Pop singers

"I've never really lived a conventional life, so I think it's quite foolish for me or anyone else to start thinking that I am going to start making conventional choices."

"To rule the world."

"Now there's no point in placing the blame And you should know I'd suffer the same"

"A lot of people are just really confused by me; they don’t know what to think of me, so they try to compartmentalize me or diminish me. Maybe they just feel unsafe. But any time you have an overtly emotional or irrational, negative reaction to something, you’re fearing something that it’s bringing up in you."

"Better to live one year as a tiger, than a hundred as sheep."

"I love horses. I think I may have been one of Henry VIII’s knights in another life, riding through a great forest."

"I just like the idea of pills. I like to collect them but not actually take them. When I fell off my horse, I got tons of stuff: Demerol and Vicodin and Xanax and Valium and Oxycontin, which is supposed to be like heroin. And I'm quite scared to take them. I'm a control freak."

"I'm tough, ambitious, and I know exactly what I want. If that makes me a bitch, okay."

"I wanted to be a boy when I was growing up because I was in love with all of the male dancers I knew and they were all gay. And I thought, Well, if I was a boy, they'd love me. So I got into role-playing then. That's where it began. I remember when I was still in high school, I had cut my hair off really short, and I was totally anorexic - I had no boobs - and I would dress like a boy and go to gay clubs and my goal was to trick men into thinking I was a boy."

"I have the most perfect belly button. When I stick my fingers in it, I feel a nerve in the center of my body shoot up my spine."

"I liked my body growing up and I wasn't ashamed of it. I liked boys and didn't feel inhibited by them. Maybe it comes from having brothers and sharing a bathroom. The boys got the wrong impression of me at high school. They mistook forwardness for promiscuity. When they don't get what they want, they turn on you. I went through this period when all the girls thought I was loose and the boys said I was a nymphomaniac. The first boy I ever slept with was my boyfriend and we'd been going out a long time."

"I'm not interested in being Wonder Woman in the delivery room. Give me drugs."

"She never had public favor; it was a bit like the Hillary Clinton thing. She did all the right things for her country, but she wasn't ultimately revered. So she had a conversation with her confidant-adviser. She asked him, when have they ever looked up to or idolized a woman? Only one, he told her, the Virgin Mary. So she said, Then I will become like the Virgin Mary, and she did. She created a facade for herself; she stopped having lovers; she became like a virgin. She became sexless, and painted her face in a white alabaster way, and turned herself into an icon that was untouchable and sexless, and then she had everybody's respect."

"Phallic symbols. You know Catholics. I used to draw people naked all the time in my art class and my nun teachers used to tell me I had to put clothes on them. So I just drew lines around their bodies. See-through clothes."

"I've always known that Catholicism is a completely sexist, repressed, sin- and punishment-based religion."

"Fame is a by-product. Fame is something that should happen because you do work that speaks to people and people want to know about your work. Unfortunately the personality of people has taken over from the work and the artistry and it's this thing now that stands on its own. I don't think one should ever aspire to being famous."

"I must have been Japanese in a previous life. I'm pretty sure I was a warrioress. I can't explain it, I just know. I'm good at fighting - fighting with a big sword."

"This is a historical evening. This is fucking important evening... We are lucky to be sharing it with each other. This is the beginning of a whole new world. Open your fucking head!"

"If we can elect an African American as president, we can support gay marriage! Defeat prop 8! We will not give up!"

"One is that we are all responsible for our actions, our behavior, and our words, and we must take responsibility for everything we say and do. When you get your head wrapped around that, you can no longer think of life as a series of random events - you participate in life in a way you didn't previously. I am the architect of my destiny. I am in charge. I bring that to me, or I push that away. You can no longer blame other people for things that happened to you. The other is that there is order in the universe, even though it looks like chaos. We separate the world into categories: this is good and this is bad. But life is set up to trick us. It's a series of illusions we invest in. And ultimately those investments don't serve our understanding, because physicality is always going to let you down, because physicality doesn't last."

""When I experienced what was going on first hand, I just got sucked into the whole thing. Thank God I did. I met some amazing people and, hopefully, I’ve changed the lives of a lot of children. Just as important, I think it’s been an incredible growing and learning experience for me." (About her work in Malawi)."

"Not only does society suffer from racism and sexism but it also suffers from ageism. Once you reach a certain age you're not allowed to be adventurous, you're not allowed to be sexual. I mean, is there a rule? Are you supposed to just die?"

""Publicly humiliating someone for your own gain will only come and haunt you. God’s going to have his revenge."

"I hate polite conversation. I hate it when people stand around and go, 'Hi, how are you?' I hate words that don't have any reason or meaning. Also I hate it when people smoke in elevators and closed in places. It's just so rude."

"I don't take drugs. I never did. All the feelings that drugs are supposed to produce in you - confidence or energy - I can produce naturally. The only problem is going to sleep. But I never take pills... I drink herbal teas."

"I think that life is a paradox and you have to embrace that in your work and your belief systems... you can't be a literalist, and that's the trouble that people always find themselves in. That's why people always hit a wall with any of my stuff, because you can't take it literally."

"One of my all-time favourite poets is Charles Bukowski. I think he's the coolest guy in the world."

"I'm not a feminist, I'm a humanist."

"Listen, everyone is entitled to my opinion."

"That consciousness is everything and that all things begin with a thought. That we are responsible for our own fate, we reap what we sow, we get what we give, we pull in what we put out. I know these things for sure."

"I am because we are. We all bleed the same color. We all want to love and be loved."

"Be strong, believe in freedom and in God, love yourself, understand your sexuality, have a sense of humor, masturbate, don't judge people by their religion, color or sexual habits, love life and your family."

"Every time I do a show, I die a little bit, but no shit is worth doing unless you're willing to die for it."

"I pay attention to what’s going on around me. I’m always looking for new energy, new talent, new voices. When you do that I think it’s easier to come up with fresh ideas. It's not that my career has been based on surprising people, but it’s been about challenging myself — to constantly do new things that are going to broaden my own mind and in the process, hopefully, connect with other people."

"Family is everything. Family comes first. It's not what I expected it to be, but nothing ever is."

"Now that I got everyone's attention, what do I have to say?"

"I'm not going to compromise my artistic integrity."

"I went to New York. I had a dream. I wanted to be a big star. I didn’t know anybody. I wanted to dance. I wanted to sing. I wanted to do all those things. I wanted to make people happy. I wanted to be famous. I wanted everybody to love me. I wanted to be a star. I worked really hard and my dream came true."

"I have a cage It's called the stage When I'm let out I run about And sing and dance and sweat and yell I have so many tales to tell I like to push things to the edge And inch my way along the ledge I feel like God, I feel like shit The paradox, an even split It's just a job, I always say I should be grateful everyday Sometimes I think I just can't do it But I persist and I get through it And I console myself each night At least my cage is filled with light."

"I haven't got much time to waste It's time to make my way I'm not afraid of what I'll face But I'm afraid to stay."

"Poor is the man whose pleasures depend on the permission of another."

"Most priests are gay."

"Come on girls! Do you believe in love? Cause I got something to say about it."

"I was sacked from Dunkin' Donuts for squirting the donuts jelly all over the customers."

"Rejection is the greatest aphrodisiac."

"The cross is a very powerful symbol and it symbolizes suffering, but it also is connected to a person who was loving and sharing and his message was about unconditional love. I tried to take a powerful image and use it to draw attention to a situation that needs attention. For me, we all need to be Jesus in our time. Jesus' message was to love your neighbor as yourself and these are people in need."

"I fear the future I wish for my children is at risk, so I'm taking action. Please join me. Our greatest risk is not terrorism, and it's not Iraq or the "Axis of Evil". Our greatest risk is a lack of leadership, a lack of honesty and a complete lack of consciousness. Unfortunately our current government cannot see the big picture. They think too small. They suffer from the “what's in it for me?” syndrome. The simple truth is that the current administration has squandered incredible opportunities to bring the world together, to promote peace in regions that have only known war, to encourage health in places that are ravaged with disease, to make us more secure by living up to our principles at home and abroad. The simple truth is that the policies of our current administration do not reflect what is great about America."

"It takes a Real man to fill my shoes."

"Maybe I'm just a gay man inside a woman's body!"

"I don't care if you have a small dick, as long as you know how to use that stick."

"Hey you! Don't be silly! Put a rubber on your willie!"

"No man can have sex with anyone but me and since I don't have that kind of time on my hands, you might as well all be gay!"

"I'll flirt with anyone from garbagemen to grandmothers."

"If you don't like my attitude, then you can fuck off, just go to Texas and suck George Bush's dick!"

"When I came to New York it was the first time I'd ever taken a plane, the first time I'd ever gotten a taxi-cab, the first time for everything. And I came here with 35 dollars in my pocket. It was the bravest thing I'd ever done."

"For me, a male image that I'm really moved by is somewhere between of Oscar Wilde type of a male: the fop, the long hair, the suits, too witty for his own good, incredibly smart, scathingly funny - all that. But then my other ideal is more like the Buddhist monk - the shaved head, actually someone who sublimates their sexuality."

"I am attracted to a thug. I like that quality, but I like the other side of it, too. Because all guys who go around behaving in macho ways are really scared little girls. So you have to look beneath the surface. There's a difference between my ideal man and a man that I'm sexually attracted to, believe me. Therein lies the rub."

"Hollywood is about playing the game, and I can't think of any successful actresses who didn't play the game. there's a lot more renegades in the music business, from Patti Smith to Janis Joplin."

"David Bowie has a huge influence on me because his was his first concert I went to see. I remember watching him and thinking I didn't know what sex he was, and it didn't matter. Because one minute he was wearing body stockings - the whole Ziggy Stardust thing - and the next minute he was the Thin White Duke in white double-breasted suits, and there's something so androgynous about him. And I think androgyny, whether it's David Bowie or Helmut Berger, that has really really influenced my work more than anything."

"I am my own experiment. I am my own work of art."

""When I got my first paycheck, $5'000 or something. I bought a Leger and I bought a Frida Kahlo self-portrait, but I don't know which came first. But I remember buying it and I had just gotten married and it looked completely out of place in my house in Malibu." (When asked what was the first painting she bought)."

"I've always been kind of obsessed with Frida Kahlo, so I was really into the idea of getting something that belonged to her. And then from Frida Kahlo I found out about Tina Modotti and then I started collecting her stuff and Edward Weston, and one person always leads to another person with me, because for me it started with Diego Rivera, then it went to Frida Kahlo, then it went to Tina, and Edward and... Also, if you're into Picasso, and you want to find out about him and that whole area of art and European culture, then you start reading about Man Ray and the surrealists and Andre Breton, and all of a sudden you're in that whole world and you start having interests in other people. It's like a disease."

"What else is there for me to conquer? Hopefully my ego. How will I know when I've succeeded? When I stop caring what anyone thinks."

""When in doubt act like god"."

"One must dare to show what he wants. You have to go and ask for things rather than wait for them to happen."

"I'd like to think I am taking people on a journey; I am not just entertaining people, but giving them something to think about when they leave."

"One set of circumstances does not complete you. Maybe nothing ever does. So you work on your life and you work on your 'work' and you try to live every single day like it's your last. And you try to be better, to yourself and to others. I don't always succeed. But I try and it's my goal."

"I stand for freedom of expression, doing what you believe in, and going after your dreams."

"I'm everything!"

"Italians do it Better"

"Life's too short to be bitter, I'm too short to be bitter."

"Beauty is where you find it."

"Absolutely no regrets."

"Once again I am caught in the glare of ageism and misogyny that permeates the world we live in. A world that refuses to celebrate women past the age of 45 and feels the need to punish her if she continues to be strong-willed, hard-working and adventurous. […] I have been degraded by the media since the beginning of my career but I understand that this is all a test and I am happy to do the trailblazing so that all the women behind me can have an easier time in the years to come."

"When I'm hungry, I eat. When I'm thirsty, I drink. And when I feel like saying something, I just say it."

"Madonna: "Is that a rug?" (referring to David Letterman's hair)."

"Letterman: (after the singer brands him a "sick fuck") "You realize this is being broadcast don't you?""

"Madonna: "Listen, all you do is talk about my sex life on your show, so now you don't want to talk about my sex life when I'm on your show?!""

"Letterman: "I want to thank you folks for coming out for this run-through show. Thank you very much. This, of course, will never see the light of day. You won't miss a thing tonight.""

"Letterman: "Oh, stop it! Will you stop? Ladies and gentlemen, turn down your volume. Turn down the volume immediately! She can't be stopped! There's something wrong with her!""

"Madonna: "I am a sick fuck I have my nose in everybody's sex life!""

"Straight men need to be emasculated. I'm sorry. They all need to be slapped around. Women have been kept down for too long. Every straight guy should have a man's tongue in his mouth at least once."

"Then there are guys who say 'I have never fantasized about being with a man.' They are lying. And the least offensive men I've been with in terms of their sexual politics and how they view me as a woman, have been men who have either slept with men, or at least kissed or held a man once. It opens up your thinking. You don't think that women are less-than you are."

"My pussy has nine lives."

"A lot of people are afraid to say what they want. That's why they don't get what they want."

"I think I have a dick in my brain. I don't need to have one between my legs."

"Christopher Ciccone:"

"Guy Ritchie:"

"Joe Henry: "I've known her since I was 15 and she was 17, longer than I've known my wife. We have had a great relationship, and part of that was because I never needed anything from her. I recognised that we were in two different occupations. Not to disparage one ounce of her musicality, I was always of the belief that her persona was her career. Whether she was making a movie or writing a song or punching a photographer, it was all pushing a persona forward, and that was the real body of work. I was never tempted to slip a song to her at thanksgiving.""

"Sean Penn:"

"William Orbit: "You know, she hasn't shouted about her musical abilities, but she is the consummate songwriter. She listens to classic musicals a lot. Not just the obvious ones, like Singin' in the Rain, but the lesser ones. I remember one time we all had dinner in Germany, and somebody brought up old musicals, and she was the one who knew all the verses. And she writes really solid, melodic stuff like that.""

"Sting: "She's outrageous, she's provocative, she's inscrutable. And over the years, we've all been witnessed to her evolution, from street smart kid sister to virgin bride, from sex goddess to a yogi. Her mind is as celebrated as her body, she's as feared as she's desired, she leads while others follow... A woman who is all woman, and all women." ."

"Janet Jackson: "I think she's done wonderful things. She's done great things in her career, in her life, and more power to her."HX magazine March 2008"

"Mary J. Blige: "I don't think the music business, as far as females, would be anything without Madonna.""

"Tupac Shakur: "I was letting people dictate who should be my friends. I felt like because I was this big Black Panther type of nigga, I couldn't be friends with Madonna. And so I dissed her, even though she showed me nothing but love. I felt bad, because when I went to jail, I called her and she was the only person that was willing to help me.""

"Marilyn Manson: "I watched a screening of her [Madonna's] film and I was sitting right next to her, which to me was exciting still. I’m not jaded enough to not be excited by that.""

"Sinéad O'Connor: "I love her, I adore her and I respect her. I pity her for all the analysis she has to put up with.""

"Cyndi Lauper:"

"Mirwais: "Once I collaborated with the Queen Bee, whoever came after her seemed a little boring to me! Many came to ask me to produce tracks, from Depeche Mode to Jennifer Lopez, but I said no to all of them!""

"DJ Enferno: "She has so much knowledge– she’s been in the business for so long, she’s got so many good ideas, and she’s really witty, that was one surprising thing that I found out about her. She’s really sharp and she’ll kind of bust your chops a little bit.""

"Seymour Stein: "I was in the hospital, I had her come see me in the hospital, we talked a deal in the hospital and we did the deal in the hospital. Within days, even before I got out of the hospital, she was starting to record what became her first single, Everybody, and we were off and running. I saw her staunch determination and I knew she would work as hard as I did and much harder, in fact. And that's what you need in an artist. She worked harder than anybody. I just saw her perform in Berlin, and she still works harder than anybody." ."

"Shakira: "I admire Madonna because she always did whatever she felt like doing. She went through some controversial periods when people rejected her, but she kept on reinventing herself." ."

"Lenny Kravitz: "She's a genius, she can do no wrong." VH1 Behind The Music."

"Daddy G.: "Working with Madonna is something to tell to your grandsons.""

"DJ Gordon Edge: "She is very natural. I did not get to know her as a person but she is down-to-earth and straightforward. She just speaks her mind.""

"Donna Summer: "I was sitting around thinking I should do something. I was thinking about design school. A friend said, 'Are you out of your mind? Do an album.' But I like privacy and I like my space. I like being with my family. You have to be in the right frame of mind. You can't be like 'Don't touch me.' to your fans or saying 'I don't want to sign autographs.' I think I was exhausted for a lot of years. I have to take my hat off to people like Madonna. They keep doing it." ."

"Ayumi Hamasaki: "I really like Madonna. What I admire is she's made it on her own terms." ."

"Beyoncé: "I love Madonna. I do! Definitely. It all works for Madonna. I mean, I couldn’t do a lot of the things she does, but it works for her. I watched the "Human Nature" music video for the "Check On It" video even though it didn't come out anything like it. I wanted to do something like that but we didn't have time to do it because it was just a 12-hour shoot.""

"Sean Combs: "I'd like to do something with Madonna in Malawi. I see what she does and I think it's fantastic. I'd like to help in any way I can.""

"Ricky Martin: "I know Madonna as a mother, and she’s exemplary, the love she gives her kids is a dream, and I know that her heart is big enough to adopt not just one child but to adopt 20." ."

"Bono: "Madonna should be applauded for helping to take a child out of the worst poverty imaginable and giving him a better chance in life. Baby David is lucky to have been adopted by someone who can give him a chance of survival in this world and I don't think it's fair that people are criticizing her.""

"Melanie Brown: "It's easy for critics to knock celebrities who choose to adopt, but it's a good thing that Madonna's doing. Not only is she highlighting the plight of orphans in Africa, she's also giving this little girl the chance of a better life." ."

"Britney Spears:"

"Jon Bon Jovi: "Madonna has been incredibly important to the 1980s, musically... a little disco queen who... became an icon." (1990)."

"Alice Cooper: "Look at Madonna; she did all the outrageous stuff, but she could sing. She was a great performer! If she got up there and she couldn't sing a lick, I'd go, 'Ok, this is a sideshow.' But, she can really sing.""

"The Androids:"

"Robbie Williams:"

"Darren Hayes:"

"What impressed me most? Her stamina, dedication and perfection. Her precision and respect for her body and the craft. What an icon! What a role model for women! I bow down to the one I truly serve!!"

"Justin Timberlake:"

"George Michael:"

"Liz Phair: "Madonna is the speedboat, and the rest of us are just the Go-Go's on water skis." ."

"Cher: "She could afford to be a little more magnanimous and a little less of a cunt.""

"Kylie Minogue: "Madonna's the Queen of Pop, I'm the princess. I'm quite happy with that.""

"Timbaland: "Madonna's a funky lady, she's up for everything." ."

"Christophe Willem: "In music, the one who has reached the tops, it's Madonna.""

"Damon Gough:"

"Sophie Ellis-Bextor:"

"Susanna Hoffs: "I think she's really great. I respect and admire her and think she's really talented." (From the book "Madonna talking" by Mick St. Michael)."

"Eugene Hutz:"

"Marc Almond: "It was a hell-hole. There were prostitutes upstairs, junkies downstairs and it was a bare room with a bed, nylon sheets, and a kitchenette with dirty plates and a lamp. I’ve always felt ashamed she stayed in such a pit. If I’d known in 1983 how big she’d become, I'd have cut up the sheets and sold them on ebay.""

"Tom Meighan: "Ooh, Madonna’s thighs! She reminds me of my old dance teacher, who I used to have a crush on. Who didn’t have a huge crush on Madonna when they were a kid? "I’d marry her. If she came for me, I really would.""

"Don McLean: "Madonna is a colossus in the music industry and she is going to be considered an important historical figure as well. She is a fine singer, a fine songwriter and record producer, and she has the power to guarantee success with any song she chooses to record. It is a gift for her to have recorded 'American Pie.'I have heard her version and I think it is sensual and mystical. I also feel that she's chosen autobiographical verses that reflect her career and personal history. I hope it will cause people to ask what's happening to music in America. I have received many gifts from God but this is the first time I have ever received a gift from a goddess.""

"Peter Hook: "Madonna's like a Black Widow spider. She tends to use people, then they shrivel up and disappear. She sat there with her back to us, and Rob went up and said, 'We were wondering if you wanted to appear later at the club', and she just went, 'Fuck off.'""

"Steve Bray: "If people feel exploited by Madonna - that's resentment of someone who's got drive. It seems like you're leaving people behind or you're stepping on them, and the fact is you're moving and they're not... Madonna doesn't care if she ruffles someone's feathers.""

"Pet Shop Boys: "Madonna always looks ahead, both for looks and sounds, just like we do.""

"Fran Healy: "I had a massive crush on Madonna when I was a kid, I mean it was huge. It was worrying. I just thought she was amazing.""

"Dave Grohl: "...It could be Madonna, if she wants to come do a couple of shots of Jagermeister with her friend Dave she's more than welcome to come into the room and I'll pour her some chilli shots of whisky, it'll be great!""

"Kim Gordon: "She's strong, beautiful and a manipulator. Qualities which makes her to write great songs.""

"Stephen Malkmus: "She doesn't seem to run out of ideas, does she. I used to love her when I was 14 or so. I had a regular crush on her. I couldn't swear if it was her music that fascinated me, or the generous cleavage. But yeah, she was hot." ."

"Pat Boone: "[Madonna's] a talented tart.""

"Natasha Bedingfield: "I have so much respect for Madonna after learning how hard it is to sing ["Ray of Light"]. She has an amazing voice - the range you need to sing the song is incredible.""

"Annie Lennox: "Lo and behold, Madonna's track came back and she'd sung the second verse, which was a huge bonus. I was really touched - for Madonna is very rigorous in what she gets involved in and for her to do that for me, I was thrilled to bits." ."

"Ludacris: "Madonna was so low key and so incognito that I hardly noticed her, and when I did it kinda caught me by storm. But honestly speaking, she's a really down to earth, really cool individual. I'm glad I got a chance to meet her – rub some of that energy off!""

"Fergie: "Oh MADONNA! You know, I saw her after her concert and I wanted to give her some positive words but I didn't want to talk too much to her because I understand what it feels like after a show when there's a lot of people in the room who want to see you. I wanted to give her some kind words but I didn't want to take up her time. I really wanted to ask her some more questions but I doubt it would have been as exciting for her as it was for me! But if I ever got the chance to sit down with her I think I'd want to ask her some advice questions and I would love to collaborate with her. That would be amazing.""

"Gwen Stefani:"

"Donna De Lory:"

"Mika: "Believe me, if I got asked to work with her, I certainly wouldn’t turn it down. Of all the women I’m fascinated by, she’s certainly up there.""

"Stuart Price:"

"You don't produce Madonna, you collaborate with her. She's a really good producer herself and obviously a great writer too. I've never worked with anyone before who is as genuine and as hands on as an artist as Madonna is. She's has her vision and knows how to get it. What's interesting with this one is that she's picked a DJ to make dance tunes for her to make songs, which is exactly what she's been doing since 1983 - hanging out with DJ's and making records."

"Ciara: "She's a tough lady! She's a megastar, and that [media scrutiny] goes with the territory, But she's definitely put her foot down as a woman over the years and she's proven to be one of the best to me.""

"Ashanti: "Yeah, Madonna is ill. All the clamps and chains people had on what women can and cannot do — she just broke them. And I really wasn’t up on Madonna until my cousin — who’s six years older than me and my favorite relative on the planet; we’re more like sisters — when I was eight or nine I said, ‘Why you got these posters of that white lady all over your room?’ She's like, ‘This is Madonna!’""

"Pharrell: "She's a little baby tiger cub on the inside but outside she's as tough as anything. Once you are fighting with her you can't let your guard down, she'd beat your ass to a pulp. She could definetely beat me up. But you know, making Madonna cry has just cemented our relationship. We're tight now. Seriously tight. She's probably the best person I've ever collaborated with." (Manchester Free Magazine)"

"Danja: "She was cool. She had a dark sense of humor that I can’t explain. She might just say something crazy that you might feel is out of line. But it’s not. It’s just her sense of humor. She was in the studio chilling with us, being open and the whole nine." ."

"Eric West: "A lot of people make her out to be arrogant, and not fan friendly, but I can say otherwise, for such a superstar, she makes you feel as if you’re talking to an old friend.""

"Adam Lambert:"

"Tracy Chapman: "I was trying to make a case for Madonna the other day, saying that she's to be admired for her longevity in a genre that has mostly been for younger acts. Men are able to sustain a career into their 50s and 60s and still present themselves as sex symbols. With women on the other hand, people say, 'Why doesn't she retire?' It's just so unfair. So I have to give props to Madonna.""

"Randy Jackson: "Madonna knows the business and her art better than anyone.""

"Kim Wilde: "I had the top of the charts two years before Madonna came on the scene and stole my thunder. I remember seeing her and thinking, 'Here's trouble'! I'd be lying if I said it didn't get to me, but I never disliked her. And I look at her now and think she's amazing. When I started doing yoga, I was inspired to look after my body. Now I love going for long walks, eating healthily and working out with a trainer.""

"Belinda Carlisle:"

"Simon Cowell:"

"Katy Perry:"

"Randy Newman: "I once had dinner with Madonna and I wasn't nervous but within about a minute I found myself talking about underwear." ."

"Marina Diamandis:"

"Jason Derulo:"

"Craig David: "Madonna is still sexy and cool. She’s had such an amazing career and has always been able to re-invent herself time and time again, and it’d be fascinating to chat to her about that over a couple of drinks.""

"Bette Midler: "She has pulled herself up by her own bra-straps... and has been known to let them down occasionally"."

"Carole King: "I think Madonna has a great deal of intelligence and capability. I have a lot of respect for her. She's taken her career and maximized it with intelligence and creativity." ."

"Matthew Bellamy: "Ambition - whenever I hear the word, in my head, all I can think of is Madonna, for some reason. Very ambitious person and a great artist, certainly explores many avenues to get her name out there. I think she’s a very special lady.""

"David Foster:"

"Taylor Momsen:"

"Jessica Simpson: "I think people are ready to hear something that Madonna used to do. We all need to hear that every now and again. It wasn't a sample or something I meant to do, but she did influence me and still does today. I hope to have the longevity of her career."."

"Tracy Young:"

"Christian Thielemann: "I find this woman fascinating. Not just musically... I’d like to get to know Madonna a whole lot better." ."

"John Benitez: "My first impression on meeting Madonna? I thought she had a lot of style. And she crossed over a lot of boundaries 'cos everyone in the rock clubs played her, the black clubs, the gay, the straight... and very few records have that appeal." ."

"Kurt Cobain: "In a way I respect Madonna for the things she introduced because she introduced some subversive things and it has nothing to do with sex as far as I'm concern, I'm talking about the introduction to the vogue dance which originated in the gay clubs in 80', and she was always supportive of stuff like that which I think is really cool.""

"Shirley Manson: "I turned round and it's Madonna, and I'm thinking, 'Fucking hell, it's Madonna!' But I say 'hi' and she grabs my hand and she gives me the famous blink and says, 'I think you're amazing' in that tiny voice she has. And I'm thinking, 'OK, try and be cool, this is possibly the biggest pop icon of our life, be cool'. I tried to say something even remotely understandable and instead just garbled my words. I had high heels on and I hardly ever wear high heels, and I lurched towards her, and I could see the alarm on her face, thinking 'who the hell is this?' And I lurched off flustered without even saying goodbye. I always blow my big moments" ."

"Kelly Osbourne: "I've always been a huge, huge, huge fan of Madonna, but it completely changed my whole opinion of her -- made me like her even more once I met Lola because she's done a fantastic job with her. Madonna is one of my idols and my first single I ever released was a cover of 'Papa Don't Preach.' To have it come full circle -- now I'm actually doing something with her and her daughter -- it's just kind of like... ahhh!"""

"Lady Gaga:"

"Paul Oakenfold: "Madonna was without doubt one of the best artists I have ever worked with. She had so many fantastic ideas and really took her music seriously. You can tell that with Madonna, everything is about the music. She's a global name but still works tirelessly in the studio, puts on her best possible live gigs and puts 100 per cent into everything she does. "She's really grounded too and easy to work with.""

"Brooke Candy: "She's so smart, I want to follow in her footsteps.""

"Alison Goldfrapp:"

"Marlene Dietrich: "I played vulgar, she is vulgar." (Marlene refused to meet Madonna, who wanted to remake The Blue Angel in the 80s.)"

"Ashton Kutcher: "Madonna has a project in Malawi where she has genuinely affected the lives of about 250,000 children who are orphaned. I think that's a pretty generous person, not someone who should be criticized. That sort of generosity is pretty admirable.""

"James Franco: "After our kiss, Sean texted Madonna and said, 'I just popped my cherry kissing a guy. I thought of you. I don't know why.' " Out magazine."

"Tony Ward:"

"Susan Sarandon: "The history of women in popular music can, pretty much, be divided into before and after Madonna." ."

"George Clooney: "She's probably everybody's high watermark about learning how to reinvent yourself every few years and continue to stay alive. She without a question the absolute best at that. And she's nice, I like her; she's a friend. She's seems to handle things really well; people can be really tough on you on & off at times and she seems very good at handling it.""

"Warren Baetty: "Madonna is simultaneously touching and more fun than a barrel of monkeys. She's funny and she's gifted in so many areas and has the kind of energy as a performer that can't help but make you engaged.""

"Ethan Hawke: "She transcended being a pop star. She drew international attention and shone the spotlight on a level of racism and the need for greater education.""

"Dita Von Teese: "Madonna is the only modern celebrity who is truly a style icon. Who else has the audacity to dress like her these days? She really influenced how I wanted to look when I was growing up, and made me realize that I didn’t have to look like a blond beach bunny or a Playboy model.""

"Esther Rantzen: "I do get very surprised by the venom that I hear about [the] Kaballah [Centre]. I think part of it is Madonna-envy. It's also about money. People have this feeling that Kaballah Centres make a lot of money. And there is a traditional aspect too in that kaballah is meant to be a secret for married Jewish men. The idea that unmarried Jewish women could learn the secrets is seen as blasphemy.""

"Tom Hardy: "When we had a break Guy asked if I'd like to meet the wife as she was in the car park and he knew I was a fan. So off we trotted. To be honest, I had the shock of my life. There she was in the back of her Range Rover administering a shot of B12 into the arse of Gerald Butler. Believe me. I was completely stunned to be quite honest, stunned - I mean to throw open the door and see that... I knew it would be magnificent to meet her because she's cult - I mean like Elvis - but the last thing I expected to see was her giving Gerard a shot in his bare arse because he wasn't very well. She does it for her dancers, she's trained doing it, so she decided to do it for the actors as well. She was so cool. She just said to Gerard, 'There you go - bosh! That does it.' And while she was doing that she was talking to me about a load of books I should be reading. I was really thrown." [http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/blogs/sfgate/detail?blogid=7&entry_id=19888"

"Gerard Butler: "She was awesome. She was very, very cool. She played a bit of nurse to me, because I got sick in the middle of the film. She turned up with all these medications. In fact, the first day I met her, she was like, 'So you're the sick one. Take this, take this, take this.' The infection was in my throat and chest and I was really run down. Madonna thought the whole thing out and helped me get better." ."

"Benjamin Bratt: "Madonna is one of the only people in the world that can make a straight woman become gay, or a gay man become straight." ."

"David Tennant: "She's quite extraordinary. When I was 14, the first single I ever bought was "Like a Virgin". She was kind of my sexual awakening. I had some full-on posters of her on my wall. I don't know what my parents thought. She still looks damn fit.""

"Miley Cyrus: "Madonna always reinvents herself, and that's what I want to do. Whatever comes my way that sounds good, that's what I want to do. Whether it's designing clothes or photography or whatever.""

"Dakota Fanning: "I got to meet her one time and she’s so beautiful in person. I’ve never seen her in concert but I would love to, on her tour. But she’s amazing and I hope that she goes for many, many more years." ."

"Hilary Duff: "Oh, [I'm] definitely [a fan]. I grew up listening to Madonna. It feels surreal getting to do a cover of "Material Girl". It's such a great dance song.""

"Glenn Close:"

"Susan Seidelman: "She is an incredibly disciplined person. During the shoot [of Desperately Seeking Susan] we'd often get home at 11 or 12 at night and have to be back on the set by 6 or 7 the next morning. Half the time the driver would pick Madonna up at her health club. She'd get up at 4:30 in the morning to work out first." ."

"Andy Bird:"

"Trudie Styler: "Oh, God! Yes, I had a sense that they'd really like each other and really complement each other and I think they do - they're fantastic parents, and they sparkle when they're together. But I'm not a kiss and tell!""

"Ricki Lake: "I love that Madonna adopted this baby and has brought so much attention to Malawi. She's my hero." ."

"Emanuela Rossi: "I'm a big fan of Madonna, I love her music a lot. I like her persona, her ways to reinvent herself, not being the same all the time. I think it's vital and creative for an artist to look for new ways, new looks, different ways to sing but at the same time keeping those qualities that make you unique. Madonna is also a controversial artist that tends to amaze people in every possible way and the same time I think she's a very authentic person. She looks very visceral to me, also in her quests. She has become quite sophisticated over the years but she stays true to herself and still capable to push people's buttons. I think that's the key of her success.""

"Rosie O'Donnell:"

"Will Smith: "Madonna is in really good shape. I actually get a sexy chill every time I think about Madonna.""

"Al Pacino: "She was doing a dance and she was naked under her coat. Over the course of the dance, she became inspired and opened her coat, and there she was. She has an extraordinarily beautiful body, like cut out of ivory. One day, when I'm old and I'm wheeled out on my porch wrapped in a blanket, if I have a beatific smile on my face, I'll probably be thinking of that." [http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/blogs/sfgate/detail?blogid=7&entry_id=8532"

"Rupert Everett: [http://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/story?id=2396048&page=1"

"Gwyneth Paltrow:"

"Helen Mirren: "The thing that was imposed on me from the outside was crude and vulgar and distressful to me, and disturbing - that big tits, blonde hair, Diana Dors, blowsy kind of thing. (But) I think Madonna got it right. Madonna claimed it for herself, and I've always admired her for that. I loved that 'Sex' book she did. I thought it was fantastic, because it was a big two fingers up, 'This is my sexuality, it's not what you put on me, it's mine'.""

"Ricky Gervais: "The Mercer. It's just nice. Really cool. I turned up there last time, and there were about 20 paparazzi going, 'Ricky,' 'Ricky,' 'Ricky.' And I said, 'What are you doin' here?' 'We're here to see you.' I said, 'What [are] you really here for?' And they went, 'Madonna.' They were nice, but I knew the truth. Why would they be there for me?" ."

"Anthony LaPaglia: "I jokingly refer to Madonna being my template in making my decisions, because she’s the best at reinventing herself. Every two years she reinvents herself. [That's why] she still is where she is after 20 years. I think that that’s a smart thing.""

"Charlotte Gainsbourg: "Madonna was incredibly quick and professional. I was unable to say anything else than 'Hello','I’ll listen to it' and 'Good-bye' [when she asked to use a few lines from "The Cement Garden" for her song, "What it Feels Like for a Girl"]. That was incredibly stupid of me. Madonna was the idol of my youth and I grew up listening to her music.""

"Richard E. Grant:"

"Alan Parker: "She worked out her moves in the mirror the night before we’d shoot. She would work so hard. She was not someone who went out clubbing every night. She was the one who said, ‘I want to be there at 5.30 in the morning so I have enough time to get the hair and make-up right.’ So before the crew had even arrived, she would be there. By the time she arrived at the set she was smiling and she did her job. And she did her job brilliantly." ."

"Jon Lovitz:"

"Susan seidelman: "She's the kind of person that really does get up at five in the morning to go swimming. She wasn't at all prima donna-ish. She wasn't one of those people that want to be alone and sit in their trailer the whole time. I think she has much more of a sense of humor that people give her credit for. Too many people take that femme fetale stuff at face value." ."

"Sarah Jessica Parker:"

"Ellen Pompeo:"

"Kelly Ripa: "I think she's used to people gushing over her and all of that, but I think she quickly sort of came to realize that yes, in fact I do go to every concert. The last concert she did, we made eye contact. Okay, in my mind it was eye contact. Madonna has no recollection, but I know she stared at me. There's something about her. I think she's very clever and witty. She's really funny. She's really down to earth when she's here. And I just love that about her. And I love looking at her because she's a physical specimen. ."

"Debi Mazar:"

"Alicia Silverstone: "I'd die if I was Madonna. I'd die. God, what a horrible way to live. And Michael Jackson! To be so famous and to feel so isolated. I feel so bad for them. I don't know how it feels, and I hope it never happens to me." ."

"Mike Myers: "It was terrifying, It was like kissing the Eiffel Tower in terms of how famous she is." [about making out with Madonna for tv skit]"

"Pedro Almodóvar: "When she came with her Blond Ambition tour I prepared a dinner for her, and that little thief didn’t tell us that everything she was recording was going to be part of her film. Madonna was asking for Antonio Banderas’ phone number all the time, because she wanted to screw him and I never gave it to her. When she went out jogging she always had her six bodyguards and I told her: 'Madonna, babe, this kind of things are not very attractive here in Spain.' In this country, that thing about bodyguards is like an offense, nobody is going to shoot Madonna or whoever in Spain. But in United States bodyguards seem to be, like a part of the body of the star. She asked me if I didn't have bodyguards and I said 'I would only have them to fuck them'.""

"Quentin Tarantino:"

"Rachel Weisz: "I think Madonna’s amazing. She constantly reinvents herself and I just went to see her art show in New York the other day and that was great.""

"Rex Lee: "Remember when Madonna was first on American Bandstand and she told Dick Clark she wanted to rule the world? Well I don't want to rule the world, but I want to make my mark on the world... You know what? I'm lying. I do want to rule the world.""

"Tom Cruise: "I've known Madonna for years. I really admire her." ."

"Michael C. Hall: "I caught Madonna live in Miami last year. It was a kick ass show; truly amazing. Her stage presence left me speechless, I just loved it." ."

"Tim Vincent: "I get to meet some very, very beautiful ladies through my job. Madonna is very sexy and she really flirted with me, which was amazing.""

"Rosanna Arquette: "It suddenly just exploded overnight; you know, she was everywhere. And they started kind of rewriting the script for that, to tailor-make it for her in those moments. And here she is, still at it. She's 50 years old – almost 50 and rocking on. I think that's great.""

"Denise Richards: "You feel lazy watching her because you gotta get off your butt and just work, [She] is really an inspiration for everyone.""

"Anthea Turner: "I've got a huge amount of respect for Madonna - she's often labeled a control freak but she's just a perfectionist. There's a difference between looking tacky and artistic, and I think Madonna looks incredible. You can celebrate your body whatever age you are - there's no limit." ."

