--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When Elliott Smith came out, it was…" description: "\"When Elliott Smith came out, it was falling on deaf ears. But artists were reacting to it.\" — Slim Moon" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/36f/slim-moon-59619_art_when-elliott-smith-came-out-it-was-falli_2494496.jpg" --- # When Elliott Smith came out, it was falling on deaf ears… ![“When Elliott Smith came out, it was falling on deaf ears. But artists were reacting to it.” quote by Slim Moon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/36f/slim-moon-59619_art_when-elliott-smith-came-out-it-was-falli_2494496.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/36f/slim-moon-59619_art_when-elliott-smith-came-out-it-was-falli_2494496.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/36f/slim-moon-59619_art_when-elliott-smith-came-out-it-was-falli_2494496.jpg) > “When Elliott Smith came out, it was falling on deaf ears. But artists were reacting to it.” [Slim Moon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/slim-moon/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The impact of Elliott Smith's music was initially ignored, yet fellow artists responded and valued it **In simple terms:** Elliott Smith's music was overlooked by the public but appreciated by peers Key Takeaway Recognize and support underappreciated talent early Themes art recognition influence Mood reflective hopeful Type observational inspirational When to use this quote - music promotion - artist support - cult following - industry scouting Key Concepts cultural diffusion artistic impact Questions to Reflect On - How can we better amplify overlooked artists? - What mechanisms help niche art reach wider audiences? A Different Perspective Public indifference can delay broader acceptance of innovative work ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Art](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/art/) [Artist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/artist/) [Artists Reacting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/artists-reacting-999160/) [Deaf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/deaf/) [Deaf ears](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/deaf-ears/) [Ears](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ears/) [Ears Artists](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ears-artists-999161/) [Elliott Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/elliott-smith/) [Fall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fall/) [Reacting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reacting/) [Smith Came](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/smith-came-999162/) ## Related quotes > [Gary Smith, when I came to America, taught me a great deal about racing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emerson-fittipaldi/gary-smith-when-i-came-to-america-taught-me-a-great-deal-about-racing/) [Emerson Fittipaldi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emerson-fittipaldi/) > [I don't feel like I'm half as important as Elliott Smith or Kurt Cobain. And I'm not going to be somebody that became so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-owens/i-don-t-feel-like-i-m-half-as-important-as-elliott-smith-or-kurt/) [Christopher Owens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-owens/) > [I'm definitely a singer-songwriter. I'm somewhere in the vein between Elliott Smith and Jack Johnson.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryan-greenberg/i-m-definitely-a-singer-songwriter-i-m-somewhere-in-the-vein-between/) [Bryan Greenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryan-greenberg/) > [That's how I listen to music. When I was younger, I had Modest Mouse, then Elliott Smith, then Radiohead, one at a time -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-g/that-s-how-i-listen-to-music-when-i-was-younger-i-had-modest-mouse/) [Alex G](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-g/) > [The way that I write is very instinctual and based off raw feeling--I'm a very emotional person and I think that comes across in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arlo-parks/the-way-that-i-write-is-very-instinctual-and-based-off-raw-feeling-i/) [Arlo Parks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arlo-parks/) > [I'm obsessed with Elliott Smith, which is very common knowledge.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phoebe-bridgers/i-m-obsessed-with-elliott-smith-which-is-very-common-knowledge/) [Phoebe Bridgers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phoebe-bridgers/) > [My main influences are pop and folk music - Bob Lind, Neil Young, Joni Mitchell, Bob Dylan, the Motown collection, The Zombies, Elliott Smith,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greta-salpeter/my-main-influences-are-pop-and-folk-music-bob-lind-neil-young-joni/) [Greta Salpeter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greta-salpeter/) > [My favorite artists are Elliott Smith and Julia Holter.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophie-thatcher/my-favorite-artists-are-elliott-smith-and-julia-holter/) [Sophie Thatcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophie-thatcher/) > [After a casual listen, it might be easy to lump Rocky Votolato in with the downtrodden likes of Conor Oberst and Elliott Smith. But…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-fantano/after-a-casual-listen-it-might-be-easy-to-lump-rocky-votolato-in-with/) [Anthony Fantano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-fantano/) > [When I was 16 and in 'Prospect,' I listened to Elliott Smith in between takes. Listening to him reminds me of being a child,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophie-thatcher/when-i-was-16-and-in-prospect-i-listened-to-elliott-smith-in-between/) [Sophie Thatcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophie-thatcher/) > [From like 15 to 19, all I listened to was Elliott Smith. I started to appreciate the more human aspect of music and was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-g/from-like-15-to-19-all-i-listened-to-was-elliott-smith-i-started-to/) [Alex G](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-g/) > [When I started making my own music I was listening to people like Erykah Badu and Elliott Smith. I think I always gravitated towards…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arlo-parks/when-i-started-making-my-own-music-i-was-listening-to-people-like/) [Arlo Parks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arlo-parks/) > [I love James Taylor, Jeff Buckley, Elliott Smith and Nine Inch Nails.