"If a song's about something I've experienced or that could've happened to me it's good. But if it's alien to me, I couldn't lend anything to it. Because that's what soul is all about"

In this quote, legendary singer Aretha Franklin is revealing her belief that a song is only genuinely good if it resonates with her own personal experiences. She discusses that if a song is about something she has actually gone through or might have gone through, then she can connect with it and bring her own feelings and experiences to the efficiency. However, if the tune is about something completely foreign to her, she feels that she can not do it justice due to the fact that it does not have the soul and credibility that originates from individual connection. This quote highlights the importance of personal experiences and emotions in creating meaningful and powerful music.