--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: People think our music's very aggressive…" description: "\"People think our music's very aggressive or angry or whatever, and it's just the opposite, really... I like laughing. And I like being really calm befo..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e86/serj-tankian-7320_aggressive_people-think-our-music-s-very-aggressive_644377.png" --- # People think our music's very aggressive or angry or… ![“People think our music's very aggressive or angry or whatever, and it's just the opposite, really... I like laughing. And I like being really calm before a show, and smiley.” quote by Serj Tankian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e86/serj-tankian-7320_aggressive_people-think-our-music-s-very-aggressive_644377.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e86/serj-tankian-7320_aggressive_people-think-our-music-s-very-aggressive_644377.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e86/serj-tankian-7320_aggressive_people-think-our-music-s-very-aggressive_644377.png) > “People think our music's very aggressive or angry or whatever, and it's just the opposite, really... I like laughing. And I like being really calm before a show, and smiley.” [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. People misinterpret intense music as aggression, but the artist feels calm and enjoys humor before performances. **In simple terms:** Music can seem angry but be playful and relaxed. Key Takeaway Embrace calm humor before shows. Themes music interpretation performance emotion Mood playful calm Type reflective inspirational When to use this quote - concert preparation - studio recording - public speaking - media interviews Key Concepts Perception tone artist intent Questions to Reflect On - How does your pre‑show mood affect your performance? - Can audiences hear the intended calm? A Different Perspective Listeners may still hear aggression despite artist intent. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Angry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/angry/) [Calm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/calm/) [Music](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/music/) [Opposites](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/opposites/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) ## Related quotes > [When you say something is very different to a core base that expects heavy music from you or very aggressive music, everybody tends to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fred-durst/when-you-say-something-is-very-different-to-a-core-base-that-expects/) [Fred Durst](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fred-durst/) > [Horror allows you to do things as a composer than you're able to do in no other style of movie. The music has to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-young/horror-allows-you-to-do-things-as-a-composer-than-you-re-able-to-do/) [Christopher Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-young/) > [I've been checking with people back in South Florida to see if Hurricane Dennis is going to whack my house, and the consensus of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-barry/i-ve-been-checking-with-people-back-in-south-florida-to-see-if/) [Dave Barry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-barry/) > [I don't have to try to be perfect because I know that my fans like me for who I am. They like me because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bella-thorne/i-don-t-have-to-try-to-be-perfect-because-i-know-that-my-fans-like-me/) [Bella Thorne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bella-thorne/) > [“There is no such thing as a really calm sea. Always, always, there is motion.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/agatha-christie/there-is-no-such-thing-as-a-really-calm-sea-always-always-there-is/) [Agatha Christie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/agatha-christie/) > [I like the adrenaline of playing improv - it makes me feel really calm.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kim-gordon/i-like-the-adrenaline-of-playing-improv-it-makes-me-feel-really-calm/) [Kim Gordon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kim-gordon/) > [Eoin Morgan and Joe Root have a really calm and open changing room. There's no tension there. You don't have to be walking on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jofra-archer/eoin-morgan-and-joe-root-have-a-really-calm-and-open-changing-room/) [Jofra Archer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jofra-archer/) > [I stay really calm and just try to do my best all the time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-goffin/i-stay-really-calm-and-just-try-to-do-my-best-all-the-time/) [David Goffin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-goffin/) > [I'm not always really calm, but I try not to get taken away by things that are incredibly transitory.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-beals/i-m-not-always-really-calm-but-i-try-not-to-get-taken-away-by-things/) [Jennifer Beals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-beals/) > [Yeah, I try to be really calm.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gus-van-sant/yeah-i-try-to-be-really-calm/) [Gus Van Sant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gus-van-sant/) > [We both laugh. And it feels good. A release. Like laughing at a funeral. Maybe inappropriate, but definitely needed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-asher/we-both-laugh-and-it-feels-good-a-release-like-laughing-at-a-funeral/) [Jay Asher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-asher/) > [“And suddenly it's all so ridiculously and stupidly clear I feel like laughing. This is what I want. This is the only thing i've…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauren-oliver/and-suddenly-it-s-all-so-ridiculously-and-stupidly-clear-i-feel-like/) [Lauren Oliver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauren-oliver/) > [“roll up the window. I can’t explain the feelings going through me, a rush like you get from laughing too hard or”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauren-oliver/roll-up-the-window-i-can-t-explain-the-feelings-going-through-me-a/) [Lauren Oliver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauren-oliver/) > [“Kissing's a lot like laughing. If the joke's funny, it doesn't matter how long it's been since you last heard one.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maggie-stiefvater/kissing-s-a-lot-like-laughing-if-the-joke-s-funny-it-doesn-t-matter/) [Maggie Stiefvater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maggie-stiefvater/) > [I like laughing and having fun all the time, and I make sure people around me have fun, too.