--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Most of the time when people say…" description: "\"Most of the time when people say something sounds like Steely Dan, and I listen to it, it doesn't. And I'm not even sure what they're talking about.\" —..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c1a/walter-becker-8870_like_most-of-the-time-when-people-say-somethi_2333176.jpg" --- # Most of the time when people say something sounds like… ![“Most of the time when people say something sounds like Steely Dan, and I listen to it, it doesn't. And I'm not even sure what they're talking about.” quote by Walter Becker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c1a/walter-becker-8870_like_most-of-the-time-when-people-say-somethi_2333176.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c1a/walter-becker-8870_like_most-of-the-time-when-people-say-somethi_2333176.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c1a/walter-becker-8870_like_most-of-the-time-when-people-say-somethi_2333176.jpg) > “Most of the time when people say something sounds like Steely Dan, and I listen to it, it doesn't. And I'm not even sure what they're talking about.” [Walter Becker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-becker/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. People often mislabel music, but personal perception decides if it fits a label. **In simple terms:** Labels are subjective. Key Takeaway Trust your own ears. Themes music perception subjectivity communication Mood analytical conversational Type musical cultural When to use this quote - listening to new genres - discussing music with friends - writing reviews - teaching music appreciation Key Concepts aesthetics psychology culture Questions to Reflect On - How do you decide a song fits a genre? - When have you changed your opinion about music? A Different Perspective Labels can guide but also restrict understanding. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) ## Related quotes > [I listen to Steely Dan. I really like Steely Dan.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-wopat/i-listen-to-steely-dan-i-really-like-steely-dan/) [Tom Wopat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-wopat/) > [Originally, we had a band known as Steely Dan. As we moved away from the band, we got whoever was appropriate for specific tunes.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-becker/originally-we-had-a-band-known-as-steely-dan-as-we-moved-away-from/) [Walter Becker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-becker/) > [Don't listen to anyone who doesn't know how to dream](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liza-minnelli/don-t-listen-to-anyone-who-doesn-t-know-how-to-dream/) [Liza Minnelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liza-minnelli/) > [“The secret is to listen to what she doesn't say, see what she doesn't do, and hold her when she doesn't cry”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brittainy-c-cherry/the-secret-is-to-listen-to-what-she-doesn-t-say-see-what-she-doesn-t/) [Brittainy C. Cherry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brittainy-c-cherry/) > [“But really, the secret is to listen to what she doesn't say, see what she doesn't do and hold her when she doesn't cry.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brittainy-c-cherry/but-really-the-secret-is-to-listen-to-what-she-doesn-t-say-see-what/) [Brittainy C. Cherry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brittainy-c-cherry/) > [Your children can be around you all day, but if you don't spend quality time with them and you don't pay attention to them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brandy-norwood/your-children-can-be-around-you-all-day-but-if-you-don-t-spend/) [Brandy Norwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brandy-norwood/) > [“People pay attention to the things they want to listen, anything that doesn't please them is rubbish.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/himmilicious/people-pay-attention-to-the-things-they-want-to-listen-anything-that/) Himmilicious > [“I like to mix it up. Keep things interesting." I don't say anything, because it sounds like something I'd say, and I don't like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kara-taylor/i-like-to-mix-it-up-keep-things-interesting-i-don-t-say-anything/) [Kara Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kara-taylor/) > [When you have to teach yourself how to say sounds, when you have to be highly concerned about pronunciation, it gives you a certain…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amanda-gorman/when-you-have-to-teach-yourself-how-to-say-sounds-when-you-have-to-be/) [Amanda Gorman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amanda-gorman/) > [I am Butler. Anything I say sounds scary.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eoin-colfer/i-am-butler-anything-i-say-sounds-scary/) [Eoin Colfer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eoin-colfer/) > [I hate working with artists who don't have something to say or when they have something that sounds cool but isn't really them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/drumma-boy/i-hate-working-with-artists-who-don-t-have-something-to-say-or-when/) Drumma Boy > [I hate to say "found himself" - it sounds so ridiculous.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-cavill/i-hate-to-say-found-himself-it-sounds-so-ridiculous/) [Henry Cavill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-cavill/) > [I love singing. I can't say it sounds good; it's just something I like doing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tori-bowie/i-love-singing-i-can-t-say-it-sounds-good-it-s-just-something-i-like/) [Tori Bowie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tori-bowie/) > [Say the word the word balloon or get others to say it, sounds funny and weird doesn't it? That's why I don't say ir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/my/say-the-word-the-word-balloon-or-get-others-to-say-it-sounds-funny/) My > [My dad used to love Steely Dan, the Stones, Jethro Tull and all that. There was always Steely Dan going in my dad's car,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/st-vincent/my-dad-used-to-love-steely-dan-the-stones-jethro-tull-and-all-that/) [St. Vincent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/st-vincent/) ## More by Walter Becker > [Cynicism, I contend, is the wailing of someone who believes that things are, or should be, or could be, much, much better than they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-becker/cynicism-i-contend-is-the-wailing-of-someone-who-believes-that-things/) [Walter Becker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-becker/) > [If it feels like we're re-creating something rather than creating something, we don't do it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-becker/if-it-feels-like-we-re-re-creating-something-rather-than-creating/) [Walter Becker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-becker/) > [There's a great freedom in writing by yourself. You can write anything you want.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-becker/there-s-a-great-freedom-in-writing-by-yourself-you-can-write-anything/) [Walter Becker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-becker/) > [Most of our songs are about relationships.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-becker/most-of-our-songs-are-about-relationships/) [Walter Becker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-becker/) > [That's sort of what we wanted to do: conquer from the margins, sort of find our place in the middle based on the fact…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-becker/that-s-sort-of-what-we-wanted-to-do-conquer-from-the-margins-sort-of/) [Walter Becker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-becker/) > [You have a kid, and it's like, 'He's gotta go to college! Gotta have some clothes!'