--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When you're a background singer, you're…" description: "\"When you're a background singer, you're there to support the artist. The transition is up to the person. You have to follow your heart. You make life d..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/997/judith-hill-24807_art_when-you-re-a-background-singer-you-re-t_93798.jpg" --- # When you're a background singer, you're there to support… ![“When you're a background singer, you're there to support the artist. The transition is up to the person. You have to follow your heart. You make life decisions that will affect what you really want to do. You put that kind of energy out, and you put it out aggressively. And if you work hard…” quote by Judith Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/997/judith-hill-24807_art_when-you-re-a-background-singer-you-re-t_93798.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/997/judith-hill-24807_art_when-you-re-a-background-singer-you-re-t_93798.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/997/judith-hill-24807_art_when-you-re-a-background-singer-you-re-t_93798.jpg) > “When you're a background singer, you're there to support the artist. The transition is up to the person. You have to follow your heart. You make life decisions that will affect what you really want to do. You put that kind of energy out, and you put it out aggressively. And if you work hard, you'll pave the way.” [Judith Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-hill/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Background singers support the main artist; personal drive and hard work determine whether they step forward or stay behind. **In simple terms:** Support roles require ambition to advance Key Takeaway Hard work can turn a supporting role into a lead Themes career progression supportive roles personal ambition hard work self‑empowerment Mood motivational encouraging optimistic Type inspirational career advice When to use this quote - musicians planning a solo career - co‑workers seeking promotion - artists mentoring backups Key Concepts music industry career development motivation Practical Applications - career coaching - motivational talks Questions to Reflect On - What distinguishes a supportive role from a leadership one? - How does personal energy influence professional advancement? ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Art](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/art/) [Artist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/artist/) [Decision](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/decision/) [Energy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/energy/) [Follow your heart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/follow-your-heart/) [Hard work](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hard-work/) [Heart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/heart/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Life decision](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life-decision/) [Life decisions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life-decisions/) [Singers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/singers/) [Support](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/support/) [Transition](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/transition/) [Work hard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/work-hard/) ## Related quotes > [I think that it's the job of the artist to be in transition and constantly learn more.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-townes-earle/i-think-that-it-s-the-job-of-the-artist-to-be-in-transition-and/) [Justin Townes Earle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-townes-earle/) > [If you think about the long term then you can really make good life decisions that you won’t regret later.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-bezos/if-you-think-about-the-long-term-then-you-can-really-make-good-life/) [Jeff Bezos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-bezos/) > [There was a possibility I could have been out of the NBA. It's taught me something that was a little deeper than basketball. I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lamar-odom/there-was-a-possibility-i-could-have-been-out-of-the-nba-it-s-taught/) [Lamar Odom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lamar-odom/) > [Nothing is more honoring to your heavenly Father than making life decisions based upon what he has claimed about himself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-stanley/nothing-is-more-honoring-to-your-heavenly-father-than-making-life/) [Andy Stanley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-stanley/) > [Probably 90 percent of our life decisions are powered by the twin engines of inertia and laziness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/probably-90-percent-of-our-life-decisions-are-powered-by-the-twin/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Whatever it is, people have issues and that affects you deeply. So you have to get to the bottom of it and not let…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/venus-williams/whatever-it-is-people-have-issues-and-that-affects-you-deeply-so-you/) [Venus Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/venus-williams/) > [When you look around at the six people that you spend the most time with, that's who you are. I think that in making…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-smith/when-you-look-around-at-the-six-people-that-you-spend-the-most-time/) [Will Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-smith/) > [Your parents will die before you do, so you'd better make your own life decisions. Your own choices are always good if you know…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yoshitaka-amano/your-parents-will-die-before-you-do-so-you-d-better-make-your-own/) Yoshitaka