Henry Mancini Quotes

To finish a song is the best feeling in the world.

There is nothing greater than the joy of composing something oneself and then listening to it.

When I'm writing a song, it gives me more actual pleasure to hear someone else sing it than do it meself.

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?'

I feel happy about the songs I've written. I'm a great lover of the craft of songwriting, and I sure admire it in other people when I see it - past and present. I feel comfortable with what I have accomplished. I feel happy to be able to work in that environment, and that I have a lot of songs left to be written, somewhere.

I walk away from writing what I consider to be a good song - with a good character, a good story in it - with all I'm gonna really get out of that song. My greatest pleasure is to create it, not to record it, not to hear anyone else play it, though that can be nice too.

I do love doing action, but if I can balance the scale by doing other kinds of films that satisfy my creative ambitions, that feels really important.

We all take from our artistic endeavors what we as individuals need, to make the process unique and fulfilling to ourselves.

The big thing that everyone forgets, you're famous and on TV and everything, but I think there's something very rewarding to be able to write a song, record it, and have it turn out as you heard it in your head, or even better.

I think my playing has been orchestral throughout the years, and this is another way of expressing that. But I primarily see it as the ultimate accomplishment of a musician. Composing makes me feel like I've finally gotten all the way up the ladder as a musician.

It's awesome when people respond to your movie and love it.

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.

If you're in a film that you're proud of and you care about, then you're always happy to talk about it.

My thing about creating things is that it has to do two purposes: It has to serve me creatively but also has to serve the people.

My general advice for writers/comedians is, make stuff you like and are proud of. Put it in a place where people can see it, whether that's onstage or on the Internet or wherever. Just do the things that make you happy creatively, and then show them to people.

Some people get turned on by my work, and it sells, but what drives me is the process of making it.

A run-of-the-mill bad guy role does not satisfy me creatively.

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

It is essential for artistes to have that release of creativity, almost as necessary as eating food or drinking water.

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

In terms of creativity, both are equally satisfying. Music album is for yourself, where you compose songs and stuff like that, and in films, you have a story, characters, and songs penned by someone else.

I want to take the great tradition of the orchestra within me, to take what the orchestra offers.

I am happy writing and being a producer not a director.

Personally, I love music, as it's my first love, and if I ever act, it has to be something close to music. That's when I will feel great about doing it.

I get the biggest kick out of it, to hear words that I wrote and chords that I wrote being sung by somebody else.