Quote

I believe in racial memory too. I'm sure I've got ancient African blood in me that has something to do with what I am.

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
Something
Believe
Racial
African
Ancient
Memory
Memories
Blood
Sure

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Music has been a burden and a joy for as long as I can remember.
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When I choose material for an album all these songs I grew up with pour into my head.
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I was not reluctant to become a singer. Singing has been an activity I've done my whole life, without thought.
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I don't like to go to strange places. I was in Italy for about five hours on my way to Africa.
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You can't help it. An artist's duty, as far as I'm concerned, is to reflect the times.
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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.
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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.
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I can't stand loud guitars that make me deaf.
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From the beginning, it has been a no-no for a black man to touch a white woman.
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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.
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Everything that happened to me as a child involved music. It was part of everyday life, as automatic as breathing.
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I don't like drug addicts and she sounds like a cat.
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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.
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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.
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I know I'm different, but I don't think about it.
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I think if I were over there in America, protest music would be more important. But I'm not going.
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I think the rich are too rich and the poor are too poor. I don't think the black people are going to rise at all I think most of them are going to die.
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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?
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I look forward to doing my own show, not someone else's. That's always been my dream.
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The Beatles are lucky, very lucky. But what has happened to them has nothing to do with them, in a sense. They came along at the right time. Attention was focused on them. They've had the chance to grow in almost any direction they wanted. Very lucky. They are not exceptionally talented.
Nina Simone