Aretha Quotes & Sayings

My years with Aretha Franklin have been very special, as were the years making records with Dionne Warwick. Other highlights include working with Janis Joplin, who was the first artist I ever signed, as well as Patti Smith and Alicia Keys. — Clive Davis

Music does a lot of things for a lot of people. It's transporting, for sure. It can take you right back, years back, to the very moment certain things happened in your life. It's uplifting, it's encouraging, it's strengthening. — Aretha Franklin

I always felt rock and roll was very, very wholesome music. — Aretha Franklin

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 — Bob Dylan

Soul is a constant. It's cultural. It's always going to be there, in different flavors and degrees. — Aretha Franklin

Be your own artist, and always be confident in what you're doing. If you're not going to be confident, you might as well not be doing it. — Aretha Franklin

R-E-S-P-E-C-T, find out what it means to me. — Aretha Franklin

If you think about it, Aretha did basically the same things that I do. — Peabo Bryson

I love Aretha [Franklin] and I've loved her all my life. I think she's an incredible songstress, obviously. She consistently has had this incredible voice. I remember when she was singing gospel in her father's church. — Stevie Wonder

It's so glamorous, you have to see it. (describing the $92 million Rock & Roll Hall of Fame) — Aretha Franklin

I am in love with old school funk and soul music. That's what I grew up listening to, and I want to bring that style back with my music. I love artists like Stevie Wonder, Donna Summer, Aretha Franklin, Michael Jackson, Earth, Wind, & Fire, Bruno Mars, Justin Timberlake, and more! — Raini Rodriguez

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. — Mary J. Blige

Don't say Aretha is making a comeback, because I've never been away! — Aretha Franklin

I think the important thing to understand first and foremost about Michael Jackson is that he was the international emblem of the African American blues spiritual impulse that goes back through slavery - Jim Crow, Jane Crow, up to the present moment, through a Louis Armstrong, through a Ma Rainey, through a Bessie Smith, all the way to John Coltrane, Aretha Franklin and Nina Simone. — Cornel West

Hey, I'm like Aretha Franklin, I don't get no R -S -P -E -C -T around here! — Si Robertson

You knew the difference between Barbra Streisand and Aretha Franklin, Stevie Wonder and Ray Charles, straight away. Now everyone sounds like each other, and I don't think that's right. — Bobby Womack

We all require and want respect, man or woman, black or white. It's our basic human right. — Aretha Franklin

I go to the healthier foods that are less chemically treated. I am drinking lots of water to get rid of the toxins in my body. It's a natural flushing. Water flushes your system and is also very good for your skin. — Aretha Franklin

Gospel goes with me wherever I go. Gospel is a constant with me. — Aretha Franklin

I used to have hamburgers coming and going, especially when I was on the road. Now, occasionally I will still have that quarter pounder because I love fast food, but you have to keep it to a minimum. I am now opting for salads and just healthier lunches. — Aretha Franklin

I've never recorded anything I didn't like. — Aretha Franklin

I've always felt that rock & roll was very, very wholesome. — Aretha Franklin

Being a singer is a natural gift. It means I'm using to the highest degree possible the gift that God gave me to use. I'm happy with that. — Aretha Franklin

The people at large absolutely gave James Brown respect. He was an original like a Rembrandt or a Picasso — Aretha Franklin

You know later in life I was inspired to sing and that would've been Aretha, Chaka Khan, Mariah - the typical divas were the inspiration. I've always enjoyed all those singers. — Anastacia

Yes, I've always been fashion conscious. — Aretha Franklin

I'm a big woman. I need big hair. — Aretha Franklin

I know people I feel are extremely talented, but I don't know that I've ever heard any geniuses. — Aretha Franklin

I love all music. — Aretha Franklin

I remember singing around the house to records that were playing. All kinds of music. And the great James Cleveland was often in our house, and I grew up with his sound as well. — Aretha Franklin

Politics are not my arena. Music is. — Aretha Franklin

Aretha Franklin does not like me. — Natalie Cole

I think the hardest thing is losing weight. That's the hardest thing more than anything else. — Aretha Franklin

There was a time in American history when almost every white person knew who Aretha Franklin was. — Peabo Bryson

When I heard Aretha, I could feel her emotional delivery so clearly. It came from down deep within. That's what I wanted to do. — Whitney Houston

If you disrespect everybody that you run into, how in the world do you think everybody's supposed to respect you? — Aretha Franklin

Absolutely, I grew up listening to soul music. People like Stevie, Aretha, Ray Charles, Michael and Prince. My parents' record collection was all I had when I was a little kid. If it wasn't that, it was something else in their collection. — Jesse McCartney

I was living in Gainesville, Florida, and our babysitter brought over the soundtrack to The Who's "Tommy" - not the actual record "Tommy", but the soundtrack to the movie with Elton John and Aretha Franklin. I remember hearing it for the first time and it was so confusing. It was like waves and waves of unknowable and indescribable sound coming out of the stereo. — John Vanderslice

