Ric Ocasek Quotes

Powerful Ric Ocasek for Daily Growth

About Ric Ocasek

Ric Ocasek (Rick Albert Andre Santos; April 23, 1944 – September 15, 2019) was an American musician, songwriter, and producer best known as the lead vocalist and rhythm guitarist of the influential new wave band The Cars. Born in Baltimore, Maryland, he grew up primarily in Berklee, Massachusetts, where his family moved when he was ten years old. Ocasek's early interest in music was sparked by listening to The Beatles and The Rolling Stones. Ocasek co-founded The Cars in 1976 with bassist Ben Orr, drummer David Robinson, keyboardist Greg Hawkes, and guitarist Elliot Easton. The band's self-titled debut album was released in 1978, blending new wave, power pop, and garage rock with a unique synth-heavy sound. This innovative fusion of genres made The Cars one of the most successful bands of the late 1970s and early 1980s. Their hits include "Just What I Needed," "My Best Friend's Girl," "Good Times Roll," and "Tonight She Comes." In addition to his work with The Cars, Ocasek enjoyed a successful career as a solo artist and producer. He produced albums for several notable acts, including Weezer, No Doubt, and Bad Religion. His solo work, such as the album 'NatterKings' (1986), showcased his versatility as a songwriter and demonstrated his ability to create music that straddled various genres. Ocasek's life was marked by personal struggles and health issues, including a battle with colon cancer in 2010. Despite these challenges, he continued to make music and collaborate with other artists until his death from heart failure in 2019 at the age of 75. Ric Ocasek will be remembered as an influential figure in the world of rock music for his unique sound, enduring hits, and contributions to the industry as a songwriter, performer, and producer.

Interpretations of Popular Quotes

"The best songs come from mystery."

The quote suggests that great songs often emerge from a sense of enigma or unexplored depths. Mystery here can be understood as an unfathomable quality, something we don't fully understand yet is captivatingly intriguing. This mystery could be about emotions, experiences, or life events that the artist encounters and strives to express in their music. The allure of this unknown aspect fuels creativity, leading to compositions that resonate deeply with listeners due to their relatable and evocative nature.

"I think we all have a bit of a performer in us."

This quote suggests that every individual possesses an inherent capacity for performance, which can manifest in various aspects of life. It implies that we are all capable of putting on a show or displaying our skills, talents, and charisma when faced with different situations. Whether it's on stage, in the workplace, at home, or in social settings, we can express ourselves creatively and engage others effectively. This sentiment encourages people to embrace their unique abilities and share them with the world.

"Songwriting's about creating an illusion or fantasy."

Ric Ocasek suggests that songwriting is a craft aimed at constructing an illusion or a fantasy. This means that through lyrics, melody, and rhythm, songwriters create a world or narrative that listeners can escape into, if only for a brief moment. It's about evoking emotions, telling stories, and offering perspectives in a way that transports the listener to another realm. The illusion or fantasy is not meant to be real or factual, but rather a means of communicating feelings, ideas, and experiences in an engaging and relatable way.

"Music is like a river, and it doesn't flow the same way twice."

This quote by Ric Ocasek emphasizes the unique and unpredictable nature of music. Just as no two rivers flow in exactly the same way twice due to variables such as weather, terrain, and time, music too is dynamic and subject to change with each performance, artist, or listener's interpretation. It highlights the inherent beauty and versatility of music, suggesting that every experience with it should be cherished for its distinctiveness.

"We're just trying to create something interesting and make people dance at the same time."

This quote by Ric Ocasek highlights the dual purpose behind their creative endeavors in music. The goal is not only to create something unique, intellectually stimulating, or artistically profound (i.e., "interesting") but also to engage and entertain their audience physically through dance ("make people dance"). Essentially, they aim for a harmonious blend of artistic expression with an enjoyable experience that resonates with the audience on multiple levels.

Secrecy is the enemy of efficiency, but don't let anyone know it.

- Ric Ocasek

Efficiency, Know, Anyone, Secrecy

As a songwriter, oddly enough, my influences were people like Bob Dylan, The Velvet Underground, and Buddy Holly. Some psychedelic stuff, too.

