We are just fanatics about using the technology to make it all

The words of Al Jarreau, the voice of jazz and soul, resound with both joy and devotion: “We are just fanatics about using the technology to make it all wonderful. We laughed at the fact that we were having such a great time working this way.” In this statement, the master singer reveals a truth about the marriage of technology and creativity. For he does not speak of machines as cold, lifeless tools, but as instruments of delight, as companions in the labor of art. To him, technology was not a burden nor an intrusion, but a channel through which the spirit of music could expand, flourish, and bring joy.

The meaning begins with the word fanatics. It speaks of passion, of unrestrained zeal, of a love so strong it borders on devotion. Jarreau and his fellow artists were not hesitant or fearful of technology, but embraced it wholeheartedly, seeing in it the potential to make it all wonderful. This is a lesson for every generation: tools by themselves are neutral, but when wielded with vision and playfulness, they become instruments of wonder. The laughter he recalls is the laughter of creators who discover that work itself can be joy when fueled by passion and innovation.

The origin of this wisdom lies in Jarreau’s own career. He was a man who bridged genres, blending jazz, R&B, and pop with effortless grace. In the recording studio, he worked with producers and engineers who pushed the boundaries of sound, experimenting with new microphones, mixing techniques, and electronic effects. For Jarreau, technology was not a cage to trap creativity but a key that opened new doors. His joy came from seeing how these tools could amplify expression rather than diminish it, turning the work of creation into an act of play.

History offers us echoes of this truth. Consider Thomas Edison, who laughed in his laboratory while testing thousands of filaments for the light bulb. The failures did not crush him, for his passion and curiosity turned even setbacks into moments of discovery. Or think of The Beatles, who in the 1960s embraced studio technology with George Martin, creating albums like Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band, which transformed what music could be. Their joy in experimenting parallels Jarreau’s words: technology, when coupled with passion, does not hinder art — it magnifies it.

Jarreau’s words also remind us that work itself need not always be grim and heavy. Too often, labor is seen only as toil. But when one works with passion, when one embraces the tools at hand with creativity, work becomes a source of joy, laughter, and deep satisfaction. The wonder he describes is not only in the final product, but in the very process — the journey of discovery, the playfulness of creation, the camaraderie of those who labor together in pursuit of beauty.

The lesson for us is radiant. Embrace the tools of your time, whatever they may be, not with fear but with curiosity. Be fanatical not about the machine itself, but about using it to bring beauty, to make life more wonderful for others. Let your work be more than a duty; let it be a source of joy, a place where laughter is possible even amid struggle. For in such a spirit, you will find not only success, but also fulfillment that no wage alone can provide.

Practical action follows. When faced with new technology, resist the urge to scorn or fear it. Instead, ask: How can this be used to serve beauty, to bring joy, to make the work more wonderful? Approach your tasks with playfulness, not only with seriousness, and seek out companions who share your passion. Laugh together at the small victories and even at the struggles, for laughter is the sign that you are alive in your work.

Thus, let the words of Al Jarreau be carried like a melody across generations: technology, when met with passion and joy, becomes a partner in wonder. To be a fanatic for beauty, to laugh while laboring, to make work itself a song — this is the path of those who not only create, but also inspire. Let us take up this wisdom, and make our own lives, with all their tools and tasks, into something wonderful.