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Ezra Koenig Quotes

Powerful Ezra Koenig for Daily Growth

No part of Manhattan these days really has the same vibe I get from a Ramones song or a Velvet Underground song.

- Ezra Koenig

Song, Vibe, Part, Manhattan

Musicals don't get enough credit for being so surreal. It's like an alternate universe.

- Ezra Koenig

Universe, Like, Get, Surreal

I went to Columbia University because I knew I wanted to go to a school that was academically rigorous. I prided myself on getting good grades, but I also hated it.

- Ezra Koenig

Myself, University, Knew, Academically

I grew up listening to Jay-Z, and I think the first time I really became obsessed with learning and thinking about lyrics was when I started listening to rap; I was 11, 12, and started becoming aware of music beyond the familiar.

- Ezra Koenig

I Think, Becoming, Became, Jay-Z

I like how Ralph Lauren creates a mystical world through his clothing.

- Ezra Koenig

Through, How, Ralph, Clothing

Growing up listening to rap music, you almost feel like you should have haters. That's an important part of being a successful musician. It's a good thing, I guess.

- Ezra Koenig

Feel, Part, Almost, Musician

In Europe, I always have fun bike riding in Amsterdam.

- Ezra Koenig

Have Fun, Always, Amsterdam, Europe

Rapping and singing are not two polar opposites. There's so much middle ground. And I think there's a lot of people who find that middle ground.

- Ezra Koenig

Think, I Think, Polar, Opposites

My dad grew up in a working-class Jewish neighbourhood, and I got a scholarship from my dad's union to go to college. I went there to get an education, not as an extension of privilege.

- Ezra Koenig

College, Working-Class, Neighbourhood

It's so easy for anyone to deal with their own guilt of being a middle-class white music fan by pointing to other people who they perceive to be richer than them, whiter than them.

- Ezra Koenig

Guilt, Deal, Middle-Class, Richer

Some people say video games rot your brain, but I think they work different muscles that maybe you don't normally use.

- Ezra Koenig

Think, Some, I Think, Normally

It's pretty cool that people will pay for something even though they don't have to. It's totally different now to back in the day. Now you're paying for a record because you believe in the band. In the future that will be the only time people will pay for albums, because there's some kind of connection.

- Ezra Koenig

Back, Some, Albums, Only Time

It's cool to have instruments lying around because they give you different ideas.

- Ezra Koenig

Cool, Give, Instruments, Different Ideas

I still to this day get the most inspiration from rap lyrics.

- Ezra Koenig

Most, Rap, Still, Lyrics

There aren't that many people walking about who are a total class stereotype.

- Ezra Koenig

Walking, About, Total, Stereotype

I remember the first pangs of stress arriving at the end of school. Once I graduated I had to get a full-time job, worry about health insurance, saving money, paying rent - things I'd never thought about before.

- Ezra Koenig

Insurance, Full-Time, Graduated

I don't like to generalize but I've had nothing but bad experiences with Mexican food in Europe.

- Ezra Koenig

Bad, Nothing, Like, Generalize

All I know for sure is that issues like race, like class, are always best approached with compassion and open-mindedness.

- Ezra Koenig

Race, Always, Sure, Class

I'm a huge fan of the Bay Area so I always love coming to San Francisco.

- Ezra Koenig

Love, Always, Area, Bay

Well, growing up in the '90s, my first true love was ska music.

- Ezra Koenig

Love, Growing Up, Growing, True Love

Anyways, trying to express yourself to the press is often like arguing with a hysterical person.

- Ezra Koenig

Trying, Like, Arguing, Press

Sometimes you want to dress a certain way... that doesn't always reflect your pedigree.

- Ezra Koenig

Dress, Always, Reflect, Pedigree

I do think sometimes there's danger in guest appearance mania. I've seen too many examples that sound cool on paper, like 'Oh, get that guy to sing the hook on that guy's song,' and then that's all it is. It's a cool idea that sounds good on paper.

- Ezra Koenig

Sometimes, Sound, Idea, Examples

I'm pretty sure that the Walkmen are the band that I've paid to see the most in my life.

- Ezra Koenig

My Life, Pretty, Sure, Paid

You can be 24 and continue to live like you're at college, or even continue to live like you're in high school. Or you can put on a shirt and tie and pretend to be an adult.

- Ezra Koenig

College, Like, Pretend, Adult

As an artist you have the luxury of maybe presenting an issue in a certain way, as opposed to actually solving it.

- Ezra Koenig

Solving, Actually, Opposed, Luxury

Playing 'Tetris' for 15 minutes is like meditation.

- Ezra Koenig

Like, Minutes, 15 Minutes, Meditation

Making every record is a process full of tough times.

- Ezra Koenig

Process, Making, Times, Full

If kids and teenagers can get into a band, it's probably not because they think it's brainy.

- Ezra Koenig

Think, Band, Get, Teenagers

My dad has a really great record collection that basically went up to the year I was born: 1984.

- Ezra Koenig

Year, I Was Born, Dad, Basically

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