You got a chance to go up and say something? Don’t be shy. No matter how it comes out, just let it come out.

With this quote, Grammy-winning singer-songwriter Fiona Apple — whose lyrics, including those on her universally acclaimed 2020 LP “Fetch the Bolt Cutters,” often express dark and deep emotional truths — encourages us to let go of our fears and simply speak from the heart. The artist followed her own advice when, at age 19, she delivered a courageous and memorable acceptance speech at the 1997 MTV Video Music Awards, imploring people not to sacrifice their own originality for the sake of others, but rather to "go with yourself." Although the unconventional speech received plenty of criticism at the time, Apple said she “will never, ever regret” standing up for what she believes.