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Looking for inspiration from your favourite artists? Are you interested in sayings that can help guide your career as a musician?
Quotes from singers and rappers are inspirational, uplifting and sometimes humorous. Famous pop star quotes leave a legacy behind – some even provide an ethos we can live by. Why not draw on your rap, grime, pop, country and rock icons’ wise words.
Artists can give you timeless wisdom and guidance. Read on for sound advice never truly goes out of date.
Quotes from singers and rappers
Get some tips from famous singers , by reading their quotes about music and life. From current stars to iconic musical figures of the past, there’s sure to be a few that resonate with you.
Eminem
American rapper, songwriter and record producer, Eminem is known for his work ethic and is an inspiration for many.
‘If people take anything from my music, it should be motivation to know that anything is possible as long as you keep working at it and don’t back down.’
Madonna
Madonna is famously outspoken and not afraid to challenge the establishment. She’s always been in charge of her brand.
‘One thing I have learned is that I am not the owner of my talent, I am the manager of it.’
Kanye West
Kanye is phenomenally successful, and also has a career outside music as a fashion designer and entrepreneur. This is what he has to say about sticking power.
‘Never stop fighting no matter what anyone says, if it’s in your gut, your soul, there’s nothing, no worldly possession that should come between you and your expression.’
Billie Holiday
One of the best jazz vocalists of all time , Billie stresses the importance of making your sound and having a distinctive tone of voice.
‘If I’m going to sing like someone else, then I don’t need to sing at all.’
Famous singer quotes
Bruno Mars
A multi-talented singer, producer, instrumentalist and dancer, his skills span a wide range of genres including pop, rock, reggae, hip hop, soul, funk, and R&B. If anyone was prepared for fame, it’s him.
‘You can’t knock on opportunity’s door and not be ready.’
Beyoncé
Beyoncé is a strong and powerful artist from whom you can draw inspiration. She is always groundbreaking and willing to take risks.
‘If everything was perfect you would never learn and you would never grow.’
Ed Sheeran
Ed has sold millions of records worldwide and is one of the biggest stars of our time. If you’re looking for an artist to draw inspiration from, look no further.
‘It’s like if you want something so badly go out and grab, just keep on doing it.’
Harry Styles
Having released music from boyband hits to solo ballads, Harry’s music has inspired millions worldwide.
‘Work hard. Play hard. Be kind.’
Selena Gomez
Actor, singer, songwriter and producer. Selena knows more than most about how personal struggles can affect your outlook on life.
‘I’ve learned there’s power deep down inside yourself, and you can find it when you don’t give up on yourself and when you ask for help.’
Famous pop star quotes
Dua Lipa
She began her music career at age 14 after she started uploading cover songs onto YouTube. Dua was soon spotted and became famous with her covers and original up-tempo tunes.
‘I’ve always been very much in control of my music and my image, and I think one of the things I’ve been lucky about is I didn’t bring a label on board until I really figured out who I was.’
Ellie Goulding
The British singer-songwriter stresses the importance of getting involved in the songwriting process.
‘I feel like I write songs for the future or something. Not in an arrogant way, but I feel like maybe my songs were, like, before their time or something.’
Sam Smith
Sam is a sensitive soul who encourages positive thinking and doesn’t let his success get to his head.
‘I don’t want to think about what I’m doing in 20 years. All I want is to be happy, and I hope my family is healthy. And that’s all, really.’
Sia
Sia has struggled with fame, but her powerhouse voice and bravery have seen her through.
‘I don’t read reviews or interviews or anything, just because I’m afraid; If I believed the good, then I’d believe the bad, and there will be bad.’
Katy Perry
Katy’s songs are long-lived hits and she has her own unique style.
‘If you can believe great, then you can achieve something great.’
will.i.am
A brilliant marketer, he has a unique self-made brand and interests way beyond music. Like a product, he understands the need to make music suited to his audience.
‘I go out partying to figure out exactly who I am making music for. You just can’t guess’.
Favourite singer quotes
Shakira
An international, multilingual star who draws on her personal experience to inspire her music and motivate others.
‘My songs are a reflection of how I think and how I feel at that moment. But I’m conscious of the fact that artists have a responsibility before the masses and they have to take care of their words.’
Amy Winehouse
Tragically Amy died far too young, but her unique music legacy lives on.
‘You know what’s attractive in a girl? A girl being herself. Don’t be one of the crowd.’
Eric Clapton
Arguably the world’s most famous guitarist and inspiration for musicians around the world.
‘You can’t mastermind everything. You’ll go crazy. Just show up and play.’
Elvis
The undisputed king of rock n’ roll. Elvis personified the X-Factor. He was a genius and like many innovators, he struggled to be accepted and was ahead of his time.
