--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I can't stand to sing the same song the…" description: "\"I can't stand to sing the same song the same way two nights in succession. If you can, then it ain't music, it's close order drill, or exercise or yode..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dc4/billie-holiday-11576_drills_i-can-t-stand-to-sing-the-same-song-the_523781.jpg" --- # I can't stand to sing the same song the same way two… ![“I can't stand to sing the same song the same way two nights in succession. If you can, then it ain't music, it's close order drill, or exercise or yodeling or something, not music.” quote by Billie Holiday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dc4/billie-holiday-11576_drills_i-can-t-stand-to-sing-the-same-song-the_523781.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dc4/billie-holiday-11576_drills_i-can-t-stand-to-sing-the-same-song-the_523781.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dc4/billie-holiday-11576_drills_i-can-t-stand-to-sing-the-same-song-the_523781.jpg) > “I can't stand to sing the same song the same way two nights in succession. If you can, then it ain't music, it's close order drill, or exercise or yodeling or something, not music.” [Billie Holiday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billie-holiday/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Criticizes repetitive performance lacking authenticity, equating it to mechanical drills rather than true artistic expression. **In simple terms:** Music should be fresh, not just repeat the same thing. Key Takeaway Seek authenticity and spontaneity in creative work. Themes authenticity creativity repetition art expression Mood critical reflective Type musical philosophical When to use this quote - live performances - songwriting - studio recording - rehearsals Key Concepts musical improvisation artistic integrity creative freedom Questions to Reflect On - How can you keep performances fresh? - What does authenticity mean to you? A Different Perspective May overlook the value of practice and mastery. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Exercise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/exercise/) [Jazz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/jazz/) [Liberty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/liberty/) [Music](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/music/) [Night](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/night/) [Order](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/order/) [Singing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/singing/) [Song](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/song/) [Success](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/success/) [Succession](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/succession/) [Yodeling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/yodeling/) ## Related quotes > [I can't stand to sing the same song the same way two nights in succession, let alone two years or ten years.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billie-holiday/i-can-t-stand-to-sing-the-same-song-the-same-way-two-nights-in/) [Billie Holiday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billie-holiday/) > [There's a big difference to when you stand up and sing someone else's song, but when you've actually written the song, you feel like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tulisa/there-s-a-big-difference-to-when-you-stand-up-and-sing-someone-else-s/) [Tulisa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tulisa/) > [Singing songs like 'The Man I Love' or 'Porgy' is no more work than sitting down and eating Chinese roast duck, and I love…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billie-holiday/singing-songs-like-the-man-i-love-or-porgy-is-no-more-work-than/) [Billie Holiday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billie-holiday/) > [I think universal harmony is a pipedream and it may be more productive to focus on more modest goals, like a ban on yodeling.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woody-allen/i-think-universal-harmony-is-a-pipedream-and-it-may-be-more/) [Woody Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woody-allen/) > [I wonder why we always deny love. I remember in middle school, if you were accused of the crime of loving, you screamed denials…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/caroline-b-cooney/i-wonder-why-we-always-deny-love-i-remember-in-middle-school-if-you/) [Caroline B. Cooney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/caroline-b-cooney/) > [And I don't really have anyone upon whom I want to rain down my wrath," I said, because in truth I didn't. I always…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-green/and-i-don-t-really-have-anyone-upon-whom-i-want-to-rain-down-my-wrath/) [John Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-green/) > [First time I ever sang was in a contest in Louisiana when I was 9. And I won yodeling.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessie-james-decker/first-time-i-ever-sang-was-in-a-contest-in-louisiana-when-i-was-9-and/) [Jessie James Decker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessie-james-decker/) > [If I would have listened to the naysayers, I would still be in the Austrian Alps yodeling.