--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Growing up I listened to a lot of Billy…" description: "\"Growing up I listened to a lot of Billy Joel, Sam Smith, Adele, Stevie Wonder, and Queen; these are artists who use their voice as the main instrument ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1b3/benson-boone-6925_i-think_growing-up-i-listened-to-a-lot-of-billy_1751270.jpg" --- # Growing up I listened to a lot of Billy Joel, Sam Smith… ![“Growing up I listened to a lot of Billy Joel, Sam Smith, Adele, Stevie Wonder, and Queen; these are artists who use their voice as the main instrument for their songs. I think I took a lot of aspects from that into my own music and that's kind of how I operate.” quote by Benson Boone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1b3/benson-boone-6925_i-think_growing-up-i-listened-to-a-lot-of-billy_1751270.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1b3/benson-boone-6925_i-think_growing-up-i-listened-to-a-lot-of-billy_1751270.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1b3/benson-boone-6925_i-think_growing-up-i-listened-to-a-lot-of-billy_1751270.jpg) > “Growing up I listened to a lot of Billy Joel, Sam Smith, Adele, Stevie Wonder, and Queen; these are artists who use their voice as the main instrument for their songs. I think I took a lot of aspects from that into my own music and that's kind of how I operate.” [Benson Boone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benson-boone/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He credits vocal‑centric artists for shaping his musical style, emphasizing the voice as a primary expressive tool. **In simple terms:** He learns from singers who use voice as instrument. Key Takeaway Incorporate vocal expression into your creative work. Themes creativity influence music voice artistry learning Mood inspirational reflective Type artistic educational When to use this quote - songwriting - performance coaching - music education - brand building Key Concepts Artistic development cultural influence personal branding Questions to Reflect On - How can you balance vocal focus with instrumental innovation? - What other art forms inspire you? A Different Perspective Relying solely on vocal influence may limit exploration of other musical elements. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Music](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/music/) [Music making](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/music-making/) [Queen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/queen/) [Songs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/songs/) [Voice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/voice/) [Wonder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wonder/) ## Related quotes > [Some people don't like my songs because they think they're too simple or easy or not that thought-out. I feel like the way I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/langhorne-slim/some-people-don-t-like-my-songs-because-they-think-they-re-too-simple/) [Langhorne Slim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/langhorne-slim/) > [You get to thinking that because you've written 50 or 100 songs, you think maybe you know how to do it. But when they're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-prine/you-get-to-thinking-that-because-you-ve-written-50-or-100-songs-you/) [John Prine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-prine/) > [There are lot of bands that have too many songs, I think.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doug-martsch/there-are-lot-of-bands-that-have-too-many-songs-i-think/) [Doug Martsch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doug-martsch/) > [I listened to a lot of Jay-Z and Kanye coming up, which would be unexpected for a boy bander like me. But I'd listen…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liam-payne/i-listened-to-a-lot-of-jay-z-and-kanye-coming-up-which-would-be/) [Liam Payne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liam-payne/) > [I listened to a lot of old school, golden era music. It gave me a lot of insight on how to rap and give…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/big-k-r-i-t/i-listened-to-a-lot-of-old-school-golden-era-music-it-gave-me-a-lot/) [Big K.R.I.T](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/big-k-r-i-t/) > [My parents listened to a lot of James Taylor and Hall and Oates. My mom and I used to listen to Liz Phair and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frankie-cosmos/my-parents-listened-to-a-lot-of-james-taylor-and-hall-and-oates-my/) [Frankie Cosmos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frankie-cosmos/) > [I've always listened to a lot of rap. It's all, 'Look at this car that cost me so much money, look at this Champagne.'…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lorde/i-ve-always-listened-to-a-lot-of-rap-it-s-all-look-at-this-car-that/) [Lorde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lorde/) > [For me, I listened to a lot of female jazz artists. And of course, the Motown and Philly sounds, all that stuff was very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-bailey/for-me-i-listened-to-a-lot-of-female-jazz-artists-and-of-course-the/) [Philip Bailey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-bailey/) > [My dad and uncles listened to a lot of rap. My dad is a big fan of LL Cool J. Driving in the car…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/errol-spence-jr/my-dad-and-uncles-listened-to-a-lot-of-rap-my-dad-is-a-big-fan-of-ll/) [Errol Spence Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/errol-spence-jr/) > [I enjoy everything. I actually do listen to everything. In high school, I listened to a lot of metal and punk rock.