--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The late 80s was quite a difficult time…" description: "\"The late 80s was quite a difficult time for me as an artist because I'd almost become a parody of myself. All people wanted was pink hair and for me to..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4bb/toyah-willcox-5758_art_the-late-80s-was-quite-a-difficult-time_1188770.jpg" --- # The late 80s was quite a difficult time for me as an… ![“The late 80s was quite a difficult time for me as an artist because I'd almost become a parody of myself. All people wanted was pink hair and for me to sing 'I Want to Be Free.' There's nothing wrong with either of those but people need to see you as a person for you to be an artist.” quote by Toyah Willcox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4bb/toyah-willcox-5758_art_the-late-80s-was-quite-a-difficult-time_1188770.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4bb/toyah-willcox-5758_art_the-late-80s-was-quite-a-difficult-time_1188770.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4bb/toyah-willcox-5758_art_the-late-80s-was-quite-a-difficult-time_1188770.jpg) > “The late 80s was quite a difficult time for me as an artist because I'd almost become a parody of myself. All people wanted was pink hair and for me to sing 'I Want to Be Free.' There's nothing wrong with either of those but people need to see you as a person for you to be an artist.” [Toyah Willcox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/toyah-willcox/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Artistic identity was compromised by commercial expectations and superficial image. **In simple terms:** Artists need genuine personal recognition. Key Takeaway Prioritize authentic self‑expression over trends. Themes art authenticity commercial pressure Mood thoughtful defiant Type personal creative When to use this quote - career decisions - branding - creative projects Key Concepts identity formation media influence Questions to Reflect On - How do you stay true to yourself? - What compromises are acceptable? A Different Perspective Balancing commercial success with artistic integrity is challenging. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [80S Quite](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/80s-quite-3519384/) [Art](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/art/) [Artist Parody](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/artist-parody-3519383/) [Difficult time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/difficult-time/) [Free](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/free/) [Late](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/late/) [Late 80S](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/late-80s-267138/) [Myself](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/myself/) [Nothing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nothing/) [People Wanted](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people-wanted/) [Pink hair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pink-hair/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Want Free](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/want-free/) ## Related quotes > [It's been really fun to see with each album when I change to see the fans of the show emulate my style and with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/avril-lavigne/it-s-been-really-fun-to-see-with-each-album-when-i-change-to-see-the/) [Avril Lavigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/avril-lavigne/) > [As much as I loved having pink hair and a blue tongue, you need to grow up at some point.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liv-morgan/as-much-as-i-loved-having-pink-hair-and-a-blue-tongue-you-need-to/) [Liv Morgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liv-morgan/) > [I know it sounds so dumb, but when you've had pink hair for 12 years and take that away, you're looked at in a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffree-star/i-know-it-sounds-so-dumb-but-when-you-ve-had-pink-hair-for-12-years/) [Jeffree Star](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffree-star/) > [“The religious leaders of the day had written the script for the Messiah. When Jesus announced he was the Messiah, the Pharisees and others…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-yaconelli/the-religious-leaders-of-the-day-had-written-the-script-for-the/) [Michael Yaconelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-yaconelli/) > [“she didn't need anyone. At Wheeler, even when she stood out with her pink hair and quilter army-surplus jacket and combat bots, she did…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jodi-picoult/she-didn-t-need-anyone-at-wheeler-even-when-she-stood-out-with-her/) [Jodi Picoult](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jodi-picoult/) > [“Her pink hair helped her cheerful act—hard to look sad with pink hair—even if her eyes were a little pink, too.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patricia-briggs/her-pink-hair-helped-her-cheerful-act-hard-to-look-sad-with-pink-hair/) [Patricia Briggs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patricia-briggs/) > [I used to be obsessed with Pearl Jam, but I love having pink hair and kind of looking like a Barbie.