--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I'm never gonna be a Carlos Santana - an…" description: "\"I'm never gonna be a Carlos Santana - an instrumentalist. I just like songs. It's three minutes of something that can be very powerful.\" — Steve Forbert" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c6f/steve-forbert-19315_gonna_i-m-never-gonna-be-a-carlos-santana-an-i_1653380.png" --- # I'm never gonna be a Carlos Santana - an instrumentalist… ![“I'm never gonna be a Carlos Santana - an instrumentalist. I just like songs. It's three minutes of something that can be very powerful.” quote by Steve Forbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c6f/steve-forbert-19315_gonna_i-m-never-gonna-be-a-carlos-santana-an-i_1653380.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c6f/steve-forbert-19315_gonna_i-m-never-gonna-be-a-carlos-santana-an-i_1653380.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c6f/steve-forbert-19315_gonna_i-m-never-gonna-be-a-carlos-santana-an-i_1653380.png) > “I'm never gonna be a Carlos Santana - an instrumentalist. I just like songs. It's three minutes of something that can be very powerful.” [Steve Forbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-forbert/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He values the emotional impact of short, powerful songs over technical virtuosity. **In simple terms:** Short songs can be powerful. Key Takeaway Focus on emotional resonance. Themes music emotion creativity Mood reflective appreciative Type musical inspirational When to use this quote - radio playlists - concert sets - personal playlists - songwriting sessions Key Concepts song structure impact listener experience Questions to Reflect On - What makes a brief song memorable? - How do you balance simplicity and depth? A Different Perspective May overlook technical skill development. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Song](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/song/) [Songs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/songs/) ## Related quotes > [It does make sense to put on some songs that are relatively short, because radio usually only plays songs that are less than 4…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-gordon/it-does-make-sense-to-put-on-some-songs-that-are-relatively-short/) [Mike Gordon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-gordon/) > [I say that drums and bass should be very prominent, with vocals being the most important thing, and maybe very little guitars. 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I didn't think, well, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacob-collier/it-s-funny-i-guess-when-i-was-growing-up-i-didn-t-really-think-about/) [Jacob Collier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacob-collier/) > [Whether it's string writing or whatever, I try to write for what each instrumentalist can do best.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-mangione/whether-it-s-string-writing-or-whatever-i-try-to-write-for-what-each/) [Chuck Mangione](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-mangione/) > [“A skillful instrumentalist has his story to tell of his ordeal in rehearsals”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sunday-adelaja/a-skillful-instrumentalist-has-his-story-to-tell-of-his-ordeal-in/) [Sunday Adelaja](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sunday-adelaja/) > [Music, that has mostly earned a 'film music' status in our country, leaves genres like jazz, folk and classical to the niche. 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It's pretty real.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-forbert/i-relate-to-the-audiences-and-they-know-me-it-s-pretty-real/) [Steve Forbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-forbert/) > [I wouldn't be interested in just doing a show that's mapped out and choreographed with a set list. That would've been boring so long…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-forbert/i-wouldn-t-be-interested-in-just-doing-a-show-that-s-mapped-out-and/) [Steve Forbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-forbert/) > [It's not like making records is terrible. Still, I do find the writing of the songs and the live shows to be the things…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-forbert/it-s-not-like-making-records-is-terrible-still-i-do-find-the-writing/) [Steve Forbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-forbert/) > [I'm still trying to make it. I'm still trying to get this over and do it and hopefully leave some kind of a mark…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-forbert/i-m-still-trying-to-make-it-i-m-still-trying-to-get-this-over-and-do/) [Steve Forbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-forbert/) > [I have ideas in mind, things that I'm working toward. There have to be goals; there has to be a challenge. 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But compared to what?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-forbert/it-s-often-said-that-life-is-strange-but-compared-to-what/) [Steve Forbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-forbert/) > [I have a knack for writing tribute songs for people who will never know about them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-forbert/i-have-a-knack-for-writing-tribute-songs-for-people-who-will-never/) [Steve Forbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-forbert/) > [I like getting requests from audience members.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-forbert/i-like-getting-requests-from-audience-members/) [Steve Forbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-forbert/) > [But I'm able to just keep going, and that's the challenge. It's the next song. 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A lot of the people have been with me through the years.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-forbert/i-don-t-cringe-when-i-think-of-doing-old-material-a-lot-of-the-people/) [Steve Forbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-forbert/) > [As you get out and try to do things, you always find that in order to make an idea a reality, it goes through…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-forbert/as-you-get-out-and-try-to-do-things-you-always-find-that-in-order-to/) [Steve Forbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-forbert/) [Explore all 33 Steve Forbert quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-forbert/) ## More Gonna quotes > [There's always gonna be people with a lot of money making film, and the goal is to make profit and carry on. 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