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rupali-ganguly/i-like-laughing-and-having-fun-all-the-time-and-i-make-sure-people/) [Rupali Ganguly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rupali-ganguly/) ## 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. I do find people that appreciate eye-opening events and words, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/serj-tankian/i-don-t-find-most-people-to-be-as-politically-engaged-as-i-am-i-do/) [Serj Tankian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/serj-tankian/) > [In the last few years I've been listening to jazz more than anything else. 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 Aggressive quotes > [So the fool, as distinct from the scoundrel, is completely self- satisfied; in fact, he can easily become dangerous, as it does not take…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dietrich-bonhoeffer/so-the-fool-as-distinct-from-the-scoundrel-is-completely-self/) [Dietrich Bonhoeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dietrich-bonhoeffer/) > [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/) > [Good girls don't hurt other people's feelings. Good girls are not overly aggressive, competitive, or boastful. Good girls please others. But what good girls…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-jane-gilman/good-girls-don-t-hurt-other-people-s-feelings-good-girls-are-not/) [Susan Jane Gilman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-jane-gilman/) > [It’s a shameful moment for U.S. media when it insists on being subservient to the grotesque propaganda agencies of a violent, aggressive state.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/it-s-a-shameful-moment-for-u-s-media-when-it-insists-on-being/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [“Passive...Aggressive...Pussy.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-azzarello/passive-aggressive-pussy/) [Brian Azzarello](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-azzarello/) > [I'm not a fan of endless mystery in storytelling - I like to know where the mythology's going; I like to get there in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-kripke/i-m-not-a-fan-of-endless-mystery-in-storytelling-i-like-to-know-where/) [Eric Kripke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-kripke/) > [Most conservatives - by which I mean normal people - have little conception of the aggressive and revolutionary force that confronts them. It is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-bethell/most-conservatives-by-which-i-mean-normal-people-have-little/) [Tom Bethell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-bethell/) > [If I serve good and play aggressive from the baseline, I can beat everyone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karolina-pliskova/if-i-serve-good-and-play-aggressive-from-the-baseline-i-can-beat/) [Karolina Pliskova](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karolina-pliskova/) > [I'm just trying to be aggressive. Be aggressive with my shot. Be aggressive going to the rim.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamal-murray/i-m-just-trying-to-be-aggressive-be-aggressive-with-my-shot-be/) [Jamal Murray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamal-murray/) > [I see other teams playing aggressive, attacking football, they are games I switch on and watch. They are the football teams I want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angelos-postecoglou/i-see-other-teams-playing-aggressive-attacking-football-they-are/) [Angelos Postecoglou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angelos-postecoglou/) > [You cannot will yourself to be happy while believing that you have no right to happiness, or that you are unworthy of it. You…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-roberts/you-cannot-will-yourself-to-be-happy-while-believing-that-you-have-no/) [Jane Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-roberts/) > [I have definitely noticed I am very passionate. So if I'm fighting with someone I'll be SO super loud and aggressive, and make sure…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melanie-martinez/i-have-definitely-noticed-i-am-very-passionate-so-if-i-m-fighting/) [Melanie Martinez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melanie-martinez/) > [ I think the president's \[Barack Obama\] position has been very clear on Syria. He wants more aggressive, he's put the Special Ops on the… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/juan-williams/i-think-the-president-s-barack-obama-position-has-been-very-clear-on/) [Juan Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/juan-williams/) > [As Americans, we want peace - we work and sacrifice for peace. But there can be no peace if our security depends on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/as-americans-we-want-peace-we-work-and-sacrifice-for-peace-but-there/) [George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/) > [It is deeply concerning to learn that Linda Thomas-Greenfield repeatedly praised autocratic China's aggressive and troubling expansion into Africa during a 2019 speech at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-hagerty/it-is-deeply-concerning-to-learn-that-linda-thomas-greenfield/) [Bill Hagerty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-hagerty/) Browse all 1,351 Aggressive quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "People think our music's very aggressive or angry or whatever, and it's just the opposite, really... I like laughing. And I like being really calm before a show, and smiley.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Serj Tankian" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/serj-tankian/people-think-our-music-s-very-aggressive-or-angry-or-whatever-and-it/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Aggressive" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/serj-tankian/people-think-our-music-s-very-aggressive-or-angry-or-whatever-and-it/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e86/serj-tankian-7320_aggressive_people-think-our-music-s-very-aggressive_644377.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e86/serj-tankian-7320_aggressive_people-think-our-music-s-very-aggressive_644377.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e86/serj-tankian-7320_aggressive_people-think-our-music-s-very-aggressive_644377.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“People think our music's very aggressive or angry or whatever, and it's just the opposite, really... I like…” — Serj Tankian", "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": "Serj Tankian", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/serj-tankian/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "People think our music's very aggressive...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/serj-tankian/people-think-our-music-s-very-aggressive-or-angry-or-whatever-and-it/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/serj-tankian/people-think-our-music-s-very-aggressive-or-angry-or-whatever-and-it/#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 } } ] } ```