We didn't have music videos. You weren't an overnight sensation. You had to work at it and learn your craft: how to take care of your voice, how to pace your concerts, all that trial and error.
I sing, and the musicians kind of fit things around me.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote reflects the seamless collaboration between the singer and musicians, highlighting the importance of adaptability in creativity.
Aretha Franklin emphasizes the fluidity and spontaneity of musical collaboration in her quote. She suggests that her singing serves as the focal point around which the musicians craft their accompaniment, illustrating the dynamic interplay between the artist and those who support their vision. This speaks to the beauty of artistic cooperation and the capacity for musicians to adapt their styles to enhance a performance.
Themes
In practice
Example use cases
During a music workshop, I quoted Aretha Franklin to illustrate how important it is for artists to work together.
More from Aretha Franklin
All quotes βTrying to grow up is hurting. You make mistakes. You try to learn from them, and when you don't, it hurts even more.
My mentor was Clara Ward of the famous Ward gospel singers of Philadelphia. And my dad was my coach. He coached me. And just my natural love for music is what drove me.
It really is an honor if I can be inspirational to a younger singer or person. It means I've done my job.
In terms of helping people understand and know each other a little better, music is universal - universal and transporting.
Everybody wants respect. In their own way, three-year-olds would like respect, and acknowledgment, in their terms.
Similar quotes
What was venerated as style was nothing more than an imperfection or flaw that revealed the guilty hand.
You always hear these stories of how Hollywood is so merciless on composers and how they all get beaten up. Nobody beats me up as much as I beat myself up. This is what I love doing and I have one life to do it in, and I better do it right. I better do it well.
The more dollars the studio producers put in, the less freedom we have. If the budget hits $100m, they get scared - they'll take the existing score of a successful movie and expect composers to copy it, like wallpaper. The biggest challenge for any composer in Hollywood is to be as creative as possible within those boundaries.
I always write a draft version of the novel in which I try to develop, not the story, not the plot, but the possibilities of the plot. I write without thinking much, trying to overcome all kinds of self-criticism, without stopping, without giving any consideration to the style or structure of the novel, only putting down on paper everything that can be used as raw material, very crude material for later development in the story.
Remember: It costs nothing to encourage an artist, and the potential benefits are staggering. A pat on the back to an artist now could one day result in your favorite film, or the cartoon you love to get stoned watching, or the song that saves your life. Discourage an artist, you get absolutely nothing in return, ever.
I love that moment just before the curtain goes up, whether I'm sitting in the audience or standing backstage. It's full of expectation. It's a thrill that's unequaled anywhere.