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellie-goulding/i-used-to-be-obsessed-with-pearl-jam-but-i-love-having-pink-hair-and/) [Ellie Goulding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellie-goulding/) > [“In her younger years, Ginger had dressed in ordinary, drab clothing so she wouldn't call attention to herself. She'd even tried to hide her…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-selfors/in-her-younger-years-ginger-had-dressed-in-ordinary-drab-clothing-so/) [Suzanne Selfors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-selfors/) > [“I used to have pink hair," I told Seven. "I used to have a real job," he answered. "What happened?" He shrugged. "I dyed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jodi-picoult/i-used-to-have-pink-hair-i-told-seven-i-used-to-have-a-real-job-he/) [Jodi Picoult](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jodi-picoult/) > [When I was younger, I had pink underneath my hair, and I got detention. 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"She's my soul mate," I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cath-crowley/shakespeare-she-says-the-light-from-the-bar-glinting-off-her-pink/) [Cath Crowley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cath-crowley/) > [When I walk around on the street and someone comes up to me, I have just as many full-grown men with large beards in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-biersack/when-i-walk-around-on-the-street-and-someone-comes-up-to-me-i-have/) [Andy Biersack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-biersack/) > [“Yes, Mom, I know that I'll never find anybody who loves me with blue hair. That's why I dyed it pink.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lila-felix/yes-mom-i-know-that-i-ll-never-find-anybody-who-loves-me-with-blue/) [Lila Felix](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lila-felix/) > [“As a matter of fact I'd had my hair dyed a marvelous shade of pale red so popular with Parisian tarts that season.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elaine-dundy/as-a-matter-of-fact-i-d-had-my-hair-dyed-a-marvelous-shade-of-pale/) [Elaine Dundy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elaine-dundy/) ## More by Toyah Willcox > [I love my work and that's the only thing I think about.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/toyah-willcox/i-love-my-work-and-that-s-the-only-thing-i-think-about/) [Toyah Willcox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/toyah-willcox/) > [I was completely unconventional in everything, which my mother found very difficult. 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I have a couple of properties on the French Riviera that have doubled in value - I may buy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/toyah-willcox/snob-value-has-great-appeal-i-have-a-couple-of-properties-on-the/) [Toyah Willcox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/toyah-willcox/) > [Some people believe tarot cards are a form of black magic or senseless new age mysticism but for me they are a practical way…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/toyah-willcox/some-people-believe-tarot-cards-are-a-form-of-black-magic-or/) [Toyah Willcox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/toyah-willcox/) > [My relationship with my father was absolutely wonderful. He was the love of my life and pivotal in my life. He was a good,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/toyah-willcox/my-relationship-with-my-father-was-absolutely-wonderful-he-was-the/) [Toyah Willcox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/toyah-willcox/) > [Between 2007 and 2016, I had a large white rabbit called WillyFred. I was happiest pressing my ear to his fur and hearing his heart beat.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/toyah-willcox/between-2007-and-2016-i-had-a-large-white-rabbit-called-willyfred-i/) [Toyah Willcox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/toyah-willcox/) > [I believe in the paranormal and I accept it but I don't change my life around it. I'm not an avid follower, as it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/toyah-willcox/i-believe-in-the-paranormal-and-i-accept-it-but-i-don-t-change-my/) [Toyah Willcox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/toyah-willcox/) > [Far too many of my peers were taken in by the jet-setting rock star lifestyle and didn't realise the money might not last forever…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/toyah-willcox/far-too-many-of-my-peers-were-taken-in-by-the-jet-setting-rock-star/) [Toyah Willcox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/toyah-willcox/) > [I hated every minute of my schooldays.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/toyah-willcox/i-hated-every-minute-of-my-schooldays/) [Toyah Willcox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/toyah-willcox/) > [My mother never slept.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/toyah-willcox/my-mother-never-slept/) [Toyah Willcox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/toyah-willcox/) > [I have a very powerful belief structure. I'm very spiritual. I'm not religious but I am spiritual.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/toyah-willcox/i-have-a-very-powerful-belief-structure-i-m-very-spiritual-i-m-not/) [Toyah Willcox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/toyah-willcox/) [Explore all 99 Toyah Willcox quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/toyah-willcox/) ## 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](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taf-teh/) > [The house has to serve comfort. 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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": "The late 80s was quite a difficult time for me as an artist because I'd almost become a parody of myself. 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