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Rolling Stones quotes:Mick Jagger on music
“One song isn’t going to ever change things, but I suppose it’s the accumulation of music generally that is. If you can imagine a world that has no music in it, it would be a very different world, so music does change the world by virtue of all the music in it. Cumulative music of every kind, from banging a drum to playing a flute or recording symphonies, or singing ‘War, what is it good for?’ All those things change the whole way we live.“
Mick Jagger once said that no single song will ever change the world—but that doesn’t mean music isn’t powerful. Instead of putting all the weight on one anthem, he suggests it’s the accumulation of sound—across time, cultures, and instruments—that really shapes us. Imagine a world with no music at all. No rhythm, no melodies, no protest choruses or lullabies. That silence would change everything. So maybe it’s not one track that flips the switch, but the steady build-up that stirs something deeper.
The Rolling Stones’ Frontman on Music’s Bigger Picture
For Jagger, the real power of music lies in its collective force. From a tribal drumbeat echoing through centuries to the raw scream of a protest song, music has always reflected—and sometimes redirected—how we live. It doesn’t matter if it’s a simple flute, a full symphony, or the shouted words of “War, what is it good for?” Every piece contributes to the cultural soundtrack that shapes our emotions, beliefs, and even politics.
He’s not dismissing the power of one powerful line or hook; rather, he’s expanding the lens. The impact doesn’t come from one moment—it comes from the layering of millions of them. This insight from the Stones’ legendary frontman reminds us that music’s true strength comes from its persistence and diversity. It’s the chorus of human history, not just a one-hit wonder.
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