Jean-Michel Jarre Quotes

Even though some of the films I've made haven't been particularly commercial, I don't find them failures.

When we're putting out records that people are responding to, it's amazing. And it's obviously what we shoot for every time. It's a tricky balancing act. But as long as it's sort of a righteous idea, then you're good to go.

People think I take some sort of masochistic pleasure out of putting out music that's gonna be unpopular.

I mean my point as an artist is I'm on my own little weird journey across the sky here and whether or not anybody's listening, or listening to the degree I would like them to, at the end of the day has to be an inconsequential thing because I can't chase this culture.

There's something deeply satisfying when it succeeds, but I'm not going to do another book just to put my name on something and make some money if it's not something I deeply care about.

Somebody said us artists have trouble with success because art is derived from struggle. I disagree with that, because truely doing your art is success, whether you make money from it or not.

But as long as you're creating the art you want to create, if people start liking you, you shouldn't have to apologize. You want your stuff to be heard by as many people as possible.

I would rather do many small roles on TV, stage or film than one blockbuster that made me rich but had no acting.

Selling another 10 million albums is not a priority. Putting out something you're proud of is.

When you spend two to three years working on an album that I feel very happy with the end result, there is nothing I would change. Musically, I have achieved what I set out to do.

When I wrote 'The Rozabal Line,' I had no preconceived notions of what a commercial bestseller should be. I have always viewed 'The Rozabal Line' as my first love and probably my best work. The fact, however, is that it is my least read work.

If something is successful with the audience, it's automatically suspect; the reverse is to say that not to reach audiences is the greatest compliment an artist can receive!

There is a big difference between No. 1 and No. 2. I don't care who wrote it. I'd love to one day have a No. 1 that I wrote, but if that ain't in the cards, whatever. My job is right now is to make the best music I can and try to get it to the people, whether it be something that I wrote or not. It's my job to be the best I can for the fans.

I never sold any of my pieces. I had all the money I wanted. Then I would have lost my sculptures and just had more money.

When we were making 'Arrested Development,' it was the hardest thing I'd ever done. You know, nobody was watching. We weren't getting feedback. The job wasn't paying very well. But the one thing I did feel confident about was: No one will ever be able to do this again. Because no one would be stupid enough to try.

I make things of my own that aren't that glam, but I'm not known for that, which has always been a bit of a frustration for me.

There have been records I've been really, really pleased with that haven't connected with people. But I felt good about them.

I hold music so close to my heart - to the point where I was always like, 'Well, if it's not Radiohead, I don't want to do it!'

I can't usually stomach a project after I finish it, but for those days and weeks and months that it's new to me, I do listen to it, and it might change over time, but it's about function.

Early on, I had to structure my ideas of success around things like, 'Can I go back and listen to the record months or years after I made it and still get some enjoyment out of it?' Or 'Have I said what I wanted to say on this album? Did it connect with people on a personal level, even if it's a small number of people?'

It's really empowering when, as an artist, you can visualize something and then have the final product turn out the way you wanted it to.

I always prefer to end a show where you're feeling creatively on top.

I have had such a satisfying career; I've gotten to do so many amazing things as an artist.

Your favourite songs by your favourite bands are never the singles. It's when they've done exactly what they wanted without any compromise and not worried about the reaction.

I should be satisfied first as an actor with my work. I will not do something because everyone is doing it.