"Nathan Rissman: It was amazing working with Madonna. She does everything 100 per cent, and so to be involved in what she was doing, for her to let me go forward and make this project was amazing. She's been involved creatively on every aspect. She knows pictures, she knows sound, she's really, really good. The most memorable thing about working with Madonna is seeing her in the village - seeing her really letting go of that celebrity status, really spending time with people, getting her feet dirty, and dancing, singing and crying with people. It was amazing to see her take on that new character. Madonna really wanted to bring some awareness to Malawi, and she really believed in me."

"Malin Akerman: "I got ice cream cones and put them on my boobs. I wanted to be just like her.""

"Lindsay Lohan:"

"Emmanuelle Seigner: "I like her boss and ultra-feminist side. I hate the concept of "femme-objet", and the idea that women are still maltreated in certain parts of the world irritates me.""

"Toby Kebbell: "She's gorgeous. A lovely, stunning woman.""

"Michael Parkinson: "She turned out to be so bright, frank and funny it made you wonder what the previous debate had been about. Hers is an extraordinary story of determination and hard work and the perfect antidote to the celebrity pap fed to today's wannabes. Anyone wanting to succeed in the music business, or indeed any other business, should watch the interview and learn what it really takes to get to the top." ."

"Stephen Jon Lewicki: "That woman has more sensuality in her ear than most women have anywhere on their bodies." ."

"Michael Moore:"

"Andrea Riseborough:"

"Natalie Dormer: "Madonna is a woman of great vision and passion and focus - she is a force to be reckoned with, as you would imagine and she has a brilliant eye.""

"Christoph Waltz: "It was fantastic (partying with Madonna). Everyone was there. I fought my way through because I mean, this is the hostess, the least I can do is thank her for the invitation. It was difficult, it took me about an hour and a half... In the end, I got there, and apparently I was standing right in front of her. You know, I looked for Madonna and there was this chick dancing, 'Where's Madonna?' (pointing at the girl). That was her, she was dancing like... I thought she was, you know, 23-24.""

"David Fincher: "Madonna is my Vatican. She’s my Sistine Chapel.""

"Marcia Cross: "We used to swim at the same pool. She’d get out and put all this jewelry on - and I’d go home with my wet hair.""

"Julia Roberts: “I got her new album – it`s amazing,” she says. “I really respect and admire her.”"

"Bert Stern: "Madonna is gorgeous, the most beautiful eyes you ever saw. A little rough around the edges. She's a tough chick. She spits it out. She has her own agenda. It manifests in the pictures." ."

"Dolce & Gabbana:"

"Christian Audigier: "She is really all about the detail. She knows exactly what she likes and is always proposing ideas to us. After that she decides whether she wants to add shoes or other things. She's like me, when it's a, 'Yes,' it's a big, 'Yes.' When it's a, 'No,' it's a definite, 'No!' I like people like that, a lot of people are really critical but never give a solution. She is not like that.""

"Jean-Baptiste Mondino: "She's John Lennon and Yoko Ono at the same time". ."

"Donatella Versace:"

"Amy Arbus: "Madonna just wandered along like everyone else. I recognized her as the girl who went to my gym — as the girl who would sit around naked longest in the locker room. Now that I think back on it, how could either of us have afforded a gym membership? She still had a last name at that point, and when I told her I worked for the Voice, she said, 'Oh, that’s so funny. They’re reviewing my first single this week.' I recently looked back—it only took six frames to get that picture. I just think the look on her face is so prescient—it really has a sense of knowing what’s in store for her.""

"Frida Giannini: "Meeting Madonna for the very first time was a shock. She was a myth to me. She was the first poster I hung on my room's wall when I was 14. And then I found herself in front of me, shook her hand. Her immense mediatic power still impresses me. Only to mention that the laminated jacket we made in twelve different versions for her last tour ended up being one of the season's best-sellers would be enough.""

"Jean-Paul Gaultier:"

"Jenny Shimizu:"

"Lee Friedlander: "[She] seemed very confident, a street-wise girl. She told me she was putting a band together but half the kids that age are doing that. She was a good professional model.""

"Marc Jacobs"

"Natassia Malthe: "I'm a fan of Madonna's. I've followed her since I was 10. I'm a huge fan of hers - which woman isn't? She's such a strong person, she's just so different from anybody else. She's sustained herself in this business. I go to everything that is Madonna, she is just an amazing human being.""

"Steven Klein: "[Madonna] is very clear, surprisingly focused in conceiving innovative pictures. When you think about it you never see her back, you rarely see anyone's back in a photograph and it's fascinating to show its muscular structure". ."

"Fabian Baron: "She's very imposing and knows what she wants. She's very informed and opinionated, which makes her genius. She takes you in and swallows you up—and you don't mind it, you actually enjoy it. There's an unspoken seduction that goes on. I was young, She was young, too, and beautiful. She knows what she's doing. And such drive. Some people want to lift stones and see what's under it. She'll be on a beach with millions of stones and want to lift every one of them.""

"Herb Ritts: "I've always said that if you didn't know Madonna necessarily, you'd still be curious about the woman in the photograph.""

"Gregory David Roberts: "She was so unfussy. I think the thing about Madonna is that she's tremendously intelligent. She's fiercely intelligent; she's very sharp, very funny, very witty, very quick and will not accept second best. She will pick you up immediately in a conversation and defend her position and will put it forward with a rigorous intelligence. I think it's intimidating to a lot of people - I love it! For me it can't get any better than that, so I loved that about her, but I do think a lot of people are intimidated by her and reading it as something that it's not. It's simply a fierce intelligence. She's one of the smartest people you could ever meet.""

"Jeffrey Fulvimari: "There is only one thing to do with someone as special as Madonna....celebrate her. She told us so in one of her very first songs! But, mostly, she gives us something more to adore every year, and aside from making huge hits, her work in Malawi is something for everyone to emulate. Working with her is a dream come true!!! She has Never ever treated me in any other way but professionally, and with respect. I mean, gosh when the Queen of Pop loves what you do, there's no better feeling!! I really concentrate on the fact that these books are bringing a better life to those most in need in the world, and until more celebrities (and celebrity photographers) step up and do the charitable works she is doing, they cannot speak an ill word about her. People need to stop copying her videos and performances, and copy what really means the most to her...'Raising Malawi'! That's what it's all about!""

"Lucy O'Brien:"

"Paulo Coelho: "Today is late Sunday and I just returned from the show of Madonna. And what did I see? A young 50 year-old dancing like a child, a queen, a teenager. It got me thinking about the fact that I believe we are aging differently from the previous generations. I remember for instance my parents at the age of 50 and they were already old, and more importantly they considered themselves as already old.""

"Christopher Flynn: "She was kind of far-out. One of the best students I've ever had, a very worldly sort of woman even as a child. We would go to gay bars, and she and I would go out and dance our asses off. People would clear away and let her go." ."

"Camille Barbone:"

"Bernard Manning: "Madonna? Lovely. Oh yes. Nice skin. You could tell she wasn't a scrubber." ."

"Sandra Bernhard: "...I run into [Madonna] all the time, so it's not like there's any irresolvable strangeness. I like to think of the time when we were hanging out as the end of an era. We played out our friendship in the public forum, but it wasn't drunken or irresponsible airheads hanging out - she's a smart lady and I'm obviously my own brand of intellectual." ."

"Jonathan Ross: "Madonna, the original MILF.""

"Carlton Wilborn:"

"Sofia Boutella: "Amazing. It was really hard work, but it has helped me to know myself a little bit more, I really like Madonna because she is a tireless worker.""

"Criss Angel: "Madonna is a tremendous example of someone who went to NY with couple of dollars in her pocket and an enormous dream to conquer the world. She did whatever she had to do until she hit the big time. I admired her commitment and determination. She clearly understood what her market wanted in a performer. She's a great example of someone who developed a unique style, look, and brand and then marketed herself as a total package, filling a void that everyone else bought in to and tried to copy. She's an innovative genius.""

"Dennis Rodman: Bad as I Wanna Be"

"Florence Foresti:"

"Jamie King: "She's confident, sensual and strong, but I like to bring out her vulnerability as well.""

"Yuki Matsumoto: "Madonna inspires creativity and expressions beyond gender, religion, race, nationality, culture and all borders. "Madonna’s philosophy and originality always invigorates the world audience every time she produces a new album. Conventions and trends are challenged and redefined for the new values. "Madonna is in sync with nature and balances her lifestyle to achieve her best physical and mental conditions. Her ever innovative spirits are in tune with her respect of nature. Despite her celebrity and never ending professional activities, Madonna always says FAMILY FIRST. Love and respect for all those who are dear to her are the most important values in life.""

"Church of England:"

"Jorge Medina, Cardinal of the Roman Catholic Church"

"Nicolas Sarkozy: "The French like burgers, Madonna and Miami Vice." ."

"Al Gore: "I appreciate and respect her as an artist and as a person." ."

"Dr. Peter van Ham: "NATO should follow the Madonna-curve, and not wait till its controversies escalate into public wrangles. The argument that tinkering on the edges will do since all challenges can be dealt with one at a time simply does not hold. To be successful, NATO needs a package-deal of painful compromises, where each member state has to give and take. This requires a comprehensive reform effort which only a new strategic concept offers. The quality of adapting to new tasks whilst staying true to one’s own principles is something which business analysts qualify as the Madonna-curve. This curve is named after the legendary pop-diva who reinvented herself each time her style and stardom went into inevitable decline, but whose audacity has lifted her up to ever higher levels of relevance and fame." ."

"Pipe bands greeted the Queen and the Queen mother when they visited us and a few people turned out. But everybody appeared to see this woman Madonna. She had them all in the palm of her hand."

"I think she glows, she's an amazing performer and her work inspires me. There will be no other Madonna." (From the book "Madonna talking" by Mick St. Michael)"

"Alex Rodriguez"

"Tracy Anderson:"

"She's a dream pupil; She's very driven, listens to what you say and just wants to do it and improve. You can always get somewhere with someone like that. When I started teaching her she hadn't jumped at all and now she can jump a course of 1.05m. Jumping and hacking are her two favorite things."

"I knew I had a problem, and I couldn't admit it."

"Don't ever say this to me, "Are you O.K.?" It's like "Yeah, motherfucker, I'm fine.""

"It is clear to me that my life has become completely unmanageable because I am addicted to alcohol and drugs. Recently, I relapsed and did things for which I am ashamed. I broke the law, and today I took responsibility by pleading guilty to the charges in my case."

"You know what's hard? I want to give back. I want to do all the things that will make me feel fulfilled. But whenever I do those things, people think it's a press stunt or something. Because they do find me, and there's really no way of hiding from that. And the second that you complain about it, they say, "Well, this is what you wanted, so this is what you're going to get." That's all people see it as now. It's not, "No, I just want to have some time for myself." There are things I want to do, and people don't understand that. You know, my car accident that I got into, where I got my first charge, I wouldn't have been speeding up like I was if I didn't have people shoving cameras in my windows."

"I just feel as though it's become a situation where people have manifested this caricature of who I am, and they act as if there's no real person inside of it. I mean, people really have come to believe-directors, producers, agents, whoever it may be-that I started in this because I wanted to be a celebrity. But that was never my intention."

"I wanted to be a movie star. But movie stars are not what they used to be. When I was a kid, I thought movie stars were women and men who were in these great films that we still look at now...And people my age don't even know who those people are. I can't even have a conversation with most people of my generation about that, because they'd be like, "Okay, she's a freak..." And the worst part is, in terms of what people see of me, I have become this girl who just loves to be photographed, doesn't know how to focus, doesn't know how to work on set, just loves the attention, knows how to go out at night, knows how to party. And you know what? I was 20 years old. I never went to college. And I lived maybe six months out of my life like that, doing something wrong, and then I stopped. God forbid I should have ever learned my lesson. But at this point it's so hard for people to even believe that there was a lesson to be learned at all, because they just think I'm wrong. All these people think I'm never going to be right, because it's more interesting to fabricate this other girl. Who wants to read a tabloid story about a girl who is doing well?"

"I work just as hard as any other actress around my age, like Scarlett Johansson, but I just don't get the opportunities that they get because people are so distracted by the mess that I created in my life. But that doesn't mean it's going to last forever."

"Is this chicken, what I have, or is this fish? I know it's tuna, but it… it says "Chicken... by the Sea"."

"A little bit is not that much to ask to ay things right."

"The real me is a southern girl with her Levis on and an open heart. Wish I could save the world, like I was super girl."

"I spent the first half of my career being accused of being gay when I hadn't had anything like a gay relationship. So I spent my years growing up being told what my sexuality was really— which was kind of confusing."

"I have to be honest here, I'm not really interested in selling records to people who are homophobic. I don't need the approval of people who don't approve of me."

"Are you gay? No? Then fuck off! This is my culture!"

"This time I think that my lover Understands me If we have faith in each other Then we can be Strong, baby I will be your father figure Put your tiny hand in mine I will be your preacher teacher Anything you have in mind I will be your father figure I have had enough of crime I will be the one who loves you … Til the end of time."

"I've had enough of danger And people on the streets I'm looking out for angels Just trying to find some peace Now I think it's time That you let me know So if you love me Say you love me But if you don't just let me go..."

"I guess somewhere along the way He must have let us all out to play Turned his back, and all God's children Crept out the back door"

"Did you cling to the things they sold you? Did you cover your eyes when they told you That he can't come back, 'cause he has no children To come back for"

"I always had a repulsive sort of need to be something more than human. I felt very very puny as a human. I thought, "Fuck that. I want to be a superman.""

"I'm an instant star. Just add water and stir."

"I suppose I’ve been knocking on heaven’s door for about 11 years now, with one sort of high or another. The only kinds of drugs I use, though, are ones that keep me working for longer periods of time. I haven’t gotten involved in anything heavy since ’68. I had a silly flirtation with smack then, but it was only for the mystery and enigma of trying it. I never really enjoyed it at all. I like fast drugs. I’ve said that many times. I hate falling out, where I can’t stand up and stuff. It seems like such a waste of time. I hate downs and slow drugs like grass. I hate sleep. I would much prefer staying up, just working, all the time. It makes me so mad that we can’t do anything about sleep or the common cold."

"I get offered so many bad movies. And they're all raging queens or transvestites or Martians."

"I'm terribly intuitive—I always thought I was intellectual about what I do, but I've come to the realisation that I have absolutely no idea what I'm doing half the time, that the majority of the stuff that I do is totally intuitive, totally about where I am physically and mentally at any moment in time and I have a far harder time than anybody else explaining it and analysing it. That's the territory of the artist anyway: to be quite at sea with what he does, and working towards not being intuive about it and being far more methodical and academic about it."

"I think fame itself is not a rewarding thing. The most you can say is that it gets you a seat in restaurants."

"Music has given me over 40 years of extraordinary experiences. I can't say that life's pains or more tragic episodes have been diminished because of it. But it's allowed me so many moments of companionship when I've been lonely and a sublime means of communication when I wanted to touch people. It's been both my doorway of perception and the house that I live in. I only hope that it embraces you with the same lusty life force that it graciously offered me."

"[While filming 'Ashes to Ashes'] So we're on the beach shooting this scene with a giant bulldozer. The camera was on a very long lens. [The camera is along way away, but the artist fills the frame] In this video I'm dressed from head to toe in a clown suit. Why not. I hear playback and the music starts. So off I go, I start singing and walking, but as soon as I do this old geezer with an old dog walk right between me and the camera... Well, knowing this is gonna take a while I walked past the old guy and sat next to camera in my full costume waiting for him to pass. As he is walking by camera the director said, excuse me Mr do you know who this is? The old guy looks at me from bottom to top and looks back to the director and said... "Of course I do!!!! its some cunt in a clown suit." That was a huge moment for me, It put me back in my place and made me realize, yes I'm just a cunt in a clown suit. I think about that old guy all the time."

"Never play to the gallery... Never work for other people in what you do. Always remember that the reason that you initially started working was that there was something inside yourself that you felt that if you could manifest in some way, you would understand more about yourself and how you co-exist with the rest of society... I think it's terribly dangerous for an artist to fulfil other people's expectations."

"Ageing is an extraordinary process... If you are pining for youth I think it produces a stereotypical old man because you only live in memory, you live in a place that doesn’t exist … I think ageing is an extraordinary process whereby you become the person that you always should have been."

"It's odd but even when I was a kid, I would write about "old and other times" as though I had a lot of years behind me. Now I do, so there is a difference in the weight of memory. When you're young, you're still "becoming", now at my age I am more concerned with "being". And not too long from now I'll be driven by "surviving", I'm sure. I kind of miss that "becoming" stage, as most times you really don't know what's around the corner. Now, of course, I've kind of knocked on the door and heard a muffled answer. Nevertheless, I still don't know what the voice is saying, or even what language it's in."

"Strangely, some songs you really don't want to write. I didn't like writing "Heathen". There was something so ominous and final about it. It was early in the morning, the sun was rising and through the windows I could see two deer grazing down below in the field. In the distance a car was driving slowly past the reservoir and these words were just streaming out and there were tears running down my face. But I couldn't stop, they just flew out. It's an odd feeling, like something else is guiding you, although forcing your hand is more like it."

"Heathenism is a state of mind. You can take it that I'm referring to one who does not see his world. He has no mental light. He destroys almost unwittingly. He cannot feel any Gods' presence in his life. He is the 21st century man. However, there's no theme or concept behind Heathen, just a number of songs but somehow there is a thread that runs through it that is quite as strong as any of my thematic type albums."

"I had to resign myself, many years ago, that I'm not too articulate when it comes to explaining how I feel about things. But my music does it for me, it really does. There, in the chords and melodies, is everything I want to say. The words just jolly it along. It's always been my way of expressing what for me is inexpressible by any other means. What is very enlightening for me right now is that I sense that I'm arriving at a place of peace with my writing that I've never experienced before. I think I'm going to be writing some of the most worthwhile things that I've ever written in the coming years. I'm very confident and trusting in my abilities right now. But I've got to think of myself as the luckiest guy. Robert Johnson only had one album's worth of work as his legacy. That's all that life allowed him."

"All the young dudes Carry the news Boogaloo dudes Carry the news."

"If our love song Could fly over mountains, Could laugh at the ocean, Just like the films, There's no reason To feel all the hard times, To lay down the hard lines. It's absolutely true.Nothing much could happen Nothing we can't shake Oh we're absolute beginners With nothing much at stake As long as you're still smiling There's nothing more I need I absolutely love you But we're absolute beginners. But if my love is your love We're certain to succeed."

"Ground Control to Major Tom. Ground Control to Major Tom. Take your protein pills and put your helmet on."

"This is Major Tom to Ground Control. I'm stepping through the door, And I'm floating in a most peculiar way. And the stars look very different today.For here Am I sitting in a tin can, Far above the world. Planet Earth is blue, And there's nothing I can do."

"I'm the cream Of the great utopia dream. And you're in the gleam In the depths of your banker's spleen."

"In the corner of the morning in the past I would sit and blame the master first and last. All the roads were straight and narrow And the prayers were small and yellow. And the rumour spread that I was aging fast. Then I ran across a monster who was sleeping By a tree. And I looked and frowned and the monster was me."

"Day after day They send my friends away To mansions cold and grey. To the far side of town Where the thin men stalk the streets While the sane stay underground.Day after day, They tell me I can go. They tell me I can blow To the far side of town Where it's pointless to be high, 'Cause it's such a long way down."

"Man is an obstacle, sad as the clown (Oh by jingo) So hold on to nothing, and he won't let you down."

"Live to your rebirth and do what you will (Oh by jingo) Forget all I've said, please bear me no ill."

"We passed upon the stair, we spoke of was and when Although I wasn't there, he said I was his friend Which came as some surprise I spoke into his eyes I thought you died alone, a long long time ago."

"When all the world was very young And mountain magic heavy hung The supermen would walk in file Guardians of a loveless isle."

"Still don't know what I was waiting for And my time was running wild. A million dead-end streets and Every time I thought I'd got it made It seemed the taste was not so sweet. So I turned myself to face me But I've never caught a glimpse Of how the others must see the faker I'm much too fast to take that test."

"I watch the ripples change their size But never leave the stream Of warm impermanence. So the days float through my eyes But still the days seem the same. And these children that you spit on As they try to change their worlds Are immune to your consultations. They're quite aware of what they're going through."

"Ch-ch-ch-ch-Changes Turn and face the strange."

"It's a god-awful small affair To the girl with the mousy hair But her mummy is yelling "No" And her daddy has told her to go But her friend is nowhere to be seen Now she walks through her sunken dream To the seat with the clearest view And she's hooked to the silver screen. But the film is a saddening bore 'Cause she's lived it ten times or more."

"Pushing through the market square, so many mothers sighing News had just come over, we had five years left to cry in. News guy wept and told us, earth was really dying Cried so much his face was wet, then I knew he was not lying."

"There's a starman waiting in the sky He'd like to come and meet us, But he thinks he'd blow our minds."

"Making love with his ego Ziggy sucked up into his mind Like a leper messiah. When the kids had killed the man I had to break up the band."

"Ziggy played guitar."

"(Hey man) oh leave me alone you know (Hey man) oh Henry, get off the phone, I gotta (Hey man) I gotta straighten my face This mellow thighed chick just put my spine out of place."

"Oh don't lean on me man, cause you can't afford the ticket Back from Suffragette City Oh don't lean on me man 'Cause you ain't got time to check it You know my Suffragette City Is outta sight...she's all right ...Ah wham, bam, thank you ma'am!"

"Who'll love Aladdin Sane? Battle cries and champagne just in time for sunrise."

"This ain't rock'n'roll. This is genocide!"

"You've got your mother in a whirl She's not sure if you're a boy or a girl. Hey babe, your hair's alright. Hey babe, let's go out tonight. You like me, and I like it all. We like dancing and we look divine. You love bands when they're playing hard. You want more and you want it fast."

"Rebel Rebel, you've torn your dress. Rebel Rebel, your face is a mess. Rebel Rebel, how could they know? Hot tramp, I love you so!"

"Do you remember, your President Nixon? Do you remember, the bills you have to pay? Or even yesterday?"

"Fame, (fame) makes a man take things over Fame, (fame) lets him loose, hard to swallow Fame, (fame) puts you there where things are hollow Fame (fame)Fame, it's not your brain, it's just the flame That burns your change to keep you insane (sane)."

"Don't let me hear you say life's taking you nowhere, angel Come get up my baby. Look at that sky, life's begun Nights are warm and the days are young Come get up my baby."

"You're such a wonderful person But you got problems oh-oh-oh-oh I'll never touch you."

"I, I wish you could swim Like the dolphins Like dolphins can swim Though nothing, nothing will keep us together We can beat them, forever and ever Oh, we can be heroes just for one day."

"I, I will be king. And you, you will be queen. Though nothing will drive them away. We can beat them, just for one day. We can be heroes, just for one day."

"It's got nothing to do with you, if one can grasp it More idols than realities, ooh-ooh... Yeah, yeah, yeah, up the hill backwards It'll be alright, ooh-ooh"

"I've never done good things I've never done bad things I never did anything out of the blue, whoa whoa Want an axe to break the ice Wanna come down right now Ashes to ashes, funk to funky We know Major Tom's a junkie Strung out in heaven's high Hitting an all-time low. My mama said to get things done You'd better not mess with Major Tom"

"Well, I've been breaking these rocks And cutting this hay Yes, I've been breaking these rocks What's my price to pay? Well, the river's so muddy, but it may come clear And I know too well what's keeping me here I'm just a slave of a burning ray Oh, give me the night, I can't take another sight"

"Because you're young You'll meet a stranger some night Because you're young What could be nicer for you And it makes me sad So I'll dance my life away A million dreams, a million scars ...Left him nearly out of his mind They're people I know - people I love They seem so unhappy - dead or alive"

"Silhouettes and shadows Watch the revolution No more free steps to heaven Just walkie-talkie Heaven or hearth Just big heads and drums Full speed and pagan And it's no game"

"See these eyes so green… I can stare for a thousand years Colder than the moon It's been so long… And I've been putting out fire… With gasoline!"

"See these eyes so red Red like jungle burning bright Those who feel me near Pull the blinds and change their minds."

"Still this pulsing night A plague I call a heartbeat Just be still with me Ya wouldn't believe what I've been thru."

"Never gonna fall for Modern love — walks beside me. Modern love — walks on by. Modern love — gets me to the church on time. Church on time — terrifies me. Church on time — makes me party. Church on time — puts my trust in God and man. God and man — no confessions. God and man — no religion. God and man — don't believe in modern love."

"My little China Girl You shouldn't mess with me. I'll ruin everything you are. I'll give you television. I'll give you eyes of blue. I'll give you a man who wants to rule the world."

"Let's dance — put on your red shoes and dance the blues. Let's dance — to the song they're playin' on the radio. Let's sway — while colour lights up your face. Let's swa —, sway through the crowd to an empty space."

"And if you say run, I'll run with you And if you say hide, we'll hide. Because my love for you Would break my heart in two. If you should fall Into my arms And tremble like a flower."

"Let's dance for fear your grace should fall Let's dance for fear tonight is all"

"Screaming along in South London Vicious but ready to learn Sometimes I fear that the whole world is queer Sometimes but always in vain So I'll wait until we're sane Wait until we're blessed and all the same Full of blood, loving life and all it's got to give Englishmen going insane"

"God is an American. I'm afraid of Americans. I'm afraid of the world. I'm afraid I can't help it. I'm afraid I can't"

"Are you OK? You've been shot in the head And I'm holding your brains The old woman said So I drink in the shadows of an evening sky See nothing at all The stars look so special And the snow looks so old The frail form is drifting Beyond the yoga zone"

"Steel on the skyline Sky made of glass Made for a real world All things must pass Ooo Waiting for something Looking for someone Is there no reason?"

"And there's never gonna be enough money And there's never gonna be enough drugs And I'm never ever gonna get old There's never gonna be enough bullets There's never gonna be enough sex And I'm never ever gonna get old So I'm never ever gonna get high And I'm never ever gonna get low And I'm never ever gonna get old"

"The tragic youth was going down on me (...) I've been right and I've been wrong Now I'm back where I started from Never looked over reality's shoulder"

"Soon there'll be nothing left of me Nothing left to release"

"Where are we now? Where are we now? The moment you know You know, you know As long as there's sun As long as there's sun As long as there's rain As long as there's rain As long as there's fire As long as there's fire As long as there's me As long as there's you"

"First they give you everything that you want Then they take back everything that you have They live upon their feet and they die upon their knees They can work with satan while they dress like the saints They know god exists for the devil told them so They scream my name aloud down into the well below"

"In the villa of Ormen, in the villa of Ormen Stands a solitary candle, ah-ah, ah-ah In the centre of it all, in the centre of it all Your eyes"

"Something happened on the day he died Spirit rose a metre and stepped aside Somebody else took his place, and bravely cried (I’m a blackstar, I’m a blackstar) How many times does an angel fall? How many people lie instead of talking tall? He trod on sacred ground, he cried loud into the crowd (I’m a blackstar, I’m a blackstar, I’m not a gangster)"

"Look up here, I’m in heaven I’ve got scars that can’t be seen I’ve got drama, can’t be stolen Everybody knows me now Look up here, man, I’m in danger I’ve got nothing left to lose I’m so high it makes my brain whirl Dropped my cell phone down below Ain’t that just like me"

"This way or no way You know, I’ll be free Just like that bluebird Now ain’t that just like me"

"Saying more and feeling less Saying no but meaning yes This is all I ever meant That's the message that I sent"

"I met him only once, it was 1973 or 1974. I was the producer of a record of a folk-rock band Steeleye Span. They wanted David Bowie to play a sax solo on one of the songs. I managed to get his phone number, I called him and said 'You don't know me, but some people which album I'm producing ask you if you'd like to play sax for them'. And Bowie asked - 'Okay, where and when?'. I replied - 'Whenever you can'. And he said - '3 o'clock this afternoon?'. I was frightened and thought he'd want 2000£ for that. He came at 3, smiling. He played just like we wanted, never asking about money, then shook everyone's hand and left. It was the only time we met. David taught me one beautiful thing. If you can and want to help somebody, do it for free. That's why I never asked anyone for money. By lending a hand in that way you give just a bit of what you do in your life."

"There is a glimmer of hope in the choice to quote an old song about new beginnings, and it isn't the only moment on the album that suggests a cycle of death and rebirth. Buried in the bleakness of "Blackstar" is an airy, suspiciously earnest passage that imagines the transmigration of souls: "Something happened on the day he died / Spirit rose a meter and stepped aside / Somebody else took his place and bravely cried / 'I'm a black star.'" Bowie nearly became a Buddhist monk when he was 19, and he specified in his will that his ashes should be scattered "in accordance with the Buddhist rituals." It's quite possible that he believed in reincarnation"

"David Bowie had everything. He was intelligent, imaginative, brave, charismatic, cool, sexy and truly inspirational both visually and musically. He created such staggeringly brilliant work, yes, but so much of it and it was so good. There are great people who make great work but who else has left a mark like his? No one like him."

"While a majority of posthumous music is released by an artist's estate, David Bowie organized new music to be released after his death himself. Bowie believed in reincarnation, and through the evolution of his many different personas and music styles, he became the king of reinvention. First he was a folk singer, then a glam rocker, next he was a new romantic; He was constantly changing and evolving in both his sound and his look."

"Mark: Lucky last. We haven't given you an easy time, have we? We haven't actually affirmed you... I know Marcia has. Marcia's really been your supporter, hasn't she. I know Dicko and I have really given you a kinda tough time. But you're still here. You're definitely growing on me. I'm still a bit concerned about the sort of cabaret aspects of the way you present yourself, but gee, the way you're singing is really, really, really, really fine."

"Marcia: It's lovely to see you stand so still and so metered, and sing so beautifully. I do believe in you very much Hayley, but I mean, I believe in everyone who has performed tonight. I fought for you, and I will always fight for you no matter what, because I think you're a very beautiful singer."

"Dicko: Yeah, you're a fantastic lesson in persistence, actually. You came and were rejected, and then came again and have got this far. That was an absolutely fantastic song for you and I think we're beginning to see which songs are your comfort zone. I guess the question is, how are you gonna do with more up-tempo stuff? I don't recall hearing you sing too many up-tempo songs so far and if you get to the next round, that's something which you will be tested on. But that was, I thought, one of the performances of the night. I think you're doing exactly what a contestant should do in this competition and that's to rise to the occasion, rise to the challenge and grow. And that's what you're doing. You're growing on me too. I thought that was tremendous, I really do. Well done."

"Marcia: Lovely. Yeah, go the rock chick. Yeah, um, you've been so great through this competition. Um, we've said no, you've come back blah blah blah blah. (sic). You know, um, its great to see you grow Hayley. Uh huh, and step out of that place that's comfortable because that's what being a performer is. Congratulations and a great choice of song."

"Dicko: Yeah, I agree. Exactly what this competition is about. Um, growing, moving out of your comfort zone. That was absolutely terrific. Mark, in the last audition said that you dressed too old, a little cruise ship. I think you've listen to what he's said and come back and you look fantastic tonight. Every inch the rock star. And, um, I think I've heard that really good fireworks come out of Canberra so you're going to go off like a rocket."

"Mark: Yeah, I mean, I concur. The change in the hair, you really light up the screen Hayley, you just, it's beautiful what you're doing. Um, the choice of song. I would never in a million of years have thought of that song for you and you almost got away with it but the bravery and the choice. Congratulations Hayley. Good on you."

"Marcia: Hayley well done, yeah? Well done. Um, you mightn't have been able to dance but you knew where one was and you knew where to start the song. That's all that really matters, yeah? And, ah, great choice of song as well."

"Dicko: It was good to see you step outside the AC role that you entered the competition as. Um, I would take those movement coaching sessions a little more seriously. Simply put, um, performing a song is about communicating emotions and whether we like it or not 80% of communication is non-verbal. You communicate with your body, you communicate in emotion, sensuality and a sense of power and that's something that Anastacia does pretty well. I think it's something that you really need to work on because actually seeing that piece before you performed highlighted the fact that that's a bit of a failing of yours. I think your voice is great. It's really holding up well and actually preferred it to the version of Anastacia or Miriam as I sometimes call him. Her."

"Mark: Um. I don't know Hayley. I don't know. Because I admire the fact that you keep challenging yourself. You know, last week was an enormous challenge for you and you keep doing that and I don't want to discourage that because it's a fantastic thing about you. But honestly, I just really don't think that you totally connected with that at the level that Anastacia actually bought the meaning of that song and what it meant to her. I didn't feel it from you. It didn't connect for me like some of the others that you've done have."

"Marcia: Having said that, you're not Anastacia. Ok. You're trying."

"Mark: I know that was a concern for you that, wasn't it? You were really nervous about this particular performance. Why? I really, really admire you for that Hayley. I admire the fact that you are actually quite green. I mean in the studio you were green and this is a whole new experience for you but the way that you approach it, the openness of mind is really, really admirable and I think the simplicity, how you handled that was really terrific. Good on you Hayley."

"Marcia: One of the hardest things to do as a singer is to stand still and deliver a song and you did it. And you did it very well and I congratulate you."

"Dicko: I thought you sung a dismal song really well. You said it was a challenge for you. It was a challenge for me to listen to it cause I just couldn't follow it. I wanted to party tonight. I thought there were some great songs and that was just a bit of a speed bump in the evening for me and it's a shame cause I think you are growing. I wanted you to tear it up tonight and I think the song weighed you down but I thought you delivered it well."

"Dicko: Oh my God, you can dance can't you. Hey look, fantastic song for you. You look wonderful. If you can't do bling on a disco night when can you? That was just a real eye opener for me. That was just a real, real joyous experience for me. What we've noticed, and certainly at the finals stage is there is the performance that defines someone and shows their true star potential. For me that was yours. That was terrific."

"Mark: Hayley I know that during this last week there's been a little, um, sort of non-verbal tension between us and it's never really been about you as a person. It's definitely not because you as a person, there's so much to admire. There really is. Your heart and your will is just enormous and there are so many people who have had hits without having classically great recording voices and they've done it on the strength of their spirit and the strength of their heart and you've got all of that and heaps."

"Marcia: First of all, thank you very much for listing me as a highlight. That's very, very kind. I really mean it. You know, Hayley I've believed in you since the day we saw one another in Canberra and these guys have been giving you a pretty hard time. And I've just believed that you've metamorphosized into what you've just done. I really believe in you as a singer, as a person and I know you're one of the only people that helps in the kitchen in the house. That's good too. But you did a great job Hayley. I'm so proud of you."

"Dicko: Hayley, hair looks great by the way. Curls are good for you. I've got to say, look, I don't think you're a natural at this. You have to work really hard at everything you do and it's pleasing to see the way you're moving in the right direction. I think that was a really tough song to chose. Some of those timings in there, it was a bit like a maths exam at times for me trying to keep up. But I think it's a really good style for you. That type of song. That type of artist, George as well. The only problem I have with you, I've had it for the past few weeks, is I can see you concentrating and I can hear you thinking about what you're trying to do as you're doing it and I don't know. Sometimes I just think if you could switch all of that off and just let yourself go a bit I think you'd be a lot better for it. But that was very good."

"Mark: Yeah, I'm sorry to say, I'm agreeing with Dicko again. There's a mentor of mine who used to say to me, you've got to have a body of fire, mind of ice so that you're mind is going through all of those strange timings and knowing where it's got to go but outwardly you just seem to be going and being released, being free. We see too much of the work with you on that song. We're seeing too much of it. We're seeing too much of the worry and the thinking and not enough of the release. You saw too much of it to me but you know, once again your risk taking is fantastic. I really admire you for that."

"Marcia: Hayley, I congratulate you from a singers point of view because that's a very hard song to sing. George are the bomb. You did a great job."

"Dicko: There was something missing from that performance. It was the tick tick tick of your mind working. That was the first time we saw you sing without thinking about what you're doing. Now the trick is to follow along on that road. Simple melody sung beautifully - well done."

"Marcia: You look lovely. People talk to me about you and I say you're one of the kindest souls I know.'"

"Mark: I constantly admire your strength but I don't know - I heard pitching problems."

"Dicko said that he thinks Mark has a problem with her and thinks she doesn't have a recordable voice. Mark agreed but said if David Hasselhoff can sell records so can Hayley."

"Marcia: I love you, they love you, always sing from your heart."

"Dicko: Great pitch and great vocally but you have problems with movement. There was also a breakdown point where you could have gained everyone but you didn’t. Vocally very strong."

"Mark: I have to acknowledge the fact that the Australian Public loves you, they admire your tenacity and they know that you're a great girl. I'm not going to say what I think... What I am going to say is that it's been 3 weeks since we had our producer meeting where you said that you didn't know what type of cd that you wanted to perform.... What kind of record are you going to make?"

"Hayley: I know what kind of music that I like, I love to sing. Bands like George and Missy Higgins are the guys that I like and that's the kind of music that I'd like to make."

"Marcia: (Laughs) Well done Hayley! Sex kitten to boot."

"Dicko: The mountain was too high, the river too deep. Cabaret."

"Mark: That was the best you could do."

"Marcia: You look great, you're beautiful and this song suits you. You were being yourself and you did great."

"Dicko: Can I say that you look absolutely fabulous tonight? I thought that was going to be a great song for you, but I can still hear you thinking. You're worth a lot more than you realise, you have to learn to feel more. I think that your greatest barrier is yourself..."

"Mark: I felt that you were singing it to your husband, but I'd suggest that you should block everyone else out and REALLY sing it to your man."

"Marcia: I appreciated the simplicity and when you just stand there and people hear your voice it's beautiful."

"Dicko: You looked beautiful and I enjoyed that. I didn’t think that you over thought that at all."

"Mark: I would say that you are the nuclear power puff girl, you are indestructible. You've asked for positive assistance in guidance and what I'd say is when you're phrasing things you don’t need to end each line the same way, it's about what you don’t do rather than what you do do... And you do look beautiful."

"Jeremy: I wanted to find out what this show has taught you about music and performing"

"Carley: I was wondering if there are any pre-performance habits that you have before you go on stage."

"I never fuck with Facebook. I absolutely despise social networking. I think it's truly going to result in the destruction of mankind. Sometimes I just wish I didn't live in this time. Before, there was so much more freedom and privacy, and you could truly escape places."

"The world's become a little too mean."

"And me I'm in my bedroom drawing in my notebook Because my hand thinks I'm an artist But my heart knows I'm a poet It's just words they mean so little to me."

"My Brother went to college To become a doctor And if he studies hard enough He'll end up just like papa, who hates his life."

"And me I'm in the bathroom crying out my eyelids because it's hard to be a man when you're scared, just like a little kid."

"If I die tonight, then I guess I die tonight Let me go on."

"I started to sink like the moon tends to do if you stare at it too long Then you blink and it's gone"

"I swear that I'm dying slowly but it's happening, and if the perfect spring is waiting somewhere... just take me there."

"In a coma, you don't dream, you just hope that someone sits with you."

"I had a brother once, he drowned in a bathtub, before he'd ever learned how to talk. And I don't know what his name was but my mother does, I heard her say it once, she said, "Padraic, my prince, I have all but died from the sheer weight of my shame: you cried but no-one came.""

