--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We didn't want to worry about the formula…" description: "\"We didn't want to worry about the formula that has been implanted into our brains - this verse/pre-chorus/chorus format. When we were writing 'The Pape..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6a6/travie-mccoy-22422_about_we-didn-t-want-to-worry-about-the-formul_2350959.jpg" --- # We didn't want to worry about the formula that has been… ![“We didn't want to worry about the formula that has been implanted into our brains - this verse/pre-chorus/chorus format. When we were writing 'The Papercut Chronicles,' we had no idea about any of that. We didn't know how to count bars or how to write what's considered a well-formatted pop song.” quote by Travie McCoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6a6/travie-mccoy-22422_about_we-didn-t-want-to-worry-about-the-formul_2350959.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6a6/travie-mccoy-22422_about_we-didn-t-want-to-worry-about-the-formul_2350959.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6a6/travie-mccoy-22422_about_we-didn-t-want-to-worry-about-the-formul_2350959.jpg) > “We didn't want to worry about the formula that has been implanted into our brains - this verse/pre-chorus/chorus format. When we were writing 'The Papercut Chronicles,' we had no idea about any of that. We didn't know how to count bars or how to write what's considered a well-formatted pop song.” [Travie McCoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/travie-mccoy/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The creators were unaware of conventional song structures when writing, leading to an organic, unplanned composition. **In simple terms:** They wrote without following typical pop formulas. Key Takeaway Embrace spontaneity in creative work. Themes creativity music structure spontaneity Mood inspirational experimental Type musical creative When to use this quote - music production - collaborative projects - learning new skills Key Concepts songwriting process artistic freedom Questions to Reflect On - How can you balance intuition with learned techniques? - What benefits arise from breaking conventional patterns? A Different Perspective Lack of structure may hinder commercial success. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Brains](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/brains/) [Idea](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/idea/) [Music](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/music/) [Poetry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/poetry/) [Pop](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pop/) [Pop song](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pop-song/) [Song](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/song/) [Worry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/worry/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) ## Related quotes > [I've been producing since the early stages of Gym Class Heroes. A lot of the songs on the first 'Papercut Chronicles' were actually beats…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/travie-mccoy/i-ve-been-producing-since-the-early-stages-of-gym-class-heroes-a-lot/) [Travie McCoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/travie-mccoy/) > [The first record we put out on Fueled by Ramon, 'The Papercut Chronicles,' we had no idea what the term 'producer' meant. It was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/travie-mccoy/the-first-record-we-put-out-on-fueled-by-ramon-the-papercut/) [Travie McCoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/travie-mccoy/) > [It's a real gift to be able to have the works of brilliant, great people to learn from and build from. It gives you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/regina-spektor/it-s-a-real-gift-to-be-able-to-have-the-works-of-brilliant-great/) [Regina Spektor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/regina-spektor/) > [A Hard Day's Night' is the most perfect pop album you'll ever get to hear in your life; it's filled with definitive versions of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mick-hucknall/a-hard-day-s-night-is-the-most-perfect-pop-album-you-ll-ever-get-to/) [Mick Hucknall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mick-hucknall/) > [“But when you're a teenage boy, you can be narrow-minded about things that are girlie, things that are frivolous, things that are pop. Boys…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-sheffield/but-when-you-re-a-teenage-boy-you-can-be-narrow-minded-about-things/) [Rob Sheffield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-sheffield/) > [Making a record's a real fight for me. I'm constantly fighting with this thing inside of me that says I should be sitting in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-pierce/making-a-record-s-a-real-fight-for-me-i-m-constantly-fighting-with/) [Jason Pierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-pierce/) > [“You know, just because you think bubblegum pop on the radio represents all that is wrong with society, that doesn’t mean there’s not someone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hannah-harrington/you-know-just-because-you-think-bubblegum-pop-on-the-radio-represents/) [Hannah Harrington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hannah-harrington/) > [A timeless pop song is the hardest thing to do as a songwriter.