--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Because of my background, I never felt…" description: "\"Because of my background, I never felt comfortable with these R&B divas, but I'd hate to be just some pensive girl with a guitar.\" — Corinne Bailey Rae" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4d9/corinne-bailey-rae-4358_comfortable_because-of-my-background-i-never-felt-co_12606.png" --- # Because of my background, I never felt comfortable with… ![“Because of my background, I never felt comfortable with these R&B divas, but I'd hate to be just some pensive girl with a guitar.” quote by Corinne Bailey Rae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4d9/corinne-bailey-rae-4358_comfortable_because-of-my-background-i-never-felt-co_12606.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4d9/corinne-bailey-rae-4358_comfortable_because-of-my-background-i-never-felt-co_12606.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4d9/corinne-bailey-rae-4358_comfortable_because-of-my-background-i-never-felt-co_12606.png) > “Because of my background, I never felt comfortable with these R&B divas, but I'd hate to be just some pensive girl with a guitar.” [Corinne Bailey Rae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/corinne-bailey-rae/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. She expresses tension between cultural expectations and personal artistic identity, rejecting stereotypes while asserting her own musical path. **In simple terms:** Balancing heritage and self‑expression. Key Takeaway Authenticity over conformity. Themes identity cultural expectations artistic freedom self‑definition stereotype challenge Mood reflective determined defiant Type personal statement artist manifesto cultural critique When to use this quote - interview about artistic influences - songwriting workshop - career counseling for musicians - media profile on genre crossover - personal blog on authenticity Key Concepts music genre personal branding cultural background Practical Applications - crafting a unique musical persona - navigating genre expectations Questions to Reflect On - How does cultural background shape artistic choices? - When might embracing a label limit creative growth? ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Background Felt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/background-felt-371920/) [Comfortable](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/comfortable/) [Comfortable Divas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/comfortable-divas-371919/) [Divas Hate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/divas-hate-371916/) [Girl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/girl/) [Girl Guitar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/girl-guitar-371917/) [Guitar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/guitar/) [Hate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hate/) [Never](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/never/) [Pensive Girl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pensive-girl-371918/) ## Related quotes > [I always felt like the rug could be pulled out from under me at anytime. 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The rest said 'oh, we've already got a girl with a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kt-tunstall/when-i-tried-to-get-a-record-deal-only-one-label-wanted-me-the-rest/) [KT Tunstall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kt-tunstall/) > [I'm not Amy the star, I'm Amy the girl with the guitar.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-winehouse/i-m-not-amy-the-star-i-m-amy-the-girl-with-the-guitar/) [Amy Winehouse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-winehouse/) > [I've got my girl and my guitar, and for me that's enough.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tiffanie-debartolo/i-ve-got-my-girl-and-my-guitar-and-for-me-that-s-enough/) [Tiffanie DeBartolo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tiffanie-debartolo/) > [“Quinn spoke their language—all mystery and inside jokes, scarred souls and statement shirts. 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To make it matter is something else altogether.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-bonamassa/that-s-the-thing-about-the-blues-it-s-one-thing-to-hit-a-note-on-a/) [Joe Bonamassa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-bonamassa/) > [I like the bad-boy types. Generally the guy I'm attracted to is the guy in the club with all the tattoos and nail polish.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/megan-fox/i-like-the-bad-boy-types-generally-the-guy-i-m-attracted-to-is-the/) [Megan Fox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/megan-fox/) > [Growing up in Dallas, my first influences on the guitar were T-Bone Walker and Les Paul. T-Bone taught me how to play lead guitar…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-miller/growing-up-in-dallas-my-first-influences-on-the-guitar-were-t-bone/) [Steve Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-miller/) > [With my songs, the question is always, 'Can you pull it off live, alone on just an acoustic guitar?' That's the litmus test. If…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shawn-colvin/with-my-songs-the-question-is-always-can-you-pull-it-off-live-alone/) [Shawn Colvin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shawn-colvin/) > [I remember people would talk about Country Music like it was this sexist, lame thing. Well, no, because Dolly Parton is writing songs and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neko-case/i-remember-people-would-talk-about-country-music-like-it-was-this/) [Neko Case](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neko-case/) > [I'll tell you one thing: I will always play the sh\*\* out of my guitar.