--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I never wanted to be like other blues…" description: "\"I never wanted to be like other blues singers. I might like hearing them play, but I've never wanted to be anyone other than myself. There are a few pe..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c7b/b-b-king-4531_anyone_i-never-wanted-to-be-like-other-blues-si_2003425.png" --- # I never wanted to be like other blues singers. I might… ![“I never wanted to be like other blues singers. I might like hearing them play, but I've never wanted to be anyone other than myself. There are a few people that I've wished I could play like, but when I tried, it didn't work.” quote by B. B. King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c7b/b-b-king-4531_anyone_i-never-wanted-to-be-like-other-blues-si_2003425.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c7b/b-b-king-4531_anyone_i-never-wanted-to-be-like-other-blues-si_2003425.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c7b/b-b-king-4531_anyone_i-never-wanted-to-be-like-other-blues-si_2003425.png) > “I never wanted to be like other blues singers. I might like hearing them play, but I've never wanted to be anyone other than myself. There are a few people that I've wished I could play like, but when I tried, it didn't work.” [B. B. King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/b-b-king/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He values personal authenticity over imitation, insisting on staying true to his own voice despite admiration for others. **In simple terms:** Be yourself, not a copy. Key Takeaway Prioritize originality. Themes authenticity identity creativity Mood reflective determined Type personal artistic When to use this quote - music career - songwriting - performance - personal branding Key Concepts self‑expression artistic integrity Questions to Reflect On - How do you balance influence with originality? - What steps help maintain your unique voice? A Different Perspective May limit learning from mentors. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Blues](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/blues/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Play](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/play/) [Singers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/singers/) [Work](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/work/) ## Related quotes > [People, whether they know it or not, like their blues singers miserable. They like their blues singers to die afterwards.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janis-joplin/people-whether-they-know-it-or-not-like-their-blues-singers-miserable/) [Janis Joplin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janis-joplin/) > [Audiences like their blues singers to be miserable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janis-joplin/audiences-like-their-blues-singers-to-be-miserable/) [Janis Joplin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janis-joplin/) > [I started to like blues, I guess, when I was about 6 or 7 years old. There was something about it, because nobody else…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/b-b-king/i-started-to-like-blues-i-guess-when-i-was-about-6-or-7-years-old/) [B. B. King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/b-b-king/) > [All blues singers are great liars.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lester-bangs/all-blues-singers-are-great-liars/) [Lester Bangs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lester-bangs/) > [The blues singers were talking about everyday life, and they pushed a button.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-young/the-blues-singers-were-talking-about-everyday-life-and-they-pushed-a/) [Malcolm Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-young/) > [There are only three white blues singers -- Geoff Muldaur is at least two of them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-thompson/there-are-only-three-white-blues-singers-geoff-muldaur-is-at-least/) [Richard Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-thompson/) > [Bob Dylan's one of the greatest blues singers of the western world; ancient art, on-the-spot improvisation, mind quickness, endless variation, classical formulae, prophetic vision,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allen-ginsberg/bob-dylan-s-one-of-the-greatest-blues-singers-of-the-western-world/) [Allen Ginsberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allen-ginsberg/) > [Charlie Christian had no more impact on my playing than Django Reinhardt or Lonnie Johnson. I just wanted to play like him. I wanted…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/b-b-king/charlie-christian-had-no-more-impact-on-my-playing-than-django/) [B. B. King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/b-b-king/) > [When I was young, I didn't play like I do today. So these kids are starting at the height that I've reached. Think what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/b-b-king/when-i-was-young-i-didn-t-play-like-i-do-today-so-these-kids-are/) [B. B. King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/b-b-king/) > [Women are a key part of the sound of the groups that accompany male singers like Kirk Franklin, Israel Houghton, and myself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fred-hammond/women-are-a-key-part-of-the-sound-of-the-groups-that-accompany-male/) [Fred Hammond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fred-hammond/) > [More than anybody in the music industry, the Staple Singers were like family to me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marty-stuart/more-than-anybody-in-the-music-industry-the-staple-singers-were-like/) [Marty Stuart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marty-stuart/) > [I like the sound of my voice, doesn't mean it's any good but I like it. The joke is that "all good singers like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-rollins/i-like-the-sound-of-my-voice-doesn-t-mean-it-s-any-good-but-i-like-it/) [Henry Rollins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-rollins/) > [So many sibling acts are usually singers like The Osmonds and the Jacksons.