If you play a tune and a person don’t tap their feet, don’t play the tune.
Meaning of the quote
If the people you play music for don't start tapping their feet or dancing along, it means the music you're playing isn't working for them. The best musicians know to change up their music to get the audience engaged and enjoying the performance. This quote from American musician Count Basie reminds us that the true purpose of music is to make people feel good and want to move to the beat.
More quotes from Count Basie
I’m saying: to be continued, until we meet again. Meanwhile, keep on listening and tapping your feet.
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All I wanted was to be big, to be in show business and to travel… and that’s what I’ve been doing all my life.
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Well, if you find a note tonight that sounds good, play the same damn note every night!
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I decided that I would be one of the biggest new names; and I actually had some little fancy business cards printed up to announce it, ‘Count Basie. Beware, the Count is Here.’
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I, of course, wanted to play real jazz. When we played pop tunes, and naturally we had to, I wanted those pops to kick! Not loud and fast, understand, but smoothly and with a definite punch.
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If you play a tune and a person don’t tap their feet, don’t play the tune.
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Of course, there are a lot of ways you can treat the blues, but it will still be the blues.
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