What is the word that composer John Adams calls the "Kiss of Death?"

“So…what did you think about my composition?”

“Oh, I thought it was ‘interesting,’”

"To me when anybody says that, it's the kiss of death. That means they didn't like it or they didn't understand it when they say 'it's interesting.' I want them to come up and say, 'I hated it!' or 'I loved it - it really spoke to me.' But when somebody comes and says it's 'interesting,' it usually means they didn't connect with it." (John Adams)

I think of that quote, in a different way, when someone tells me they programmed (on the radio) or scheduled (on a concert) a piece of music because it’s “interesting.”

I’m all for interesting, but how long does “interesting” stay with you? For some, I’m sure “interesting” lasts forever.

Now, if you schedule or program a piece because (pick 1, 2 or 3) it’s expressive, passionate, fun, uplifting, nostalgic, well crafted, imaginative, gripping. entertaining, or enjoyable…that too might make it last forever — you can even add a fourth word — it’s “interesting.”

P. S. My mother was an abstract painter. I asked her if the painting world had a similar “kiss of death” word or phase.

“Oh, that’s exciting.”

Marilyn Srebnik - exciting?