- Ric Ocasek

Enough, Some, Like, Velvet

They're caught where there's no way out or where you can't see out. What are you going to do about it? I don't have the answer. If I did there would be no insane asylums.

- Ric Ocasek

Caught, Going, About, Asylum

People tell me all the time that I look forbidding or aloof. That doesn't bother me much - I am fairly private, withdrawn, and... distant, I guess. But, um, I think that's okay.

- Ric Ocasek

Think, Okay, Private, Aloof

People are strange. We're all morticians. Hey, what's on TV?

- Ric Ocasek

People, Strange, TV, Hey

There are a lot of bands that have a huge appeal, but I don't understand why. Guns n' Roses. U2. But you know, that's just my thing. Music is pretty personal.

- Ric Ocasek

Understand, Guns, Pretty, Roses

I don't think I'm an entertainer. I never think, 'Wow, I can't wait to get the crowd moving.' Some of my favorite bands never moved an inch.

- Ric Ocasek

Think, Wait, Some, Wow

I could never be a country person, sitting around trees trying to write a song. I would rather be in the middle of society, whether it's growing or crumbling.

- Ric Ocasek

Song, Country, Middle, Crumbling

I've always been a fan of poetry. I grew up with Lawrence Ferlinghetti and the Beat poets. I really followed that stuff for a while. I just love the way people threw words around like they were painting.

- Ric Ocasek

Love, Been, While, Lawrence

I'm not proud of the lyrics to 'Shake It Up.'

- Ric Ocasek

Proud, Shake, Up, Lyrics

I've been in a band, so I understand the politics. Sometimes the bass player doesn't like what the guitar player is doing, and you have to sort of even that out.

- Ric Ocasek

Politics, Doing, Been, Bass Player

I've never been on a water slide in my life.

- Ric Ocasek

My Life, Never, Been, Slide

Never mind a world that can't see past brutality.

- Ric Ocasek

Mind, Never, See, Brutality

I love walking down the street and seeing faces and drama and happiness and sadness and dirt and cleanliness.

- Ric Ocasek

Love, Sadness, Dirt, Faces

Refusing to ask for help when you need it is refusing someone the chance to be helpful.

- Ric Ocasek

Chance, Help, Refusing, Helpful

Once they're on paper, they're gone. I like to do as much with the words, as far as image goes.

- Ric Ocasek

Paper, Image, Once, As Far As

Sometimes you want to run away, sometimes you think you do, but you never had a dream like this before and you don't want to ask for more, sometimes you leave a mark before you know the score.

- Ric Ocasek

Think, Away, Like, Mark

I didn't feel like gymnastics were part of The Cars. I certainly philosophically didn't want to prod the audience to react to anything. To me, it was more like negative theater. We didn't really talk to the audience. I didn't see that being a part of this band.

- Ric Ocasek

React, Feel, Part, Philosophically

Your high points and your low points. High points don't last that long, it's a high and it happens. It's great at the moment but you really can't live on it.

- Ric Ocasek

Great, Last, Your, Points

The most important thing to a lot of people, is to belong to something that's hip or whatever. To be a part of something that's not society, just a clique.

- Ric Ocasek

The Most Important, Belong, Clique

I think bands, when they're on the road, they keep their sanity by developing an internal sense of humor.

- Ric Ocasek

Think, I Think, Internal, Sanity

When I produce other people, that's the thing I can do well because I've been in a band, and I can play the political game and make everybody feel happy, and I can check their performances, and I can work on the sound while they're being a band.

- Ric Ocasek

Play, Other, Been, Check

People sometimes say that bands sound like The Cars, but when I hear it I don't know if they do or not.

- Ric Ocasek

Sometimes, Sound, Like, Bands

I often write songs, and when I do, I usually write quite a few of them. I really have to be in the mood.

- Ric Ocasek

Songs, Few, Quite, Mood

There's more to light than the opposite of dark.

- Ric Ocasek

Light, More, Than, Opposite

If you're searching for quotes on a different topic, feel free to browse our Topics page or explore a diverse collection of quotes from various Authors to find inspiration.