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Billie Holiday Quotes

Singer

Billie Holiday, an American jazz singer, was born on April 7, 1915, and passed away on July 17, 1959. Known for her distinctive voice and emotional delivery, she is considered one of the greatest singers in the history of jazz.

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All Jazz Way Music Ifs Singing Song Damn Feels Knows Thinking Two Feelings I Can Love Play Dope Liberty Littles People Singing Songs

Famous Billie Holiday Quotes

“I can only sing songs my way. I don't know any other way.”

Knows Way I Can Song Singing My Way

Author:Billie Holiday

“I hate straight singing. I have to change a tune to my own way of doing it. That's all I know.”

Knows Way Hate Change My Own Music Singing I Hate Jazz Musical Tunes

Author:Billie Holiday

“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.”

Ifs Way I Can Two Night Song Order Liberty Exercise Singing Jazz Succession Drills Singing Songs Yodeling

Author:Billie Holiday

“Singing songs like 'The Man I Love' or 'Porgy' is no more work than sitting down and eating Chinese roast duck, and I love roast duck.”

Men Song He Man Eating Singing Sitting Down And Chinese Ducks Sitting Down Singing Songs

Book:Lady Sings the Blues: The 50th-Anniversay Edition with a Revised Discography

Source: Lady Sings the Blues: The 50th-Anniversay Edition with a Revised Discography

“The whole basis of my singing is feeling. Unless I feel something, I can't sing.”

Feels I Can Whole Feelings Music Singing Bases Jazz Jazz Music

Book:Lady Sings the Blues: The 50th-Anniversay Edition with a Revised Discography

Source: Lady Sings the Blues: The 50th-Anniversay Edition with a Revised Discography

“So I asked him to play "Trav'lin' All Alone." That came closer than anything to the way I felt. And some part of it must have come across. The whole joint quieted down. If someone had dropped a pin, it would have sounded like a bomb. When I finished, everybody in the joint was crying in their beer, and I picked thirty-eight bucks up off the floor. . . . When I showed Mom the money for the rent and told her I had a regular job singing for eighteen dollars a week, she could hardly believe it.”

Source: Lady Sings the Blues: The 50th-Anniversay Edition with a Revised Discography

“When Lester plays, he almost seems to be singing; one can almost hear the words.”

Play Seems Singing Jazz

Author:Billie Holiday

“I can't stand to sing the same song the same way two nights in succession, let alone two years or ten years.”

Way Years I Can Two Night Song Ten Singing Two Years Succession Singing Songs Yodeling

Author:Billie Holiday

“I don't think I'm singing. I feel like I'm playing a horn...What comes out is what I feel.”

Thinking Feels Singing Horns

Author:Billie Holiday

About the Author

Born: April 7, 1915
Died: July 17, 1959
Known for: Singer
Quotes: 53

Books & Sources

Lady Sings the Blues: The 50th-Anniversay Edition with a Revised DiscographyRelated source material

Lady sings the bluesRelated source material

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