6 Gloria Estefan Quotes on Songwriting

Gloria Estefan quotes on songwriting

13. Emilio and I like projects to breathe and grow. We started with a concept -- write songs, make demos, then let the guest stars listen to them and then afffect the writing process. For Jose Feliciano, I had written a chorus and a bit of a melody. He started playing the chorus and ad-libbing. I went, 'This is the [stuff]! Forget my melody!' Carlos Santana worked just the other way. He wanted me to record a plished take singing first, so his playing could recreate my emotion. I got goose bumps [writing '90 Millas']. Like in 'Esperando,' which is addressed to Cubans on the island. Those of us in America, we're like the bogeyman, but I wanted Cubans at home to know: Whatever happened doesn't matter. The future is for us to heal. Adn also: because we're here, we latched onto any part of our culture. Yes and no [this is a political record]. Politics is life, so yes. but it's not specific. Saying that 90 miles haven't divided us sends a message about freedom for Cuba -- and for everyone.

60. Well, if you compare my album even as late as two years ago, I think as a writer I am much more at the forefront. I wrote all the lyrics and lots of the music on that album. It shows humor of the writer side of me. But I have evolved since then.

119. When you are happy it is harder to write [songs].

122. When I wrote 'Words Get in the Way' my husband and I had just had a horrendous argument . . . . [After it was an international hit] My husband said, 'We have to have more arguments.'

166. I can tell you I wrote every single word in this [her first children's] book -- in English and Spanish. I've been writing poetry and stories since I was a kid. And I am a songwriter. But you have limitations when you are a songwriter . . . . It was really a luxury to have 31 pages to expound upon.

213. I am especially proud that I have been recognized as a songwriter with the BMI award I received in 1989. You see, it is one thing to be able to sing and entertain, and another completely different one to be recognized as a songwriter. Songwriters are sometimes the 'unsung heroes' of music making and it takes a lot of insight and community awareness to be able to write songs that appeal to the masses.