--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Everybody told me that if I insisted on…" description: "\"Everybody told me that if I insisted on doing rockabilly music, I'd never have a chance of selling any records. In fact, I lost count of how many peopl..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/46c/imelda-may-7900_chance_everybody-told-me-that-if-i-insisted-on_2126627.jpg" --- # Everybody told me that if I insisted on doing rockabilly… ![“Everybody told me that if I insisted on doing rockabilly music, I'd never have a chance of selling any records. In fact, I lost count of how many people told me to ditch it all together, in favour, I guess, of sounding like everybody else.” quote by Imelda May](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/46c/imelda-may-7900_chance_everybody-told-me-that-if-i-insisted-on_2126627.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/46c/imelda-may-7900_chance_everybody-told-me-that-if-i-insisted-on_2126627.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/46c/imelda-may-7900_chance_everybody-told-me-that-if-i-insisted-on_2126627.jpg) > “Everybody told me that if I insisted on doing rockabilly music, I'd never have a chance of selling any records. In fact, I lost count of how many people told me to ditch it all together, in favour, I guess, of sounding like everybody else.” [Imelda May](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/imelda-may/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Choosing authenticity over conformity may hinder commercial success but preserves artistic integrity. **In simple terms:** Sticking to your style can limit sales but keeps you true. Key Takeaway Embrace your unique sound despite pressure. Themes authenticity artistic integrity commercial risk Mood determined reflective Type inspirational cautionary When to use this quote - performing live - recording albums - marketing music - career decisions Key Concepts rockabilly music industry personal branding Questions to Reflect On - How far will you go to stay true to yourself? - What are the costs of conforming? A Different Perspective Success may require compromise; niche markets can thrive. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Chance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/chance/) [Doing Rockabilly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/doing-rockabilly-4364312/) [Everybody Told](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/everybody-told-712568/) [Lost](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lost/) [Music](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/music/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Rockabilly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rockabilly/) [Rockabilly Music](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rockabilly-music-1207383/) [Together](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/together/) [Told Insisted](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/told-insisted-1419531/) ## Related quotes > [To me, rockabilly music paralleled punk's energy and feeling, but the players were much better.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-setzer/to-me-rockabilly-music-paralleled-punk-s-energy-and-feeling-but-the/) [Brian Setzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-setzer/) > [“He told me that he always insisted on two things above all else in his players: That they were always trying to improve and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-wooden/he-told-me-that-he-always-insisted-on-two-things-above-all-else-in/) [John Wooden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-wooden/) > [For me, rockabilly is very, very exciting music. It's electric and kind of wild, you know? It's 'make your hairs stand up on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/imelda-may/for-me-rockabilly-is-very-very-exciting-music-it-s-electric-and-kind/) [Imelda May](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/imelda-may/) > [If you ask me, rockabilly has had a raw deal for far too long. People never shunned the blues or jazz the way they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/imelda-may/if-you-ask-me-rockabilly-has-had-a-raw-deal-for-far-too-long-people/) [Imelda May](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/imelda-may/) > [Everybody told me I was too small to be a wrestler.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zelina-vega/everybody-told-me-i-was-too-small-to-be-a-wrestler/) [Zelina Vega](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zelina-vega/) > [“I had never imagined my father dying. I had never inagined my parents dying. When I told Mariah this, she said that no one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamaica-kincaid/i-had-never-imagined-my-father-dying-i-had-never-inagined-my-parents/) [Jamaica Kincaid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamaica-kincaid/) > [Everybody told us we would never make it. Even friends would say to me, 'Okay this band thing is cool, but seriously, what are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-fallon/everybody-told-us-we-would-never-make-it-even-friends-would-say-to-me/) [Brian Fallon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-fallon/) > [I was spoiled in a very strange way as a child, because everybody told me, from the moment I was able to hear, that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orson-welles/i-was-spoiled-in-a-very-strange-way-as-a-child-because-everybody-told/) [Orson Welles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orson-welles/) > [Everybody told me to be a man. 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I'm sorry I told so many people about it.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-d-salinger/if-you-want-to-know-the-truth-i-don-t-know-what-i-think-about-it-i-m/) [J.D. Salinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-d-salinger/) > [No one's going to tell me how to make my own choices. For too many years, everybody told me what to say and what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rita-moreno/no-one-s-going-to-tell-me-how-to-make-my-own-choices-for-too-many/) [Rita Moreno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rita-moreno/) > [“D.B. asked me what I thought about all this stuff I just finished telling you about. I didn't know what the hell to say.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-d-salinger/d-b-asked-me-what-i-thought-about-all-this-stuff-i-just-finished/) [J.D. Salinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-d-salinger/) > [I'm not God's gift to rockabilly. There's great players out there, and some of them deserve a lot more than they've gotten.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-setzer/i-m-not-god-s-gift-to-rockabilly-there-s-great-players-out-there-and/) [Brian Setzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-setzer/) ## More by Imelda May > [I got a great kick being in the Warner Bros. studios - that was really cool. I kept singing the 'Looney Tunes' theme song…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/imelda-may/i-got-a-great-kick-being-in-the-warner-bros-studios-that-was-really/) [Imelda May](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/imelda-may/) > [I'm sorry, but Juicy Couture tracksuits and Ugg boots don't move me in any way, shape or form. I refuse to wear them. Modern…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/imelda-may/i-m-sorry-but-juicy-couture-tracksuits-and-ugg-boots-don-t-move-me-in/) [Imelda May](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/imelda-may/) > [Ireland and America, music-wise, are very closely related. The Irish came over with their fiddles in hand, and you can hear it in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/imelda-may/ireland-and-america-music-wise-are-very-closely-related-the-irish/) [Imelda May](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/imelda-may/) > [Thrashing about on stage is my exercise for the day!