I had spent many years pursuing excellence, because that is what classical music is all about... Now it was dedicated to freedom, and that was far more important.
Nina SimoneRead
It's very strange how electronic music formatted itself and forgot that its roots are about the surprise, freedom, and the acceptance of every race, gender, and style of music into this big party. Instead, it started to become this electronic lifestyle which also involved the glorification of technology.
Interpretation
This quote reflects on how electronic music has evolved and distanced itself from its inclusive roots.
Thomas Bangalter's quote highlights the evolution of electronic music from its origins as a diverse and inclusive genre to one that has become overly focused on technology and lifestyle. It emphasizes the importance of remembering the original values of surprise, freedom, and acceptance of different cultures and styles that defined the genre, suggesting that the essence of music should celebrate diversity rather than conform to a single narrative.
In practice
In a speech at a music festival, to emphasize the importance of diversity in music.
I had spent many years pursuing excellence, because that is what classical music is all about... Now it was dedicated to freedom, and that was far more important.
I am a reflection of what I sing. Sometimes I have to get serious because the things Ive been through are serious.
I get a thrill meeting kids who are into alternative music.
I look around me and I don’t see any rock’n’roll at the moment. Instead it’s all choreography and stylists and wigs and stuff. It’s like they’re afraid to let the music breathe. No one has their own identity like the Ronettes did back in the day. We had the skirts with the slits up the side, sort of tough, sort of Spanish Harlem cool, but sweet too. We didn’t have no dancers, we didn’t have no goddamn wigs.
I say to string players in small chamber orchestras, 'it's always easy to become a passenger on the journey in sound, just adding volume to the whole. But if you play in an individual way, it makes the difference between good and great sound in an orchestra.'
I always say, you gotta play a dive bar like you play an arena, and you play an arena like you play a dive bar.
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