"I find that life is easier when it is just a blur With no details to confuse who or what or where I was So when the ending comes the full regret will be obscure"

"Well morning came, and it dressed the sky in a lovely yellow gown. Shopping malls are opening in that narrow hallway of downtown, filled with people who are shopping for their lovers and their friends, singing "I won't ever be lonely again""

"There's a cat in the window, of the house of my lover. Well she sleeps there alone now, or perhaps with another. Oh I try no to think about that, I try not to think at all!"

"My parents ask if I'm alright; I say "I've just been staying up too late. I need to sleep" I need to do something! To get this awful weight up off my chest, keep her pretty ghost from chasing me!"

"So you say there are spaces, opening wide? Oh believe me, there's day longer than nights. And you could be happy, if only you'd try. But you don't try. No you don't try."

"And you speak of a fever, that burns you inside, as you explain to your mother, how you've wanted to die. So she kisses your fingers, and says "My darling, but why? When there is so much more. There is so much more.""

"You could be happy, the minute you try. Why won't you try? Oh won't you try?"

"And the sad act like lepers They stick to the shadows They long to ring bells of warning To tell of their coming So that the pure can shut their doors."

"I drug your ghost across the country, and we plotted out my death. Every city and memory we whispered "Here is where you rest." Well I was determined in Chicago but I dug my teeth into my knees And I settled for a telephone, sang into your machine: "You are my sunshine, my only sunshine.""

"And I sing and sing of awful things The pleasure that my sadness brings."

"For a sunrise or a sunset, you're manic or you’re depressed. Will you ever feel ok?"

"I think it is more like a ghost that has been following us both. Something vague that we're not seeing, something more like a feeling."

"There was this book I read and loved, The story of a ship Who sailed around the world and found That nothing else exists Beyond its own two sails And wooden shell And what is held within. All else is sure to pass. We clutch and grasp And debate what's truly permanent."

"I sing and drink and sleep on floors And try hard not to be annoyed By all these people worrying about me. So when I'm suffering through some awful drive, You occasionally cross my mind. It's my hidden hope that you are still among them. Well, are you?"

"If you wanna see the future, Go stare into a cloud."

"Well is it your fear of being buried that makes you so afraid to speak?"

"So you can try and live in darkness but you will never shake the light. It will greet you every morning and make you more aware with its absence at night"

"The hook is in deep boys, there is no more time. So you can struggle in the water and be too stubborn to die, or you could just let go and be lifted to the sky."

"If the world could remain within a frame Like a painting on a wall, Then I think we would see the beauty, then We would stand staring in awe At our still lives posed Like a bowl of oranges, Like a story told By the fault lines and the soil."

"Ambition, I’ve found, can lead only to failure. I do not read the reviews. No, I am not singing for you."

"The animals laugh from the dark of the wilderness."

"I’ve seen a child, he's caught in the sad trap of gravity. He falls from the lowest branch of the apple tree and lands in the grass and weeps for his dignity. Next time he will not aim so high. Yeah, next time, neither will I."

"Well, I stood dropping a coin into the pit of a well. And I would throw my whole billfold if I thought it would help."

"Honesty" "Accuracy" is just "Popular Opinion."

"Well, ABC, NBC, CBS: Bullshit. They give us fact or fiction? I guess an even split."

"And each new act of war is tonight's entertainment. We're still the pawns in their game."

"As they take eye for an eye until no one can see, we must stumble blindly forward, repeating history."

"Love's an excuse to get hurt and to hurt. Do you like to hurt? I do, I do then hurt me."

"So you think I need some discipline, well, I had my share. I have been sent to my room. I've been sat in a chair. I held my tongue. I didn't plug my ears. No, I got a good talking to. And now I don't know why, but I still try to smile when they talk at me like I'm just a child. Well, I'm not a child. No, I am much younger than that. And now I have read some books and have grown quite brave. If only I could just speak up I think I would say that there is no truth. There is only you and what you make the truth."

"He once cut one of my nightmares out of paper. I thought it was beautiful, I put it on a record cover."

"It is clear to see that it is not them but me, who had lost my self-identity. As I hide behind these books I read, while scribbling my poetry, like art could save a wretch like me, with some ideal ideology that no one can hope to achieve. And I am never real; it is just a sketch of me. And everything I have made is trite and cheap and a waste of paint, of tape, of time"

"My head's a carousel of pictures and The spinning never stops."

"For a song I was bought Now I lie when I talk With a careful eye on the cue card. Onto a stage I was pushed, With my sorrow well rehearsed. So give me all your pity and your money, now (all of it)."

"But where was it when I first heard that sweet sound of humility? It came to my ears in the goddamn loveliest melody! How grateful I was, then, to be part of the mystery, To love, and to be loved! Let’s just hope that is enough."

"But you should never be embarrassed by your trouble with living Cause it's the ones with the sorest throats Laura, who have done the most singing."

"It's not a movie, no private screening This method acting, well, I call that living"

"If I could act like This was my real life, And not some cage where I've been placed, Well then, I could tell you The truth like I used to And not be afraid of sounding fake."

"And it's too hard to focus through all this doubt I keep making this to-do list but nothing gets crossed out Working on the record seems pointless now When the world ends who's gonna hear it?"

"Everything that happens is supposed to be And it's all pre-determined, can't change your destiny Guess I'll just keep moving, someday maybe I'll get to where I'm going"

"So hurry up and run to the one that you love. And blind him with your kindness. And he'll make war, oh war, On who you were before. And he'll claim all that has spoiled in your heart."

"Because the truth is that gossip is as good as gospel in this town. You can save face but you won't ever save your soul. And that's a fact."

"It was a small mistake Sometimes that is all it takes."

"But, I was as helpless as a chess piece when I was lifted up by someone's hand And delivered from the corner my enemies had got me in But in all of my salvation I still felt imprisoned inside that holding cell that is myself"

"So I wait for the day when I'll hear the key as it turns in the lock And the guard will say to me, "Oh my patient prisoner you waited for this day and finally, you are free! You are free! You are free!""

"We're all too busy working, entertaining ourselves With forty hours, television and prescription pills Well, I take two a day to help my brain behave It never does, but who's to say? At least my doctor gets paid."

"'Cause a costume can be comfortable It can make you feel more beautiful It can even make you look like someone else But it's still you, so there's nothing you can do Like a bad habit, the one you couldn't kick, there it always is And it's nothing that no doctor's gonna fix."

"I know you have a heavy heart, I can feel it when we kiss So many men stronger than me Have thrown their backs out trying to lift it But me I'm not a gamble You can count on me to split The love I sell you in the evening by the morning won't exist."

"I'd rather be working for a paycheck, than waiting to win the lottery. Besides, maybe this time it's different, I mean, I really think you like me."

"If you walk away I'll walk away first tell me which road you will take I don't want to risk our paths crossing someday so you walk that way I'll walk this way"

"I found a liquid cure for my landlocked blues"

"And there's kids playing guns in the streets And one's pointing his tree branch at me So I put my hands up I say "Enough is enough, If you walk away I walk away." And he shot me dead."

"But greed is a bottomless pit And our freedom's a joke we're just taking a piss And the whole world must watch the sad comic display If you're still free start runnin' away 'cause we're comin' for ya!"

"You'll be free child once you have died from the shackles of language and measurable time"

"And I never thought this life was possible,You're the yellow bird that I've been waiting for."

"In polaroids you were dressed in women's clothes Were you made ashamed, why'd you lock them in a drawer? Well, I don't think that I ever loved you more"

"Well let the poets cry themselves to sleep And all their tearful words will turn back into steam"

"The sound of loneliness makes me happier"

"Well, I could have been a famous singer If I had someone else's voice But failure's always sounded better Let's fuck it up, boys, make some noise!"

"The sun came up with no conclusions Flowers sleepin' in their beds The city cemetery's hummin' I'm wide awake, its mornin'"

"i keep drinking the ink from my pen and i'm balancing history books up on my head but it all boils down to one quotable phrase if you love something give it away"

"a good woman will pick you apart a box full of suggestions for your possible heart and you may be offended. and you may be afraid but don't walk away, don't walk away"

"we made love on the living room floor with the noise in the background of a televised war and in that defeaning pleasure i thought i heard someone say if we walk away they'll walk away"

"So don't be fooled, so don't get lied to Love was always cruel And don't act strange, don't be a stranger It happened to me, now it's happening to you But if you'd take that train underwater Then we could talk it through"

"Yeah, I was a postcard, I was a record I was a camera until I went blind"

"I guess the best that I can do now is to pretend that I've done nothing wrong and to dream about a train that's gonna take me back where I belong"

"So I go back and forth forever All my thoughts they come in pairs Oh I will, I won't, I doubt, I don't, I'm not surprised but I never feel quite prepared"

"Now I'm hunched over a typewriter I guess you call that paintin' in a cave And there's a word I can't remember and a feeling I cannot escape"

"I dreamt this ship was sinkin' there was people screaming all around And I awoke to my alarm clock it was a pop song it was playin' loud"

"So I will find my fears and face them or I will cower like a dog I will kick and scream or kneel and plead I'll fight like hell to hide that I've given up"

"I want to be the surgeon who cuts you open Who fixes all of life's mistakes I want to be the house that you were raised in The only place where you feel safe."

"I wanna be a shower in the morning That wakes you up and makes you clean I know I'm just the weather against your window As you sleep through a winter's dream"

"I hear if you make friends with Jesus Christ, you will get right up from that chalk outline. And then you'll get dolled up, and you'll dress in white all to take your place in his chorus line. And then in you'll come with those marching drums in a saintly compromise. No more whiskey slurs, no more blonde-haired girls for your whole eternal life. And you'll do the dance that was choreographed at the very dawn of time. Singing "I told you son, the day would come you would die, you'd die you'd die you'd die you'd die"."

"Sometimes I worry that I've lost the plot My twitching muscles tease my flippant thoughts I never really dreamed of heaven much Until we put him in the ground."

"There is nothing as lucky, as easy, or free"

"You took off your clothes and left on the light, You stood there so brave, you used to be shy, Each feature improved, each movement refined, And eyes like a showroom."

"There is no Hell when you die so don't look so worried"

"so immagine what you want and hold onto that thought cause thats as close as it will ever come and believe you're were you're are keep acting out the part but at the end of the day the trees all get wheeled away and you'll be standing alone in a blank, blank space"

"so believe you're who you are and stay in character but at the end of the play the audience walks away and ill be shivering cold on a well lit stage"

"The drunk kids, the catholics They’re all about the same They’re waiting for something Hoping to be saved"

"And I'm sorry about the phone call and needing you Some decisions you don't make I guess it's just like breathing or not wanting to There are some things you can't fake"

"I'm sorry about the phone call; and waking you. I know that it is late, But thank you for talking, because I needed to. Some things just can't wait."

"So I want to get myself attached to something bolted down, So that these winds of circumstance won't keep blowing me around. From when I land to when I leave there is enough time to sleep and sing. I keep running around, when all I want is to lay motionless."

"Future markets, holy wars Been tried ten thousand times before If you think that god is keeping score, hooray!"

"And, you know, it's kind of like with people and the tarot cards. Just because you get the death card doesn't mean death or dying. It means transformation. It means changing things around and starting something new."

"Your class, your caste, your country, sect, your name or your tribe There's people always dying trying to keep them alive"

"Squatters made a mural of a Mexican girl With fifteen cans of spray paint and a chemical swirl She's standing in the ashes at the end of the world Four winds blowing through her hair"

"The Bible's blind, the Torah's deaf, the Qur'an's mute If you burned them all together you'd get close to the truth still They're pouring over Sanskrit under ivy league moons While shadows lengthen in the sun"

"I never thought of running My feet just led the way"

"I'm a repeat first time offender Who has rewritten history"

"I tried to pass for nothing But my dreams gave me away"

"Oh, I've made love, yeah, I've been fucked, so what? I'm a cartoon, you're a full moon, let's stay up"

"Death doesn't ask It don't owe you that Some things you lose You don't get back So just know what you have"

"Saw the wave of the future through the crack of the dam Drowned the soul singer in the session band Bless the soul singer in the session band"

"Now the sky is a torn up denim and the clouds are just splattered paint It's a room I'm renovating; it's a name I got to change"

"I traveled though the atmosphere As a wall of feedback climbed The pegs were gold, the band was old They played in half time"

"Hear the chimes, did you know that the wind when it blows It is older than Rome and our joy and our sorrow"

"Little soldier, little insect You know war it has no heart It will kill you in the sunshine Or happily in the the dark Where kindness is a card game Or a bent up cigarette In the trenches, in the hard rain With a bullet and a bet"

"In the South the Sun is shining Back in the East the lights went out Out in the West the cars are crashing Up in the North the ice gave out"

"They locked the devil in the basement, threw god up into the air Yeah, everything it must belong somewhere"

"It comes to me in fragments, even those still split in two Under the leaves of that old lime tree I stood examining the fruit Some were ripe and some were rotten, I felt nauseous with the truth"

"Do what you want, when you want, with whoever you wanted to"

"The sun is eclipsed as silence swoons"

"Is it midnight or high noon?"

"You’ve been a father to me. Your 1960’s speak. Gives me comatose joy like re-run TV. While the mountainside was shining. Wild colors of my destiny"

"And in the morning when the sun rise. Look in the water, see the blue sky. As if heaven has been laid there at our feet."

"I wanna be your happiness. I wanna be your common sense pain."

"If I loved you, well that's my fault"

"Suffered from alienation, carried the weight on my own, had to be so strong, so I believed, and now I know I've succeeded, in finding the place I conceived."

"You look at me and see the girl, who lives inside the golden world, but don't believe, that's all there is to see, you'll never know the real me."

"It seems as though I've always been, somebody outside looking in, well, here I am for all of them to bleed, but they can't take my heart from me, and they can't bring me to my knees, they'll never know the real me."

"When you love someone so deeply they become your life, it's easy to succumb to overwhelming fears inside, blindly I imagined I could keep you under glass, now I understand to hold you I must open my hands, and watch you rise."

"Standing alone, eager to just believe, it's good enough to be what you really are, but in your heart, uncertainty forever lies, and you'll always be, somewhere on the outside."

"So many I considered, closest to me, turned on a dime and sold me out dutifully, although that knife was chipping away at me, they turned their eyes away and went home to sleep."

"I can make it through the rain, I can stand up once again, on my own, and I know, that I’m strong enough to mend, and every time I feel afraid I hold tighter to my faith, and I live one more day and I make it through the rain."

"Who's gonna love you when it all falls down? Who's gonna love you when your bankroll runs out? Who's gonna care when the novelty's over? When the star of the show isn't you anymore. Nobody cares when the tears of a clown fall down (I guess your mama never told you what goes around comes back around)."

"Please be at peace father, I'm at peace with you, bitterness isn't worth clinging to, after all the anguish we've all been through."

"Father, thanks for reaching out and lovingly, saying that you've always been proud of me, I needed to feel that so desperately, you're always alive inside of me."

"See, I'm looking for a man that'll rub me slow, make me sing real high when he goes down low."

"By the time you get this message It's gonna be too late. So don't bother paging me cause I'll be on my way. You're gonna miss me baby, hate to say I told you so."

"She'll never be MC."

"But instead I kept my tears inside, cause I knew if I, started I'd keep crying for the rest of my life with you, I finally built up the strength to walk away, don't regret it, but I still live with the side effects."

"For the record, "You'll Always Be a Part Of Me" no matter what you do, For the record, can't nobody say I didn't give "My All" to you, For the record, I told you "Underneath The Stars" that you "Belong" to me, For the record, It's obvious that we just "Can't Let Go" of us "Honey"."

"This is for my peoples who just lost somebody, your best friend, your baby, your man or your lady, put your hand way up high, we will never say bye, mamas, daddies, sisters, brothers, friends and cousins, this is for my peoples who lost their grandmothers, lift your head to the sky, cause we will never say bye."

"They can say anything they want to say Try to bring me down But I won't face the ground"

"Why you so obsessed with me? Boy I wanna know. Lying that you're sexing me when everybody knows"

"Whenever I watch TV and see those poor, starving kids all over the world, I can't help but cry. I mean, I'd love to be skinny like that, but not with all those flies and death and stuff."

"I love Mariah Carey. Mariah Carey's music saved little ghetto children's lives. Songs like "Vision of Love" gave us hope and we would sing those songs and try to hit every note like Mariah -- which we can't. I don't think she knows what a big part she plays in Mary J. Blige's life. And then to meet her….she's such a beautiful person that you can't do anything but defend her when [the media] starts acting stupid on her. She doesn't deserve that."

"Mariah has an amazing gift from God that has no color, no boundaries and no limitations. You hear the passion and the honesty within her music"

"No one would have believed that Mariah Carey could come full circle. Except Mariah."

"When others would have quit, overcome by the negativity, she soldiered on - a phoenix rising from the ashes."

"She has the voice of an angel."

"After I first heard "Vision [of Love]" (Carey's debut single) I first started doing runs [singing harmonic variations on scales]"

"When I discovered Mariah Carey and "Vision of Love," that was a breath of fresh air. And I adored her from that moment on and idolized her. It's really amazing that in articles I've been compared to her."

"I discovered Mariah in my room one day listening to the radio, and as soon as 'Vision of Love' came on, I ran downstairs going, ‘Mommy, mommy - I just found the greatest person in the world! I just heard the greatest new voice!'."

"Mariah Carey... she is a huge influence on me. I mean, she's amazing."

"I love her, she's such a nice person! I had an opportunity to meet her for the first time at the Z100 concert. Randy [Jackson] was like 'Mariah's here, would you like to meet her?' I said no, I don't wanna meet her! I'm gonna be an idiot in front of her. In my mind, I was saying, 'I'm gonna throw up, I'm gonna throw up!' but the words came out of my mouth. Mariah was laughing at me. It so was funny!"

"Sorry, but when you sing songs that the great Mariah Carey sings, you run the hugest risk of being compared to icons. And right now, there's no one hotter than Mariah Carey and we're constantly reminded of how brilliant her voice is. It's a big, big, huge risk to take on a song like that."

"My theory is that Mariah Carey can sing anything. You hear that expression, 'She can sing the phone book’. If you can really sing, you should be able to sing anything. That's [what] the whole competition [is about]."

"Mariah Carey has also covered it... and about bloody time! It took 21 years for someone to do a proper cover of one of our songs."

"I remember the moment I first heard Vision of Love. Then I saw this white girl with a black voice on television, and everything about her bowled me over. You could relate to her and yet she was a magical icon, and throughout my school days all I dreamed of was being like Mariah Carey. She sang with a gospel choir around her, which was always my dream. I just wanted to be her."

"Her friendship is very important to me. And it has provided me with some of my fondest memories and experiences of being in the music industry. It's just great that she is such a down to earth person who just happens to be a little more famous than most of my other friends."

"My first impression of Mariah was that she was an incredible singer, very funny (she's always cracking jokes) and just a very nice person to be around.... after 5 years I still feel the same way. I really enjoy being a part of her team. Normally when I work with a new artist I'm not necessarily a "fan", but there's no question Mariah is a truly great singer, so in this case, yes I was (and am) a fan."

"I’d heard a lot of good and bad things about [Mariah] and was pleasantly surprised by her professionalism and her niceness. She’s a lovely lady and a really good actress as well."

"Mariah was really nice to work with. You hear lots of rumours about Mariah, that she's very egotistical and other bad stories but I have to say that they're untrue. We had a lot of fun with Mariah and we found her a very down to earth person."

"She's brilliant in the studio; I don't think I've heard anyone talk so knowledgeably about the music industry like her. She's very intelligent and very funny - it was a great honour to work with her"

"We hit it off real well. Every time we get together she is open and she really trusts me. The ingredients are good and there is a chemistry there that you can hear through the music. I can't give her advice on her pop stuff but she will seek it for dance stuff. You know she rarely ever works with a producer. She's a writer and producer in the Lauryn Hill category, she doesn't come into the studio with a superstar attitude, the people around her may give you that impression, but we have a really good relationship."

"Acceptance is right. Kindness is right. Love is right. I pray, right now, that we're moving into a kinder time when prejudice is overcome by understanding; when narrow-mindedness, and narrow-minded bigotry is overwhelmed by open-hearted empathy; when the pain of judgmentalism is replaced by the purity of love."

"Her father’s white."

"You ought to be thankful for the little things But little things are all you seem to give You're always putting off what we can do today Soap opera says you've got one life to live Who's right, who's wrong?"

"I'm not a prude, I just want some respect (that's right) So close the door if you want me to respond Cause privacy is my middle name My last name is control No, my first name ain't baby It's Janet — Ms. Jackson, if you're nasty"

"Seeing that your love's true. Never I'll doubt you. My heart belongs to you. That's alright with me. Worlds could end around me. So in love that I can't see. You and me were meant to be. That's alright with me."

"Like a moth to a flame Burned by the fire. My love is blind Can't you see my desire?"

"I feel asleep late last night Crying like a newborn child Holding myself close Pretending my arms are yours I want no one but you."

"My love for you is unconditional love too Gotta get up, get out, get up, get out, get up And show you that it"

"Relax... it's just sex."

"I don't know if I've ever felt like this before But I'm sure that the way I feel, I don't want it to go 'Cuz I've cried my share of tears And I've sang my share of blues But to keep you over here, I'll do what I got to do"

"So here's my demonstration A peep show Tonight my body's an exhibition baby Though it's on display don't be scared to Touch It, It said so So come and get it babe"

"I can feel a something pounding in my brain Just any time that someone speaks your name Trumpets sound and I hear thunder boom Every time that you walk in the room."

"Another day goes by Still the children cry Put a little love in your heart."

"If you want the world to know We won't let hatred grow Put a little love in your heart."

"There can be a new tomorrow There can be a brighter day There can be a new tomorrow Love will find a way"

"Her hair is Harlow gold Her lips a sweet surprise Her hands are never cold She's got Bette Davis eyes"

"She'll turn her music on you You won't have to think twice She's pure as New York snow She's got Bette Davis eyes"

"Most of the time I sit down with my guitar or at the piano, and I play for awhile until I get a new riff or groove that I like a lot. Then I'll concentrate on building around that line of thought by adding words and textures. At first I'm only trying to please myself, and hopefully what I like will appeal to others."

"I've always been careful to put out the very best work I can. One of the things I value the most is the love and faith that people have given me over the years, so I try to live up to their expectations and my own standards of what I'm capable of."

"When I was writing songs or performing or producing or dabbling in movies or even putting my career on hold to go to art school, I was just following my muse. A woman who did that then was criticized for having no direction. Today they call it versatility."

"What the world needs now is love, sweet love, It's the only thing that there's just too little of. What the world needs now is love, sweet love, No not just for some but for everyone."

"Old clothes do not make a tortured artist."

"The only way to change things is to shoot men who arrange things."

"I went to an art exhibition recently, and the guy had a quote of mine from that song there — "The only way to change things is to shoot men who arrange things." I wouldn't agree with shooting people at all. I was just anti-love. I feel differently now. But, you know. It's OK. That's how it was then, and it's good."

"I had someone come up to me at "Top Of The Pops" and say they thought our records were excellent. "Yeah," I replied. "I think yours are fucking shit." It was awful really."

"I never did feel like a star. I was always uptight about something and uncomfortable and not very good. I felt weighed down by it, the pressure. It's terrible I should have enjoyed it but I didn't; I was thinking about what we should do all the time, I wasn't able to run with it."

"I did loads of stupid things, like the way I used to argue with EMI Records. I just look back to the time now and wonder how I would have reacted to some prick coming into my office shouting and kicking things."

"And then I asked him with my eyes to ask again (yes), And then he asked me would I (yes, yes). I put my arms around him (yes), And drew him down to me so he could feel my breasts, And his heart was going like mad. Yes, I said yes, I will, yes."

"I feel the need to be naked with you. Take off my pants, my shirt, my socks and my shoes. I need to be naked with you."

"Your hair shines like gold, says my child. You are pretty old, says my child. And I think to myself how I used to be. There's another wrinkle that I see. Then he takes my hand and smiles at me."

"You entered my aura and fell into my arms. I just wrapped around you like a snake that's been charmed."

"It's the way that you kiss, the way that you give back, The way you love me like this -- look at the beauty of that. These are the tangled words of our love, that we both do untie -- Same old ways, same old spice, same old paradise."

"Ooh, little boy, in between changing fathers. Little girl has to live without Mother. They don't understand why they seem not to need them, Although all they need is a loving hand."

"In terms of my singing I have sometimes been asked how it all began, and it’s usually been a little hard for me to set the story down in any continuous narrative. From the days of my childhood I’ve been listening to sounds and singers, both colored and white, and absorbing a little bit here and a little bit there. Countless musicians of talent have helped. But it is Billie Holiday, whom I first heard in 52nd Street clubs in the early 1930s, who was and still remains the single greatest musical influence on me. It has been a warm and wonderful influence and I am very proud to acknowledge it. Lady Day is unquestionably the most important influence on American popular singing in the last 20 years. With a few exceptions, every major pop singer in the U.S., during her generation has been touched in some way by her genius."

"What I do with my life is of my own doing. I live it the best way I can."

"If I had as many love affairs as you've given me credit for, I would now be speaking to you from a jar at the Harvard Medical School."

"I would like to be remembered as a man who had a wonderful time living his life, and who had good friends, a fine family. I don't think I could ask for anything more than that, actually."

"You can be the most artistically perfect performer in the world, but an audience is like a broad — if you're indifferent, Endsville."

"Whatever else has been said about me personally is unimportant. When I sing, I believe. I'm honest."

"If you possess something but you can't give it away, then you don't possess it... it possesses you."

"The only male singer who I've seen besides myself and who's better than me – that is Michael Jackson."

"I'm going to be the best singer in the World, [...] the best singer that ever was."

"And may the last voice you hear be mine!"

"I believe in you and me. I'm like Albert Schweitzer and Bertrand Russell and Albert Einstein in that I have a respect for life – in any form. I believe in nature, in the birds, the sea, the sky, in everything I can see or that there is real evidence for. If these things are what you mean by God, then I believe in God. But I don't believe in a personal God to whom I look for comfort or for a natural on the next roll of the dice."

"I'm not unmindful of man's seeming need for faith; I'm for anything that gets you through the night, be it prayer, tranquilizers, or a bottle of Jack Daniel's. But to me religion is a deeply personal thing in which man and God go it alone together, without the witch doctor in the middle."

"There are things about organized religion which I resent. Christ is revered as the Prince of Peace, but more blood has been shed in His name than any other figure in history. You show me one step forward in the name of religion and I'll show you a hundred retrogressions. Remember, they were men of God who destroyed the educational treasures at Alexandria, who perpetrated the Inquisition in Spain, who burned the witches at Salem. Over 25,000 organized religions flourish on this planet, but the followers of each think all the others are miserably misguided and probably evil as well."

"I'm for decency — period. I'm for anything and everything that bodes love and consideration for my fellow man. But when lip service to some mysterious deity permits bestiality on Wednesday and absolution on Sunday — cash me out."

"If you don't know the guy on the other side of the world, love him anyway because he's just like you. He has the same dreams, the same hopes and fears. It's one world, pal. We're all neighbors."

"I'm supposed to have a Ph.D. on the subject of women. But the truth is I've flunked more often than not. I'm very fond of women; I admire them. But, like all men, I don't understand them."

"For years I've nursed a secret desire to spend the Fourth of July in a double hammock with a swingin' redheaded broad … but I could never find me a double hammock."

"Fear is the enemy of logic."

"The big lesson in life, baby, is never be scared of anyone or anything."

"[On religion] I'm for anything that gets you through the night, be it prayer, benzedrine or a bottle of Jack Daniel's."

"There are certain artists who belong to all the people, everywhere, all the time. The list of singers, musicians, and poets must include David the harpist from the Old Testament, Aesop the Storyteller, Omar Khayyam the Tent Maker, Shakespeare the Bard of Avon, Louis Armstrong the genius of New Orleans, Om Kalsoum the soul of Egypt, Frank Sinatra, Mahalia Jackson, Dizzy Gillespie, Ray Charles .... Celia Cruz ... All great artists draw from the same resource: the human heart, which tells us all that we are more alike than we are unalike."

"I'll tell you who liked a laugh [He holds up a finger]. Frank Sinatra. [...] He was very nice, he became my friend, and he loved to laugh. But he never did many things that made you laugh. He was tough ... very tough. He took me to Las Vegas on his private plane, and then I knew every mafia guy in Las Vegas. I had dinner with them all."

"For Sinatra, there was also an androgynous quality, which also makes the youth-middle age transformation interesting. There's also a certain innocence and vulnerability. Something special happened -- when he got up on the stage he was transformed by the gift."

"I think Frank Sinatra was the most hated man of World War II, much more than Hitler."

"It's Frank's world, we're all just livin' in it."

"I did not want to do anything hokey, corny or make a tribute to Sinatra. So when I went in, I felt the best way was to be absolutely honest, rather than hope I could turn the script my way later."

"Worst of all was when I went to see Frank Sinatra in Atlantic City and left before the end because I didn't want to be recognized when the lights went up. I heard later that the woman I had been sitting next to was a friend of Sinatra's and she said to him after the show 'Guess who was here? Nina Simone.' And Sinatra said 'Why didn't anybody tell me? Why wasn't she up here with me?' I cried for a year when I heard that."

"Sinatra with a cold is Picasso without paint, without fuel — only worse."

"He seemed now to be also the embodiment of the fully emancipated male, perhaps the only one in America, the man who can do anything he wants, anything, can do it because he has money, the energy, and no apparent guilt. ... The man who had everything, lost it, then got it back, letting nothing stand in his way, doing what few men can do."

"Words that warmed women, wooed and won them, snipped the final thread of inhibition and gratified the male egos of ungrateful lovers; [...] for which they were eternally in his debt, for which they may eternally hate him."

"Sinatra brings out the best and worst in people."

"All the Way; All or Nothing at All. This is the Sicilian in Sinatra; he permits his friends, if they wish to remain that, none of the easy Anglo-Saxon outs. But if they remain loyal, then there is nothing Sinatra will not do in turn — fabulous gifts, personal kindnesses, encouragement when they're down, adulation when they're up. They are wise to remember, however, one thing. He is Sinatra. The boss. Il Padrone."

"He is what in traditional Sicily have long been called uomini rispettati — men of respect: men who are both majestic and humble, men who are loved by all and are very generous by nature, men whose hands are kissed as they walk from village to village, men who would personally go out of their way to redress a wrong."

"He is a wholly unpredictable man of many moods and great dimension, a man who responds instantaneously to instinct — suddenly, dramatically, wildly he responds, and nobody can predict what will follow."

"The whole thing had lasted only about three minutes. And three minutes after it was over, Frank Sinatra had probably forgotten about it for the rest of his life — as Ellison will probably remember it for the rest of his life: he had had, as hundreds of others before him, at an unexpected moment between darkness and dawn, a scene with Sinatra."

"It was suddenly obvious to everybody in the studio that something quite special must be going on inside the man, because something quite special was coming out. He was singing now, cold or no cold, with power and warmth, he was letting himself go, the public arrogance was gone, the private side was in this song about the girl who, it is said, understands him better than anybody else, and is the only person in front of whom he can be unashamedly himself."

"He has everything, he cannot sleep, he gives nice gifts, he is not happy, but he would not trade, even for happiness, what he is...."

"He never knows whether they want him for what he can do for them now — or will do for them later."

"When Sinatra sits to dine, his trusted friends are close; and no matter where he is, no matter how elegant the place may be, there is something of the neighborhood showing because Sinatra, no matter how far he has come, is still something of the boy from the neighborhood — only now he can take his neighborhood with him."

"It no longer matters what song he is singing, or who wrote the words — ​they are all his words, his sentiments, they are chapters from the lyrical novel of his life."

"Frank Sinatra stopped his car. The light was red. Pedestrians passed quickly across his windshield but, as usual, one did not. It was a girl in her twenties. She remained at the curb staring at him. Through the corner of his left eye he could see her, and he knew, because it happens almost every day, that she was thinking, It looks like him, but is it? Just before the light turned green, Sinatra turned toward her, looked directly into her eyes waiting for the reaction he knew would come. It came and he smiled. She smiled and he was gone."

"My advice is precisely the advice my mother gave me. If you believe you have talent, the next thing you must have is determination. If you keep working, keep striving, and try always to move forward a little bit with every job you do, you’ll eventually make it. And I believe that!"

"I think I would like to be a Senator or something in twenty years. I don't think I really know enough yet. I'm just 30 now and I wouldn't even be eligible to run for office for another five years. But I have a lot of feelings about things. I know the way I would like to see things for this country and in my travels, when I talk to people, everybody wants pretty much the same thing: peace, enough jobs, no poverty and good education. And I've learned a lot. It's funny. So many people in show business go into politics, and I used to say "What the heck do they know about it?" But when you travel around, you really do get to feel — not to be cliche — the pulse of the country and what people want. I'm concerned and it's not good to be unconcerned and just sit there."

"Our job as entertainers is to ease some pain. So to begin with, you have to know what and where the pain is. I've never campaigned before and I wanted to be damn sure before putting my name behind anyone. I wrote to all the campaign officers to find out what they were. My issue is that it's all very well to sit back and complain but when it's your country you have a responsibility."

"I don't think it's so important who you vote for — you vote for who you believe in. The important thing is to vote, because it's our way and it's the best way."

"Having the baby changed my life a lot. I don't want to go on the road, you see. It's actually a matter of economics, much like the Vietnamese war, I guess. I didn't want to go on the road and I wanted to stay home with my baby. I guess I could go to Kansas and be a waitress and support my child that way. But I'd rather live comfortable and I wanted to do more creative work. I didn't just want to be part of a group. I wanted to be able to do television, and a movie if it came up, to sort of diversify myself, to extend myself. Within the framework of a group, that freedom is not possible."

"I think the unique thing about music and graphic art is as oposed to, say, acting and directing, that if you are good you can always create a place for yourself. In acting, for instance, there's only a certain amount of good parts; you have to find the right vehicle. But if you're making good music, man, there's so much room. I think that any group that's really good can make it, anytime. That was my feeling behind the Mamas and Papas. When I heard us sing together the first time… we knew, we knew… this is it. This was when we first came to California, after we'd left the islands."

"I hated it. Everybody'd say, "Hey, mama, what's happening?" Then came the Mamas and Papas and I was stuck with it. And now people call me Mama Cass because of the baby. So I don't know whether I'm gonna be able to really get away from it."

"I would love, in all honesty, to do another album with the Mamas and Papas sometime. I miss them. We're still friends and we want to be friends. Because you break up a successful group, which is really what I did, you know, there's some kind of karma here. I don't feel guilty about it; I left the group because I had to. That was being honest."

"Everything I've learned in life I've learned either by doing it or watching the changes other people go through. And when you're famous, you don't get to meet people — because they want you to like them when they present themselves to you, present the best sides of themselves, and you don't see the real people. Which is why I don't really go anywhere. And when I do, I put on my silly face and do what they expect me to do. Actually, I never do what they expect me to do. It's the only way I could go on doing what I have to do. I do whatever I… you know, I didn't even comb my hair today. I didn't know we were taking pictures but when I found out, it didn't change my mind any."

"I say, "Look, I'm here now. There must be a reason I'm here." If that's fatalistic, be that as it may. Where my work is, is where my life is, and if we're falling in the ocean, we're falling into the ocean."

"I would say that there are certain glittering generalities that can be made about every sign that will hold true about everybody who's a member of that sign. For instance, if you had been a Virgo, you would have understood how I hate to be late. I broke up a group I was in once called The Big Three because one of the guys was chronically late and I couldn't take it. I feel when you're supposed to be some place on time, you're there on time. You don't hang people up. It doesn't matter if you're the President of the United States. That's not what you are here for, to hang people up. When I know somebody's sign, and I usually know everybody's sign whether they tell me or not — after getting into this for several years — it helps me to deal with them. Usually I'd rather let people deal with me. That's a total ego hang up, but that's where it's at."

"I've always wanted to go to England; I've always felt a tremendous drawing to England — especially the Elizabethan period. I felt I was familiar with a lot of it — more than what I was familiar with from what I read and studied in school. I went to England. I started driving. I drove to Stonehenge and found that I had been there. It was familiar to me. I went to the tower of London and knew that I had been there. It was more than just feeling vibrations, which a lot of people can do — feel, you know, vibrations of a place that has antiquity screaming through it. It was an irrefutable fact. It was like coming home for me."

"I've heard that story about kids are high naturally, but I've seen kids that aren't high, kids who've had the high taken out of them."

"I hope these babies have a world to live in. I hope they have a place to go, a land to walk on. I remember when I was ten years old, in Washington, D.C., and I lived with fear of the atom bomb that would keep me awake nights and make me wake up screaming. I used to babysit for my younger brother and sister and I'd be terrified if I heard a siren, a police car, or an ambulance. I'd say, "My God, what if this is it! How do I protect them?" We used to have duck-and-cover exercises in school, where they'd ring a bell at any time of the day, sometimes five or six times a day, and we'd crawl under our desks and put our hands like this to protect the back of our necks from the bomb. We all carried that with us."

"I think everybody who has a brain should get involved in politics. Working within. Not criticizing it from the outside. Become an active participant, no matter how feeble you think the effort is."

"My philosophy is I'm gonna fight as hard as I can to keep all the bad things from happening. But if they are gonna happen and I happen to be in the city where they are happening — like in the song, "California Earthquake" — then there's not much I can do about it. I can't uproot my whole life, just because I have a feeling that things may not work out all right. There's also always the chance that everything is going to be just swell, guys. Just hang in there. But I don't think it can happen on its own."

"I think the most successful way to overthrow any government is through infiltration. It's been proven for years. The dream, of course, is that there is going to be a fantastic cataclysm, and that tomorrow we have Adlai Stevenson in the White House. That's not going to happen, and not because Adlai Stevenson is dead. The reason it's not going to happen is that kind of overthrow is not possible. So I will work in the only way I know how, and that is within the establishment — because that is the only existing program. Let someone come up with another one and if it's good I'd do it in a second."

"I know very few who are willing to die for their convictions. I wouldn't be hit on the head with a billy club or have mace squirted in my face. When I was younger and a radical at American University maybe… as a matter of fact, I was at the march on the Pentagon just last year, right in the front taking pictures, just being there to find out what was happening, and I was knocked down and stepped on. I don't want to do that again. It didn't accomplish anything. They lied about everything that happened. Everything in the newspapers were just lies."

"Let's take the people who have latent thoughts about maybe the United States isn't always right. They hear a song like "Give a Damn" and maybe it'll awaken them. If it makes you cross that bridge between apathy and effective participation, that's great. There's so much talk about the Drug Generation and songs about drugs. That's stupid. They aren't songs about drugs; they're about life. Music can play a huge part, because it's the international communicative force."

"I've always been so apathetic. I figured okay, maybe the world is going to fall down around me. Now I feel… maybe that's motherhood, too. I want to make a better world, I want to make sure she has some place to walk around."

"Sweet dreams till sunbeams find you Sweet dreams that leave all worries behind you But in your dreams whatever they be Dream a little dream of me."

"She was the unsung hero who was quite willing to stand back and pull the strings — and though everyone thinks someone else had done it. It was like the Wizard of Oz you know... she's back there behind the curtains: "Ignore that woman behind the curtain"..."

