--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I was about seven or eight years old when…" description: "\"I was about seven or eight years old when I first heard West Side Story, and it had a huge impact on me. If you look at the elements of that record, it..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/65b/steve-vai-7290_eight_i-was-about-seven-or-eight-years-old-whe_2900909.jpg" --- # I was about seven or eight years old when I first heard… ![“I was about seven or eight years old when I first heard West Side Story, and it had a huge impact on me. If you look at the elements of that record, it contains many of the things I enjoy doing today.” quote by Steve Vai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/65b/steve-vai-7290_eight_i-was-about-seven-or-eight-years-old-whe_2900909.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/65b/steve-vai-7290_eight_i-was-about-seven-or-eight-years-old-whe_2900909.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/65b/steve-vai-7290_eight_i-was-about-seven-or-eight-years-old-whe_2900909.jpg) > “I was about seven or eight years old when I first heard West Side Story, and it had a huge impact on me. If you look at the elements of that record, it contains many of the things I enjoy doing today.” [Steve Vai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-vai/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Early artistic experiences can shape lifelong creative passions and career paths. **In simple terms:** Childhood media influences adult art. Key Takeaway Explore early inspirations. Themes creativity influence career development Mood nostalgic inspirational Type reflective personal When to use this quote - career planning - educational curricula - personal storytelling Key Concepts formative experiences artistic identity Questions to Reflect On - Which childhood media shaped you most? - How can you reconnect with early passions? A Different Perspective Not all early influences are positive. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Eight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/eight/) [Elements](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/elements/) [Enjoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/enjoy/) [Firsts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/firsts/) [Heard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/heard/) [Huge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/huge/) [Impact](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/impact/) [Looks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/looks/) [Records](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/records/) [Seven](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/seven/) [Seven years](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/seven-years/) [Sides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sides/) [Stories](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stories/) [Things Enjoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/things-enjoy/) [Today](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/today/) [West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/west/) [West side](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/west-side/) [West side story](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/west-side-story/) [West Story](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/west-story-614331/) [Years](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/years/) [Years Old](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/years-old/) ## Related quotes > [Along with its enchanting and exquisite melodies, West Side Story has attitude and a tremendous amount of frenetic energy. It's emotional, theatrical and technical.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-vai/along-with-its-enchanting-and-exquisite-melodies-west-side-story-has/) [Steve Vai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-vai/) > [I was at Elon University in North Carolina for two years pursuing my BFA. And after my sophomore year, I was cast in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grant-gustin/i-was-at-elon-university-in-north-carolina-for-two-years-pursuing-my/) [Grant Gustin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grant-gustin/) > [I actually love 'West Side Story.' I think it's an amazing film to watch.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-donovan/i-actually-love-west-side-story-i-think-it-s-an-amazing-film-to-watch/) [Martin Donovan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-donovan/) > [West Side Story was terribly important because of the style of the dancing and the gangs of New York.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vincente-minnelli/west-side-story-was-terribly-important-because-of-the-style-of-the/) [Vincente Minnelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vincente-minnelli/) > [I was miserable in West Side Story. They really miscast me. I came from the Midwest; what they really needed was a guy that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-beymer/i-was-miserable-in-west-side-story-they-really-miscast-me-i-came-from/) [Richard Beymer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-beymer/) > [Like the tail fins on fifties American cars or the parabolic shapes of Populuxe furniture, 'West Side Story' incarnates the dream of momentum in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lahr/like-the-tail-fins-on-fifties-american-cars-or-the-parabolic-shapes/) [John Lahr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lahr/) > [Oh yes, I've been approached to do all sorts of nonsense. How about a remake of 'West Side Story?'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-zwigoff/oh-yes-i-ve-been-approached-to-do-all-sorts-of-nonsense-how-about-a/) [Terry Zwigoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-zwigoff/) > [I don't believe I was jinxed or hexed by winning an Academy Award in my first picture, 'West Side Story.