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-satriani/i-ll-tell-you-one-thing-i-will-always-play-the-sh-out-of-my-guitar/) [Joe Satriani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-satriani/) ## More by Corinne Bailey Rae > [“Sometimes you win or sometimes you lose. I don't wanna lose you, Don't even own you. I just wanna stay right here, Until never…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/corinne-bailey-rae/sometimes-you-win-or-sometimes-you-lose-i-don-t-wanna-lose-you-don-t/) [Corinne Bailey Rae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/corinne-bailey-rae/) > [I loved music from a young age. At school I played the violin but I didn't sing much; there was an expectation of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/corinne-bailey-rae/i-loved-music-from-a-young-age-at-school-i-played-the-violin-but-i/) [Corinne Bailey Rae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/corinne-bailey-rae/) > [I find it easy to relax, but I'm always thinking about songs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/corinne-bailey-rae/i-find-it-easy-to-relax-but-i-m-always-thinking-about-songs/) [Corinne Bailey Rae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/corinne-bailey-rae/) > [I find so much freedom in singing and so much expression of my self. 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I enjoy working with others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/corinne-bailey-rae/i-don-t-just-work-one-way-i-enjoy-working-with-others/) [Corinne Bailey Rae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/corinne-bailey-rae/) > [We went to Baptist church as a family, and that took up so many nights a week.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/corinne-bailey-rae/we-went-to-baptist-church-as-a-family-and-that-took-up-so-many-nights/) [Corinne Bailey Rae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/corinne-bailey-rae/) > [As an artist, you want to form your own identity and be your own performer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/corinne-bailey-rae/as-an-artist-you-want-to-form-your-own-identity-and-be-your-own/) [Corinne Bailey Rae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/corinne-bailey-rae/) > [I like to be on my own before I do a gig.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/corinne-bailey-rae/i-like-to-be-on-my-own-before-i-do-a-gig/) [Corinne Bailey Rae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/corinne-bailey-rae/) > [I'm really aware that I can't hide any of my feelings.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/corinne-bailey-rae/i-m-really-aware-that-i-can-t-hide-any-of-my-feelings/) [Corinne Bailey Rae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/corinne-bailey-rae/) > [All the changes you go through personally really affect the music you make, and my music on the one hand is personal and the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/corinne-bailey-rae/all-the-changes-you-go-through-personally-really-affect-the-music-you/) [Corinne Bailey Rae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/corinne-bailey-rae/) > [I'm just a generally hopeful person.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/corinne-bailey-rae/i-m-just-a-generally-hopeful-person/) [Corinne Bailey Rae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/corinne-bailey-rae/) > [You know, I think that nature has such a powerful message about moving from dark to light, and bitterness to sweetness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/corinne-bailey-rae/you-know-i-think-that-nature-has-such-a-powerful-message-about-moving/) [Corinne Bailey Rae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/corinne-bailey-rae/) > [People make assumptions about me based on my music. I've literally had people stop me in the street: 'You are so sweet. I bet…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/corinne-bailey-rae/people-make-assumptions-about-me-based-on-my-music-i-ve-literally-had/) [Corinne Bailey Rae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/corinne-bailey-rae/) > [When I did my rock band, I pined for a more soulful sound. I wanted music that was very melodic and blues-based.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/corinne-bailey-rae/when-i-did-my-rock-band-i-pined-for-a-more-soulful-sound-i-wanted/) [Corinne Bailey Rae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/corinne-bailey-rae/) [Explore all 112 Corinne Bailey Rae quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/corinne-bailey-rae/) ## More Comfortable quotes > [I could not limit my values and pursuits to what makes others comfortable. Being possessed by a promise I live without options. I will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-johnson/i-could-not-limit-my-values-and-pursuits-to-what-makes-others/) [Bill Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-johnson/) > [How much more comfortable it is to say 'Yes, and...' than 'Yes, but...'.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-fagg/how-much-more-comfortable-it-is-to-say-yes-and-than-yes-but/) [Lawrence Fagg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-fagg/) > [If I had my brothers I think with just a little bit of the correct marketing, I'd like to be almost exclusively in small…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-bozzio/if-i-had-my-brothers-i-think-with-just-a-little-bit-of-the-correct/) [Terry Bozzio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-bozzio/) > [I'm more comfortable modelling as a man because I don't get any criticism.