"Who I am as a guitarist is defined by my failure to become Jimi Hendrix."

"Everybody enjoys arguing about the current state of music because it feels as if you are talking about something incredibly important, yet it requires little understanding of the subject matter at hand. It's like world politics meets the pink questions in Trivial Pursuit. Points are made but nothing gets accomplished."

"Songs can be Trojan horses, taking charged ideas and sneaking past the ego's defenses and into the open mind."

"I love the Grammy nominations this year. Anybody who really loves what they do got rewarded for it. It's not a death match between Ray Charles and Jessica Simpson."

"There's a real self-serving element to hip-hop that threatens its life span."

"If I had done things differently, I'd probably have the paparazzi waiting around for me. At the studio where I've been recording, Jessica Simpson is working there, too. The paparazzi are outside waiting for her to come out. That's the result of her decisions. My decisions have led me to the point that when I walk out in front of the paparazzi, I'm considered a waste of film."

"I am not in Us Weekly. I'd have to be going out with someone who is in there to be in there myself."

"The saddest kind of sad is the sad that tries not to be sad. You know, when Sad tries to bite its lip and not cry and smile and go, "No, I'm happy for you?" That's when it's really sad."

"I won't ever get on stage at a comedy club when people know about it."

"If you told me I was going to live to 240, I would take 10 years off and try and act. I don't have that kind of time, so I'd much rather stick to playing guitar."

"Sheryl's heroes are in black and white photos, and so are mine."

"I went to my library, right? And I started to research the Bill of Rights and I did not technically find anything that said all Americans shall eat shrimp with whoever they like, but I found some things that are close enough to infer that I am within my legal rights to enjoy seafood with whomever I choose."

"It was so frightening at the time to be seventeen and have heart monitors hooked up to you. That was the moment the songwriter in me was born. I discovered a whole other side of me. I came home that night and started writing lyrics. I discovered it all at once: It was like opening up a lockbox, and inside was a depth that I didn't even know I had as a person, or a writer — incredible creativity and vision and neurosis, complete neurosis. They all go together in a package."

"I never worked with T.I. Here's the back story to that Wikipedia nugget: I was a guest on TRL and happened to get my hands on the list of goofy, un Andrew-Miller-like questions I was going to be asked before I walked on set. One of the questions was "Who do you like more, T.I. or [I forgot the other southern rap artist]?" So I snuck to the bathroom and searched "T.I." on my Blackberry. I memorized as much information as I could and then announced that we were working together."

"What I've learned in my life, it's a very interesting social study for me, to go back and forth between being the guy at home and being the guy on the road and being the guy in studio and being the guy in the interview. The environment around you has so much to do with your character, and when I'm home, my character really changes quite a bit. I become very domesticated, it becomes riding my bike, and the music thing — the music thing doesn't leave but it's kind of less put upon me by other people as a musician."

"I find myself in situations that I know would be unbelievable pictures and I have to gauge, Is this worth taking the camera out? Am I gonna lose the moment? Am I gonna get a dirty look from Sting?"

"I know if it was the Time 99, I would've been off the list."

"Sometimes it feels like my life is just one long day."

"The first thing I said was a question: Does this really come from the family? I think that was essential to me sort of processing the honor. And when I found out that, in fact, it had, it took me about 48 hours to sort of strike the balance in how I was going to approach being -- you know, being invited to this unbelievable event without actually having the proximity to Michael Jackson personally. I'd never met him."

"It wasn’t as direct as me saying “I now make the choice to bring the paparazzi into my life.” I really said, “I now make the choice to sleep with Jessica Simpson.” That was stronger than my desire to stay out of the paparazzi’s eye."

"I was smart enough to know it would probably make me a salable item for the paparazzi. I knew I’d have to move to a home that had a gate. But that pearl of possibility that lives in your heart when you meet somebody you want to know more about has such a different molecular density than everything else that you have to pursue it."

"Someone asked me the other day, “What does it feel like now to have a hood pass?” And by the way, it’s sort of a contradiction in terms, because if you really had a hood pass, you could call it a nigger pass. Why are you pulling a punch and calling it a hood pass if you really have a hood pass? But I said, “I can’t really have a hood pass. I’ve never walked into a restaurant, asked for a table and been told, ‘We’re full.’”"

"I don’t think I open myself to it. My dick is sort of like a white supremacist. I’ve got a Benetton heart and a fuckin’ David Duke cock. I’m going to start dating separately from my dick."

"Sexually it was crazy. That’s all I’ll say. It was like napalm, sexual napalm."

"Absolutely, because during sex, I’m just going to run a filmstrip. I’m still masturbating."

""Welcome to the real world", she said to me Condescendingly. Take a seat, Take your life Plot it out in black and white. Well I never lived the dreams of the prom kings And the drama queens. I'd like to think the best of me Is still hiding Up my sleeve.They love to tell you: Stay inside the lines, But something's better On the other side."

"I want to run through the halls of my high school, I want to scream at the Top of my lungs. I just found out there's no such thing as the real world, Just a lie you've got to rise above."

"I am driving up '85 in the Kind of morning that lasts all afternoon, Just stuck inside the gloom. 4 more exits to my apartment but I am tempted to keep the car in drive And leave it all behind.Because I wonder sometimes About the outcome Of a still verdictless life."

"Something about the way your hair falls in your face I love the shape you take when crawling towards the pillowcase You tell me where to go and Though I might leave to find it, I'll never let your head hit the bed Without my hand behind it.And if you want love, We'll make it. Swim in a deep sea Of blankets. Take all your big plans And break them, This is bound to be a while."

"Yes, I'm grounded, got my wings clipped, I'm surrounded by all this pavement. Guess I'll circle while I'm waiting For my fuse to dry.Someday I'll fly, someday I'll soar, Someday I'll be so damn much more. Cause I'm bigger than my body gives me credit for."

"I know a girl; She puts the color inside of my world. But she's just like a maze Where all of the walls all continually change. And I've done all I can To stand on her steps with my heart in my hands. Now I'm starting to see Maybe it's got nothing to do with me.Fathers, be good to your daughters, Daughters will love like you do. Girls become lovers who turn into mothers, So mothers, be good to your daughters too."

"Me and all my friends We're all misunderstood. They say we stand for nothing and There's no way we ever could. Now we see everything that's going wrong With the world and those who lead it. We just feel like we don't have the means To rise above and beat it.So we keep waiting, Waiting on the world to change. We keep on waiting, Waiting on the world to change. It's hard to beat the system When we're standing at a distance. So we keep waiting, Waiting on the world to change."

"Now if we had the power To bring our neighbors home from war, They would have never missed a Christmas, No more ribbons on their door. And when you trust your television, What you get is what you got. Because when they own the information, oh They can bend it all they want."

"Belief is a beautiful armor But makes for the heaviest sword. Like punching underwater, You never can hit who you're trying for. Some need the exhibition And some have to know they tried, It's the chemical weapon for the war that's ragin' on inside."

"Gravity is working against me, And gravity wants to bring me down.Oh, twice as much ain't twice as good And can't sustain like one half could. It's wanting more that's gonna send me to my knees."

"When you’re dreaming with a broken heart, The waking up is the hardest part."

"Have no fear for giving in, Have no fear for giving over. You'd better know that in the end It's better to say too much Than never say what you need to say again.Even if your hands are shaking And your faith is broken, Even as the eyes are closing, Do it with a heart wide open."

"Lightning strikes Inside my chest to keep me up at night. Dream of ways To make you understand my pain."

"I was born in the arms of imaginary friends, Free to roam, made a home out of everywhere I've been. Then you come crashing in, like the realest thing, Trying my best to understand all that your love can bring.Oh half of my heart's got a grip on the situation; Half of my heart takes time. Half of my heart's got a right mind to tell you That I can't keep loving you (can't keep loving you) Oh, with half of my heart."

"Who says I can’t be free? From all of the things that I used to be. Re-write my history. Who says I can’t be free?"

"Goodbye cold, goodbye rain, Goodbye sorrow, and goodbye shame.I'm headed out west with my headphones on, Boarded a flight with a song in the back of my soul And no one knows I just found out her ghost left town The queen of California is stepping down, down."

"Did you know that you could be wrong And swear you’re right? Some people been known to do it All their lives. But you find yourself alone Just like you found yourself before. Like I found myself in pieces On the hotel floor. Hard times help me see.I’m a good man with a good heart; Had a tough time, got a rough start. But I finally learned to let it go, Now I’m right here, and I’m right now. And I’m hoping, knowing somehow That my shadow days are over. My shadow days are over now."

"Oh, you can't make yourself stop dreaming Who you're dreaming of. If it's who you love, Then it's who you love."

"You be the DJ, I'll be the driver, You put your feet up in the getaway car. I'm flying fast like a, a wanted man. I want you, baby, like you can't understand.Oh, love on the weekend, Love on the weekend. We found a message in a bottle we were drinking."

"He was over at my house every day between fifth grade and eighth grade."

"John wanted to take it in more of a pop direction than I did. It was like a marriage that we both knew would go bad once we started touring."

"Neither punk nor prom king, Mayer was a tall kid from Connecticut, driving on the freeways, chasing slippery techno women, inhabiting a world of parents and slipcovers and holidays and gracious Southeastern metropolises; he was smart, inquisitive, articulate, a touch off in places."

"John Mayer is a very talented brother and you don't know where your blessings are going to come from."

"He words stuff with a real, I guess it's a witty, intelligent, very human [sensibility]. I would like to grab some of those qualities...I wish he was my friend."

"Me and John, we just cool, period. ... We get in the studio and we vibe and then we make music from that point."

"One time I saw him perform live and he switched up his song at the end, like, [improvised] different chords — he remixed it...He's just not your typical guitar player. He's trying to push the envelope for the way guitarists and vocalists are heard. ... I just respect his musicality."

"You know, the dude is a real musician. It's like anything you ever loved in Joe Jackson or anything you ever loved in any '70s rock. You're gonna get it out of this dude. He's a real student, and it comes through in his music."

"I was astonished at how well he played live. I had no idea he was that good."

"What song do I hate? I think "Daughters," by John Mayer, would be a good candidate. I don't know why he bugs me so bad."

"Before that it was Halo, and no one could beat him. That's pretty much his MO if he finds an interest in something -- it doesn't matter how incidental it is."

"No musician is indifferent to the public's perception of him, but the exuberant, logorrheic Mayer takes self-awareness to new postmodern heights. Like a football player providing color commentary on his own career, he muses constantly on his own abilities and his place in the taxonomy of pop."

"I wake up from dreams and go, 'Wow, put this down on paper.' The whole thing is strange. You hear the words, everything is right there in front of your face. And you say to yourself, 'I'm sorry, I just didn't write this. It's there already.' That's why I hate to take credit for the songs I've written. I feel that somewhere, someplace, it's been done and I'm just a courier bringing it into the world. I really believe that. I love what I do. I'm happy at what I do. It's escapism."

"Why not just tell people I'm an alien from Mars. Tell them I eat live chickens and do a voodoo dance at midnight. They'll believe anything you say, because you're a reporter. But if I, Michael Jackson, were to say, "I'm an alien from Mars and I eat live chickens and do a voodoo dance at midnight," people would say, "Oh, man, that Michael Jackson is nuts. He's cracked up. You can't believe a damn word that comes out of his mouth.""

"I am not prejudiced, it's just time for the first Black King now."

"Like the old Indian proverb says, do not judge a man until you've walked 2 moons in his moccasins. Most people don't know me, that is why they write such things in which most is not true. I cry very very often because it hurts and I worry about the children, all my children all over the world, I live for them. If a man could say nothing against a character but what he could prove, history could not be written. Animals strike not from malice but because they want to live, it is the same with those who criticize, they desire our blood not our pain. But still I must achieve I must seek truth in all things. I must endure for the power I was sent forth, for the world for the children. But have mercy, for I've been bleeding a long time now. MJ."

"Consciousness expresses itself through creation. This world we live in is the dance of the Creator. Dancers come and go in the twinkling of an eye but the dance lives on. On many an occasion when I am dancing, I have felt touched by something sacred. In those moments, I felt my spirit soar and become one with everything that exists. I become the stars and the moon. I become the lover and the beloved. I become the victor and the vanquished. I become the master and the slave. I become the singer and the song. I become the knower and the known. I keep on dancing and then, it is the eternal dance of creation. The Creator and the creation merge into one wholeness of joy. I keep on dancing — until there is only … the dance."

"I feel fortunate for being that instrument through which music flows. I'm just the source through which it comes. I can't take credit for it because it's God's work. He's just using me as the messenger."

"If you enter this world knowing you are loved and you leave this world knowing the same, then everything that happens in between can be dealt with."

"Do not judge a person, Do not pass a judgement on anyone unless you've talked to them one-on-one. I don't care what the story is... OK, number one. There, as I know of, there is no such thing as skin bleaching... I have a skin disorder that destroys the pigmentation of the skin, it's something that I cannot help, OK? But, when people make up stories that I don't want to be who I am, it hurts me. It's a problem for me, I can't control it. .. Yeah, I think James Brown is a genius you know, when he's with the Famous Flames, unbelievable. I used to watch him on television and I used to get angry at the cameraman because whenever he would really start to dance they would be on a close-up so I couldn't see his feet. I'd shout "show him show him," so I could watch and learn."

"Michael Jackson: There's a time for this, and this you should not do. You should not go out and say, 'Oh he's Jacko'. I'm not a "Jacko". I'm "Jackson". Walters: How do you feel when people call you... Jackson: Yeah, "Wacko Jacko". Where'd that come from? Some English tabloid. I have a heart and I have feelings, I feel that, when you do that to me. It's not nice. Don't do it. I'm not a wacko."

"I have no problem with them imitating [me]. It's a compliment. Everybody has to start out looking up to someone. For me it was James Brown, Sammy Davis Jr., Jackie Wilson, Fred Astaire, Gene Kelly."

"I have begun to see that even my father's harshness was a kind of love. An imperfect love, to be sure, but love nonetheless. He pushed me because he loved me, because he wanted no man to ever look down at his offspring. Now with time, rather than bitterness I feel blessing.… My initial fury has slowly given way to forgiveness."

"The record companies really do conspire against the artists. They steal. They cheat. They do whatever they can, especially the black artists.… Sony's Tommy Mottola is the president of the record division. He is mean. He is a racist, and he's very, very, very devilish."

"I know my race. I just look in the mirror. I know I'm black."

"...so much joy to the world...and the system, meaning the record companies, totally took advantage of me. This is very important, what we're fighting for, because I'm tired, I'm really REALLY tired of manipulation. I'm tired of the how the press is manipulating everything that's been happening to this situation. They do not tell the truth, they lie. They manipulate, they manipulate our history books. The history books are not true: it's a lie. The history books are lying. You need to know that, you must know that. All the forms of popular music: from jazz to hip-hop to be-bop to .. to SOUL. To um, uh, dances, from the cake-walk. to the jitter-bug, to the Charleston, to uh, breakdancing. All of these are forms of black dancing."

"The minute I started breaking the all-time record in record sales... I broke Elvis's records, I broke Beatles records... The minute it became the all-time best-selling album in the history of the Guinness Book of World Records... OVERNIGHT they called me a freak. They called me a homosexual. They called me a child molester. They said I bleached my skin. They made everything to turn the public against me. This is all complete, complete conspiracy: you have to know that. You know, it's time for (unintelligible) It's time for a change. Let's not leave this building and forget what has been said. Put it into your heart. Put it into your subconscious mind, and let's do something about it. We have to, we have to. Because it's been a long LONG time coming, and a change has got to come. So let's, let's hold our torches high, and get the RESPECT that we deserve. I love you, I ~love~ you. Please don't put this in your heart today and forget it tomorrow. Or we will not accomplish our purpose. We will not have accomplished our purpose if that happens. This has got to stop."

"Not only were we practicing, we were nervous rehearsing, because he would sit in a chair with a belt in his hand, and if you didn't do it the right way, he would tear you up. Really get you...We were terrified of him. So terrified, I can't tell you. I don't think he realized how scared...scared...I mean SCARED. So scared that I would regurgitate. (with emphasis) Mmm-hmm. (reporter asks Michael what caused the reaction) His presence, just seeing him...And I was so fast, he wouldn't catch me half the time, but when he did, oh my God, it was bad."

"I put a lot of mannequins in my room in the past, and I still have mannequins in my room, because I used to be very lonely, painfully lonely. You have no idea. I used to walk the streets looking for people to talk to. I'm talking about the height of one's career…. I would walk up to them, strangers, and say, "will you be my friend?" They'd go, "my god, Michael Jackson!" and that's not what I wanted."

"I'm just like anyone. I cut and I bleed. And I embarrass easily. I am speechless about the idea of putting music fans in jail for downloading music. It is wrong to illegally download, but the answer cannot be jail. Here in America we create new opportunities out of adversity, not punitive laws, and we should look to new technologies like Apple's new Music Store for solutions. This way, innovation continues to be the hallmark of America. It is the fans that drive the success of the music business."

"Lies run sprints but the truth runs marathons."

"In a world filled with hate, we must still dare to hope. In a world filled with anger, we must still dare to comfort. In a world filled with despair, we must still dare to dream. And in a world filled with distrust, we must still dare to believe."

"I always wanted to do music that influences and inspires each generation. Lets face it, who wants mortality?"

"Ever since I was a little boy, I would study composition. And it was Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky that influenced me the most. If you take an album like Nutcracker Suite, every song is killer, every one. So I said to myself, 'Why can't there be a pop album where every...' — People used to do an album where you'd get one good song, and the rest were like B-sides, they'd call them "album songs" — and I'd say to myself 'Why can't every one be like a hit song? Why can't every song be so great that people would want to buy it if you could release it as a single?. So I always tried to strive for that. That was the purpose for the next album."

"The industry, It's at a crossroad, There's a transformation going on. People are confused, what's going on, how to distribute and sell music. The internet kinda threw everybody for a real loop. 'Cause it's so powerful, kids love it so much. The whole world is at their fingertips, on their lap. Anything they want to know, anyone they want to communicate with, any music, any movies... The thing is it just took everybody for a loop. Right now, all these Starbucks deals and Wal-Mart deals, direct to artists, I don't know if that's the answer. I think the answer is just phenomenal, great music. Just reaching the masses. I think people are still searching. There's not a real music revolution going on right now, either. But when it's there, people will break down a wall to get to it. I mean, 'cause before Thriller, it was the same kind of thing. People were not buying music. It helped to bring everybody back into the stores, so when it happens, it happens."

"What I do when I write is that I'll do a raggedy, rough version just to hear the chorus, just to see how much I like the chorus. If it works for me that way when it's raggedy, then I'll know it will just work... Listen to that, that's at home. Janet, Randy, Me... Janet and I are going "Whoo, Whoo... Whoo, Whoo..." I do that same process with every song. It's the melody, it's the melody that's most important, If the melody can sell me, then I'll go to the next step. The idea is to transcribe from what's in your mentality onto tape. If you take a song like "Billie Jean," Where the bass line is the prominent, dominant piece, the protagonist of the song, the main driving riff that you hear, getting the character of the riff to be just the way you want it to be, that takes a lot of time. Listen, you're hearing four basses on there, doing four different personalities, and that's what gives it character, but it takes a lot of work."

"It's all for love... With the love, L.O.V.E."

"Love lives forever."

"I respect the secrets and magic of nature. That's why it makes me so angry when I see these things that are happening, that every second, I hear, the size of a football field is torn down in the Amazon. I mean, that kind of stuff really bothers me. That's why I write these kinds of songs, you know. It gives some sense of awareness and awakening and hope to people. I love the Planet, I love the trees. I have this thing for trees - the colors and changing of leaves. I love it. I respect those kind of things. I really feel that nature is trying so hard to compensate for man's mismanagement of the planet. Because the planet is sick, like a fever. If we don't fix it now, it's at the point of no return. This is our last chance to fix this problem that we have, where it's like a runway train. And the times has come, This Is It. People are always saying,'They'll take care of it. The government'll--Don't worry, they'll--' 'They' who? It starts with us. It's us. Or else it'll never be done... We have four years to get it right. After that it would be irreversible. Let's take care of the planet."

"I love you. That'll be the ending of this under the words."

"When I was a kid, I was denied not only a childhood, but I was denied love. When I reached out to hug my father, he didn't hug me back. When I was scared on an airplane, he didn't put his arm around me and say, "Michael, don't worry. It's going to be OK." When I was scared to go on stage, he said, "get your ass on that stage." … I will never deny a child love. If it means that I have to be crucified or put in jail for it, then that's just what they're going to have to do."

"Don't be afraid to be different."

"People all over the world Are the same everywhere I go, I give in to this, I give in to that, Every day it bothers me so, Am I in a bad situation? People taking me to the extreme, Am I being used? I just need a clue, I don't know which way to go."

"I don't know what's gonna happen to you, baby, But I do know that I love you, You walk around this town with your head all up in the sky, And I do know that I want you."

"Let's dance, let's shout! Shake your body down to the ground."

"I try to do what's right for me, But no-one sees the way I see, And then I try to please them so, But how far can this pleasing go?"

"Sometimes I cry cause I'm confused, Is this a fact of being used? There is no life for me at all, 'Cause I give myself at beck and call."

"Lovely is the feeling now, Fever, temperature's rising now, Power is the force, the vow, That makes it happen, It asks no questions how."

"So let love take us through the hours, I won't be complainin' 'Cause this is love power."

"Keep on with the force, don't stop Don't stop 'til you get enough."

"She got me workin' day and night, And I've been workin' From sun-up to midnight."

"You say that workin is what a man's supposed to do. But I say you ain't right if I can't give sweet love to you."

"How could you leave, girl? 'Cause love for us was meant to be, Then you must be seein' Some other guy instead of me."

"Get on the floor and dance with me, I love the way you shake your thing especially."

"All the colors of the world should be Loving each other wholeheartedly, Yes, it's alright, Take my message to your brother and tell him twice, Spread the word and try to teach the man Who's hating his brother when hate won't do, When we're all the same, 'Cause the blood inside me is inside of you."

"As we walked into the room There were faces staring, glaring, tearing through me, Someone said, 'Welcome to your doom,' Then they smiled with eyes that looked as if they knew me, This is scaring me."

"I said, you wanna be startin' somethin', You got to be startin' somethin', I said, you wanna be startin' somethin', You got to be startin' somethin', It's too high to get over, It's too low to get under, You're stuck in the middle, And the pain is thunder."

"You're a vegetable, you're a vegetable, Still they hate you, you're a vegetable, You're just a buffet, you're a vegetable, They eat off you, you're a vegetable."

"Mama se, Mama sa, Mama coo sa."

"Night creatures call. The dead start to walk in their masquerade. There's no escapin' the jaws of the alien this time (they're open wide). This is the end of your life. lyrics"

"Beat it, beat it, No-one wants to be defeated, Showin' how funky and strong is your fight, It doesn't matter who's wrong or right. Just beat it."

"You wanna show them that you're really not scared, You're playing with your life, this ain't no truth or dare, They'll kick you then they'll beat you then they'll tell you it's fair, So beat it."

"She was more like a beauty queen from a movie scene, I said, 'Don't mind, but what do you mean I am the one, Who will dance, on the floor, in the round?'"

"People always told me, 'Be careful what you do, Don't go around breaking young girls' hearts,' And momma always told me, 'Be careful who you love, Be careful what you do, 'cause a lie becomes the truth.'"

"Billie Jean is not my lover, She's just a girl who claims that I am the one, But the kid is not my son."

"Your butt is mine Gonna tell you right Just show your face In broad daylight"

"I'm telling you On what I feel Gonna catch your mind Dont shoot to kill Well, they say the sky's the limit, And to me that's really true, But, my friend you have seen nothing, Just wait 'til I get through."

"Im giving you On a count three Just show your stuff Or let it be Im telling you Just watch your mouth I know your game What you're about! Well, they say the sky's the limit, And to me that's really true, But, my friend you have seen nothing, Just wait 'til I get through."

"We can change the world tomorrow. This could be a better place. If you don't like what I'm sayin', Then won't you slap my face."

"Well, they say the sky's the limit, And to me that's really true, But, my friend you have seen nothing, Just wait 'til I get through."

"And the whole world has to answer right now, Just to tell you once again, 'Who's bad!'"

"The way you make me feel, You really turn me on, You knock me off my feet, My lonely days are gone."

"I just can't stop loving you, I just can't stop loving you, And if I stop, then tell me just what will I do? 'Cause I just can't stop loving you."

"Each Time The Wind Blows I Hear Your Voice So I Call Your Name. Whispers At Morning Our Love Is Dawning Heaven's Glad You Came."

"You'll never make me stay So take your weight off of me. I know your every move So won't you just let me be. I've been here times before But I was too blind to see That you seduce every man. This time you won't seduce me."

"As he came into the window It was the sound of a crescendo He came in her apartment He left the blood stains on the carpet She ran underneath the table He could see she was unable So she ran into the bedroom She was struck down, it was her doom"

"Annie, are you OK? Annie, are you OK? Are you OK, Annie? You've been hit by, you've been struck by A smooth criminal."

"I don't care what you talkin' 'bout baby. I don't care what you say. Don't you come walkin' beggin' back mama. I don't care anyway. Time after time I gave you all of my money. No excuses to make. Ain't no mountain that I can't climb baby. All is going my way."

"'Cause there's a time when you're right And you know you must fight, Who's laughing, baby? Don't you know? And there's a choice that we make, And a choice you must take, Who's laughing, baby?"

"So, just leave me alone, Leave me alone, Leave me alone, Leave me alone, stop it, Just stop doggin' me around."

"Susie got your number And Susie ain't your friend Look who took you under With seven inches in Blood is on the dance floor Blood is on the knife Susie's got your number And Susie says it's right."

"I have to find my peace 'cause no-one seems to let me be, False prophets cry of doom, what are the possibilities? I told my brothers 'There'll be problem times and tears for fears, We must live each day like it's the last, Go with it, go with it, jam!"

"It ain't too much stuff, Jam, it ain't too much, It ain't too much for me to jam!"

"Just promise me, whatever we say Or do to each other, From now, we make a vow to just Keep it in the closet."

"Heal the world, make it a better place, For you and for me and the entire human race, There are people dying, but if you care enough for the living, Make a better place for you and for me."

"I took my baby on a Saturday bang, Boy, is that girl with you? Yes, we're one and the same. Well, I believe in miracles, And a miracle has happened tonight, But if you're thinking about my baby, It don't matter if you're black or white."

"They print my message in the Saturday Sun, I had to tell them I ain't second to none, And I told about equality, And its true, either you're wrong or you're right."

"And it doesn't seem to matter, and it doesn't seem right, 'Cause the will has brought no fortune, still I cry alone at night, Don't you judge of my composure, 'cause I'm bothered every day, And she didn't leave a letter, she just up and ran away."

"Love is a feeling, Give it when I want it, 'Cause I'm on fire, Quench my desire, Love is a woman, I don't want to give in, Give in to me, give in to me."

"In our darkest hour, in my deepest despair, Will you still care? Will you be there? In my trials and my tribulations, Through our doubts and frustrations, In my violence and my turbulence, Through my fear and my confessions, And my anguish and my pain, Through my joy and my sorrow, In the promise of another tomorrow, I'll never let you part, For you're always in my heart."

"With such confusions, don't it make you wanna scream? Your bash abusing victimize within the scheme, You try to cope with every lie they scrutinize, Oh, brother, please have mercy, 'Cause I just can't take it!"

"Stop pressuring me, just stop pressuring me, Stop pressuring me, Make me wanna scream."

"All I wanna say is that they don't really care about us."

"Skin head Dead head, Everybody gone bad, Situation, Aggravation , Everybody allegation, In the suite, On the news, Everybody dogfood, Bang Bang, Shot dead, Everybody gone mad ,"

"Beat me, hate me You can never break me Will me, thrill me You can never kill me."

"You know I really do hate to say it, The government don't wanna see, But if Roosevelt was livin' He wouldn't let this be, no, no."

"Some things in life they just don't wanna see But if Martin Luther was livin' He wouldn't let this be."

"How does it feel, When you're alone and you're cold inside?"

"What about sunrise, what about rain? What about all the things that you said we were to gain? What about flowering fields, is there a time? What about all the dreams that you said was yours and mine?"

"Did you ever stop to notice All the children dead from war? Did you ever stop to notice This crying earth, these weeping shores?"

"Before you judge me, try hard to love me, Look within your heart then ask, Have you seen my childhood?"

"People say I'm strange that way, 'Cause I love such elementary things, It's been my fate to compensate For the childhood I've never known."

"Just because you read it in a magazine, Or see it on a TV screen Don't make it factual."

"You can't believe it, you can't conceive it, And you can't touch me, 'cause I'm untouchable, And I know you hate it, and you can't take it, You'll never break me, 'cause I'm unbreakable."

"Speechless, speechless, That's how you make me feel, When I'm with you I am far away, And nothing is for real."

"You are the sun, you make me shine, or more like the stars, that twinkle at night. You are the moon that glows in my heart. You're my daytime, my night-time, my world...you are my life."

"Though the allegations of sexual assault surrounding Jackson are serious, can you really cancel someone whose influence runs so deep and who is so omnipresent? Jenna Wortham, a culture writer for the New York Times, contemplated this question on the podcast "Still Processing." She says she's managed to cut out such entertainers as Allen, Louis CK and Chris Brown -- but Jackson is still everywhere. His songs influenced generations of musicians. It simply isn't possible to totally cancel him."

"My wish is to meet him in heaven when I pass on"

"And if he is not credited for composing the music, it's because he was not happy with the result sound coming out of the console. At the time, game consoles did not allow an optimal sound reproduction, and Michael found it frustrating. He did not want to be associated with a product that devalued his music..."

"He will always be the King of Pop. He has not abdicated, nor has he been usurped."

"One important difference between Jackson's career and those of many others is that he was a child star who became an adult star – a very difficult transition to pull off."

"We're close, he's a good friend of mine, we definitely have a connection that most people don't have..."

"What Michael Jackson did, almost pre-hip hop, is profound. What he does for black music in the beginning is mind-boggling"

"He's my biggest influence so that's why I'm very defensive. I'm ready to fight about Michael Jackson"

"He was adamantly against drugs and alcohol, he was extremely straight-laced; I couldn’t even swear around him. Being with Michael brought me back to my innocence."

"In some ways Michael reminds me of the walking wounded. He's an extremely fragile person. I think that just getting on with life, making contact with people, is hard enough, much less to be worried about whither goest the world."

"I don't think MJ knew just how much his music shaped a whole generation of Arabs — just how many fans he had here and just how devoted they remained throughout his ordeals. We might not have heard of The Beatles or Elvis Presley, but we sure knew Michael Jackson."

"Michael Jackson gave us pride. He gave us pride in our blackness, gave us pride that we can look good and be cool and be worldwide. Michael Jackson is a fucking icon. And I believe they took Michael Jackson down because he had too much power."

"Michael Jackson is literally walking in the shoes that no Black person has ever walked in before. If he ever writes an autobiography, it will be one of the most interesting ever. A Black man with no real formal education becomes the most powerful man in the industry, despite hatred, racism, enemies in his own camps and a media willing to be bought to the highest bidder."

"He was so energetic that at five years old, he was like a leader. We saw that. So we said, 'Hey, Michael, you be the lead guy.' The audience ate it up. He was into those James Brown things at the time, you know. The speed was the thing. He would see somebody do something, and he could do it right away."

"It was sort of frightening. He was so young. He didn't go out and play much. So if you want me to tell you the truth, I don't know where he got it. He just knew."

"He is a very smart cookie, Michael. He knows what he wants, he knows what he is doing. I have nothing but admiration. Also, he is a very kind person."

"Just as Mozart could hear whole symphonies in his head, Jackson fully realized his songs before they were put down on paper. Jackson created some of the greatest pop anthems of all time, that only adds to the sense that what MJ had was a special, special gift."

"A thousand years from now, when the history of popular music is examined, no single performer will be as remembered and as celebrated as Michael Jackson."

"Go to any village, any corner in India and you'll find everyone is familiar with the name Michael Jackson. There is no musician who can replace MJ."

"I think Michael Jackson has influenced every performer on the face of the earth. What he really inspired me to do and influenced me to do is my best, and I feel like what he represented is quality and craftsmanship with his performance. He was one of the best performers of all time and it was because he put in work, he put in time, he was creative, and he wanted to be the best."

"I'm upset at the way he's being treated in the media. I think they're really trying to slander his name, and I really think that's unfair for the way that he's contributed to the American culture since the day he was born. I think he deserves much more than that."

"What I'm asking is whether this is still a country where a peculiar person such as Michael Jackson can get a fair shake and be considered innocent until proven guilty … or is this just a 21st-century American barnyard where we all feel free to turn on the moonwalking rooster … and peck it to death?"

"This came down to a prosecutor either so sure Jackson was bad or so offended by Jackson's combination of celebrity and wackiness that he rushed into a case that looked shaky from hello. It looked worse as Tom Sneddon went along, and had become nearly ludicrous by the time Jackson's ex-wife left the stand. No matter how pure Sneddon's motives may have been (and I'm not saying they were, believe me), he began to look like a man pursuing a vendetta, one whose chief hope of securing a conviction lay in the obvious fact that the trial was a sideshow and the accused was … well, a freak."

"The media first turned the trial into a freak-show by emphasizing Jackson's peculiarities rather than his humanity, and stoked the ratings with constant, trivializing coverage while other, far more important stories went under-reported or completely ignored in Iraq, Iran, Afghanistan, North Korea, and Washington, D.C. The press might respond by saying, We gave the people what they wanted. My response would be, My job is to give them what they want. When he steps into a recording studio, it's Michael Jackson's job to give them what they want. Your job is to give the people what they need."

"I was and remain very fond of Michael. I liked him a lot. He was a sad character in that he was an abused child. And “Thriller” I guess was his peak in terms of his powers, by the time I did “Black Or White” he was mad. [Laughs.] The guy that I worked on “Thriller” was a genius and he was 20 years old, but it was like working with a gifted 10-year-old. The guy who I worked on with “Black Or White” was crazy. Michael had gone mad. [Laughs.] I just feel he’s a tragic figure. I liked him a lot and you won’t hear me say bad things about Mike. I mean, I don’t believe he was a child molester. I really do not. I think he was damn weird, no doubt about it, but in terms of sexually molesting a kid, I don’t think so. When he was on trial, I tried to go to show support, and his father wouldn’t let me in the court. His father hates me. I mean, he was surrounded by bad people, and he also created a lot of his misfortune, but he was an incredible performer. Seeing him live in a stadium—and I’ve worked with a lot of people—I’ve never seen anyone who had that kind of power onstage. But in real life he was just a skinny little guy who wasn’t there. He had no presence."

"I always looked up to him--and my dad--since I was a little boy."

"I would go on YouTube and obsessively watch videos of the best performers: Michael Jackson, Usher, Chris Brown, Justin Timberlake, all those guys. And I would study everything: their moves, their facial expressions, the way they carry themselves onstage, everything. There's always so much to learn. Take Michael- he has so much power, and not just in the way he moves, either. I've always felt like his facial expressions are everything. I was watching a Michael video, and I put a piece of paper over his body so just his head was visible, and he was still killing it. Even just with his face, he was able to connect with the audience a hundred percent. Amazing. I was taking mental notes that whole time, and I still work on that."

"He dances with the breathtaking verve of his predecessor James Brown, the beguiling wispiness of Diana Ross, the ungainly pathos of Charlie Chaplin, the edgy joy of a man startled to be alive."

"That's how much we love Michael. We love Michael so much, we let the first kid slide."

"Michael Jackson was the one when there was no one before."

"We stand up and the judge leaves, and Michael turns to me and says, "Bob, the jury system is much older than 200 years, isn't it?" I said, 'Well, yeah, it goes back to the Greeks." He says, "Oh yeah, Socrates had a jury trial, didn't he?" I said, "Yeah, well, you know how it turned out for him." Michael says, "Yeah, he had to drink the hemlock." That's just one little tidbit. We talked about psychology, Freud and Jung, Hawthorne, sociology, black history and sociology dealing with race issues. But he was very well read in the classics of psychology and history and literature."

"The nearest thing we have to royalty in America is Michael Jackson."

"He's sort of a fawn in a burning forest. It's a nice place where Michael comes from. I wish we could all spend some time in his world."

"I just love Michael Jackson. He is loved by people of all ages all over the world and is an eternal presence."

"Whether or not he has ever touched a boy inappropriately, Michael Jackson seems too emotionally stunted to act in any grown-up way, including a deviant sexual one. Naive, juvenile, and terribly damaged, he seems pathetically incapable not just of criminal intent, but of adult consciousness."

"Everyone's thinking they're the new W. Axl Rose, just running their mouths and living in this world where nothing is real. Like, it's really easy to write a couple of songs, but that doesn't mean you get to run your mouth. The only guy who can do that is Michael Jackson. He wrote Thriller, so he can say whatever the fuck he wants."

"What is the definition of cool? Michael Jackson made “Heal the World.” He could do that because he was golden. He was himself. He didn’t have to try to be cool. Think about a lot of your favorite bands and groups. Would they make a song called “Heal the World”? No, because they are too concerned about their leather jackets. Ironically, they are probably wearing leather jackets because of Michael Jackson. Once you’re put in power, you have to take advantage of the position you’re in to make the world better. There were times when I thought I was making the world better, or maybe I just wasn’t thinking at all."

"You know how you either grow up in a Michael Jackson house or a prince house? for me it was Michael Jackson. I could never decide whether I wanted to be Michael Jackson or marry him. I don´t care what people say about him now because he´s a f... genius. That´s it — The end! He was robbed of his childhood, which is why he surrounds himself with children. When you´re around kids you can be a little kid yourself and pretend that life is magic and you don´t have to be one of those sweaty people going to work every day. I completely see what he´s doing"

"First of all, we’d like to thank God for watching over us over these past seven months, and our Grandma and Grandpa for their love and support. We would also like to thank the fans. Our father loved you so much because you were always there for him. Our father was always concerned about the planet and humanity. Through all his hard work and dedication, he has helped many charities and donated to all of them. Through all his songs, his message was simple: Love. We will continue to spread his message and help the world. Thank you. We love you, Daddy."

"Daddy was supposed to be here. Daddy was going to perform this year but he couldn't perform last year … Thank you. We love you, Daddy."

"Everyone's all 'a cook?!' like they're surprised to hear it...He was just a normal Dad. Except, I'd say he was the best dad ever."

"(In response to: What do you miss the most?) Everything."

"(In response to 'Did you know at the time why you were putting on the mask?' Jackson often had his children wear scarves, veils or masks to disguise their identities when they left home) Because that when we did go out without our dad, then nobody would really recognise us."

"(Favourite memory of his father) When we were all in Bahrain we used to wake up early and walk to the beach with Coca-Cola and Skittles."

"(In response to: What kind of a dad was he? Was he a strict disciplinarian or could you get away with anything with him?) He (Prince Michael I) could get away with anything (He could get away with it, you couldn't get away with it?) No."