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/imelda-may/thrashing-about-on-stage-is-my-exercise-for-the-day/) [Imelda May](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/imelda-may/) > [My music is a mix of everything, mostly my own life. I just write about things that mean something and that I can write…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/imelda-may/my-music-is-a-mix-of-everything-mostly-my-own-life-i-just-write-about/) [Imelda May](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/imelda-may/) > [I don't tend to set out on huge world domination goals or have anything in mind. I just like to play. I like to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/imelda-may/i-don-t-tend-to-set-out-on-huge-world-domination-goals-or-have/) [Imelda May](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/imelda-may/) > [When I was a teenager, I had a record company after me. They wanted me to be a pop act. They said they wanted…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/imelda-may/when-i-was-a-teenager-i-had-a-record-company-after-me-they-wanted-me/) [Imelda May](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/imelda-may/) > [Ooooh, I love Nashville! It seems like everywhere you walk, there's great music coming out of every wall.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/imelda-may/ooooh-i-love-nashville-it-seems-like-everywhere-you-walk-there-s/) [Imelda May](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/imelda-may/) > [People expect you to change when you become a mother, and of course my priorities changed when I had Violet. She's number one in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/imelda-may/people-expect-you-to-change-when-you-become-a-mother-and-of-course-my/) [Imelda May](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/imelda-may/) > [When I tell people that I lost my baby weight through breastfeeding, they think I'm exaggerating. But it was brilliant for that. It is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/imelda-may/when-i-tell-people-that-i-lost-my-baby-weight-through-breastfeeding/) [Imelda May](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/imelda-may/) > [I'm lucky to come from a very musical family. If you put a record on and turn the volume up, there's a pretty good…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/imelda-may/i-m-lucky-to-come-from-a-very-musical-family-if-you-put-a-record-on/) [Imelda May](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/imelda-may/) > [If you ask me, rockabilly has had a raw deal for far too long. People never shunned the blues or jazz the way they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/imelda-may/if-you-ask-me-rockabilly-has-had-a-raw-deal-for-far-too-long-people/) [Imelda May](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/imelda-may/) > [My parents never told me to get a real job. They always said, 'Go for it! If this is what you want to do,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/imelda-may/my-parents-never-told-me-to-get-a-real-job-they-always-said-go-for-it/) [Imelda May](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/imelda-may/) > [I always loved the bad girls in the movies. I loved Bette Davis; I loved Katherine Hepburn. I loved Ava Gardner.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/imelda-may/i-always-loved-the-bad-girls-in-the-movies-i-loved-bette-davis-i/) [Imelda May](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/imelda-may/) > [I remember once doing a gig in Ireland, and there was a woman jumping around and screaming, 'I don't know what this is but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/imelda-may/i-remember-once-doing-a-gig-in-ireland-and-there-was-a-woman-jumping/) [Imelda May](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/imelda-may/) [Explore all 86 Imelda May quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/imelda-may/) ## More Chance quotes > [Before I debuted, it was my goal to make my debut, and afterwards, I aimed at winning champion titles on television music shows, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hyuna/before-i-debuted-it-was-my-goal-to-make-my-debut-and-afterwards-i/) [Hyuna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hyuna/) > [I understand it's promotion, but no one ever gave me a chance. No one ever thought I'd be the champ, and look where I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stipe-miocic/i-understand-it-s-promotion-but-no-one-ever-gave-me-a-chance-no-one/) [Stipe Miocic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stipe-miocic/) > [I might, by chance, write something just as shoddy; But then I wouldn't show it to everybody.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/moliere/i-might-by-chance-write-something-just-as-shoddy-but-then-i-wouldn-t/) [Moliere](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/moliere/) > [When I get a chance to play golf or go on a boat with good people, take the boat out and put some lobsters…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernie-mac/when-i-get-a-chance-to-play-golf-or-go-on-a-boat-with-good-people/) [Bernie Mac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernie-mac/) > [The happy medium is television. And if you find a good suitor, you can do it for years. With movies, you roll the dice.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-campbell/the-happy-medium-is-television-and-if-you-find-a-good-suitor-you-can/) [Bruce Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-campbell/) > [I get afraid of the dark if I'm in a great deal of dark, and I have to move around inside of that fear...…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emil-ferris/i-get-afraid-of-the-dark-if-i-m-in-a-great-deal-of-dark-and-i-have-to/) [Emil Ferris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emil-ferris/) > [I have heard that if you pull a bent breath through the second hole of a harmonica tuned to the key of Georgia while…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/buddy-wakefield/i-have-heard-that-if-you-pull-a-bent-breath-through-the-second-hole/) [Buddy Wakefield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/buddy-wakefield/) > [There are times when we can feel destiny close around us like a fist around a doorknob. Sure, we can resist. But a knob…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-robbins/there-are-times-when-we-can-feel-destiny-close-around-us-like-a-fist/) [Tom Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-robbins/) > [Pain held no terror for him. Pain was, if not friend, then family, something he had grown up with in his crèche, learning to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paolo-bacigalupi/pain-held-no-terror-for-him-pain-was-if-not-friend-then-family/) [Paolo Bacigalupi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paolo-bacigalupi/) > [Love changes people, for better or for worse. You could look at it as a chance for you to change. The best kind of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/love-changes-people-for-better-or-for-worse-you-could-look-at-it-as-a/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“It's not who, it's when”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alejandro-taubas/it-s-not-who-it-s-when/) [Alejandro Taubas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alejandro-taubas/) > [Childhood is Last Chance Gulch for happiness. After that, you know too much.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-stoppard/childhood-is-last-chance-gulch-for-happiness-after-that-you-know-too/) [Tom Stoppard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-stoppard/) > [I thought my first few jobs would just be off, off, off, off, off broadway. 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