We are all spirits. We get depressed. But music makes you want to live. I know my music has saved my life.
Interpretation
Music has the power to uplift our spirits and can be a source of life and hope during difficult times.
This quote by Mary J. Blige highlights the profound impact that music can have on our emotional well-being. It suggests that while everyone struggles with feelings of depression and despair, music serves as a powerful force that can inspire us to keep going and find joy in life. Blige emphasizes her personal experience, asserting that music has played a crucial role in her own journey toward healing and resilience.
In practice
A speaker at a mental health awareness event might use this quote to emphasize the therapeutic effects of music.
When I was five years old I was molested and just, you know. I remember feeling, literally right before it happened, I just could not believe that this person was going to do this to me. That thing followed me all my life. The shame of thinking my molestation was my fault - it led me to believe I wasn't worth anything.
I don't know. Only God knows where the story ends for me, but I know where the story begins. It's up to us to choose, whether we win or lose and I choose to win.
As a child I always wanted to be a singer. The music my mother played in the house moved me - Aretha Franklin, Chaka Khan, Mahalia Jackson. It was truly spiritual. It made you understand what God was. We are all spirits. We get depressed. But music makes you want to live. I know my music has saved my life.
Really, every woman is an example to me, because as women we go through so much pain. We have to live this perfect life when we are messed up inside. We all go through trials and tribulations.
I've been praying to God to show me how to forgive myself. Because... maybe... that's the thing I've been searching for.
In the inner city, there's a mentality that the government owes you something. My breakthrough came when I stopped feeling sorry for myself and took responsibility for every part of my life. No more pity parties. I've gotta love me more than anybody else loves me.
In hindsight, I think my manager and I both knew that 'Someone You Loved' was a special song that we had to put out. But no one was expecting it to do so well.
I'll always love rap, no matter what's going on.
I directed my music to the teen-agers. I was 30 years old when I did 'Maybellene.' My school days had long been over when I did 'School Day,' but I was thinking of them.
I'm probably the only one in the world you can name that's worked with Billie Holiday, Louie Armstrong, Ella, Duke, Miles, Dizzy, Ray Charles, Aretha, Michael Jackson, rappers. 'Fly Me to the Moon' was played on the moon by Buzz Aldrin. Sinatra. Paul Simon. Tony Bennett. I'm the only one.
My driving philosophy about making music is that you can reduce it all down to one note if that note is played with the right kind of sincerity.
To this day, if I ever meet grownups who play ukulele, I love 'em.
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