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arnold-schwarzenegger/if-i-would-have-listened-to-the-naysayers-i-would-still-be-in-the/) [Arnold Schwarzenegger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arnold-schwarzenegger/) > [Sometimes humans hit on a moment of profundity more complete than their dim minds could comprehend, and they took that nugget of truth and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelley-armstrong/sometimes-humans-hit-on-a-moment-of-profundity-more-complete-than/) [Kelley Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelley-armstrong/) > [If you ever teach a yodeling class, probably the hardest thing is to keep the students from just trying to yodel right off. You…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-handey/if-you-ever-teach-a-yodeling-class-probably-the-hardest-thing-is-to/) [Jack Handey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-handey/) > [It's like a prize fighter. He knows he has a fight coming up, so he gets in the gym and trains. So when I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/slim-whitman/it-s-like-a-prize-fighter-he-knows-he-has-a-fight-coming-up-so-he/) [Slim Whitman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/slim-whitman/) > [I never sing a song the same way twice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billie-holiday/i-never-sing-a-song-the-same-way-twice/) [Billie Holiday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billie-holiday/) > [Music is something that even when you close your eyes it gets into your body.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yoko-ono/music-is-something-that-even-when-you-close-your-eyes-it-gets-into/) [Yoko Ono](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yoko-ono/) > [Music. Close your eyes and it's a rosebush blooming in time lapse so that it shoots and blossoms flow outward in a swift choreography…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laini-taylor/music-close-your-eyes-and-it-s-a-rosebush-blooming-in-time-lapse-so/) [Laini Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laini-taylor/) > [Music was something that was always close to me. Every night before I knocked out, I turned the radio on and would fall asleep…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/b-real/music-was-something-that-was-always-close-to-me-every-night-before-i/) [B-Real](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/b-real/) ## More by Billie Holiday > [Don't threaten me with love, baby. Let's just go walking in the rain.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billie-holiday/don-t-threaten-me-with-love-baby-let-s-just-go-walking-in-the-rain/) [Billie Holiday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billie-holiday/) > [God bless the child that's got his own,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billie-holiday/god-bless-the-child-that-s-got-his-own/) [Billie Holiday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billie-holiday/) > [I can't stand to sing the same song the same way two nights in succession, let alone two years or ten years.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billie-holiday/i-can-t-stand-to-sing-the-same-song-the-same-way-two-nights-in/) [Billie Holiday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billie-holiday/) > [I never had a chance to play with dolls like other kids. I started working when I was six years old.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billie-holiday/i-never-had-a-chance-to-play-with-dolls-like-other-kids-i-started/) [Billie Holiday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billie-holiday/) > [I try to improvise like Les Young, Louis Armstrong or someone else I admire. What comes out is what I feel.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billie-holiday/i-try-to-improvise-like-les-young-louis-armstrong-or-someone-else-i/) [Billie Holiday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billie-holiday/) > [I can only sing songs my way. I don't know any other way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billie-holiday/i-can-only-sing-songs-my-way-i-don-t-know-any-other-way/) [Billie Holiday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billie-holiday/) > [I never sing a song the same way twice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billie-holiday/i-never-sing-a-song-the-same-way-twice/) [Billie Holiday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billie-holiday/) > [Money, you have lots of friends hanging round the door. When it's gone and the spending ends They don't come no more.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billie-holiday/money-you-have-lots-of-friends-hanging-round-the-door-when-it-s-gone/) [Billie Holiday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billie-holiday/) > [Love is like a faucet, it turns off and on.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billie-holiday/love-is-like-a-faucet-it-turns-off-and-on/) [Billie Holiday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billie-holiday/) > [I don't think I missed a single picture Billie Dove ever made. I was crazy for her. I tried to do my hair like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billie-holiday/i-don-t-think-i-missed-a-single-picture-billie-dove-ever-made-i-was/) [Billie Holiday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billie-holiday/) > [God has blessed you when he lets you believe in somebody.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billie-holiday/god-has-blessed-you-when-he-lets-you-believe-in-somebody/) [Billie Holiday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billie-holiday/) > [A kiss that is never tasted, is forever and ever wasted.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billie-holiday/a-kiss-that-is-never-tasted-is-forever-and-ever-wasted/) [Billie Holiday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billie-holiday/) > [In this country kings or dukes don't amount to nothing. The greatest man around then was Franklin D. Roosevelt, and he was the President;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billie-holiday/in-this-country-kings-or-dukes-don-t-amount-to-nothing-the-greatest/) [Billie Holiday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billie-holiday/) > [Don't be in such a hurry.