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-schafer/i-enjoy-everything-i-actually-do-listen-to-everything-in-high-school/) [Tim Schafer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-schafer/) > [We listened to a lot of Rolling Stones and Beatles records when we were recording. They were really good at not playing loud, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-lowry/we-listened-to-a-lot-of-rolling-stones-and-beatles-records-when-we/) [Mike Lowry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-lowry/) > [I grew up in the '90s. I listened to a lot of The Clash, Velvet Underground and Roxy Music. I wasn't into Boyzone, or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-taylor-johnson/i-grew-up-in-the-90s-i-listened-to-a-lot-of-the-clash-velvet/) [Aaron Taylor-Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-taylor-johnson/) > [I listened to a lot of Michael Jackson growing up. A lot of Boyz II Men. I loved Mariah Carey. Just big vocalists. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-bieber/i-listened-to-a-lot-of-michael-jackson-growing-up-a-lot-of-boyz-ii/) [Justin Bieber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-bieber/) > [I listened to a lot of bands that were happening at the time, but no one in particular.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/caroline-corr/i-listened-to-a-lot-of-bands-that-were-happening-at-the-time-but-no/) [Caroline Corr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/caroline-corr/) > [Being from the South, I was really into Southern rap, but I listened to a lot of stuff from all over.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-jackson/being-from-the-south-i-was-really-into-southern-rap-but-i-listened-to/) [Stephen Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-jackson/) ## More by Benson Boone > [I really like Earth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benson-boone/i-really-like-earth/) [Benson Boone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benson-boone/) > [I'm very interactive with my fans. I genuinely just love them to death.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benson-boone/i-m-very-interactive-with-my-fans-i-genuinely-just-love-them-to-death/) [Benson Boone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benson-boone/) > [It's hard to try and keep up with everything and feel like I'm on top of it. Just a lot coming and going very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benson-boone/it-s-hard-to-try-and-keep-up-with-everything-and-feel-like-i-m-on-top/) [Benson Boone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benson-boone/) > [It's always good to try things in life. Like, adventure-wise. If I can just try everything once, then I'll know what I like and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benson-boone/it-s-always-good-to-try-things-in-life-like-adventure-wise-if-i-can/) [Benson Boone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benson-boone/) > [If I'm in a city for too long, I feel like I'm losing my mind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benson-boone/if-i-m-in-a-city-for-too-long-i-feel-like-i-m-losing-my-mind/) [Benson Boone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benson-boone/) > [I didn't want to show the world someone I'm not.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benson-boone/i-didn-t-want-to-show-the-world-someone-i-m-not/) [Benson Boone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benson-boone/) > [I would never eat just coffee cake for breakfast - I think I'm too hungry for that. But I would have a breakfast burrito…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benson-boone/i-would-never-eat-just-coffee-cake-for-breakfast-i-think-i-m-too/) [Benson Boone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benson-boone/) > [I grew up in a very small town and I loved it. I kind of grew up in the mountains and I backpacked a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benson-boone/i-grew-up-in-a-very-small-town-and-i-loved-it-i-kind-of-grew-up-in/) [Benson Boone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benson-boone/) > [I've never wanted to do something that wouldn't be fulfilling, so behind the music and the singing, I love being happy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benson-boone/i-ve-never-wanted-to-do-something-that-wouldn-t-be-fulfilling-so/) [Benson Boone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benson-boone/) > [Really, that's all I want to do - make people feel happy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benson-boone/really-that-s-all-i-want-to-do-make-people-feel-happy/) [Benson Boone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benson-boone/) > [I've always had a very great appreciation for older music. That's honestly where a lot of my musical instincts come from.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benson-boone/i-ve-always-had-a-very-great-appreciation-for-older-music-that-s/) [Benson Boone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benson-boone/) > [Behind the scenes, I'm a kid from Washington just trying to be happy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benson-boone/behind-the-scenes-i-m-a-kid-from-washington-just-trying-to-be-happy/) [Benson Boone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benson-boone/) > [Some of them take weeks, some of them take months, some of them take days. Each song is so incredibly different.