Songwriters

"Il vero sentimento è un test in continua sperimentazione."

"To be able to interpret a piece, I have to fall in love with it. First and foremost, it must fill me with emotion so that I may do the same for those listening to it, even when I’m not composing the music or the lyrics, if I accept to sing a piece, it is because it reaches my heart and at that point it becomes a part of me, it’s my own."

"I have always found poetry and beauty in the church attributing central stage to a female presence who works on our behalf. I am a devotee of the Virgin to whom I always dedicate part of my prayers."

"I think when I write for other people it’s much more playful. We laugh much more and it’s like putting on a costume and I’m much more free. I do quite little of it, I tend to write something and go ‘mine’ and I guess also because sometimes I would have to have somebody in mind to write for because I have a funny way of phrasing things and the songs are often quite subtle but they can be very hard to sing and I really love that. I tend to just own things for myself but if I get asked to write I’ll do it!”"

"To be stuck in a contract with people and not be happy will destroy you. It’s about being very, very strong in your convictions of what you’re doing and what you want, and then building a family around that—having people on your team who are working with you, and not against you. I have been really lucky because my music life has been full of people who look out for me and my interests, who are good friends outside of work, and who want the best for me."

"I think it’s hard to know how your work is affecting people, although it’s easier to tell with the Internet. I used to only get letters, which was great. It’s amazing because, suddenly, I can see people’s reactions. It’s a surprise because you don’t really know if anybody is listening to you. But I also think the Internet is very misleading. Artists can “Google” themselves and it looks like the world is about them when they’re actually just a tiny glitch in the matrix."

"'Whether their ladyships and the young ladies are enjoying themselves or not,' said Bao-yu, 'what concern is it of mine?' Aroma laughed. 'Seeing that they're all doing their best to be agreeable, couldn't you try to do likewise? Surely it's much better all round if everyone will give and take a bit?' 'What do you mean, "give and take a bit"? ... They can give and take a bit if they like. My destiny is a different one: naked and friendless through the world to roam.' A tear stole down his cheek as he recalled the line from the aria. He continued to ponder its words and to savour their meaning, and ended up by bursting into tears and crying outright."

"漫搵英雄淚，相離處士家。謝慈悲剃度在蓮台下。 沒緣法轉眼分離乍。赤條條來去無牽挂。 那里討煙蓑雨笠卷單行？一任俺芒鞋破缽隨緣化！"

"That was one thing about [Mr. Gone] that I really love us for–that we did not try to jump on the bandwagon of ‘Birdland.’ Because that was suggested to us. ‘Hey man, write another ‘Birdland’ and you’ll sell a million fuckin’ records.’ Fuck you, man–we’re gonna do what we’re gonna do!"

"[Weather Report] has never put out a record that we didn’t believe in, and there’s no way in the world that anybody was ever involved in a one star album. This is a heavy thing, man. I mean, even if somebody doesn’t like the record, just for the compositions alone it’s got to be five stars. We played it very well; we worked hard on this record. Anybody who gives this record one star has got to be insane."

"I ain’t scared of Beethoven or nobody when it comes to composing."

"In the beginning let's say Weather Report was a joint thing. Then, after the second album there's no question about it, it became more and more my group. Wayne wanted it like that, but we were always 'partners in crime'. No Wayne, no Weather Report."

"Jazz music is a lifestyle. It’s not notes, chords and arpeggios. Today’s improvisation is too based on the knowledge of chords and the way they practice the chords. It’s not a melodic thing anymore like the older days. It was much more important to play shorter and to play more variable, valid stuff. Today, a lot of solos are long and uninteresting and the influence usually comes from John Coltrane’s group. He himself was a master musician, but he put so much emphasis on chord knowledge and technique, and now the kids want to show how fast they can play. This is the same with piano players and most instrumentalists—it’s speed. That’s gonna change again and hopefully the kids who are now 16 and 17 years old have a little more sense and maybe some more stories to tell."

"Everything is in decline the moment you stop giving the artist freedom. That goes for everywhere, but it is happening in America right now. I think record companies are at great fault. In general, they don’t want to develop talent, but rather get the most out of them in the short term. They’re steering people to do things they perhaps wouldn’t do but have to do and not everyone has the integrity to say “No way.” People are hungry and they have to make money and take care of their families, so it’s a great pressure. Only when you can afford it from an artistic or financial point of view can you express what you want to express."

"An instrument is not important. It is the way one plays that is important. Instruments don’t play by themselves. A piano is certainly not a better instrument than a synthesizer, but if a synthesizer is played like a piano, it becomes a very bad instrument. It doesn’t work. You can’t play a trumpet like a violin—it doesn’t go. That’s the problem—the players, not the instrument. Any instrument is a wonderful thing."

"To me, this is very boring music—most of it. It has nothing happening. Nothing is sticking. They’re playing music perfectly with wonderful intonation and technique, but it’s dangerous for jazz itself. I do wish these people all the best."

"“In God’s presence, hope is re-birthed…always. In worship, we see Him as He is and He sprinkles us with grace to see how beautiful we are.”"

"Art is about collecting experiences and expressing them. For me music and photography are similar art forms. I collect experiences, stir them in myself and express it in my own language. Just like my photography, music is my language."

"It has been a joy to share my knowledge but more than anything, I think I have been inspired by the amount of growth many of the participants in such a short time have garnered. And that says many things, one of which is that if we have more and more of stuffs like this, we can push the quality and they type of photography that is coming out of Nigeria forward. I love the fact that this is a workshop for women. I mean this (the project) is a way to have a voice and I am so glad that I have seen people who came here at the beginning with works of a certain kind, now being able to push forward on their own ideas and their own perspective of things. I think that is important and it has been a tremendously incredible workshop. I don’t think I have experienced anything like this."

