--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: A lot of pop music is based on trying to…" description: "\"A lot of pop music is based on trying to make people remember it so that they'll buy it. To me, it was not about that.\" — Serj Tankian" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/420/serj-tankian-7320_music_a-lot-of-pop-music-is-based-on-trying-to_2548898.png" --- # A lot of pop music is based on trying to make people… ![“A lot of pop music is based on trying to make people remember it so that they'll buy it. To me, it was not about that.” quote by Serj Tankian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/420/serj-tankian-7320_music_a-lot-of-pop-music-is-based-on-trying-to_2548898.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/420/serj-tankian-7320_music_a-lot-of-pop-music-is-based-on-trying-to_2548898.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/420/serj-tankian-7320_music_a-lot-of-pop-music-is-based-on-trying-to_2548898.png) > “A lot of pop music is based on trying to make people remember it so that they'll buy it. To me, it was not about that.” [Serj Tankian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/serj-tankian/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Pop music often aims to be memorable for commercial gain, but artistic intent can transcend that. **In simple terms:** Pop seeks memory for sales, yet art can rise above. Key Takeaway Focus on artistic purpose over profit. Themes music industry commercialism artistic integrity memory Mood critical reflective Type analysis inspirational When to use this quote - songwriting - marketing campaigns - brand building - personal expression Key Concepts cultural criticism creative authenticity Questions to Reflect On - How do you balance art and market? - What makes a song timeless? A Different Perspective Commercial pressure can dilute artistic vision. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Based Trying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/based-trying-1502838/) [Music](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/music/) [Music Based](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/music-based-603923/) [Music is](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/music-is/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [People Remember](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people-remember/) [Pop music](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pop-music/) [Pops](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pops/) [Remember](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/remember/) [Trying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trying/) ## Related quotes > [All music is based on country music. And that's why so many different kinds of people relate to it. There are more country music…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/loretta-lynn/all-music-is-based-on-country-music-and-that-s-why-so-many-different/) [Loretta Lynn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/loretta-lynn/) > [Dick Clark was a really great influence in my career; he helped me a lot with his whole organization, and they were awesome to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cyndi-lauper/dick-clark-was-a-really-great-influence-in-my-career-he-helped-me-a/) [Cyndi Lauper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cyndi-lauper/) > [Pop music is not a threatening style of music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-jett/pop-music-is-not-a-threatening-style-of-music/) [Joan Jett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-jett/) > [Because for me, '60s pop music is amongst the most complicated or complex music because it has so many resonances which strike you. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-gane/because-for-me-60s-pop-music-is-amongst-the-most-complicated-or/) [Tim Gane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-gane/) > [If by noise you mean uncomfortable sound, then pop music is noise to me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/merzbow/if-by-noise-you-mean-uncomfortable-sound-then-pop-music-is-noise-to-me/) [Merzbow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/merzbow/) > [Pop music is a difficult term to define. I think about good music and bad music. Good music is good music whatever origin it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nina-persson/pop-music-is-a-difficult-term-to-define-i-think-about-good-music-and/) [Nina Persson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nina-persson/) > [In all the music I've done, what I'm really interested in above all else, and I'm not sure it's what one should be interested…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-maus/in-all-the-music-i-ve-done-what-i-m-really-interested-in-above-all/) [John Maus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-maus/) > [I just make music based on what I believe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/boots-riley/i-just-make-music-based-on-what-i-believe/) [Boots Riley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/boots-riley/) > [Music is essentially an emotional language, so you want to feel something from the relationships and build music based on those feelings.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-shore/music-is-essentially-an-emotional-language-so-you-want-to-feel/) [Howard Shore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-shore/) > [All music is based in one way or the other, or influenced through the ages, on technology.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hans-zimmer/all-music-is-based-in-one-way-or-the-other-or-influenced-through-the/) [Hans Zimmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hans-zimmer/) > [I'll give up this sort of touring madness certainly, but music-everything is based on music. No, I'll never stop my music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-harrison/i-ll-give-up-this-sort-of-touring-madness-certainly-but-music/) [George Harrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-harrison/) > [I never feel that I have to adopt a character. It's more the way I choose to present the music and that's always based…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pj-harvey/i-never-feel-that-i-have-to-adopt-a-character-it-s-more-the-way-i/) [PJ Harvey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pj-harvey/) > [All of my music is based off my life experiences.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabriella-wilson/all-of-my-music-is-based-off-my-life-experiences/) [Gabriella Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabriella-wilson/) > [My music is based on melody and when I play the piano, it's as if I'm singing with them. When you try to transform…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yanni/my-music-is-based-on-melody-and-when-i-play-the-piano-it-s-as-if-i-m/) [Yanni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yanni/) > [It is good to be different, because difference is great; that's what this music is based on. But lose that energy between the audience…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-hill/it-is-good-to-be-different-because-difference-is-great-that-s-what/) [Andrew Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-hill/) ## More by Serj Tankian > [I like African music, and I'm a huge Ravi Shankar fan.