--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Something taken off the page can sound…" description: "\"Something taken off the page can sound great, I guess. Usually it doesn't. It seems like lately Pitchfork is trying to champion lyric writers more.\" — ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/02d/stephen-malkmus-2984_champion_something-taken-off-the-page-can-sound-g_519718.png" --- # Something taken off the page can sound great, I guess… ![“Something taken off the page can sound great, I guess. Usually it doesn't. It seems like lately Pitchfork is trying to champion lyric writers more.” quote by Stephen Malkmus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/02d/stephen-malkmus-2984_champion_something-taken-off-the-page-can-sound-g_519718.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/02d/stephen-malkmus-2984_champion_something-taken-off-the-page-can-sound-g_519718.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/02d/stephen-malkmus-2984_champion_something-taken-off-the-page-can-sound-g_519718.png) > “Something taken off the page can sound great, I guess. Usually it doesn't. It seems like lately Pitchfork is trying to champion lyric writers more.” [Stephen Malkmus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-malkmus/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Translating written lyrics to sound is challenging; success is rare and often depends on the writer's skill. **In simple terms:** Turning words into music is hard and seldom works. Key Takeaway Focus on strong lyrical craft before production. Themes songwriting artistic integrity criticism Mood critical analytical Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - album production - live performance - studio recording - songwriting workshops Key Concepts ly criticism creative process Questions to Reflect On - What makes a lyric work well when set to music? - How can writers improve their lyrical material? A Different Perspective Not all written lyrics can become great songs. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Champion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/champion/) [Sound](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sound/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) ## Related quotes > [Neither blows from pitchfork, nor from the lash, can make him change his ways. \[Fr., Coups de fourches ni d'etriveres, Ne lui font changer…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-de-la-fontaine/neither-blows-from-pitchfork-nor-from-the-lash-can-make-him-change/) [Jean de La Fontaine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-de-la-fontaine/) > [When I was developing St. Lucia - around 2008, 2009, at the peak of Pitchfork culture - what was considered cool was being as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/st-lucia/when-i-was-developing-st-lucia-around-2008-2009-at-the-peak-of/) [St. Lucia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/st-lucia/) > [Because you're a woman, the music industry puts you in another corner. I want to be fighting with the men. I want to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lykke-li/because-you-re-a-woman-the-music-industry-puts-you-in-another-corner/) [Lykke Li](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lykke-li/) > [Naturam expellas furca, tamen usque revenit. You can drive nature out with a pitchfork, she will nevertheless come back.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/horace/naturam-expellas-furca-tamen-usque-revenit-you-can-drive-nature-out/) [Horace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/horace/) > [Some devil with a pitchfork keep talkin' like he know me. I stood before an angel as he told me bout the glory.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mac-miller/some-devil-with-a-pitchfork-keep-talkin-like-he-know-me-i-stood/) [Mac Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mac-miller/) > [Mainstream success is important - that's probably anathema to an indie publication like Pitchfork, but it's what I believe having experienced it personally.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/courtney-love/mainstream-success-is-important-that-s-probably-anathema-to-an-indie/) [Courtney Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/courtney-love/) > [It was summertime and I was in The Azores, hanging around the small village my parents are from. I was looking out on this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nelly-furtado/it-was-summertime-and-i-was-in-the-azores-hanging-around-the-small/) [Nelly Furtado](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nelly-furtado/) > [If you drive nature out with a pitchfork, she will soon find a way back.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/horace/if-you-drive-nature-out-with-a-pitchfork-she-will-soon-find-a-way-back/) [Horace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/horace/) > [ I think when I dropped The Eulogy is when it became more \[about\] feedback because that's when Pitchfork wanted to review it and things… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cakes-da-killa/i-think-when-i-dropped-the-eulogy-is-when-it-became-more-about/) [Cakes da killa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cakes-da-killa/) > [Drive Nature from your door with a pitchfork, and she will return again and again.