Ani DiFranco Quotes

I could never change the overall feel of my music. That's why people like me - I don't follow trends, and I don't follow crowds.

Be you. If people like it, great. My music is honest, and it comes from the heart. I have never done anything to become famous.

I'm not trying to stay in the same place and I'm not trying to compete with what's currently in fashion. That would be dishonest. But, at the same time, I'm different and the music reflects that to some degree.

I don't ever want to lose my rawness or whatever. That makes a person special.

I'd rather have people dislike my style than change it. If someone says, 'Hey, Yngwie, you play too damn much,' I don't care. They way I play is the way I like to play. If people like it, great. If they don't, it's still fine with me.

There's not a lot of conversation going on in my world about softening my image. I'm pretty much who I am.

I try to be me to the utmost.

I'm not a tough guy. I'm just delivering the truth and only the truth and if you can't deal with it, too bad.

Seriously, I don't think there's any right way to do anything apart from if you're just being you; then it's a sincere situation.

People have often asked me, do I want to be the next Oprah - there is no such thing. Oprah is Oprah, and she's still being Oprah if anybody hasn't noticed... what I bring to TV is myself... I really think there's space in daytime TV for a whole bunch of fun, some amazing music, and some heart.

I'd hate it if everyone in the world liked me, my music and what I wore. It'd make it boring, and I wouldn't have anything to work towards. It's not to everyone's taste, but I can only be me.

I don't want to get myself in trouble - and I don't think I'm super important or anything - but I think it's so funny that when you look at the business and the way that people make decisions in their lives, whether they're in art or music or they're in industry, they forget that being unique is the answer.

I think any time people behave in a way that's truly them, then they'll never fail. You get in trouble when you try to copy others.

You have to be who you are when you do music.

I feel like I was the only person who was capable of making this type of music in this type of way. I don't rap like nobody, I don't try to sound like nobody.

I wouldn't ever do a radio edit because I feel like it would totally go against the point of 'Follow Your Arrow.' I just think you're going to like it or not like it.

I speak my mind. If it offends some people, well, there's not much I can do about that. But I'm going to be honest. I'm going to continue to speak my mind, and that's who I am.

I emphasise the following: don't, whatever happens, be anyone but yourself. Don't act anyone else-that would be fatal.

I know of nothing more valuable, when it comes to the all-important virtue of authenticity, than simply being who you are.

Everyone should pursue whatever is original in oneself. That's the way for a long life in music.

I'd just like to inspire people to be themselves and do what they want and not conform to the rigid guidelines of the music or entertainment business.

I don't want to be the cliche American Idol dude. I want to be different, you know - that's the whole goal, me and music. It's about being yourself and being unique.

A lot of people have told me along the way that my style and the music I do... is unmarketable. But the only reason I'm successful is because I have stayed true to myself.

I know, people have had different things to say about Marvel, about how creatively free they are or not free they are, but for me, the rule has always just been stay as good as I can possibly be, and stay one step ahead of the curve, and stay unique, and stay myself. And they seem to like that.

I don't care what people think of me, unless they think I'm mean or something, but I don't care if they think I'm like someone else because I know I'm not - I'm a total weirdo. I'm not selling a dream; I'm not selling fame like it is some sort of fantastic thing. I'm just trying to sell music and get on with my real life.