Even in mere melodies there is an imitation of character

January 5, 2012 9:04 AM

"Why did I do it? If I hadn't, how could I ever have listened to music again?" Who said this, or something like it?

The person saying it would have been a rogue moral revolutionary type — a whistleblower, I'm pretty sure. (Not someone with any obvious connection to music, which is why I find the quote so striking.) For years, I thought it was Daniel Ellsberg, but I can't find anything of the kind attributed to him. Any ideas?

posted by decagon to Society & Culture (3 answers total)

Eddie Wilson: If you can't be great, than there's no sense in ever playing music again, Sal. -- Eddie and the Cruisers
posted by dhartung at 12:47 PM on January 5, 2012

Best answer: Frank Serpico said this to Al Pacino when Pacino was studying him for the movie:
"Well, Al, I don't know. I guess I would have to say it would be because ... if I didn't, who would I be when I listened to a piece of music?"

I saw that movie years ago and came across that quote when reading up on it a little, it has always stuck with me.
posted by bleep at 6:17 PM on January 5, 2012

Response by poster: That's it. Thank you.
posted by decagon at 1:44 PM on January 6, 2012