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-foster/a-timeless-pop-song-is-the-hardest-thing-to-do-as-a-songwriter/) [Mark Foster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-foster/) > [There needs to be structures in place to do something about misrepresentation about hip hop. When awards are given out and the media talk…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nas/there-needs-to-be-structures-in-place-to-do-something-about/) [Nas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nas/) > [I realized probably when I was, like, 20 years old that the hardest thing to do is to write a pop song - not,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-foster/i-realized-probably-when-i-was-like-20-years-old-that-the-hardest/) [Mark Foster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-foster/) > [I feel like a lot of people look at pop music with a very formulaic perspective in numbers and patterns, but an outsider would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/halsey/i-feel-like-a-lot-of-people-look-at-pop-music-with-a-very-formulaic/) [Halsey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/halsey/) > [We kind of write pop songs, but we don't fit in the pop world. We're really bad at being pop stars and walking down…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katie-white/we-kind-of-write-pop-songs-but-we-don-t-fit-in-the-pop-world-we-re/) Katie White > [A pop song is a condensed version of a life in three minutes, whereas, when you go to write your prose, you have to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-springsteen/a-pop-song-is-a-condensed-version-of-a-life-in-three-minutes-whereas/) [Bruce Springsteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-springsteen/) > [All men that date me have to know that their name may end up in a pop song.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kesha/all-men-that-date-me-have-to-know-that-their-name-may-end-up-in-a-pop/) [Kesha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kesha/) > [There's nothing like getting feedback that's positive and supportive. That's what I'm all about. I'm really just genuinely doing good music. I'm not looking…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tiffany-villarreal/there-s-nothing-like-getting-feedback-that-s-positive-and-supportive/) [Tiffany Villarreal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tiffany-villarreal/) ## More by Travie McCoy > [The first record we put out on Fueled by Ramon, 'The Papercut Chronicles,' we had no idea what the term 'producer' meant. It was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/travie-mccoy/the-first-record-we-put-out-on-fueled-by-ramon-the-papercut/) [Travie McCoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/travie-mccoy/) > [Pain is definitely a genius in his own right. 'Thr33 Ringz' is definitely one of my top 10 albums. It's one of those albums…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/travie-mccoy/pain-is-definitely-a-genius-in-his-own-right-thr33-ringz-is/) [Travie McCoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/travie-mccoy/) > ['All In' is like the Giants motto, so I kind of took that, and I kind of used New York as the backdrop -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/travie-mccoy/all-in-is-like-the-giants-motto-so-i-kind-of-took-that-and-i-kind-of/) [Travie McCoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/travie-mccoy/) > [Since the inception of Gym Class in 1997, every member has had another musical outlet, if not three or four.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/travie-mccoy/since-the-inception-of-gym-class-in-1997-every-member-has-had-another/) [Travie McCoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/travie-mccoy/) > [When the fishbowl gets too small, it's time to pack up and leave and jump into the lake or ocean.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/travie-mccoy/when-the-fishbowl-gets-too-small-it-s-time-to-pack-up-and-leave-and/) [Travie McCoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/travie-mccoy/) > [Albums take a lot out of you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/travie-mccoy/albums-take-a-lot-out-of-you/) [Travie McCoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/travie-mccoy/) > [Being a kid during the '80s, I feel I didn't really get the full experience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/travie-mccoy/being-a-kid-during-the-80s-i-feel-i-didn-t-really-get-the-full/) [Travie McCoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/travie-mccoy/) > [No one in my circle calls me 'Travis.' Even my family, at a young age started calling me 'Travie.' So I want people to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/travie-mccoy/no-one-in-my-circle-calls-me-travis-even-my-family-at-a-young-age/) [Travie McCoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/travie-mccoy/) > [DJ Sliink is amazing, and his production is on the next level. There are a lot of EDM producers that I'd like to work…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/travie-mccoy/dj-sliink-is-amazing-and-his-production-is-on-the-next-level-there/) [Travie McCoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/travie-mccoy/) > [A lot of underground hip-hop will inspire me as far as rhyme patterns - really wordy, intelligent lyrics.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/travie-mccoy/a-lot-of-underground-hip-hop-will-inspire-me-as-far-as-rhyme-patterns/) [Travie McCoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/travie-mccoy/) > [I'd like to be remembered as someone that lived life by his own rules with no regrets.