Billie Holiday

Billie Holiday was an American jazz singer and songwriter. Nicknamed “Lady Day” by her friend and musical partner Lester Young, Holiday had a seminal influence on jazz and pop singing. Her vocal style, strongly inspired by jazz instrumentalists, pioneered a new way of manipulating phrasing and tempo. #

7 Quotes

  • I never sing a song the same way twice.

  • Don’t threaten me with love, baby. Let’s just go walking in the rain.

  • I’ve been told that nobody sings the word ‘hunger’ like I do.

  • I never hurt nobody but myself, and that ain’t nobody business but my own.

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

  • You can be up to your boobies in white satin, with gardenias in your hair and no sugar cane for miles, but you can still be working on a plantation.

  • 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.

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