--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I'm trying to be a singer, not a civil…" description: "\"I'm trying to be a singer, not a civil rights leader.\" — Adam Lambert" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/49d/adam-lambert-2417_civil-rights_i-m-trying-to-be-a-singer-not-a-civil-ri_1519507.jpg" --- # I'm trying to be a singer, not a civil rights leader. ![“I'm trying to be a singer, not a civil rights leader.” quote by Adam Lambert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/49d/adam-lambert-2417_civil-rights_i-m-trying-to-be-a-singer-not-a-civil-ri_1519507.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/49d/adam-lambert-2417_civil-rights_i-m-trying-to-be-a-singer-not-a-civil-ri_1519507.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/49d/adam-lambert-2417_civil-rights_i-m-trying-to-be-a-singer-not-a-civil-ri_1519507.jpg) > “I'm trying to be a singer, not a civil rights leader.” [Adam Lambert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-lambert/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He distinguishes his personal artistic ambition from political activism, emphasizing a desire to focus on music rather than social leadership. **In simple terms:** Wants to be a singer, not a leader Key Takeaway Prioritize your core passion over external expectations. Themes artistic identity politics public perception career focus Mood determined thoughtful Type personal professional When to use this quote - music performance - career planning - public speaking - activism debates - brand management Key Concepts self‑definition role conflict media expectations Questions to Reflect On - How will you handle expectations for activism? - Can you merge music and message without compromising? A Different Perspective Fans may still expect political statements from him. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Civil Right](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/civil-right/) [Civil rights](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/civil-rights/) [Civil rights leaders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/civil-rights-leaders/) [Leader](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/leader/) [Leadership](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/leadership/) [Rights](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rights/) [Singers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/singers/) [Song](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/song/) ## Related quotes > [American civil rights leader, Where Do We Go from Here: Chaos or Community? Lynching is a murder. For the past four hundred years our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-x/american-civil-rights-leader-where-do-we-go-from-here-chaos-or/) [Malcolm X](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-x/) > [Civil rights leaders are involved in helping poor people. That's what I've been doing all my life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-young/civil-rights-leaders-are-involved-in-helping-poor-people-that-s-what/) [Andrew Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-young/) > [When Thomas Jefferson wrote the Declaration of Independence, declaring that all men were created equal, he owned slaves. Women couldn't vote. But, throughout history,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marvin-ammori/when-thomas-jefferson-wrote-the-declaration-of-independence-declaring/) [Marvin Ammori](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marvin-ammori/) > [“The belief in the power of "institutional racism" allows black civil rights leaders to denounce America as a "racist" society, when it is the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-horowitz/the-belief-in-the-power-of-institutional-racism-allows-black-civil/) [David Horowitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-horowitz/) > [“Racial stereotyping. For Martin Luther King, Jr., and other civil rights leaders, the sin of white racism was stereotyping all black people as inferior.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kim-r-holmes/racial-stereotyping-for-martin-luther-king-jr-and-other-civil-rights/) [Kim R. Holmes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kim-r-holmes/) > [All the civil rights leaders and people who died, black and white, you know, Mexican, Chinese, black, you name it, all the ones who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rodney-king/all-the-civil-rights-leaders-and-people-who-died-black-and-white-you/) [Rodney King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rodney-king/) > [By 1962, King had become, by the media's reckoning, the new civil rights leader.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/constance-baker-motley/by-1962-king-had-become-by-the-media-s-reckoning-the-new-civil-rights/) [Constance Baker Motley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/constance-baker-motley/) > [Being a Negro in America means trying to smile when you want to cry. It means trying to hold on to physical life amid…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-jr/being-a-negro-in-america-means-trying-to-smile-when-you-want-to-cry/) [Martin Luther King, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-jr/) > [We are confronted primarily with a moral issue... whether all Americans are to be afforded equal rights and equal opportunities, whether we are going…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-f-kennedy/we-are-confronted-primarily-with-a-moral-issue-whether-all-americans/) [John F. Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-f-kennedy/) > [What are you doing for others?