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/horace/drive-nature-from-your-door-with-a-pitchfork-and-she-will-return/) [Horace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/horace/) > [If we throw mother nature out the window, she comes back in the door with a pitchfork.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/masanobu-fukuoka/if-we-throw-mother-nature-out-the-window-she-comes-back-in-the-door/) [Masanobu Fukuoka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/masanobu-fukuoka/) > [She wears her clothes as if they were thrown on with a pitchfork.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-swift/she-wears-her-clothes-as-if-they-were-thrown-on-with-a-pitchfork/) [Jonathan Swift](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-swift/) > [New lyric writers have become an asset for me. I gave Naseer Faraz a break in 'Aetbaar' and he was up for several awards.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rajesh-roshan/new-lyric-writers-have-become-an-asset-for-me-i-gave-naseer-faraz-a/) [Rajesh Roshan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rajesh-roshan/) > [Lyrics have to be underwritten. That's why poets generally make poor lyric writers because the language is too rich. You get drowned in it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-sondheim/lyrics-have-to-be-underwritten-that-s-why-poets-generally-make-poor/) [Stephen Sondheim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-sondheim/) > [Truth is, right now two bombs could drop out of the sky and blow up this house and whatever building you're in and just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-mackaye/truth-is-right-now-two-bombs-could-drop-out-of-the-sky-and-blow-up/) [Ian MacKaye](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-mackaye/) ## More by Stephen Malkmus > ['Silence Kid' starts with a broken classic-rock intro. It's funny to hear us do that. Obviously, we weren't skillful rock stars. Then it's spinning…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-malkmus/silence-kid-starts-with-a-broken-classic-rock-intro-it-s-funny-to/) [Stephen Malkmus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-malkmus/) > [What producers did was mostly recording in the studio, so it never changed our sound just that much.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-malkmus/what-producers-did-was-mostly-recording-in-the-studio-so-it-never/) [Stephen Malkmus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-malkmus/) > [I'm better when I'm an autodidact and things just come. Or you're just blessed. I'm not bragging or anything, it just comes to you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-malkmus/i-m-better-when-i-m-an-autodidact-and-things-just-come-or-you-re-just/) [Stephen Malkmus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-malkmus/) > [Men are men and women are women, but the men are dumber than the women, usually.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-malkmus/men-are-men-and-women-are-women-but-the-men-are-dumber-than-the-women/) [Stephen Malkmus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-malkmus/) > [I am good at just looking in the kitchen and getting stuff on the table and keeping the mess minimal. There's an art to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-malkmus/i-am-good-at-just-looking-in-the-kitchen-and-getting-stuff-on-the/) [Stephen Malkmus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-malkmus/) > [ Traditionally, when we lived here \[in Portland\], we have a record player in the living room, and there's lots of stuff playing, all different… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-malkmus/traditionally-when-we-lived-here-in-portland-we-have-a-record-player/) [Stephen Malkmus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-malkmus/) > [The word "down," is very musical. It just always comes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-malkmus/the-word-down-is-very-musical-it-just-always-comes/) [Stephen Malkmus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-malkmus/) > [I'm more into describing a scenario and I move around in that scenario.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-malkmus/i-m-more-into-describing-a-scenario-and-i-move-around-in-that-scenario/) [Stephen Malkmus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-malkmus/) > [I like visual imagery in my head.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-malkmus/i-like-visual-imagery-in-my-head/) [Stephen Malkmus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-malkmus/) > [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/) > [“I cannot do even one sit-up / Sit-ups are so bourgeoisie.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-malkmus/i-cannot-do-even-one-sit-up-sit-ups-are-so-bourgeoisie/) [Stephen Malkmus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-malkmus/) > [I like a narrative, even if it's fractured, or kind of psychedelic. But my favorite thing is if I hear words and I close…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-malkmus/i-like-a-narrative-even-if-it-s-fractured-or-kind-of-psychedelic-but/) [Stephen Malkmus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-malkmus/) > [Freddie Gray was a story I followed closer than others, for whatever reason, in this larger narrative of police brutality.