“The multiple reinforcing cues of a good song”

This is Your Brain on Music (2006)
Context: The multiple reinforcing cues of a good song—rhythm, melody, contour—cause music to stick in our heads. That is the reason why many ancient myths, epics, and even the Old Testament were set to music in preparation for being passed down by oral tradition across generations.

Adopted from Wikiquote. Last update June 3, 2021. History

Help us to complete the source, original and additional information

Do you have more details about the quote "The multiple reinforcing cues of a good song" by Daniel Levitin?
Daniel Levitin photo
Daniel Levitin 76
American psychologist 1957

Related quotes

Dave Matthews photo

“That's the magic of this band: shooting from the hip. The lights have to follow our cues, because we're not going to follow their cues. We're not going to stick to a song the way it's supposed to be. Everything is up to us. That's music to me. That's American music. We're an American band.”

Dave Matthews (1967) American singer-songwriter, musician and actor

Dave Matthews, Rolling Stone interview "The Boys of Summer" (June 16, 2005). Eliscu, Jenny (2005). "The Boys of Summer" http://www.rollingstone.com/artists/davematthewsband/articles/story/7371942/the_boys_of_summer Rolling Stone (accessed June 19. 2006)

Pete Seeger photo

“A good song can only do good, and I am proud of the songs I have sung.”

Pete Seeger (1919–2014) American folk singer

Statement to the court prior to his sentencing for contempt of Congress (1961); also quoted on NPR: Weekend Edition (2 July 2005)
Context: A good song can only do good, and I am proud of the songs I have sung. I hope to be able to continue singing these songs for all who want to listen, Republicans, Democrats, and independents.

Conor Oberst photo

“For a song I was bought
Now I lie when I talk
With a careful eye on the cue card.
Onto a stage I was pushed,
With my sorrow well rehearsed.
So give me all your pity and your money, now (all of it).”

Conor Oberst (1980) American musician

False Advertising
Lifted or The Story Is in the Soil, Keep Your Ear to the Ground (2002)

Carole King photo

“The song is the center; the song is the key. If you don't have a good song you don't have anything by my value.”

Carole King (1942) Nasa

As quoted in "The King is Still Alive" in The Birmingham Post [England] (6 November 2001)

Sören Kierkegaard photo

“It is very important in life to know when your cue comes.”

Sören Kierkegaard (1813–1855) Danish philosopher and theologian, founder of Existentialism
Sarah Vaughan photo

“There's a category for me. I like to be referred to as a good singer of good songs in good taste.”

Sarah Vaughan (1924–1990) American jazz singer

Interview, The Hollywood Reporter, 1974

Mark Helprin photo

“A good river is nature's life work in song.”

Source: Freddy and Fredericka

Hank Williams photo

“A good song is a good song, and if I'm lucky enough to write it, well….! I get more kick out of writing than I do singing. I reckon I've written a thousand songs and had over 300 published.”

Hank Williams (1923–1953) American country music singer

Gleason, Ralph (06-28-1969). 1952 interview of Hank Williams. Rolling Stone.

Shigeru Miyamoto photo

“A good idea is something that does not solve just one single problem, but rather can solve multiple problems at once.”

Shigeru Miyamoto (1952) Japanese video game designer and producer

Source: Interview with Shigeru Miyamoto http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/shigeru-miyamoto-interview Eurogamer.net, published on 31 March 2010

Related topics