--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When I started to sing like myself - as…" description: "\"When I started to sing like myself - as opposed to imitating Nat Cole, which I had done for a while - when I started singing like Ray Charles, it had t..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bbe/ray-charles-6406_controversial_when-i-started-to-sing-like-myself-as-op_2596469.jpg" --- # When I started to sing like myself - as opposed to… ![“When I started to sing like myself - as opposed to imitating Nat Cole, which I had done for a while - when I started singing like Ray Charles, it had this spiritual and churchy, this religious or gospel sound. It had this holiness and preachy tone to it. It was very controversial. I got a lot of…” quote by Ray Charles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bbe/ray-charles-6406_controversial_when-i-started-to-sing-like-myself-as-op_2596469.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bbe/ray-charles-6406_controversial_when-i-started-to-sing-like-myself-as-op_2596469.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bbe/ray-charles-6406_controversial_when-i-started-to-sing-like-myself-as-op_2596469.jpg) > “When I started to sing like myself - as opposed to imitating Nat Cole, which I had done for a while - when I started singing like Ray Charles, it had this spiritual and churchy, this religious or gospel sound. It had this holiness and preachy tone to it. It was very controversial. I got a lot of criticism for it.” [Ray Charles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-charles/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He shifted from imitating to authentic expression, adding gospel influences, which sparked controversy and criticism. **In simple terms:** He moved to his own style, gaining both praise and backlash. Key Takeaway Embrace authentic voice despite criticism. Themes authenticity musical influence controversy Mood reflective defiant Type musical personal When to use this quote - performing - recording - public reception - critical feedback Key Concepts gospel tradition artistic identity Questions to Reflect On - How does authenticity affect audience perception? - What risks come with changing style? A Different Perspective Critics may dismiss innovation as disrespectful to tradition. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Controversial](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/controversial/) [Criticism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/criticism/) [Done](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/done/) [Gospel Sound](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gospel-sound-1907662/) [Holiness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/holiness/) [Imitating](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/imitating/) [Ray charles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ray-charles/) [Rays](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rays/) [Religious](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religious/) [Singing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/singing/) [Singing Like](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/singing-like/) [Sound](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sound/) [Spiritual](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/spiritual/) [Started Singing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/started-singing/) [Tone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tone/) [Tone Controversial](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tone-controversial-1907663/) ## Related quotes > [Growing around great musicians, you just can't help it. I identified with it immediately. It was something that was so natural to me that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/whitney-houston/growing-around-great-musicians-you-just-can-t-help-it-i-identified/) [Whitney Houston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/whitney-houston/) > [“When Johnson started singing, he seemed like a guy who could have sprung from the head of Zeus in full armor.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-dylan/when-johnson-started-singing-he-seemed-like-a-guy-who-could-have/) [Bob Dylan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-dylan/) > [Music's been around a long time, and there's going to be music long after Ray Charles is dead. I just want to make my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-charles/music-s-been-around-a-long-time-and-there-s-going-to-be-music-long/) [Ray Charles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-charles/) > [Somebody will come on TV singing, and you're like, 'Oh my God! I mean, they suck! You know, who signed them?' Well, it's just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/blake-shelton/somebody-will-come-on-tv-singing-and-you-re-like-oh-my-god-i-mean/) [Blake Shelton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/blake-shelton/) > [Singing is also like acting, since I memorize my lines, and I sing with emotions, too.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-min-ho/singing-is-also-like-acting-since-i-memorize-my-lines-and-i-sing-with/) [Lee Min-ho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-min-ho/) > [I like singing as much as I like acting, and all through high school I thought I might be a Broadway singer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zooey-deschanel/i-like-singing-as-much-as-i-like-acting-and-all-through-high-school-i/) [Zooey Deschanel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zooey-deschanel/) > [Singing is like going to a party at someone else's house. Acting is like having the party at your own house.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cher/singing-is-like-going-to-a-party-at-someone-else-s-house-acting-is/) [Cher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cher/) > [Singing like I do is very hard, and as you get older, it's getting harder and harder all the time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wilson-pickett/singing-like-i-do-is-very-hard-and-as-you-get-older-it-s-getting/) [Wilson Pickett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wilson-pickett/) > [I've been writing songs since I was, like, five and I've been singing since, like, I can't remember.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taylor-momsen/i-ve-been-writing-songs-since-i-was-like-five-and-i-ve-been-singing/) [Taylor Momsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taylor-momsen/) > [Everybody's singing like hey na na na hey hey na na na na.