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-carpenter/so-many-sibling-acts-are-usually-singers-like-the-osmonds-and-the/) [Richard Carpenter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-carpenter/) > [When you look at sort of pop stardom now, some of these singers, it seems like the idea of them was created in a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lloyd-young/when-you-look-at-sort-of-pop-stardom-now-some-of-these-singers-it/) [John Lloyd Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lloyd-young/) > [“They change what they do not like,’ said Jessold, referring to the singers. ‘And they do not like what they cannot remember. That accounts…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wesley-stace/they-change-what-they-do-not-like-said-jessold-referring-to-the/) [Wesley Stace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wesley-stace/) ## More by B. B. King > [Blues purists never cared for me. I don't worry about it. I think if it this way: When I made 'Three O' Clock Blues,'…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/b-b-king/blues-purists-never-cared-for-me-i-don-t-worry-about-it-i-think-if-it/) [B. B. King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/b-b-king/) > [Everybody wants to go to Heaven, but no one wants to die to get there!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/b-b-king/everybody-wants-to-go-to-heaven-but-no-one-wants-to-die-to-get-there/) [B. B. King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/b-b-king/) > [My ex-wife was trying to be nice once, so she took me to a concert in Los Angeles. I went with her to Symphony…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/b-b-king/my-ex-wife-was-trying-to-be-nice-once-so-she-took-me-to-a-concert-in/) [B. B. King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/b-b-king/) > [When I do eventually drop, I pray to God that it'll happen in one of three ways. Firstly, on stage or leaving the stage,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/b-b-king/when-i-do-eventually-drop-i-pray-to-god-that-it-ll-happen-in-one-of/) [B. B. King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/b-b-king/) > [Many people leave the country to see beautiful places. I just look out the window and see some of the most gorgeous scenery ever,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/b-b-king/many-people-leave-the-country-to-see-beautiful-places-i-just-look-out/) [B. B. King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/b-b-king/) > [Albert King wasn't my brother in blood, but he sure was my brother in Blues](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/b-b-king/albert-king-wasn-t-my-brother-in-blood-but-he-sure-was-my-brother-in/) [B. B. King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/b-b-king/) > [ Playing the guitar is like telling the truth - you never have to worry about repeating the same \[lie\] if you told the truth.… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/b-b-king/playing-the-guitar-is-like-telling-the-truth-you-never-have-to-worry/) [B. B. King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/b-b-king/) > [I'd rather be B.B. King. That's the way I started. Let the heavy metal guys play heavy metal, let the others play the other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/b-b-king/i-d-rather-be-b-b-king-that-s-the-way-i-started-let-the-heavy-metal/) [B. B. King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/b-b-king/) > [There's a sadness to all kinds of music if you want to hear it. There's also happiness to it if you want to hear…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/b-b-king/there-s-a-sadness-to-all-kinds-of-music-if-you-want-to-hear-it-there/) [B. B. King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/b-b-king/) > [Touring a segregated America - forever being stopped and harassed by white cops hurt you most 'cos you don't realise the damage. You hold…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/b-b-king/touring-a-segregated-america-forever-being-stopped-and-harassed-by/) [B. B. King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/b-b-king/) > [I was glad to see other blues guitarists like Albert King have crossover successes like me. We played in the same places like the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/b-b-king/i-was-glad-to-see-other-blues-guitarists-like-albert-king-have/) [B. B. King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/b-b-king/) > [There was a lot of other young players around at that time when I was coming, but there was older people like Blind Lemon,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/b-b-king/there-was-a-lot-of-other-young-players-around-at-that-time-when-i-was/) [B. B. King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/b-b-king/) > [When I was in the country and I was trying to play, nobody seemed to pay too much attention to me. People used to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/b-b-king/when-i-was-in-the-country-and-i-was-trying-to-play-nobody-seemed-to/) [B. B. King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/b-b-king/) > [Hard times don't necessarily mean being poor all the time. I've known people that was a part of a family and always feel that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/b-b-king/hard-times-don-t-necessarily-mean-being-poor-all-the-time-i-ve-known/) [B. B. King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/b-b-king/) > [I don't think anybody steals anything; all of us borrow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/b-b-king/i-don-t-think-anybody-steals-anything-all-of-us-borrow/) [B. B. King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/b-b-king/) [Explore all 109 B. B. King quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/b-b-king/) ## More Anyone quotes > [A lot of people have been saying 'The 100' reminds them of 'Lord Of The Flies,' 'Lost' and 'Battlestar Galactica,' and all of those…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marie-avgeropoulos/a-lot-of-people-have-been-saying-the-100-reminds-them-of-lord-of-the/) [Marie Avgeropoulos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marie-avgeropoulos/) > [Anyone who's read my 'Terror in the Skies' series knows that I have not been writing with an eye toward approval from any government…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-jacobsen/anyone-who-s-read-my-terror-in-the-skies-series-knows-that-i-have-not/) [Annie Jacobsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-jacobsen/) > [Becoming famous is a really shocking thing, especially when you don't have aspirations to it. 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