--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: In 2004, I went onstage for the first…" description: "\"In 2004, I went onstage for the first time. They put a mike in my hand and pushed me out the door into the crowd. I did the three songs I had recorded ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3a6/m-i-a-3418_crowd_in-2004-i-went-onstage-for-the-first-tim_2191213.jpg" --- # In 2004, I went onstage for the first time. They put a… ![“In 2004, I went onstage for the first time. They put a mike in my hand and pushed me out the door into the crowd. I did the three songs I had recorded and got out. It was the worst day of my life.” quote by M.I.A](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3a6/m-i-a-3418_crowd_in-2004-i-went-onstage-for-the-first-tim_2191213.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3a6/m-i-a-3418_crowd_in-2004-i-went-onstage-for-the-first-tim_2191213.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3a6/m-i-a-3418_crowd_in-2004-i-went-onstage-for-the-first-tim_2191213.jpg) > “In 2004, I went onstage for the first time. They put a mike in my hand and pushed me out the door into the crowd. I did the three songs I had recorded and got out. It was the worst day of my life.” M.I.A ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Describes a painful early performance experience that shaped resilience. **In simple terms:** Early stage failure taught perseverance. Key Takeaway Learn from setbacks to grow stronger. Themes music performance resilience Mood honest introspective Type personal motivational When to use this quote - first live show - recording debut - tour preparation Key Concepts stage fright career beginnings personal growth Questions to Reflect On - What lessons did you keep? - How did you overcome fear afterward? A Different Perspective Limited context on later successes. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Day](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/day/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Songs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/songs/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Worst day](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/worst-day/) ## Related quotes > [There's no huge, deep message in any of the songs. We recorded a few months of being human.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/layne-staley/there-s-no-huge-deep-message-in-any-of-the-songs-we-recorded-a-few/) [Layne Staley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/layne-staley/) > [If you are speaking about my own songs, I would think so because we were talking about that particular era and I was singing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruth-brown/if-you-are-speaking-about-my-own-songs-i-would-think-so-because-we/) [Ruth Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruth-brown/) > [In the old days, all the movie songs were recorded right there on set.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/asha-bhosle/in-the-old-days-all-the-movie-songs-were-recorded-right-there-on-set/) [Asha Bhosle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/asha-bhosle/) > [I've just built a studio in my mama's old bedroom, which I thought was fitting; she died last year. We've recorded nine songs recorded…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-stills/i-ve-just-built-a-studio-in-my-mama-s-old-bedroom-which-i-thought-was/) [Stephen Stills](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-stills/) > [I was incredibly confident on stage because that's where I loved to be. But offstage, there was no balance. I was a little shy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elton-john/i-was-incredibly-confident-on-stage-because-that-s-where-i-loved-to/) [Elton John](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elton-john/) > [I started when Chris Rock did 'Bigger & Blacker.' I used to watch that before I went onstage as inspiration to get hype, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/retta/i-started-when-chris-rock-did-bigger-blacker-i-used-to-watch-that/) [Retta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/retta/) > [I only wore makeup when I went onstage.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/little-richard/i-only-wore-makeup-when-i-went-onstage/) [Little Richard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/little-richard/) > [I didn't have a life until I went up onstage.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/i-didn-t-have-a-life-until-i-went-up-onstage/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [... you never knew what was going to happen in concert. It was a really exciting prospect to go onstage, and you can hear…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-page/you-never-knew-what-was-going-to-happen-in-concert-it-was-a-really/) [Jimmy Page](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-page/) > [When I first went onstage I even had a suit jacket on with the sleeves rolled up because that's what I saw on TV…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-rogan/when-i-first-went-onstage-i-even-had-a-suit-jacket-on-with-the/) [Joe Rogan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-rogan/) > [I'd really rather just be the anonymous Mr. Nobody who I always was up until I first went onstage. I liked that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chrissie-hynde/i-d-really-rather-just-be-the-anonymous-mr-nobody-who-i-always-was-up/) [Chrissie Hynde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chrissie-hynde/) > [You've tried everything you know to do, Problems just got worst, Even Family couldn't help you, So you prayed and went to Church, Heard…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelly-rowland/you-ve-tried-everything-you-know-to-do-problems-just-got-worst-even/) [Kelly Rowland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelly-rowland/) > [At least we got to see the worst haircut since 1984 try to steal the spotlight from lovely Taylor Swift.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathan-followill/at-least-we-got-to-see-the-worst-haircut-since-1984-try-to-steal-the/) Nathan Followill > [My siblings and I have got the worst teeth in Britain.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mel-giedroyc/my-siblings-and-i-have-got-the-worst-teeth-in-britain/) [Mel Giedroyc](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mel-giedroyc/) > [I think mainstream music got its worst around 1998 when bands like Smashing Pumpkins with Adore, Marilyn Manson with Mechanical Animals and even PJ…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marc-broude/i-think-mainstream-music-got-its-worst-around-1998-when-bands-like/) Marc Broude ## More by M.I.A > [I'd be very controversial if I said why, and I don't do controversial anymore. That's too passé. So last year. Being controversial is boring…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-i-a/i-d-be-very-controversial-if-i-said-why-and-i-don-t-do-controversial/) M.I.A > [You have to constantly redefine who you are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-i-a/you-have-to-constantly-redefine-who-you-are/) M.I.A > [That's what I miss, being a real human.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-i-a/that-s-what-i-miss-being-a-real-human/) M.I.A > [Retirement: a brand new beginning! How wonderful!