--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Yeah, some people said I tried to rip off…" description: "\"Yeah, some people said I tried to rip off Cat Stevens and Stevie Wonder. Oh, well. I've always admired those guys. But for me, the singing is very pers..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/731/john-popper-4917_always_yeah-some-people-said-i-tried-to-rip-off_289320.jpg" --- # Yeah, some people said I tried to rip off Cat Stevens and… ![“Yeah, some people said I tried to rip off Cat Stevens and Stevie Wonder. Oh, well. I've always admired those guys. But for me, the singing is very personal.” quote by John Popper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/731/john-popper-4917_always_yeah-some-people-said-i-tried-to-rip-off_289320.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/731/john-popper-4917_always_yeah-some-people-said-i-tried-to-rip-off_289320.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/731/john-popper-4917_always_yeah-some-people-said-i-tried-to-rip-off_289320.jpg) > “Yeah, some people said I tried to rip off Cat Stevens and Stevie Wonder. Oh, well. I've always admired those guys. But for me, the singing is very personal.” [John Popper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-popper/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The artist values personal expression over imitation, despite comparisons to famous musicians. **In simple terms:** Personal singing matters more than copying others. Key Takeaway Embrace your unique voice. Themes authenticity creativity music Mood reflective determined Type inspirational personal When to use this quote - songwriting - live performance - musical identity - overcoming criticism Key Concepts individualism artistic integrity Questions to Reflect On - How do you stay true to yourself when others compare you? - What personal experiences shape your singing? A Different Perspective Comparisons can still influence audience expectations. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Always](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/always/) [Cat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cat/) [Cat Stevens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cat-stevens-845817/) [Oh well](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/oh-well/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Singing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/singing/) [Singing Personal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/singing-personal-2715353/) [Stevens Stevie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stevens-stevie-2787848/) [Stevie wonder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stevie-wonder/) [Wonder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wonder/) ## Related quotes > [I heard a lot of Cat Stevens when I was a kid and, subliminally, I guess it had an effect.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-popper/i-heard-a-lot-of-cat-stevens-when-i-was-a-kid-and-subliminally-i/) [John Popper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-popper/) > [Even in the beginning, when we knew there was a legal argument about how much our song sounds like his song, as one songwriter…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wayne-coyne/even-in-the-beginning-when-we-knew-there-was-a-legal-argument-about/) [Wayne Coyne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wayne-coyne/) > [What happened was, I always wanted to be a singer/songwriter kind of guy like a James Taylor or Crosby, Stills and Nash type of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-nealon/what-happened-was-i-always-wanted-to-be-a-singer-songwriter-kind-of/) [Kevin Nealon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-nealon/) > [I think early on I avoided singing because it was so personal and I didn't know how to sit in that intimacy. I wrote…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/juliette-lewis/i-think-early-on-i-avoided-singing-because-it-was-so-personal-and-i/) [Juliette Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/juliette-lewis/) > [Anyway, Cat Stevens is never going to make much money out of us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wayne-coyne/anyway-cat-stevens-is-never-going-to-make-much-money-out-of-us/) [Wayne Coyne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wayne-coyne/) > [At the height of his popularity in 1977, Cat Stevens converted to Islam and dedicated his life to educational and philanthropic causes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shawn-amos/at-the-height-of-his-popularity-in-1977-cat-stevens-converted-to/) [Shawn Amos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shawn-amos/) > [I rejected most of the folk I was exposed to in the Seventies. I came around later to Tom Waits, some parts of Jim…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-cornell/i-rejected-most-of-the-folk-i-was-exposed-to-in-the-seventies-i-came/) [Chris Cornell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-cornell/) > [In reference to Cat Stevens, it is very, very important we have accurate information on our terrorist watch list and our no fly list…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/asa-hutchinson/in-reference-to-cat-stevens-it-is-very-very-important-we-have/) [Asa Hutchinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/asa-hutchinson/) > [A flight from London carrying the artist we all used to know as Cat Stevens, now known as Yusuf Islam, was forced to make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cat-stevens/a-flight-from-london-carrying-the-artist-we-all-used-to-know-as-cat/) [Cat Stevens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cat-stevens/) > [From a really young age, I was playing Cat Stevens and listening to Paul Simon. As I got a