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-chakiris/i-don-t-believe-i-was-jinxed-or-hexed-by-winning-an-academy-award-in/) [George Chakiris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-chakiris/) > [In 1957, 'West Side Story' had introduced the musical to the reckless dark side of teen-age life; 'Bye Bye Birdie,' set in Sweet Apple,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lahr/in-1957-west-side-story-had-introduced-the-musical-to-the-reckless/) [John Lahr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lahr/) > ['West Side Story' is one of the greatest theatrical experiences I've had.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-tiffany/west-side-story-is-one-of-the-greatest-theatrical-experiences-i-ve-had/) [John Tiffany](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-tiffany/) > [The evolution of 'West Side Story' has been a long one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-zegler/the-evolution-of-west-side-story-has-been-a-long-one/) [Rachel Zegler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-zegler/) > [Maybe this is so pretentious, but 'West Side Story' was everything I had ever hoped to accomplish as an actor. It's really crazy, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-faist/maybe-this-is-so-pretentious-but-west-side-story-was-everything-i-had/) [Mike Faist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-faist/) > [We were so fortunate on 'West Side Story' to have a creative team that cared a lot about the authenticity of the story being…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-zegler/we-were-so-fortunate-on-west-side-story-to-have-a-creative-team-that/) [Rachel Zegler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-zegler/) > [I danced in a company of 'West Side Story' when I was very young. It was most of the original cast - Larry Kert,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/teri-garr/i-danced-in-a-company-of-west-side-story-when-i-was-very-young-it-was/) [Teri Garr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/teri-garr/) > ['West Side Story' I used to watch all the time - I don't know why. Well, I do - it's a great movie. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-rowe/west-side-story-i-used-to-watch-all-the-time-i-don-t-know-why-well-i/) [Charlie Rowe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-rowe/) ## More by Steve Vai > [I designed a guitar for Ibanez and then they started manufacturing it - it's called the Jem - it's 26 years old and I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-vai/i-designed-a-guitar-for-ibanez-and-then-they-started-manufacturing-it/) [Steve Vai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-vai/) > [You can never deny the immense talent, rock credibility and iconic historical contribution that Van Halen made.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-vai/you-can-never-deny-the-immense-talent-rock-credibility-and-iconic/) [Steve Vai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-vai/) > [I can tell you this: I'm an extremely passionate individual. I try to be careful how I display it because you never know how…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-vai/i-can-tell-you-this-i-m-an-extremely-passionate-individual-i-try-to/) [Steve Vai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-vai/) > [I don't believe in 'greatest'. I believe in favorites.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-vai/i-don-t-believe-in-greatest-i-believe-in-favorites/) [Steve Vai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-vai/) > [Along with its enchanting and exquisite melodies, West Side Story has attitude and a tremendous amount of frenetic energy. It's emotional, theatrical and technical.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-vai/along-with-its-enchanting-and-exquisite-melodies-west-side-story-has/) [Steve Vai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-vai/) > [I have a deep love for life and my fellow human beings. I try to understand everything that everybody does, even if it seems…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-vai/i-have-a-deep-love-for-life-and-my-fellow-human-beings-i-try-to/) [Steve Vai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-vai/) > [I've never really heard anybody imitating anything of mine the way they do with Edward Van Halen's stuff.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-vai/i-ve-never-really-heard-anybody-imitating-anything-of-mine-the-way/) [Steve Vai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-vai/) > [The only thing that's holding you back, is the way you're thinking.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-vai/the-only-thing-that-s-holding-you-back-is-the-way-you-re-thinking/) [Steve Vai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-vai/) > [My main calling in life is to seek and achieve spiritual balance, and to express that through my instrument. Everything else is here today,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-vai/my-main-calling-in-life-is-to-seek-and-achieve-spiritual-balance-and/) [Steve Vai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-vai/) > [There's very notable dynamics in all of the collaborations I've done. It's hard to say if one is more important than the other, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-vai/there-s-very-notable-dynamics-in-all-of-the-collaborations-i-ve-done/) [Steve Vai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-vai/) > [I awake, I meditate, get the kids off to school, go to the gym, go to the Favored Nations office, and usually at around…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-vai/i-awake-i-meditate-get-the-kids-off-to-school-go-to-the-gym-go-to-the/) [Steve Vai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-vai/) > [I think every artist subconsciously wants to evolve themselves. Sometimes they get stuck in ruts because of pop culture, peer pressure, stuff like that.