Norah Jones on sensitivity and criticism

In this news article, musician Norah Jones talks about being sensitive and dealing with reactions to her creative work.

Norah Jones’ sensitivity to criticism

The Week (theweek.com), November 12, 2009

Norah Jones still gets stung by jokes about her putting audiences to sleep, says Will Hodgkinson in Mojo.

“They call me ‘Snorah,’” says the 30-year-old Grammy winner. “But that slow music touches people!” Having sold 37 million records, Jones doesn’t see any reason to change her style now—not that she could if she wanted to.

“I realize my strengths,” she says with a hint of resignation. “The truth is, I sing ballads. People like it when I sing ballads. I seem to have a way with them. And if the cool kids can’t say anything nice about me, that’s how it is.”

Jones writes a lot of songs about longing and loneliness, which can be draining for her but cathartic for audiences. “It’s probably how your dog feels when you go out of the door. We’ve all had that feeling, right?”

Still, Jones admits that criticism about her limited range does get to her.

“I’m too sensitive. All I have to do is pick up Newsweek and glance upon a bad review and it will crush me for a week. Some Joe Schmo writes a snarky comment in a blog and I’m destroyed.”

But she quickly recovers. “I’m like, Oh, I make slow music. I guess that’s okay. Maybe it’s a good thing to sound like yourself.”

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Outside criticism can become even more destructive – especially for sensitive people – when it is internalized, when we start using it against ourselves – see my article Being Creative and Self-critical.