--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: My first triumph was turning Elton John's…" description: "\"My first triumph was turning Elton John's 'Benny and the Jets' into a gospel tune.\" — Kirk Franklin" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c93/kirk-franklin-4036_benny_my-first-triumph-was-turning-elton-john_68696.jpg" --- # My first triumph was turning Elton John's 'Benny and the… ![“My first triumph was turning Elton John's 'Benny and the Jets' into a gospel tune.” quote by Kirk Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c93/kirk-franklin-4036_benny_my-first-triumph-was-turning-elton-john_68696.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c93/kirk-franklin-4036_benny_my-first-triumph-was-turning-elton-john_68696.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c93/kirk-franklin-4036_benny_my-first-triumph-was-turning-elton-john_68696.jpg) > “My first triumph was turning Elton John's 'Benny and the Jets' into a gospel tune.” [Kirk Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kirk-franklin/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The speaker describes a creative breakthrough: reimagining a pop song as a gospel arrangement, showcasing genre‑blending and musical innovation. **In simple terms:** Genre‑fusion breakthrough Key Takeaway Music can be transformed across styles Themes creativity musical adaptation cultural crossover innovation genre blending Mood excited playful proud Type anecdotal creative musical When to use this quote - arranging a cover for a church service - producing a crossover album - teaching students about genre adaptation - reworking a hit for a talent show - creating a viral social‑media remix Key Concepts arrangement gospel tradition pop culture musical reinterpretation Practical Applications - producing genre‑blending tracks - educating on musical arrangement Questions to Reflect On - How does changing a song’s style affect its emotional impact? - What challenges arise when merging distinct musical traditions? ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Christianity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/christianity/) [Gospel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gospel/) [Triumph](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/triumph/) ## Related quotes > [If our lives are out of tune with the music of the gospel, we must tune them up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wilford-w-andersen/if-our-lives-are-out-of-tune-with-the-music-of-the-gospel-we-must/) [Wilford W. Andersen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wilford-w-andersen/) > [Stand-up comedy is a very hard thing on the spirit. There are people who transcend it, like Jack Benny and Steve Martin, but in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-nichols/stand-up-comedy-is-a-very-hard-thing-on-the-spirit-there-are-people/) [Mike Nichols](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-nichols/) > [Hip-hop means everything to Benny The Butcher.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benny-the-butcher/hip-hop-means-everything-to-benny-the-butcher/) [Benny the Butcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benny-the-butcher/) > [I love Benny Hill. He one of my favourites of aaall time. Like, the way Benny did it, he was just amazing. Just seeing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/snoop-dogg/i-love-benny-hill-he-one-of-my-favourites-of-aaall-time-like-the-way/) [Snoop Dogg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/snoop-dogg/) > [I love Glenn Gould. Max Steiner. John Williams. Louis Prima. Benny Goodman. Miles Davis. John Philip Sousa.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-giacchino/i-love-glenn-gould-max-steiner-john-williams-louis-prima-benny/) [Michael Giacchino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-giacchino/) > [“Now go to sleep with the promise of me, and tomorrow I'll make certain I do somethin' to fulfill it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristen-ashley/now-go-to-sleep-with-the-promise-of-me-and-tomorrow-i-ll-make-certain/) [Kristen Ashley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristen-ashley/) > [Jack Benny really liked my book. I know because he called me up from the library and told me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-hope/jack-benny-really-liked-my-book-i-know-because-he-called-me-up-from/) [Bob Hope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-hope/) > [Jack Benny had style from the beginning. He stood straight and walked kind of sideways as if he were being gently shoved by a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-saroyan/jack-benny-had-style-from-the-beginning-he-stood-straight-and-walked/) [William Saroyan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-saroyan/) > [When I was a kid, we didn't eat in restaurants much, but a good report card meant my sister or I could choose anyplace…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rosecrans-baldwin/when-i-was-a-kid-we-didn-t-eat-in-restaurants-much-but-a-good-report/) [Rosecrans Baldwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rosecrans-baldwin/) > [Jack Benny was a very warm person and a very appreciative person.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thurl-ravenscroft/jack-benny-was-a-very-warm-person-and-a-very-appreciative-person/) [Thurl Ravenscroft](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thurl-ravenscroft/) > [Benny was awake again. Happened every morning.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eoin-colfer/benny-was-awake-again-happened-every-morning/) [Eoin Colfer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eoin-colfer/) > [When television began, it modeled itself after radio. Many early television programs were radio programs first. 'My Favorite Wife,' 'The Jack Benny Show,' 'Burns…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-gerrold/when-television-began-it-modeled-itself-after-radio-many-early/) [David Gerrold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-gerrold/) > [People call me Benny. And as long as they put Benedict on my paycheck, I don't care.