Natalie Imbruglia, 51, was born in Sydney, Australia to an Italian father and an Australian mother. She joined the cast of Neighbours at 17. In 1997, she released her debut album Left of the Middle, which featured the global hit single “Torn.” Her seventh studio album, Algorithm, comes out on 4 September. She lives in Oxfordshire with her son.
What is your greatest fear?
As an Italian, tinned spaghetti. When I was a child, someone served it to me at their house. It was pretty scary.
Which living person do you most admire, and why?
Alanis Morissette. She was a big influence on me early in my career and had a feistiness that wasn’t common among women in the industry. She’s also been very open about mental health.
What is the trait you most deplore in yourself?
Being late.
What is the trait you most deplore in others?
Not being able to say sorry when they’re wrong.
What was your most embarrassing moment?
Forgetting the words to my own songs on stage. I’m really good at mumbling through them. You’d be surprised how few people notice—if you smile and act confident, they have no idea.
Describe yourself in three words.
Feisty, vulnerable, and fun.
What keeps you awake at night?
I worry a lot about balancing being a single parent with work. Scheduling keeps me up!
What would your superpower be?
I’d clone myself so I could work and be with my son at the same time.
What makes you unhappy?
Living in England when there are too many grey days in a row.
Who is your celebrity crush?
I would never tell you in a million years.
Which book are you ashamed not to have read?
None. I’m not ashamed. I’m dyslexic, so I don’t read many books.
What did you want to be when you were growing up?
A hairdresser during the week and a star on the weekends.
What was the last lie that you told?
It was something about Santa Claus around Christmas.
What is your guiltiest pleasure?
Junk food—Haribos, Wotsits.
What do you owe your parents?
They supported me just enough but not too much. They gave me tenacity.
To whom would you most like to say sorry, and why?
To my younger self, for being hard on myself.
What does love feel like?
Bliss.
Which words or phrases do you most overuse?
“Sorry I’m late.” I have ADHD—even if I get up three hours early, I somehow manage to procrastinate.
What is the worst job you’ve done?
I’ve enjoyed every job, including working at my dad’s chicken shop, selling potato gems (fried potato circles) to the surfer guys.
When did you last cry and why?
On the way here, because I was late.
Would you rather have more sex, money, or fame?
Sex.
How would you like to be remembered?
Finally being on time.
What is the most important lesson life has taught you?
Be true to yourself.
Frequently Asked Questions
Here is a list of FAQs based on Natalie Imbruglias quote about forgetting lyrics on stage
BeginnerLevel Questions
1 Did Natalie Imbruglia really say she forgets the lyrics to her own songs
Yes She made this comment in an interview explaining that even with songs she has sung hundreds of times her mind can go blank midperformance
2 Is it common for famous singers to forget their lyrics
Yes its surprisingly common Many artists rely on muscle memory and if that gets interrupted by nerves or distraction the words can vanisheven for their biggest hits
3 How can she forget lyrics she wrote herself
Writing a song and performing it are different brain functions When she writes shes creating On stage shes reciting under pressure and her brain can treat the lyrics like any other memorized textprone to slips
4 Does she just stop singing when she forgets
No She says most of the time she either mumbles repeats a line or lets the audience sing the missing part The band usually helps her find the next verse
5 Do fans really not notice
According to Natalie yes She claims people are often too busy singing along clapping or enjoying the moment to catch a small lyrical mistake
AdvancedLevel Questions
6 Why does she think so few people notice the mistake
She explains that audiences experience the song as a feeling not a wordforword recitation As long as the melody and energy stay consistent the brain fills in the missing lyrics automatically
7 What practical tips does she have for handling this on stage
She advises having a good relationship with your band looking at the crowd to buy time and not panickingbecause panic makes you forget even more
8 Does she have a specific worst moment forgetting lyrics
She has mentioned forgetting the verses of Torn during a live TV performance She laughed it off and let the audience carry the chorus which actually made the moment more memorable
9 Is this a sign of a bad performer
No Many professional singers see it as a sign of being human It often makes the performance feel more authentic and less robotic which audiences actually prefer
