I was born with music inside me. That's the only explanation I know of
Interpretation
Music is an intrinsic part of who I am, defining my identity and purpose.
This quote by Ray Charles conveys that his connection to music runs deep within his being, suggesting that it is an essential component of his identity and life experience. It emphasizes the idea that some people are driven by innate passions, and for Charles, that passion is music, which serves as both a personal expression and a means of understanding the world around him.
In practice
Use this quote in a speech about the transformative power of art.
I suppose I've always done my share of crying, especially when there's no other way to contain my feelings. I know that men ain't supposed to cry, but I think that's wrong. Crying's always been a way for me to get things out which are buried deep, deep down. When I sing, I often cry. Crying is feeling, and feeling is being human. Oh yes, I cry.
I never wanted to be famous. I only wanted to be great.
To me, music is entertainment - what else can it be? In fact, it's the only language I know of that's universal.
Just because you can't see anything , doesn't mean you should shut your eyes.
Any artist, when he goes in to record, should have the feeling that any song he records can be a hit. This may sound egotistical, but it makes sense.
When I started to sing like myself - as opposed to imitating Nat Cole, which I had done for a while - when I started singing like Ray Charles, it had this spiritual and churchy, this religious or gospel sound. It had this holiness and preachy tone to it. It was very controversial. I got a lot of criticism for it.
Music, when combined with a pleasurable idea, is poetry; music, without the idea, is simply music; the idea, without the music, is prose, from its very definitiveness.
I think what's really the most ideal thing is for the player themselves, within their own imagination, to carve out what they view as being the essence of the character.
Shakespeare - The nearest thing in incarnation to the eye of God.
I always felt that acting was an escape, like having the secret key to every door and permission to go into any realm and soak it up. I enjoy that free pass.
Fiction is such a world of freedom, it's wonderful. If you want someone to fly, they can fly.
I developed a passion for the Middle Ages the same way some people develop a passion for coconuts.
Subscribe for the occasional hand-picked quote. No noise.