Quotes from Anita Baker

Applause felt like approval, and it became a drug that soothed the pain, but only temporarily.

I used to sing at funeral homes for families that didn't have a vocalist. I didn't get paid. I needed to sing.

Completeness? Happiness? These words don't come close to describing my emotions. There truly is nothing I can say to capture what motherhood means to me, particularly given my medical history.

I would make far more money if every song were my own, but I don't write to fill up the album with my songs.

You leave home to seek your fortune and, when you get it, you go home and share it with your family.

Long tresses down to the floor can be beautiful if you have that but learn to love what you have.

You leave home to seek your fortune and, when you get it, you go home and share it with your family.

We don't do drugs, drink or use profanity. Instead we instill morals and values in my boys by raising them with a love of God and a love and respect for themselves and all people. I believe they will have a chance.

Completeness? Happiness? These words don't come close to describing my emotions. There truly is nothing I can say to capture what motherhood means to me, particularly given my medical history.

If you have your own agenda and your own style and you don't easily conform to what the masses are doing, you're looked upon as being difficult. Whereas, I think of it as just being an individual.

It's impossible to write and produce a record when your parents are dying. I really tried, I really, really tried, but it just wouldn't come.

I don't let people use me. That's why I like a small number of people in my life. The more people in my life, the more complex it becomes, so I just try to keep it at a minimum.

I say if it's going to be done, let's do it. Let's not put it in the hands of fate. Let's not put it in the hands of someone who doesn't know me. I know me best. Then take a breath and go ahead.

I'm picking and choosing in terms of the stress factor. If it's not fun, I'm not going to do it.

My father worked on assembly lines in Detroit while I was growing up. Every day, I watched him do what he needed to do to support the family. But he told me, 'Life is short. Do what you want to do.'

When you're away for a long time, tastes change, fans move on. You hate to think about it, but it's an ugly fact of life.

Time has nothing to do with the gifts that the gods give you; it's what you do.

Chris Brown is brilliant. That cat is crazy brilliant, and I wish him the best.

Oh my goodness, they are rocking so many variations of my high-top fade. I mean, Rihanna has taken it to a very angular 21st Century thing. Miss Fantasia has it in a very seductive, you know, up-flip, and it's just lovely, right? Oh, I think it's wonderful.

I don't think being black has held me back at all. Being black makes you strong.

As soon as you get off stage, that's the most dangerous time for a singer to kiss people because your vocal chords are receptive to any kind of germ.

I have as many pictures of my vocal cords as I do of my children. I have a great ear, nose and throat doctor, and we look at them - if there's some redness, maybe I'll take a little time off.

Long tresses down to the floor can be beautiful, but learn to love what you have.

Typically, the theme of my albums, if there is a theme, is, 'How does it feel?' And that always leads to love songs. It just does.