Zooey Deschanel
American actress and singer
Zooey Claire Deschanel (born 17 January 1980) is an American actress, songwriter and singer who performs with M. Ward as the group She & Him, and stars in the comedy television series New Girl.
The strain I was under could make me cry.
Now I’m a little bit older,
A little bit bolder,
Never so shy.
Quotes
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- I don't want to go to another roller-coaster ride of a movie. If I want that, I'll go to Magic Mountain. I'm really interested in the young directors that are doing different things in cinema. I think the movies people will hold onto are the Rushmores and the Being John Malkoviches. Those are the kind of films I want to do; that's what I'm passionate about.
- Mean magazine (April 2001).
- I don't think I'm very much like anyone else, really. I'm sure there are aspects of other actors that I share, but I don't see anybody else and go, "Damn, they stole my thing." I'm me, and I like that there are people who have an appreciation for that.
- As quoted in "From A to Zooey" in The Boston Globe (23 February 2003).
- I have trouble actually describing myself because I’m always suspicious of people who start describing themselves. I’m like, “OK, why are you trying to tell me what you are?”
- As quoted in "Zooey sings!" by Matt Pais in Metromix (21 July 2008).
- I think a lot of what motivates me songwriting-wise is — this might sound silly — but, when I listen to a song that I love, it kind of makes me feel better. I think that’s the impetus behind everything I write; I want to make people feel better, whether it’s myself, or a friend, or whoever. I don’t know how to say this without sounding corny or banal, but I know a lot of people who are very hard on themselves. So this is sort of a cheerleading lullaby.
- On her song "Me and You" on Volume Two (2010), in an interview with Evan Schlansky in "On Record : Zooey Deschanel of She & Him" at American Songwriter (18 March 2010).
- My goal as an actor is always to be as truthful as possible, and to find the truth in the material I am representing. So I think that it’s the same with performing music. But in a way, performing your own music, it’s easier to find the truth in it, because it’s coming from yourself. There’s no translation needed.
- As quoted in "On Record : Zooey Deschanel of She & Him" at American Songwriter (18 March 2010).
- I would watch Wizard of Oz, like every day, when I was two. I had a hard time understanding that I couldn't go into the film, because it felt so real to me.
- Statement in These Amazing Shadows (2011).
She & Him : Volume One (2008)
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Oh what can you do with a sentimental heart?
Let's make it known
You can take it if you want it, and then let it go.
in the world
in the world
And I couldn't help but fall in love again
But I think its all a bore
Its at the heart of me,
A very part of me
And its everywhere else that I don't wanna be,
But I'm stuck here getting misty over you
- O-o-old habits die hard when you got, when you got a sentimental heart
Piece of the puzzle, you're my missing part
Oh what can you do with a sentimental heart?- "Sentimental Heart".
- Why don't you sit right down and stay awhile?
We like the same things and I like your style
Its not a secret; why do you keep it?
I'm just sitting on the shelf- Why Do You Let Me Stay Here?
- I got to get your presence
Let's make it known
I think you're just so pleasant
I would like you for my own- Why Do You Let Me Stay Here?
- For those of you who tried, but didn't make it,
Settle down — it's never what you think.
The summit doesn't differ from the deep, dark valley,
And the valley doesn't differ from the kitchen sink.- "This Is Not a Test".
- For those of you who thought you'd be forgotten,
The friends you've made will try their best, to make it so.
Think of all the beauty that you left behind you.
You can take it if you want it, and then let it go.- "This Is Not a Test".
- For those of us who try to keep remembering,
Try to do our better than our best.
Think of all the children in the drifts of snow.
Winners never quit, but winters never rest.- "This Is Not a Test".
- I was never no, never no, never enough,
But I can try, I can try to toughen up.- "Change Is Hard".
- Change is hard, I should know.
I should know.- "Change Is Hard".
- I somehow see what's beautiful
In things that are ephemeral
I'm my only friend of mine
And love is just a piece of time
in the world
in the world.
And I couldn't help but fall in love again.- "I Thought I Saw Your Face Today".
- Take it back
Oh, take it back
I don't want your lovin', anymore
Let me live
Oh, let me live
It's not you who I sing for- "Take It Back".
- I don't wanna' wonder whether you love me
I don't wanna' wonder whether you care- "Take It Back".
- When I saw you smile
I saw a dream come true- "I Was Made For You".
- I won't be waitin' any more cause I know
Baby, baby
I was made for you- "I Was Made For You".
- My eyes are so bleary
I guess I'm young but I feel so weary
I've tried to express it
But I think its all a bore
Its at the heart of me,
A very part of me- "Black Hole".
- It's nowhere in here
And its everywhere else that I don't wanna be,
But I'm stuck here getting misty over you
I'm alone on a bicycle for two.- "Black Hole".