‘I am trying to keep a level head, you have to be careful out in the world, it’s so easy to get turned.’
Drake
Canadian rapper, singer-songwriter, producer, actor and entrepreneur, Drake’s driven and determined.
‘A goal is just a dream with a deadline.’
Inspirational quotes by famous singers
Billie Eilish
Billie shot to fame producing records with her brother in her bedroom. She draws upon her life experiences for her lyrics and is a great example of a rising, self-made star. Follow Billi
‘There are always going to be bad things. But you can write it down and make a song out of it’.
Taylor Swift
Known for lyrics that often reflect her personal journey, Taylor has had her ups and downs. Here she provides some inspirational advice for those struggling with rejection.
‘You have people come into your life shockingly and surprisingly, you have losses that you never thought you’d experience, you have rejection and you have to learn how to deal with that and how to get up the next day and go on with it.’
John Lennon
John Lennon is an icon who advocates the importance of being yourself.
‘Trying to please everybody is impossible, if you did that you would end up in the middle with nobody liking you, you’ve just got to decide what you think is your best, and do it.’
Halsey
Halsey has had some criticism and has dealt with it well through her down-to-earth attitude.
‘I have to remember for every kid saying something awful, there’s a kid saying something great.’
Demi Lovato
She’s publicly documented her inner and outer struggles but has used her music as a form of therapy and as a way to share her own experience making others feel less alone.
‘Love yourself for who you are and just keep going.’
Inspirational quotes by rock musicians
Ozzie Osbourne
lived a rock ‘n roll lifestyle, touring with his band extensively and picking up some bad habits along the way. Through the highs and lows of the business, he has never lost his sense of humour.
‘I used to get upset by people not understanding me, but I’ve made a career out of it now.’
David Bowie
Bowie was and is a global icon. His songs live on forever and he is considered one of the most influential musicians of the 20th century.
‘I don’t know where I’m going from here, but I promise it won’t be boring.’
Kurt Cobain
A rock legend who tragically died young, Kurt always did things his way and shows the importance of being yourself.
‘Wanting to be someone else is a waste of the person you are.’
Lemmy
Lemmy was an old-school heavy metal artist, the lead singer of Motörhead who led a full-on rock n’ roll lifestyle.
‘I don’t do regrets.’
Funny musician quotes
Lewis Capaldi
If you’ve ever followed his social media, you’ll know that Lewis is not only an incredible talent but also supremely funny. Humour is a great unifier.
‘Whoever says money can’t buy ye happiness has never ordered three takeaways in one day.’
Jimi Hendrix
Some artists can be very self-deprecating, especially if it creates comedy. Here’s Hendrix’s take on his own flaws.
‘I’ve been imitated so well I’ve heard people copy my mistakes.’
Pete Townshend
The co-founder, leader, guitarist, secondary lead vocalist and principal songwriter of the Who shares a wry comment on his rock antics.
‘I smash guitars because I like them.’
Louis Armstrong
His career spanned five decades, an incredible feat by today’s music industry standards. The jazz legend demonstrates a great sense of humour in this comment.
‘All music is folk music. I ain’t never heard a horse sing a song.’
Musician quotes about music
Dolly Parton
The country icon is simply amazing, she shows her talent and longevity as an artist through sheer determination and passion for music.
‘After you reach a certain age, they think you’re over. Well, I will never be over, I’ll be making records, if I have to sell them out of the trunk of my car, I have done that in my past and I’d do it again.’
Rex Orange County
This is a rising star who focuses on his music and doing things his way.
‘The moment you start thinking about what other people and other artists think, you’re going to start writing like other people.’
Adele
Adele has earned huge success in the industry on the back of her talent and quality of music. She refused to conform to the stereotype of a typical pop star, not just in terms of her image but also through her release strategy and happily taking years out of the industry to focus on producing the best possible product.
‘I don’t make music for eyes, I make music for ears.’
There’s certainly some pearls of wisdom to be found among these quotes. Along with a few to make you smile. We hope you’ve enjoyed reading them and are feeling a little more inspired as a result.
Related Questions
What are some famous inspirational quotes?
If you’re interested in inspirational quotes from non-musicians, have a look at some of the most quoted people from history. The Dalai Lama, Michelle Obama, Oscar Wilde and Nelson Mandela are good places to start.
Why is music so powerful?
Music and songwriting are emotional processes that reflect your experiences and mood. As such, listeners relate to it and are moved by music. Drawing inspiration from other artists who understand this creative art can be helpful in making powerful songs.
Do you have any favourite quotes from singers and rappers that you’d like to share? Let us know in the comments below.