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/3oh-3/everybody-s-singing-like-hey-na-na-na-hey-hey-na-na-na-na/) [3OH!3](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/3oh-3/) > [In my songs there are no bad words, so kids can sing them, and girls can identify with singing with them, too, because it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karol-g/in-my-songs-there-are-no-bad-words-so-kids-can-sing-them-and-girls/) [Karol G](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karol-g/) > [I didn't even know what 'The Voice' was, but my mom said, 'I signed you up for this singing show,' and I was like,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/morgan-wallen/i-didn-t-even-know-what-the-voice-was-but-my-mom-said-i-signed-you-up/) [Morgan Wallen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/morgan-wallen/) > [When I was 14, I heard Otis Redding in a club local to me, and I was blown away. It leaped out at me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-rodgers/when-i-was-14-i-heard-otis-redding-in-a-club-local-to-me-and-i-was/) [Paul Rodgers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-rodgers/) > [I believe there is a different kind of beauty, the beauty of being honest, of being yourself, of singing it like you feel it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/porter-wagoner/i-believe-there-is-a-different-kind-of-beauty-the-beauty-of-being/) [Porter Wagoner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/porter-wagoner/) > [There were some things that I found I really enjoyed singing about; like, on the title track, there's this film-noir character of a woman…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-krall/there-were-some-things-that-i-found-i-really-enjoyed-singing-about/) [Diana Krall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-krall/) ## More by Ray Charles > [Learning to read music in Braille and play by ear helped me develop a damn good memory.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-charles/learning-to-read-music-in-braille-and-play-by-ear-helped-me-develop-a/) [Ray Charles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-charles/) > [The important thing is to feel your music, really feel it and believe it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-charles/the-important-thing-is-to-feel-your-music-really-feel-it-and-believe/) [Ray Charles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-charles/) > [I suppose I've always done my share of crying, especially when there's no other way to contain my feelings. I know that men ain't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-charles/i-suppose-i-ve-always-done-my-share-of-crying-especially-when-there-s/) [Ray Charles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-charles/) > [You never can overwhelm an instrument. You will never get out all that's in an instrument. An instrument will bring you to your limits.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-charles/you-never-can-overwhelm-an-instrument-you-will-never-get-out-all-that/) [Ray Charles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-charles/) > [I'd like to think that when I sing a song, I can let you know all about the heartbreak, struggle, lies and kicks in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-charles/i-d-like-to-think-that-when-i-sing-a-song-i-can-let-you-know-all/) [Ray Charles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-charles/) > [I never wanted to be famous. I only wanted to be great.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-charles/i-never-wanted-to-be-famous-i-only-wanted-to-be-great/) [Ray Charles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-charles/) > [I don't know what would have happened to me if I hadn't been able to hear.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-charles/i-don-t-know-what-would-have-happened-to-me-if-i-hadn-t-been-able-to/) [Ray Charles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-charles/) > [Any artist, when he goes in to record, should have the feeling that any song he records can be a hit. This may sound…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-charles/any-artist-when-he-goes-in-to-record-should-have-the-feeling-that-any/) [Ray Charles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-charles/) > [The words to country songs are very earthy like the blues. They're not as dressed up and the people are very honest and say,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-charles/the-words-to-country-songs-are-very-earthy-like-the-blues-they-re-not/) [Ray Charles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-charles/) > [If you can play the blues, you can do anything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-charles/if-you-can-play-the-blues-you-can-do-anything/) [Ray Charles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-charles/) > [Dreams, if they're any good, are always a little bit crazy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-charles/dreams-if-they-re-any-good-are-always-a-little-bit-crazy/) [Ray Charles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-charles/) > [Music to me is just like breathing. I have to have it. It's part of me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-charles/music-to-me-is-just-like-breathing-i-have-to-have-it-it-s-part-of-me/) [Ray Charles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-charles/) > [I set my own rhythm, and I do believe it was usually a little faster than most other people's.