56 Aretha Franklin Quotes & Sayings
Aretha Franklin, better known as the ‘Queen of Soul’, was a cultural and musical icon. She was one of the best classic singing divas. Aretha showed her love towards music at an early age and started to learn piano and songs. Having a musical background, signing came naturally to her. When Aretha was 14, her father recognized her passion for singing and her talent and helped her in getting her first recording deal. Her first song ‘Songs of Faith’ was released in 1956. She was later signed by Columbia Records and started recording pop music. It didn’t take much time for her music to be recognized, as her debut album ‘Aretha: With the Ray Bryant Combo’ was an instant hit. After releasing few more albums, she earned the crown of ‘new star female vocalist’ by many A-listed magazines. Her powerful singing has influenced many music producers ‘Chain of Fools’, ‘Freeway of Love’ and ‘I Know You Were Waiting (For Me)’ are some of the best songs of this eighteen Grammy Award winning singer. Aretha’s sayings on life, music and women are really thought-provoking. We have collected some of her quotes from her songs, observations, and life.
Sometimes, what you're looking for is already there.
The man who gets me is getting one hell of a woman.
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.
I love all music.
We all require and want respect, man or woman, black or white. It's our basic human right.
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.
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.
I think women and children and older people are the three least-respected groups in our society.
Every birthday is a gift. Every day is a gift.
I sing to the realists .People who accept it like it is .
Who hasn't had a weight issue? If not the body, certainly the big head!
I've been around long enough for people to know who I am and what my contributions are. They know me as more than just an artist. I think they know me as a woman as well.
I'm a big woman. I need big hair.
My faith always has been and always will be important to me.
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.
I've always felt that rock & roll was very, very wholesome.
Everybody wants respect. In their own way, three-year-olds would like respect, and acknowledgment, in their terms.
The love of my life? I'm much too young to answer that question.
Being the Queen is not all about singing, and being a diva is not all about singing. It has much to do with your service to people. And your social contributions to your community and your civic contributions as well.
We didn't have music videos. You weren't an overnight sensation. You had to work at it and learn your craft: how to take care of your voice, how to pace your concerts, all that trial and error.
It really is an honor if I can be inspirational to a younger singer or person. It means I've done my job.
It's very satisfying. To perform the way you want to. And the way you know that you can.
Parents have to really talk to their children before they leave home.
Gospel goes with me wherever I go. Gospel is a constant with me.
People really don't have to give you anything, so appreciate what people give you.
Women absolutely deserve respect.
I love 'Anne of Green Gables.' I have for years. That's one of my favourite things. She's such a can-do kind of girl; that's why I'm crazy about her.
When God loves you, what can be better than that?
Don't say Aretha is making a comeback, because I've never been away!
I don't think I was a catalyst for the women's movement.