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billie-holiday/don-t-be-in-such-a-hurry/) [Billie Holiday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billie-holiday/) > [I don't think I'm singing. I feel like I'm playing a horn...What comes out is what I feel.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billie-holiday/i-don-t-think-i-m-singing-i-feel-like-i-m-playing-a-horn-what-comes/) [Billie Holiday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billie-holiday/) [Explore all 59 Billie Holiday quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billie-holiday/) ## More Drills quotes > [Drill in exact translation is an excellent way of disposing the mind against that looseness and exaggeration with which the sensationalists have corrupted our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-m-weaver/drill-in-exact-translation-is-an-excellent-way-of-disposing-the-mind/) [Richard M. Weaver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-m-weaver/) > [The indoor game is much more of a team game, having to work effectively with a group of 15 to 20 people, striving to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karch-kiraly/the-indoor-game-is-much-more-of-a-team-game-having-to-work/) [Karch Kiraly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karch-kiraly/) > [The media has contempt for people that voted for Trump. They have no desire to understand who they are. They already think they know.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/the-media-has-contempt-for-people-that-voted-for-trump-they-have-no/) [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) > [The combination of landing the biggest interview of my career and having a drill in my back reminds me that God only gives us…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-roberts/the-combination-of-landing-the-biggest-interview-of-my-career-and/) [Robin Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-roberts/) > [Drill your soldiers well, and give them a pattern yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-suvorov/drill-your-soldiers-well-and-give-them-a-pattern-yourself/) [Alexander Suvorov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-suvorov/) > [Nature abhors a lot of things, including vacuums, ships called the Marie Celeste, and the chuck keys for electric drills.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/nature-abhors-a-lot-of-things-including-vacuums-ships-called-the/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [When you go out on the court whether it be for the championship or just a scrimmage, have confidence that your abilities and what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-pettit/when-you-go-out-on-the-court-whether-it-be-for-the-championship-or/) Bob Pettit > [When I was young, we used to do drills to get a feel for the man you were marking.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/giorgio-chiellini/when-i-was-young-we-used-to-do-drills-to-get-a-feel-for-the-man-you/) [Giorgio Chiellini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/giorgio-chiellini/) > [The seven ages of man: spills, drills, thrills, bills, ills, pills and wills.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-j-needham/the-seven-ages-of-man-spills-drills-thrills-bills-ills-pills-and-wills/) [Richard J. Needham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-j-needham/) > [In response to skyrocketing gas prices, liberals say, practically in unison, 'We can't drill our way out of this crisis.' What does that mean?…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-coulter/in-response-to-skyrocketing-gas-prices-liberals-say-practically-in/) [Ann Coulter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-coulter/) > [It's easy to love the snow because at the end of every snowstorm it's as if the world has started over. There is no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-mcmahon/it-s-easy-to-love-the-snow-because-at-the-end-of-every-snowstorm-it-s/) [Andrew McMahon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-mcmahon/) > [Since I'm not focusing on my speed as much now as I was heading into the combine, I'm really focusing on my position work,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/calvin-pryor/since-i-m-not-focusing-on-my-speed-as-much-now-as-i-was-heading-into/) [Calvin Pryor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/calvin-pryor/) > [It's exploding bags, aerosol cans Southbound buses, Peter Pan They left it up to us again I thought you knew the drill It's kill…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/conor-oberst/it-s-exploding-bags-aerosol-cans-southbound-buses-peter-pan-they-left/) [Conor Oberst](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/conor-oberst/) > [I am very glad to hear that the Gardener has saved so much of the St foin seed, & that of the India Hemp.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-washington/i-am-very-glad-to-hear-that-the-gardener-has-saved-so-much-of-the-st/) [George Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-washington/) > [I strongly agree with Vice President Gore that we cannot drill our way to energy independence, but must fast-track investments in renewable sources of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/i-strongly-agree-with-vice-president-gore-that-we-cannot-drill-our/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) Browse all 176 Drills quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I can't stand to sing the same song the same way two nights in succession. 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