Quote

I don't like to go to strange places. I was in Italy for about five hours on my way to Africa.

Nina Simone

Change background

T
T
T

Change font

TAGS & TOPICS

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
Way
Like
Italy
Africa
Places
Strange
Five
Hours

More quotes by Nina Simone

Image
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
Image
That's a very high goal to have, study eight hours a day to be a concert pianist.
Nina Simone
Image
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
Image
There are all kinds of things that can be done. You can change rhythms, you can change chords, you can change whole concepts. But it will only work, on a record or in a performance, if you can make the people buy it.
Nina Simone
Image
Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood, a song that was written for Simone, she confronted the band's lead singer, Eric Burdon. So you're the honky, she said, who stole my song and got a hit out of it?
Nina Simone
Image
You have to learn to get up from the table when love is not being served.
Nina Simone
Image
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
Image
When I choose material for an album all these songs I grew up with pour into my head.
Nina Simone
Image
Music is one of the ways by which you can know everything which is going on in the world. You can feel... through music... Whew... you can feel the vibrations of everybody in the world at any given moment.
Nina Simone
Image
I try to swim every damn day I can, and I've learned to scuba dive and snorkel.
Nina Simone
Image
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
Image
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
Image
To be young, gifted and black!
Nina Simone
Image
From the beginning, it has been a no-no for a black man to touch a white woman.
Nina Simone
Image
I was not reluctant to become a singer. Singing has been an activity I've done my whole life, without thought.
Nina Simone
Image
I play piano, by ear. Yes, I write songs... and good ones.
Nina Simone
Image
You 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 Simone
Image
I tell you what freedom is to me: no fear.
Nina Simone
Image
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
Image
I had heard blues and jazz all my life but I was never aware that it was associated with nightclubs and drinking.
Nina Simone