With the a cappella groups, every voice is like one string on a guitar, one note on the piano, or one cymbal, and you don't have the luxury of falling back on anything.
Interpretation
Every individual's contribution is crucial in a group setting, similar to how each instrument plays a vital role in music.
Ben Folds uses the metaphor of various musical instruments to illustrate the importance of each voice in an a cappella group. Just as each string on a guitar or note on a piano contributes to the overall harmony, every singer's unique voice is essential for achieving a cohesive sound. The quote emphasizes that there is no room for error in these performances, highlighting the need for collaboration, precision, and individual responsibility within a team.
In practice
In a music class, to emphasize teamwork in choir, you could quote this to show how each singer contributes to the overall sound.
I know people said I wasn't selling out in America, but that was entirely untrue. We sold out all over the world, and every night I looked out into the fans and those front rows that you're talking about, the tears, the honesty, the inability to not be completely overjoyed because they felt accepted.
Young people have decided they like to listen to music in a certain way, through ear buds, and that's fine with me as long as it doesn't bother them that they're not hearing 90 percent of the music that way.
As far as I'm concerned, there won't be a Beatles reunion as long as John Lennon remains dead.
Things like guitars and ukuleles, you should never part with it, because there will probably be good, healthy times spent, just playing and writing.
One of the nice things about a favorite pop song is that it's an unconditional truce on judgment and musical snobbery. You like the song because you just do, and there need not be any further criticism.
As a very small girl, I listened to Charlie Parker and loved him and Max Roach and people like that.
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