Neneh Cherry Quotes

Powerful Neneh Cherry for Daily Growth

About Neneh Cherry

Neneh Cherry (born August 10, 1964), a Swedish musician, rapper, singer, songwriter, and record producer, has made significant contributions to the realms of music and fashion, blending elements of hip-hop, soul, electronica, and pop. Born in Stockholm, Sweden to jazz musician Don Cherry and Mavis Staples' backing singer Britta Berg, her early life was steeped in the vibrant global music scene. After starting her career as a model in her late teens, Cherry ventured into music, forming the band Rip, Rig + Panic with Tracy Thorn (Everything But The Girl) and Rob Gallagher. They released their debut album, "Pop Was Never a Fairy Tale," in 1987, fusing elements of punk, pop, and hip-hop. In 1989, Cherry embarked on her solo career with the release of the hit single "Buffalo Stance," which became an international success. The track was part of her debut album, "Raw Like Sushi" (1989), a groundbreaking work that combined hip-hop beats with jazz and pop melodies. The 1990s saw Cherry collaborating with artists such as Massive Attack, Gorillaz, and Youssou N'Dour. In 1996, she released the critically acclaimed album "Homebrew," blending elements of electronica and trip-hop with African rhythms. After a hiatus from music, Cherry returned in 2014 with the release of "Blank Project," her fifth studio album, which showcased her evolving style and continued exploration of various genres. The album was nominated for the Nordic Music Prize and shortlisted for the Swedish Grammy Awards. In addition to her musical career, Cherry has been involved in fashion design, collaborating with brands such as H&M and Margaret Howell. Her personal style and activism have made her a cultural icon, bridging the gap between music, fashion, and social issues.

Interpretations of Popular Quotes

"I don't think I've ever thought about the future too much."

Neneh Cherry's quote suggests a philosophy that emphasizes living in the present moment, rather than worrying unduly about what lies ahead. By not giving much thought to the future, she may be expressing an attitude of mindfulness, contentment with the here and now, and a willingness to embrace each moment as it comes. This perspective encourages focus, enjoyment of life's present experiences, and the freedom that comes from letting go of unnecessary anxieties about what might happen tomorrow.


"Music is a way to say something when you can't find the words."

This quote by Neneh Cherry underscores the profound role that music plays in human expression, particularly when traditional language fails us. It suggests that even in moments of emotional turmoil or deep introspection, where finding the right words may seem impossible, music offers a powerful means to communicate and share our feelings with others, often transcending verbal boundaries. Music, as an art form, can tap into universal human experiences and connect people across cultures and languages, making it a potent tool for emotional understanding and empathy.


"You have to do what's right for you and not for other people, even if it means standing alone."

This quote from Neneh Cherry emphasizes the importance of personal integrity and self-discovery. It encourages individuals to make decisions that align with their values, regardless of societal expectations or popular opinion. The message implies that standing alone can be a necessary step towards authenticity and fulfillment in life. By prioritizing one's own well-being and beliefs, we can foster inner strength and self-respect, ultimately leading us on our unique path to happiness and growth.


"I don't know if I'm strong or just stubborn."

Neneh Cherry's quote suggests a self-reflection on resilience, where she questions whether her persistence in the face of adversity stems from inherent strength or simply from an unyielding nature. It indicates a nuanced understanding that these two qualities can often overlap, but also acknowledges the possibility that one's perceived strength could be merely a testament to their stubbornness. The quote serves as a reminder that everyone interprets their own resilience differently, and that it's essential to be aware of our motivations and sources of strength in order to grow and overcome challenges effectively.


"To me, art is about taking something inside of you that's unfinished and making something outside of you that's beautiful."

This quote by Neneh Cherry encapsulates the essence of creativity and self-expression through art. It suggests that artists draw upon their personal experiences, emotions, or ideas (something "inside" of them) which may be incomplete or unresolved. By channeling these internal elements into a tangible form (an artwork "outside" of them), they complete the process and create something beautiful, symbolizing resolution, completion, and transformation. The quote underscores the importance of art as a means to explore, understand, and share one's inner self with the world.


I have absorbed my life now. I am ready for my music to unfold. I know time flies, but before the end of this year, the album will be out. Even if it kills me.

- Neneh Cherry

My Life, Flies, Before, Album

I'm a bit of a rebel, and I always will be.

- Neneh Cherry

Will, Always, Bit, Rebel

I've always looked to other women for inspiration and kicks. When a woman stands up and does her thing, it never ceases to excite and inspire me.

- Neneh Cherry

Woman, Always, Other, Excite

I like Kelela. I like Twigs. I love the more old school; I hate to say old school, but I love Peaches; I love Peaches, I love Cat Power. And there's constantly new things coming up. But there's something so beautifully powerful - for me being a woman, when there's a woman doing something, it really strikes a chord.

- Neneh Cherry

Love, Woman, Doing, Old School

When you lose a parent, you realize how vital they are to the foundation of your life. It's impossible to understand what it means until that curtain is pulled. You're an orphan. But then I think that life is kind of remarkable, and the thing that causes the biggest pain can also bring amazing energy.

- Neneh Cherry

Impossible, Parent, I Think, Vital

Rhythm, that's an essential part of cooking. The sound of a lovely song and the smell of some dish in the oven are equally evocative.

- Neneh Cherry

Song, Lovely, Some, Essential

What's sometimes really overwhelming in Sweden is the uniformity. People kind of disappear by all looking the same and wearing the same clothes. There are a lot of great individuals, but it can become a very blank and bleak picture.