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nat-wolff/i-love-james-taylor-jeff-buckley-elliott-smith-and-nine-inch-nails/) [Nat Wolff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nat-wolff/) > [“God uses a multiplicity of ways to communicate with His people. Letters and numbers are just a fraction of the vehicles that God uses…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael/god-uses-a-multiplicity-of-ways-to-communicate-with-his-people/) [Michael](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael/) > [Who would have guessed that the shots heard 'round the world 225 years ago would fall on deaf ears in a nation now more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-malkin/who-would-have-guessed-that-the-shots-heard-round-the-world-225-years/) [Michelle Malkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-malkin/) ## More by Slim Moon > [I figured that if anyone could be wildly popular in one town, then that could be replicated everywhere, all you have to do is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/slim-moon/i-figured-that-if-anyone-could-be-wildly-popular-in-one-town-then/) [Slim Moon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/slim-moon/) > [Sleater-Kinney's biggest momentum was from the press - that, second to Radiohead, they got more positive press than any other band in America in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/slim-moon/sleater-kinney-s-biggest-momentum-was-from-the-press-that-second-to/) [Slim Moon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/slim-moon/) > [My own perception was that although it kind of sucks to be stuck in a contract you signed a long time ago, when you're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/slim-moon/my-own-perception-was-that-although-it-kind-of-sucks-to-be-stuck-in-a/) [Slim Moon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/slim-moon/) > [ Lars \[Ulrich\] of Metallica is one of the worst drummers I've ever heard, but they hide it because they spend millions recording. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/slim-moon/lars-ulrich-of-metallica-is-one-of-the-worst-drummers-i-ve-ever-heard/) [Slim Moon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/slim-moon/) [Explore all 5 Slim Moon quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/slim-moon/) ## More Art quotes > [True works of art contain their own theory and give us the measurement according to which we should judge them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/true-works-of-art-contain-their-own-theory-and-give-us-the/) [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [Before Noah, men having only water to drink, could not find the truth. Accordingly...they became abominably wicked, and they were justly exterminated by the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/before-noah-men-having-only-water-to-drink-could-not-find-the-truth/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [“Hear the sum of the whole matter in the compass of one brief word — every art possessed by man comes from Prometheus.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aeschylus/hear-the-sum-of-the-whole-matter-in-the-compass-of-one-brief-word/) [Aeschylus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aeschylus/) > [I think most artists feel like they're outside society - no matter how many accolades they receive, or how much money is in your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-rose/i-think-most-artists-feel-like-they-re-outside-society-no-matter-how/) [Aaron Rose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-rose/) > [The capacity to be puzzled is the premise of all creation, be it in art or in science.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erich-fromm/the-capacity-to-be-puzzled-is-the-premise-of-all-creation-be-it-in/) [Erich Fromm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erich-fromm/) > [That's the great secret of creativity. You treat ideas like cats: you make them follow you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-bradbury/that-s-the-great-secret-of-creativity-you-treat-ideas-like-cats-you/) [Ray Bradbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-bradbury/) > [“So, really," continued Jacob as if this were perfectly normal to expound on art in these circumstances, "when you think about it, the artists…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justina-chen-headley/so-really-continued-jacob-as-if-this-were-perfectly-normal-to-expound/) [Justina Chen Headley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justina-chen-headley/) > [“There are two options in art; either to adopt philosophical life by dissecting art, or to write your own philosophical life and claim it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taf-teh/there-are-two-options-in-art-either-to-adopt-philosophical-life-by/) [Taf Teh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taf-teh/) > [The house has to serve comfort. The work of art is revolutionary; the house is conservative.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adolf-loos/the-house-has-to-serve-comfort-the-work-of-art-is-revolutionary-the/) [Adolf Loos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adolf-loos/) > [During human progress, every science is evolved out of its corresponding art.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbert-spencer/during-human-progress-every-science-is-evolved-out-of-its/) [Herbert Spencer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbert-spencer/) > [In literature and art memory is a synonym for invention. It is the life-blood of imagination, which faints and dies when the veins are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-aris-willmott/in-literature-and-art-memory-is-a-synonym-for-invention-it-is-the/) [Robert Aris Willmott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-aris-willmott/) > [I think a business guy is different from an artist. They walk different paths. Artists create the best outputs when they're having fun. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/g-dragon/i-think-a-business-guy-is-different-from-an-artist-they-walk/) [G-Dragon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/g-dragon/) > [“The only thing--I tell you this straight from the heart--that disgusts me in Salzburg is that one can't have any proper social intercourse with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wolfgang-amadeus-mozart/the-only-thing-i-tell-you-this-straight-from-the-heart-that-disgusts/) [Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wolfgang-amadeus-mozart/) > [The sublime in art is the attempt to express the infinite without finding in the realm of phenomena any object which proves itself fitting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/georg-wilhelm-friedrich-hegel/the-sublime-in-art-is-the-attempt-to-express-the-infinite-without/) [Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/georg-wilhelm-friedrich-hegel/) > [Art isn't done to decorate apartments, but to wage war against the enemy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pablo-picasso/art-isn-t-done-to-decorate-apartments-but-to-wage-war-against-the/) [Pablo Picasso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pablo-picasso/) [Browse all 48,643 Art quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/art/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "When Elliott Smith came out, it was falling on deaf ears. 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