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rain-dove/i-m-more-comfortable-modelling-as-a-man-because-i-don-t-get-any/) [Rain Dove](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rain-dove/) > [I'm aware of who I am and I'm comfortable with who I choose to date.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shibani-dandekar/i-m-aware-of-who-i-am-and-i-m-comfortable-with-who-i-choose-to-date/) [Shibani Dandekar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shibani-dandekar/) > [Money is only used for two things. One, it's to make you comfortable, and the more comfortable you are the more creative you will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-proctor/money-is-only-used-for-two-things-one-it-s-to-make-you-comfortable/) [Bob Proctor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-proctor/) > [I am comfortable talking about sex scenes and stuff, but to me, when it's physically explicit, I do feel prudish and uncomfortable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phoebe-waller-bridge/i-am-comfortable-talking-about-sex-scenes-and-stuff-but-to-me-when-it/) [Phoebe Waller-Bridge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phoebe-waller-bridge/) > [It's my intention to make something stand outside the realm of album art, but it also feels comfortable to me to be in it.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dyer-baizley/it-s-my-intention-to-make-something-stand-outside-the-realm-of-album/) [John Dyer Baizley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dyer-baizley/) > [There's always gonna be people with a lot of money making film, and the goal is to make profit and carry on. It is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clint-howard/there-s-always-gonna-be-people-with-a-lot-of-money-making-film-and/) [Clint Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clint-howard/) > [There are those that say, if you do the uncomfortable thing long enough, it will become comfortable. But we are really not encouragers of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/esther-hicks/there-are-those-that-say-if-you-do-the-uncomfortable-thing-long/) [Esther Hicks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/esther-hicks/) > [It's like my second home, 'It.' And I would like to return to it, because I feel very comfortable with it, and I have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-muschietti/it-s-like-my-second-home-it-and-i-would-like-to-return-to-it-because/) [Andy Muschietti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-muschietti/) > [I was a bit overweight as a teenager, which may be why I'm more comfortable playing with clothes than showing my body.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orla-brady/i-was-a-bit-overweight-as-a-teenager-which-may-be-why-i-m-more/) [Orla Brady](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orla-brady/) > [When you're comfortable with someone you love, the silence is the best.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/britney-spears/when-you-re-comfortable-with-someone-you-love-the-silence-is-the-best/) [Britney Spears](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/britney-spears/) > [Our families and our homes are the center of American life, Everything we do is to make those homes-and the lives in them-more beautiful,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martha-stewart/our-families-and-our-homes-are-the-center-of-american-life-everything/) [Martha Stewart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martha-stewart/) > [You build the bonds through the community and police force, build bonds of understanding, and then when people feel comfortable in their communities, that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-kaine/you-build-the-bonds-through-the-community-and-police-force-build/) [Tim Kaine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-kaine/) [Browse all 4,560 Comfortable quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/comfortable/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Because of my background, I never felt comfortable with these R&B divas, but I'd hate to be just some pensive girl with a guitar.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Corinne Bailey Rae" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/corinne-bailey-rae/because-of-my-background-i-never-felt-comfortable-with-these-r-b/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Comfortable" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/corinne-bailey-rae/because-of-my-background-i-never-felt-comfortable-with-these-r-b/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4d9/corinne-bailey-rae-4358_comfortable_because-of-my-background-i-never-felt-co_12606.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4d9/corinne-bailey-rae-4358_comfortable_because-of-my-background-i-never-felt-co_12606.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4d9/corinne-bailey-rae-4358_comfortable_because-of-my-background-i-never-felt-co_12606.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Because of my background, I never felt comfortable with these R&B divas, but I'd hate to be just some…” — Corinne Bailey Rae", "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": "Corinne Bailey Rae", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/corinne-bailey-rae/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Because of my background, I never...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/corinne-bailey-rae/because-of-my-background-i-never-felt-comfortable-with-these-r-b/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/corinne-bailey-rae/because-of-my-background-i-never-felt-comfortable-with-these-r-b/#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 } } ] } ```