If our history can challenge the next wave of musicians to keep moving and changing, to keep spiritually hungry and horny, that's what it's all about.
Carlos SantanaRead
I grew up in the sixties watching B.B. King and Tito Puente and Miles Davis and Coltrane, everybody, Marvin Gaye, Jimi. And at the same time, with my left eye I was watching Dolores Huerta, Cesar Chavez, Martin Luther King, Malcolm X, Mother Teresa.
Interpretation
This quote highlights the influence of music and social activism on personal growth.
Carlos Santana reflects on his upbringing during a culturally rich time in the 1960s, where music icons inspired him alongside prominent figures of social justice. This intersection shows how art and activism can shape a young person's understanding of the world, blending creativity with a commitment to social change.
In practice
In a speech about cultural influences, one might quote Santana to emphasize the power of music in shaping social change.
If our history can challenge the next wave of musicians to keep moving and changing, to keep spiritually hungry and horny, that's what it's all about.
My dad's a beautiful man, but like a lot of Mexican men, or men in general, a lot of men have a problem with the balance of masculinity and femininity - intuition and compassion and tenderness - and get overboard with the macho thing. It took him a while to become more, I would say, conscious, evolved.
First of all, the music that people call Latin or Spanish is really African. So Black people need to get the credit for that.
You can take things that Jimi Hendrix took, from Curtis Mayfield or from Buddy Guy for example, because we are all children of everything, even Picasso. But if you want to stand out, you have to learn to crystallize your existence and create your own fingerprints.
Ever since I was a child I've always been very attracted to melodies. Whether I hear Jeff Beck, a choir, an ocean or the wind, there's always a melody in there.
I realised a long time ago that instrumental music speaks a lot more clearly than English, Spanish, Yiddish, Swahili, any other language. Pure melody goes outside time.
My story is a freedom song of struggle. It is about finding one's purpose, how to overcome fear and to stand up for causes bigger than one's self.
Often we look so long at the closed door that we do not see the one that has been opened for us.
For me, personally, I feel like that's my duty while I'm on this earth is to serve others and use my blessing to bless others. If I'm not doing that, I feel like I'm not serving my purpose. That's my goal, that's my passion, and that's what I intend to do for the rest of my life.
What a wonderful thought it is that some of the best days of our lives haven't even happened yet.
These things shall be! A loftier race Than e'er the world hath known shall rise, With flame of freedom in their souls, And light of knowledge in their eyes.
So, when dark thoughts my boding spirit shroud,_x000D_ _x000D_ Sweet Hope! celestial influence round me shed_x000D_ _x000D_ Waving thy silver pinions o'er my head.
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