--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I never feel that I have to adopt a…" description: "\"I never feel that I have to adopt a character. It's more the way I choose to present the music and that's always based on what is right for the song.\" ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/abb/pj-harvey-3601_character_i-never-feel-that-i-have-to-adopt-a-char_438069.jpg" --- # I never feel that I have to adopt a character. It's more… ![“I never feel that I have to adopt a character. It's more the way I choose to present the music and that's always based on what is right for the song.” quote by PJ Harvey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/abb/pj-harvey-3601_character_i-never-feel-that-i-have-to-adopt-a-char_438069.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/abb/pj-harvey-3601_character_i-never-feel-that-i-have-to-adopt-a-char_438069.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/abb/pj-harvey-3601_character_i-never-feel-that-i-have-to-adopt-a-char_438069.jpg) > “I never feel that I have to adopt a character. It's more the way I choose to present the music and that's always based on what is right for the song.” [PJ Harvey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pj-harvey/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. She emphasizes staying true to the song's needs rather than adopting a persona, prioritizing authenticity over performance art **In simple terms:** Music should serve the song, not the performer’s ego Key Takeaway Prioritize the song’s truth over personal image Themes authenticity artistic integrity music performance Mood reflective thoughtful Type advice philosophical When to use this quote - live concerts - studio recording - songwriting - teaching music Key Concepts songcraft identity expression Questions to Reflect On - How does authenticity affect audience connection? - When is a persona beneficial? A Different Perspective May limit personal branding opportunities ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Character](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character/) [Music](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/music/) [Song](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/song/) ## Related quotes > [In most horror films, you don't really get to understand why this character is the way he is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-watson/in-most-horror-films-you-don-t-really-get-to-understand-why-this/) [Barry Watson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-watson/) > [I can inhabit any character in a way that is difficult to do successfully in a contemporary novel.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rose-tremain/i-can-inhabit-any-character-in-a-way-that-is-difficult-to-do/) [Rose Tremain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rose-tremain/) > [Trying to find a human side to the character is a way to give them a chance to have people like them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-ellis/trying-to-find-a-human-side-to-the-character-is-a-way-to-give-them-a/) [Tom Ellis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-ellis/) > [In playing the part of Mammy, I tried to make her a living, breathing character, the way she appeared to me in the book](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hattie-mcdaniel/in-playing-the-part-of-mammy-i-tried-to-make-her-a-living-breathing/) [Hattie McDaniel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hattie-mcdaniel/) > [It took me a while to get over 'Highway'. I started living the character of 'Veera' very closely. I don't think I would be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alia-bhatt/it-took-me-a-while-to-get-over-highway-i-started-living-the-character/) [Alia Bhatt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alia-bhatt/) > [One of the coolest ways to start building a character is the way he moves his mouth, what part of the mouth he puts…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cory-michael-smith/one-of-the-coolest-ways-to-start-building-a-character-is-the-way-he/) [Cory Michael Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cory-michael-smith/) > [Everybody has their favorite character.That's the only way I pick, whatever is going on in society, whatever I think folks will laugh at that's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-dunham/everybody-has-their-favorite-character-that-s-the-only-way-i-pick/) [Jeff Dunham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-dunham/) > [You can tell alot about a fellow's character by his way of eating jellybeans.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/you-can-tell-alot-about-a-fellow-s-character-by-his-way-of-eating/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [Everyone can do a character the way they want to do it, unless the director tells them not to, which isn't very common. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barret-oliver/everyone-can-do-a-character-the-way-they-want-to-do-it-unless-the/) Barret Oliver > [First of all, the actor needs to get out of the character's way. You follow the character without judgment or prejudice or preconceived ideas.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-ryan/first-of-all-the-actor-needs-to-get-out-of-the-character-s-way-you/) [Amy Ryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-ryan/) > [All music is based in one way or the other, or influenced through the ages, on technology.