"My heart…my mind… are broken. I loved Michael with all my soul and I can't imagine life without him. We had so much in common and we had such loving fun together. I still can't believe it. I don't want to believe it. It can't be so. He will live in my heart forever but it’s not enough. My life feels so empty. I don't think anyone knew how much we loved each other. The purest most giving love I've ever known. Oh God! I'm going to miss him. I can’t yet imagine life without him. But I guess with God’s help... I'll learn. I keep looking at the photo he gave me of himself, which says, 'To my true love Elizabeth, I love you forever.' And, I will love HIM forever."

"To you, Michael is an icon. To us, Michael is family and he will forever live in our hearts. On behalf of my family and myself, thank you for all of your love, thank you for all of your support. We miss him so much. Thank you so much."

"The world has lost an amazing man. A man that cared, and loved and gave everything he had for others."

"Michael Jackson is the reason why I do music and why I am an entertainer. I am devastated by this great loss, and I will continue to be humbled and inspired by his legacy. My prayers are with his family. Michael will be deeply missed, but never forgotten. He’s the greatest … the best ever. No one will ever be better."

"Remember his unparalleled contribution to the world of music, his generosity of spirit in his quest to heal the world, and the joy he brought to his millions of devoted fans throughout the world. No artist will ever take his place. His star will shine forever."

"Words can't begin to describe my sadness for the loss of Michael Jackson. I was honored and humbled to have the opportunity to perform with him several times and he had a profound influence on my career. Michael forever changed the world of music and entertainment and I will always remember him for his kind and sweet spirit."

"I'm having a million different reactions I didn't expect I would feel. He was a great singer — God gives you certain gifts and this child was just an extraordinary child touched by this ability. He could sing like nobody else and he was able to connect with people. His genius can only be compared to Ray Charles's or Stevie Wonder's."

"He really did carve in the stratosphere of American popular culture, in American music, a unique niche, so to speak, because he was capable of joining so much of the vernacular traditions of African-American music with the most up-to-date technology to project into the world the forceful ambition and the edifying inspiration of African-American culture and music."

"When we first met, around 1988, I was struck by the combination of charisma and woundedness that surrounded Michael. He would be swarmed by crowds at an airport, perform an exhausting show for three hours, and then sit backstage afterward, as we did one night in Bucharest, drinking bottled water, glancing over some Sufi poetry as I walked into the room, and wanting to meditate. That person, whom I considered (at the risk of ridicule) very pure, still survived -- he was reading the poems of Rabindranath Tagore when we talked the last time, two weeks ago. Michael exemplified the paradox of many famous performers, being essentially shy, an introvert who would come to my house and spend most of the evening sitting by himself in a corner with his small children."

"Michael had read some of the details regarding Laura and Euna’s predicament. As was often the case with him and global events he read about – from famine in Africa to victims of natural disasters in far off countries, to orphans created by wars – he felt a deep sense of empathy for Laura and Euna. When I shared with him that Euna had a four-year-old daughter, he was even more anguished. He asked me whether I had had any contact with Laura. I told him I had written her a few letters and had been assured they were getting through. Outside of that, her own family had only heard from her twice – brief monitored phonecalls – in the over three months they had been imprisoned. When I told him that, Michael paused. “Do you think,” he said hesitantly, “that the leader of North Korea could be a fan of mine?” I didn’t really know how to respond. Not much is known about the reclusive Kim Jong Il or “Dear leader” as he is called in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea. Over the years it’s been alleged he has a thing for Hollywood, certain NBA stars, Elvis, and specific liqueurs. Still, I’d never heard about any connection between Michael Jackson and Kim Jong Il. … "I don’t really know,” I answered Michael. “But I can try and find out.” “Please,” Michael responded without hesitantly, “because maybe if he was a fan, I could help get those girls home.” I explained to Michael that there were larger geo-politics involved, nuclear programs, a new administration trying to assert its foreign policy strategy (Obama), and another one in NK possibly going through some sort of transference of power. “Yeah,” Michael said wistfully, “but if someone wants to do something good, they just can. They don’t really need to worry about all that other stuff.”"

"Michael and I shared an absolute love for children, and his heart cried about the pain children around the world faced. One day, while chatting with him about his upcoming Super Bowl performance, Michael was brainstorming how he could use the worldwide exposure for a greater cause, and the Heal The World Foundation was born. … I was so proud of the work we did in that short time, only to find that our good intentions came to a halt when Michael was accused the first time of child molestation. Over night, understandably so, non-profits backed away from our efforts and we quietly closed shop. My family always maintained our belief that Michael was innocent in both cases – for those that were close to Michael, all would admit he was quirky and had bad judgment at times. But to think Michael could abuse a child was unfathomable in my mind. Over the last decade, my relationship with Michael continued to be focused on kids, but now our own. … It was amazing for me to witness in those early years how enamored Michael was with his children. He changed their diapers through the night, sang and played with them, rocked them to sleep, bathed them and had to change his own outfits when they threw up on him – the same routine that all parents know and love. In the few times we spoke, he would always reflect on the miracle of being a parent. He also protected them in a way that reflected his own lost childhood, and his paranoia about being taken advantage of. Paris, Prince and Blanket are three beautiful children. With Michael gone, I truly pray that they will find some peace and be spared the heart wrenching pain that their father faced time and time again in his life."

"Michael Jackson was born in Gary, Indiana, and our hearts are heavy, heavy here. Michael Jackson was the world's greatest entertainer but more than that he was great humanitarian and a great, humble individual. The people of Gary, our hearts are full of tears because of the loss of Michael Jackson."

"While you guys are talking and laughing, you’re not hearing his words. You’re not listening to his words. I need you to hear what he’s saying! Listen to the message that he is telling us."

"From the beginning of my career, he was my idol in show business. He was a genius and an incredible artist!"

"I come to you today with great sadness, acknowledging the loss of the greatest entertainer in the history of mankind. For me he was more than that, he was my idol, he was a role model, he was someone to cry to when my childhood was unbearable, he was a brother, he was a dear friend."

"I'm hurt. But I'm celebrating his life and his music. Dancing and crying and dancing in public. Holding heart-to-heart conversations with complete strangers about one of the things, if not the only thing, we share in common, That Is The Legendary MoonWalker Himself. A white guy in a pickup truck pulled alongside me on the expressway and shouted to me, had I heard about Mike?!? It's surreal and it's everywhere!!! Every time I feel like getting sad, one of his songs comes on, and I'm just filled with happiness and start singing and smiling. He was the best to ever do it. Salaams, Peace & Blessings. May Allah have mercy on his soul. We Love You MJ!!!"

"Michael's death was devastating for me, regardless of whether or not I was supposed to go on tour with him. He was such an inspiration and a remarkable human being."

"I feel so thankful for him sharing his brilliance"

"As a kid Michael was always beyond his years, he was an innovator, he was a genius at what he did. He had a knowingness about him. At 9 years old, when I first started working with him, he seemed to me like he had been here before. He was just so knowledgeable about life."

"Michael Jackson was not only loved by the people of the world, for his incomparable talent, he was loved by the magnificent wild animals for which he provided the most beautiful home at his Neverland Ranch in Santa Barbara, CA. We were thrilled to have Michael's beloved tigers, Thriller and Sabu, join our pride here at Shambala when Michael needed a good home for them. Thriller and Sabu will always remind us of Michael."

"It almost sounds crazy to say that the show wasn't about him, but … he'd put it in perspective all the time, saying, "This is what we're here for, to spread a message of love and taking care of the planet, that we want people to understand it's very, very dear and not to take it for granted.""

"The first album I ever bought with my own money was Thriller. His performance at the Grammys is a milestone in the history of American music. I watched it on TV and spent the next two weeks in my kitchen trying to learn how to moonwalk."

"Michael grew to understand why the world is in the state it is. He would ask “Why?” but not get trapped in trying to find reasons for each and every problem. His aim was finding solutions. His message was about solutions. Michael’s day-to-day thought process was: “How do I make the world a better place?” He dedicated his existence to responding to this question, and to giving a voice to those who can’t speak out for themselves. Man in the Mirror, We are the World, Will You Be There – all these songs put forward a simple but powerful message: If someone is hungry, give them food, but also help them become self-sufficient. Michael taught us that when you do good, you start with the individual, then move onto a family, a neighborhood, a village, a nation."

"Michael always looked for the good in people, but he also wanted people to understand him, and what he was here for. This made the ridicule he endured so much harder to bear. How can someone who gave so much, be the subject of so much hate? Why is it, the more blessed we are, the tougher our times are destined to be? My brother wasn’t a threat to anyone. He was at peace, and his peaceful state was a blessing from God. Michael was given the rare talent to entertain, sing and perform. But the true blessing God gave him was the ability to use his talents to do good for others. Michael’s songs inspired us to do better. That was his true gift. We still feel Michael’s loss. But what will happen as time passes? What will happen to Michael’s real purpose for being? Who can carry on Michael’s work selflessly, without ulterior motive? Nations and governments are capable of good deeds, but those good deeds are too often done to exert control over others. Michael never wanted to control anybody, he only wanted to spread happiness and joy."

"Michael didn’t care if we knew everything he did for people, because God knows. God knows his intentions, and knows the results. I know my brother is in a very secure, serene, peaceful place. When we live on earth, we are judged not only by who we are, but also by what we do for others. When we leave, we take the good and bad deeds with us. Michael took nothing but good deeds with him. Michael and I were raised to believe there is a Supreme Being. Having success told us God had a plan for us. Michael used his success in a positive way. He knew that it’s not what you get from others, it’s what you do for others. We all achieve things in life, but the greatest achievement is doing God’s work. Michael was a man of God because he was doing His work. Eternal life is the ultimate reward from God – and Michael has eternal life."

"I had just come back from Nigeria and he asked what I went to do in Nigeria because he had never visited Nigeria and I told him about the historical Badagry project that we are doing in Nigeria and he felt the same way I felt; he felt that the project must be done because it is imperative that we understand what our forefathers and fore mothers went through. He looked forward to the finishing of the project because he wanted to come and see it and I assured him that we would get the project done. The only thing is that when we do finish this project he will not be there physically, but he will be there in spirit.""

"I hurt! (comforted by Jackie and Janet) I stand here trying to find words of comfort and solace, trying to understand why the Lord has taken our brother to return home from such a short visit here on Earth. Michael, when you left us, a part of me went with you and a part of you will live forever within me but also a part of you will live forever within all of us. Michael, I will treasure the good times, the fun we had singing, dancing, and laughing. I can remember when we used to come home from school and we would grab a quick bite to eat and we’d try to watch "The Three Stooges" as much of it as possible before mother will come in and say it’s time to go to the recording studio. I also Michael remember a time when I went in the record store and there was this man purchasing a lot of CD’s. And he would go and grab another batch of CD’s. He was an older gentleman, he had short afro, buck crooked teeth, and his clothes were rumpled. I walked up behind him and said: "Michael, what are you doing in this store?" He turned to me and said: "Marlon, how did you know it was me?" I told him: "You’re my brother. I can spot you anywhere regardless of your make-up. I know your walk, I know your body language and no, shoes did not help" (Michael wore the same shoes wherever we went). But I guess that was his way of trying to experience what we take for granted. We would never, never understand what he endured. Not being able to walk across a street without a crowd gathering around him; being judged, ridiculed, how much pain can one take? Maybe now, Michael, they will leave you alone. Michael was the voice of our angelic trumpets, and he would continue to be the voice, that angelic voice, in Heaven, nearest to our Creator, and waiting us when our day comes to pass. Michael, I love you; I will miss when we said our good-bye’s. I would hug you and I’d say: "I love you" and your response was: "I love you more". You know, the Lord has a purpose for everything, and sometime we just can’t see it or understand it. But it will be made clear to us when we reach that ultimate, ultimate reward of being in His presence. And Michael, you're There. You’re right There. You have finished your work here on Earth, and the Lord has called you to come home with Him. So I thank you, Michael, for all the smiles that you’ve placed in many people’s hearts. And I thank you for everything that you’ve done for others across this globe, in the Lord’s name. And I have one request, Michael, one request: I would like for you to give our brother, my twin brother, Brandon, (voice breaking) a hug from me! I love you, Michael, and I’ll miss you!"

"I am absolutely devastated at this tragic and unexpected news. He was the consummate entertainer and his contributions and legacy will be felt upon the world forever. I've lost my little brother today, and part of my soul has gone with him."

"Music will never be the same."

"He was a thoughtful and selfless man, full of the unconditional love of God and good works, that touched and changed lives. He was indeed a shining light."

"This is such a tragic loss and a terrible day. The incomparable Michael Jackson has made a bigger impact on music than any other artist in the history of music. He was magic. He was what we all strive to be. He will always be the king of pop! Life is not about how many breaths you take, but about how many moments in life that take your breath away. For anyone who has ever seen, felt, or heard his art, we are all honored to have been alive in this generation to experience the magic of Michael Jackson. I love you Michael."

"My fifth birthday party was M.J. themed, I insisted. My mother found a lookalike to come sing happy birthday and I KNEW he wasn't MY Michael. Thank you Michael Jackson for being my FIRST of many! My mother took me to my FIRST concert, I was only two years old. I fell in love."

"I just found him a very giving and loving person."

"I personally can’t believe it. But it’s more unfortunate for the world of music. My love goes out to his family. … A sad day in history, not [just] music."

"If it were not for Micheal Jackson I would not be where or who I am today."

"Yes, yes, Michael Jackson was a human being, but dammit, he was a king. Long live the King"

"No one will be able to replace him. But I know that the light that he emanated from the stage will live on with all of us who saw him for what he was and always will be — a great teacher, pure musical inspiration. His death can only be compared to John Lennon's and Elvis'."

"Michael was filled with humility, sensitivity, reverence and respect for anyone and everyone. And most of all, the love that he had for his kids equalled the love that he had for his fans. He just was a guy that was beyond amazing, and it’s just sad to hear all the spurious stories that have been created about him."

"I can't believe. The most amazing entertainer of all Time just left. I just can't understand. We Will always love you Michael."

"A major strand of our cultural DNA has left us."

"He was a massively talented boy man with a gentle soul."

"I will be mourning my friend, brother, mentor and inspiration.. He gave me and my family hope. I would never have been me without him."

"MICHAEL JACKSON the first 2 english words i eva spoke. The future sucx!"

"I am so sadened by MJs death. I clung to those records throughout my childhood. A complete musical hero of mine. May he rest in peace."

"I wish I got to tell him how much his music existence changed my life. He was my biggest inspiration and will forever live on in my heart."

"I did not find Michael weird, messed up, or anything you’ve ever heard about him. I want to say that I feel all of the allegations ever charged against Michael were false, and that in my discernment, he did not have the capacity to ever do anything except love children and let them know he would do anything to stand up for them, and help them. Just look at the magnificent work he did on their behalf in writing and co-producing “We Are The World,” and the 39 charities for children he gave to generously. That was Michael. I believe that during his trials he related to the suffering of Christ, and prayed for intervention, because he was being accused over what he loved most—children. This caused him perhaps more pain than anything in his life.""

"Rarely has the world received a gift with the magnitude of artistry, talent, and vision as Michael Jackson. He was a true musical icon."

"When you were with him, you really felt like God was within him. He was an amazing, superhuman kind of person, but he always treated you as an equal. He would be your friend and he never asked for anything in return. … I know that people looked at Michael and thought he was strange, but to me, he was fascinating. … He was the most inspirational person in my life. His one dream was to cure all the sick children in the world. And when I'd say, "Isn't that impossible?" Michael would just start to cry. He was very emotional about things that moved him. I guess you'd have to say he was a pure innocent in a world that wasn't so innocent anymore."

"He read them a book every day. When we were in Virginia during the Invincible [sessions], there was not one day missed reading the children something. So that showed me right there that he was an incredible father. … He was like, 'I would never have them go through the same things ever (the similar childhood/upbringing) in their lives,' Riley said. "He was like, 'I think the best scolding for children was a time-out.' The best scolding for children was, 'Let's read a book.'""

"I don’t really think the music industry has taken a deep enough look at what Michael Jackson meant to everybody, all of us artists, producers, actors, actresses, all of us, entertainment as a whole. I don’t think that they took a deep enough look because everyone is too busy with their head up their own butt. When Michael was on trial, nobody…nobody stopped to go and support him at the trial. … The guy is acquitted on ten counts of child molestation. No one said, "Sorry Michael.’ No one said, "Michael, we knew you were innocent." No one did a BET tribute to him then. Nobody played his music and did a marathon then. Nobody rallied up and did a concert. Why should Michael have to go on tour to raise money? How come all of the artists didn't band together and say, "Hey! You know what? Let's do a tour like Michael did the We Are The World Tour and let's raise some money. Let's get this thing going." No one did that. Tookie Williams is the founder of the Crips gang. … They were trying to get him pardoned from the death penalty and half of Hollywood showed up for this man. What I can't understand is like, OK people didn't want to go near Michael Jackson when he was in trouble … But they show up for a guy who executed families. A little girl begged for her life and he executed her. They said because he wrote in his time in prison he wrote children's books that he tried to turn his life around. He was nominated for a Nobel Peace Prize. Well, how about the millions of children Michael Jackson has helped over the span of his career? Yet two children come with some false allegations and those two children become the two children that destroy him. It’s crazy. It makes me look at the entertainment business and just say I’m surrounded by a bunch of hypocrites. When you ask me how would it affect them? I don’t even think they realize what this is. Everyone’s gonna do their tributes, but the tributes now if you look at it, it’s all because now everyone is going to get some spotlight, they’re gonna get some shine. Now all of the sudden everyone wants to say something good about him."

"No one talks about when he did the Victory tour, I remember as a kid Michael being on tour with the Victory tour right? And every night on the news they would announce that Michael Jackson donated his money from every city that he did, he donated it to a new charity. He donated his money from the Victory tour to charities. I thought that was amazing. I'm like, wow! This guy's donating millions of dollars every night to a new charity. Then he would stop in every city and every city he would stop at a hospital and visit kids that were burned, ill or whatever. He took the time to do all that."

"Michael Jackson was extraordinary. When we worked together on Bad, I was in awe of his absolute mastery of movement on the one hand, and of the music on the other. Every step he took was absolutely precise and fluid at the same time. It was like watching quicksilver in motion. He was wonderful to work with, an absolute professional at all times, and - it really goes without saying - a true artist. It will be a while before I can get used to the idea that he's no longer with us."

"We maintained our relationship for so long because it was never not real. People expect anything in entertainment or Hollywood to be transient, and it's not as interesting a story for us to have been lifelong friends. People want sordid details or they want big blowups, and the truth of the matter is, from the time we met when I was 13, we understood each other and became very good friends, and that was it, we didn't need to make it into anything else. … I was just out of college, and wanting to fall in love and have a fairy tale, I was holding on to that. He just felt so bad that there were so many little children in Romania in these orphanages, and he wanted to try to give them homes, and I really wanted to be able to do that with him, but it would have divided my life too much. I hope when you write this, it doesn't sound freakish. What it was was a young man who kept reaching to try to find happiness. I think he wanted to take his resources and make a difference to other people in their lives, and he knew that I wanted to do that in the world, too, so he would reach out to someone like me and say, "How can we make a difference, it's easier to adopt a child if you're two people." He never said, formally, "Will you marry me," it was never that for me, he never was that definitive, but I think he was a guy who kept searching for happiness. The problem is when you try to bring that out and in this society, it turns into a tabloid sentence, which is, "He wanted Brooke Shields to live with him and adopt babies," and it sounds ridiculous. And it never was that clear-cut. He found people he loved in his life and he didn't want to let go of them and he wanted them all to live together because he didn't want to go out into the outside world, which was so cruel and too much to handle, and it makes sense."

"Michael Jackson was one of the most talented and dynamic performer/singer/songwriters I ever had the pleasure of working with, he was amazing. Unfortunately, the controversy surrounding his personal life in recent years overshadowed his unparalleled contributions to the music world, which is a tragedy in and of itself. But his music will live on forever no matter what and his memory will be adored and admired for years to come."

"I was so excited to see his show in London. We were going to be on tour in Europe at the same time and I was going to fly in to see him. He has been an inspiration throughout my entire life and I'm devastated he's gone!"

"We have lost a genius and a true ambassador of not only Pop music but of all music. He has been an inspiration to multiple generations, and I will always cherish the moments I shared with him on stage and all of the things I learned about music from him and the time we spent together. My heart goes out to his family and loved ones."

"I saw how kind he was and what a wonderful human being. I saw him with his children and I had never seen a better father. … He always said to me, "I want people to really know who I am after I'm gone."… He wanted to be remembered as a great human being and he wanted to create as many happy places for the children of the world as he could."

"I would not be the artist, performer, and philanthropist I am today without the influence of Michael. I have great admiration and respect for Him and I’m so thankful I had the opportunity to meet and perform with such a great entertainer In so many ways he transcended culture. He broke barriers, he changed radio formats! With music, he made it possible for people like Oprah Winfrey and Barack Obama to impact the mainstream world. His legacy is unparalleled Michael Jackson will never be forgotten."

"Michael Jackson was the first African American to sing to a crossover audience. I do feel like without Michael Jackson, MTV would not be on the map. It would not be what it is today. This is bigger than the loss of Elvis."

"I have never felt this before in my life. I could measure my childhood 2 now on an mj growth chart. if this is true.The last legend."

"I cruise the canyon to get some breeze With Hidden Treasures up my sleeve I like the light and hate the heat But I'll lick the blood right off your street"

"Oh I don't need an education Just a microphone's intoxication And I can't deal with concentration Give me tongues and stimulation"

"So hurting here is where I belong dreaming a song Blood on my hands to stay strong The flowers in the graveyard are all gone I don't belong There is no right to heal the wrong Soup's on hot feelin' like a do or die I can't throw up don't think i evan want to try"

"I'll go where secrets are sold Where roses unfold I'll sleep as time goes by"

"I think acting is something that I want to make sure that, if I do make that transition, I want to make sure that it's really dramatic, and put my energy into acting, you know, fully instead of trying to balance a whole lot of things at once, 'cause I really don't want to become one of those singer-trying-to-be-actor-but-didn't-really-work kind of thing."

"I don't know, it's not like I was thinking about it being my trademark or whatever it is. I mean I don't think I'll get it removed or anything. But, I don't know - it's part of me, I'm used to it."

"We caught a lot of people off guard, which is cool. And I think we made things more enjoyable for the boyfriends who had been dragged to the concert."

"Our bios are sort of similar, but guys in rock bands all wear T-shirts and jeans and nobody ever says they're all the same."

"If things blow up then that's awesome and if things don't, I still can live a normal life and be able to go to the grocery store without people following me."

"I like being very loud and noisy, as the title of my album says."

"I co-wrote all the songs on my album, and co-produced a lot of them as well, So being involved in the creative aspect and not just singing is so important to me because, above everything, I love to create and I love to express myself.""

"To me, song writing is so therapeutic, it's just part of my life and I can't go through the day without having some kind of song idea pop into my head where I have to write Sharpie all over my arm trying to remember the song idea.""

"Performing, for me, is like oxygen. Performing, for me, is like the only thing that is a constant in my life, because you're in all different places doing all different things, but when I get up on stage, that's where I know exactly what to do, that's where I own it."

"Was Ashlee Simpson nice to me? Yes. She said "hi" very clearly in a nice voice!"

"The message I got from my record label at the time — and this was on purpose — was that I wasn't selling enough. Even when the single was a hit, it wasn't enough of a hit — I never got to number 1; I only got to number 5. And MTV didn't like the first video for the song, and we had to do another one. So I never felt anything except how bad I was and like, "Oh, shame on you!""

"Damn I wish I was your lover I'll rock you till the daylight comes Make sure you are smiling and warm."

"I am everything Tonight I'll be your mother— I will Do such things to ease your pain Free your mind and you won't feel ashamed."

"Shucks, for me there is no other You're the only shoe that fits I can't imagine I'll grow out of it."

"I'm dancing in the shadows of life And death is all around me tonight I miss you making love to me right Beside myself I'm holding you tight Someone is waiting for me to rise And drive into the ocean I cried And I cried and I cried my baby to sleep Beside myself my soul to keep Right beside you I see Right beside you I stay Right beside you I'll be Right beside you always."

"It felt like spring time on this February morning In a courtyard birds were singing your praise..."

"As I lay me down to sleep This I pray That you will hold me dear Though I'm far away I'll whisper your name into the sky And I will wake up happy"

"It's not too near for me Like a flower I need the rain Though it's not clear to me Every season has its change And I will see you When the sun comes out again."

"This documentary has lifted the lid off a coffin, and now I'm looking at stuff that I didn't know was there."

"So many people are throwing up their hands because the world has gotten so dark, but I went against the current and I actually found more light and positive energy. That was a great feeling."

"The reality is that we're all in the wilderness, and we have to survive on our own, and things constantly change and if we don't accept that, then we're just trying to fool ourselves. But the beauty of wilderness is that sometimes you can wake up in the morning and feel so sweet and whole."

"Before I was signed, I just wanted to get into the system, even though I didn't know what that meant. After I got signed I found that I was confused by all the mixed messages from the label about what I'd have to do to keep their support. I fought and fought to maintain my identity and grow as an artist at the same time, but when I realized that to get their support on Timbre I'd have to start working with schlocky writers and totally sell out, I decided to pack up my marimba and split."

"I used to be more dogmatic, more disciplined and segregated about my time to work; now I have to jump from one song to another, or score a scene in a movie, then get out the door for a performance at a moment's notice. The illusion of control over my schedule is totally obsolete. There is no way to say, "I can't do that right now." It's "Yes, thank you for the opportunity, whatever it takes to get the music out there.""

"Oh I am what I am I'll do what I want But I can't hide I won't go I won't sleep I can't breathe Until you're resting here with me I won't leave I can't hide I cannot be Until you're resting here with me."

"If you were a king up there on your throne would you be wise enough to let me go? For this queen you think you own Wants to be a hunter again wants to see the world alone again to take a chance on life again so let me go."

"My tea's gone cold, I'm wondering why I got out of bed at all the morning rain clouds up my window and I can't see at all And even if I could it'd all be grey, but your picture on my wall it reminds me that it's not so bad it's not so bad"

"If you gave me just a coin for every time we say goodbye Well I'd be rich beyond my dreams, I'm sorry for my weary life I know I'm not perfect but I can smile and I hope that you see this heart behind my tired eyes."

"Why don't I watch the ocean? My lover's gone. No earthly ships will ever bring him home again bring him home again..."

"It's all right to make mistakes, you're only human Inside everybody's hiding something."

"And the last words I heard him say were I shall return for you my love on Christmas Day..."

"I will go down with this ship And I won't put my hands up and surrender There will be no white flag above my door I'm in love and always will be."

"When you're stoned, baby, I am drunk. And we make love, it seems a little desolate It's hard sometimes not to look away And think what's the point when I'm having to hold this fire down I think I'll explode if I can't feel this freely now. When your stalled baby take me home."

"I haven't ever really found a place that I call home I never stick around quite long enough to make it I apologize that once again I'm not in love But it's not as if I mind that your heart ain't exactly breaking."

"If you're cold I'll keep you warm If you're low just hold on Cause I will be your safety Oh don't leave home."

"I've still got sand in my shoes And I can't shake the thought of you I should get on, forget you Why, why would I want to I know we said goodbye Anything else would've been confused but I wanna see you again."

"And we danced, and we drank And I've seen something you probably never got the chance to see Don't worry, Mary Cause I'm taking care of Danny And he's taking care of me"

"Not sad because you lost me But sad because you thought it was cool to be sad"

"Crouching down inside a deep ravine, Those angry cries pass quickly by, he can't be seen. So many ways spent hiding in so many undone plans; Forgetting what it's like to fight when no one understands."

"You're always waiting on the tide, It's time you decide. I've walked down long roads that seem to have no end at all. You never wanted time to end, To let my life offend."

"In the desert of my dreams I saw you there; And I'm walking towards the water steaming body cold and bare. But your words cut loose the fire and you left my soul to bleed. And the pain that's in your truth's deceiving me, has got me scared. Oh why?"

"Open the doors that lead on in to Eden Don't want no cheap disguise. I follow the signs marked back to the beginning, No more compromise."

"I knew you wanted to tell me; In your voice there was something wrong. But if you would turn your face away from me, You cannot tell me you're so strong. Just let me ask of you one small thing. As we have shared so many tears, With fervor our dreams we planned a whole life long Now are scattered on the wind..."

"Don't tell me I haven't been good to you. Don't tell me I have never been there for you. Don't tell me why Nothing is good enough."

"I will remember you; Will you remember me? Don't let your life pass you by; Weep not for the memories."

"I'm so tired but I can't sleep, Standin' on the edge of something much too deep. It's funny how we feel so much but we cannot say a word; We are screaming inside, but we can't be heard."

"I'm so afraid to love you, but more afraid to lose, Clinging to a past that doesn't let me choose. Once there was a darkness, deep and endless night; You gave me everything you had, oh you gave me light."

"You come out at night; That's when the energy comes. And the dark side's light, And the vampires roam. You strut your rasta wear And your suicide poem And a cross from a faith That died before Jesus came. You're building a mystery."

"What ravages of spirit conjured This temptuous rage; Created you a monster, Broken by the rule of love."

"Every moment marked With apparitions of your soul. I'm ever swiftly moving Trying to escape this desire."

"In the arms of the angel, Fly away from here. From this dark cold hotel room, And the endlessness you feel. You are pulled from the wreckage Of your silent reverie. You're in the arms of the angel; May you find some comfort here."

"Hearts are worn in these dark ages; You're not alone in this story's pages. Night has fallen amongst the living and the dying, And I try to hold it in, yeah I try to hold it in."

"Love has made me a fool; It set me on fire and watched as I floundered, Unable to speak Except to cry out and wait for your answer. But you come around in your time, Speaking of fabulous places. Create an oasis; Dries up as soon as you're gone. You leave me here burning In this desert without you."

"I will be the answer At the end of the line. I will be there for you, Why take the time? In the burning of uncertainty, I will be your solid ground. I will hold the balance If you can't look down."

"So what are we saying? Our Eden's a failure. A made-up story to fit the picture-perfect world. The one with "I do"s and "I love you." And "we are made for each other." Is forever over now?"

"It can never be bad to have a foundation as a man — a black man. — in a time when women are dying for men. Women have started to become lovers of each other as a result of not having enough men."

"I wouldn't call myself a coward, no way. But being buried alive is something I could never handle. The only way you'd see me being buried alive is if I was dead, man."

"[I'm] a sponge, the more I absorb, the more I am able to articulate my vision, as artists do, like Picasso. I'm an artist in that light. I went from being an artist to an artiste."

"I rose to frame in the late 1990s and continued to earn accolades for my R&B hits. I take my first Grammy Award home in 2005."

"You know you blew up when the women rush your stands and try to touch your hands like some screaming Usher fans."

"I'm spending nights just dreaming / And playing the music loud / They're banging on the ceiling / They're praying that I'll soon be out."

"Is our time up and on to the next fire / Got my fingers burnt and cut into the wire."

"There is sadness and confusion in our hearts / And the world prepares to fight / as it tears itself apart, it isn't fair"

"I watch you sleep in the still of the night / You look so pretty when you dream / So many people just go through life / Holding back, they don't say what they mean / But it's easy for me / Since you came"

"When love's the culmination / of everything you feel / then it's the only thing that's precious / it's the only thing that's real"

"You can't close your eyes to the lies perpetrated by dangerous fools / 'cos they're handing out rules"

"They're still building and testing / But what can we do / Condemning the seas and the land and the trees to a tomb"

"You can spend your life competing in a world that talks too loud / You can lose your own direction getting lost among the crowd / Confusion - is it any wonder that the road ahead's not clear / Well you can try too hard to find it now I realise it's here"

"Don't let your dreams escape / The future's ours to shape"

"And while we destroy / Our children will grow / Not missing the things they'll never know / A crime against them / Against you and me / A crime against all humanity"

"Snap your fingers and somebody runs / You don't care how they feel just as long as they come / Got your head in the stars now you've come this far / Just who do you think you are?"

"In the day I can smile though I wanna die / Hold on, hold on / I can keep it together for a little while / and be strong, so strong / But when the sun goes down and I'm all alone / I haven't the strength to fight / That's when my tears give in to the night"

"Do you think that you're beautiful? Inside or outside? Mmmmm... outside I don't think about that too much because I realise that's all very superficial. I'm more concerned about inside, and inside I think I'm alright... I'm OK inside. I don't think I'm perfect and I don't call myself beautiful but I'm definitely not ugly inside. I've got friends who aren't that so called pleasant to look at but inside I think they're beautiful."

"I think that not being loved by your parents or not having a brother or not being liked at school or even wearing glasses can be a lot worse than having a famous father."

"Being blonde now doesn't mean Marilyn Monroe vulnerability. Blonde in the Eighties means being in control."

"Gardening is not something to get on your high horse about or be overwhelmed by. Either you enjoy it or you don't."

"With female singers being plucked from their cradles our Kim is almost a geriatric in pop terms. God knows how many times she's been written off, and then bounced back stronger and slicker than ever. This latest album is proof that Kim will still be around when her rivals are fighting it out in the bargain bins."

"kimwilde.com"

"kimwildetv.com"

"kim-wilde.co.uk"

"Jack, stop telling people you're Ozzy Osbourne's son to get into places, you're a fucking loser!"

"You haven't done anything, its your fucking daughter. I just got a call --when I'm in Tiffany-- from some woman telling me how I should prepare my vagina for my gynecologist appointment tomorrow. She booked me a fucking gynecologist appointment!"

"Yeah, that's what I was wondering!! Who the fuck is Will Rogers?"

"You don't go to someone's father, "I don't like the redness in your hair". It's fucking rude. I would never go to her father, "Oh, I don't like the baldness, maybe you should get a fucking tupee."

"You're not driving my car anymore Mum, I'm sorry."

"Mom, I have something to tell you. My thong, is so far up my crack right now."

"My teeth, my car, my vagina, my business."

"I don't really care what people think about my hair. It's my hair, so why should they care? Ooh, that rhymed."

"She's pissing in the bottle....just like she shit in Dad's bag of weed in Hawaii."

"Jack, you have like serious anger management issues."

"If you kick every Latino out of this country, then who is going to be cleaning your toilet, Donald Trump?"

"With parents like heavy metal rocker Ozzy Osbourne and entertainment impresario/personality Sharon Osbourne, you might have anger management issues, too."

"Our eyes have seen the skies burning red, Angels singing, voices full of dread, We see the lies but never ask why? The seeds of sorrow the blood they cry."

"I've seen this before yeah I've been there too, This aint for me..not what I want, I've loved honestly and it always hurts, Can't feel this no more..it's gotta be true."

"I knew you are, Just like an angel sent from above, In your embrace, You give me more than, I could ever dream of."

"The clitoris contains 8,000 nerve endings. It makes it easy to have sex. With yourself."

"I know we don't have any guarantee that we're gonna live tomorrow. That's why I live everyday as it was my last."

"I think each person knows what's good for them. I don't think you need to be drastic. But it's finding where's passion in your life. We can't live without dreams."

"I kept getting typified as this Pollyanna neohippie. I think it's because I have a different definition of optimism. I've noticed a belief that somehow optimism lacks intelligence and that optimism stems from a lack of experience and naiveté. I don't believe that. I believe optimism is a choice. Cynicism isn't smarter, it's just safer."

"Pieces of You is not a good record. It's an embarrassing record, ultimately. It's like having your dirty laundry aired out. I didn't think people would hear it. But it made me realize that all people want is to be touched. They don't care if it's Celine Dion or Meat Loaf or me."

"I love supporting women and sports. It’s funny, ya know, I don’t think I started off young as a feminist. I read a lot of books in Alaska, I was pretty isolated where I grew up, and I think that I never thought I was any different than a man; I was raised in a place where pioneer women were very strong still. They’d shoe horses and build their own homes and were very self-sufficient. It wasn’t really until I’ve gotten older that I really became a fan of women. And a fan of what women are capable of balancing and achieving, by just being them. I’m proud to support it in any and every avenue."

"People living their lives for you on TV They say they're better than you, and you agree"

"Another doctor's bill, a lawyer's bill, another cute, cheap thrill You know you love him if you put him in your will, but Who will save your souls?"

"Who will save your souls? After all those lies that you told, boy Now, who will save your souls? If you won't save your own?"

"Another day, another dollar, another war, another tower Went up where the homeless had their homes So we pray to as many different gods as there are flowers But we call religion our friend We're so worried about savin' our souls Afraid that God will take His toll that we forget to begin, but Who will save your souls? When it comes to the beggars now Who will save your souls? After those lies that you told, boy And who will save your souls? If you won't save your own?"

"There are addictions to feed and there are mouths to pay So you bargain with the Devil but you're okay for today Say that you love them take their money and run And say, "It's been swell, sweetheart But it was just one of those things""

"I'd sit on logs like pulpits listen to the sermon of sparrows and find god in Simplicity, there amongst the dandelion and thorn"

"the greatest Grace we can aspire to is the strength to see the wounded walk with the forgotten and pull ourselves from the screaming blood of our losses to fight on undaunted all the more"

"I met Courtney Love and she said she'd like to sleep with me, but she couldn't cos of my "pop-star thing"… so I said to her I couldn't sleep with her either - cos of her 'ugly thing'..."

"The world could change in a second, so I find the sunshine beckons me, to open up the gate and dream."

"I look above, and I know I'll always be blessed with love."

"Well tonight I'm gonna live for today, so come along for the ride, I hope I'm old before I die."

"There'll be the same old faces, in the same old places, where my youth was well misspent, but I toe the line and move in time, to a town called no regrets."

"Hell is gone and heaven's here, there’s nothing left for you to fear."

"I sit and talk to God, and he just laughs at my plans."

"I'm not scared of dying, I just don't want to. If I stop lying, I'll just disappoint you."

"I'm contemplating thinking about thinking… but....it's overrated - just get another drink in!"

"All your friends think you're satisfied, but they can't see your soul, no, no, no..."

"Screw you, I didn't like your taste anyway, I chose you, That's all gone to waste, It's Saturday, I'll go out and find another you."

"I've sung some songs that were lame, I've slept with girls on the game."

"I'm here to make money and get laid, Yeah I'm a star but I'll fade."

"I'm glad that spending a night with me, Guaranteed you celebrity."

"Oh I haven't got a clue what to do with you, Jesus all the things my head is going through."

"That's hot!."

"I used to act dumb. It was an act. I am 26 years old, and that act is no longer cute. It is not who I am, nor do I want to be that person for the young girls who looked up to me. I know now that I can make a difference, that I have the power to do that. I have been thinking that I want to do different things when I am out of here. I have become much more spiritual. God has given me this new chance."

"You're a fucking bitch. I'm going to destroy you."

"To me, anything goes. But that's me."

"You need to look like a lady at the Oscars. Otherwise, Joan Rivers will tear you apart. Then again, you aren't really anyone till Joan Rivers tears you apart."

"The only rule is don't be boring and dress cute wherever you go. Life is too short to blend in."

"What's Wal-mart? Do they sell Walls and stuff?"

"It's about, you know, how the world is so...fucking doomed. Sort of an apocalyptic album but I want it to be quite cartoony in a way."

"Who's to say that every performer should be a good actor? Why can't you just be yourself?"

"When you're on your own. You walk in the rain."

"I drink a lot of wine when I'm alone."

"You pretend you're happy. That you've got it all. But don't be upset If you fall on your knees. And beg like a dog."

"All of your days will be blessed so put on a smile and get dressed into the void we will fly away from here."

"But you and I know the seasons are slow the rivers they froze, the wind always blows down all our dreams, the engine's out of steam. **All Of Your Days Will Be Blessed"

"Bittersweetheart, bittersweetheart you've been good to me."

"Well I've travelled around the earth and still I wonder if I'm the first human being who questions his worth."

"And every word that you speak makes my heart sing when it's weak for often this outlook on life can be bleak."

"I see my body float like leaves. Every day I want to breathe. Rap my knuckles till they bleed. A river deep."

"If I had sharp claws I'd get on all fours. And scratch your back for free."

"I'm not scared of dying. I'm not scared of death. I'll keep a smile 'til my last breath. I've loved 'til I've lost. I've lived how I felt. One day I will find peace within myself."

"I want to take all the sadness. Of the world from your shoulders. I want to take all the sadness. Of the world from your shoulders. I want to take all the sadness."

"My heartache, is my mistake you see."

"I can't express myself 'cause I'm not fully grown."

"I wish I was fiction, I wish I was fact."

"I need to build a wall around me. But I want to smile with everybody. Would you say that is possessive of me?"

"Yes we feel bad in winter. We act a little bit strange. The dark sky threatens me daily. Makes me alter and mood change, change, change, change."

"Once I was a shadow of man. Most dark nights my head was in its hands."

"I begged God to cure my aching limbs. But he did nothing, he gave me no advice. Didn't this God abandon Jesus Christ? Oh if it comes to you, I'll die for your sins."

"Without me all the lines of reality will blur."

"So I said I don't mind if I lose. 'Cause if I win I'll be so confused"

"And if you need to kiss me. Then you'll most definitely miss me. When I'm gone."

"God, you make me sing. Funny things about you You infect my mind. All the time, you do."

"There's something in my eye. Bloodshot in disguise. God knows I really tried. Making the big time. Aiming to climb high."

"If the world did end. Would you be my apocalyptic friend?"

"I guess it's you I miss. 'Cause I just stare at the ceiling. My stomach knots and twists. You've created this feeling. And I may be out of style. But do you know what true love is? I'll make this all so worthwhile. So let's rise above this. Let's rise above this."

"Oh, I'm staying in today. And watch the others play. Oh, wash my sins away. Like all good children I mean what I say."

"I guess God has the last laugh. From up on high he lets us kill. And his people die for their faith. And we call it triumph of the will."

"I'm not scared of dying And I, don't really care If it' s peace you find in dying Well then, let the time be near."

"My troubles are many They're deep as a well I swear there ain't no Heaven And I pray there ain't no hell But I'll never know by living only my dying will tell. And when I die and when I'm gone There'll be, one child born And a world to carry on, to carry on."

"Give me my freedom for as long as I be All I ask of livin' is to have no chains on me All I ask of livin' is to have no chains on me And all I ask of dyin' is to go naturally... And when I die, and when I'm gone There'll be one child born, in our world To carry on, to carry on..."

"I was raised on the good book Jesus Till I read between the lines Now I don't believe I ever wanna see the morning"

"You can see the walls roar See your brains on the floor Become God Become cripple Become funky"

"If you love me true And if you love me true I'll spend my life with you And Timer You're a jigsaw, Timer"

"Emily And her love to be Carved in a heart On a berry tree But it's only a little farewell lovespell Time to design a woman"

"So he swears he'll mever marry Says that cuddles are a curse Just tell him plain You're on the next train If love don't get you first"

"I lost my eyes In east wind skies Here's where I've cried Where I've tried Where God and the Tendaberry rise Where Quakers and revolutionaries Join for life"

"He got his mean streak from the gutter Got his kindness from God"

"I saw a man take a needleful of hard drug And die slow"

"She said "I'm young enough I'm old enough In the city machine Where industries Fill the fish full of mercury""

"Sage's light Oh and Edison He made two sparks ignite All you do It's a scientific chain reaction"

"They say a woman's place Is to wait and serve Under the veil Submissive and dear But I think my place Is in a ship from space To carry me The hell out of here."

"Laura Nyro made a choice that has tempted me on many occasions. And that was to lead an ordinary life. She married a carpenter, as I understand, and turned her back on it all. Which is brave and tough in its own way."

"I don't feel like I've re-invented myself, I feel like I've re-discovered who I was."

""Darren Hayes recently came out and he certainly does make a good role model" - Generation Q"

"I'm not gay, and I'm not a transvestite."

"Hello, I'm Boy George, and you are watching RBTV. Come out of the closet, all you students - we want you!"

"Gay unions, what is that about? I haven't been invited to any ceremonies, and I wouldn't go anyway. The idea that gay people have to mimic what obviously doesn't work for straight people any more ... I think is a bit tragic. I am looking forward to gay divorces."

"Madonna is "a living, breathing cash register"."

"I was pleased because he is the first American rapper to say something positive about gay people. I met his mum, she's lovely."

"It's like being at school. Except you can't leave."

"I feel so bad. My band started playing the wrong song and I didn't know what to do so I thought I'd do a hoedown. I'm sorry."

"As long as there are girls, we need guy bands. However, in this day, it is not good enough to just sing great. You have to write, sing and play. We want it all."

"I can make $4 million somewhere else. My body is for me and for whoever my love interest is at that moment, and that's the only person who gets to see it."

"I've taken stuff from people, too. You know though, if you steal from one person, you're just a thief. But if you steal from everyone, that's research."

"I'm not staying contemporary for the big record companies, I don't follow the latest fashions. I never sing a song that's badly written. In the 1920s and '30s, there was a renaissance in music that was the equivalent of the artistic Renaissance. Cole Porter, Johnny Mercer and others just created the best songs that had ever been written. These are classics, and finally they're not being treated as light entertainment. This is classical music."

"A lifelong liberal Democrat, Mr. Bennett participated in the Selma-to-Montgomery civil rights march in 1965, and, along with Harry Belafonte, Sammy Davis Jr. and others, performed at the Stars for Freedom rally on the City of St. Jude campus on the outskirts of Montgomery on March 24, the night before the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. delivered the address that came to be known as the "How Long? Not Long" speech. At the conclusion of the march, Viola Liuzzo, a volunteer from Michigan, drove Mr. Bennett to the airport; she was murdered later that day by members of the Ku Klux Klan."

"Music is one of the very few things left in this world, which has an amazing power of healing. I really hope that these songs will set your imagination free, enrich your emotions and help your heart and mind feel happier."

"[When asked how he's keeping his 12-year marriage to wife Jill fresh] Hookers, drugs. We’re playing the field right now."

"I was in such a state while I was recovering from this surgery and the pain medication that I was on sort of took all the inhibitions out that I may have had. I found that I was ordering things online; big boxes of stuff would arrive at my house."

"I started making movies when I was 20. I started playing piano when I was about 3 years old, so I'm probably a musician first. But when I'm working on a movie, as an actor, I'm an actor - 100 percent. And when I'm on tour, I'm a musician 100 percent."

"New Orleans is a city of paradox. Sin, salvation, sex, sanctification, so intertwined yet so separate."

"Harry is a true musician. He has a massive amount of information that he's dealing with, so he is very comfortable wherever a song goes. Great music is like leaping off a cliff, but some musicians will only go to the precipice. Harry just jumps, which is why playing with him is very liberating."

"It is necessary that I am viewed as a product. I am a product."

"I don't have dreams. How can I say it? I myself am a dream."

"I don't set goals. Like, that's what I want to be doing however many years from now. I do what I love to do at the moment."

"I thought Mommy's life was strange, not mine."

"My job is simply to be myself, to be Ayumi Hamasaki."

"[...]Everyone has a secret. Right? Of course I have a secret. I think maybe you too?"

"I don't want to become adult!"

"If people will listen, I will go anywhere in the world!"

"Music is my life, if I am without music or if I can't sing any more, I die, I'm nothing...because music is everything."

"[...] I don't know my future. I don't know about tomorrow. I can just control for today or present, right now. [...] I don't want to think about future too much, because present is most important for me."

"…I guess the very first thing is to own your true self, and that includes achieving the point of not lying to others; the first step should be not lying to yourself."

"By your faith in people, you will someday be betrayed. I thought it was the same as being rejected. At the time I didn't have that kind of strength. Certainly, I knew too much. It was said that I was a strong child. I was praised, saying "you must have strength not to cry" The more things like that were said, the more even laughing was painful."

"The lovers, appearing happy, walk, holding hands. Though it appears everything is perfect, only they know the truth."

"Who taught me true strength? Who taught me kindness? Whom do I walk for? Who did I want to stroke my hair? Who didn't give up for me? I'll never forget."

"When I lost my way, and When the road was too long, I was muttering to myself. Life is just that way..."

"Today's happy face, today's sad face. Yesterday, a weak self, tomorrow, a strong self. If it's you, who are you showing it to? If it's I, whom should I show it to?"

"Everyone, including I, is certain that "that thing" they're searching for is in the future. But how many people have realized that "that" is actually in the past? I can't even guess."

"I saw the end of an age with these, my eyes. But I didn't want to know that it's my turn next."

"Choosing only the things you like isn't irresponsible. If you can't find anything you like then why take the responsibility? I take only the possibilities that I'm ready to accept."

"If you don't need it, then it is useless to be compassionate. If it's important then it will probably be followed with pain. Loneliness that you feel with someone is worse than one you feel alone."

"This year, once again, the seasons have passed. Memories have faded. The border between my blurry dream and reality has become blurred. Even so, the dream I once told you of did not have a single lie."

"Today was very sad, and even if tomorrow, I cry, someday I will be able to laugh and remember our time together. How many seasons must pass, in this, our finite existence? If we live in the "now", what will we find?"

"You once said long ago while stroking my hair, "When you wake up, there'll be a nice present by your pillow.""

"Your back always looked small and weak but we could laugh together at funny stories. But if people keep making the same mistakes over and over can they really regret them?"

"When I woke up, I found by my pillow a teddy bear instead of you."

"Isn't it? It's as if we have just entered a new age It's a miracle; we will never experience it again Let's remember it once more"

"No matter how far apart we are, don't forget that we're still under the same sky, both traveling to the place we once dreamed of."

"Today, in this city two people will meet and lock eyes; the curtains are then turbulently thrown open. [...] Today, in this city two people will separate their paths; the curtains are then silently lowered."

"But, for everything, there is an end, someday, inevitably."

""Maria" There is someone I should love. At times I sustain deep, deep wounds. But, by the person I should love, they are all healed. "Maria" Everyone is crying. "Maria" But I want to believe. "Maria" So I'm praying now that this is my final love. Beginnings come at random, but endings always have a reason."

"But in such a place as this, I can only tell you by singing this song."

"If you'd listen, even for a little while I'd be pleased Remember, once more we were born into this world crying. Your dreams and hopes for tomorrow are all in this world."

"Remember, once more how our world should be. And please, don't forget, please, please don't forget."

"Surely, no one hoped for so many things. Hold the flowers close to your heart; they may someday bloom."

"If you were alone and suddenly became blind, and even so you keep walking forward."

"A woman could be having fun A woman could be like a nun In order to survive We cannot be kind Until we are hurt"

"In a city [world] as dirty as this, You gather up, save, and show me Purely beautiful things."

"I don't want a weak heart that can't cry or the strength not to cry. I'll search for a shooting Star to cast my wishes on, but Daybreak will come too soon And I won't be able to find one."

"In times when I encounter sad things I have a habit of saying "I'm all right". On that day, something had stopped for me And no matter how much I pray, I can't find a single star."

"How many times have I lost my way? Every time, the one who gave me a hand Was you."

"We go on this voyage to find happiness. You see? A smile really suits you."

"If time is a fading dream Then it would be like a flower Even if destined to fall It would be all the more valuable in its transience."

"Really, we are Not only dots But are the whole"

"If one day They are connected And form lines"

"Certainly everyone, in order to protect love, Certainly wishes to believe in something"

"Even in my age now, I'm the same as before and just as fearful I only learn how to pretend to be strong"

"Though my heart is filled with feelings I want to convey You see, I can't express them in words If I had not met you I wouldn't even have such an embarrassing pain"

"Slowly, I've come to realize That I cannot heal my past And that fearing the unavoidable future Is pointless"

"Goodbye. You have gone to the place where we can never meet again I can't accept the coldness of an eternal parting I wish I could have heard you say That surely, you had loved me Only once, even if it were a lie"

"You see? The times have changed But why do I still hear people say "Tears are woman's weapons"? We don't cry easily We are not always flirty We are not dolls Who are only dressed to the nines."

"An interested stranger asked me How do I see the scenery from here? I reply It's how you think it would be. It's useless to explain Everybody GO! Everybody JUMP!"

"My lips told a lie For a trivial reason It wasn't for anyone else But only to protect myself And I didn't think about anyone else"

"But I escaped from reality Escaped from the pain I said to myself "Some day, I'll be as I should be Though I'm far from there now" After such excuses, my eyes were opened All I could do was to live in the present time."

"Yayayaya Gagagaga Dadadada Wowowowo Yayayaya Gagagaga Dadadada Wowowowo Even if you think you are too bold It's all fine In all honesty, I'm hesitant To be prudent and reserved OK, together now, "Bold & Delicious!" Don't watch me quietly, stand up please, "Bold & Delicious!""

"I feel most miserable When I can't step "step up to the plate" You know? People often say Regret from doing it is better than regret for not doing it"

"This is a common case, seriously, It looks like a fight with him But she's really fighting with herself."

"If you are afraid of changes Watch from a distance Whether or not I might do something If you're going to talk about me behind my back It is what it is."

"It is sad To lose sight of myself for the sake of myself I believe in scenery no one has ever seen, And next to you, I wish to stay in that place that doesn't exist"

"Daybreak comes quickly nowadays The scent of wind has changed It seems familiar yet unfamiliar It makes my heartbeat quicker It's sweet and sad We ran along the road to the sea Screaming with laughter innocently In the far-away summer days"

"It was not coincidental that we chose what's left If the universe has a will I think we are part of it Tender and precious How many times have I searched for something Found and lost it Since then?"

"Why are you ashamed of yourself? What happens after that? But I really like your way of walking In which you head straight and always hit a wall."

"I feel that these glass shoes are too fragile for running through this era."

"Just because this age is full of information and temptations We should decide on our own You know That creation comes after destruction"

"Reality will always deceive us But in that, you see, only your answer is hidden If you feel you have not seen it It is something you brought about with your own hands."

"This summer, our new journey begins I sense a slight discomfort in the distance We saw that place in our dreams Today, let's find the road there again."

"Where does this road lead? And where does it go from there? Even if I imagine [the possibilities] Of course, I have no clue. I feel the more I wish to be strong The weaker my heart becomes In inverse proportion"

"We notice it the moment our eyes meet someone else's We feel it when coming into contact with him [or her] But then once We feel weak in the knees The wind strokes my cheeks and makes it feel real And whispering quietly That this is not an illusion at all"

"On that day, you decided That you would walk by yourself On the endless road that crosses the clouds [and leads] to the sky Leaving so much here I want to tell you and talk about."

"What if everyone goes on the endless road Sooner or later Over the clouds to the sky Be sure to wait for me. And then, we will talk away About our countless memories."

"I was forgiven by forgiving many things Including my long-ago childhood I was healed, but I intended [to] heal I've just noticed, the way I was saved by love Though I tried to keep love away."

"Because we want the same happiness We keep carving the same wounds onto our hearts. Forever, forever So I won't forget you I call you over and over again Please don't cry any more I won't leave you alone."

"ここに生きてる意味がわかるよ 生まれ落ちた喜びを知る"

"I'm alright. I love you. I love my life. I'm always close to you."

"約束 お願いはひとつだけ 生きて 生きて"

"どんな時にも なげてはだめよそれは なによりチャ一ミングなこと"

"生きるのは苦しいの 同じくらい素敵なの"

"今を越えて ここを越えてまた笑って見せて"

"どんなイイコト素敵な言葉も その笑顔にはかなわない"

"今日もがんばろう 負けない強さを持とう 愛する人のためにも"

"やさしさの意味はむずかしい いいと思い かけた言葉 思いがけず 傷つけることがあるかも"

"でも あきらめないで話しかけたい 言葉にもがいても だって何度も思い知ってる 誰も一人では生きてないよ いつも"

"あとでわかるよ 全ての意味が 今はわからなくても 苦しみも幸せも秘密も だから なげないで抱きしめていこう ずっと It's My Life だから"

"I'm usually barefoot. That's how I'm most comfortable. I like my feet to be on the ground. I like to jump around, I like to fly across the stage."

"This sad story always ends the same Me standing in the pouring rain."

"She looked in the mirror and thought today 'What happened to miss no-longer-afraid?'"

"Here I am, once again, I'm torn into pieces. Can't deny it, can't pretend; Just thought you were the one. Broken up, deep inside, But you won't get to see the tears I cry Behind these hazel eyes."

"Because of you I never stray too far from the sidewalk. Because of you I learned to play on the safe side so I don't get hurt. Because of you I find it hard to trust not only me, but everyone around me. Because of you, I am afraid."

"I've always dreamed that love would be effortless Like a petal falling to the ground; a dreamer following his dream."

"I'm looking for attention, not another question. Should you stay or should you go? Well, if you don't have the answer, Why are you still standin' here? Hey, hey, hey, hey, Just walk away."

"I'm restless and wild I fall, but I try I need someone to understand."

"I hope the ring you gave to her turns her finger green. I hope when you're in bed with her, you think of me. I would never wish bad things, but I don't wish you well. Could you tell, by the flames that burned your words?"

"A trophy wife how cute? Ignorance is bliss."

"Remember all the things we wanted? Now all our memories, they're haunted. We were always meant to say goodbye, Even with our fists held high. It never would've worked out right, yeah. We were never meant for do or die."

"But piece by piece, he collected me Up off the ground, where you abandoned things, yeah. Piece by piece, he filled the holes that you burned in me At six years old. And you know, he never walks away, He never asks for money. He takes care of me, he loves me. Piece by piece, he restored my faith That a man can be kind and a father could stay."

"Now I am invincible No, I ain't a scared little girl no more Yeah, I am invincible What was I running for? (oh-oh-oh) I was hiding from the world I was so afraid, I felt so unsure But now I am invincible And I'm a perfect storm (oh-oh-oh)"

"It feels wild, you know, because in the beginning I never thought it was going to really happen. It's all in Turkish, you know, and nobody understands a word. But I think it's a groove. It's the kisses that are universal."

"I was raised in Germany until I was 13, and then my family decided to go back to Turkey. It was good in a way, because I studied music. And I went to a Turkish classical music school and studied music for three years. And then I just realized that I can't do anything else but singing music. And everything just happened naturally."

"My fans -- when I see them somewhere, outside my concerts -- I get that, that vibe. They're really supporting my projects and everything, because it's a first time that a Turkish singer is, you know, able to express himself out of Turkey."

"He was my mentor in a way -- as a musician and as a businessman. He came to Turkey once and saw me on stage performing, and then he came up to me and said, "You've got to call me." I said, I would love to. And that was the first thing I did when I came to New York. Then we did an agreement, a deal, with him for the English albums."

"It was January and snowing like crazy. It was tough; the food was terrible. Eighteen months of my life for nothing? I thought my own dreams were more important."

"It gets worse and worse. I love it, but I have no life. People grab me and kiss me. I like that, but it can be overwhelming."

"I don't care what people think. This is my life. I know who I am. I stood up for my rights and my life."

"Çişim var, ağabey"

"Dancing and singing were always like games to me. I sang constantly."

"I had always dreamed of being involved in a job where I could do anything related to animals and nature. A vet maybe. But later I came to understand that it was just a temporary interest and that music was more important to me."

"Moving to Turkey was the turning point in my life."

"We need to know ourselves better so that we can realize what we really want in our life. I think that the first condition for a person to be in a successful relationship is to be happy with the person he or she is, in other words to love themselves."

"I think that my music is very unique and connects both worlds. That's the reason why I named my album Come Closer. I believe in cultural sharing, in the idea of we-belong-altogether. In my opinion, music should have no borders and we should all try to come closer."

"Scenario: In the summer of 1977 The Human League was formed due to the members finding no conventional channels for their immense talents. Background: None of The Human League have any orthodox musical training, but prefer to regard compositions as an extension of logic, inspiration and luck. Therefore, unlike conventional musicians, their influences are not so obvious. Conclusion/Manifesto: Interested in combining the best of all worlds, The League would like to positively affect the future by close attention to the present, allying technology with humanity and humour. They have been described as 'Later Twentieth Century Boys' and 'Intelligent, Innovatory and Immodest'."

""The Human League, Someday all music will be made like this!" — and it is!"

"The softer you sing, the louder you're heard."

"The magic that you hear in tales and things was all based around the Celtic mythology of England, which is Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings. I just drain from that source. I just drain everything. So the magic is there."

"We are magic. It is magic that we're walking around. It's fantastic magic. Some people would call it miracles; I like to call it magic. … Yes, I'm very aware of this. Yes, the more aware I get, the more I can understand how big it is, how big it will get. It'll be harder to comprehend; that's why I have to go along with it, 'cause its so vast. To say to somebody that God is everything that lives and ever has lived and ever will live, and you're never going to touch and see, smell and be everything that is God. Magic is very hard to comprehend."

"It seemed — in 1968 — the possibilities of peace and brotherhood could be realised that very year. We're still working on it."

"In the chilly hours and minutes Of uncertainty I want to be In the warm hold of your lovin' mind. To feel you all around me And to take your hand Along the sand, Ah, but I may as well try and catch the wind."

"For me to love you now Would be the sweetest thing, 'Twould make me sing, Ah, but I may as well try and catch the wind."

"When rain has hung the leaves with tears I want you near to kill my fears, To help me to leave all my blues behind. For standin' in your heart Is where I want to be And long to be, Ah, but I may as well try and catch the wind."

"Sunshine came softly through my a-window today Could've tripped out easy a-but I've a-changed my ways It'll take time, I know it but in a while You're gonna be mine, I know it, we'll do it in style 'Cause I made my mind up you're going to be mine."

"I'll tell you right now Any trick in the book now, baby, all that I can find..."

"I'll pick up your hand and slowly blow your little mind 'Cause I made my mind up you're going to be mine."

"When I look out my window, Many sights to see. And when I look in my window, So many different people to be..."

"You've got to pick up every stitch. Mmm... must be the season of the witch, Must be the season of the witch."

"I'm just mad about Saffron Saffron's mad about me I'm just mad about Saffron She's just mad about me."

"They call me mellow yellow (Quite rightly) They call me mellow yellow..."

"I'm just mad about Fourteen Fourteen's mad about me"

"Electrical banana Is gonna be a sudden craze Electrical banana Is bound to be the very next phase..."

"Wear your love like heaven."

"Lord, kiss me once more, fill me with song Allah, kiss me once more that I may, that I may Wear my love like heaven Wear my love like Wear my love like heaven."

"Thrown like a star in my vast sleep I open my eyes to take a peep To find that I was by the sea Gazing with tranquillity. 'Twas then when the Hurdy Gurdy Man Came singing songs of love..."

"Histories of ages past Unenlightened shadows cast. Down through all eternity The crying of humanity. 'Tis then when the Hurdy Gurdy Man Comes singing songs of love..."

"The great Egyptian age is but a remnant of The Atlantian culture. The antediluvian kings colonised the world All the gods who play in the mythological dramas In all legends from all lands were from fair Atlantis. Knowing her fate, Atlantis sent out ships to all corners of the Earth. On board were the Twelve: The Poet, the Physician, the Farmer, the Scientist, The Magician and the other so-called Gods of our legends. Though gods they were —"

"Let us rejoice and let us sing and dance and ring in the new: Hail Atlantis!"

"Way down below the ocean where I wanna be she may be."

"The most important of my achievements, if you want to call them that, was that I successfully introduced mystical ideas into pop culture, which was my obsession and my compulsion when I was 16 years old. So, behind all of this fame and fortune, there was a seeker, on a spiritual path — a young man who wanted to discover and share with others an alternative way of looking at the world. I wanted to save our culture from the stupidity and the bigotry and the ignorance that threatened it. And there was the Buddhist way, and the Celtic way."

"I found myself at the top of the the ladder, with everything, but with one thing missing: that one thing was a companion. Because, it's cliché to say, but nothing really means anything in the end unless you're really doing what you want to do, and... I walked off a huge world tour, with a yacht and television specials, and record deals, and film deals. I walked away and my whole thing collapsed. I shocked my business world and walked back to my cottage, which I had been renting to two American girls. One of them was Cynthia, and I stayed with her for two days, then her friend Lori came back from Clapton's house, where there had been a party going on for almost a week. Lori came in with another friend, and it was Linda, my Sunshine Supergirl from 1965 whom I'd written all my songs for. We hadn't married then, because she had a child with Brian Jones and wasn't ready for another relationship. And it was good that we didn't marry back then, because my four years of '60's fame would have wrecked the marriage. But we met again, and I went away from fame and into the arms of my muse, my lover, and then my wife, and then the mother of my children."

"I still carry with me the same themes as always — I'm still compelled to present mystic ideas..."

"Up to '67, the drugs were, uh, soft. Marijuana, and even LSD, I considered soft drugs then. But, then, after '67, needle drugs and the strong amphetamines came in, and that's when the Beatles and Donovan stood up and said, 'Try meditation instead.' And I still stick by that, of course. You've got to be very, very careful. I'm talking about naive days, before the drug barons and the dealers took over. It was once a small, bohemian event. But it was when millions started wanting to get high that it got bad. And when Haight-Asbury turned into Skid Row, the Beatles and me stood up and said, 'Give it a rest.' The answer is that each individual must face the problem by himself. And meditation is an alternative. Meditation is a lot better for you, and it's great to be straight."

"When I was 14 or 15 I wanted to be a protest singer like Pete Seeger and Woody Guthrie. My father was a socialist and worked with the unions. I thought change was to change the government and to change from one system, capitalism, to socialism and to make the poor of the world happy. But when I opened the book The Way of Zen by Alan Watts and I opened up the Diamond Sutra, and Lao Tsu’s Tao Te Ching, I realized that the problem of suffering was much deeper than governments and social problems. The problems were very deep. They were nothing short of changing the way we look at reality. Therefore I became a teacher, or a reflection of the teachings. Phil Ochs, the great protest singer, said I had given up protest, and Joan Baez said to Bob Dylan, “He’s given up protest.” But what I had given up was looking for the answer in social change. The change was to be a spiritual change. The suffering was coming from an erroneous view of reality..."

"We are one, we are all brothers and sisters, but the people of the world do not know this. So this was the teaching, but how do you teach it? As young people, John Lennon, George Harrison, myself, Carlos Santana and other spiritual seekers in pop music, we wanted to know the answer but we found a question: How do you convince the rest of the western world that they are ill, they are mentally ill, that they have a sickness and that they have lost the way? How do you teach that? You cannot teach that in the normal sense. You have to encourage a spiritual call, so we devoted ourselves to making songs which would have a spiritual call inside of them, hoping to awaken an awareness with this music. And other people in the arts felt the same..."

"Today I can’t comment on what the problem is in China, Russia, or Africa without realizing again and again the Diamond Sutra, which says that we look at the world and see it as separate but in fact, this is an illusion, but the reality is that we are one shining being. Until this can be understood, I can’t see any change. But I see some change now. There is a world consciousness. In the "old" New Age, they talked about the Age of Aquarius being an age of enlightenment. And now when a man goes to the moon he sees the earth. Before when someone did meditation he or she could meditate on the earth and the moon but now a man and a woman can see that we are on one planet and that the water is polluted and that the air is dirty. So these are changes that are important. But when we spoke about these things in the 60s people said we were dreamers."

"Sonia Mowlicker."

"I can’t tell you. I would say that if I did, I would have to kill you, but that wouldn’t be polite."

"I drove a bus down Sunset Boulevard once, and I didn’t kill anyone."

"How can you look at this and not see it as the symbol for the self-referencing nature of progressive evolution."

"I didn't know people had that much water in them!"

"I just wanted to sing on TV."

"When life gives you lemons, get tequila and salt."

"Sour patch kids gone wild."

"Let's give them something to talk about, other than H A I R!"

"I like singing in the street, so if you saw a little Indian kid walking on the street singing loudly, that was probably me."

"I would have Simon Cowell sing 'Shiny Happy People' by R.E.M. just to show his true personality."

"I hope she saw the passion, and no need to tell Mark Anthony about it."

"I learned the hula, so now I know how to shake my booty Hawaiian style."

"Thank you! Welcome to the Universe of Sanjaya!"

"I don't eat sugary cereal."

""Black Horse and the Cherry Tree" is inspired by old blues, Nashville psycho hillbillies & hazy memories. It tells the story of finding yourself lost on your path, and a choice has to be made. It's about gambling, fate, listening to your heart, and having the strength to fight the darkness that's always willing to carry you off."

"I went down to London with the idea that I was going to do vocals over this crazy, crazy trip-hop digital beat. Within two or three months, I heard Hunky Dory by David Bowie and that changed me in one way, and I realized what I actually wanted was to have an E Street Band — individuals, not session musicians."

"Growing up in such a stunning landscape is inevitably going to have an effect on you, whether you rebel or whether you embrace, because it's so striking. I lived on this rugged, rugged coastline with the North Sea hammering at the cliffs, and the weather changes literally every half hour. My parents met as rock climbers, so they're absolute outdoors fiends, and we were constantly up hills and under canvas and camping and tramping around. They're very fond memories and something I still love to do."

"I was traveling in Greece as a teenager, and for those who haven't been to Greece, it's absolutely covered in olive groves — stunted, gnarly little bonsai-type trees. And I was driving on a moped and a huge black stallion had pulled away from its stake and was just going nuts in this tiny, tiny, hobbit-like forest. It was just such a powerful image, this enormous beast let loose and going wild in a fairy-tale wood of tiny trees... The song itself is really about going through the process of making the first album. It was a very strange experience and a very steep learning curve. For the previous 10 or 15 years, I'd been completely my own boss — when you play a gig, you just play your new song, the new song is always your favorite. And here I was having to make an album of stuff that's never gonna go away. I was being asked to make these huge decisions, so really the song is just about learning to listen to your guts again. There's actually very few times in our lives now when we have to do that."

"It's lovely to get to say hello to people you've always admired from afar, but the fun really starts out front with people going commando whilst wearing daring mud suits."

"I had that Paul McKenna come up to me once and he said, 'I love that song of yours about bicycles.' So I said to McKenna, 'And I loved the stunt you did in that glass box above the Thames.'"

"Many good things come from the left! [at the House of Blues on August 12th, 2008, while instructing the crowd to do a 'side-wave.']"

"Over the sea and far away She's waiting like an iceberg Waiting to change But she's cold inside She wants to be like the water. All the muscles tighten in her face Buries her soul in one embrace They're one and the same Just like water. Then the fire fades away And most of everyday Is full of tired excuses But it's too hard to say I wish it were simple But we give up easily You're close enough to see that You're the other side of the world to me."

"Can you help me Can you let me go And can you still love me When you can't see me anymore? The fire fades away."

"Well my heart knows me better than i know myself So I'm gonna let it do all the talking."

"I can feel everything you do Hear everything you say Even when you're miles away Coz I am me, the universe and you."

"When you're on your own I'll send you a sign Just so you know I am me, the universe and you."

"Her face is a map of the world Is a map of the world You can see she's a beautiful girl She's a beautiful girl. And everything around her is a silver pool of light The people who surround her feel the benefit of it — It makes you calm She holds you captivated in her palm."

"Suddenly I see (Suddenly I see) This is what I wanna be Suddenly I see (Suddenly I see) Why the hell it means so much to me."

"I grew up knowing I could have had a million different lives. It makes your life mysterious and your imagination go wild."

"My songs examine and explore little specific emotions or situations or stories... They're kitchen table songs, like a conversation between me and one other person. It's almost like an alien has been sent to get emotional samples from human beings and put it all together on a record."

"I was really into sci-fi books as a kid. My dad is a physicist and he used to take my brothers and I into his lab when we were little. We played games with liquid nitrogen and Van de Graaff generators. He had the keys to the observatory at St Andrew's University and he'd get us up in the middle of the night to show us Halley's Comet. That's partly why the album is called Eye To The Telescope."

"I managed to win Battle Of The Bands with one mandolin player! It was me and eleven goth bands and I won."

"On the whole, I'm a positive, skippity-la-la person but I love the dark side of music and I will always want to explore that. It's a positive-sounding album but there's stuff underneath for sure."

"It was blazing sunshine and I went on in a turquoise neck muff, glamorous dress and muddy boots and just had the best gig, really emotional. I've had emails from people saying that they cried. They promised it wasn't the drugs."

"I'm not exactly sure what has driven me so hard... I've never questioned it. I've never had a back-up plan. I was never going to do anything else."

"[My music is] just imagination, being creative; that's what my music is composed with. Being creative and thinking of situations, whether situations I went through or situations I've observed people going through. I can't tell you where I'll see myself in five years, but I can tell you I will work my best to be the most successful artist that I can be in five years. [I want to be] Remembered as Rihanna. Remembered as being an artist from the Caribbean who came here and made it internationally. Just remembered as me, 'cause I'm true to my music, and I just want people to realize that and appreciate me for that."

"“I didn’t expect it to happen in waves. I thought it would just happen and grow back.”"

"“Y’all I didn’t drink all year! I didn’t drink all year.”"

"“I just want to do things my way and always switch it up and put my own twist on it.”"

"“I always believed that when you follow your heart or your gut, when you really follow the things that feel great to you, you can never lose because settling is the worst feeling in the world.”"

"“It’s very different… The balance is almost impossible because no matter how you look at it, work is always something that’s going to rob you of time with your child. That’s the currency now, that’s where it goes. When you make decisions of what you’re going to say yes to, it has to be worth it.”"

"“I want it to be this year … Like, honestly, it’d be ridiculous if it’s not this year. But I just want to have fun. I just want to make music and make videos.”"

"“I have a lot of visual ideas … My brain is working backward right now. I usually have the music first, and the music leads me into all of these visual opportunities, and now I’m having all of these visuals … I don’t have the songs for them yet, but maybe that’s the key, this time. Maybe the visual ideas are leading me to the songs that I need to make.”"

"“I don’t know what God wants, but I would go for more than two. I would try for my girl. But of course if it’s another boy, it’s another boy.”"

"“The troll in me, she had a time. Unfortunately, you can’t take anything back from the internet, so I will always have the reminders, but the best troll in me is the silent troll.”"

"“I approached it like everything I do with fashion… I just want to do things my way and always switch it up and put my own twist on it.”"

"“Lingerie, to me, should be worn any way and anywhere that you want … Whether you want it to be seen on display outside of T-shirts or inside a jacket falling off, or just to be cozy or just to have a little support.”"

"“If I’m going to leave my baby, I’m going to leave my baby for something special … It was now or never for me.”"

"“Seeing a baby with, like, little bags and waking up and they’re just, like, startled. It’s the cutest. Oh my god, the mornings … it’s my favourite part of the day.”"

"“Musically, I’m feeling open … I just want to play. I want to have fun with music.” Source: Apple Music interview via Revolt (Feb 12, 2023) — “Fans should expect the unexpected as Rihanna talks new music”"

"“This feels right. It feels like it digs right into where I need to be … This is becoming my new freedom… I feel like I’ve finally cracked it, girl!”"

"“It’s very isolating. It’s very lonely. And what am I protecting myself from?”"

"“Every decision I make revolves around them, but everything that I do that I love robs me from them.”"

"“Getting old is s–t.”"

"“I just cracked the code on what I really want to do for my next body of work.”"

"“I’ve done so much sh** in my life. I’ve had my nipples out, my panties out. But now, those are the things which, I guess as a mum and an evolved young lady–emphasis on young– there are things I feel like I would never do.”"

"“Aim for the stars. Don’t aim for me. Aim beyond me. You’re going to be fantastic.”"

"I feel strongly that all children everywhere should be afforded the opportunity of a quality education, therefore I'm proud to announce Clara Lionel Foundation's partnership with education advocacy leaders like the Global Partnership for Education and Global Citizen. Working together, I know we can amplify our efforts and ensure that millions of children gain access to education globally."

"When the door closes you have two choices. Give up, or keep going. Let them shut you down or prove them wrong. We all start somewhere. It's where you end up that counts."

"She's Beyoncé, and I'm [Jay-Z's] new protégée. When we see each other we say hi. We're not enemies, but we're not friends friends."

"People don't do them around me. I would never allow it. The people who are around me are people that I love, and I don't want to see people that I love hurt themselves."

"He's one of my closest friends in the industry. He makes me feel like a teenager — I have to act and think like an adult so much. He makes me feel young again."

"The label didn't want me to do this look. But cutting my hair, it made me stand out as an artist. I don't care who likes it--this is me."

"[G]enetically my legs are supposed to be huge. I can't really think about it, or I'll go crazy."

"While in America beautiful is skinny, in Barbados it's thick — girls with huge butts and nice curves."

"People ask me the most naive questions. Someone asked me if we have indoor toilets. I can't get upset. They just don't know."

"The hardest thing for me is to say no. I feel like a bitch. But sometimes I don't have a choice."

"I was a little confused as a kid because I grew up with my mom, and my mom is black. So, I was cultured in a very 'black' way. But when I go to school, I'm getting called 'white.' They would look at me, and they would curse me out. I didn't understand. I just knew I saw people of all different shades, and I was light. Now, I'm in a much bigger world."

"They'd complain to my other neighbor, who was very close to my mom, so we always got the message: I'm too loud. But we didn't really care. They can't tell me what to do in my house!"

"You can't even go out with a friend who's a celebrity and have a good time without people making shit up."

"Guys need attention. They need that nourishment, that little stroke of the ego that gets them by every now and then. I’ll give it to my family, I’ll give it to my work — but I will not give it to a man right now."

"I’m turned on by guys who are cultured. That’ll keep me intrigued. They don’t have to have a single degree, but they should speak other languages or know things about other parts of the world or history or certain artists or musicians. I like to be taught. I like to sit on that side of the table."

"Well, there’s always this human instinct about that, even from a very, very young age. I agreed that we are born with a sort of innate sexuality. But by like age 11, girls were talking about what they had and hadn’t done. I hadn’t even kissed a boy yet, so it always made me feel insecure, like I was never gonna be good or ready or know what to do — I didn’t even have boobs."

"And then I looked up and there she was, my celebrity crush, Rihanna. Before I could think better of it, I was up out of my seat and over in front of where she was sitting. "Hey, Rihanna, my name's Austin," I said. "Nice to meet you." "Hello," she said, looking at me like, Who is this kid? Get out of here. "I'm a big fan," I said. "Thanks," she said. Then I just stood there awkwardly, smiling at her. I think I scared her a little bit, because I just popped up from nowhere, and she had no idea what was happening or who I was. Finally I was like, Okay, I'm going to sit back down. Then I left. All right, that didn't go so well, I thought as I went back to my seat."

