--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: As long as the songs are strong, I think…" description: "\"As long as the songs are strong, I think you can express yourself in any style and have it be soulful and have it be your own voice.\" — Ben Harper" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/794/ben-harper-3257_express-yourself_as-long-as-the-songs-are-strong-i-think_2509726.png" --- # As long as the songs are strong, I think you can express… ![“As long as the songs are strong, I think you can express yourself in any style and have it be soulful and have it be your own voice.” quote by Ben Harper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/794/ben-harper-3257_express-yourself_as-long-as-the-songs-are-strong-i-think_2509726.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/794/ben-harper-3257_express-yourself_as-long-as-the-songs-are-strong-i-think_2509726.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/794/ben-harper-3257_express-yourself_as-long-as-the-songs-are-strong-i-think_2509726.png) > “As long as the songs are strong, I think you can express yourself in any style and have it be soulful and have it be your own voice.” [Ben Harper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-harper/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Strong songs transcend genre, allowing authentic personal expression across styles. **In simple terms:** Good music lets you be yourself in any style. Key Takeaway Focus on song strength over genre. Themes music authenticity genre expression Mood inspirational creative Type musical motivational When to use this quote - performing - recording - collaborations Key Concepts songwriting cultural hybridity Questions to Reflect On - What makes a song feel 'strong' to you? - How do you keep authenticity when experimenting? A Different Perspective Risk of diluting unique voice if style changes too often. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Express yourself](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/express-yourself/) [Song](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/song/) [Soulful](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/soulful/) [Style](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/style/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [Voice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/voice/) ## Related quotes > [I was immediately taken with Geoff Muldaur's rich soulful voice, masterful phrasing and guitar playing when I first heard him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucinda-williams/i-was-immediately-taken-with-geoff-muldaur-s-rich-soulful-voice/) [Lucinda Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucinda-williams/) > [I just wanted to show people - maybe I'm wrong - that I can still really sing. I can sing better than I ever…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-hill/i-just-wanted-to-show-people-maybe-i-m-wrong-that-i-can-still-really/) [Dan Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-hill/) > [And one of my favorites was Eddy Arnold of course. He just had that smooth, soulful voice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/little-milton/and-one-of-my-favorites-was-eddy-arnold-of-course-he-just-had-that/) [Little Milton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/little-milton/) > [Lili manages to mix Kate Bush with modern influences to make a beautifully unique sound based around her amazing violin skills and soulful voice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-lillywhite/lili-manages-to-mix-kate-bush-with-modern-influences-to-make-a/) [Steve Lillywhite](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-lillywhite/) > [When I heard 'Back to Black' from Amy Winehouse, I was, like, 'Wow.' 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I don't like them,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-hodgson/i-m-a-syd-barrett-fan-and-early-pink-floyd-and-then-about-two-things/) [Nick Hodgson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-hodgson/) > [Whenever new ideas emerge, songs soon follow, and before long the songs are leading.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/holly-near/whenever-new-ideas-emerge-songs-soon-follow-and-before-long-the-songs/) [Holly Near](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/holly-near/) > [When I wrote those first songs for the Truckers, songs like 'Outfit' and 'Decoration Day,' those were strong songs, very strong songs. But had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-isbell/when-i-wrote-those-first-songs-for-the-truckers-songs-like-outfit-and/) [Jason Isbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-isbell/) > [My own songs awakened from that hour, And with them the key, the word up from the waves, The word of the sweetest song…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walt-whitman/my-own-songs-awakened-from-that-hour-and-with-them-the-key-the-word/) [Walt Whitman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walt-whitman/) > [I believe my songs are strong enough to stand on their own - even way back then when they were recorded badly and minimally.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sharon-van-etten/i-believe-my-songs-are-strong-enough-to-stand-on-their-own-even-way/) [Sharon Van Etten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sharon-van-etten/) > [When making any record, a producer has a list of things you hope an artist brings to the studio. Songs that are strong even…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linda-perry/when-making-any-record-a-producer-has-a-list-of-things-you-hope-an/) [Linda Perry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linda-perry/) > [I only like songs with strong lyrics.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shikhar-dhawan/i-only-like-songs-with-strong-lyrics/) [Shikhar Dhawan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shikhar-dhawan/) > [I had never been to Hawaii, and now I say that my body is from L.A. but my heart is from Hawaii, because I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shailene-woodley/i-had-never-been-to-hawaii-and-now-i-say-that-my-body-is-from-l-a-but/) [Shailene Woodley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shailene-woodley/) ## More by Ben Harper > [Wish there was something that I could say or do, I can resist anything but the temptation from you. But I'd rather walk alone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-harper/wish-there-was-something-that-i-could-say-or-do-i-can-resist-anything/) [Ben Harper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-harper/) > [The advice I have for new artists is this - write great songs and play them live as often as possible. Get residencies all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-harper/the-advice-i-have-for-new-artists-is-this-write-great-songs-and-play/) [Ben Harper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-harper/) > [The very thing that drives you, can drive you insane Got a head full of thought crimes and a number with no name Got…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-harper/the-very-thing-that-drives-you-can-drive-you-insane-got-a-head-full/) [Ben Harper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-harper/) > [Sometimes I think to talk too much about music almost cheapens it](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-harper/sometimes-i-think-to-talk-too-much-about-music-almost-cheapens-it/) [Ben Harper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-harper/) > [It was a huge deal, a huge musical discovery that became life lessons learned. You can't return from having an experience like that. 