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Everything that happened to me as a child involved music. It was part of everyday life, as automatic as breathing.

Nina Simone

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Nina Simone
Age: 75 †
Born: 1933
Born: February 21
Died: 2008
Died: April 21
Composer
Jazz Pianist
Recording Artist
Singer
Singer-Songwriter
Tryon
North Carolina
Eunice Kathleen Waymon
High Priestess of Soul
Involved
Happened
Child
Part
Music
Everything
Automatic
Children
Breathing
Life
Everyday

More quotes by Nina Simone

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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 Simone
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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 Simone
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I had spent many years pursuing excellence, because that is what classical music is all about... Now it was dedicated to freedom, and that was far more important.
Nina Simone
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I look forward to doing my own show, not someone else's. That's always been my dream.
Nina Simone
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I love the classics but there are many new ideas to be made into reality. I'd rather be concerned with my own thing. There are many masters of classical piano so I'll leave it to them.
Nina Simone
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This is the world you have made yourself, now you have to live in it.
Nina Simone
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It 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 Simone
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I'm sorry that I did not become the world's first black classic pianist. I think I would have been happier.
Nina Simone
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I think if I were over there in America, protest music would be more important. But I'm not going.
Nina Simone
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I don't like rap music at all. I don't think it's music. It's just a beat and rapping.
Nina Simone
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You can't help it. An artist's duty, as far as I'm concerned, is to reflect the times.
Nina Simone
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There's no excuse for the young people not knowing who the heroes and heroines are or were.
Nina Simone
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My job is not done. I address my songs now to the third world. I am popular all over Asia and Africa and the Middle East, not to speak of South Africa, where I'm trying to go to see Nelson Mandela.
Nina Simone
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I think the rich will eventually have to cave in too, because the economic situation around the world is not gonna tolerate the United States being on top forever.
Nina Simone
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I do not believe in mixing of the races. You can quote me. I don't believe in it, and I never have. I've never changed. I've never changed my hair. I've never changed my color, I have always been proud of myself, and my fans are proud of me for remaining the way I've always been. I married a white man one time, but he was a creep
Nina Simone
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To most white people, jazz means black and jazz means dirt, and that's not what I play. I play black classical music.
Nina Simone
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Anything human can be felt through music, which means that there is no limit to the creating that can be done with music. You can take the same phrase from any song and cut it up so many different ways - it's infinite. It's like God... you know?
Nina Simone
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I had heard blues and jazz all my life but I was never aware that it was associated with nightclubs and drinking.
Nina Simone
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When I choose material for an album all these songs I grew up with pour into my head.
Nina Simone
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I feel what they feel. And people who listen to me know that, and it makes them feel like they're not alone.
Nina Simone