If you want to be a good blues singer, people are going to be down on you, so dress like you're going to the bank to borrow money.
B. B. KingRead
I've seen myself on those lists of the 100 best guitarists, and if they think that I'm that good, thank them. Thank God for them. But I don't think so.
Interpretation
What this quote means
B. B. King expresses gratitude for being recognized as a top guitarist, while simultaneously questioning the validity of that praise.
In this quote, B. B. King reflects on the accolades he has received as one of the best guitarists, demonstrating humility and a sense of perspective about his skills. He acknowledges the opinions of others who hold him in high regard, yet he feels a disconnect with that view, highlighting the often subjective and personal nature of artistic appreciation and self-worth.
Themes
GratitudeHumilityMusicSelf-PerceptionAcknowledgment
In practice
Example use cases
During an acceptance speech at a music awards show.
More from B. B. King
All quotes βThe way I feel today, as long as my health is good and I can handle myself well and people still come to my concerts, still buy my CDs, I'll keep playing until I feel like I can't.
B. B. KingRead
Everything I record, I just try to sound like me and come up with songs that suit what I do and then just go for it. I never know what the public's going to like, anyway.
B. B. KingRead
A guitar is like an old friend that is there with me.
B. B. KingRead
I have not been a good father, but no father has loved his children more. Like my father, I decided the best thing I could do for my kids was work and provide. Fortunately, I've been able to do that. Unfortunately, my work was on the road, and that's meant a life of one-nighters.
B. B. KingRead
People all over the world have problems. And as long as people have problems, the blues can never die.
B. B. KingRead
Similar quotes
Rock 'n' roll offered me a platform to speak what I felt. It also offered me a platform to support my mama and my brothers and sisters - twelve children.
Little RichardRead
I'll be the first to admit that we're the 90's version of Cheap Trick or the Knack...
Kurt CobainRead
The difference between blues, jazz, rock n' roll and rap is that rap stayed poor. Even the white rappers are poor. It's scarier to look at poor people; it makes everyone uncomfortable. Their pain is something that people would like to see swept under the rug.
Russell SimmonsRead
We may be sure that a genius like Mozart, were he born today, would write concertos like Chopin and not like Mozart.
Robert SchumannRead
Sometimes with pop music, you have to see it to love it. With soul music, it's sparse. There's nothing that's pretentious or planned. It's just so gutsy.
AdeleRead
Jet, I can almost remember their funny faces
Paul MccartneyRead