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. — Quincy Jones

The muse of music isn't just from Greek mythology, but living in people like the Beatles, Chuck Berry, Anita Baker, Aretha Franklin. — Ernie Isley

I love producing, writing. I rarely write with other writers unless I have a real great respect for them. Like Burt Bacharach, or Carole Sager, or Stevie Wonder. Somebody like Smokey - like that. Otherwise, I choose to write alone. — Aretha Franklin

I was a pop-music junkie. My parents were into Frank Sinatra and Doris Day. They weren't too excited when I had Aretha or the Stones pumping. — Kara DioGuardi

Silver" is what I called girls who were natural beauties but who also smoothed on a layer of pretty from a jar. It wasn't just how they looked, it was how they were. The name came from a song my mother sang sometimes when she was getting dressed to go out somewhere special. She sang along with Aretha Franklin at the end: "Sail on, silver girl ... Your time has come to shine. All your dreams are on their way. — Tayari Jones

My heart is still there in gospel music. It never left ... I'm gonna make a gospel record and tell Jesus I cannot bear these burdens alone. — Aretha Franklin

I want to sing like Aretha Franklin. Before her I wanted the technical ability of Ella Fitzgerald. — Lena Horne

Contrary to popular opinion, manners are not a luxury good that's interesting only to those who can afford to think about them. The essence of good manners is not exclusivity, nor exclusion of any kind, but sensitivity. To practice good manners is to confer upon others not just consideration but esteem; it's to bathe others in a commodity best described by noted speller Aretha Franklin. — Henry Alford

And I've been hurt hurt bad. I might be just twenty-six, but I'm an old woman in disguise twenty-six goin'on sixty-five. — Aretha Franklin

We would parachute in like typical asshole Americans and be completely clueless about what kind of trip we were actually on, asking questions like, "When do we start shooting the animals? Where is the freshest sushi? When do we meet Aretha Franklin, and where are the squash courts?" I'd also insist on hunting live lobster and killing it with my handgun. — Chelsea Handler

I don't feel one's personal medical condition is everybody's business. It just isn't something you advertise, and it's not open to discussion. — Aretha Franklin

I think the best singers in the world, historically, are American. Britain's got its fair share, as well, but some of the greatest singers, ever, whether you're talking about Whitney [Houston] or Mariah [Carey] or Aretha Franklin, are from the legacy here. — Simon Cowell

Judy Garland is a singer with a capital S. And talk about soul. This woman was soul personified. Judy Garland is a class by herself. — Aretha Franklin

If a song's about something I've experienced or that could've happened to me it's good. But if it's alien to me, I couldn't lend anything to it. Because that's what soul is all about. — Aretha Franklin

My ultimate film role would be to play the queen of soul, Aretha Franklin. — Jennifer Hudson

You're a no good heartbreaker, you're a liar, and you're a cheat. I don't know why I let you do these things to me. — Aretha Franklin

People really don't have to give you anything, so appreciate what people give you. And just don't let that go to your head, whatever it is they give you. — Aretha Franklin

R&B is not a fad; it's the truth. — Aretha Franklin

Columbia was a wonderful label for me. Wonderful. The records I made there garnered me an audience. I won a number of polls during the years that I was at Columbia. The Downbeat Jazz Poll. Leonard Feather, who was a huge critic back in the day, different polls that he had. The Playboy poll, a number of polls. So the music was great. — Aretha Franklin

On the sly, scoping for love. — Aretha Franklin

Better friends than lovers. Sugar can't you see? You need you and I really need me. — Aretha Franklin

I grew up loving Etta James and Aretha Franklin and Al Green and Otis Redding, and I just love old-school R&B. It's just music that moves you and grooves you, and it was very important, I think, for music. — Elle King

I like Beyonce's music - some of it, not all of it. — Aretha Franklin

I saw the Supremes when they were still singing in little black skirts and white blouses. — Aretha Franklin

I was just obsessed with soul singers who had these big powerful voices. I used to listen to Aretha, Whitney, Mariah and try and imitate them, note for note and riff for riff. — Jess Glynne

I love to sing. It's just a natural thing for me. — Aretha Franklin

With the '60s era and Motown, my grandparents actually introduced us to that when I was younger, so I grew up listening to the Jackson Five, Aretha Franklin, The Temptations, The Supremes and Diana Ross' solo stuff. I just loved it. — Jordin Sparks

I sing to the realists; people who accept it like it is. — Aretha Franklin

And I was booked once to go on 'Ed Sullivan' and I got bumped and ran out the back door crying. — Aretha Franklin

I grew up in the church not being able to listen to anything but gospel. So, while [other] people grew up with their parents listening to Marvin Gaye and Aretha Franklin, I never knew they existed until I was able to listen to what I wanted to. — Rahki

You know what we pride ourselves on that - although I wouldn't mind if my backside was a little smaller. But look at the original divas ... take Aretha Franklin for example - I've seen her live in the States and she was mammoth, but she had that crowd under control and they doted on every movement she made! We're not little midgets but the music industry is not about that, it's about loving the music and respecting what you do. — Kate DeAraugo