"My pleasure icons are... Marla Stewart of Velvet Lips. Rihanna, obviously. Lizzo too, the pleasure she gets from just confronting the world with her excellence and then laughing."

"On behalf of a grateful nation, but an even prouder people, we therefore present to you the designee for national hero of Barbados, Ambassador Robyn Rihanna Fenty. May you continue to shine like a diamond and bring honor to your nation by your works, by your actions and to do credit wherever you shall go."

"And I know that it's a wonderful world, but I cant feel it right now."

"But if I had someone I would do anything and never never never never let you feel alone."

"Who am I to dream?, dreams are for fools, they let you down..."

"Please give me something because someday I might know my heart."

"Some people say that i'm not worth it I've made mistakes but nobody's perfect"

"I've got to take this chance and make it into something good."

"Im not lost, no no, just undiscovered."

"I'm scared Of all this emotion for years I've been holding it down."

"Oh well dreams can come true if you know inside you really want them to or you can sit you can wait you can leave your fate in someone elses hands."

"But if the rain must fall...It won't matter much to me If I had you And all I need is your love."

"Oh it tears me up I try to hold on but it hurts too much I try to forgive, but it's not enough to make it all okay."

"The truth hurts and lie's worse."

"when there's no, no storm Then how can I feel the calm ? If theres nothing, nothing, nothing left to lose Then what is this feeling That keeps on bringing me back to you?"

"They come to have a party for themselves, and we're kind of a house band for their party."

"[Writing songs] is no different than explaining to somebody what you dreamed last night: No one ever gives you crap for what you dreamed last night. "I was laying in my bed, and all of a sudden a stallion jumped on my bed and the next thing I know I was in Mars but it looked like my kitchen" . . . That's kind of what I do with my songs, write them in a dream-like manner. It's up to people to swallow it however they want."

"I’ve also been on a pretty strict plant-based diet for 4 months now – feeling stronger, fitter, healthier and more productive. I ride longer distances on my bike, can do more pull-ups than ever, and my brain seems to have a larger capacity for new projects, problem solving, songwriting, and fielding random questions. My health and strength make me a better performer and all that combined gives me more confidence to go out in the world and shine my light. It also makes me a lot better in bed. … For those curious or concerned about a plant-based diet, check out the film Forks Over Knives. It’s a life changer. You can get all the protein you need from greens, quinoa, and hemp seed."

"Now that I have seen I am responsible, faith without deeds is dead."

"Whatever you feed yourself, is what's going to come out. You could say life is like that, Scripture is the answer to that. I love to read, I love the Bible, I have a bad back because of it."

"Songs are not only like poo, but songs are almost like the ground that's fertilized by the manure of life."

"When it comes to worship, I think that one of the special things about Hillsong Church is that every single one of our songwriters are people who are either serving in the church, volunteers or staff [but] none of us are on staff to write. We're in the business of building the church, Meaning where there's life, there's mess. That's the reality of humanity, I think that all of that manure, in all of its stench and warmth is a fertilizer for songs."

"One of the things about being a follower of Jesus is that though our calling doesn't change - the Great Commission - our assignments that are attached to that calling do change. So for that reason I really don't feel comfortable with any kind of titles because I'm really just doing whatever the Lord has me do in whatever particular season that is and that changes. I wrote a song about this a few years ago called 'New Wine', about not becoming so attached to the wineskins or not so attached to the ways that we assume God wants to use us, that we become so attached to that that we can't hold maybe the next thing that God wants to take us into."

"Community is one of the ways that God is still rubbing off some of my sharp edges and some of my spiky bits. The things that come with community that can be really uncomfortable are actually one of the ways the Lord uses to form us more into his likeness."

"Darlene Zschech. Eighteen years ago she saw something in me I didn’t see in myself. She called me out and up and on — as she has for so many others — and continues to do so. A true mother in every sense."

"A believer’s theology is being shaped by the worship songs they’re singing in church or listening to through the week, as much as the sermons they’re hearing on Sundays. And what we believe about God completely dictates the way we see Him, ourselves, others, and indeed our very lives."

"In my opinion, a good guitar is the guitar that brings the best out of you as a player and helps you articulate your musical voice in its highest and most authentic form."

"If I was a furniture mover, I’d probably volunteer to put out the chairs at church on Sunday. If I was a barista, I’d probably volunteer to make coffees in the church foyer on Sunday. Music is what I have in my hand, so it’s how I can serve."

"I carry on in my own narrow little tunnel and we have very different experiences of life even though we live together."

"I have this massive love for the whole culture of pop music … It has probably been the biggest relationship in my life. It's my fascination, my on-going passion. … I really, really love music. I'm affected by it and uplifted by it, and made to laugh and cry, and almost fall in love with the person who has made me feel so brilliant and communicated so profoundly to me."

"If this world is wearing thin And you're thinking of escape I'll go anywhere with you Just wrap me up in chains But if you try to go alone Don't think I'll understand (Stay) Stay with me"

"You'd better hope and pray That you make it safe back to your own world You'd better hope and pray That you'll wake one day in your own world Because when you sleep at night They don't hear your cries in your own world Only time will tell If you can break the spell back in your own world."

"It's time that glamour came back, everything has got a little bit beige in the last two years, I say bring back black!"

"Music bypasses the intellect, it makes you laugh, makes you cry, makes you want to dance, makes you want to have sex."

"I've always tried not to take it too seriously — if you do, you dry up creatively, you turn into a product and it stymies you."

"Believe in yourself as ever, and your own tastes and ideas, and stay true to them, or you'll fuck your head up and end up hating what you do."

"We were written off from day one. Nobody believed in us but us. We kept having hits despite the record company, despite the press."

"I love digging out old records … Fashion goes round in circles."

"I wear glasses because I need them; I don't wear them to be the fashion victim, I have to have them because I have a stigma in one eye and I'm blind in another. But I make it fun, I make it acceptable to fit in society; I've always worn crazy, goofy glasses, it's just what I do. This is who I am. Love me or leave me."

"I'm not that deep, I'm not that mysterious. Don't try to figure me out. I'm a very open book. What you see is what you get."

"I'm a fighter by nature and nothing will ever change that."

"My will, my faith and my body have been challenged, but make no mistake, my heart is strong and my resolve to fight will never be broken."

"I don't fear death. But I don't like being dangled out there like a piece of meat on a fishing rod to it either. If I'm going to die, take me out now. Don't let me suffer. That's not exactly the way I wanted to go. I don't want to be in limbo, I don't want to know that I might die. The mights don't work with me. I'm too literal."

"I'm a singer who touches millions of people and my words and my knowledge of what I'm learning from cancer can help millions. And if I can help millions, even if I help one person, that's one person more than none."

"At the end of the day I'm maybe clean of cancer right now, but that doesn't mean it won't come back at 100%. So I'm not leaving here going: "Oh my God my life is over, cuz I don't know..." I'm sitting here, I'm happy I'm at Rove, I'm happy I'm in Australia, I'm pleased I finished an album, I'm just grateful. If it comes back I will kick it in the butt as much as I could. But it's not about winning, it's just about fighting, and that's all you got to on this earth. It's just fight for what your right is, and that's to live. (from an interview at The Rove Live, Australia, 2004)"

"I don't have a deep desire to know my father. My brother and sister and I got forgotten about by him, and we haven't spoken to him in a ridiculous amount of years. He never contacted us after he and my mother broke up. [...] I never felt rejected as a kid. We had a fulfilling life with my mum. She was so strong."

"All I can say is we are not promised tomorrow, I know that, you know that. So we gonna make every moment last and just blessed it and appreciate it. (form her speech at Rock in Rio, 2006)"

"When I'm asked where I want to be in five or 10 years time, I say I just want to be alive and healthy."

"I had to perform in Béziers, In France, in a huge arena where they normally hold bullfights. There where a bunch of important people there, I was not that famous yet, so alot was riding on this performance, but the vibe was amazing. So a few songs into the set I yelled very enthusiastically ‘J’adore Béziers” Unfortunatly my French speech is not perfect so it sounded as J'adore baiser! The public did not respond, so I thought, with the wind they probably did not understand it clearly, so alot louder I yelled J'ADORE BAISER!!!! And then a deadly silence. Afterwords someone asked me, ‘doe joe know vot you ave just told all of France?’ Sure, I told’em I love’em….euh not really...man I was dying! But the boss from the French record label said, don’t worry about it, they thought u where amazing, we will sell alot of records here."

"(About Prince) I recently met him, he's a Jehovah's witness, right? The first thing i said to him was "omigaaawdifuckinloveyourmusic". He looked at me with that look of his and said very softly 'uh, you have to pray that you can ban swearing out of your live, otherwise you can never please the lord" Me : I'll fuckin' try!, followed with 'did i fuckin' curse?' in which he responded "yeah, you fuckin' did".(laughs) Okay that last part I made up, but he was very serious about it. So i thought, my god, this is the guy from "Head" and from "Darling Nikki" who is mastrubating in the lobby from a hotel. In his studio he even has a curseing jar, everybody that swear has to put a $50 into it. I was speechless, and let me tell you, that does not happen to me alot. But, he is and stays a genius."

"One time I woke up on the day of a concert with a stiff neck, and not just a regular stiff neck, I was standing croocked, like the hunchback of Notre Dame. I got some shots then, which did not work. They could have easily put the stage croocked that day so it at least would have looked like I was walking normally. I did perform that night, but I remember nothing from it, was so high from the shots. Later I heared from my manager that I was doin never ending talks between songs. The guy’s at the mix table where trying via the monitor to get me to start singing the next song, but I just kept talking ‘wait wait wait, just one more fun thing I want to say…” I was the stand up comic from hell."

"I was walking tru Amsterdam when I heared I’m Outta Love blasting out of an open window. In that moment I rang their doorbell and when those people opened the door I said ‘Roomservice!’ Never I saw people dropping their jaws that much (laughs) I saw their eyes goin from me to their tv that had mtv on, back to me and back to the tv again, you saw they where thinking, how can this woman be in both places in the same time? But once they got over that shock they did not wanna let me go anymore, ‘come in, there is plenty to drink, there is plenty of everything (winks), what do you wanna eat, are u staying over…?’ Sweet people, real cute, only later I realized, oh my god, what if they were just making love to my music, they would have opend the door naked!"

"You don't have to be blond or blue eyes or taller or smaller...just have to be who you need to be, and that's help people become who they are."

"Early detection has saved my life twice. I will continue to battle and lend my voice in any way I can."

"Sometimes I wonder if my purpose on this earth is to be a role model. Look at my challenges as a gift, and my voice as tool."

"(About Elton John) He's my fairy Godfather; literally that's what I call him. [...] Hopefully while I'm in town there'll be a moment I can share my new boobs with him. I have to show him, because he gets to see. Not that he's really caring, but I flashed him my other ones so he has to see these ones too. He has to see the new set."

"You're the soldier girl who tells the other troops who haven't fought the battle what it's like so they can fight it better."

"I'm just as fragile and broken as anyone else at times. We all have to get through our stuff as best we can. Some of us have strong armour, some of us don't. Sometimes my armour has been very strong and sometimes it's been very fragile."

"I think there will always be challenges for women and men. There are always going to be male chauvenists but it's just a matter of women continuing to stand up for their rights and prove their worth. The world would end if women didn't start families, carry children, but that is no reason for them not to work, have careers, exist as a person rather than just a mother."

"I felt very awkward as a teenager. I wanted blue eyes, I wanted to be taller, I wore glasses, I got my chest early and I was very embarrassed about it. I just wasn’t the kind of girl I thought guys would want to date. Though in some ways I was okay with that because I didn’t want to date any boys anyway. I just wanted to be friends with boys, boys were cool with me. Until we were doing a show in school where we all had to wear these catsuits for a dance routine. I walked into the room, all boobs and bum, and the boys never looked at me the same way again. I was mortified. That’s probably when I started wearing my stepfather’s shirts, big and baggy, to cover up. I just wanted to stay a kid."

"There is no rose without a thorn No rain without the storm There is no laughter without tears No wisdom without years In a world gone crazy Torn between the roads that we must choose Win or lose."

"Each day another boy and girl sets foot into this world One reaches out to touch the sky One never learns to fly."

"How many rivers must we cross before we learn that the flood is rising high And the bridges all have burned Each time another dream is washed into the sea It's another piece of you It's another piece of me."

"If every soul should lose its way If every face should lose its name If no one tries to end this game Or find a way to ease the pain Who's gonna stop the rain?"

"Yo trippin' There ain't nothing wrong with the way I sing my song Yo trippin' Why you feel that to be cruel is to be real."

"I'm a freak of nature Freaky, geeky, lucky and weekly, sassefras, so, honey drink me finger licking."

"You can say what you want about me Try to do what you want to me But you can not stop me."

"I paid my dues."

"Now I'm still trusted every day People try to mess with Anastacia Gotta nothing in common cause I handle mine."

"Anytime or only for a while Don't worry Make a wish I'll be there to see your smile."

"Nothing's fair when we lose without a moment to say goodbye."

"Cradle the weight of your life You can survive what lies before you."

"Time keeps running away no matter what's left behind, it keeps on moving Tomorrow is not today and all of your yesterdays are only a matter of time."

"I'm sick and tired of always being sick and tired."

"I've had my share of pleasure and I've tasted pain I never thought that I would touch an angel's wing There's a journey in my eyes It's getting hard for me to hide Like the ocean at the sunrise."

"Who wants a love without anger and rage? I Do Who wants a world where a kid can be safe? I Do Who wants to pray for the end of the pain? For the calm at the end of the day? Where there's not always more of the same? I Do."

"Wanna live in a place where the truth still finds a way to rise and advise."

"The pages I've turned are the lessons I've learned."

"Sometimes the things you want are hard to take Sometimes the ones you love are risks that you don't make."

"Freedom lies beneath reality."

"The love that lonely people crave Follows them into their grave Oh…we should never leave them lonely."

"The faded photographs The frames of broken glass The shattered memories Time will soon erase all these souvenirs Falls from a thousand tears But when I wake up you are never there."

"You can tear me apart You can rip me to pieces Try breaking me down But I'll never be beated You can say that you won But I'll never believe it cos I can't be defeated."

"Silence is a deadly poison when you have no words."

"Pieces of a dream unfolding what happened to the fairy tale Words of love are never spoken Things in life aren't always fair I'll protect you and I'll guide you and I'll give you all the love that is mine Just know in time You'll be fine."

"Show me some hope Show me some light Cause I got nothing left in me tonight If I don’t go If I say no Is it the end?"

"If there's no redemption I'll see you in hell."

"Now I know what love is worth In a broken world But I can't get past the hurt Till I give up on these Stupid little things."

"I'd rather be blind if I have to watch us fade."

"I barely recognize myself Sometimes I feel like someone else Don't always have to be perfect And if I stumble on the way I don't know I'm gonna be okay It's alright to get myself dirty."

"They say that time heals the pain Till only love remains."

"Somewhere there's an angel saying stay I need someone to tell me, I'm too hard to break I'm not ready to go just yet."

"Got a message from a wise man No one gets to choose But it's still a secret No one tells us how easily we bruise And while we try to understend Life is making other plans."

"I'm pop-corn I'm a hell storm Yeah, I'm in the hands of faith I’m so bad words Now what you heard?"

"And I've been to darker places That I never thought I'd go And I've learned lots of lessons I can say I'm finally home."

"I can see the light of day Even through the rainy haze."

"I'm dark dark white girl."

"No matter if I'm laughing or crying It ain't gonna stop me from trying The truth is what I have to uncover In this only life."

"The truest words are never wasted I'm letting go just show me how I'm getting closer I can taste it This time, our time."

"Wings of an angel Replace my beautiful scars Well hidden in the dark Time seems to stand still The world is falling apart So heavy on my heart."

"Even with broken wings Even with shattered dreams I'm still gonna try I'm still gonna fly Even with broken wings I can do anything I found a strength I never knew I had in me With these broken wings."

"Is this the light at the end of the tunnel Is this the end, the end of all my trouble Is this the light at the end of the tunnel Or just the light of another oncoming train."

"There's a new sun rising From a lost horizon And the heat that it brings Melts away all the things That has made me stand still Been a long time coming So tired of running I believe there's a reason I came through the season again It's my resurrection."

"All that I've gone through Is what brought me here So I can't regret a single thing, yeah I've had my heart broken I know what it takes to let go and move on I see myself coming And I've never been this strong."

"I'm alright with living on the edge Everything I ever got I got the hard way Wouldn't think of wishing on the shooting star I'm the underdog."

"I thought she was black when I heard her singing. [...] This is so like Tina Turner. Who is this woman sings? And even when I found out she was call Anastacia, I didn't even think she was white. She had the most amazing voice, just the most soulful voice I've heard in so long [...] She is a great live performer [...] I'm Outta Love is one of the greatest dance records of all time."

"Anastacia is someone the world will understand."

"The first time I heard Anastacia's voice I was kind of blown by, because she is kind a little and her voice was so big so powerful, so much power coming from her. It was amazing."

"She rocks, I have to tell you, she rocks."

"She's probably one of the strongest women I've ever met. Through my illness she was there for me as I hope I have been to her through her treatment. She's a really great girl."

"Some performers would stand in a spot light like Edith Piaf, darkness around and a spot light and she would sing... and she would sing very vulnerable. Than you realize "I don't know how this woman has more powerful". And some performers, well, leave out of the box and grab the audience by the throw, you know. What's amazing about Anastacia is she can kind do both."

"I think Anastacia is gonna be a big star, I really do. And she has that distinct voice where, you know, one time you hear it you never forget it."

"She has a lot of what I call star quality and that's something truly hard to describe in words. At top of all that she is just an amazing singer and an amazing performer. She is not just a singer that can only do one style."

"African music, though very old, is always being rediscovered in the West."

"I always wanted to leave home. I never knew they were going to stop me from coming back. Maybe, if I knew, I never would have left. It is kind of painful to be away from everything that you've ever know. Nobody will know the pain of exile until you are in exile. No matter where you go, there are times when people show you kindness and love, and there are times when they make you know that you are with them but not of them. That's when it hurts."

"I will probably die singing."

"When I was young, I never bought records because my brother Joseph played saxophone and had a record player. I loved listening to his records: The Dorsey Brothers, Duke Ellington, all the big American jazz bands, and vocalists like Ella Fitzgerald, Ernestine Anderson, and Kitty White, a singer from the US who was a friend of Nina Simone. Nobody in America seems to know about her, but she was quite popular in South Africa."

"My concerts were canceled left and right. Speaking about South African Apartheid was fine, but they were suddenly afraid I might speak about American Apartheid, although I never did. Bookers told me that my shows would finance radical activities and [Reprise Records] told me they were not going to honor my recording contract. I didn’t say anything, but if I was married to a troublemaker, I must be a troublemaker. I’d already lived in exile for 10 years, and the world is free, even if some of the countries in it aren’t, so I packed my bags and left."

"In those years, when I came to the States, people were always asking me why I didn’t sing anymore. I’d tell them, ‘I sing all around the world—Asia, Africa, Europe—but if you don’t sing in the US, then you haven’t really made it.’ That’s why I’ll always be grateful to Paul Simon. He allowed me to bring my music back to my friends in this country."

"I didn’t have much, but I was always happy to share what I did have. It seemed like every African that came to New York City would show up at my apartment door at dinnertime, and I couldn’t turn them away. I wasn’t much older than any of them, but they started calling me ‘Mama Africa’ and the name stuck."

"It is absurd to say that we Africans were not in Africa when white people first came. And secondly, The conqueror writes history. They came, they conquered and they wrote. Now, you don't expect people who came to invade us to write the truth about us. They will always write negative things about us. And they have to do that because they have to justify their invasions in all the countries."

"We don't write our history. It has always been handed down to us orally by our elders."

"The white man, where ever he is, whether he is in the majority or the minority, he rules. It just proves to everyone that we have to keep fighting."

"Everywhere I performed in Brazil, I never saw black people. I only performed to white people. And they (the white people) said it's because they (the black people) can't afford to come here - it's too expensive. That is another form of keeping them from coming to where they can enjoy themselves together with white people. They keep them poor."

"The truth shall never be covered by a lie."

"In New York I heard A Piece of Ground, written by a white South African, Jeremy Taylor. I modified it a little and sang it myself. That song is very special to me because it deals with the land question in southern Africa. We were dispossessed of our land."

"The tragedy of civil wars in countries like Angola and Mozambique is that they left many civilians maimed. Poverty is the reason HIV/AIDS spread so rapidly in the African townships and slums. Poverty is the real killer."

"The man at the desk took my passport. He did not speak to me. He took a rubber stamp and slammed it down. Then he walked away. I picked up my passport. It was stamped 'Invalid'. 'They have done it,' I told myself. 'They have exiled me. I am not permitted to go home — not now, maybe not ever. My family, my home. Everything that has gone into the making of myself, gone'."

"I look at an ant and see myself: a native South African, endowed with a strength much greater than my size, so I might cope with the weight of racism that crushes my spirit."

"That was the only time my mother saw me on stage. At one point in the play I am strangled and my mother jumped from her seat and screamed: 'No. You will not get away with murder. You cannot do this to my daughter.' Friends explained to her that this was not for real — that we were acting. But she made such a fuss. Everyone was so embarrassed. On stage my heart sank."

"I still don't know why they banned me" she says. "I said to them, 'What did I do? I never killed anybody. I was never arrested for anything bad, so why can't I go home?."

"I'm not a political singer. I don't know what the word means. People think I consciously decided to tell the world what was happening in South Africa. No! I was singing about my life, and in South Africa we always sang about what was happening to us — especially the things that hurt us."

"Belafonte sent his people to pick me up and I went back and shook his hand, then went back to my little flat. I was very happy to have met a president of the United States - little me!"

"[Belafonte]'d take me to perform for Martin Luther King's cause. But when they were marching I did not take part, because I was not a citizen"

"[Belafonte] was a good teacher and looked after me. He said, 'You have such great talent, you must try not to be a tornado - be like a submarine. It was good advice when I found myself speaking at the UN Committee Against Apartheid and then the UN General Assembly."

"It was not a ban from the government. It was a cancellation by people who felt I should not be with Stokely because he was a rebel to them. I didn't care about that. He was somebody I loved, who loved me, and it was my life."

"[W]hen the President's visitors came to Guinea, we were all called on to go and entertain them. I've never seen a country that did what Sékou Touré did for artists. Even in South Africa today we are not nurtured like that."

"It's because they want to sound like Americans. I'd like to see them develop our music and sing it their way, but they think sounding American is going to take them higher, but it is not. They have beautiful voices, but they want to sound like Whitney Houston. You can't beat people like that at their own game. And they can't beat me at mine, either!"

"Girls are the future mothers of the , it is important we focus on their wellbeing."

"Her voice and her battles influenced the process of liberation and democratic rebirth in South Africa."

"We will miss her energy and her respectful concern for the world's most vulnerable."

":Polly Vernon:: Do you miss Britney?"

":Justin Timberlake:: Umm, yeah, you know, days will go by when I miss... I miss the good things, I miss the good things. I'll leave it at that. Britney has always surprised me."

":Polly Vernon:: With what? Her honesty?"

":Justin Timberlake:: Ha! No, no, no, not with that. I think, the size of her heart. She has a big heart, a really big heart. That's always impressed me about her."

"How famous am I? No more famous than you.' Well, no, you are considerably more famous than I am. 'Says who? Fuck it. Kelly Osbourne's more famous than me."

"We'll play jacks and Uno cards I'll be your best friend And you'll be mine"

"I hope you know that this has nothing to do with you."

"I can't waste time so give me the moment I realize nothing's broken No need to worry about everything I've done Lived every second like it was my last one."

"I'm sick of playing all of these games It's not about taking ties."

"You're still a part of everything I do, you're on my heart just like a tattoo, Just like a tattoo, I'll always have you."

"It's not bad to wear a promise ring, because not everybody, guy or girl, wants to be a slut," explained Jordin Sparks-- during Sunday's VMA show in response to jokes made by host Russell Brand about chastity."

"Interview "Cosmopolitan Sofia": If there were a fire in your house, what would be the first thing you would take away with you? - I would take away my legs."

"20.02.94, Kyiv, 18:15 a boy from the crowd: - Sofia Mihailovna, how many languages do you speak? - I speak Moldavian, Ukrainian and Russian, but what is important is that we understand each other."

"Replying to Anatolii Kirillovich and Ilya Savelievich to their jokes about Aurica Rotaru during one of the rehearsals in Krasnodar [Russia] ('93): - One more time, one can't here Aurica! - Well, she is echoing in Moldavian... - She is not echoing in Moldavian. I'll show you, khokhols!! Just sing, Aurica. - Well, I am not singing in the beginning... - I'm telling you: sing."

"13.04.95. Kharkiv [Ukraine] speaking to pyrotechnist - about fog on the stage... - Make sure no one can be seen. Myself as well..."

"Interview to the newspaper "Week" [Russian: "Неделя"/Nedelya], 1978: -They say you started singing from the cradle? -Couldn't do it in the cradle: the dummy was in the way."

"Roman Viktyuk: Her destiny on Earth is to be the sun, the light. Her name in Ukrainian is Sonia, Solnyshko ["Sunny" in English]. That is how she is bringing throughout her whole life to people and throws handfuls of light, love and warmth into the concert halls... Sonechka, you know there was no way I would not appear on this stage since two nice parts of Western Ukraine are here. Sonia, Sonechko, there is no "our" or "your" sun, here is Light - Sonechka. Do keep on lighting, remain as tender, beautiful, talented, young as ever. You are unique, thank you Sonia. (Golden Grammy Awards Russia 2006, song "Do Not Love" [Russian: Не люби/Ne lubi)"

"Vladimir Putin: "The art of unique Sofia Rotaru is one of the birghtest pages of modern pop culture. Rare in beauty voice, artistic temper and flawless artistic taste have righteously won You the recognition and love of numerous generations of fans. Your songs come from the very heart an dthat is why they have such a long and happy life." (Russian President has greeted the singer, People's Artist of USSR, S.M.)"

"Alla Pugacheva You have recently been at Rotaru's Anniversary. Is it possible that you will perform in the near future a song in duet with Sofia Mihailovna? - I would like to. However, one cannot hurry us in this. Rotaru is enormously overcharged, myself - as well. But we are dreaming about this already for many many years. And the singers' dreams should come true!"

"I took the first few years off and spent them recovering. I didn't even know what day it was or who I was anymore, so I made a conscious effort to end it all. I thought my days were numbered as a pop star anyway. My girlfriend and I had a daughter, I had some money, so I just took the time off to chill out."

"I didn't like the music business and I didn't like me. There's an element of falseness about the whole thing. Even things like doing an interview. It's not as though we just met in the pub and are having a chat — it's part of a process. If you do it all day, every day for years, you end up thinking: 'Who the hell am I?' I was lucky enough to make some money, enough to let me kick back. It was a great experience and it was nice to have a couple of No.1s but the best thing about it was that the money I made allowed me to have freedom and choice in my life."

"I did enjoy it," he says. "But it was very, very weird. You can blab on about seeing the other side of fame, but it doesn't mean shit until it happens to you. It wasn't so much the going on TV, or going to award ceremonies, or having a camera focused on your face. It was being famous in the supermarket, being famous in a restaurant. Fame is not just about being able to get out of a limo in Leicester Square, it's about trying to get into your house when there are eight photographers outside. When you think about being famous, you don't think about all that stuff. You think about the glamour. I wanted to turn the tap off when I'd done my job. But you can't."

"I had my 15 minutes of being the new boy of pop, like lots of people before and after me. Overnight, everyone starts treating you differently, and perceives you differently."

"You got Rick Roll'd!"

"Well, do you remember Rick Astley? He had a big fat hit, it was ghastly He said, I'm never gonna give you up or let you down Well, I'm here to tell you that dick's a clown"

"Rick walked away right at the height. People look at other artists like Simply Red and say they were big, but he out-sold them two to one."

"Cuz I have so much love, for you, do with it what you will; and I have nothing more to prove, do with it what you will, say it again; say it again."

"Just like the moon, I'll step aside, and let your sun shine while I follow behind..."

"We are young, heartache to heartache we stand No promises, no demands Love is a battlefield. We are strong, no one can tell us were wrong Searchin our hearts for so long, both of us knowing Love is a battlefield."

"Don't count on me I engineer on every Move we make from here I'll take the lead You take the pain You see, I engineered This game."

"I love musical theatre and my dream is to do Once On This Island."

"I had too many bad comments from the judges. Too many, too late, at this point in time"

"I have never been a child prodigy. When I think back to my childhood, I can not discern any sign of future success. My only real talent couldn't be found in any curriculum: whistling."

"In 1956 I was granted the biggest reward of my career: my wife, Josée Jongen."

"Happiness is the moment when one doesn't feel pain."

"I definitely have a sexual ego thing. But if I'm suggestive, it's in a nice way. Luckily, no one's ever been hurt...a few girls have passed out, that's all."

"Being famous is like a dream come true but it's really difficult because you lose your freedom. I don't want to lose being a kid."

"I kind of take Hilary as a role model because she started out at about the same age, she hadn't done much before starting her series, and I haven't either."

"I understand... the pressure is definitely hard, but I think just keeping your head on your shoulders is easier than it looks. I think if you know who you are, then I think you'll be fine for the rest of the way."

"Some people think you have more privileges than other teenagers because of what you do, and that's not it at all. It's actually the opposite."

"Some people don't have a family to fall back on, like I have, and that's when something greater than even that comes in, and that's faith and that's what I have for me, that's what keeps me strong."

"I am so excited to let fans in on how important my relationship with my family is to me, I hope to motivate mothers and daughters to build lifetimes of memories together, and inspire kids around the world to live their dreams."

"The pictures of me on the Internet were silly, inappropriate shots. I appreciate all the support of my fans, and hope they understand that along the way I am going to make mistakes and I am not perfect. I never intended for any of this to happen, and I am truly sorry if I have disappointed anyone. Most of all, I have let myself down. I will learn from my mistakes and trust my support team."

"My guitar is like my best friend. My guitar can get me through anything. If I can sit down and write an amazing song with my guitar about what's going on in life, then that's the greatest therapy for me."

"I like to think of myself as the girl that no one can get, that no one can keep in their hand."

"Nick Jonas and Joss Carter were in love."

"I only turn 16 once, so it's going to be an awesome party with my favorite rides, hanging out with friends, fireworks and more."

"I always love coming to Disneyland but celebrating my birthday here with my family, friends and the kids from YSA is really awesome!, this is a night I'll never forget."

"I went to Starbucks and there was, like, no-one, no-one asked me for my autograph, no-one did anything, so I was like 'woah, this is really cool, this is really strange'."

"I've already fallen in love with 20 guys since I've been here. The accents sound so intelligent. I love the way the guys are so classy and wear trench coats."

"I had one normal job and I actually liked it. I worked at this place called Sparkles Service and I cleaned guys out. I was like 11. I can clean toilet bowls too!"

"When I first moved to LA, no one could understand a thing I said, you would think I was speaking another language. Every time I would order something at Starbucks, they would go, 'Huh? What did you say?' My accent was an issue and my low voice was as well. They thought I should be more girlie. But that's who I am."

"Shoes. I like shoes a lot. My favorite are these Tory Burch boots that I have on. But my favorite shoes to buy are Converse shoes. I have probably every color of Converse shoes known to man."

"Remember what things make you special and embrace those because there are so many things that aren’t on the outside that are so important and people find so beautiful."

"That's what I want to do with my life. I would love to be a photographer, I want to come to London to study. I hear there are some great schools here so I would love to do that."

"I'm so stoked! I never expected to get nominated, I can't believe I'm on the same list as Clint Eastwood, Beyoncé, Bruce Springsteen and everyone else."

"I can mix and match a cute shirt with some skinny jeans under a leather jacket and it looks fun and unique."

"I'm a Brad Pitt fan as an actor. I don't necessarily think he's good-looking. If I tell you guys who I think are cute, they're lame people. Like, I think Harry Connick Jr. is so cute. In 'Hope Floats' or 'P.S. I Love You,' isn't he the cutest? Yeah, he is. I think Gerard Butler is 'Oh, my God.'"

"[On boyfriend Liam Hemsworth] I think we're both deeper than normal people. What they think and how they feel."

"The reason I kind of started this vegan lifestyle] was because I had a fish that was highly intelligent. When I would come through the door … this blowfish would go to the side and get excited … and he really knew who I was. He really got excited when I was home. … And one day … I went to a sushi restaurant with a few of my friends and they were serving blowfish, and I thought, "You know, this is an intelligent animal.""

"My dreams have become nightmares & those nightmares , reality ... This isn't fair , this isn't right , this isn't just , this isn't human! This is a TERRORIST act by a WHITE AMERICAN MAN! I am heartbroken & embarrassed. Mortified by our country & its shitty system , lack of control/laws! This does NOT HAVE or NEED to happen! It's devastatingly disgusting! This is exactly why the lyrics of Bad Mood were so important for me to share on a major platform. I wanted to bring awareness to the fact that everyday we are waking up to more terrifyingly painful information that makes it nearly impossible to feel optimistic that things are going to change! They say it gets worst before it gets better in some cases & I wish on every star that this is the worst of it! I continue to be hopeful that enough is enough and the eyes of the ignorant will open and realize that (gun) VIOLENCE has to stop! This assholes Facebook profile photo was a fucking riffle ! "I don't know how much more it can take!" #FuckGuns #FuckViolence 🚫💔🚫💔 My love is with you TX!"

"I am aghast by the reaction of my latest post, it is completely amazing to me how defensive and in denial this country really is! You are not focused on the horrific tragedy I addressed but more angered that I am putting a BIG bright spotlight on the fact it was a 'WHITE AMERICAN MALE' terrorist that walked in & killed 26 people (including children) leaving 20 severely injured ! All of a sudden .... ' we are all equal ' 'human is human' 'skin color doesn't matter ' (NOW neither does gender) 'makes no difference if they were male or female' ...... BUT those things absolutely matter when ... someone completely legitimate is running for president (versus someone who isn't) , when a car runs over innocent people while professing their love to a GOD different from yours , it sure matters to the cops when they beat or even kill innocent people of color , it even matters at the airport/on an airplane or in immigration when folks are completely profiled & judged for their background . NOW it doesn't matter if someone is a man or woman?"

"You used to call me your dreamer, And now I'm living out my dreams; Oh, how I wish you could see, Everything that's happening for me."

"The struggles I'm facing, the chances I'm taking. Sometimes they knock me down, but, no, I'm not breaking. I may not know it, but these are the moments I am going to remember most, just got to keep going."

"The last time I freaked out I just kept looking down. I st-st-stuttered when you asked me what I'm thinkin' 'bout. Felt like I couldn't breathe, you asked what's wrong with me. My best friend Lesley says "Oh, she's just being Miley.""

"I hopped off the plane at LAX with a dream and my cardigan. Welcome to the land of fame excess - am I going to fit in? I jump into the cab, here I am for the first time, I look to the right and I see the Hollywood sign."

"You love me for who I am Like the stars hold the moon Right there where they belong And I know I'm not alone"

"I look up at the stars Hoping you're doing the same."

"It slowly turns, you let me burn and now We're ashes on the ground. I never meant to start a war, I just wanted you to let me in I guess I should've let you win."

"Aye, go stupid go dumb. Come and get it, cause I know you want some Nashville, Tennessee where im from Since I was three, I've been banging on the drums. I love you Nicki, but I listen to Cardi."

"We don't have each other's phone numbers. But when she meets me, she's excited. It's cute – I see a lot of myself in her."

"Of course I look out for her and feel protective over her. People forget she's just a kid. She loves just hanging out, chatting and catching up on gossip."

"She's been my best friend for the last five years and I'll always be there for her. I love her."

"Her voice is surprisingly rich for a girl in her early teens, and she has more personality than many pop starlets her age, especially those in the Disney stable."

"She's an adult she can do whatever the hell she wants honestly and she looks amazing she looks gorgeous she looks stunning and she's having so much fun. If her choices aren't for you don't look at it like move on, talk about something else worry about your bettering your life not hers! That's what bothers me about people and about society like... shut up."

"I have a very young brother and sister, and if you can get a kid singing the words to a song after they heard it for the first time, it's a hit.""

"Tiffani-Amber Thiessen thought we were all on blow....Tori Spelling hung out with us backstage and gave us the lowdown. Brian Austin Green, kept telling us about his music. Ian Ziering was kind of a dick. Maybe he was having a bad day."

"George Bush is just as much in the dark as I am, and it scares me."

"Phish in San Diego...I saw them play an unbelievable fucking show, which, I can honestly say, changed my life. I was physically torn apart and spiritually moved by the experience."

"We're at that kind of moment where we really have to understand that everyone is totally connected and everyone is important."

"Comedy doesn't really have any meaning without sadness … The most meaningful comedy comes from some really serious pathos."

"The whole world was gathered At the shore of the earth Holding hands and celebrating The little girl’s birth."

"Emptiness is a conductor A conductor of heat A conductor of Anything."

"Why do I hear what I can't see? Why do I fear what I can be? I feel the field of battle within my life!I hear the calvalry of light! I see the sound of endless sight! I feel the field of battle within my life!It was a life that had no end A time of love with you, my friend Begin the age of love you know about!"

"In sorrow there is no rhyme. Dream the kind of a life that you will find The kind of love that lasts forever. Dream the kind of a life that you will find The kind of love that lasts forever. In heaven there is no time."

"I'll never stop a bullet but a bullet might stop me. I'll never drink the ocean but the ocean might drink me. And I'll never raise a portrait to a gentle man in blue And I'll never sing a love song for a love that isn't true.I love how the garden grows And I love the garden rose."

"Open your heart. Tear it apart."

"Well then you thought that the end was in sight And then you thought there was nothing to fight But you had opened your heart with your mind Oooh here comes one."

"On a winter's day we were children all the while ringing one by one All though the day All through the night time And we fell so hard, looking out of the window And we fell so far, into the night When you wake for certain Will you still be hurting?"

"Picture Lucille Ball and Tinkerbell engaged in a duet and you have an apt metaphor for the neo-folk singer Becky Stark, who suggests an impish fairy from a faraway land. Her eyes are wide, and her madcap stories full of exclamation points. She seems perpetually atwitter, at once ditzy and all knowing. She’s the voice and the creative force behind the Los Angeles-based band Lavender Diamond, which just released its quixotic debut album, “Imagine Our Love.”"

"Riding through the city on my bike all day Cause the filth took away my license It doesn't get me down and I feel OK Cause the sights that I'm seeing are pricelessEverything seems to look as it should But I wonder what goes on behind doors A fella looking dapper, but he's sitting with a slapper Then I see it's a pimp and his crack whore."

"Get up in the morning and you like your tea milky, You fumble for your glasses coz without 'em you cant see, It's funny how I come round your house and I'm 20 and I still have to wear all the presents you sent me. I walk into your kitchen everything's got a label, you done your Christmas shopping and we're only in April. And you wont leave the house unless your wearing your thermals, you're covered all in cat hair and you're stinking like Strepsils, Your heading down the Bowls Club, have another orange squash. Balls are rollin rollin rollin. You can't walk right coz things aren't what they were, your ankles are swollen swollen swollen."

