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What's swinging in words? If a guy makes you pat your foot and if you feel it down your back, you don't have to ask anybody if that's good music or not. You can always feel it.
Miles Davis
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Interpretation

What this quote means

The essence of good music is felt deeply rather than analyzed intellectually.

This quote by Miles Davis emphasizes that the true value of music lies in its emotional impact, rather than in the technical details or opinions of others. When music resonates within us, creating physical sensations like tapping our feet or feeling thrills down our spine, it proves its worth without the need for external validation.

Themes

MusicEmotionFeelingArtistic ExpressionExperience

In practice

Example use cases

This quote could be used in a speech about the importance of music in culture.

More from Miles Davis

Knowledge is freedom and ignorance is slavery
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Joao Gilberto on guitar could read a newspaper and sound good.
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I was minding my own business when something says to me, "you ought to blow trumpet." I have just been trying ever since.
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When the band plays fast, you play slow; when the band plays slow, you play fast.
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Don't play what's there, play what's not there.
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My ego only needs a good rhythm section
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