Sarah Vaughan Quotes

I would lose straight away if I went on 'American Idol.'

In drama school, I entered a singing competition, which I ended up winning, which was great.

One of the things I love about 'Idol' besides the drama, the backstories, and the crazy arrangements on popular songs is the auditions, when everyone is full of hope and nerves.

'The X Factor' was the final push I needed to have the presence and confidence on stage, which I didn't have before. It's a crash course in the music industry. If you can survive the show, you're ready for the industry.

On Friday night, it was fun [to know] that if you bombed, or whatever was going on, that you'd be on TV at 11. It was a cool feeling, and you'd get a couple hundred dollars.

We could give 'Take That' a run for their money.

One of the differences between real documentaries and reality television, besides the artificial construct of reality television, is that the people who are recruited to be on those shows, and the people who are interested in going on those shows, basically want to be famous. Or maybe they can win a million dollars or something.

I always say, when you're onstage you can't please everybody. I'm sure there are people who may not take to what I do, but that's okay. Thank God the majority are in my corner.

As a comedian, I don't know if they're laughing because it's funny or if they're laughing at me because I'm not funny. And I'm thinking, 'Who cares? They're laughing.' If you go on stage, and they're laughing at you full-on for 60 minutes? You know, whatever puts them in the seats.

It was really strange for me when I started to play concerts in America where the audiences were all sitting down.

My total winnings after 14 appearances were $129,000.

I love live music and I love to see people's faces when I'm performing.

I think people tend to feel odd when I do my act. Unless you are an ironic person, it's not a good place for you to be.

On stage, we just want to generate hysteria. We don't care about looking cool or posing.

I love playing live, I don't like studios all that much. I need the reaction of the audience.

Most of Hollywood is about making money - and I love money, but I don't make the films thinking about money.

I love playing to people and seeing them react.

How can you get bored if the audience is cheering and laughing at something you're doing?

I have to remember that no matter how often I perform, there are certain songs that the audience truly wants to hear, and even though I've sung it 100,000 times, it may be their first time hearing them.

Sometimes I get more excited for shows that I know are going to be quieter because it gets me more inspired to be more of a showman and be more of an entertainer and forces me to work harder.

Night after night in the '50s, I traveled all over New York City. The promoter had 10 acts, and the winner each night would get five dollars; second place would get three dollars, and third place would get two dollars. He always put the best acts on last so the people wouldn't walk out, and the worst acts went on first. He always put me on first.

I like 'American Idol' because it's an actual talent contest.

I love working in front of American crowds.

I got into wrestling to make some money, see the world, and meet girls.

I'm still like a little kid about it, where I'm just so happy and excited that people want to come to our shows and watch us play. I still go outside the venues and take a picture of our name on the marquees. I still feel like I'm trying hard to be in a good band, I really do. And I think that's a healthy approach.