J. Tillman Quotes

I don't feel any obligation to make my intentions for a song accessible to a listener or an audience. I'm not interested in conveying anything to them so much as what's best for me.

J. Tillman

Quotes to Explore

You can't try and make something you think someone else will like. You can only make what you like. How can you make a song that Yo-Landi Visser likes? You don't know me. You'll never understand me.

Yolandi Visser
- Think
- Song
- Know
I used to watch 'Top of the Pops' when I was a kid and say 'Yeah!' or 'Boo!' at every single song. So there was nothing in the middle. You brutally put it on one side or another.

Damien Hirst
- Song
- Single
- Kid
When you're collaborating with somebody, there has to be a spirit of cooperation. There are a lot of times when you just can't persuade someone to write a certain type of song, either musically or lyrically.

Walter Becker China Crisis
- Song
- Spirit
- Cooperation
As a songwriter I hate this whole, 'If it's a sad song, it has to sound like a sad song thing.' And that goes all the way back to my days with the Format. I'm an insane narcissist, so if I have to get something off my chest, I'll get something off my chest.

Nate Ruess Fun.
- Song
- Hate
- Sad
Madonna can still produce a catchy pop song, but she hasn't expanded her artistic vocabulary since the 1990s. Her concerts are glitzy extravaganzas of special effects overkill. She leaves little space in them for emotional depth or unscripted rapport with the audience.

Camille Paglia
- Song
- Space
- Emotional
We played 'Girl in a Country Song' in front of Scott Borchetta, and he loved it.

Madison Marlow
- Country
- Song
- Girl