Amano > [You can be obsessed with makeup and hair products and, you know, your appearance and still be absolutely making smart life decisions and work…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/danica-mckellar/you-can-be-obsessed-with-makeup-and-hair-products-and-you-know-your/) [Danica McKellar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/danica-mckellar/) > [I just figured it out when I was approaching the age where teenagers forced to make major life decisions and I just went with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nell-hudson/i-just-figured-it-out-when-i-was-approaching-the-age-where-teenagers/) [Nell Hudson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nell-hudson/) > [Without absolute certainty, what do we do? We do the best we can. Injustice is happening now; suffering is happening now. We have choices…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-stallman/without-absolute-certainty-what-do-we-do-we-do-the-best-we-can/) [Richard Stallman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-stallman/) > [I made a living being a background singer for years.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katey-sagal/i-made-a-living-being-a-background-singer-for-years/) [Katey Sagal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katey-sagal/) > [That's the nice thing about being in Mr. Big, is I'm not only the guitar player. I'm the background singer, and so I get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-gilbert/that-s-the-nice-thing-about-being-in-mr-big-is-i-m-not-only-the/) [Paul Gilbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-gilbert/) > [Being a background singer is one thing, but being on stage as the star is something else again. When you walk out there with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brenda-russell/being-a-background-singer-is-one-thing-but-being-on-stage-as-the-star/) [Brenda Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brenda-russell/) > [Luther Vandross was a musician who sang. So after a while he was also the number one background singer in New York, so he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-miller/luther-vandross-was-a-musician-who-sang-so-after-a-while-he-was-also/) [Marcus Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-miller/) ## More by Judith Hill > [When I do uptempo songs, I like to bring in the funk and world music and different elements.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-hill/when-i-do-uptempo-songs-i-like-to-bring-in-the-funk-and-world-music/) [Judith Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-hill/) > [I feel like, to have a career as an artist, you don't need to meet the same criteria as you do to win a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-hill/i-feel-like-to-have-a-career-as-an-artist-you-don-t-need-to-meet-the/) [Judith Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-hill/) > ['The Voice' is not just a singing competition. It really comes down to how you come off as a person and how you connect…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-hill/the-voice-is-not-just-a-singing-competition-it-really-comes-down-to/) [Judith Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-hill/) > [Lauryn Hill's always been a hero of mine. And Bruno Mars, Janelle Monae and Adele, those are the current artists I would reference in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-hill/lauryn-hill-s-always-been-a-hero-of-mine-and-bruno-mars-janelle-monae/) [Judith Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-hill/) > [Carole King is one of my all-time favorite songwriters.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-hill/carole-king-is-one-of-my-all-time-favorite-songwriters/) [Judith Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-hill/) > [Sunshine always inspires me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-hill/sunshine-always-inspires-me/) [Judith Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-hill/) > [It's always been my dream to be on the stage with my band, singing my music. That's always been, and always will be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-hill/it-s-always-been-my-dream-to-be-on-the-stage-with-my-band-singing-my/) [Judith Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-hill/) > [The life of a singer is you have to pay your bills. You have to take a gig.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-hill/the-life-of-a-singer-is-you-have-to-pay-your-bills-you-have-to-take-a/) [Judith Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-hill/) > [Singing background has always been such a precious thing. I'm always going to be excited to sing behind an artist and learn from them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-hill/singing-background-has-always-been-such-a-precious-thing-i-m-always/) [Judith Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-hill/) > [I love performing live, especially when I get in the zone. But the studio is really becoming a place I have grown to love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-hill/i-love-performing-live-especially-when-i-get-in-the-zone-but-the/) [Judith Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-hill/) > ['The Voice' gave me a chance to show people the side of me that is an artist. People didn't know what that would look…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-hill/the-voice-gave-me-a-chance-to-show-people-the-side-of-me-that-is-an/) [Judith Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-hill/) > [I would tell people to enjoy the present moment and the journey rather than the outcome.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-hill/i-would-tell-people-to-enjoy-the-present-moment-and-the-journey/) [Judith Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-hill/) > [Music brings life to my soul.