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Portrait of Imelda May

Imelda May

(1974) Singer-songwriter Ireland

86 quotes in 331 categories

Imelda May says thrashing on stage is her daily exercise and she feels alive when she sings. She recalls the fun of singing the 'Looney Tunes' theme at Warner Bros., rejects modern fashion like Juicy Couture, and notes the close ties between Irish and American music. She writes music from her own life, doesn’t chase world‑domination goals, and loves the constant music flowing through Nashville’s streets.

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Imelda May is a singer-songwriter from Ireland, best known for Lick and a Promise.

Quick Facts About Imelda May

Born: July 10, 1974
Nationality: Ireland
Profession: Singer-songwriter
Notable works: Lick and a Promise

About Imelda May

Imelda Mary Higham, professionally known as Imelda May, is an Irish singer, songwriter, television presenter and multi-instrumentalist. She became known for her musical style of rockabilly revival and has also been compared to female jazz musicians such as Billie Holiday.

Quotes by Imelda May

Oh my god, it's good to be alive!

Alive

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I never co-write. I've tried it before, and I just can't do it.

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Thrashing about on stage is my exercise for the day!

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I have no big career plan. It is better for me that way.

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I don't do grey. I like my colour, my style.

Colour

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Music rules a lot of my life - I was bitten by the bug young.

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I think I'd like to be one of those eccentric 80-year-old women.

Eccentric

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I'm not a feminist that hates men by any means.

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When I'm writing, I mean what I'm saying - there's a lot of me in each song.

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I got my first leopard print coat when I was 15. I nearly got beat up, but I was happy with it.

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I am not musically educated yet. I don't read - I make my own language that works for myself. But I play…

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I can talk a lot and not reveal anything; I would make a great politician.

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I couldn't think of anything worse than hating your own music and having to play it every night. It would be a…

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When I heard Elvis and his 'Sun Sessions,' I went mad for it. I was about thirteen.

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There's no point in bringing together a talented band if you don't let them do their thing.

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I enjoy music so much; it's such a passion in my life, and I hope that comes across.

Hope

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The Spanish and the American audiences are lunatics. They are very passionate and, like the Irish, they don't have as many inhibitions.…

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There have never been so many women in the music industry, but they're doing ballads and pop. Where's the new Joan Jetts…

Female

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I'm the youngest of five - three girls and two boys. There was one record player for the seven of us. It…

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For me, rockabilly is very, very exciting music. It's electric and kind of wild, you know? It's 'make your hairs stand up…

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My parents never told me to get a real job. They always said, 'Go for it! If this is what you want…

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I couldn't live on the singing at first, so I worked as a cleaner, in a launderette, in a garage, face painting…

Art

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I'm in no hurry to get old. But when I do, I'll be out to enjoy every last minute. I see myself…

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I was brought up with old-fashioned values. I wasn't allowed to have a boyfriend until I finished school. I wasn't allowed to…

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I'd watch old movies with Judy Garland, Shirley Temple and Bette Davis and long to be part of that glamorous world. A…

Glamour

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I'm not comparing myself at all to him, but I like the idea that Ernest Hemingway always wrote about certain things he…

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In 2008, I was in a London park when I came across a fledgling crow that had fallen from the top of…

Animals

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I was brought up with beautiful music - Nat King Cole and Glen Miller from my dad, and my mum loved Judy…

Beautiful

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I like the idea that Ernest Hemingway always wrote about certain things he knew, he knew the ins and outs, back to…

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I went to a Catholic all-girls school, and we would play cassettes of music we liked, and when it was my turn,…

Choices

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At school, I'd refuse to take part in biology lessons when animals were being dissected. One time, the teacher announced that we…

Animals

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People expect you to change when you become a mother, and of course my priorities changed when I had Violet. She's number…

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I'm not filthy rich! I'm not as rich as people think. It's funny, isn't it?

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I worry about people who sell out to chase fame because when they get it, it might not be so satisfying.

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I wash my face and put moisturiser on; I've never had a facial, and I don't get my hair or my nails…

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Up-tempo or slow tempo, I don't feel that one is better than the other.

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I'm a big believer in 'pick yourself up, dust yourself off, and start again.'

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Ooooh, I love Nashville! It seems like everywhere you walk, there's great music coming out of every wall.

Country

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I even sang once at the opening of a supermarket. You name it, I've done it.

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I don't see why women have to get naked to sell an album. It's crazy.

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Imelda May by topic

Music (24) Love (14) Song (11)