I'm carrying on a tradition. But I'd rather be a first-rate version of myself than a second-rate version of somebody else. l'm proud of my parents, and the only way that I can prove it to them is to take what they gave me and work my head off.
Liza May Minnelli (bornMarch 12,1946) is an Academy Award-winning and Tony Award-winning American actress and singer.
Liza Minelli said she can't sing well enough those "special songs" of her late mother, Judy Garland, so she doesn't sing them at all. The award-winning entertainer said she'd "rather present a first-rate version of myself than a second-rate version of Mama."
As paraphrased and quoted in"News Spotlight,"The Kingsport Daily News (December 11, 1974), p. 9
I couldn't sing Mama's special songs. I couldn't do them as well.I would rather present a first-rate version of myself than a second-rate version of Mama.
Liza Minelli, as quoted inI Remember It Well (1975) byVincente Minelli with Hector Arce,p. 395; reprinted in"Judy and Liza, Part 3" by Vincente Minelli, inThe Sydney Herald (August 15, 1975), p. 8
I don't sing them because I couldn't sing them as well as she did.I'd rather be a first-rate version of myself than a second-rate version of anybody.
I'm carrying on a tradition.But I'd rather be a first-rate version of myself than a second-rate version of somebody else. I'm proud of my parents, and the only way that I can prove it to them is to take what they gave me and work my head off.
Liza Minelli, as quoted in"The Return of Liza" by Wilmer Ames, inThe Bend Bulletin Family Weekly (November 1, 1981), p. 8
It really scared me to do what Mom did because I never did anything that she did. I promised her that I would never sing her songs, and I kept my promise. "You sing them better than anybody. I don't want to be a second-rate example of you. I want to be a first-rate example of myself."
They used to have clauses and contracts where you can't get bad publicity or you'd get fired. But now bad publicity is good publicity. I just keep working and don't think about it much.
October 6,2007 St. Petersburg Times by Shannon Breen.
If I give you romantic advice, don't take it. Look what's happening to me. I have the best taste in friends and the worst taste in husbands. I'm never getting married again. That's just stupid. There's no reason on Earth to do that.
October 6,2007 St. Petersburg Times by Shannon Breen.ď
Some people think reality must be constantly depressing, but I think reality is something you rise above.
