--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I discovered later in life that there's…" description: "\"I discovered later in life that there's not that many men with a counter-tenor vocal ability.\" — Jimmy Somerville" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ef5/jimmy-somerville-24531_ability_i-discovered-later-in-life-that-there-s_710074.jpg" --- # I discovered later in life that there's not that many men… ![“I discovered later in life that there's not that many men with a counter-tenor vocal ability.” quote by Jimmy Somerville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ef5/jimmy-somerville-24531_ability_i-discovered-later-in-life-that-there-s_710074.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ef5/jimmy-somerville-24531_ability_i-discovered-later-in-life-that-there-s_710074.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ef5/jimmy-somerville-24531_ability_i-discovered-later-in-life-that-there-s_710074.jpg) > “I discovered later in life that there's not that many men with a counter-tenor vocal ability.” [Jimmy Somerville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-somerville/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Unique vocal ranges are rare, making counter‑tenor a distinctive talent. **In simple terms:** Few have true counter‑tenor voices. Key Takeaway Value and nurture rare talents. Themes talent rarity music Mood inspirational thoughtful Type musical career When to use this quote - choosing repertoire - music education - career planning Key Concepts vocal range artistic identity Questions to Reflect On - How can rare vocalists find platforms? - What supports develop unique musical abilities? A Different Perspective Limited opportunities may restrict exposure for rare voices. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Ability](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ability/) [Counter Tenor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/counter-tenor-3973962/) [Discovered Later](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/discovered-later-5603164/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Many](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/many/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Tenor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tenor/) [Tenor Vocal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tenor-vocal-5603163/) [Vocal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/vocal/) [Vocal Ability](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/vocal-ability-1330139/) ## Related quotes > [A counter tenor is anyone who can count to ten.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denis-norden/a-counter-tenor-is-anyone-who-can-count-to-ten/) [Denis Norden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denis-norden/) > [I'm a musician. I play instruments. I dabble in the hip-hop field. That doesn't take vocal ability necessarily.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-cannon/i-m-a-musician-i-play-instruments-i-dabble-in-the-hip-hop-field-that/) [Nick Cannon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-cannon/) > [My vocal ability is very limited, but I'm fortunate in that I can write the songs around my vocal limitations.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glenn-tipton/my-vocal-ability-is-very-limited-but-i-m-fortunate-in-that-i-can/) [Glenn Tipton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glenn-tipton/) > [What's horrible is when someone believes they are a star, and they have no vocal ability whatsoever.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tulisa/what-s-horrible-is-when-someone-believes-they-are-a-star-and-they/) [Tulisa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tulisa/) > [I would want to be known as a great singer; that the records I've made and the performances that I've done to be remembered.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-jones/i-would-want-to-be-known-as-a-great-singer-that-the-records-i-ve-made/) [Tom Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-jones/) > [The tenor voice should be like sunshine.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcello-giordani/the-tenor-voice-should-be-like-sunshine/) [Marcello Giordani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcello-giordani/) > [My voice gets recognized before anything else. It's always gotten attention. In choruses at church and school, I started as a tenor, moved to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-elliott/my-voice-gets-recognized-before-anything-else-it-s-always-gotten/) [Sam Elliott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-elliott/) > [I made the tenor sax - there's nobody plays like me and I don't play like anybody else](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/coleman-hawkins/i-made-the-tenor-sax-there-s-nobody-plays-like-me-and-i-don-t-play/) [Coleman Hawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/coleman-hawkins/) > [I'm a farmer with a mandolin and a high tenor voice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-monroe/i-m-a-farmer-with-a-mandolin-and-a-high-tenor-voice/) [Bill Monroe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-monroe/) > [When I hear that young people have come to the theater for the first time to listen to opera, I'm very happy. Because it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrea-bocelli/when-i-hear-that-young-people-have-come-to-the-theater-for-the-first/) [Andrea Bocelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrea-bocelli/) > [I'm not a trained musician. When folks talk about 'Well, you go to this or that' - the tenor, or the third part -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emmylou-harris/i-m-not-a-trained-musician-when-folks-talk-about-well-you-go-to-this/) [Emmylou Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emmylou-harris/) > [In reply, I can only plead that a discovery which seems to contradict the general tenor of previous investigations is naturally received with much…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-lyell/in-reply-i-can-only-plead-that-a-discovery-which-seems-to-contradict/) [Charles Lyell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-lyell/) > [You got to play the flute as a flute, like that. You can't play like a tenor concept on soprano; it sounds wrong. But…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerome-richardson/you-got-to-play-the-flute-as-a-flute-like-that-you-can-t-play-like-a/) [Jerome Richardson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerome-richardson/) > [A tenor is not a man but a disease.