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hans-zimmer/all-music-is-based-in-one-way-or-the-other-or-influenced-through-the/) [Hans Zimmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hans-zimmer/) > [I'll give up this sort of touring madness certainly, but music-everything is based on music. No, I'll never stop my music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-harrison/i-ll-give-up-this-sort-of-touring-madness-certainly-but-music/) [George Harrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-harrison/) > [All of my music is based off my life experiences.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabriella-wilson/all-of-my-music-is-based-off-my-life-experiences/) [Gabriella Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabriella-wilson/) > [My music is based on melody and when I play the piano, it's as if I'm singing with them. When you try to transform…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yanni/my-music-is-based-on-melody-and-when-i-play-the-piano-it-s-as-if-i-m/) [Yanni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yanni/) > [All music is based on country music. And that's why so many different kinds of people relate to it. There are more country music…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/loretta-lynn/all-music-is-based-on-country-music-and-that-s-why-so-many-different/) [Loretta Lynn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/loretta-lynn/) ## More by PJ Harvey > [I feel like I make a soundtrack for the come up, and I feel like there's so many people that's trying to figure out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pj-harvey/i-feel-like-i-make-a-soundtrack-for-the-come-up-and-i-feel-like-there/) [PJ Harvey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pj-harvey/) > [Like I have to pretend like I'm a male rapper, that I got stacks and we're in the club, and what do I want…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pj-harvey/like-i-have-to-pretend-like-i-m-a-male-rapper-that-i-got-stacks-and/) [PJ Harvey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pj-harvey/) > [I just started writing and writing for people. And then, like I guess after (a) year of getting some placements, I kinda got a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pj-harvey/i-just-started-writing-and-writing-for-people-and-then-like-i-guess/) [PJ Harvey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pj-harvey/) > [You can sing a very aggressive word in such a way that it's very funny. You can change words, completely turn them around on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pj-harvey/you-can-sing-a-very-aggressive-word-in-such-a-way-that-it-s-very/) [PJ Harvey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pj-harvey/) > [ The first song I heard from me was Meek Mill \["I Don't Know"\], it was his first single before he went (to jail). I… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pj-harvey/the-first-song-i-heard-from-me-was-meek-mill-i-don-t-know-it-was-his/) [PJ Harvey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pj-harvey/) > [The way I make music is unique to myself and the way I have lived my life - no one else would tell that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pj-harvey/the-way-i-make-music-is-unique-to-myself-and-the-way-i-have-lived-my/) [PJ Harvey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pj-harvey/) > [People have this idea of me being some kind of monster, and that's the complete opposite of who I am.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pj-harvey/people-have-this-idea-of-me-being-some-kind-of-monster-and-that-s-the/) [PJ Harvey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pj-harvey/) > [I like things that are beaten up, that have lived a little. I like things that are real. I like things that are made…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pj-harvey/i-like-things-that-are-beaten-up-that-have-lived-a-little-i-like/) [PJ Harvey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pj-harvey/) > [If you want to be good at anything, you have to work hard at it. It doesn't just fall from the sky. I work…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pj-harvey/if-you-want-to-be-good-at-anything-you-have-to-work-hard-at-it-it/) [PJ Harvey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pj-harvey/) > [I see men come and go, but there'll be one who'll collect my soul.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pj-harvey/i-see-men-come-and-go-but-there-ll-be-one-who-ll-collect-my-soul/) [PJ Harvey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pj-harvey/) > [At this point in my life, I'm probably not gonna be able to stop writing because it's gonna help me be able to do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pj-harvey/at-this-point-in-my-life-i-m-probably-not-gonna-be-able-to-stop/) [PJ Harvey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pj-harvey/) > [I was really influenced by a lot of Disney soundtracks, because that's what I used to watch all the time, and they always put…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pj-harvey/i-was-really-influenced-by-a-lot-of-disney-soundtracks-because-that-s/) [PJ Harvey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pj-harvey/) > [I do write a lot of prose. It's not disciplined enough yet that it's actually become stories, or short stories. The idea of writing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pj-harvey/i-do-write-a-lot-of-prose-it-s-not-disciplined-enough-yet-that-it-s/) [PJ Harvey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pj-harvey/) > [I think Ive got a pretty good sense of humor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pj-harvey/i-think-ive-got-a-pretty-good-sense-of-humor/) [PJ Harvey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pj-harvey/) > [Maybe you're a singer or not, but what taps into the soul leads to the heart, and that's really what I came away with,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pj-harvey/maybe-you-re-a-singer-or-not-but-what-taps-into-the-soul-leads-to-the/) [PJ Harvey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pj-harvey/) [Explore all 126 PJ Harvey quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pj-harvey/) ## More Character quotes > [This may sound strange, but although I feel like I know everything about my characters, the brand of shampoo they use, how many cavities…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gail-honeyman/this-may-sound-strange-but-although-i-feel-like-i-know-everything/) [Gail Honeyman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gail-honeyman/) > [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/) > [Social responsibility above the level of family, or at most of tribe, requires imagination-- devotion, loyalty, all the higher virtues -- which a man…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-a-heinlein/social-responsibility-above-the-level-of-family-or-at-most-of-tribe/) [Robert A. Heinlein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-a-heinlein/) > [Reader, if you are gifted with nerves like mine, aspire to any character but that of a wit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-lamb/reader-if-you-are-gifted-with-nerves-like-mine-aspire-to-any/) [Charles Lamb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-lamb/) > [I'm often moved by the circumstances around some of my characters, but I don't think I've actually cried watching myself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-winslet/i-m-often-moved-by-the-circumstances-around-some-of-my-characters-but/) [Kate Winslet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-winslet/) > [When you're on a daytime drama you get one page, you better damn well know your character. You better know what she would do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-hudgins/when-you-re-on-a-daytime-drama-you-get-one-page-you-better-damn-well/) David Hudgins > [It can sometimes make people fold into themselves and kind of run away, but I think in this case these characters are being forced…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-deschanel/it-can-sometimes-make-people-fold-into-themselves-and-kind-of-run/) [Emily Deschanel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-deschanel/) > [If you are well-mannered towards those whose views are similar to yours, you may be said to exhibit a fairly good character. But, if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-you-are-well-mannered-towards-those-whose-views-are-similar-to/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Democracy is based on the conviction that man has the moral and intellectual capacity, as well as the inalienable right, to govern himself with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-s-truman/democracy-is-based-on-the-conviction-that-man-has-the-moral-and/) [Harry S. Truman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-s-truman/) > [In the fight between biology and morality, biology has commonly won in the end.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/semir-zeki/in-the-fight-between-biology-and-morality-biology-has-commonly-won-in/) [Semir Zeki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/semir-zeki/) > [Your looks don't make you pretty, it's the person inside who makes you pretty!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-chan/your-looks-don-t-make-you-pretty-it-s-the-person-inside-who-makes-you/) [Aaron Chan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-chan/) > [I'm not a huge social media kind of guy, so I don't really know, I don't really ever get... at least in real life,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/freddie-stroma/i-m-not-a-huge-social-media-kind-of-guy-so-i-don-t-really-know-i-don/) [Freddie Stroma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/freddie-stroma/) > [If you stood me in a costume next to a computer graphic of the same-looking character, I think there would be a difference. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warwick-davis/if-you-stood-me-in-a-costume-next-to-a-computer-graphic-of-the-same/) [Warwick Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warwick-davis/) > [Courage: the most important of all the virtues because without courage, you can't practice any other virtue consistently](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-angelou/courage-the-most-important-of-all-the-virtues-because-without-courage/) [Maya Angelou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-angelou/) > [I'm a character actor - always have been, always will be - and historically, character actors don't come into their own until later in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-potts/i-m-a-character-actor-always-have-been-always-will-be-and/) [Annie Potts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-potts/) [Browse all 32,707 Character quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I never feel that I have to adopt a character. 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