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/serj-tankian/i-like-african-music-and-i-m-a-huge-ravi-shankar-fan/) [Serj Tankian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/serj-tankian/) > [As an artist, you never want to write the same song again, you always want to challenge yourself to writing in a different way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/serj-tankian/as-an-artist-you-never-want-to-write-the-same-song-again-you-always/) [Serj Tankian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/serj-tankian/) > [My personal relationship with music is an imperfect harmony because I never studied music, but here I am not just writing for bands but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/serj-tankian/my-personal-relationship-with-music-is-an-imperfect-harmony-because-i/) [Serj Tankian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/serj-tankian/) > [“I've had people come up to me with the strangest interpretations of what my lyrics might mean, and I'm like, "You go! I never…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/serj-tankian/i-ve-had-people-come-up-to-me-with-the-strangest-interpretations-of/) [Serj Tankian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/serj-tankian/) > [Forgivness is The ultimate sacrifice. Eloquence belongs, To the conqueror.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/serj-tankian/forgivness-is-the-ultimate-sacrifice-eloquence-belongs-to-the/) [Serj Tankian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/serj-tankian/) > [With rock music, the amount of power that you can generate, the intensity behind the intentions of your lyrics that you can really reflect…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/serj-tankian/with-rock-music-the-amount-of-power-that-you-can-generate-the/) [Serj Tankian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/serj-tankian/) > [I don't find most people to be as politically engaged as I am. 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I listen to a lot of world music and experimental…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/serj-tankian/in-the-last-few-years-i-ve-been-listening-to-jazz-more-than-anything/) [Serj Tankian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/serj-tankian/) > [Life is that perfect fine line between ironies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/serj-tankian/life-is-that-perfect-fine-line-between-ironies/) [Serj Tankian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/serj-tankian/) > [Pretending that we live doesn't make us alive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/serj-tankian/pretending-that-we-live-doesn-t-make-us-alive/) [Serj Tankian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/serj-tankian/) > [I think music is a powerful medium because it co-inspires. It inspires the artist who then inspires the listener, and it's a back-and-forth process.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/serj-tankian/i-think-music-is-a-powerful-medium-because-it-co-inspires-it-inspires/) [Serj Tankian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/serj-tankian/) > [I think anytime that you go to the extreme of any mode of economics, be it capitalism or communism, you have these feedback mechanisms…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/serj-tankian/i-think-anytime-that-you-go-to-the-extreme-of-any-mode-of-economics/) [Serj Tankian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/serj-tankian/) > [My two interests are spirituality and politics. I would mesh them in some way; maybe try to figure out the politics of spirituality, or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/serj-tankian/my-two-interests-are-spirituality-and-politics-i-would-mesh-them-in/) [Serj Tankian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/serj-tankian/) > [Political statements are usually more direct, and it works with the upbeat music as well, for some reason, the directness of your statements.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/serj-tankian/political-statements-are-usually-more-direct-and-it-works-with-the/) [Serj Tankian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/serj-tankian/) > [We have the power to change our lives, and the world around us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/serj-tankian/we-have-the-power-to-change-our-lives-and-the-world-around-us/) [Serj Tankian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/serj-tankian/) [Explore all 92 Serj Tankian quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/serj-tankian/) ## More Music quotes > [I feel like I definitely have a real sporty style, more so than a lot of people in G.O.O.D. Music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/big-sean/i-feel-like-i-definitely-have-a-real-sporty-style-more-so-than-a-lot/) [Big Sean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/big-sean/) > [Before I debuted, it was my goal to make my debut, and afterwards, I aimed at winning champion titles on television music shows, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hyuna/before-i-debuted-it-was-my-goal-to-make-my-debut-and-afterwards-i/) [Hyuna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hyuna/) > [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'm at the edge of the world, Where do I go from here? Do I disappear? Edge of the world, Should I sink or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bring-me-the-horizon/i-m-at-the-edge-of-the-world-where-do-i-go-from-here-do-i-disappear/) [Bring Me The Horizon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bring-me-the-horizon/) > [I've seen a lot of people come out of Carol City, but I had this distinct vision for Carol City, just me coming out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denzel-curry/i-ve-seen-a-lot-of-people-come-out-of-carol-city-but-i-had-this/) [Denzel Curry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denzel-curry/) > [When you listen to someone improvise, the notes that are played are only half the story.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hubert-laws/when-you-listen-to-someone-improvise-the-notes-that-are-played-are/) [Hubert Laws](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hubert-laws/) > [I understand that it's the music that keeps me alive... That's my lifeblood. And to give that up for, like, the TV, the cars,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-springsteen/i-understand-that-it-s-the-music-that-keeps-me-alive-that-s-my/) [Bruce Springsteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-springsteen/) > [ “Downloading's the same as what I used to do. I used to tape the charts of the songs I liked \[off the radio\]. I… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liam-gallagher/downloading-s-the-same-as-what-i-used-to-do-i-used-to-tape-the-charts/) [Liam Gallagher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liam-gallagher/) > [I've been writing songs since I was 10 years old and always had a penchant for rhyming. I started listening to hip hop through…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hoodie-allen/i-ve-been-writing-songs-since-i-was-10-years-old-and-always-had-a/) [Hoodie Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hoodie-allen/) > [Each woman is like an instrument, waiting to be learned, loved, and finely played, to have at last her own true music made.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-rothfuss/each-woman-is-like-an-instrument-waiting-to-be-learned-loved-and/) [Patrick Rothfuss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-rothfuss/) > [I want people to hear my lyrics and my melodies and say, 'That dude's in pain.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ivan-moody/i-want-people-to-hear-my-lyrics-and-my-melodies-and-say-that-dude-s/) [Ivan Moody](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ivan-moody/) > [I make dance music because I love to dance. 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I want to give something back to the younger generation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luciano-pavarotti/i-received-a-beautiful-welcome-to-the-world-of-music-i-want-to-give/) [Luciano Pavarotti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luciano-pavarotti/) [Browse all 55,293 Music quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/music/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "A lot of pop music is based on trying to make people remember it so that they'll buy it. 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