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-malkmus/freddie-gray-was-a-story-i-followed-closer-than-others-for-whatever/) [Stephen Malkmus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-malkmus/) > [We're not on a desperate mission to write chart compatible stuff.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-malkmus/we-re-not-on-a-desperate-mission-to-write-chart-compatible-stuff/) [Stephen Malkmus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-malkmus/) > [I'm not dying for things to say.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-malkmus/i-m-not-dying-for-things-to-say/) [Stephen Malkmus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-malkmus/) [Explore all 143 Stephen Malkmus quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-malkmus/) ## More Champion quotes > [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/) > [As a child I was very involved with sports and I knew at age 9 that I wanted to be an Olympic champion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marion-jones/as-a-child-i-was-very-involved-with-sports-and-i-knew-at-age-9-that-i/) [Marion Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marion-jones/) > [Grit, determination, the right amount of crazy, self belief - everything it takes to be a champion. I have that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dustin-poirier/grit-determination-the-right-amount-of-crazy-self-belief-everything/) [Dustin Poirier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dustin-poirier/) > [I have to be No. 1 pound-for-pound champion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/islam-makhachev/i-have-to-be-no-1-pound-for-pound-champion/) [Islam Makhachev](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/islam-makhachev/) > [If I can beat a proven champion like Canelo, that will take my career to a different level.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gennady-golovkin/if-i-can-beat-a-proven-champion-like-canelo-that-will-take-my-career/) [Gennady Golovkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gennady-golovkin/) > [I still have to unify my division and basically become the undefeated welterweight champion of the world. I can't lose. It is more added…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/errol-spence-jr/i-still-have-to-unify-my-division-and-basically-become-the-undefeated/) [Errol Spence Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/errol-spence-jr/) > [Palindrome as well. My sister's name is Hannah. Father liked word games. He was fourteen times World Scrabble Champion. When he died, we buried…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jasper-fforde/palindrome-as-well-my-sister-s-name-is-hannah-father-liked-word-games/) [Jasper Fforde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jasper-fforde/) > [ Bernie \[Ecclestone\] is the commercial rights holder so the more outgoing the champion is, the better. Of course. I also do think about our… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernie-ecclestone/bernie-ecclestone-is-the-commercial-rights-holder-so-the-more/) [Bernie Ecclestone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernie-ecclestone/) > [The truth is the Vintage Vitor never left.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vitor-belfort/the-truth-is-the-vintage-vitor-never-left/) [Vitor Belfort](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vitor-belfort/) > [I think cricket is there in Usain Bolt's blood. Since I got to watch from close quarters, it was amazing to see him run…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harbhajan-singh/i-think-cricket-is-there-in-usain-bolt-s-blood-since-i-got-to-watch/) [Harbhajan Singh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harbhajan-singh/) > [Winners are born, Champions are made.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-falcon-scott/winners-are-born-champions-are-made/) [Robert Falcon Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-falcon-scott/) > [It's interesting that the greatest minds of computer science, the founding fathers, like Alan Turing and Claude Shannon and Norbert Wiener, they all looked…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/garry-kasparov/it-s-interesting-that-the-greatest-minds-of-computer-science-the/) [Garry Kasparov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/garry-kasparov/) > [To be a champion long-distance runner you have to run on the edge of death.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/toshihiko-seko/to-be-a-champion-long-distance-runner-you-have-to-run-on-the-edge-of/) Toshihiko Seko > [“There is a scene in one of the Rocky movies where after the match Apollo Creed and Rocky are waiting for the scoring of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-a-passaro/there-is-a-scene-in-one-of-the-rocky-movies-where-after-the-match/) [John A. Passaro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-a-passaro/) > [Champions are made from something they have deep inside of them-a desire, a dream, a vison.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/champions-are-made-from-something-they-have-deep-inside-of-them-a/) [Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/) [Browse all 2,649 Champion quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/champion/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Something taken off the page can sound great, I guess. Usually it doesn't. 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