Christopher Fowler

Broadly speaking, there are two approaches to crime: the realistically detailed police procedural, usually grim and downbeat, and the more left-field, joyous theatre of ideas in which past masters once specialised. Knowing that I would never be able to handle the former, I set about reviving the latter.

English Writer

Dan Smith

There's always room to make stuff that is completely morose and downbeat, but we'd probably spiral into a state of complete despair if our music reflected the lyrics all the time. I think that's almost the fun game with some songs, is this complete tearing of two feelings at once.

British Musician

Marian Keyes

I used to feel defensive when people would say, 'Yes, but your books have happy endings', as if that made them worthless, or unrealistic. Some people do get happy endings, even if it's only for a while. I would rather never be published again than write a downbeat ending.

Irish Writer

Itzhak Perlman

If you put four different people on a podium conducting the same downbeat, you get four different sounds. It's a little mysterious and fascinating. There's so much you can do with motions and body movements besides giving accurate beats.

Israeli Musician

Scott Parker

I keep telling the players to enjoy the good moments. There are too many moments in this world currently that are pretty miserable and downbeat, so if there is light at certain times, I want them to enjoy it.

John Sandford

A lot of cops in fiction are very depressive and are kind of downbeat, and they've got all kinds of existential angst that they're dealing with.

American Novelist

Loretta Young

I want no part of making any contribution whatsoever to the despair which eventually follows downbeat thinking.

American Actress

Miles Davis

Space music'd be really something... but they don't have no gravity up there. You couldn't have no downbeat!

American Musician

Used mainly in musical scenes, especially when discussing rhythm and timing.

Music Context

In orchestras, the conductor's first gesture often indicates the downbeat.

Conductor's Cue

Dancers and musicians count in starting on the downbeat to stay synchronized.

Counting In

It signifies a negative emotional tone or mood in non-musical contexts.

Emotional Tone

More subtle than outright negativity, it can imply a lack of optimism.

Subtle Nuance

May indicate the end of a conversation or meeting, ending on a low note.

Conversation Closer

 as the downbeat, the beginning of the musical one, two, three, four. But in West African music, the "one" is thought of as the end of the phrase, like the period at the end of a sentence. So, you can hear it not just in the phrasing, but the way they count off their two, three, four, one.

Downbeat

Music Context

Conductor's Cue

Counting In

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