--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When I was growing up, I wanted to be…" description: "\"When I was growing up, I wanted to be Michael Jackson. I used to sing and dance and perform with my sister at parties for 50p.\" — David Lammy" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/669/david-lammy-4617_dance_when-i-was-growing-up-i-wanted-to-be-mic_1144240.png" --- # When I was growing up, I wanted to be Michael Jackson. I… ![“When I was growing up, I wanted to be Michael Jackson. I used to sing and dance and perform with my sister at parties for 50p.” quote by David Lammy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/669/david-lammy-4617_dance_when-i-was-growing-up-i-wanted-to-be-mic_1144240.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/669/david-lammy-4617_dance_when-i-was-growing-up-i-wanted-to-be-mic_1144240.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/669/david-lammy-4617_dance_when-i-was-growing-up-i-wanted-to-be-mic_1144240.png) > “When I was growing up, I wanted to be Michael Jackson. I used to sing and dance and perform with my sister at parties for 50p.” [David Lammy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-lammy/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Childhood aspirations shaped by pop culture, leading to early performances and creative ambition. **In simple terms:** Early idols inspire creative pursuits. Key Takeaway Embrace youthful passions early. Themes culture identity ambition Mood nostalgic hopeful Type personal inspirational When to use this quote - school talent shows - family gatherings - community theater - online platforms Key Concepts pop influence performance arts Questions to Reflect On - What role did music play in your identity? - How can early passions evolve? A Different Perspective Early pressure can limit broader development. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Dance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dance/) [Growing up](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/growing-up/) [Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/jackson/) [Jackson Used](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/jackson-used-3203550/) [Michael jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/michael-jackson/) [Perform Sister](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/perform-sister-3203549/) [Sing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sing/) [Sister Parties](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sister-parties-2013257/) [Up](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/up/) [Used](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/used/) [Wanted Michael](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wanted-michael-655774/) ## Related quotes > [Everybody wanted to be Michael Jackson. That's how Will and I got to know each other.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/apl-de-ap/everybody-wanted-to-be-michael-jackson-that-s-how-will-and-i-got-to/) [apl.de.ap](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/apl-de-ap/) > [I really wanted Michael Jackson to be in the first Men in Black, but he didn't want to be considered as an alien!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-sonnenfeld/i-really-wanted-michael-jackson-to-be-in-the-first-men-in-black-but/) [Barry Sonnenfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-sonnenfeld/) > [My whole world changed when Michael Jackson brought out the Bad album when I was about eight or nine. He took over my whole…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shane-filan/my-whole-world-changed-when-michael-jackson-brought-out-the-bad-album/) [Shane Filan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shane-filan/) > [I wanted to be Michael Jackson as a kid.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yahya-abdul-mateen-ii/i-wanted-to-be-michael-jackson-as-a-kid/) [Yahya Abdul-Mateen II](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yahya-abdul-mateen-ii/) > [When Jackson used that particular tone of voice, men died, pure and simple.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christine-feehan/when-jackson-used-that-particular-tone-of-voice-men-died-pure-and/) [Christine Feehan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christine-feehan/) > [Angela Merkel and the CDU are not our political adversaries. 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Fox.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-annable/michael-j-fox-was-my-idol-i-always-wanted-to-be-michael-j-fox/) [Dave Annable](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-annable/) > [“Because I wanted Michael's mouth on me, because from the first moment I saw him walking across the grass to where I sat in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesmyn-ward/because-i-wanted-michael-s-mouth-on-me-because-from-the-first-moment/) [Jesmyn Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesmyn-ward/) > [When children see Michael Jackson they see a human being. When adults see him they see money.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-collins/when-children-see-michael-jackson-they-see-a-human-being-when-adults/) [Phil Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-collins/) > [Michael Jackson has a new baby boy; no word yet who the father is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-leno/michael-jackson-has-a-new-baby-boy-no-word-yet-who-the-father-is/) [Jay Leno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-leno/) ## More by David Lammy > [A good society is characterised not just by liberty but by mutual respect and responsibility. When this breaks down it takes a lot more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-lammy/a-good-society-is-characterised-not-just-by-liberty-but-by-mutual/) [David Lammy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-lammy/) > [For me, a hoodie is like a pair of slippers or pyjamas - something comfortable and well-worn that you can wear unthinkingly. 