I don't listen to recordings of my songs. I don't avoid it, I just don't go out of my way to do it. Stephen Sondheim avoidlistenrecording Change image and share on social
Lyrics have to be underwritten. That's why poets generally make poor lyric writers because the language is too rich. You get drowned in it. Stephen Sondheim drowngenerallylanguage Change image and share on social
When I'm writing a song, I try to be the character. Stephen Sondheim charactersongwrite Change image and share on social
I'm always conscious of what I'm writing, conscious of what the actor may ask me. I have a defense for nearly every line in the song. Stephen Sondheim actorconsciousdefense Change image and share on social
I love the theater as much as music, and the whole idea of getting across to an audience and making them laugh, making them cry - just making them feel - is paramount to me. Stephen Sondheim audiencecryfeel Change image and share on social
So many good songs get written fast, because you know exactly what has to work. Stephen Sondheim fastgoodsong Change image and share on social
Two of the hardest words in the language to rhyme are life and love. Of all words! Stephen Sondheim hardlanguagelife Change image and share on social
There's something inimical about the camera and song. Stephen Sondheim camerainimicalsong Change image and share on social
I certainly wanted my name in lights. I wanted my name on a marquee. I wanted recognition on Broadway. Stephen Sondheim broadwaylightmarquee Change image and share on social
If you force yourself to write away from the piano, you come up with more inventive things. If you're too good a piano player, as some composers are, the music may become flavorless and glib. And if you're not a very good pianist, you're limited to the same patterns. Stephen Sondheim composerflavorlessforce share on social