“I think anybody goes through a crisis of confidence from time to time. You have to kind of doubt yourself, sometimes. It's the way forward.” ThinkingWayKindSometimesDoubtCrisisWay Forward Author:Paul Weller
“You can listen to music at any moment in the day or night. Which is great, but I think it kind of devalues it as well.” ThinkingWellsKindMomentsNightListening To MusicDevalue Author:Paul Weller
“Young people can listen to music at any moment in the day or night. Which is great, but I think it kind of devalues it as well. They don't feel the need to own it. They certainly don't feel the need to pay for it. I'd have to save up for weeks to buy an album when I was a kid, and that made it even more great for me when I finally got that thing in my hand.” PeopleThinkingNeedsFeelsWellsKindMadeMomentsHandsKidsYoungNightPayWeekAlbumsMade ItListening To MusicDevalue Author:Paul Weller
“I don't like to get pigeonholed. I don't like it when people think they have you sewn up.” PeopleThinking Author:Paul Weller
“The way that house music has become so white and so sanitized over the decades and the fact it's still going on, well I think it's sad really, but at the time I really loved it. I loved all the black house music that was coming out of Chicago and New Jersey, which I just thought was really soulful.” ThinkingWayWellsStillsFactsHouseBlackWhiteDecadesChicagoComing OutJerseyNew JerseySoulfulHouse Music Author:Paul Weller
“I think the biggest influence for me is when I hear a great piece of music, whatever the style, I'm kind of inspired by that greatness and I'm inspired to try and obtain something that comes close to that greatness.” ThinkingTryingKindPiecesInfluenceStyleGreatnessInspired Author:Paul Weller
“I think if you're a creative person, then you're always kinda looking to move things along - 'Where else can I go? Where can I take this?' From painters to photographers - anything creative in the arts - if you're a true artist, I think you'll always look to do something else. 'Where else can I go with it?' Do you know what I mean?” IfsThinkingKnowsLooksMeanPersonsArtMovingArtistCreativePhotographerPainterDo You KnowCreative PersonTrue Artists Author:Paul Weller
“The whole nostalgia thing, and just sticking with what you always liked and what you know and not taking a chance on something or expanding. I think especially after a certain age.” ThinkingKnowsWholeAgeCertainChanceNostalgiaExpanding Author:Paul Weller
“My own personal theory is that all popular music, in whatever form it is, to me, it all comes from Africa. Whether it's filtered through America or whatever - African-American. But I still think there's something in that roots music that's very, very African, and I think that's what unites people.” PeopleThinkingStillsAmericaFormMy OwnTheoryRootsAfrican AmericanPopular Music Author:Paul Weller
“I just pretty much love from 1966 to 1972, that's my time. I think everything that needs to be said was said within that time. That's just a subjective thing, as well.” ThinkingNeedsWellsSaidMy TimeSubjectiveMuch Love Author:Paul Weller
“I still want to do what I want to do, but we also have to think about some sense of protecting the business that's out there as well.” ThinkingWantWellsStills Author:Paul Weller
“I try to have an open ear, but at the end, it would never change direction to where I think I should go. Because if I listened to everybody else, they're thinking about what's right now or what was the last thing - they're not thinking about what's next.” IfsThinkingShouldTryingEndsLastsNextRight NowEarsNever Change Author:Paul Weller
“It's important to know all those things, but part of our jobs is to move people along and to make people excited to buy music or buy clothes, and give them enjoyment, I think, too.” PeopleThinkingKnowsGivingImportantJobsMovingClothesExcitedEnjoyment Author:Paul Weller
“I'm definitely obsessed about artists and the type of music and the playing and the tone and all that kind of thing - I'm not obsessed about what the best Beatles album is. I just think if The Beatles are great, they're great.” IfsThinkingKindArtistTypeAlbumsObsessedTone Author:Paul Weller
“I think part of what we do is there is a bit of dandy influence, always, or a little sprinkle of it. Not literal Savile Row dandy, but there's a bit of sartorial dandiness in everything that we do - every collection that we do.” ThinkingLittlesBitsInfluenceCollectionsLiteralSprinklesDandy Author:Paul Weller
“I think the world is really small today, and fashion, from that end of it, it's instantaneous everywhere.” ThinkingWorldEndsTodayFashionInstantaneous Author:Paul Weller
“Today, we're even into the whole sweat thing. They'll wear a [suit] jacket like this, but they'll wear it with sweat pants and sneakers. But I do think there is every generation - and it won't be as big as it was when you and I were those ages - but every generation all of a sudden experiences that they want to dress up.” ThinkingWantWholeBigsAgeTodayGenerationsDressesSuitsSweatPantsJacketsSneakers Author:Paul Weller
