--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: There's a difference between a pop star…" description: "\"There's a difference between a pop star and an artist. Pop stars have to be perfect all the time; an artist is allowed, on occasion, to suck. And I put..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ca9/kelis-13969_allowed_there-s-a-difference-between-a-pop-star_3199781.jpg" --- # There's a difference between a pop star and an artist. Pop… ![“There's a difference between a pop star and an artist. Pop stars have to be perfect all the time; an artist is allowed, on occasion, to suck. And I put myself in that category because I sometimes suck. I'm not trying to please the masses. It's not going to happen, so I don't try.” quote by Kelis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ca9/kelis-13969_allowed_there-s-a-difference-between-a-pop-star_3199781.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ca9/kelis-13969_allowed_there-s-a-difference-between-a-pop-star_3199781.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ca9/kelis-13969_allowed_there-s-a-difference-between-a-pop-star_3199781.jpg) > “There's a difference between a pop star and an artist. Pop stars have to be perfect all the time; an artist is allowed, on occasion, to suck. And I put myself in that category because I sometimes suck. I'm not trying to please the masses. It's not going to happen, so I don't try.” [Kelis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelis/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Pop stars must maintain flawless images; artists can embrace imperfection and personal authenticity. **In simple terms:** Artists can be imperfect; pop stars must be perfect. Key Takeaway Embrace authenticity over perfection. Themes creativity authenticity performance Mood reflective defiant Type motivational philosophical When to use this quote - songwriting - live performances - social media presence - career planning Key Concepts artistic integrity self-acceptance industry pressure Questions to Reflect On - How does vulnerability affect audience connection? - Can imperfection be a strategic advantage? A Different Perspective Fans may reject perceived flaws, affecting commercial success. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Allowed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/allowed/) [Art](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/art/) [Artist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/artist/) [Artist Allowed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/artist-allowed-3768799/) [Artist Pop](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/artist-pop-1495740/) [Because](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/because/) [Between](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/between/) [Category](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/category/) [Difference](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/difference/) [Going](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/going/) [Happen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/happen/) [Masses](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/masses/) [Myself](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/myself/) [Occasion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/occasion/) [Perfect](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/perfect/) [Please](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/please/) [Pop](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pop/) [Pop star](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pop-star/) [Pop stars](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pop-stars/) [Put](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/put/) [Sometimes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sometimes/) [Star](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/star/) [Star Artist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/star-artist-455565/) [Stars](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stars/) [Suck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/suck/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Try](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/try/) [Trying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trying/) ## Related quotes > [“Just as the creative artist is not allowed to choose, neither is he permitted to turn his back on anything: a single refusal, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rainer-maria-rilke/just-as-the-creative-artist-is-not-allowed-to-choose-neither-is-he/) [Rainer Maria Rilke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rainer-maria-rilke/) > [You aspire to be as great as Michael Jackson is as an artist. I don't think any artist in pop, rock or hip-hop has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruno-mars/you-aspire-to-be-as-great-as-michael-jackson-is-as-an-artist-i-don-t/) [Bruno Mars](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruno-mars/) > [I'm not a pop artist. For me pop never was… Pop is concerned with exteriors. I'm concerned with interiors. When I use objects, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-dine/i-m-not-a-pop-artist-for-me-pop-never-was-pop-is-concerned-with/) [Jim Dine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-dine/) > [When an artist becomes pop, it's because the people choose it. Yes, you can have that dream to be a big pop star, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rosalia/when-an-artist-becomes-pop-it-s-because-the-people-choose-it-yes-you/) [Rosalia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rosalia/) > [ One thing about Kurt \[Cobain\] is before he was a musician, and before he was a rock star, he was an artist, and an… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brett-morgen/one-thing-about-kurt-cobain-is-before-he-was-a-musician-and-before-he/) [Brett Morgen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brett-morgen/) > [A movie star is not an artist, he is an art object.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-schickel/a-movie-star-is-not-an-artist-he-is-an-art-object/) [Richard Schickel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-schickel/) > [People see me as pretty low key in a lot of ways. And for me, like, even choosing to be John Legend and to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-legend/people-see-me-as-pretty-low-key-in-a-lot-of-ways-and-for-me-like-even/) [John Legend](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-legend/) > [People in the media, it makes their day when someone they say is a five-star artist goes platinum.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/soulja-boy/people-in-the-media-it-makes-their-day-when-someone-they-say-is-a/) [Soulja Boy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/soulja-boy/) > [Clearly, gay marriage is on the top of the agenda right now. It's pretty amazing, considering where stuff was at when I was in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathleen-hanna/clearly-gay-marriage-is-on-the-top-of-the-agenda-right-now-it-s/) [Kathleen Hanna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathleen-hanna/) > [I've been writing pop songs for pop stars for a couple years and see what their lives are like, and that's just not something…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sia/i-ve-been-writing-pop-songs-for-pop-stars-for-a-couple-years-and-see/) [Sia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sia/) > [I want to be a man's man-not a kid actor or a glitzy pop star but a no-bullshit leading man.