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-hill/music-brings-life-to-my-soul/) [Judith Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-hill/) > [I feel most alive when I'm singing along to old gospel music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-hill/i-feel-most-alive-when-i-m-singing-along-to-old-gospel-music/) [Judith Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-hill/) > [I am passionate about making music that feeds the soul and brings people together.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-hill/i-am-passionate-about-making-music-that-feeds-the-soul-and-brings/) [Judith Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-hill/) [Explore all 24 Judith Hill quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-hill/) ## More Art quotes > [True works of art contain their own theory and give us the measurement according to which we should judge them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/true-works-of-art-contain-their-own-theory-and-give-us-the/) [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [Before Noah, men having only water to drink, could not find the truth. Accordingly...they became abominably wicked, and they were justly exterminated by the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/before-noah-men-having-only-water-to-drink-could-not-find-the-truth/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [“Hear the sum of the whole matter in the compass of one brief word — every art possessed by man comes from Prometheus.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aeschylus/hear-the-sum-of-the-whole-matter-in-the-compass-of-one-brief-word/) [Aeschylus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aeschylus/) > [I think most artists feel like they're outside society - no matter how many accolades they receive, or how much money is in your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-rose/i-think-most-artists-feel-like-they-re-outside-society-no-matter-how/) [Aaron Rose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-rose/) > [The capacity to be puzzled is the premise of all creation, be it in art or in science.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erich-fromm/the-capacity-to-be-puzzled-is-the-premise-of-all-creation-be-it-in/) [Erich Fromm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erich-fromm/) > [That's the great secret of creativity. You treat ideas like cats: you make them follow you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-bradbury/that-s-the-great-secret-of-creativity-you-treat-ideas-like-cats-you/) [Ray Bradbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-bradbury/) > [“So, really," continued Jacob as if this were perfectly normal to expound on art in these circumstances, "when you think about it, the artists…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justina-chen-headley/so-really-continued-jacob-as-if-this-were-perfectly-normal-to-expound/) [Justina Chen Headley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justina-chen-headley/) > [“There are two options in art; either to adopt philosophical life by dissecting art, or to write your own philosophical life and claim it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taf-teh/there-are-two-options-in-art-either-to-adopt-philosophical-life-by/) Taf Teh > [The house has to serve comfort. The work of art is revolutionary; the house is conservative.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adolf-loos/the-house-has-to-serve-comfort-the-work-of-art-is-revolutionary-the/) [Adolf Loos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adolf-loos/) > [During human progress, every science is evolved out of its corresponding art.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbert-spencer/during-human-progress-every-science-is-evolved-out-of-its/) [Herbert Spencer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbert-spencer/) > [In literature and art memory is a synonym for invention. It is the life-blood of imagination, which faints and dies when the veins are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-aris-willmott/in-literature-and-art-memory-is-a-synonym-for-invention-it-is-the/) [Robert Aris Willmott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-aris-willmott/) > [I think a business guy is different from an artist. They walk different paths. Artists create the best outputs when they're having fun. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/g-dragon/i-think-a-business-guy-is-different-from-an-artist-they-walk/) [G-Dragon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/g-dragon/) > [“The only thing--I tell you this straight from the heart--that disgusts me in Salzburg is that one can't have any proper social intercourse with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wolfgang-amadeus-mozart/the-only-thing-i-tell-you-this-straight-from-the-heart-that-disgusts/) [Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wolfgang-amadeus-mozart/) > [The sublime in art is the attempt to express the infinite without finding in the realm of phenomena any object which proves itself fitting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/georg-wilhelm-friedrich-hegel/the-sublime-in-art-is-the-attempt-to-express-the-infinite-without/) [Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/georg-wilhelm-friedrich-hegel/) > [Art isn't done to decorate apartments, but to wage war against the enemy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pablo-picasso/art-isn-t-done-to-decorate-apartments-but-to-wage-war-against-the/) [Pablo Picasso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pablo-picasso/) [Browse all 48,643 Art quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/art/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "When you're a background singer, you're there to support the artist. 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