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hans-von-bulow/a-tenor-is-not-a-man-but-a-disease/) [Hans von Bulow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hans-von-bulow/) > [He had a bright, reckless tenor that was always wandering off, looking for notes in the wrong places.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-rothfuss/he-had-a-bright-reckless-tenor-that-was-always-wandering-off-looking/) [Patrick Rothfuss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-rothfuss/) ## More by Jimmy Somerville > [I've always been making music, but I sort of went under the radar. I kind of disappeared... I was never really that comfortable with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-somerville/i-ve-always-been-making-music-but-i-sort-of-went-under-the-radar-i/) [Jimmy Somerville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-somerville/) > [Now that I'm older, I understand that it's up to the individual to decide who they are or what they are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-somerville/now-that-i-m-older-i-understand-that-it-s-up-to-the-individual-to/) [Jimmy Somerville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-somerville/) > [Glasgow is a city, but it's one with a small-town mentality.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-somerville/glasgow-is-a-city-but-it-s-one-with-a-small-town-mentality/) [Jimmy Somerville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-somerville/) > [I've always relied on a big producer and big studios. I had budgets that were ridiculous.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-somerville/i-ve-always-relied-on-a-big-producer-and-big-studios-i-had-budgets/) [Jimmy Somerville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-somerville/) > [When disco came around the first time, there was this real core of progressive thinking and a positive lyrical content - about freedom, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-somerville/when-disco-came-around-the-first-time-there-was-this-real-core-of/) [Jimmy Somerville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-somerville/) > [Actually, have you ever heard Sylvester's live version of 'Mighty Real' that was recorded in San Francisco? If I listen to that, I never…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-somerville/actually-have-you-ever-heard-sylvester-s-live-version-of-mighty-real/) [Jimmy Somerville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-somerville/) > [So many people have to struggle for years, very few bands get success with their first record, but I was instantly successful and famous…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-somerville/so-many-people-have-to-struggle-for-years-very-few-bands-get-success/) [Jimmy Somerville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-somerville/) > [I slowly became less famous and less successful. That was very difficult.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-somerville/i-slowly-became-less-famous-and-less-successful-that-was-very/) [Jimmy Somerville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-somerville/) > [There’s a massive glitter ball in my head and it has never stopped turning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-somerville/there-s-a-massive-glitter-ball-in-my-head-and-it-has-never-stopped/) [Jimmy Somerville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-somerville/) > [Actually, it doesn't matter to the papers why you left Glasgow. They never look at the roots of the problems you had, and you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-somerville/actually-it-doesn-t-matter-to-the-papers-why-you-left-glasgow-they/) [Jimmy Somerville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-somerville/) > [I went to squat with a bunch of friends - creative, intelligent, political people. We got involved in a community project funded by the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-somerville/i-went-to-squat-with-a-bunch-of-friends-creative-intelligent/) [Jimmy Somerville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-somerville/) > [I think there's a lot of honesty in that track. 'Smalltown Boy' was about leaving Glasgow but it was also about the people I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-somerville/i-think-there-s-a-lot-of-honesty-in-that-track-smalltown-boy-was/) [Jimmy Somerville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-somerville/) > [It has to start from the playground and parents teaching kids that diversity is what makes us so wonderful.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-somerville/it-has-to-start-from-the-playground-and-parents-teaching-kids-that/) [Jimmy Somerville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-somerville/) > [I had good parents. My mother had morals and standards and she brought us up to be good kids - some of the families…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-somerville/i-had-good-parents-my-mother-had-morals-and-standards-and-she-brought/) [Jimmy Somerville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-somerville/) > [I was painfully self-obsessed and self-aware. I wanted people to love me but at the same time I was terrified of them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-somerville/i-was-painfully-self-obsessed-and-self-aware-i-wanted-people-to-love/) [Jimmy Somerville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-somerville/) [Explore all 24 Jimmy Somerville quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-somerville/) ## More Ability quotes > [I don't think there's a direct correlation between my sexuality and my skiing ability. But I think because I was so concerned about it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gus-kenworthy/i-don-t-think-there-s-a-direct-correlation-between-my-sexuality-and/) [Gus Kenworthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gus-kenworthy/) > [“the importance of ability. The things that make a great job great, I discovered, are rare and valuable. If you want them in your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cal-newport/the-importance-of-ability-the-things-that-make-a-great-job-great-i/) [Cal Newport](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cal-newport/) > [Ambition drives you on, ability certainly helps, but the fickle finger of fate and luck are great things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fergus-henderson/ambition-drives-you-on-ability-certainly-helps-but-the-fickle-finger/) [Fergus Henderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fergus-henderson/) > [The ability of the gospel to unite us on common strengths and common truths is one of the great miracles . . . of the gospel.