- Saw your face,
My hand you took
Just like in a story book,
And you got me
Yeah, you‘ve got me- "Got Me".
- I can feel your heartbeat,
Where I lay my head
‘Cause you’ve got me
Yeah you’ve got me- "Got Me".
- When I was a little bit younger
The strain I was under could make me cry.
Now I’m a little bit older,
A little bit bolder,
Never so shy- "Sweet Darlin" (written with Jason Schwartzman).
- Sweet darlin’, come hold me,
Just a little bit longer now- "Sweet Darlin".
Volume Two (2010)
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You never knew
You didn't know me well
So well, as I knew you
I followed you back to the end of the path, but I never found the door.
I like learning alot
- There's thieves among us
Painting the walls
All kinds of lies, and lies
I never told it all- "Thieves".
- What's in my pocket?
You never knew
You didn't know me well
So well, as I knew you- "Thieves".
- And I know, and you know too
That a love, like ours
Is terrible news
But that wont stop me crying
No, that wont stop me crying over you- "Thieves".
- It’s hard to be ignored
When I look at you, you look so bored
My baby, my darling, I’ve been taking a beating…
Well alright (well alright)
It’s okay (it’s okay)
We all get the slip sometimes every day
I’ll just keep it to myself in the sun
In the sun- "In the Sun" - YouTube video
- Orpheus melted the heart of Persephone, but I never had yours
I followed you back to the end of the path, but I never found the door- "Don't Look Back" - Video at Vimeo
- Don't look back
all you'll ever get is the dust from the steps before
I don't have to see you every day,
but I just want to know youre there- "Don't Look Back".
- I like to learn things slow
I like learning alot
I like to get it all again and in the end
You know you get what you got- "Lingering Still".
- And the world's like a science
And I'm like a secret
And I saw you lingering still, still
I saw you lingering still- "Lingering Still".
- He was different at first
But then he won't understand
Because he's never gonna know me
If he doesn't want to just shake my hand- "Lingering Still".
- Well Im back in your good graces again
Remember when you told me that I was your only friend?- "Me and You".
Well I know that you worry a lot about
Things you cant control
There are so many things wed like to have
But we just cannot hold,You've got to be kind to yourself
You've got to be kind to yourself- "Me and You".
- California is a great big nation of one
They never knew what they wanted ’til it was already gone- "Home".
- Why don’t we just sit and stare and do nothing?
Nothing at all for a while
I like the way you smile
I could be your state and I could be your nation
It doesn’t get better than home, now does it?- "Home".
- I want to be where your heart is home
I want to see you with the light in the morning
There’s never been such a beautiful warning to me, to me- "Home".
- You never tried facing the sting
Walking all in circles, take it all in stride
Faces are not what they seem,
I always dream
lost in the tide- "I'm Gonna Make It Better".
- The world’s been waiting, they’ve been
waiting for years
And they’ve just gotta hear it
The kids are waiting, they’ve been shedding tears
So open your arms and sing for us- "Sing".
- Why do I always want to sock it to you hard?
Let you know what love is like when I’m
keeping all my cards up on the shelf
Where you can’t see them
Why do I always want to keep it to myself?- "Over It Over Again".
- I had some brand new shoes
They were all red but they gave me the blues
And they're runnin' away, they left me a letter
It's just like you told me it'd be
It's nothin' nothin' nothin'
nothin' at all- "Brand New Shoes".
- We are all made of air
There's stars in my eyes and there's sun in my hair
And I'm runnin' away, it makes me feel better- "Brand New Shoes".
- If you can't sleep, I'll be there in your dreams.
I'll be there in your dreams if you can't sleep at all.
And in your dreams, I'll touch your cheek
And lay my head on your shoulder.
Goodbye shadows- "If You Can't Sleep".
- Shut your eyes, there are bluer skies
For you're embraced in my heart- "If You Can't Sleep".
- Hair got caught in the sunlight darling
But I just wasted the day.
I knew it would happen this way.- I Knew It Would Happen This Way (Bonus track on pre-orders).
- Can't get up in the morning lately
and I'm just sunk in a dream
I'm always the ship in the stream- I Knew It Would Happen This Way (Bonus track on pre-orders).
Quotes about Deschanel
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- As you celebrate this special occasion with your family and friends, please know I am grateful for all you have done to encourage and support young women who are making a difference across our country. I hope your day is filled with love and laughter, and I wish you all the best for good health and happiness in the year ahead.
- Zooey Deschanel is one of those rare artists to transcend the pitfalls of being an actor/musician. Together with the talented M. Ward, the other half of She & Him, she crafts beautiful songs that sound like vintage radio hits. Their debut album, Volume 1, wowed the critics. Volume 2 is even better.
- I think that one of Zooey's skills in songwriting is the storytelling, and I hope that the production doesn't get in the way of that, and I hope that the era that we're living in doesn't get in the way of that, if that makes any sense.