My sound comes from my inspiration, which is people like Aretha and Jay Z and Kanye, as well as everyone from the Whitneys and Mariahs to Destiny's Child and Usher. They all inspired me growing up. — Jess Glynne

I'm telling the story, and if I can't tell the story, I'm not going to sing it. And if I don't agree with the story, and if I got to sing something that portrays me as something I'm not, then I'm not going to sing it either. I didn't even want to sing Aretha Franklin's 'Chain of Fools.' — Sharon Jones

Women have broken through the glass ceiling, and they're now more and more in the power seats. — Aretha Franklin

As a kid, I was listening to Aretha Franklin, Etta James and hip-hop as well as music my parents were listening to, like Joni Mitchell and Leonard Cohen. — Alanis Morissette

I have total respect for the self-contained rock artist. Whether you're dealing with Jerry Garcia or Lou Reed or Patti Smith or a Whitney or an Aretha, they know what they want with their career. — Clive Davis

Now, occasionally I will still have that quarter pounder because I love fast food, but you have to keep it to a minimum. — Aretha Franklin

I've been getting into different gospel artists; Aretha Franklin is someone I've been listening to a lot of. — Jonny Lang

The man who gets me is getting one hell of a woman. — Aretha Franklin

I know I'm not going to sing like Aretha Franklin or Elvis Presley or any of those people. — George Thorogood

She's got her God and she's got good wine, Aretha Franklin, and Patsy Cline. — Trisha Yearwood

I am doing what I love to do, and you cannot beat that, especially when the audience appreciates what you prepare for them. It's very, very gratifying. — Aretha Franklin

Aretha Franklin was a teenage mom, a musician who came from an incredibly Christian background, but there was a lot of love, which is really inspiring in a feminist way. — Beth Ditto

Tell Aretha I'll be praying for herBecause she needs Jesus!I love her. — Patti LaBelle

The voice of God, if you must know, is Aretha Franklin's. — Marianne Faithfull

I donate heavily to the church and various churches in the Detroit community and food banks. — Aretha Franklin

I'm not a singer, a walking instrument like Aretha Franklin. When you get an Iggy Pop record, you don't get "Iggy Sings." I am also a style of music, an approach. — Iggy Pop

Call in the Caped Crusader, Green Hornet, Kato, too. I'm in so much trouble I don't know what to do. — Aretha Franklin

Find a beautiful piece of art. If you fall in love with Van Gogh or Matisse or John Oliver Killens, or if you fall love with the music of Coltrane, the music of Aretha Franklin, or the music of Chopin - find some beautiful art and admire it, and realize that that was created by human beings just like you, no more human, no less. — Maya Angelou

Music changes, and I'm gonna change right along with it. — Aretha Franklin

Let's start with the church. As you know, it's my background, it's a natural setting for me and it's definitely my roots. — Aretha Franklin

Parents have to really talk to their children before they leave home. — Aretha Franklin

There are many influences in my music, not only blues. R&B, Motown, gospel, old timey, jazz, even classical are all part of what I do. I started with classical, then country, then blues, and after that I started listening heavily to Motown and gospel. My earliest efforts as a songwriter were soul. Aretha Franklin, Curtis Mayfield, Wilson Pickett, Gladys Knight, James Brown, Otis Redding, Marvin Gaye and Fontella Bass are just a few of the names that come to mind as the God's of soul and Motown. — Rory Block

Falling out of love is like losing weight. It's a lot easier putting it on than taking it off. — Aretha Franklin

...unlike Aretha, [Al Green's] only rival vocally, Al never sold himself short in the studio. Where the albums follow the vagaries of genius, the hits exploit Al's personal production line, every one a perfect soul record and a perfect pop record in whatever order suits your petty little values. Brashly feminine and seductively woman-friendly, he breaks free in a register that darts and floats and soars into falsetto with startling frequency and beguiling ease. He's so gorgeous, so sexy, so physically attractive that only masochists want to live without him. — Robert Christgau

It was really wonderful playing with Aretha [ Franklin]. I knew that she knew what she was doing, so all I had to do was sit in the background and vamp a little bit. — Condoleezza Rice

Clark Terry is an American Master. I love to listen to him, particularly 'Mumbles.' I was so delighted when we received degrees together, along with Edward Kennedy, at the New England Conservatory in 1997. — Aretha Franklin

Aretha Franklin's 'Let Me in Your Life' is one of the few recent R&B albums that places the emphasis entirely and deservedly on a voice. Many R&B producers have been making records on which the singer is outshined by the song, the arrangement and the sound. — Jon Landau

I'm never tired of going to the studio. I enjoy recording and documenting everything and trying new things. — Aretha Franklin

The milk of kindness flows through my body, I shall follow Jesus to the Taco Bell and give thanks. — Aretha Franklin

My mom actually had a band called Six Pack - even though there were seven of them - who went around Chicago performing popular songs. Her voice was like Gladys Knight mixed with Aretha Franklin. — R. Kelly

Growing up in Cleveland, I learned about singing from my mother, who had once sung professionally and who admired Mahalia Jackson and Aretha Franklin. — Tracy Chapman