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-eastwood/i-want-to-be-a-man-s-man-not-a-kid-actor-or-a-glitzy-pop-star-but-a/) [Scott Eastwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-eastwood/) > [We kind of write pop songs, but we don't fit in the pop world. We're really bad at being pop stars and walking down…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katie-white/we-kind-of-write-pop-songs-but-we-don-t-fit-in-the-pop-world-we-re/) [Katie White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katie-white/) > [I'm a failed pop star. I always sneak a song into everything I do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ricky-gervais/i-m-a-failed-pop-star-i-always-sneak-a-song-into-everything-i-do/) [Ricky Gervais](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ricky-gervais/) > ['The X Factor' seems to be more about building up personalities and people in tears. And it's not a new idea. The pre-Beatles pop…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jools-holland/the-x-factor-seems-to-be-more-about-building-up-personalities-and/) [Jools Holland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jools-holland/) > [We, as pop stars, are people not androids. We’ve got views. I’ve got opinions and I don’t see why I shouldn’t use a bit…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-meddows-taylor/we-as-pop-stars-are-people-not-androids-we-ve-got-views-i-ve-got/) [Roger Meddows Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-meddows-taylor/) ## More by Kelis > [I've done a lot of different tours. For me, I try to go on tours that I think are gonna be fun. It's, like,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelis/i-ve-done-a-lot-of-different-tours-for-me-i-try-to-go-on-tours-that-i/) [Kelis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelis/) > [After 'Kelis Was Here,' I was done. I was like, 'I will never put out another record again; I hate this business; I hate…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelis/after-kelis-was-here-i-was-done-i-was-like-i-will-never-put-out/) [Kelis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelis/) > [For me, saying 'I'm bossy' is a cute, tongue-in-cheek way of saying that I'm in control of my life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelis/for-me-saying-i-m-bossy-is-a-cute-tongue-in-cheek-way-of-saying-that/) [Kelis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelis/) > [I love lifestyle stuff, I love housewares. I'm really a homebody, honestly. Anything to do with my kitchen, or my house, I'm all about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelis/i-love-lifestyle-stuff-i-love-housewares-i-m-really-a-homebody/) [Kelis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelis/) > [As a chef, if I can taste something, I can basically figure out what's in it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelis/as-a-chef-if-i-can-taste-something-i-can-basically-figure-out-what-s/) [Kelis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelis/) > [I don't ever want to part with any of my shoes. They all have a special place in my heart because they say something…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelis/i-don-t-ever-want-to-part-with-any-of-my-shoes-they-all-have-a/) [Kelis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelis/) > [I'm a really emotional cook. Not violent, but I don't like someone coming in while I'm cooking. I'm notorious for themed dinner parties. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelis/i-m-a-really-emotional-cook-not-violent-but-i-don-t-like-someone/) [Kelis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelis/) > [I'm a multi-platinum recording artist; my passion is food.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelis/i-m-a-multi-platinum-recording-artist-my-passion-is-food/) [Kelis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelis/) > [I studied to be a chef as a side thing, a little hobby that I enjoyed doing, but I ended up falling madly in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelis/i-studied-to-be-a-chef-as-a-side-thing-a-little-hobby-that-i-enjoyed/) [Kelis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelis/) > [Being the ideal of a strong woman means utilizing all the things that God gives you. People are always saying to me, 'You're a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelis/being-the-ideal-of-a-strong-woman-means-utilizing-all-the-things-that/) [Kelis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelis/) > [I wasn't sure how I'd feel about breastfeeding, but quickly realized its brilliance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelis/i-wasn-t-sure-how-i-d-feel-about-breastfeeding-but-quickly-realized/) [Kelis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelis/) > [Trust your first instinct.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelis/trust-your-first-instinct/) [Kelis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelis/) > [I had always been a fan of Nas, but I never met him. This is the one guy in the industry who's, like, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelis/i-had-always-been-a-fan-of-nas-but-i-never-met-him-this-is-the-one/) [Kelis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelis/) > [I needed a break, and going to culinary school turned a lightbulb on that I didn't have to make music. 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No. You are not allowed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-eubank-sr/there-are-certain-things-you-must-not-say-in-spite-of-the-fact-that/) [Chris Eubank Sr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-eubank-sr/) > [There aren't traditions of freedom in a place like Iraq. They're going to have to come to grips with a concept that they hadn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-wallop/there-aren-t-traditions-of-freedom-in-a-place-like-iraq-they-re-going/) [Malcolm Wallop](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-wallop/) > [One of the mistakes I made was thinking chickens and penguins could sing, just like all the other animals in the 'Muppets.' But it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bret-mckenzie/one-of-the-mistakes-i-made-was-thinking-chickens-and-penguins-could/) [Bret McKenzie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bret-mckenzie/) > [I was allowed to believe things that weren't true and I would ask questions about them and talk about them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marjorie-taylor-greene/i-was-allowed-to-believe-things-that-weren-t-true-and-i-would-ask/) [Marjorie Taylor Greene](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marjorie-taylor-greene/) > [I always wanted to make big action movies as a kid, and that was my dream. In a way, 'Swingers' was the thing I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doug-liman/i-always-wanted-to-make-big-action-movies-as-a-kid-and-that-was-my/) [Doug Liman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doug-liman/) > [For years, I had a top secret clearance and never left Russia. Just once did I go to Bulgaria with my wife for a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mikhail-kalashnikov/for-years-i-had-a-top-secret-clearance-and-never-left-russia-just/) [Mikhail Kalashnikov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mikhail-kalashnikov/) > [Keep in mind, I'm not allowed to be tough. I'm tamed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shaquille-o-neal/keep-in-mind-i-m-not-allowed-to-be-tough-i-m-tamed/) [Shaquille O'Neal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shaquille-o-neal/) > [As a child, we lived in flats, and I was never allowed pets.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-pigott-smith/as-a-child-we-lived-in-flats-and-i-was-never-allowed-pets/) [Tim Pigott-Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-pigott-smith/) > [I'm not allowed to date. My dad said so. 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