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-r-holland/the-ability-of-the-gospel-to-unite-us-on-common-strengths-and-common/) [Jeffrey R. Holland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-r-holland/) > [Maybe law enforcement would like the ability to turn on the camera on your Mac.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-cook/maybe-law-enforcement-would-like-the-ability-to-turn-on-the-camera-on/) [Tim Cook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-cook/) > [I've seen guys come along with more ability - they've been faster or bigger or stronger - but they never worked hard to develop…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-largent/i-ve-seen-guys-come-along-with-more-ability-they-ve-been-faster-or/) [Steve Largent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-largent/) > [The youth of India has the strength to move the entire World with a click of a mouse, we have generated that ability!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/narendra-modi/the-youth-of-india-has-the-strength-to-move-the-entire-world-with-a/) [Narendra Modi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/narendra-modi/) > [Time hath not yet so dried this blood of mine, Nor age so eat up my invention, Nor fortune made such havoc of my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/time-hath-not-yet-so-dried-this-blood-of-mine-nor-age-so-eat-up-my/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [An absolutely necessary part of a writer's equipment, almost as necessary as talent, is the ability to stand up under punishment, both the punishment…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irwin-shaw/an-absolutely-necessary-part-of-a-writer-s-equipment-almost-as/) [Irwin Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irwin-shaw/) > [I'd be more frightened by not using whatever abilities I'd been given. I'd be more frightened by procrastination and laziness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denzel-washington/i-d-be-more-frightened-by-not-using-whatever-abilities-i-d-been-given/) [Denzel Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denzel-washington/) > [Bring into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ. Take what I cannot give: my heart, body, thoughts, time, abilities, money, health, strength,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-prentiss/bring-into-captivity-every-thought-to-the-obedience-of-christ-take/) [Elizabeth Prentiss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-prentiss/) > [You can only do the work to the very best of your ability.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christine-baranski/you-can-only-do-the-work-to-the-very-best-of-your-ability/) [Christine Baranski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christine-baranski/) > [Judge a person not by his ability to make money but by his ability to retain it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikrant-parsai/judge-a-person-not-by-his-ability-to-make-money-but-by-his-ability-to/) [Vikrant Parsai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikrant-parsai/) > [Balance is the ability to be happy in the midst of the most chaotic or even boring or transient circumstance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/balance-is-the-ability-to-be-happy-in-the-midst-of-the-most-chaotic/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [Bobby had faith in my ability as a singer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-london/bobby-had-faith-in-my-ability-as-a-singer/) [Julie London](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-london/) [Browse all 9,990 Ability quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ability/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I discovered later in life that there's not that many men with a counter-tenor vocal ability.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Jimmy Somerville" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-somerville/i-discovered-later-in-life-that-there-s-not-that-many-men-with-a/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Ability" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-somerville/i-discovered-later-in-life-that-there-s-not-that-many-men-with-a/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ef5/jimmy-somerville-24531_ability_i-discovered-later-in-life-that-there-s_710074.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ef5/jimmy-somerville-24531_ability_i-discovered-later-in-life-that-there-s_710074.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ef5/jimmy-somerville-24531_ability_i-discovered-later-in-life-that-there-s_710074.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I discovered later in life that there's not that many men with a counter-tenor vocal ability.” — Jimmy Somerville", "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": "Jimmy Somerville", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-somerville/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I discovered later in life that...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-somerville/i-discovered-later-in-life-that-there-s-not-that-many-men-with-a/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-somerville/i-discovered-later-in-life-that-there-s-not-that-many-men-with-a/#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 } } ] } ```