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benson-boone/some-of-them-take-weeks-some-of-them-take-months-some-of-them-take/) [Benson Boone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benson-boone/) > [I couldn't sleep one night, and I didn't know what to do, so I came downstairs and started playing the piano. That's when I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benson-boone/i-couldn-t-sleep-one-night-and-i-didn-t-know-what-to-do-so-i-came/) [Benson Boone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benson-boone/) > [It's amazing that what I'm doing speaks to fans and that they want to see me perform.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benson-boone/it-s-amazing-that-what-i-m-doing-speaks-to-fans-and-that-they-want-to/) [Benson Boone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benson-boone/) [Explore all 96 Benson Boone quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benson-boone/) ## More I think quotes > [I think performing has pretty much always been a part of me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isa-briones/i-think-performing-has-pretty-much-always-been-a-part-of-me/) [Isa Briones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isa-briones/) > [I don't think there's a direct correlation between my sexuality and my skiing ability. But I think because I was so concerned about it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gus-kenworthy/i-don-t-think-there-s-a-direct-correlation-between-my-sexuality-and/) [Gus Kenworthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gus-kenworthy/) > [I'm not here trying to convince anybody to vote for Donald Trump. I think every Christian needs to make up his own mind about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-jeffress/i-m-not-here-trying-to-convince-anybody-to-vote-for-donald-trump-i/) [Robert Jeffress](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-jeffress/) > [I think you can get, as a player, stuck in the mindset of trying too hard to prove yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trinity-rodman/i-think-you-can-get-as-a-player-stuck-in-the-mindset-of-trying-too/) [Trinity Rodman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trinity-rodman/) > [I love casting against type and doing things you wouldn't expect, because I think you get more interesting performances that way. Hollywood loves to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-s-goyer/i-love-casting-against-type-and-doing-things-you-wouldn-t-expect/) [David S. Goyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-s-goyer/) > [I don't crave applause. I'm not one of those guys who comes alive on stage. I'm much more alive at home, I think.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-bowie/i-don-t-crave-applause-i-m-not-one-of-those-guys-who-comes-alive-on/) [David Bowie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-bowie/) > [William Maxwell's my favorite North American writer, I think. And an Irish writer who used to write for 'The New Yorker' called Maeve Brennan,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-munro/william-maxwell-s-my-favorite-north-american-writer-i-think-and-an/) [Alice Munro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-munro/) > [I think a person has to just be herself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-nixon/i-think-a-person-has-to-just-be-herself/) [Pat Nixon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-nixon/) > [I think I am against stereotype. Generally, Asian guys are more quiet - they study and have a good work ethic. Generally, I have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bobby-lee/i-think-i-am-against-stereotype-generally-asian-guys-are-more-quiet/) [Bobby Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bobby-lee/) > [I think taking a hookline of a hit song and making a new song is fun.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tulsi-kumar/i-think-taking-a-hookline-of-a-hit-song-and-making-a-new-song-is-fun/) [Tulsi Kumar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tulsi-kumar/) > [I thought I fought a really good Orlando Salido. I never let him get into his fight. I knew what I needed to do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mikey-garcia/i-thought-i-fought-a-really-good-orlando-salido-i-never-let-him-get/) [Mikey Garcia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mikey-garcia/) > [If you stood me in a costume next to a computer graphic of the same-looking character, I think there would be a difference. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warwick-davis/if-you-stood-me-in-a-costume-next-to-a-computer-graphic-of-the-same/) [Warwick Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warwick-davis/) > [I think I've had the longest career of strength, focus, and still being able to sell records. I think I'm that guy. I'm still…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nas/i-think-i-ve-had-the-longest-career-of-strength-focus-and-still-being/) [Nas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nas/) > [I think it's a wonderful thing, turning 50. I think everyone should do it at least once.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elvis-duran/i-think-it-s-a-wonderful-thing-turning-50-i-think-everyone-should-do/) [Elvis Duran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elvis-duran/) > [I would have done well as a gypsy child, I think. A circus baby. I coulda played a great street urchin or ragamuffin. Or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natasha-lyonne/i-would-have-done-well-as-a-gypsy-child-i-think-a-circus-baby-i/) [Natasha Lyonne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natasha-lyonne/) Browse all 29,267 I think quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Growing up I listened to a lot of Billy Joel, Sam Smith, Adele, Stevie Wonder, and Queen; these are artists who use their voice as the main instrument for their songs. 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