Who REALLY said this?

[The Mule]

Over the years I've seen the quote, "Writing about jazz is like dancing about architecture," attributed to several people but most often to Thelonius Monk.

Does anybody know if Monk actually said it?

If he didn't, who did?

[Alexander]

I once saw the phrase "Writing about music is like dancing about architechture" attributed to Elvis Costello!

[jazzbo]

I've seen it attributed to Laurie Anderson (as "writing about MUSIC"), which I can believe.

Edited September 18, 2003 by jazzbo

[Jim Dye]

Ditto Laurie Anderson here.

[jazzbo]

Check out this link:

http://home.pacifier.com/~ascott/they/tamildaa.htm

[sal]

It was Frank Zappa. The actual quote is "Writing about music is like dancing about architecture."

[The Mule]

Fascinating link, Lon. Good find.

Thing is, I know I've seen that quote attributed to Monk IN PRINT more than once. Can't remember where tho...

[Rooster_Ties]

I first heard it was Grace Slick that first said this famous quote. But I've since see dozens of other people who have supposedly said it first.

[RDK]

It was probably Bill Shakespeare. He always came up with cool lines like that...

[Dan Gould]

Ahhhh, Shakespeare was an illiterate. You're talking about Chris Marlowe.

[RDK]

Ahhhh, Shakespeare was an illiterate. You're talking about Chris Marlowe.

If that's the case, then Marlowe had the worst literary agent and publicist of all time!

[JSngry]

Now if you'd have said PHILLIP Marlowe, I'd have believed you...

[connoisseur series500]

Ahhhh, Shakespeare was an illiterate. You're talking about Chris Marlowe.

Can't compare them, Dan.

Marlow barely wrote anything; what was it Dr. Faustus? along with something else.

Shakespeare was a marvel and we should have a thread on him.

[Simon Weil]

Ahhhh, Shakespeare was an illiterate.  You're talking about Chris Marlowe.

Can't compare them, Dan.

Marlow barely wrote anything; what was it Dr. Faustus? along with something else.

"The Jew of Malta" and "Tamberlaine" are the two that come up.

Shakespeare was a marvel and we should have a thread on him.

Man, you're pining to do lit crit again...

Simon Weil

[Tom Storer]

Shakespeare? Nah, it was Mark Twain. Mark Twain is the author of all known quotes.

[RDK]

Ahhhh, Mark Twain was an illiterate. You're talking about Chris Marlowe.

[minew]

Obviously, none of the users of this board have a problem with writing about music. Dancing about architecture seems like it would be cool, too.

[jazzbo]

Actually, I have a big big problem writing about music. I can write about the emotional response it invokes in me (and to a less certain extent a few others.) I can talk about a historical aspect of the music, a fact or three about the musicians or the studio or the chart number or the dedicatee or the inspiration. I can talk about a few notes and chords and some influences and my PERSONAL LIKES. But I really have a hard time writing about music, really a hard time at the core. . . .