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The idea that employers should take on a bigger role…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-lammy/the-new-labour-doctrine-that-skills-training-was-the-responsibility/) [David Lammy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-lammy/) > [Being in opposition takes some getting used to. As a former minister, you don't just lose your job and the enormous resources of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-lammy/being-in-opposition-takes-some-getting-used-to-as-a-former-minister/) [David Lammy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-lammy/) [Explore all 107 David Lammy quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-lammy/) ## More Dance quotes > [When you go to a club it's not about being black or white or heavy or thick. I'm shaking my ass because I want…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miley-cyrus/when-you-go-to-a-club-it-s-not-about-being-black-or-white-or-heavy-or/) [Miley Cyrus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miley-cyrus/) > [Sing like no one's listening, love like you've never been hurt, dance like nobody's watching, and live like its heaven on earth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-twain/sing-like-no-one-s-listening-love-like-you-ve-never-been-hurt-dance/) [Mark Twain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-twain/) > [I make dance music because I love to dance. But I want to think at the same time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stromae/i-make-dance-music-because-i-love-to-dance-but-i-want-to-think-at-the/) [Stromae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stromae/) > [I studied all kinds of dance, all types of music. I got good grades. I started hitting the recording studio around 13.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-derulo/i-studied-all-kinds-of-dance-all-types-of-music-i-got-good-grades-i/) [Jason Derulo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-derulo/) > [I like Sam Smith and Taylor Swift. I love pop music, but I also like Sam Smith's slow songs. That would be more to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maddie-ziegler/i-like-sam-smith-and-taylor-swift-i-love-pop-music-but-i-also-like/) [Maddie Ziegler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maddie-ziegler/) > [I think it's useful to experience other types of dance and other cultures, and the life of a classical dancer these days is certainly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deborah-bull/i-think-it-s-useful-to-experience-other-types-of-dance-and-other/) [Deborah Bull](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deborah-bull/) > [Everything in dancing is style, allusion, the essence of many thoughts and feelings. The abstraction of many moments.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alvin-ailey/everything-in-dancing-is-style-allusion-the-essence-of-many-thoughts/) [Alvin Ailey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alvin-ailey/) > [I worked a lot in Chicago's theater scene as a fight choreographer. And so I do have a lot of experience in stage combat…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-offerman/i-worked-a-lot-in-chicago-s-theater-scene-as-a-fight-choreographer/) [Nick Offerman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-offerman/) > [“dances with mine as if we’ve been doing this our whole”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/corinne-michaels/dances-with-mine-as-if-we-ve-been-doing-this-our-whole/) [Corinne Michaels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/corinne-michaels/) > [My body was so instrumental to how I took pictures: it was practically a dance. I used to use my legs a lot; now…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-leibovitz/my-body-was-so-instrumental-to-how-i-took-pictures-it-was-practically/) [Annie Leibovitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-leibovitz/) > [I would rather learn from one bird how to sing than to teach 10,000 stars how not to dance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-e-cummings/i-would-rather-learn-from-one-bird-how-to-sing-than-to-teach-10-000/) [e. e. cummings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-e-cummings/) > [If you dance, you dance because you have to. Every dancer hurts, you know.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katherine-dunham/if-you-dance-you-dance-because-you-have-to-every-dancer-hurts-you-know/) [Katherine Dunham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katherine-dunham/) > [I'm not a dancer. Never took a dance class.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chrishell-stause/i-m-not-a-dancer-never-took-a-dance-class/) [Chrishell Stause](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chrishell-stause/) > [Being fit is the easiest part of being a dance professional. I used to just throw on a backpack full of rocks and run…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anton-du-beke/being-fit-is-the-easiest-part-of-being-a-dance-professional-i-used-to/) [Anton du Beke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anton-du-beke/) > [I'm a horrible dancer, but I wanted to record songs that made me want to dance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-lane/i-m-a-horrible-dancer-but-i-wanted-to-record-songs-that-made-me-want/) [Chris Lane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-lane/) [Browse all 9,682 Dance quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dance/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "When I was growing up, I wanted to be Michael Jackson. 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