If I wasn't Bob Dylan, I'd probably think that Bob Dylan has a lot of answers myself.
Bob DylanRead
Aretha with no goals, eternally single & one step soft of heaven/ let it be understood that she owns this melody along with her emotional diplomats & her earth & her musical secrets
Interpretation
This quote expresses the profound connection between Aretha Franklin's music and her personal essence.
Bob Dylan's quote highlights the unique artistry of Aretha Franklin, emphasizing her mastery of melody and emotion. It suggests that she possesses a deep, intrinsic understanding of her craft—her music serves not only as entertainment but also as a powerful expression of her identity and experiences, almost elevating her to a celestial level.
In practice
In a discussion about the impact of music on culture, one might quote this to illustrate how an artist can embody their art.
If I wasn't Bob Dylan, I'd probably think that Bob Dylan has a lot of answers myself.
Some formulas are too complex and I don't want anything to do with them.
I'm the oldest son of a crazy man, I'm in a cowboy band.
My songs are personal music, they're not communal. I wouldn't want people singing along with me. It would sound funny. I'm not playing campfire meetings. I don't remember anyone singing along with Elvis, Carl Perkins or Little Richard.
I wish that for just one time you could stand inside my shoes. You'd know what a drag it is to see you.
That's another way of writing a song, of course. Just talking to somebody that ain't there. That's the best way. That's the truest way. Then it just becomes a question of how heroic your speech is. To me, it's something to strive after.
The fact that we elected Obama was a sign that the black struggle inherent in the blues and so much of the music I have loved can triumph.
The tone is in your fingers, not in your amp or effects.
Just because you're not a drummer doesn't mean you don't have to keep time.
I hate a song that makes you think that you are not any good. I hate a song that makes you think that you are just born to lose. Bound to lose. No good to nobody. No good for nothing. Because you are too old or too young or too fat or too slim too ugly or too this or too that.
As a child, all I knew was that people kept asking me to sing, and because I liked to please, I would sing. It wasn't until my dad told me that my singing made him happy that I began to think my voice might be good.
Walter Beasley is an anomaly: a successful performing musician who possesses the rare skill of understanding the musical process beyond the intuitive. This special ability enables Walter to communicate with aspiring musicians in a way that removes the sense of mystery that sometimes enshrouds our profession.
Subscribe for the occasional hand-picked quote. No noise.