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-becker/you-have-a-kid-and-it-s-like-he-s-gotta-go-to-college-gotta-have-some/) [Walter Becker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-becker/) > [I think what television and video games do is reminiscent of drug addiction. There's a measure of reinforcement and a behavioural loop.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-becker/i-think-what-television-and-video-games-do-is-reminiscent-of-drug/) [Walter Becker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-becker/) > [I guess actually playing on the records and touring is a great forced practice regimen for me. And you learn a lot playing with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-becker/i-guess-actually-playing-on-the-records-and-touring-is-a-great-forced/) [Walter Becker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-becker/) > [We are constantly competing with the monsters from the id.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-becker/we-are-constantly-competing-with-the-monsters-from-the-id/) [Walter Becker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-becker/) > [I love guys like Charlie Parker.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-becker/i-love-guys-like-charlie-parker/) [Walter Becker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-becker/) > ['Deacon Blues' was special for me. It's the only time I remember mixing a record all day and, when the mix was done, feeling…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-becker/deacon-blues-was-special-for-me-it-s-the-only-time-i-remember-mixing/) [Walter Becker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-becker/) > [It seemed like the more complex the music we were playing, the less able we were to guarantee its consistency.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-becker/it-seemed-like-the-more-complex-the-music-we-were-playing-the-less/) [Walter Becker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-becker/) > [Our career had a sort of funny shape.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-becker/our-career-had-a-sort-of-funny-shape/) [Walter Becker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-becker/) > [I think that there's the self-imposed pressure to come up with something that's good. For guys like us, that's much more important than any…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-becker/i-think-that-there-s-the-self-imposed-pressure-to-come-up-with/) [Walter Becker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-becker/) > [I can never believe how much time and energy and money and talent and everything else is being poured into horrible ideas.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-becker/i-can-never-believe-how-much-time-and-energy-and-money-and-talent-and/) [Walter Becker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-becker/) [Explore all 77 Walter Becker quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-becker/) ## More Like quotes > [Do I look like a fool to you](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tamika-leeigh/do-i-look-like-a-fool-to-you/) [Tamika-leeigh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tamika-leeigh/) > [I feel like I definitely have a real sporty style, more so than a lot of people in G.O.O.D. Music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/big-sean/i-feel-like-i-definitely-have-a-real-sporty-style-more-so-than-a-lot/) [Big Sean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/big-sean/) > [I always like a character who makes me laugh.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachael-stirling/i-always-like-a-character-who-makes-me-laugh/) [Rachael Stirling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachael-stirling/) > [We all know what it feels like to love someone and care about them and want to protect them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kiana-madeira/we-all-know-what-it-feels-like-to-love-someone-and-care-about-them/) [Kiana Madeira](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kiana-madeira/) > [I'm a workaholic, but I also like to vacation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karrueche-tran/i-m-a-workaholic-but-i-also-like-to-vacation/) [Karrueche Tran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karrueche-tran/) > [People like Sam Cooke and Otis Redding - I do not put myself in that category.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lewis-capaldi/people-like-sam-cooke-and-otis-redding-i-do-not-put-myself-in-that/) [Lewis Capaldi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lewis-capaldi/) > [I like the Patagonia in Argentina.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marc-gasol/i-like-the-patagonia-in-argentina/) [Marc Gasol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marc-gasol/) > [It took me 20 years to buy an electric typewriter, because I was afraid it would be too sensitive. I like to bang the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elmore-leonard/it-took-me-20-years-to-buy-an-electric-typewriter-because-i-was/) [Elmore Leonard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elmore-leonard/) > [I like to wear bodysuits and things that make me feel really active and athletic and also really sensual.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophie-hawley-weld/i-like-to-wear-bodysuits-and-things-that-make-me-feel-really-active/) [Sophie Hawley-Weld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophie-hawley-weld/) > [In the future, I would like to do more films with contemporary themes. Perhaps comedy, which is something I have done in theater but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luke-evans/in-the-future-i-would-like-to-do-more-films-with-contemporary-themes/) [Luke Evans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luke-evans/) > [It's like saying French shouldn't be taught because you don't understand it because it's new. Shakespeare is just like learning a new, exciting language.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-barnett/it-s-like-saying-french-shouldn-t-be-taught-because-you-don-t/) [Samuel Barnett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-barnett/) > [I don't want my kids to live like I do, sweating in a little metal box. I want them to have sunshine. I want…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-higgins/i-don-t-want-my-kids-to-live-like-i-do-sweating-in-a-little-metal-box/) [Alex Higgins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-higgins/) > [I like Louis C.K., Chris Rock. Old schools like Richard Pryor and Eddie Murphy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-devine/i-like-louis-c-k-chris-rock-old-schools-like-richard-pryor-and-eddie/) [Adam DeVine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-devine/) > [I think I've had the longest career of strength, focus, and still being able to sell records. I think I'm that guy. I'm still…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nas/i-think-i-ve-had-the-longest-career-of-strength-focus-and-still-being/) [Nas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nas/) > [Having small children and being an investigative reporter would seem like a difficult mix, but it worked well for me. I was often working…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jill-abramson/having-small-children-and-being-an-investigative-reporter-would-seem/) [Jill Abramson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jill-abramson/) Browse all 44,534 Like quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Most of the time when people say something sounds like Steely Dan, and I listen to it, it doesn't. 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