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/travie-mccoy/i-d-like-to-be-remembered-as-someone-that-lived-life-by-his-own-rules/) [Travie McCoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/travie-mccoy/) > ['Billionaire' is basically about, you know, like 'Brewster's Millions.' It's me talking about what would happen if I would somehow manage to become a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/travie-mccoy/billionaire-is-basically-about-you-know-like-brewster-s-millions-it-s/) [Travie McCoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/travie-mccoy/) > [I think it's hard to put a finger on my music. My music has always been an amalgamation of everything I listen to, which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/travie-mccoy/i-think-it-s-hard-to-put-a-finger-on-my-music-my-music-has-always/) [Travie McCoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/travie-mccoy/) > [The best thing I ever bought is my dog Stitch. He's the best friend & companion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/travie-mccoy/the-best-thing-i-ever-bought-is-my-dog-stitch-he-s-the-best-friend/) [Travie McCoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/travie-mccoy/) > [I think anything we do outside of Gym Class Heroes still falls under the Gym Class Heroes umbrella. There's really no method to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/travie-mccoy/i-think-anything-we-do-outside-of-gym-class-heroes-still-falls-under/) [Travie McCoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/travie-mccoy/) [Explore all 27 Travie McCoy quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/travie-mccoy/) ## More About quotes > [If you ask an introvert a question, wait until she thinks about it. Introverts think before speaking, not through speaking. 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That means I write about guys - so far. I'm interested in the people closest to them, the people they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doris-kearns-goodwin/i-write-about-presidents-that-means-i-write-about-guys-so-far-i-m/) [Doris Kearns Goodwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doris-kearns-goodwin/) > [That's something a lot of folks don't know about me - I'm pretty darn funny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-jai-white/that-s-something-a-lot-of-folks-don-t-know-about-me-i-m-pretty-darn/) [Michael Jai White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-jai-white/) > [I learned a lot about myself at Oakmont.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shane-lowry/i-learned-a-lot-about-myself-at-oakmont/) [Shane Lowry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shane-lowry/) > [I don't think about the press or the crowds or the other leaders of the race. The focus is only on myself. As soon…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/magdalena-neuner/i-don-t-think-about-the-press-or-the-crowds-or-the-other-leaders-of/) [Magdalena Neuner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/magdalena-neuner/) > [Sport is not just about entertainment. It is equally about winning and losing, pooling and galvanising the energy of the youth, upgrading people's physical…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nita-ambani/sport-is-not-just-about-entertainment-it-is-equally-about-winning-and/) [Nita Ambani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nita-ambani/) > [One of the ways that I discovered my confidence and my ability to overpower is becoming a mother. Suddenly, my world wasn't about myself…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lights/one-of-the-ways-that-i-discovered-my-confidence-and-my-ability-to/) [Lights](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lights/) > [I didn't want to do 'Fashion Police' because I thought, 'This is stupid, this is beneath me, who wants to talk about fashion?' It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-rivers/i-didn-t-want-to-do-fashion-police-because-i-thought-this-is-stupid/) [Joan Rivers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-rivers/) > [I just worried about my weight. Worried about my appearance and thought I wan't pretty enough to be a pop star. It was very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-durham/i-just-worried-about-my-weight-worried-about-my-appearance-and/) [Judith Durham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-durham/) > [I read a couple of books about neuroscience and the relationship between the mind and the body.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-kinnaman/i-read-a-couple-of-books-about-neuroscience-and-the-relationship/) [Joel Kinnaman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-kinnaman/) > [There are a lot of kids out there copying and distributing movies - not because they care about seeing the movies or sharing them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-perry-barlow/there-are-a-lot-of-kids-out-there-copying-and-distributing-movies-not/) [John Perry Barlow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-perry-barlow/) > [I have no physical genius about me. I can't dribble a ball and run at the same time, I can't do lay-ups - I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rich-mullins/i-have-no-physical-genius-about-me-i-can-t-dribble-a-ball-and-run-at/) [Rich Mullins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rich-mullins/) Browse all 26,122 About quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "We didn't want to worry about the formula that has been implanted into our brains - this verse/pre-chorus/chorus format. When we were writing 'The Papercut Chronicles,' we had no idea about any of that. 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