Black Francis Quotes

Some people think, “Oh, just go do that thing you used to do before.” But it just doesn’t work like that. It’s a lot more mysterious or slippery.
BLACK FRANCIS

Before Happy Mysterious People Some
Most of them are mangled and even have made up stuff in them, that is to say, made up stuff by the writer or editor.
BLACK FRANCIS

Editor Mangled Most Say Stuff Writer
I initially felt shy about doing painting because I wasn’t a professional painter. I almost felt like I didn’t deserve to paint. But I have gradually adopted a different kind of attitude about this.
BLACK FRANCIS

Artist Attitude Different Professional Shy
Record companies have been overcharging people for way too long and now this is the trouble that they’re in.
BLACK FRANCIS

Companies Long Ocerchanging Record Trouble
I come from an art history background. I studied at a master’s degree level; I chose to dork out on art for much of my adult life.
BLACK FRANCIS

Art Hero Musical
Stuff that you get for free, stuff that your older brother gives you, stuff that you can get out of the local library.
BLACK FRANCIS

Brother Free Library Local Stuff
Who do sing SONGS. It’s like I never sang before; like I was – I don’t know – reading PROSE on my previous records and now I sing. EXCUUUUUUSE me for singing
BLACK FRANCIS

Exclusive Previous Prose Reading Sing
They’re pretty good actually, Hall & Oates. I gotta give them credit. They got a lot of toe-tappers.
BLACK FRANCIS

Credit Giving Toes
I have two step-kids and one of my own on the way. That’s three college funds.
BLACK FRANCIS

College Kids Two
I’ve got a small, loyal audience, which is great. And I appreciate that. They’re there for me every time.
BLACK FRANCIS

Appreciate Audience Loyal
There’s more to life than listening to rock music.
BLACK FRANCIS

Listening Rock Music Rocks
There was a f**king review in f**king Melody Maker [of the first BOSSANOVA single, ‘Velouria’] – ‘Sounds like someone’s been taking singing lessons’. Like, motherf**king A! I am the singer.
BLACK FRANCIS

Kings Like Mother Reading Song
My most cryptic, strange songs might be my most personal, but that isn’t how people are going to receive them, because they don’t know the code.
BLACK FRANCIS

might People Song
It’s sour grapes, I admit, I want to be more famous so people are examining my work couplet by couplet, you know what I mean? That’s the level where I want to go.
BLACK FRANCIS

Couplet Level Levels Mean People
I drive a lot. Just for pleasure. Sometimes I’ll get in the Cadillac and drive around the city or the country, kind of trying to get lost basically. Y’know, just see where roads lead.
BLACK FRANCIS

Cities Country Pleasure Trying
I don’t make records that way, where I’m trying to please the marketplace or anything. Not because I have anything against that, it’s just never been a part of my aesthetic, even when I was with the Pixies.
BLACK FRANCIS

Aesthetic Records Trying Way
I can remember back as far as age 8, performing with the Boston Folk Song Society. It was a Woody Guthrie song.
BLACK FRANCIS

Age Boston Song
Everyone thinks I’m a wimp and even my own band hates me. Oh, well. I guess I’ll just flip ’em the bird!
BLACK FRANCIS

Bird Hate Thinking
I like visual images and there are certainly other bands that have strong visual images going all the way back to Elvis Presley, but it’s kind of like that’s never really been my bag. Probably because I’m too shy.
BLACK FRANCIS

Bags Celebrity Kind Musician Shy Strong
When you look at something that’s really good, it might be Iggy Pop or it might be Leonard Cohen. Whatever it is, you want it to be really good.
BLACK FRANCIS

Good might Real Really Something
For some artists the live performance is the chicken before the egg of writing or recording of repertoire. For other artists the writing or recording of repertoire is the chicken before the egg of live performance.
BLACK FRANCIS

Artist Eggs Writing
As soon as I got into music, I tried to be a working, real artist who gets paid for what he does, who doesn’t have a day job.
BLACK FRANCIS

Artist Jobs Real
If you’re a good band then the filter of the band is pretty strong.
BLACK FRANCIS

Band Filters Strong
I’m really inspired by the interplay of visual art and music, a total artistic environment where there’s sound and visuals.
BLACK FRANCIS

Art Feelings Thinking
I think if everyone agrees that that’s the goal then it doesn’t matter who’s the band and it doesn’t matter who’s the producer. It just means that that you try to realise the ambition no matter what the situation is or who the people are.
BLACK FRANCIS

Everyone Matter People Situation
I think that painting is a very ancient form of expression.
BLACK FRANCIS

Expression Painting Thinking
The first thing that inspires any song is a chord progression. When I have one I really like, I get into the lyrics even more.
BLACK FRANCIS

Firsts Inspire Song

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