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benedict-wong/people-call-me-benny-and-as-long-as-they-put-benedict-on-my-paycheck/) [Benedict Wong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benedict-wong/) > [“... she threw herself in his arms and laid a hot, wet one on him. They went at it to catcalls, shouts of encouragement,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristen-ashley/she-threw-herself-in-his-arms-and-laid-a-hot-wet-one-on-him-they-went/) [Kristen Ashley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristen-ashley/) > [Sounded like girls. Mixed feelings on that score. He didn't despise them with the same passion he used to. In fact, Benny suspected that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eoin-colfer/sounded-like-girls-mixed-feelings-on-that-score-he-didn-t-despise/) [Eoin Colfer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eoin-colfer/) ## More by Kirk Franklin > [My phone bill is four thousand dollars when I'm out of the country.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kirk-franklin/my-phone-bill-is-four-thousand-dollars-when-i-m-out-of-the-country/) [Kirk Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kirk-franklin/) > [The world is always waiting for someone to save the day, make things better. We've lost hope in politics, preachers. ... As a child…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kirk-franklin/the-world-is-always-waiting-for-someone-to-save-the-day-make-things/) [Kirk Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kirk-franklin/) > [Every human being was wired with the desire for happiness. And we will try different things all in the pursuit of that feeling.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kirk-franklin/every-human-being-was-wired-with-the-desire-for-happiness-and-we-will/) [Kirk Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kirk-franklin/) > [What's funny is that in the '90s, growing up in the black church, everyone around you was older, so your swag became older.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kirk-franklin/what-s-funny-is-that-in-the-90s-growing-up-in-the-black-church/) [Kirk Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kirk-franklin/) > [Christian music, gospel music, sometimes you'll fall asleep at church but music wakes you up, the song can speak to you in a way…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kirk-franklin/christian-music-gospel-music-sometimes-you-ll-fall-asleep-at-church/) [Kirk Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kirk-franklin/) > [You can't lose with truth. Truth transforms.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kirk-franklin/you-can-t-lose-with-truth-truth-transforms/) [Kirk Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kirk-franklin/) > [If I'm writing and doing music celebrating the Creator, who is the most creative being in the world - I mean, when you look…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kirk-franklin/if-i-m-writing-and-doing-music-celebrating-the-creator-who-is-the/) [Kirk Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kirk-franklin/) > [The mission is to bring Christ to the culture.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kirk-franklin/the-mission-is-to-bring-christ-to-the-culture/) [Kirk Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kirk-franklin/) > [People come to my concerts from all walks of life. I tried to break barriers down.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kirk-franklin/people-come-to-my-concerts-from-all-walks-of-life-i-tried-to-break/) [Kirk Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kirk-franklin/) > [I know God is working so I smile!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kirk-franklin/i-know-god-is-working-so-i-smile/) [Kirk Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kirk-franklin/) > [God may allow us at times to hit rock bottom, to show us He's the rock-at the bottom.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kirk-franklin/god-may-allow-us-at-times-to-hit-rock-bottom-to-show-us-he-s-the-rock/) [Kirk Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kirk-franklin/) > [I want young people to realize that they don't have to go to the world to find joy and peace, they can find it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kirk-franklin/i-want-young-people-to-realize-that-they-don-t-have-to-go-to-the/) [Kirk Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kirk-franklin/) > [I am a Christian. With all my being. My heart loves Jesus 100.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kirk-franklin/i-am-a-christian-with-all-my-being-my-heart-loves-jesus-100/) [Kirk Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kirk-franklin/) > [I really love New York. I just love the aesthetics and the spirit of New York. I've just always loved the energy of it.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kirk-franklin/i-really-love-new-york-i-just-love-the-aesthetics-and-the-spirit-of/) [Kirk Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kirk-franklin/) > [Love cannot exist without truth, but truth cannot exist without love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kirk-franklin/love-cannot-exist-without-truth-but-truth-cannot-exist-without-love/) [Kirk Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kirk-franklin/) [Explore all 117 Kirk Franklin quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kirk-franklin/) ## More Benny quotes > [Stand-up comedy is a very hard thing on the spirit. There are people who transcend it, like Jack Benny and Steve Martin, but in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-nichols/stand-up-comedy-is-a-very-hard-thing-on-the-spirit-there-are-people/) [Mike Nichols](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-nichols/) > [“... she threw herself in his arms and laid a hot, wet one on him. They went at it to catcalls, shouts of encouragement,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristen-ashley/she-threw-herself-in-his-arms-and-laid-a-hot-wet-one-on-him-they-went/) [Kristen Ashley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristen-ashley/) > [People call me Benny. And as long as they put Benedict on my paycheck, I don't care.