little older, I got really…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noah-kahan/from-a-really-young-age-i-was-playing-cat-stevens-and-listening-to/) [Noah Kahan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noah-kahan/) > [My dad has totally taken my Cat Stevens T-shirt, but it's OK; I have his Black Flag one, and that's amazing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zoe-kravitz/my-dad-has-totally-taken-my-cat-stevens-t-shirt-but-it-s-ok-i-have/) [Zoe Kravitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zoe-kravitz/) > [ There's a video that's been floating around on YouTube where \[Baz Luhrmann says\], "We were looking for a guy that sounded like a young… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/quindon-tarver/there-s-a-video-that-s-been-floating-around-on-youtube-where-baz/) [Quindon Tarver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/quindon-tarver/) > [There are people I'll always love to listen to, and I'm always ending up discovering new songs by them, which is crazy. Like Stevie…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-armstrong/there-are-people-i-ll-always-love-to-listen-to-and-i-m-always-ending/) [Neil Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-armstrong/) > [I like bands for a long time, even when they're not trendy anymore. I still like Arcade Fire. I've always liked Stevie Wonder.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sia-furler/i-like-bands-for-a-long-time-even-when-they-re-not-trendy-anymore-i/) [Sia Furler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sia-furler/) > [Stevie Wonder always smells so good... I'm like a DEA dog, I can smell people a block away!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gloria-estefan/stevie-wonder-always-smells-so-good-i-m-like-a-dea-dog-i-can-smell/) [Gloria Estefan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gloria-estefan/) ## More by John Popper > [When you're at a concert and you hear someone improvise well, that's special; it puts you in the moment and takes you someplace. To…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-popper/when-you-re-at-a-concert-and-you-hear-someone-improvise-well-that-s/) [John Popper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-popper/) > [You know, technology caught up with precisely what was wrong with the way that I used food.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-popper/you-know-technology-caught-up-with-precisely-what-was-wrong-with-the/) [John Popper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-popper/) > [The idea is that we're always going to have a good live show, and we love to pay our music and write well.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-popper/the-idea-is-that-we-re-always-going-to-have-a-good-live-show-and-we/) [John Popper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-popper/) > [If you're going to be creative, you ultimately have to be in different ways because if you're going to be in the same ways,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-popper/if-you-re-going-to-be-creative-you-ultimately-have-to-be-in-different/) [John Popper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-popper/) > [You know, Blues Traveler is its own thing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-popper/you-know-blues-traveler-is-its-own-thing/) [John Popper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-popper/) > [Throughout history, musicians have never counted on intellectual property really getting them rich.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-popper/throughout-history-musicians-have-never-counted-on-intellectual/) [John Popper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-popper/) > [For those of us who have had the good fortune of a career in music, we feel an obligation to speak out for the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-popper/for-those-of-us-who-have-had-the-good-fortune-of-a-career-in-music-we/) [John Popper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-popper/) > [Working with Secondhand Serenade, I just felt like a songwriter, you know, working with another songwriter.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-popper/working-with-secondhand-serenade-i-just-felt-like-a-songwriter-you/) [John Popper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-popper/) > [You have a right to love firearms. And you also have a right to hate them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-popper/you-have-a-right-to-love-firearms-and-you-also-have-a-right-to-hate/) [John Popper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-popper/) > [There are plenty of very different sounding bands that could be H.O.R.D.E. bands.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-popper/there-are-plenty-of-very-different-sounding-bands-that-could-be-h-o-r/) [John Popper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-popper/) > [We don't sound like a Mississippi Delta band, but we play what we mean, and that's the spirit of the blues.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-popper/we-don-t-sound-like-a-mississippi-delta-band-but-we-play-what-we-mean/) [John Popper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-popper/) > [I fainted in airports twice on different occasions, because I didn't get my food right.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-popper/i-fainted-in-airports-twice-on-different-occasions-because-i-didn-t/) [John Popper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-popper/) > [There's a certain kind of confidence that comes with being older that you can't fake when you're young.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-popper/there-s-a-certain-kind-of-confidence-that-comes-with-being-older-that/) [John Popper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-popper/) > [I'm just funny enough as a comedian to know I'm not good enough to be a comedian.