- Neneh Cherry

Kind, Very, Blank, Uniformity

I love collard greens and sweet potatoes. But like, traveling, I'm always just looking for that thing where you feel like there's love in the food. Like one of the best things, in Brazil it's feijoada. I was in Tobago in the winter, and I had the best roti I've ever had, with curry goat.

- Neneh Cherry

Love, Brazil, Potatoes, Greens

I try not to be superstitious, but, you know, we never put any shoes on the table. That's totally against the law in our house. And I always salute when I see one magpie.

- Neneh Cherry

Law, Superstitious, Always, Salute

I haven't lived in Sweden since I was a teenager. We lived in southern Sweden, about two hours north of Copenhagen, where my family's home base has been since 1970. Our parents bought a schoolhouse in preparation for self-sufficient living. They wanted to create a place to do all the things they believed in.

- Neneh Cherry

Been, Southern, North, Copenhagen

I admire someone like Beyonce. She has amazing commitment. I needed to accept that I probably did not fit into that forum. Doing that 'The Cherry Thing' record was a big part of finding that place where I belong, where I may shine, but I never doubted it was there.

- Neneh Cherry

Cherry, Big, Big Part, Forum

I don't think I would have made 'Blank Project; if I hadn't made 'Cherry Thing.' I think that was a real rebirth in a way, and a remembrance of how I like to make music best, the most. Like being in a more chaotic place, maybe. Like a place of making and being creative where the mistakes can be left in.

- Neneh Cherry

Cherry, I Think, Blank, Chaotic

Who needs a handbag? I put my money in my bra.

- Neneh Cherry

Money, Needs, Put, Bra

I've never really spent too much or put too much gravity or placed too much importance on being a pop star. It's like, OK, great, does that mean I don't have to do anything anymore except walk around and be a pop star?

- Neneh Cherry

Anymore, Importance, Placed, OK

You come to these thresholds in your life where you need to remember why you do what you do, to reconnect with yourself. When I look back at something like 'Raw Like Sushi,' I think I was very much in the right place at the right time.

- Neneh Cherry

Why, I Think, Very, Right Time

I've always worked with my partner, my husband, Cameron, since 'Raw Like Sushi,' and in a way, I feel very free with what I do, but he also has an amazing insight in having intuitions that tend to be right a lot of the time, about where we should go next.

- Neneh Cherry

Next, Very, About, Sushi

I think I've grown up in a mixed environment, and maybe a lot of the time I haven't really belonged anywhere in the way I've dreamt of belonging to, you know, living on the street and playing to all the kids on the street, growing up together. I suppose 'Raw Like Sushi' was a place where all of those things could come together.

- Neneh Cherry

Maybe, I Think, Mixed, Sushi

When 'Raw Like Sushi' came out in the U.S., I wasn't considered to be black enough. They didn't really know where to put me. The music wasn't 'black black' sounding. It wasn't R&B it wasn't straight up hip-hop, although obviously in that dimension and world.

- Neneh Cherry

Out, Considered, Put, Sushi

Being a grandmother is one of the least strange things in my life. It makes more sense than a lot of things... like photo shoots!

- Neneh Cherry

My Life, Grandmother, Like, Photo Shoots

When I was going to school, I just wanted to be like everybody else. I would pull at my hair to try and get it to lie straight. America was where I would consume and absorb black culture, buy Ultra Sheen and watch 'Soul Train,' but I still had that weird in-between thing.

- Neneh Cherry

Soul, Everybody, Buy, Train

There's been a lot of coming home in the early mornings after funny nights out, having bizarre sandwiches in bed.

- Neneh Cherry

Bed, Been, Having, Coming Home

My kids love Ibiza and we feel committed to it because we keep coming back to the same area. People recognise us in shops now and we have a social life here. We cook at home and have friends around.

- Neneh Cherry

Love, Feel, Here, Social Life

I was on tour with Little Dragon with the Gorillaz. She's got an amazing voice and is a lovely girl. Her vibe is fresh pressed and harmless fun with a tinge of the dark side if you look in the right bits of the tunes.

- Neneh Cherry

Voice, Dragon, Vibe, Fresh

Frank Ocean is our modern-day Marvin Gaye. In our house, we have nothing but respect for him.

- Neneh Cherry

Ocean, Frank, Modern-Day, None

Rip Rig & Panic was a milestone for me, and I've always been really thankful that I did that when I was 16. It saved me for when I suddenly became really successful later on. So even when my head's been spinning like a banshee, my feet still feel held down to the ground.

- Neneh Cherry

Feet, Been, Became, Rip

Rip Rig + Panic that I joined, they were really influenced by jazz and blues and punk. So I think what happened from punk, which was kind of DIY, was that it created a kind of creative place that was kind of without limits, in a way.

- Neneh Cherry

Jazz, Influenced, I Think, Rip

I think I've always been slightly addicted to not repeating myself. When you're doing something the first time around, it's often the best time. I think 'Blank Project' is about carrying on. Its that thing where you're making something because you have to, but you don't know how or why.

- Neneh Cherry

Doing, Been, Slightly, Repeating

I'm 50. And I'm not ever really worried about being trendy.

- Neneh Cherry

Trendy, About, Ever, Worried

We'd boil this whisky because we thought that would make it stronger. So we thought we were getting drunk, but in fact there'd be no alcohol left in it.

- Neneh Cherry

Alcohol, Thought, Fact, Whisky

I'm allergic to doing the obvious thing.

- Neneh Cherry

Doing, Obvious, Thing, Allergic

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