Quotes About Identity

I got country music in me.

The only thing my mother would say to me about my music - I'd say, "Mom, listen to this," and she'd say, "Junior, I know who you are."

I've always loved music, very simply, as a vehicle to express myself and that hasn't changed.

When I got home, I was trying to figure out how to be home. Like, be home in a sense that had nothing to do with music.

I liked rock music, I kind of moved into that sphere, somehow thinking that somewhere along the line I'd be able to put the two together. And I suppose I very nearly did with the Ziggy character.

Style as a concept has been hijacked to mean elite, refined and expensive when it should be thought of as a basic expression of life in much the same way as we all identify with music or speech.

I'm certain that I will be able to do music that's more like me as I get to know more about myself. I think that is an artist's fate. You have to keep trying to find your own world and express it.

I lost myself to music at a very early age, and I remained there.

He stole my music but he gave me my name.

I made the tenor sax - there's nobody plays like me and I don't play like anybody else

I'm homeless, in a funny way. My culture I think is completely rooted in German 19th century music I suppose.

I was the first person in my family born in the United States. My mom is from Croatia, and my dad is from Iran. They met at music school in Belgium. I grew up as a pianist.

The problem is the following, black music is increasing encumbered by white elements, often pleasant but always superfluous, easily and advantageously replaced with black elements.

[On being asked how it felt to be the first female conductor of the Boston Symphony:] I've been a woman for a little more than fifty years, and I've gotten over my original astonishment.

People thought me a bit strange at first; a blond haired, blue-eyed Norwegian who sang Mexican folk songs, but I used it to my advantage and got a job. And so the music became my ticket to education.

Country music is me, it's what I've grown up with, and it's what I do.

I was ready to quit music. It felt to me like music equalled death.

When I got started in New York, if you were different from Miles & Dizzy it was very difficult.

My voice likes rock music. My problem is, I can do a lot of things, but I have to find my own voice.

There are two sides of me, the bachata/tropical Latin side and the English pop as well. They're both equally important, so I'll always make sure to keep both roots in my music.

Music is always a reflection of what's going on in the hearts and minds of the culture.

I'd wear any of my private attire for the world to see. But I would rather have an open flesh wound than ever wear a band aid in public.

Music will save your life, but may leave you with a life not worth saving. The characters Phonogram tends to follow are extreme cases.

Pop music allows you to be who you are without having to wear a social uniform or to conform, which some people find impossible to do.