My singing, if you want to call it that is merely another medium of expression. Just an instrument I play. That’s how I see my voice.
NINA SIMONEMy singing, if you want to call it that is merely another medium of expression. Just an instrument I play. That’s how I see my voice.
NINA SIMONEYou can’t be different if you look at it. Being gifted is different. I had that in my piano playing. I’m very thankful for that. I’m very aware of that. The style and what I fed is just me. I never worked at it. It just happened.
NINA SIMONEIt’s logical that people from bad times will reflect their feelings in their communication. Music is part of the communication. If you lived it, you can do it.
NINA SIMONEIt is difficult to retain your standards with the pressure of trying to make money, which always has its rules. It’s hard to walk the tightrope of doing what you think is your best and making money at it.
NINA SIMONEI don’t like to go to strange places. I was in Italy for about five hours on my way to Africa.
NINA SIMONEI feel what they feel. And people who listen to me know that, and it makes them feel like they’re not alone.
NINA SIMONETheory and harmony broadened my mind in music. I know what music is made of.
NINA SIMONEI was not reluctant to become a singer. Singing has been an activity I’ve done my whole life, without thought.
NINA SIMONEIt’s time to take a look at my failures and stop calling them successes. Now I can start working at something that can use me best.
NINA SIMONEMany times I feel different like a different person.
NINA SIMONEI know I’m different, but I don’t think about it.
NINA SIMONEI think if I were over there in America, protest music would be more important. But I’m not going.
NINA SIMONEIf I want to take a particular form of blues somewhere else I have the equipment to do it but I never even thought of it.
NINA SIMONEHow do you explain what it feels like to get on the stage and make poetry that you know sinks into the hearts and souls of people who are unable to express it.
NINA SIMONEFunk, gospel, blues is all out of slavery times, out of depression, out of sorrow.
NINA SIMONEEverything that happened to me as a child involved music. It was part of everyday life, as automatic as breathing.
NINA SIMONE