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-vai/i-think-every-artist-subconsciously-wants-to-evolve-themselves/) [Steve Vai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-vai/) > [Baby don't wake me, let me take you on an endless journey. We touch and the softest kiss explodes with lust. It's real and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-vai/baby-don-t-wake-me-let-me-take-you-on-an-endless-journey-we-touch-and/) [Steve Vai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-vai/) > [We have the insight and the tools to identify and bring to fruition the dormant talent that our artists possess. Favored Nations will be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-vai/we-have-the-insight-and-the-tools-to-identify-and-bring-to-fruition/) [Steve Vai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-vai/) > [That's the thing about great artists: They find the thing that's most obvious to themselves, what's most conscious and natural, and they put it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-vai/that-s-the-thing-about-great-artists-they-find-the-thing-that-s-most/) [Steve Vai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-vai/) [Explore all 92 Steve Vai quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-vai/) ## More Eight quotes > [My mother says I didn't open my eyes for eight days after I was born, but when I did, the first thing I saw…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-taylor/my-mother-says-i-didn-t-open-my-eyes-for-eight-days-after-i-was-born/) [Elizabeth Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-taylor/) > [The minute you step onstage, you get eight feet taller.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-cooper/the-minute-you-step-onstage-you-get-eight-feet-taller/) [Alice Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-cooper/) > [If my campaign is not in the debate, we will not be talking about how we really fix this problem of endless and expanding…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jill-stein/if-my-campaign-is-not-in-the-debate-we-will-not-be-talking-about-how/) [Jill Stein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jill-stein/) > [ I failed, I think, seven \[or\] eight times before I finally got my first \[championship\]. It was just, you know, just about me growing… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shaquille-o-neal/i-failed-i-think-seven-or-eight-times-before-i-finally-got-my-first/) [Shaquille O'Neal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shaquille-o-neal/) > [We got orders to strike the Marshall and Gilbert Islands. We had a task force with the Enterprise. We had two or three cruisers…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barney-ross/we-got-orders-to-strike-the-marshall-and-gilbert-islands-we-had-a/) [Barney Ross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barney-ross/) > [Cerrone is a great opponent. The guy won eight fights straight.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rafael-dos-anjos/cerrone-is-a-great-opponent-the-guy-won-eight-fights-straight/) [Rafael dos Anjos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rafael-dos-anjos/) > [Ninety-eight percent of the things that come out of my mouth are intended to be harmless or even charming. They're not ever intended to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/megan-fox/ninety-eight-percent-of-the-things-that-come-out-of-my-mouth-are/) [Megan Fox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/megan-fox/) > [The first draft is usually junk. You have to work on it seven to eight times.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ravi-subramanian/the-first-draft-is-usually-junk-you-have-to-work-on-it-seven-to-eight/) [Ravi Subramanian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ravi-subramanian/) > [I realised I owned eight pink suits, which I did not need.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-j-odudu/i-realised-i-owned-eight-pink-suits-which-i-did-not-need/) [A. J. Odudu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-j-odudu/) > [As a result of reading science fiction when I was eight, I grew up with an interest in music, architecture, city planning, transportation, politics,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-bradbury/as-a-result-of-reading-science-fiction-when-i-was-eight-i-grew-up/) [Ray Bradbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-bradbury/) > [I started a list of things I want to teach my children, and that list is eight points long. The first one is, do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tina-roth-eisenberg/i-started-a-list-of-things-i-want-to-teach-my-children-and-that-list/) [Tina Roth-Eisenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tina-roth-eisenberg/) > [There could be some compromise, but I think we have to stick to the provisions of the treaty, and the provisions of the treaty…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-santer/there-could-be-some-compromise-but-i-think-we-have-to-stick-to-the/) [Jacques Santer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-santer/) > [He should release the tax returns tomorrow. It's crazy. You've got to release six, eight, ten years back tax returns. Take the hit for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-kristol/he-should-release-the-tax-returns-tomorrow-it-s-crazy-you-ve-got-to/) [William Kristol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-kristol/) > [Instead of finding himself in nerd heaven—where every nerd gets fifty-eight virgins to role-play with—he woke up in Robert Wood Johnson with two broken…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/junot-diaz/instead-of-finding-himself-in-nerd-heaven-where-every-nerd-gets-fifty/) [Junot Diaz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/junot-diaz/) > [Even from a really young age I was a huge movie buff - five, six, seven, eight. Just loved movies, but in a more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/danny-strong/even-from-a-really-young-age-i-was-a-huge-movie-buff-five-six-seven/) [Danny Strong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/danny-strong/) [Browse all 2,598 Eight quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/eight/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I was about seven or eight years old when I first heard West Side Story, and it had a huge impact on me. 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