songs and stuff. When I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-ward/when-i-first-started-making-music-it-was-learning-other-people-s/) [M. Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-ward/) > [I am a big Beatles fan. And, you know, unbeknownst to anyone, I used to be one. But I have no problems of putting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ringo-starr/i-am-a-big-beatles-fan-and-you-know-unbeknownst-to-anyone-i-used-to/) [Ringo Starr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ringo-starr/) > [As a child, I was this record collector/listener that would sit in a room and listen to the entire Beatles catalog alone, over and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-cornell/as-a-child-i-was-this-record-collector-listener-that-would-sit-in-a/) [Chris Cornell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-cornell/) > [I thought my Beatles LPs sounded pretty good on a record player, but that was before I had heard a CD.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alastair-wood/i-thought-my-beatles-lps-sounded-pretty-good-on-a-record-player-but/) [Alastair Wood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alastair-wood/) > [Growing up in San Diego, my main interests were the Beatles, Louis Armstrong, 'Star Wars,' baseball cards, and drawing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kyle-mooney/growing-up-in-san-diego-my-main-interests-were-the-beatles-louis/) [Kyle Mooney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kyle-mooney/) > [He's (Ringo Starr) not even the best drummer in the Beatles…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-mccartney/he-s-ringo-starr-not-even-the-best-drummer-in-the-beatles/) [Paul McCartney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-mccartney/) > [It was great fun to be able to work with so many different artists. And I'm paying a tribute to the Beatles. I've just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-preston/it-was-great-fun-to-be-able-to-work-with-so-many-different-artists/) [Billy Preston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-preston/) > ['The X Factor' seems to be more about building up personalities and people in tears. And it's not a new idea. The pre-Beatles pop…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jools-holland/the-x-factor-seems-to-be-more-about-building-up-personalities-and/) [Jools Holland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jools-holland/) > [Oh, I think country has changed tremendously. I think country has totally changed. Country music when I was a kid was Hank Williams. If…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mellencamp/oh-i-think-country-has-changed-tremendously-i-think-country-has/) [John Mellencamp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mellencamp/) > [Elvis Presley's music said, 'Free your body.' The Beatles said, 'Free your mind.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-sheff/elvis-presley-s-music-said-free-your-body-the-beatles-said-free-your/) [David Sheff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-sheff/) > [The Beatles have a deeper appreciation of all music. There's a humor, there's a Broadway sense, and later on, the Indian stuff came in.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-vivino/the-beatles-have-a-deeper-appreciation-of-all-music-there-s-a-humor/) [Jimmy Vivino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-vivino/) > [The Beatles, Rolling Stones, Barbra Streisand, Bruce Springsteen, these are just some of the people who threatened to sue if we used their songs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-mochrie/the-beatles-rolling-stones-barbra-streisand-bruce-springsteen-these/) [Colin Mochrie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-mochrie/) > [If you look in my CD case, you'll see it's Pink Floyd, The Rolling Stones, The Beatles, now I can't think of anyone else,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-angarano/if-you-look-in-my-cd-case-you-ll-see-it-s-pink-floyd-the-rolling/) [Michael Angarano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-angarano/) > [ “Like almost all of Beefheart's recorded work, \[Trout Mask Replica\] was not even "ahead" of its time in 1969. Then and now, it stands… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lester-bangs/like-almost-all-of-beefheart-s-recorded-work-trout-mask-replica-was/) [Lester Bangs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lester-bangs/) > [It's marvelous when you visit Tokyo: they have these clubs, and they'll have 'Motown Night' or 'The Beatles - Totally Authentic and Live!' You…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-palmer/it-s-marvelous-when-you-visit-tokyo-they-have-these-clubs-and-they-ll/) [Robert Palmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-palmer/) [Browse all 786 Beatles quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/beatles/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "That was something we were trying to figure out: Are we allowed to do a jazz song? Are we allowed to do cabaret? Just from hearing the Beatles, it was like, 'Well, they did it. 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