“A lot of young artists and musicians that we work with, you think they're gonna want to come in and buy the rock star-looking leather jacket - whatever it is that you think they're gonna want. They all want a suit. They want a tuxedo jacket, they want a suit. They don't want to look like their dad in it, but they want a suit.” ThinkingWantLooksYoungArtistStarsRocksDadMusicianSuitsRock StarJacketsLeatherYoung ArtistsLeather JacketsTuxedos Author:Paul Weller
“For me, there's always an early-'70s sense. There's always a sprinkle of it - if I do it exactly like that, sometimes it becomes too costume-y or too thought out. But the influences are there, without a doubt, always, because to me, that was the part that I also felt was the most defining of my own personality and my own style, and I also think that it's timeless. You never look wrong.” IfsThinkingLooksSometimesFeltMy OwnDoubtInfluenceStylePersonalityTimelessCostumesDefiningSprinklesMy Own StyleMy Own Personality Author:Paul Weller
“I think you have to satisfy yourself first and foremost. There have been records I've been really, really pleased with that haven't connected with people. But I felt good about them. If you're making music, you must want to turn other people on to it, whether you're number one in the charts or number 60. I don't know, that's a commercial thing, but just the fact that other people like you... there's no point in making music, otherwise. Otherwise you might as well make it in your bedroom and leave it there.” PeopleThinkingLike YouBedroom Author:Paul Weller
“I'd like to think that what I've written over the years and what I'm doing now means something to people. People in the street all the time are saying "love the new record" or "I love that record," this tune or that tune. It means an awful lot, or it's been a big part of their lives. As a songwriter, what else would you really want? You're trying to connect with people, people's emotions, and maybe say something about their lives or feelings. That's probably a good enough compliment to receive, really.” PeopleThinkingTryingMeanEnoughFeelingsEmotionGood EnoughCompliment Author:Paul Weller
“Music's totally eclectic now. I saw a DJ the other day, he was on Virgin radio over here, and he said he played "Going Underground", the Jam song, on his breakfast show. Then he got a text from some young kid asking if was a new band. I think a lot of people these days, younger people as well, are aware of all sorts of music, really. If you're into the Libertines you probably also have to be aware of the Beatles, or the Kinks. I think there's a better, possibly greater appreciation for all music, of all eras, I think.” PeopleThinkingKidsSongAppreciationEclecticLibertine Author:Paul Weller
“If you're in music, you're in music, and if you're in music you just want to keep making records and playing. That's what it's about, isn't it? At least, that's what I always thought it was about, anyway. I don't think I could bear years and years off. Perhaps in me older, older age, maybe I will, for physical reasons. But to me you've always got to keep proving yourself. I never want to just sit on me laurels. You have to keep forging, to prove yourself to yourself. I always think, every time I start a record, this could be the best thing I've ever done.” ThinkingReasonDoneAgeProveBeing The Best Author:Paul Weller
“I was always taught as a kid that if there's anything you want in life, you've got to work towards it. I guess that sort of stayed with me, really. But also, for me, from the time I was like 10 years old, all I ever wanted to do was be in a band and make music. So to get the chance to do that, to live your dreams or wishes, I just seize it and try and run with it. I never sort of think, oh, the pressure, or it's too much. You're lucky to be doing it. It's a great gift to have, and I appreciate it.” ThinkingTryingDreamRunningKidsWishChanceLuckyAppreciate Author:Paul Weller
“When recording, whatever you first think about, you come out with something totally different at the end of it. Whatever plans you have you throw away, because it's always going to end up sounding pretty different from what you initially thought of. I probably only had about five or six songs when I started, and it just sort of flowed from that.” ThinkingDifferentSong Author:Paul Weller
“I think politicians are so far out of step with what people really want.” PeopleThinkingWantStepsPolitician Author:Paul Weller
“I think people are just really disappointed, disappointed with Blair as well, who's just like Bush's lapdog. I think everyone's just disillusioned with politics in our country, and it must be the same in your country.” PeopleThinkingWellsCountryPoliticsOur CountryDisappointedBlairDisillusionedDisillusion Author:Paul Weller
“I don't think about what I can't do or what I shouldn't be doing. I just think there are endless possibilities musically, really.” ThinkingI CanPossibilityEndlessEndless Possibilities Author:Paul Weller
“People say you make your best work when in despair, but I think happiness is a good place to write from.” PeopleThinkingWritingDespairSongwritingBest WorkGood Place Author:Paul Weller
“I'd like to think I've left something in the world. Without in any way trying to be morbid, but life is very short, and I'd like to think I'd leave some body of work that would inspire other musicians long after I've gone.” ThinkingWorldWayTryingLongBodyLife IsLeftGoneInspireMusicianMorbidInspire Others Author:Paul Weller
