(381 votes) The curious beauty of African music is that it uplifts even as it tells a sad tale. You may be poor, you may have only a ramshackle house, you may have lost your job, but that song gives you hope. African music is often about the aspirations of the African.
Nelson Mandela South African Statesman - b 1918 - Nobel Prize Winner 1993 Submitted by: South African Statesman - b 1918 - Nobel Prize Winner 1993
(374 votes) It didn't affect his ability for a long time. Heroin can be like that with musicians; I think that's why you see so many musicians drift that way, because you can remain musical for a long time. But I think, without exception, they all hit the wall eventually and the creativity goes.
Tom Petty American Singer - b 1950 - Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers Submitted by: American Singer - b 1950 - Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers
(370 votes) I'm not comfortable with just entertaining. Although I like entertaining, I also like bringing forward the truth of our times as minstrels used to in the old days.
Serj Tankian American Musician - b 1967 Submitted by: American Musician - b 1967
(358 votes) I've had people come up to me with the strangest interpretations of what lyrics might mean, and I'm like, 'You go! I never thought of that, but that works,' ... I think true art is a universal reflection, and true artists are just messengers of that reflection - or, at best, skilled presenters.
Serj Tankian American Musician - b 1967 Submitted by: American Musician - b 1967
(350 votes) People think our music's very aggressive or angry or whatever, and it's just the opposite, really, I like laughing. And I like being really calm before a show, and smiley.
Serj Tankian American Musician - b 1967 Submitted by: American Musician - b 1967
(347 votes) It's very easy to be cynical about the hall of fame. But on the other hand, it's really a beautiful thing for someone like me. I dedicated my entire life to this music.
Tom Petty American Singer - b 1950 - Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers Submitted by: American Singer - b 1950 - Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers
(347 votes) We enjoy playing with each other, which I think is a pretty important part of this. If we didn't, we'd have given it up a long time ago. The idea when we started was to take five people and keep 'em together no matter what and see what we could get out of it, and we've pretty much stuck to that plan.
Tom Petty American Singer - b 1950 - Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers Submitted by: American Singer - b 1950 - Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers
(345 votes) Music is the greatest form of emotional expression. It is the only language capable of crossing all cultural, geographical and emotional boundaries.
Michael Le Roy Musician/Guitarist Submitted by: Musician/Guitarist
(337 votes) This award comes at a particularly nice time, as the Heartbreakers and I go into the 30th year of our career, I'm very honored that Billboard has acknowledged me with this award.
Tom Petty American Singer - b 1950 - Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers Submitted by: American Singer - b 1950 - Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers
(336 votes) We have a set list, but we work up a lot more (songs) than we're gonna do. That way we can throw things in and change it around, especially if we're in a place for two days. It's good to keep yourself interested. The last show we did five songs we never rehearsed and that certainly sparked us up.
Tom Petty American Singer - b 1950 - Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers Submitted by: American Singer - b 1950 - Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers
(334 votes) They're great songwriters in the tradition of the Beatles and Pink Floyd. Their songs are beautiful and filled with all sorts of wonderful textures. It's all very emotional and moving. It's the first outside project I've ever produced.
Serj Tankian American Musician - b 1967 Submitted by: American Musician - b 1967
(334 votes) I could definitely use a little time at home. It's been about two months on the road. The tour has gone really well, but I wouldn't mind coming home to relax for a little while.
Serj Tankian American Musician - b 1967 Submitted by: American Musician - b 1967
(327 votes) I'm reaching there to try and find a theme. It's just a really nice collection of songs. I think it does have an underlying theme of time and what it does to you.
Tom Petty American Singer - b 1950 - Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers Submitted by: American Singer - b 1950 - Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers
(311 votes) I actually got a chance to see the museum and it's incredible, ... The way they built it and the shapes and all the plans. I'm just happy to be a part of it.
Dr. Dre Hip Hop Producer Submitted by: Hip Hop Producer
(296 votes) If there were no guns, we couldn't talk about it, ... You turn on TV, you see soldiers marching with guns. We only talk about things that's happening.
Dr. Dre Hip Hop Producer Submitted by: Hip Hop Producer
(381 votes) The curious beauty of African music is that it uplifts even as it tells a sad tale. You may be poor, you may have only a ramshackle house, you may have lost your job, but that song gives you hope. African music is often about the aspirations of the African.