Quotes from Lisa Stansfield

I've always said that when people start saying, 'Oh my God, why doesn't this woman put down her bagpipes?' then I will. I just don't ever want to become like Cliff Richard.

I knew I'd made it when I was sitting on the bus into Rochdale and there was an old man listening to one of my songs. It was fantastic.

I really don't have an interest in it and people think I'm a freak because I'm not obsessed by 'Strictly Come Dancing' but it just doesn't appeal to me. I'm really sorry but I can't get into it. You get treated like a complete pariah if you don't like things like that!

It's quite amazing how obsessed everyone is by 'Strictly Come Dancing.' I don't watch it so I don't know anything about it.

I was fortunate enough to meet Aretha Franklin but I was so overwhelmed that I just burst out crying.

When all my friends were into punk, I'd be singing versions of soul ballads. I thought, 'Oh my God, I don't want them to know I'm doing this.' But I really enjoyed singing those songs.

You can't have artistic freedom if you have to think about seven different aspects of your own job all the time. It must be very, very exhausting.

I've always been political but I don't like to bring it into my work any more because I think it limits me.

I did work incredibly hard but I think there's a certain element of luck.