When the uncreative tell the creative what to do, it stops being art.
Tony BennettRead
In America, at the beginning of talkies, they pulled Fred Astaire from the theaters and put him on the screen and had all of these great composers write songs for him. They call it the Great American Songbook; I call it the Fred Astaire Songbook because they were written for him.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote emphasizes the unique artistic contribution Fred Astaire made to music and film through the songs specifically written for him.
Tony Bennett expresses admiration for Fred Astaire's iconic status in American musical history. He highlights how the songs associated with Astaire, collectively referred to as the Great American Songbook, were tailored for his unique talents, thereby creating a distinct legacy in the realm of performance and music that transcends typical recognition.
Themes
Fred AstaireMusicGreat American SongbookArtistic LegacyFilm
In practice
Example use cases
This quote is perfect for a tribute speech at a music awards show.
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