"It took so long to make it in America. The year I arrived was a bad year for women singers, the record company told me. So I starved. I lived in a hotel so dreadful I can't even talk about it"

The quote from Helen Reddy uses an honest peek into the challenges she faced as a hopeful artist in America. Her words are imbued with a sense of battle and determination, reflecting both individual hardship and the more comprehensive troubles experienced by women in the music market throughout her time.

First of all, when Reddy discusses that "it took so long to make it in America", she highlights the perseverance required to succeed in an extremely competitive market. This expression encapsulates the long journey and numerous obstacles she came across before achieving acknowledgment. The duplicated use of "so" emphasizes the degree of her battle and the significant amount of time and effort she invested.

She also keeps in mind that "the year I got here was a bad year for ladies vocalists, the record business informed me", shedding light on the gendered barriers within the music company. This part of her statement suggests a systemic predisposition against female artists at the time, where skill and potential were overshadowed by prevailing market trends that marginalized women's voices. Tape-record companies' hesitation to support ladies singers suggests the wider cultural and institutional difficulties ladies dealt with, requiring durability and perseverance to overcome.

The mention of starving and residing in a "awful" hotel even more highlights the personal sacrifices Reddy endured. Starvation signifies both actual cravings and the metaphorical lack of opportunities. The hotel, referred to as "terrible", functions as a metaphor for the alarming and unpleasant situations she withstood. Her unwillingness to even talk about these living conditions shows a level of trauma or humiliation, indicating the severe lengths she went to in order to pursue her dream.

In General, Helen Reddy's quote is a testament to the grit and decision required to burglarize the music market, specifically for ladies at that time. Her story not only honors her strength however also works as an inspiring reminder of the barriers that can be overcome through persistence and passion.