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-i-a/retirement-a-brand-new-beginning-how-wonderful/) M.I.A > [I don't like the idea of spirituality done the way it's done. The only way I could understand it was through creativity, not by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-i-a/i-don-t-like-the-idea-of-spirituality-done-the-way-it-s-done-the-only/) M.I.A > [I felt pissed off because I realized that you have to teach people in a clichéd way how to be happy-and happiness has become…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-i-a/i-felt-pissed-off-because-i-realized-that-you-have-to-teach-people-in/) M.I.A > [The first 10 years of my life, I lived as 'Matangi.' When I came to England in '86, my first week of school was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-i-a/the-first-10-years-of-my-life-i-lived-as-matangi-when-i-came-to/) M.I.A > [My uncle was the first brown person to have a market stall on Petticoat Lane in the 1960s. He worked his way up from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-i-a/my-uncle-was-the-first-brown-person-to-have-a-market-stall-on/) M.I.A > [That divide between the rich and poor is so crazy, because even white kids are suffering now.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-i-a/that-divide-between-the-rich-and-poor-is-so-crazy-because-even-white/) M.I.A > [Businessmen in society are not going to be the ones that promote anything outside of money.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-i-a/businessmen-in-society-are-not-going-to-be-the-ones-that-promote/) M.I.A > [That's what New York is like - you can't have real art happen in an institution because rich people can make the world stop.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-i-a/that-s-what-new-york-is-like-you-can-t-have-real-art-happen-in-an/) M.I.A > [I feel like a mirror reflecting back everyones perception of me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-i-a/i-feel-like-a-mirror-reflecting-back-everyones-perception-of-me/) M.I.A > [In England right now you're not good enough until you get validated.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-i-a/in-england-right-now-you-re-not-good-enough-until-you-get-validated/) M.I.A > [I'm still working out my opinions - it's always a question mark. I leave loads of space open, and people don't like that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-i-a/i-m-still-working-out-my-opinions-it-s-always-a-question-mark-i-leave/) M.I.A > [Basically, when I went to school in Sri Lanka from age five onward, the classes there were sometimes sorted into a hierarchy of your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-i-a/basically-when-i-went-to-school-in-sri-lanka-from-age-five-onward-the/) M.I.A Explore all 131 M.I.A quotes ## More Crowd quotes > [“Every select man strives instinctively for a citadel and a privacy, where he is FREE from the crowd, the many, the majority-- where he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-nietzsche/every-select-man-strives-instinctively-for-a-citadel-and-a-privacy/) [Friedrich Nietzsche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-nietzsche/) > [I want to make myself and the crowd happy by way of something different, and that makes things difficult. I'm never playing something that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tiesto/i-want-to-make-myself-and-the-crowd-happy-by-way-of-something/) [Tiesto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tiesto/) > [I guess because we're essentially a two-man band, we're attracting Wham's crowd. But Wham! are more of a businessman's band.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/curt-smith/i-guess-because-we-re-essentially-a-two-man-band-we-re-attracting/) [Curt Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/curt-smith/) > [Regardless of what I do, whether I write a book or whether I act or whether I host, I'll always do stand-up comedy because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howie-mandel/regardless-of-what-i-do-whether-i-write-a-book-or-whether-i-act-or/) [Howie Mandel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howie-mandel/) > [“An applause is not just the recognition of good performance, but its proof of being different than the crowd.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amit-kalantri/an-applause-is-not-just-the-recognition-of-good-performance-but-its/) [Amit Kalantri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amit-kalantri/) > [Chicago, to me, is the best wrestling crowd on the planet. They are the best. They are loud, they are ruthless, and they will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/goldust/chicago-to-me-is-the-best-wrestling-crowd-on-the-planet-they-are-the/) [Goldust](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/goldust/) > [I always tried to be different from everyone else. Then I found out about boxing. That was the way I could be different from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/riddick-bowe/i-always-tried-to-be-different-from-everyone-else-then-i-found-out/) [Riddick Bowe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/riddick-bowe/) > [It's fun, and a laugh for you... you can boo me and feel happy about yourself because you're part of the crowd that did…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-goodes/it-s-fun-and-a-laugh-for-you-you-can-boo-me-and-feel-happy-about/) [Adam Goodes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-goodes/) > [Yeah, we might have a video on 'TRL,' but when you go to the Warped Tour you're going to see us walking around in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chad-gilbert/yeah-we-might-have-a-video-on-trl-but-when-you-go-to-the-warped-tour/) [Chad Gilbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chad-gilbert/) > [You can have the best production, the best stage in the world, but without a crowd, the festival is nothing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hardwell/you-can-have-the-best-production-the-best-stage-in-the-world-but/) [Hardwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hardwell/) > [“On Broadway it was still bright afternoon and the gassy air was almost motionless under the leaden spokes of sunlight, and sawdust footprints lay…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saul-bellow/on-broadway-it-was-still-bright-afternoon-and-the-gassy-air-was/) [Saul Bellow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saul-bellow/) > [“The crowd wants a hero,not just someone cutting up meat”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dewey-gram/the-crowd-wants-a-hero-not-just-someone-cutting-up-meat/) Dewey Gram > [The crowd, especially at Anfield, want us to win so much that it transmits itself down on to the pitch at times.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamie-carragher/the-crowd-especially-at-anfield-want-us-to-win-so-much-that-it/) [Jamie Carragher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamie-carragher/) > [I like playing with a good crowd.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sergio-garcia/i-like-playing-with-a-good-crowd/) [Sergio Garcia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sergio-garcia/) > [I was DJing for this party promotion called 1st Flight Entertainment, having to DJ on the weekends and then also going to school in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tay-keith/i-was-djing-for-this-party-promotion-called-1st-flight-entertainment/) [Tay Keith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tay-keith/) Browse all 1,548 Crowd quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "In 2004, I went onstage for the first time. 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