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-jr/what-are-you-doing-for-others/) [Martin Luther King, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-jr/) > [I made that decision around the time of 'Halloween,' whether I wanted to continue trying to be a singer and rock and roll player…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-castle/i-made-that-decision-around-the-time-of-halloween-whether-i-wanted-to/) [Nick Castle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-castle/) > [When I write a song and come up with an arrangement and a vocal part, it's always a challenge trying to find a singer…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-scholz/when-i-write-a-song-and-come-up-with-an-arrangement-and-a-vocal-part/) [Tom Scholz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-scholz/) > [I went to university and studied English literature, and I forgot about music. I was gonna be a journalist. But then I decided to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessie-ware/i-went-to-university-and-studied-english-literature-and-i-forgot/) [Jessie Ware](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessie-ware/) > [I've been trying to be a singer ever since I was 2 years old and I'm a whole 27 years old now so it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ari-lennox/i-ve-been-trying-to-be-a-singer-ever-since-i-was-2-years-old-and-i-m/) [Ari Lennox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ari-lennox/) > [When I started really singing I was 17, 18 years old. I used to go around trying to be a singer in the Bronx.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dominic-chianese/when-i-started-really-singing-i-was-17-18-years-old-i-used-to-go/) [Dominic Chianese](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dominic-chianese/) ## More by Adam Lambert > [Hey, slow it down.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-lambert/hey-slow-it-down/) [Adam Lambert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-lambert/) > [I've been known to make out with girls from time to time. Couple drinks involved, you know, it's fun. And who knows, maybe it'll…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-lambert/i-ve-been-known-to-make-out-with-girls-from-time-to-time-couple/) [Adam Lambert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-lambert/) > [I'm a freak in the fondest way possible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-lambert/i-m-a-freak-in-the-fondest-way-possible/) [Adam Lambert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-lambert/) > [There might have been a time when I would give myself away.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-lambert/there-might-have-been-a-time-when-i-would-give-myself-away/) [Adam Lambert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-lambert/) > [I just talk a lot, that's the problem.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-lambert/i-just-talk-a-lot-that-s-the-problem/) [Adam Lambert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-lambert/) > [I like adding little elements into the final mix. I'm more fond of the '70s glam than '80s. I have that style of vocals...…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-lambert/i-like-adding-little-elements-into-the-final-mix-i-m-more-fond-of-the/) [Adam Lambert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-lambert/) > [It gets better. It seems hard, you know, I think being different is always gonna be a tough climb. There's always gonna be people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-lambert/it-gets-better-it-seems-hard-you-know-i-think-being-different-is-2/) [Adam Lambert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-lambert/) > [I've only dressed in drag three or four times.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-lambert/i-ve-only-dressed-in-drag-three-or-four-times/) [Adam Lambert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-lambert/) > [If something doesn't look right, throw some glitter on it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-lambert/if-something-doesn-t-look-right-throw-some-glitter-on-it/) [Adam Lambert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-lambert/) > [Wear it. Get that guyliner on, smudge it, and wear it. And don't wash it off, it looks better after its been on for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-lambert/wear-it-get-that-guyliner-on-smudge-it-and-wear-it-and-don-t-wash-it/) [Adam Lambert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-lambert/) > [Thanks for lovin' me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-lambert/thanks-for-lovin-me/) [Adam Lambert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-lambert/) > [I didn't feel attractive in high school.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-lambert/i-didn-t-feel-attractive-in-high-school/) [Adam Lambert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-lambert/) > [I think theatricaliy is just one way of performing. I don't think it's a better way or the way, but it's my way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-lambert/i-think-theatricaliy-is-just-one-way-of-performing-i-don-t-think-it-s/) [Adam Lambert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-lambert/) > [The light side, baby tonight.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-lambert/the-light-side-baby-tonight/) [Adam Lambert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-lambert/) > [I never wore full-on eyeliner in high school, but I wanted to.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-lambert/i-never-wore-full-on-eyeliner-in-high-school-but-i-wanted-to/) [Adam Lambert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-lambert/) [Explore all 167 Adam Lambert quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-lambert/) ## More Civil rights quotes > [Every one knows that the exercise of military power is forever dangerous to civil rights; and we have had recent instances of violences that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-adams/every-one-knows-that-the-exercise-of-military-power-is-forever/) [Samuel Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-adams/) > [I am for freedom of religion, and against all maneuvers to bring about a legal ascendency of one sect over another.