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-charles/i-set-my-own-rhythm-and-i-do-believe-it-was-usually-a-little-faster/) [Ray Charles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-charles/) > [I was born with music inside me](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-charles/i-was-born-with-music-inside-me/) [Ray Charles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-charles/) > [I had to pawn my clothes just to pay my rent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-charles/i-had-to-pawn-my-clothes-just-to-pay-my-rent/) [Ray Charles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-charles/) [Explore all 98 Ray Charles quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-charles/) ## More Controversial quotes > [I'd be very controversial if I said why, and I don't do controversial anymore. That's too passé. So last year. Being controversial is boring…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-i-a/i-d-be-very-controversial-if-i-said-why-and-i-don-t-do-controversial/) [M.I.A](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-i-a/) > [Ninety-eight percent of the things that come out of my mouth are intended to be harmless or even charming. They're not ever intended to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/megan-fox/ninety-eight-percent-of-the-things-that-come-out-of-my-mouth-are/) [Megan Fox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/megan-fox/) > [For a lot of women, one of the hardest things about leadership is the desire to be liked by everyone. That's often inconsistent with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-weddington/for-a-lot-of-women-one-of-the-hardest-things-about-leadership-is-the/) [Sarah Weddington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-weddington/) > [The chief beneficiary of life insurance policies for young, single people is the life insurance agent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wes-smith/the-chief-beneficiary-of-life-insurance-policies-for-young-single/) [Wes Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wes-smith/) > [If art is singular expression, then by nature, the best art is controversial. But when art stirs debate for reasons besides its artistic integrity,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ridley/if-art-is-singular-expression-then-by-nature-the-best-art-is/) [John Ridley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ridley/) > [Here - at this final hour, Harlem has come to bid farewell to one of its brightest hopes - extinguished now, and gone from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ossie-davis/here-at-this-final-hour-harlem-has-come-to-bid-farewell-to-one-of-its/) [Ossie Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ossie-davis/) > [Those who misrepresent the normal experiences of life, who decry being controversial, who shun risk, are the enemies of the American way of life,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-wriston/those-who-misrepresent-the-normal-experiences-of-life-who-decry-being/) [Henry Wriston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-wriston/) > [“My personal analysis is that the media have made the AI-safety debate seem more controversial than it really is. After all, fear sells, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-tegmark/my-personal-analysis-is-that-the-media-have-made-the-ai-safety-debate/) [Max Tegmark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-tegmark/) > [I think if I'm controversial it's not because I set out to be. It's because I've never felt comfortable being part of someone else's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-judt/i-think-if-i-m-controversial-it-s-not-because-i-set-out-to-be-it-s/) [Tony Judt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-judt/) > [I was very willing to take on controversial roles that people didn't really want to look at.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rosie-perez/i-was-very-willing-to-take-on-controversial-roles-that-people-didn-t/) [Rosie Perez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rosie-perez/) > [I get called 'controversial' all the time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-moore/i-get-called-controversial-all-the-time/) [Michael Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-moore/) > [ I curated this show \[Shanghai Biennale \], I was by no means trying to shock people or be controversial. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ai-weiwei/i-curated-this-show-shanghai-biennale-i-was-by-no-means-trying-to/) [Ai Weiwei](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ai-weiwei/) > [“When you fear nothing, you have nothing to fear”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/s-f-chandler/when-you-fear-nothing-you-have-nothing-to-fear/) [S.F. Chandler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/s-f-chandler/) > [I've been a very effective leader in the gay rights movement, though at times I've been controversial.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-o-leary/i-ve-been-a-very-effective-leader-in-the-gay-rights-movement-though/) [Jean O'Leary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-o-leary/) > [“At the time, though, vaccination was controversial. Many were opposed.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-wright/at-the-time-though-vaccination-was-controversial-many-were-opposed/) [Jennifer Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-wright/) [Browse all 486 Controversial quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/controversial/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "When I started to sing like myself - as opposed to imitating Nat Cole, which I had done for a while - when I started singing like Ray Charles, it had this spiritual and churchy, this religious or gospel sound. It had this holiness and preachy tone to it. It was very controversial. I got a lot of criticism for it.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Ray Charles" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-charles/when-i-started-to-sing-like-myself-as-opposed-to-imitating-nat-cole/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Controversial" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-charles/when-i-started-to-sing-like-myself-as-opposed-to-imitating-nat-cole/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bbe/ray-charles-6406_controversial_when-i-started-to-sing-like-myself-as-op_2596469.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bbe/ray-charles-6406_controversial_when-i-started-to-sing-like-myself-as-op_2596469.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bbe/ray-charles-6406_controversial_when-i-started-to-sing-like-myself-as-op_2596469.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“When I started to sing like myself - as opposed to imitating Nat Cole, which I had done for a while - when I…” — Ray Charles", "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": "Ray Charles", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-charles/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "When I started to sing like...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-charles/when-i-started-to-sing-like-myself-as-opposed-to-imitating-nat-cole/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-charles/when-i-started-to-sing-like-myself-as-opposed-to-imitating-nat-cole/#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 } } ] } ```