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You only get so many hours in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-harper/if-interviews-are-just-interviews-or-if-music-is-just-music-why-are/) [Ben Harper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-harper/) > [You can't just say I love you, you have to LIVE I love you](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-harper/you-can-t-just-say-i-love-you-you-have-to-live-i-love-you/) [Ben Harper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-harper/) > [When it comes to writers and poets, for me it's Vinicius de Moraes. He's one of the greatest lyricists ever.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-harper/when-it-comes-to-writers-and-poets-for-me-it-s-vinicius-de-moraes-he/) [Ben Harper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-harper/) > [My choice is what I choose to do and if I'm causing no harm it shouldn't bother you. 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Every battle has its glory, and its consequence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-harper/every-moral-has-a-story-every-story-has-and-end-every-battle-has-its/) [Ben Harper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-harper/) [Explore all 135 Ben Harper quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-harper/) ## More Express yourself quotes > [For me, growing up in hip-hop culture, it's all about having the next style, the new fashion, the new way to express yourself, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/el-p/for-me-growing-up-in-hip-hop-culture-it-s-all-about-having-the-next/) [El-P](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/el-p/) > [When the world knows you for doing something, and what is inside of you is a bit different, it seems overwhelming at first to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sky-blu/when-the-world-knows-you-for-doing-something-and-what-is-inside-of/) [Sky Blu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sky-blu/) > [Being stylish is about enjoying your life and expressing yourself and your inner light.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tori-amos/being-stylish-is-about-enjoying-your-life-and-expressing-yourself-and/) [Tori Amos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tori-amos/) > [Express Yourself To Someone Who Cares For You. Not To Someone Who Need You... Because CARE Means 'Personal Commitment' And 'Need' Means 'Personal Requirement'.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pacifiersucker/express-yourself-to-someone-who-cares-for-you-not-to-someone-who-need/) Pacifiersucker > [You will express yourself in your house whether you want to or not.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elsie-de-wolfe/you-will-express-yourself-in-your-house-whether-you-want-to-or-not/) [Elsie de Wolfe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elsie-de-wolfe/) > [Keep a grateful journal. Every night, list five things that you are grateful for. What it will begin to do is change our perspective…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oprah-winfrey/keep-a-grateful-journal-every-night-list-five-things-that-you-are/) [Oprah Winfrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oprah-winfrey/) > [The interesting part about being an artist is that the ways in which you express yourself are not always readily available.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-sullivan/the-interesting-part-about-being-an-artist-is-that-the-ways-in-which/) [Chris Sullivan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-sullivan/) > [“What drove us crazy wasn't necessarily the sexual freedom his critic claimed he was unleashing, but freedom, period. Freedom to be yourself, to express…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-spector-larry-geller-patricia-romanowski/what-drove-us-crazy-wasn-t-necessarily-the-sexual-freedom-his-critic/) Joel Spector Larry Geller Patricia Romanowski > [Be confident. Be creative. Express yourself. Be Mindless and don't let anyone bring you down. Be yourself even if it means standing out.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/be-confident-be-creative-express-yourself-be-mindless-and-don-t-let/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I can get where some scientists would say comedians are crazy. What you have to understand: A lot of comedians are dealing with a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-hart/i-can-get-where-some-scientists-would-say-comedians-are-crazy-what/) [Kevin Hart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-hart/) > [It's not what you know about the computer that's important, but your ability to do things with it. By studying French in an academic…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seymour-papert/it-s-not-what-you-know-about-the-computer-that-s-important-but-your/) [Seymour Papert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seymour-papert/) > [“What does freedom mean? It means warriors are fighting for you, defenses are protecting you, and soldiers are sacrificing to preserve your ability to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richelle-e-goodrich/what-does-freedom-mean-it-means-warriors-are-fighting-for-you/) [Richelle E. Goodrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richelle-e-goodrich/) > [You can come from China, Russia, any place, and you can be a New Yorker. You can say what you want to say here,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rula-jebreal/you-can-come-from-china-russia-any-place-and-you-can-be-a-new-yorker/) [Rula Jebreal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rula-jebreal/) > [The Soviet Union had only one party. You couldn't express yourself freely; you couldn't admit belief in God. 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