A collection of quotes by Billie Holiday on music, actress, songs, writing, singer, life, love, holiday, addiction, drugs, kiss, feeling, rain, walking and friends.
42 Great Quotes By Billie Holiday For Your Perfect Jazz And Pop Playlist
Eleanora Fagan, renowned by her professional name Billie Holiday, was an American singer and songwriter, who is known as one of the best exponents of jazz music in the 20th century. According to most scholars of music, Holiday remains one of the most important influences in the history of not only jazz but also pop music. The fact that she never received any formal training in music makes her achievements even more staggering. Holiday initially sung at a club located in the Harlem area of New York and before long she attracted the attention of recording companies. One of her most famous songs is the duet ‘What a Little Moonlight Can Do’, which is regarded by many to be the gold standard as far as jazz is concerned. In addition to recordings, she continued to perform live in packed arenas. Although she struggled in the latter part of her career due to a range of personal issues starting from alcohol and drug dependence to relationship issues, she remains an icon and was inducted into the ‘Grammy Hall of Fame’. We bring to you a collection of quotes and sayings by the celebrated artist known for her improvisational skills and vocal delivery. Let us browse through some of the inspiring quotations and thoughts by Billie Holiday who never sang a song in the same way twice.
You can't copy anybody and end with anything. If you copy, it means you're working without any real feeling. No two people on earth are alike, and it's got to be that way in music or it isn't music.
Dope never helped anybody sing better or play music better or do anything better. All dope can do for you is kill you - and kill you the long, slow, hard way.
In this country, don't forget, a habit is no damn private hell. There's no solitary confinement outside of jail. A habit is hell for those you love. And in this country it's the worst kind of hell for those who love you.
I don't think I missed a single picture Billie Dove ever made. I was crazy for her. I tried to do my hair like her, and eventually, I borrowed her name.
They think they can make fuel from horse manure - now, I don't know if your car will be able to get 30 miles to the gallon, but it's sure gonna put a stop to siphoning.
Everyones got to be different. You can't copy anybody and end up with anything. If you copy, it means you're working without any real feeling. And without feeling, whatever you do amounts to nothing.
I think I copied my style from Louis Armstrong. Because I used to like the big volume and the big sound that Bessie Smith got when she sang ... So I liked the feeling that Louis got and I wanted the big volume that Bessie Smith got. But I found that it didn't work with me, because I didn't have a big voice. So anyway between the two of them I sorta got Billie Holiday.
Them that's got shall get, Them that's not shall lose. So the Bible says, And it still is news. Mama may have, Papa may have, But God bless the child that's got his own.
I can't stand to sing the same song the same way two nights in succession. If you can, then it ain't music, it's close order drill, or exercise or yodeling or something, not music.
If you think dope is for kicks and for thrills, you're out of your mind. There are more kicks to be had in a good case of paralytic polio or by living in an iron lung.