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benedict-wong/people-call-me-benny-and-as-long-as-they-put-benedict-on-my-paycheck/) [Benedict Wong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benedict-wong/) > [When television began, it modeled itself after radio. Many early television programs were radio programs first. 'My Favorite Wife,' 'The Jack Benny Show,' 'Burns…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-gerrold/when-television-began-it-modeled-itself-after-radio-many-early/) [David Gerrold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-gerrold/) > [Benny was awake again. Happened every morning.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eoin-colfer/benny-was-awake-again-happened-every-morning/) [Eoin Colfer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eoin-colfer/) > [Jack Benny was a very warm person and a very appreciative person.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thurl-ravenscroft/jack-benny-was-a-very-warm-person-and-a-very-appreciative-person/) [Thurl Ravenscroft](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thurl-ravenscroft/) > [When I was a kid, we didn't eat in restaurants much, but a good report card meant my sister or I could choose anyplace…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rosecrans-baldwin/when-i-was-a-kid-we-didn-t-eat-in-restaurants-much-but-a-good-report/) [Rosecrans Baldwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rosecrans-baldwin/) > [Jack Benny had style from the beginning. He stood straight and walked kind of sideways as if he were being gently shoved by a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-saroyan/jack-benny-had-style-from-the-beginning-he-stood-straight-and-walked/) [William Saroyan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-saroyan/) > [Jack Benny really liked my book. I know because he called me up from the library and told me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-hope/jack-benny-really-liked-my-book-i-know-because-he-called-me-up-from/) [Bob Hope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-hope/) > [“Now go to sleep with the promise of me, and tomorrow I'll make certain I do somethin' to fulfill it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristen-ashley/now-go-to-sleep-with-the-promise-of-me-and-tomorrow-i-ll-make-certain/) [Kristen Ashley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristen-ashley/) > [I love Glenn Gould. Max Steiner. John Williams. Louis Prima. Benny Goodman. Miles Davis. John Philip Sousa.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-giacchino/i-love-glenn-gould-max-steiner-john-williams-louis-prima-benny/) [Michael Giacchino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-giacchino/) > [I love Benny Hill. He one of my favourites of aaall time. Like, the way Benny did it, he was just amazing. Just seeing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/snoop-dogg/i-love-benny-hill-he-one-of-my-favourites-of-aaall-time-like-the-way/) [Snoop Dogg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/snoop-dogg/) > [Hip-hop means everything to Benny The Butcher.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benny-the-butcher/hip-hop-means-everything-to-benny-the-butcher/) [Benny the Butcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benny-the-butcher/) > [Sounded like girls. Mixed feelings on that score. He didn't despise them with the same passion he used to. In fact, Benny suspected that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eoin-colfer/sounded-like-girls-mixed-feelings-on-that-score-he-didn-t-despise/) [Eoin Colfer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eoin-colfer/) > [“I hope you know Benny, that when I take out your men, I mean no disrespect. But I'm in love with this girl, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamie-mcguire/i-hope-you-know-benny-that-when-i-take-out-your-men-i-mean-no/) [Jamie McGuire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamie-mcguire/) Browse all 57 Benny quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "My first triumph was turning Elton John's 'Benny and the Jets' into a gospel tune.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Kirk Franklin" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kirk-franklin/my-first-triumph-was-turning-elton-john-s-benny-and-the-jets-into-a/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Benny" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kirk-franklin/my-first-triumph-was-turning-elton-john-s-benny-and-the-jets-into-a/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c93/kirk-franklin-4036_benny_my-first-triumph-was-turning-elton-john_68696.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c93/kirk-franklin-4036_benny_my-first-triumph-was-turning-elton-john_68696.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c93/kirk-franklin-4036_benny_my-first-triumph-was-turning-elton-john_68696.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“My first triumph was turning Elton John's 'Benny and the Jets' into a gospel tune.” — Kirk Franklin", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Kirk Franklin", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kirk-franklin/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "My first triumph was turning Elton...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kirk-franklin/my-first-triumph-was-turning-elton-john-s-benny-and-the-jets-into-a/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kirk-franklin/my-first-triumph-was-turning-elton-john-s-benny-and-the-jets-into-a/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```