"Meeting and photographing her has inspired us all and we can’t wait for the good that will come to her from all of this to unfold . She doesn’t speak English well but here ,she was explaining how she found us . I had sent an assistant , as many of you advised ,to leave a message with the people in the area where we photographed her…"

"I think what makes me a good portrait photographer is that I really see people. The moment I know I’m photographing someone, I already see them in their most beautiful state. Before I make the image, I already know the image and I aspire to that. Sometimes, it’s just an impression in my heart about who they are."

"I didn't think I made a great image, when the photographs landed for the first time on social media, everyone immediately thought she was a model."

"Make the necessary plans, set goals but understand that the things that really matter, are out of your hands."

"The more red meat and blood we eat, the more bloodthirsty we get, the more violent we get. The more vegetarian food that we eat, the more peace is taken into us."

"The time has come and fall has come so pretty... The yellow leaves are flying over the city... I am in love with you. Your golden hair is flying so clear in the air. I am in love with fall, which came with rain… It brought the morning mists… The days are waned... I know the wintry wind will break her gown. I say to fall: come back, don’t let me down. The yellow leaves are whirling in the city. I’ve met my love too late, it is a pity. At last we are together and forever. I know well that better late than never. The time has come and fall has come so pretty... The yellow leaves as dreams adorned the city... I am in love with you. Your golden hair is flying as a cobweb in the air..."

"My darling, I will try to guess What do you want or wish. I know you prefer to dream About a Gold Fish. But I believe that you will find The famous and gold key. So, you will open the door. You saw it in your dreams. I know: you shall overcome All troubles in your way. But do remember every time About “must” and “may”."

"I was very melancholic in the beginning. Then I was very angry. Then I fell in love again — but not stupid like in the beginning."

"My dad (Fabrizio Pausini) is big fan of Elvis Presley. So the house where I grew up is called Pausiniland, ... my dad keeps all my awards, dresses I’ve worn in concerts. That’s where it’s all on display."

"I see myself in the contestants. I’m not the one to tell people, ‘You have to sing this way or that way.’ Talent is something God gave you when you were born. I don’t want to give them technical advice. I love mistakes. When talking about art, the most important thing is to not be perfect, ... I want to be a fan, and to be a fan you have to conquer my heart. I don’t want to give marketing advice."

"My daughter gave me the chance to be more mature and live a better life after 20 years."

"Love for lineage nothing cares, Tramples wisdom under foot, Worth derides, and only looks For money."

"To-day belongs to me, To-morrow who can tell."

"Persuasion's flowing well."

"The black earth drinks, in turn The trees drink up the earth. The sea the torrents drinks, the sun the sea, And the moon drinks the sun. Why, comrades, do ye flout me, If I, too, wish to drink?"

"Nature gave horns to the bull, Hoofs gave she to the horse. To the lion cavernous jaws, And swiftness to the hare. The fish taught she to swim, The bird to cleave the air; To man she reason gave; Not yet was woman dowered. What, then, to woman gave she? The priceless gift of beauty. Stronger than any buckler, Than any spear more piercing, Who hath the gift of beauty, Nor fire nor steel shall harm her."

"Ah, cruel 'tis to love, And cruel not to love, But cruelest of all To love and love in vain."

"Cursed be he above all others Who's enslaved by love of money. Money takes the place of brothers, Money takes the place of parents, Money brings us war and slaughter."

"Whence can we the future learn? Life to mortals is obscure."

"But when an old man dances, His locks with age are grey, But he's a child in mind."

"I fled the headless darts of slanderous tongue."

"E'en though I would not, die I must; Why stray I thus through life?"

"And last of all comes death."

"I see Anacreon smile and sing; His silver tresses breathe perfume, His cheek displays a second spring Of roses, taught by wine to bloom. Away, deceitful cares, away! And let me listen to his lay; While flowery dreams my soul employ; While turtle-wing'd the laughing hours, Lead hand in hand the festal powers, Lead youth and love, and harmless joy."

"This tomb be thine, Anacreon; all around Let ivy wreath, let flow'rets deck the ground, And from its earth, enrich'd by such a prize, Let wells of milk and streams of wine arise: So will thine ashes yet a pleasure know, If any pleasure reach the shades below."

"All thy verse is softer far Than the downy feathers are Of my wings, or of my arrows, Of my mother's doves or sparrows. Sweet as lovers' freshest kisses, Or their riper following blisses, Graceful, cleanly, smooth, and round, All with Venus girdle bound."

"It grieves me when I see what fate Does on the best of mankind wait. Poets or lovers let them be, 'Tis neither love nor poesy Can arm against death's smallest dart The poet's head, or lover's heart. For when their life in its decline Touches th' inevitable line, All the world's mortal to 'em then, And wine is aconite to men. Nay, in death's hand the grape-stone proves Fatal as thunder is in Jove's."

"Nec si quid olim lusit Anacreon, delevit aetas."

"With roses crown'd, on flowers supinely laid, Anacreon [blithe] the sprightly lyre essay'd, In light fantastic measures beat the ground, Or dealt the mirth-inspiring juice around: No care, no thought, the tuneful Teian knew, But mark'd with bliss each moment as it flew."

"The world will not end. This is ridiculous. I think it's like 2000. It's a great trick to do business and earn lots of money because stupid people hoard things. This is a stimulator of the economy."

"I feel the madness creeping slowly. Loved by many I'm still lonely."