Sometimes I sound like gravel, and sometimes I sound like coffee and cream.
Nina SimoneRead
Music is a gift and a burden I've had since I can remember who I was.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Music can bring both joy and hardship to those who create it.
Nina Simone highlights the dual nature of music as an essential part of her identity, suggesting that while it is a precious talent and source of expression, it also comes with pressures and responsibilities that can feel burdensome. This quote reflects the complexities of being an artist, where the very gift that brings joy may also demand significant emotional and personal investment.
Themes
MusicGiftBurdenIdentityArtist
In practice
Example use cases
In a speech about the challenges of being a musician.
More from Nina Simone
All quotes →Jazz is a white term to define black people. My music is black classical music.
Nina SimoneRead
I only knew classical music, which to me was the only true music. The only way I could survive at the bar was to mix the classical music with popular songs, and that meant I had to sing. What happened was that I discovered I had a voice plus the talent to mix classical music together with more popular songs, which at the time I detested.
Nina SimoneRead
Everything that happened to me as a child involved music. It was part of everyday life, as automatic as breathing.
Nina SimoneRead
I didn't get interested in music. It was a gift from God.
Nina SimoneRead
This may be a dream, but I'll say it anyway: I was supposed to be married last year, and I bought a gown. When I meet Nelson Mandela, I shall put on this gown and have the train of it removed and put aside, and kiss the ground that he walks on and then kiss his feet.
Nina SimoneRead
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