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-popper/i-m-just-funny-enough-as-a-comedian-to-know-i-m-not-good-enough-to-be/) [John Popper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-popper/) > [The good bands take people on a journey with them; You look at the Beach Boys and the Beatles and you see a growth,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-popper/the-good-bands-take-people-on-a-journey-with-them-you-look-at-the/) [John Popper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-popper/) [Explore all 105 John Popper quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-popper/) ## More Always quotes > [I think performing has pretty much always been a part of me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isa-briones/i-think-performing-has-pretty-much-always-been-a-part-of-me/) [Isa Briones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isa-briones/) > [I always thought if I was born 2000 years earlier, I would be a monk, probably carving a monastery or some giant pantheon buildings.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jenova-chen/i-always-thought-if-i-was-born-2000-years-earlier-i-would-be-a-monk/) [Jenova Chen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jenova-chen/) > [I always like a character who makes me laugh.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachael-stirling/i-always-like-a-character-who-makes-me-laugh/) [Rachael Stirling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachael-stirling/) > [It's always great to see old friends, especially those I have not been able to see in 15 months.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-regal/it-s-always-great-to-see-old-friends-especially-those-i-have-not-been/) [William Regal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-regal/) > [When you step out and do a song in a musical, the easier thing to do is make it funny. But when those transitions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelli-o-hara/when-you-step-out-and-do-a-song-in-a-musical-the-easier-thing-to-do/) [Kelli O'Hara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelli-o-hara/) > [I have really good lateral movement. I've always had quick lateral movement.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/austin-rivers/i-have-really-good-lateral-movement-i-ve-always-had-quick-lateral/) [Austin Rivers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/austin-rivers/) > [There is something magical about being able to feel somebody. And that is something that has always moved me with music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-brink/there-is-something-magical-about-being-able-to-feel-somebody-and-that/) [Maria Brink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-brink/) > [Mythology is something that always has opportunities to explore. 'It' has been on Earth for millions of years. He's been in contact with humans…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-muschietti/mythology-is-something-that-always-has-opportunities-to-explore-it/) [Andy Muschietti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-muschietti/) > [It's not writing in the traditional sense, but I've always said that the writing process continues on the set and even into the editing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-b-weide/it-s-not-writing-in-the-traditional-sense-but-i-ve-always-said-that/) [Robert B. Weide](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-b-weide/) > [I always watch my matches back 100 times afterwards because that's how I improve. This is something I've always done, even in NXT.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mandy-rose/i-always-watch-my-matches-back-100-times-afterwards-because-that-s/) [Mandy Rose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mandy-rose/) > [I've always been of the idea that is doesn't really matter where you are geographically - with 'Lonerism,' we made half the album in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-parker/i-ve-always-been-of-the-idea-that-is-doesn-t-really-matter-where-you/) [Kevin Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-parker/) > [It's very easy to fool yourself that you're working, you know, when you're really not working very hard. I mean, I'm very lazy. So…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-caro/it-s-very-easy-to-fool-yourself-that-you-re-working-you-know-when-you/) [Robert Caro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-caro/) > [Whether it was Little League or playing with your brothers or sisters, that was always a problem. If I would lose - because I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cal-ripken-jr/whether-it-was-little-league-or-playing-with-your-brothers-or-sisters/) [Cal Ripken, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cal-ripken-jr/) > [I always say if you put someone from a small town into a big city for ten years, then when they go back, they'll…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-colter/i-always-say-if-you-put-someone-from-a-small-town-into-a-big-city-for/) [Mike Colter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-colter/) > [Bayern is always a team that can win the Champions League title in Europe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lothar-matthaus/bayern-is-always-a-team-that-can-win-the-champions-league-title-in/) [Lothar Matthaus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lothar-matthaus/) [Browse all 36,048 Always quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/always/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Yeah, some people said I tried to rip off Cat Stevens and Stevie Wonder. 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