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/i-am-for-freedom-of-religion-and-against-all-maneuvers-to-bring-about/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [I speak not for myself, but so those without a voice can be heard. Those who have fought for their rights. Their right to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malala-yousafzai/i-speak-not-for-myself-but-so-those-without-a-voice-can-be-heard/) [Malala Yousafzai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malala-yousafzai/) > [The Patriot Act is certainly a concern; all of those things are dangerous. I think more important than me preaching is that we as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-clooney/the-patriot-act-is-certainly-a-concern-all-of-those-things-are/) [George Clooney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-clooney/) > [American civil rights leader, Where Do We Go from Here: Chaos or Community? Lynching is a murder. For the past four hundred years our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-x/american-civil-rights-leader-where-do-we-go-from-here-chaos-or/) [Malcolm X](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-x/) > [“Why do we apologize for advocating for ourselves? Why do we apologize for taking up space that we are entitled to? Why do we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-tambascio/why-do-we-apologize-for-advocating-for-ourselves-why-do-we-apologize/) Elizabeth Tambascio > [We are a nation of innovators and problem-solvers who sparked revolutions in democratic government, civil rights, communications, flight, rural electrification and technology. We are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stanley-a-mcchrystal/we-are-a-nation-of-innovators-and-problem-solvers-who-sparked/) [Stanley A. McChrystal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stanley-a-mcchrystal/) > [“Mental illness is not something you misunderstand in this era. Get educated because bias is no different than racism.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shannon-l-alder/mental-illness-is-not-something-you-misunderstand-in-this-era-get/) [Shannon L. Alder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shannon-l-alder/) > [Civil rights leaders are involved in helping poor people. That's what I've been doing all my life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-young/civil-rights-leaders-are-involved-in-helping-poor-people-that-s-what/) [Andrew Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-young/) > [I grew up in the early '60s, and there was a lot of civil rights, a lot of unrest in our country.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herm-edwards/i-grew-up-in-the-early-60s-and-there-was-a-lot-of-civil-rights-a-lot/) [Herm Edwards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herm-edwards/) > [The great paradox of the civil rights revolution is that instead of enforcing and expanding equality before the law, the revolution created differential rights…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-craig-roberts/the-great-paradox-of-the-civil-rights-revolution-is-that-instead-of/) [Paul Craig Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-craig-roberts/) > [The world - and America - has been defined by people who haven't necessarily abided by the laws and the rules. Civil disobedience is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rory-kennedy/the-world-and-america-has-been-defined-by-people-who-haven-t/) [Rory Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rory-kennedy/) > [I do not believe that defending traditional marriage between one man and one woman excludes anybody or usurps anybody's civil rights and denies anybody…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-autry/i-do-not-believe-that-defending-traditional-marriage-between-one-man/) [Alan Autry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-autry/) > [Truth is on the side of the oppressed today, it's against the oppressor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-x/truth-is-on-the-side-of-the-oppressed-today-it-s-against-the-oppressor/) [Malcolm X](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-x/) > [The notion of women being written out of history is as old as the Bible, but it always seems more galling when it is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-thornberry/the-notion-of-women-being-written-out-of-history-is-as-old-as-the/) [Emily Thornberry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-thornberry/) [Browse all 1,552 Civil rights quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/civil-rights/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I'm trying to be a singer, not a civil rights leader.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Adam Lambert" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-lambert/i-m-trying-to-be-a-singer-not-a-civil-rights-leader/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Civil rights" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-lambert/i-m-trying-to-be-a-singer-not-a-civil-rights-leader/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/49d/adam-lambert-2417_civil-rights_i-m-trying-to-be-a-singer-not-a-civil-ri_1519507.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/49d/adam-lambert-2417_civil-rights_i-m-trying-to-be-a-singer-not-a-civil-ri_1519507.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/49d/adam-lambert-2417_civil-rights_i-m-trying-to-be-a-singer-not-a-civil-ri_1519507.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I'm trying to be a singer, not a civil rights leader.” — Adam Lambert", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Adam Lambert", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-lambert/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I'm trying to be a singer,...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-lambert/i-m-trying-to-be-a-singer-not-a-civil-rights-leader/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-lambert/i-m-trying-to-be-a-singer-not-a-civil-rights-leader/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```