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.
It's what I do well - I write about things that make people uncomfortable. That's probably the only thing I do better than my peers.
I'm not in any rush. I'm not somebody who, if I write a song, I get it out. That's not something I've ever really quite done.
Writers write to influence their readers, their preachers, their auditors, but always, at bottom, to be more themselves.
I have always avoided photographing in the studio. A woman does not spend her life sitting or standing in front of a seamless white paper background. Although it makes my life more complicated, I prefer to take my camera out into the street... and places that are out of bounds for photographers have always had a special attraction for me.
The idea comes to me from outside of me - and is like a gift. I then take the idea and make it my own - that is where the skill lies.
A classic lecture, rich in sentiment, With scraps of thundrous Epic lilted out By violet-hooded Doctors, elegies And quoted odes, and jewels five-words-long, That on the stretched forefinger of all Time Sparkle for ever.
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