"I was so lost back then, But with a little help from my friends I found a light in the tunnel at the end. Now you're calling me up on the phone, So you can have a little whine and a moan. And it's only because you're feeling alone."

"I don't know what's right and what's real anymore And I don't know how I'm meant to feel anymore And when do you think it will all become clear? 'Cause I'm being taken over by the fear"

"I'm not trying to say, That I'm smelling of roses, But when will we tire, Of putting shit up our noses."

"I’ve actually broken up with boyfriends for inspiration."

"We are the youth, we can make coolness for our future, it's up to us. Go green and hate hate."

"And if you have a minute why don't we go Talk about it somewhere only we know? 'Cause this could be the end of everything, So why don't we go Somewhere only we know?"

"When I was little, I saw the play Les Misérables on Broadway, I thought it was the most amazing thing I have ever seen. So I went to my manager and told him I wanted to be in it. He asked me if I could sing, and I said no. I took one lesson and landed the role of Cosette in a national tour of the musical"

"I want people to know that I’m a real person, and that I’ve been through normal situations, like crushes and heartbreaks."

"...often see the glamorous side of this career. ...It's really saying it's not like that and I'm just the girl next door. There's always somebody who either loves you or hates you, and you just have to have a thick skin."

"I'm actually recording my second album now.... so I've just been recording and co-writing. The single should be coming out soon, but I feel it's pretty much 80 percent done. And, yeah, I'm excited about it. It's a lot more rock and edgier.."

"There can be a hundred people in the room and ninety nine don't believe in you and just one person believes in you and it can change everything."

"She’s a nice girl – I just feel very honoured that she wanted to sing my song. I used to scream for her in Times Square and now I work for her. When I was 13 she was the most provocative performer of my time. I love her so much! Britney certainly doesn’t need any freakin’ tips from me! Britney Spears is the queen of pop. I was learning from her."

"Take My Picture, Hollywood! I Wanna Be a Star!"

"I'm not real. I'm theatre."

"God bless pop music and God bless MTV."

"Lake Como? One of my favorite places."

"Lake Como is like Saint-Tropez and Capri."

"Prejudice is a disease. So is fashion. But I will not wear prejudice."

"I think that fashion and music go hand-in-hand, and they always should. It's the artist's job to create imagery that matches the music... I think they're very intertwined."

"In my show I announce, ‘People say Lady Gaga is a lie, and they are right. I am a lie. And every day I kill to make it true.’"

"You listeners, the ones who found me first are, I believe, the future of great art thinkers. Because anyone that's found me now I really think is grabbing on to the ideas that I have, more than anything. It's about the music but it's also about the story. So thank you guys for loving and reading the story and being as into it and as passionate as I am."

"I operate from a place of delusion-that’s what the Fame is all about... I want people to walk around delusional about how great they can be - and then to fight so hard for it every day that the lie becomes the truth."

"I've gone bankrupt about four times now. Every dollar I earn goes on the show."

"You see, if I was a guy, and I was sitting here with a cigarette in my hand, grabbing my crotch and talking about how I make music because I like fast cars and fucking girls, you'd call me a rockstar. But when I do it in my music and in my videos, because I'm a female, because I make pop music, you're judgmental and you say that it is distracting... I'm just a rockstar."

"Grace Jones said this to me when I met her. I washed her feet, and I looked up at her and she said, "No matter what you do in your life, don’t you ever let anybody take your creative people away from you." And what my creative friends always remind me of is they say, "Only value the opinion of those that you respect. And anyone that you don’t respect, pay no mind to their opinion about you or anything else." And that’s how I live my life. If I worried about everything that everyone said, I would not be a good artist."

"That’s the most Warholian thing about what I do... I embrace pop culture. The very thing that everybody says is poisonous and ostentatious and shallow, it’s like my chemistry book... and I make what I believe to be art out of it."

"I don’t consider my own clothing to be outrageous... The truth is that people just don’t have the same references that I do. To me it’s very beautiful and it’s art, and to them it’s outrageous and crazy."

"They bring my music to life."

"Creativity for me is religious."

"Fame for me is not external, it’s internal. So I’ve been famous for a long time."

"I don't care what people think about me, I care what they think about themselves."

"It's always wrong to hate, but it's never wrong to love."

"The whole point of what I do-the Monster Ball, the music, the performance art aspect of it-I want to create a space for my fans where they can feel free and where they can celebrate because I didn't fit in in high school and I felt like a freak. So I like to create this atmosphere for my fans where they feel like they have a freak in me to hang with and they don't feel alone."

"Amidst all of these flashing lights I pray The Fame wont take my life."

"I am a feminist. I reject wholeheartedly the way we are taught to perceive women. The beauty of women, how a woman should act or behave. Women are strong and fragile. Women are beautiful and ugly. We are soft-spoken and loud, all at once. There is something mind-controlling about the way we're taught to view women. My work, both visually and musically, is a rejection of all those things. And most importantly a quest."

"Everybody wants me to show my vagina to the world. And the truth is, I don’t have to."

"It takes time to become myself every morning."

"She reinvents herself from album to album. I reinvent myself week to week. I get quite bored with things and I don't want to let down my fans."

"People think I'm unusual but it's just that we haven't had anyone like this since the Seventies."

"I've learned love is like a brick, you can build a house or sink a dead body."

"'Judas' is a metaphor and an analogy about forgiveness and betrayal and things that haunt you in your life, and how I believe that it's the darkness in your life that ultimately shines and illuminates the greater light that you have upon you. … Someone once said to me, 'If you have no shadows then you're not standing in the light.' So the song is about washing the feet of both good and evil, and understanding and forgiving the demons from your past in order to move into the greatness of your future … I just like really aggressive metaphors — harder, thicker, darker — and my fans do as well. So it is a very challenging and aggressive metaphor, but it is a metaphor.""

"Some women choose to follow men, and some women choose to follow their dreams. If you’re wondering which way to go, remember that your career will never wake up and tell you that it doesn't love you anymore."

"I had a boyfriend who told me I’d never succeed, never be nominated for a Grammy, never have a hit song and that he hoped I’d fail,[...] I said to him, ‘Someday, when we’re not together, you won’t be able to order a cup of coffee at the f—ing deli without hearing or seeing me."

"I refused to compromise and allow my talents to be monetized to the point that I don't want to be here anymore. I will quit if I am ever not allowed to be myself. I will be myself until they f—ing close the coffin, so that you can all be yourselves too."

"Talented, brilliant, incredible, amazing, show stopping, spectacular, never the same, totally unique, completely not ever been done before, unafraid to reference or not reference, put it in a blender, shit on it, vomit on it, eat it, give birth to it."

"My real fans understand what it is I do, but on another level I have fans who just love my music and don’t know I write it and enjoy it shallowly — and that’s OK too. I think art and music should be just as powerful if you drink it shallow as if you drink it deep."

"You know, I have such an appreciation for where I am in my life because I've struggled and because I couldn't get signed, and because I couldn't get played on the radio, … There are times when it can be a lot to deal with but always when I get up in the morning I try to find that very joyful place that reminds me that I would die if someone took it all away. If someone did that I wouldn't be a person anymore."

"Right now the only thing that I am concerned with in my life is being an artist … I had to suppress it for so many years in high school because I was made fun of but now I'm completely insulated in my box of insanity and I can do whatever I like."

"My ideas about fame and art are not brand new … We could watch Paris is Burning, we could read The Warhol Diaries, we could go to a party in New York in 1973 and these same things would be being talked about. I guess you could say that I'm a bit of a Warholian copycat. Some people say everything has been done before, and to an extent they are right. I think the trick is to honour your vision and reference and put together things that have never been put together before. I like to be unpredictable, and I think it's very unpredictable to promote pop music as a highbrow medium."

"I don't want to see Bowie in a tracksuit. He never let anyone see him that way. The outlet for my work is not just the music and the videos, it's every breathing moment of my life. I'm always saying something about art and music and fame. That's why you don't ever catch me in sweatpants."

"I have found that my work has to be both deep and shallow … All of my songs have meaning, all of my clothing has iconography buried into it. But by the same token, it's just as special if you look at it in its shallowest form. A quick moment of melody, a beautiful dress. People think, "Gaga's so sweet", or "Gaga sucks". The point is that it's memorable. For commercial art to be taken seriously as fine art is a very unusual and difficult task. I think that a lot of people don't get it and a lot of people don't know what to make of me. And, you know what? I'm OK with that."

"I wanna roll with him a hard pair we will be. A little gambling is fun when you're with me (I love it). Russian Roulette is not the same without a gun. And baby when it's love if it's not rough it isn't fun, fun."

"I want your love and I want your revenge You and me could write a bad romance"

"And I know that it's complicated But I'm a loser in love. So baby raise a glass to mend All the broken hearts Of all my wrecked up friends.I'll never talk again. Oh boy you've left me speechless. You've left me speechless, so speechless."

"Just a second, It's my favorite song they're gonna play. And I cannot text you with A drink in my hand, eh. You shoulda made some plans with me, You knew that I was free. And now you won't stop calling me; I'm kinda busy."

"I'm gonna marry the night. I won't give up on my life. I'm a warrior queen, Live passionately tonight.I'm gonna marry the dark, Gonna make love to the stark. I'm a soldier to my own emptiness. I am a winner."

"I'm beautiful in my way 'cause god makes no mistakes. I'm on the right track baby, I was born this way. Don't hide yourself in regret, Just love yourself and you're set. I'm on the right track baby, I was born this way."

"When he comes to me, I am ready. I’ll wash his feet with my hair if he needs, Forgive him when his tongue lies through his brain. Even after three times, he betrays me. I’ll bring him down, bring him down, down, A king with no crown, king with no crown."

"I've had enough, this is my prayer. That I'll die living just as free as my hair."

"When I'm on a mission, I rebuke my condition. If you're a strong female you don't need permission."

"(Something), something about this place (Something), something, ‘bout lonely nights And my lipstick on your face Something, something about My cool Nebraska guy. Yeah, there's something about Baby, you and I."

"It's hard to feel the rush, To push the dangerous. I'm gonna run right to, to the edge with you, Where we can both fall over in love.I'm on the edge of glory, And I'm hanging on a moment of truth. Out on the edge of glory, And I'm hanging on a moment with you."

"I wanna be the girl under you (oh yeah) I wanna be your G.U.Y (yeah) I wanna be the grave and unearth you (oh yeah) Our sexes tell us no lies."

"I stand here waiting for you to bang the gong, to crash the critic saying Is it right or is it wrong? If only fame had an IV, Baby could I bear being away from you? I found the vein, put it in here."

"Tryin' to get control, Pressure's takin' its toll. Stuck in the middle zone, I just want you alone. My guessing game is strong, Way too real to be wrong. Caught up in your show, Yeah, at least now I know.It wasn't love, it wasn't love, It was a perfect illusion (Perfect illusion). Mistaken for love, it wasn't love, It was a perfect illusion (Perfect illusion). You were a perfect illusion."

"You're giving me a million reasons to let you go. You're giving me a million reasons to quit the show. You're givin' me a million reasons, Give me a million reasons, Givin' me a million reasons, About a million reasons.If I had a highway, I would run for the hills. If you could find a dry way, I'd forever be still. But you're giving me a million reasons, Give me a million reasons, Givin' me a million reasons, About a million reasons."

"I've got a hundred million reasons to walk away, But baby, I just need one good one to stay."

"You need to love this with your heart and soul. You need to breathe music. My best advice — perform as much as you can. With every mistake, progress."

"A fool will seek revenge, the wise man will allow God's karma."

"What you believe in, is the life you decide."

"Don't resurrect relationships with negative people off of good memories. You will only remind yourself why they became your past in the first place."

"Live your life as if you are writing your Biography."

"How you play, is how you'll be remembered. Go Hard, follow your heart or be forgotten."

"Ego & Hype have no place in business."

"Sometimes your friends take you ten steps backwards for every step you take forward. Sometimes misplaced loyalty ruins your destiny."

"Whoever said money can't buy happiness wasn't spending it helping people who needed it."

"Win with me or watch me win."

"When you live your life acting upon your deepest intuitions, no decision you ever make in life will be feared or a risk."

"Let Life Live."

"The music game is more than just my love for singing, its a sport for me."

"Just because we fall and slip up at times, doesn't mean it should define who we are. We fail. We're humans. It's how we heal wounds that count."

"What's a victory when its hollow?"

"When you learn to listen to your gutt, your find all the answers."

"Your environment will become you. Surround yourself with people who have the same dream as you, who have accomplished what you want & more."

"My life is great because I made it that way. Anything other than happiness doesn't get a pass key."

"A business tip, you never know who's having "pillow talk" with one another. Watch what u say, who u say it to, & WHO u talk about."

"Having Plan B is good. But if your obsessed with Plan A, u'll never need backup. Become Obsessed with ur goals, ur focus will bring results."

"Ladies, your self-worth is like your price tag. If he's not offering what your worth, he can't have you. No bargains, no sales."

"I'm trying to be a professional singer. … I've never been given the chance before. But here's hoping it'll change."

"Modern society is too quick to judge people on their appearances. There is not much you can do about it; it is the way they think; it is the way they are. But maybe this could teach them a lesson, or set an example."

"It was nerve-racking to begin with but once I started and the audience accepted it I relaxed. It has been surreal. I didn’t realise this would be the reaction I just got on with it. I can hardly remember what happened. I had my eyes closed most of the time. It really didn’t dawn on me what was happening. I did it all for my late mum. I wanted to show I could do something with my life."

"It was a very emotional night. It goes quiet when Susan sings, it always does. She always has that effect."

"I am so thrilled — because I know that everybody was against you. I honestly think that we were all being very cynical — and I think that's the biggest wake up call ever, and I just want to say that it was a complete privilege listening to that."

"Without a doubt that was the biggest surprise I've had in three years on the show."

"I can remember the moment she first opened her lips perfectly. We were at a big theatre in Glasgow, 3000 people were laughing their heads off, Simon and Amanda were stifling a chuckle, and then she started to sing. And I can honestly say it was one of the most extraordinary moments in my perhaps equally unlikely career as a talent show judge. Because Susan Boyle is not just a good singer, she’s a fantastic singer. Someone whose stunning range, tone and delivery is worthy of comparison to anyone — Elaine Paige included. As I watched her performance back again last night, I texted Simon in Hollywood: ‘My god, Susan was even better than I remembered — she’s unbelievable.’ He agreed, and I could almost feel his beady little eyes going ‘KERCHING!’ down the line from his new Beverly Hills mansion."

"Susan Boyle is the ugly duckling who didn't need to turn into a swan; she has fulfilled the dreams of millions who, downtrodden by the cruelty of a culture that judges them on their appearance, have settled for life without looking in the mirror. This is a huge constituency, and it is weary of being disparaged. Women need an avenging force like Susan Boyle. No matter how brave, strong or resourceful they are, they get punished for not being glamorous; for being ordinary; careworn. At best they are treated as if they are invisible, at worst they are regarded as freaks. Which is what the TV audience did with Ms Boyle until she started to sing."

"I remember really vividly kneeling by my bed as a nine-year-old, saying my prayers and asking God to give me boobs that were so big that if I laid on my back I wouldn’t be able to see my feet."

"You know, sometimes you can be blinded by your extreme emotions. I definitely was looking for answers, during that time when I wrote that song, and yeah, I was depressed and sad, and there were thoughts, but there were never actions, thankfully. But I wanted to share that side of my story, because I know there are so many other people out there that have gone through things like that, and you always feel like you're the only one going through that. You walk out the door, and you see someone you know, and they ask you how you are, and you just have to say you're fine when you're not really fine, but you just can't get into it because they would never understand. Well, then comes along a song that speaks to you, that makes you feel like "Gosh, I can get through this. If she can get through this, I can get through this"."

"I gave myself until I turned 25 to make it. And if it didn't happen, I thought I'd just try to find a nice husband."

"I was like, I don't know if I can hold that promise [to wait until marriage to have sex with kane tod] because this guy at camp is really cute. Sex wasn't talked about in my home, but I was a very curious young girl."

"I'm not defined by where I came from. I never took part in the rules and hatred that sometimes go along with religion. But if my parents are happy with what they believe, then I'm happy to stay out of their way. We agree to disagree."

"I had this lump in my throat, but I couldn't even cry. I thought, I shouldn't have gotten my hopes up. I was just sitting there in my car that I was two months behind on payments for, knowing I didn't have money for rent."

"This is a really important time in my life. I can't just be the girl who sang 'I Kissed a Girl.' I have to leave a legacy."

"I have multipersonality disorder—in a very good way, of course—when it comes to my fashion choices,When I first started playing around with my look, it was more of a Dita Von Teese pinup thing."

"I'm up to my hairline in planning. It's a lot, especially when you're a woman of detail."

"I always knew I wanted a great man of God, someone who was going to be an inspiration for people and also be a lovely husband and father, We're at different places in our lives, but we can still grow together. He's thought-provoking, articulate, a real advocate. I also definitely wanted to have a laugh. I have all that in him."

"I'm a good girl because I really believe in love, integrity, and respect. I'm a bad girl because I like to tease. I know that I have sex appeal in my deck of cards. But I like to get people thinking. That's what the stories in my music do."

"We're all unique. That's why we all win and we all can exist. People don't want just vanilla. They want 31 flavors. I couldn't do what Rihanna does. I couldn't do what Gaga does. They can't do what I do."

"I had really bad back problems and was a little bit thicker. Then I grew up and lost the baby fat and said, 'Hey, this isn't all that bad."

"If there had been a problem on the set, they would have said it to me at the outset. We had many different options."

"There were some moments that made my tummy turn when I saw them in the final edit, because I’d already lived them and I really didn’t want to live them again,But I thought maybe if I shared that I got through the problem, other people wouldn’t feel so alone in their problems. We all go through a lot of the same things and it’s not about the problem but about how you solve it. The theme of the whole movie for me is about overcoming obstacles."

"I think we’re all blessed with gifts and I was lucky I just found out what mine was early on and have planted that seed and tried to water it every day."

"What holds me up is focus and determination, and this incredible ambition that just hasn’t subsided yet."

"I was inspired by Madonna’s documentary “Truth or Dare.” I loved her documentary and I loved seeing it, because I wasn’t exposed to anything like that, really, when I was growing up. For instance, I want to watch the first “Alien” film, because I want to see “Prometheus,” and I haven’t seen the first one. I wasn’t allowed to watch or hear or be exposed to a lot of different pop culture moments in the ‘80s and ‘90s, when I was a kid, because of my upbringing."

"Yes, they came on the road and they shot everything—they were there for probably eight months out of the whole year, and they had over 300 hours of footage. Then, we started taking swings at the idea of making a movie and reached out to a bunch of people – it was a long process. We took it to different studios, and Paramount really latched onto the idea, and they’ve been great partners. We’re so in-synch and we wanted the same thing, and it’s been incredible. And in the movie industry, the summertime is really important. They’re putting it out on such an important weekend, and it’s very exciting – I have Christmas Eve jitters. I’m very excited about it, and people seem to be responding to it in a very positive way."

"We filmed that at the Staples Center for two nights with these new 3D cameras that hadn’t been used before—or, at least they hadn’t been used for this type of thing—and the texture is so beautiful. The slow motion shots are great – and I love that we can bring that to this type of film, because it adds some gorgeous nuances and detail. There are a lot different textures in the film that we use to tell the story, because there is a lot of backstory. Overall, I’m very happy with it, and I’m happy with the narrative."

"You have to find a balance between being a human being and a performer. I know that it’s important for me to realise that this is a job at this level and to separate my personal life from my professional life and the fact of the matter is that we all have obstacles and problems in our lives. It would be unfair for me to press my problems on to my audience who were never there to experience that – they were there to be entertained, they were there to have a great time, they were all in costume and so I had to turn that side of me off when I went on stage."

"I hope that people will be inspired and get moving, and I hope that they will be encouraged to know that they don’t have to change into something that they are not in order to succeed. My message is, live a full life and reach your goals, however big or small they may be. I think some of my audience, especially teenagers, can feel a little bit lost about how to get to where they want to go. I think they can be confused about what they want to do in life, and how they want to fulfill their ambitions...because I think we’ve been fed, especially in the last five years or so, the wrong priorities. And although I’ve been susceptible to some of those things, I’ve tried to move beyond that idea that you have to be a victim in order to achieve your dreams."

"But that’s part of a lot of people’s stories, whether they are famous or not. There is sacrifice. You know, heavy is the head that wears the crown. I put that in one of my songs—‘Heavy is the head that wears the crown, don’t let the greatness get you down.’ Sometimes, it can be an extreme pressure, but really, it’s an opportunity. I try and have a positive outlook."

"There were two weeks of my life after I found out the truth about my marriage where I was like, 'OK. All right. I can't feel this. This is too intense right now.' I was, like, just eating Flamin' Hot Cheetos and drinking, and that's it."

"[Brand] really wanted me to have children, and I knew I wasn't ready—I think it was a way of control, I think it was part of, If I have a kid, then I would have to sacrifice—I'd have to be home more. I really wanted to, but I knew I wasn't ready for it. It wasn't like, 'Hey, let's have a kid because we're in love."

"I took a break from my boyfriend, not one that I wanted. It was like a splash of cold water to search inward on what was going on with me. That is what let me to this new awakening, this realizing, if I don't do some self-love, I'm not going to be able to keep the love that I want."

"I still needed to deal with all of my ex-husband stuff. I hadn't, It's almost like if I kept talking about it, it would seem like I actually cared about it. I don't."

"It takes a village of strong people, a lot of healthy discourse, and a lot of group chats, I'm excited when I look around music today, and I see all the amazing young artists who are operating with confidence, agency, vulnerability and authenticity. I’ve heard a lot of, ‘Do this, don’t say that, wear less, wear more now. Hey, don’t cut your hair.’ One of the biggest reasons I’m standing here right now is I learned how to block out all the noise that every single artist in this industry has to constantly fight against, especially women. I just wanna say with my whole heart, do whatever it takes to stay true to yourself and true to your art."

"Oh my gosh. I did that all on my first day of my period, too. Can you believe it? Thank you so much to MTV for believing in my weirdness from day one and for helping artists extend their worlds beyond a song. There are so many things that have to align to have a long and successful career as an artist. There are no decade-long accidents. So I would like to acknowledge a few people: my team who have been with me for over 20 years, direct management, and my label Capitol Records."

"Trust me, it takes a village of strong people, a lot of healthy discourse, and a lot of group chats. My parents and my family, the deepest roots I know. We don’t always agree, but what a lesson that those disagreements can still be full of love. Thank you to MySpace, Warped Tour, and all the bygone places where I found a voice, identity, and a community so early on. Thank you to the friends that were there when my Jetta was repossessed. My Katy Cats: You stood by me for a lifetime, and the LGBTQ community who I recognize I would not be here without and who show me that you can be both kind and [bleeped out]. Thank you to Orlando for keeping me grounded, celebrated, and doing the dishes. And lastly for my Daisy, the only flowers I’ll ever need."

"I’m excited when I look around music today, and I see all the amazing young artists who are operating with confidence, agency, vulnerability and authenticity. I’ve heard a lot of “Do this, don’t say that, wear less, wear more now. Hey, don’t cut your hair.” One of the biggest reasons I’m standing here right now is I learned how to block out all the noise that every single artist in this industry has to constantly fight against, especially women. I just wanna say with my whole heart, do whatever it takes to stay true to yourself and true to your art. Turn off social media, safeguard your mental health, pause, touch grass. And do what you were born to do just like I was born to do this. 143 comes out September 20. I love you!"

"I think it’s a byproduct of everything that everyone’s successful at. I just wanted to be seen, period. End of story. And I found my magic trick when I was nine. I started singing, and then the room would freeze. And so I was like, oh, this is interesting. And then I enjoyed it. And it just soothed me. It healed me. My mother called me Bird from a very young age because I would sing myself to sleep when I was little. Then I picked up a guitar at 13. I started singing at church at nine. Started writing my own songs at 13. I made a gospel record when I was 16. And so I always wanted to be on the stage."

"I’ll be there. I’ll fill in. Tap me in, coach. It was a struggle bus. I had two cars repossessed. I was signed and dropped by three different labels. People only know me maybe because of Teenage Dream and the whirlwind and success of that and the accolades."

"I tend to be mostly a futurist but it would be negligent of me to not acknowledge the incredible impact this last year has had on me. 1 year ago, 143 came out and I took the weekend to reflect. Records are snapshots of an artist trying to tell their story of where they are now or have been, and hope someone will hear themselves in some of the messages."

"143 to me was literally me saying I love you to my fans. Looking back now, I realize it has been all about reconnecting to my fans through these songs and through this wonderful tour that has given me the opportunity to see so many of you again and for the first time. We cats (and rats) have been through a rollercoaster, but wherever the ride took us, we have been together. I am so proud of the community we are and growing to become. History is important, we learn from history, we are reminded of how to and what not to do when we look back. We celebrate the wins and reflect on the losses. All of it is valuable. Let’s hope we get to evolve together for years to come and at the end of it all be proud and at peace with how we tried our best in this imperfect world."

"Lately I have been seeing 341 which has me thinking now after giving so much... do I love myself, finally? Well, I get the opportunity to answer that question anew every day."

"Today’s answer is yes. I am proud of where and how I have landed in this moment. Proud of myself, proud of my fans and proud that I keep on swinging. Wrapping up the South American leg once again reminded me of what’s real. There’s no coincidence I would be doing that exactly one year from when I put out the album and played Rock In Rio in Brazil."

"Through my years in the spotlight, I have been beloved, tested and tried. That’s the journey. I am blessed to know that there’s always two sides to each coin, and I learn that even when I hit tails, somehow through it all, I keep making my wishes."

"My best friend once gave me a framed 19th century book called What Katy Did Next. I’ve never read it, but the title has always stuck with me. That’s the point - it’s about continuing to move forward, and dream."

"Whatever comes next, I’m letting it unfold naturally. No forcing, no controlling - just trusting the angels, the fans, and the music to guide me where I’m meant to go. Please know this: my love for you is unconditional, and I couldn’t do any of this without you. Excited to continue the celebration in the UK, Europe, and Asia and hey, 143 & 341. LOVE, Katy."

"I kissed a girl and I liked it, The taste of her cherry chap stick. I kissed a girl just to try it, I hope my boyfriend don't mind it. It felt so wrong, It felt so right, Don't mean I'm in love tonight. I kissed a girl and I liked it, I liked it."

"Dirty looks now, don't blame me."

"Cause when I'm with him, I am thinking of you, Thinking of you. What you would do if You were the one Who was spending the night? Oh I wish that I Was looking into your eyes."

"You... change your mind Like a girl... changes clothes. Yeah you... PMS Like a bitch... I would know. And you ... over think Always speak ... cryptically. I should know ... that you're no good for me!"

"Let's go all The way tonight. No regrets, just love. We can dance, until we die, You and I, We'll be young forever."

"Last Friday night, Yeah we danced on tabletops. And we took too many shots, Think we kissed but I forgot."

"California girls, we're unforgettable, Daisy Dukes, bikinis on top. Sun-kissed skin, so hot will melt your popsicle, Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh. California girls, we're undeniable, Fine, fresh, fierce, we got it on lock. West coast represent, now put your hands up, Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh."

"Do you ever feel like a plastic bag"

"In another life, I would be your girl. We'd keep all our promises, Be us against the world. In another life, I would make you stay, So I don't have to say you were The one that got away, The one that got away."

"All this money can't buy me a time machine, no Can't replace you with a million rings, no. I should have told you what you meant to me, whoa. Cause now I pay the price."

"You’re so hypnotizing, Could you be the devil, could you be an angel? Your touch magnetizing, Feels like going floating, leaves my body glowing. They say be afraid, You’re not like the others, futuristic lovers. Different DNA, they don’t understand you."

"Are you brave enough to let me see your peacock? Don't be a chicken boy Stop acting like a beotch Imma peace out if you don't give me the payoff."

"Saucer of milk Table for two You wanna pet my kitty? You're such a dirty doggie."

"Falling from cloud nine Crashing from the high I'm letting go tonight Yeah, I'm falling from cloud nine I'm wide awake."

"You held me down, but I got up Already brushing off the dust. You hear my voice, you hear that sound, Like thunder, gonna shake the ground. You held me down, but I got up, Get ready cause I’ve had enough. I see it all, I see it now."

"If you wanna dance, if you want it all, You know that I'm the girl that you should call."

"So you wanna play with magic? Boy, you should know what you're falling for. Baby do you dare to do this? Cause I’m coming at you like a dark horse."

"I love them hoes, love them hoes, love them hoes I love them hoes, love them hoes, love them hoes I love them hoes, love them hoes, love them hoes I love them—ooh!—hoes"

"You look sad even though we just met No need to get upset But I got a show, gotta go, so I thank you And if you wanna still get sexed down You could catch the next Greyhound But until then, I gotta go, so I thank you"

"When I met you, everything seemed right But the truth is you fucked on the first night It sank in slow; now I know you're a ho Yo, I shoulda listened when my friends told me so"

"I caught you in the club last week You looked like a freak in the VIP Sittin' on laps and suckin' on necks Actin' like a slut 'cause you're trippin' on X"

"I got just what you're looking for Yo, I freak it like you like it, then you want some more Let's explore the bedroom floor Over and over and over"

"Fuck what I said It don't mean shit now Fuck the presents Might as well throw 'em out Fuck all those kisses They didn't mean jack Fuck you, you ho I don't want you back"

"You played me You even gave him head!"

"Now it's O-over But I do admit I'm sad It hurts real bad I can't sweat that, 'cause I loved a ho"

"Friends front in front of me Fuckin' wannabes In your ear But they don't know Eamon"

"When you come, please, girl, act right Don't try none of your crazy shit tonight So when you come, please, girl, act right I don't give a fuck; you been actin' up"

"You should know by now When I take you out, you act proper When we at places You know your place when hoes holler Fuck that shit You know the rules Every girl that I fuck gets put through school"

"Hey trick Better start actin' right (Whoa oh) Oh oh oh oh, oh oh oh oh oh Swallow You know that it's tastin' right (Whoa oh) Oh oh oh oh, oh oh oh oh oh"

"Do whatcha gotta do I fucked your friend this afternoon"

"First I saw your gorgeous eyes Then noticed your ass was fly I just thought we could have fun I could show you affection"

"I can show you who's the man Let me show you with my hands I just want you close to me I'll get you wet Just wait and see"

"I may not be your man, baby But you know I'm drivin' you crazy That's why you'll fuck with me for the rest of your life (Rest of your life) I know you're lovin' the sex Swallow it up; it's better than X That's why you're stuck with me for the rest of your life (Rest of your life)"

"What I gotta do? Cats don't even have a clue Can't stand to see Me kick a flow so unbelievably And never gave a hand Askin' 'bout the backup plan Now that it's true Forever tellin' me that you always knew"

"Check the mailbox and I got my check Sit back, relax as I sip my Beck's Think about all the shit I can get So I spend and spend 'til I think I'm set"

"Smokin' Drinkin' Livin' Laughin' Fuckin' Buggin' Lovin' Singin' Spendin' Chillin' Bonin' Moanin'"

"I'm 'bout to bless the world again Got chickens drippin', wishin' with my pen Gonna sell millions on top of millions I'm just gonna blow"

"And I been waitin' all my life And I been havin' big dreams times twice"

"When I call (Yeah) Girl, don't be wastin' my time (Uh) You know what's good (Uh-huh) Drink, fuck, and come and get high Hope you learn So you don't have to ever ask why Now you know I love fuckin' all the time"

"Body (Body) I wanna touch your body (Body) I wanna feel your body (Body) Body Whoa!"

"I never trusted you one minute Tellin' people that I'm finished Number one in twenty countries But to you I'm still nobody When I'm around you, life gets harder But when you're sleepin', E gets smarter (Uh, yeah)"

"Every time I hear somebody doubt me, I just laugh about it Keeps me hungry, focused on the cash Trust me, don't fuck with me or catch you disrespecting me There's friends of mine do whatever I ask See, your ass is just a joke Front but love me on the low Stop the swinging from my dick Bitch, get off my shit"

"It was four in the morning I'm yawning and feening and scheming on a chick to lay When somebody said the afterparty was jumpin' off around my way I said, "I'm wit' it My dick gon' get it It's all love, life's so smooth""

"So I seen chickens, started spittin' Got me thinkin', "Should I let her ride the dick tonight?" Fuck that, put her in the back Let her yap 'cause she know I'm 'bout to lay the pipe Start buggin' when I'm clubbin' Do I really need the hooker hangin' by my side? Pulled over; shit, I fucked her quick Then kicked her out my ride"

"Yeah Yeah, that's right (Ho) Ho, ho (Oh) Uh Staten Island, uh (Whoa) Yeah (Uh) Come on (Yeah) Uh Yo Yeah, bitch, bob ya head (Yeah) Ho-wop, come on (Yeah, uh)"

"Don't know what ya talkin' 'bout, I'll always have hoes by my side (Uh) Smokin' blunts, gettin' drunk, stayin' high 'til the very last day I die (Uh) And there's nothing like new pussy, so there's no worries 'bout wives (Yeah) And there ain't nobody out there gonna tell me how to live my life"

"I live the fast life, keep my shit tight Never steer left 'cause I'm always right Damn, I'm so fine, and I'ma stay shinin' Let the party keep goin', flowin' Livin' life like whoa No stress, so I never feel old "Slow down" is what I been told Fuck that, I keep it outta control Like whoa (Come on)"

"See, I would fly a million miles on the worst airline (Coach!) All around the world Just to see your frown Turn into a smile"

"I met a girl the other day, and She said, "Wow, Eamon You're different from the other men I see" Well, uh I said, "I'm different 'cause I got soul, baby""

"I ain't got a fancy car I own 'Cause I done put millions up my nose I ain't got a uptown lavish flat I've signed some bad contracts"

"Famous friends don't call me no more And I ain't on sold-out arena tours I don't got trap beats with mumble rap But, baby, I'm back"

"Mama don't cry I couldn't stop I know I put You through a lot"

"You're my flesh and blood, I'm part Of you Yeah When I'm harming me I'm harming you I'm your baby boy, and you're My best friend I won't let you down again"

"I'll make It right At any cost I fought The war And almost lost I'll be back In your arms soon"

"I pray and plead you go and get up and leave, girl Go save yourself while there's time Your mommy, daddy ain't approving of me, girl So go and find that good fit, goodbye"

"Damn, I ain't lyin' These hoes love providin' When my dick hits your pussy, there's no denyin' Kissin' my body Make me come like shotties Love them trees, but I got a new favorite hobby There ain't no stoppin' From hoes gone ho-woppin' When I come to town, you know what the fuck's poppin'"

"See, I don't (Who the fuck knows?) Know why (Huh-huh) You're sayin' that I snitched (I ain't no rat, bitch) You're the dick-suckin', off-key skank bitch (Whoo!)"

"First of all, I'd like to thank my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ—without Him I would not be here today."

"A very special thanks to all the women that have cum in and out of my life."

"I WOULD LIKE TO GIVE THANKS TO GOD ALMIGHTY FOR THE STRENGTH TO CREATE."

"[T]he whole concept of ["Fuck It"] is "fuck it, I don't give a fuck, just fuck it," meaning fuck the relationship, fuck what the people will think of me, just fuck it, fuck everything, ya know?"

"I call [my music] ho-wop. It's the flavor of hip-hop, the flavor of doo-wop, and hoes."

"[My lyrical content is] adult shit, but it's not. Everybody curses now, and teenagers swear more than anyone. I've got a three-year-old nephew running around the house saying to me, "Fuck you, you ho." It's fucking insane, man."

"[I]t's so funny when I do TV shows and they're like, "Yeah, you gotta keep it clean, man." I'm like, "How the fuck do I keep it clean? My shit is called 'Fuck It.' Get the fuck out of here. Don't put me on the show if you want me to keep it clean.""

"The thing is, I'm not saying "fuck" just to say it. Every time I curse, I mean it. It might sound weird and funny, but I fucking mean the shit."

"Whoever says I'm a one-hit wonder can go suck a dick."

"My parents are the shit, man. I love them. They've stuck by me forever. They made it really nice for me. I never went through any hard times. The only hard times I went through are with hoes."

"There's so much bullshit around now in pop and hip-hop, and everybody's talking about the same fucking shit, like get the fuck outta here. That shit is horrible. I don't hate anybody, but that shit pisses me off. It's bullshit. So I wanna change things up and make people go, "Aw, man, this is the hot shit. Eamon talks from the heart. He's real.""

"I get pissed off when people at radio and TV shows say, "Can you keep a clean show?" Motherfuckers! Don't they know who they booked? It was the same with the single ["Fuck It"]. They wanted me to change the words to "Forget it" or some bullshit."

"It amazes me that there's been a fuss over me cursing when there's rappers talking about killing people."

"[In New York there are a lot of Irish-Italians because there] are a lot of Irish and a lot of Italians and they fuck each other."

"You can't just sit there and wait for people to give you that golden dream, you've got to get out there and make it happen yourself."

"A reporter once asked me if I ever cried. I wonder if people think I'm just as hard as a rock and have no emotions at all."

"You know, you do need mentors; but in the end, you really just need to believe in yourself."

"“I really, deeply believe that dreams do come true. Often, they might not come when you want them. They come in their own time.”"

"“My travels led me to where I am today. Sometimes these steps have felt painful, difficult, but led me to greater happiness and opportunities.”"

"So I'm not worried about the emotions I carry with me, because I'm happy that I have them I think it's good for the work I do. The emotions that are not healthy are the ones you hold inside, like anger."

"Diana Ross is a big inspiration to all of us. We all grew up watching everything about her - her mike placement, her grace, her style and her class."

"How could she tell, he deceived her so well; Pity, she'll be the last one to know. Silence is golden, but my eyes still see; Silence is golden, golden, But my eyes still see."

"Negative reviews seem to slide off Pia's back like discarded mink coats."

"I want someone to love me, for who I am; I want someone to need me, is that so bad?"

"Dreams are reality waiting to happen."

"Stop hoping, start believing."

"I keep my political views to myself"

"Having haters is just a part of the business, and the more haters you have, the more people like you - that's how I view it, because I try to see the positive in things"

"Life happens. Adapt. Embrace change, and make the most of everything that comes your way"

"High school is about finding who you are, because that’s more important than trying to be someone else"

"Live like you’re at the bottom, even if you’re at the top"

"I'm a grounded person. I don't need security when I'm home as they know who I am. I live with my mum and tour with my dad... I'm just a regular 16-year-old kid. I make good grilled cheese and I like girls."

"to all the haters out there i wish u the best. U cant bring me down. I wake up everyday grateful 4 the opportunity and grateful to the fans"

"I don't like girls who wear lots of make-up and you can't see their face. Some girls are beautiful but insecure and look much better without the make-up, but decide to put loads on. I like girls with nice eyes and a nice smile."

"I want my world to be fun. No parents, no rules, no nothing. Like, no one can stop me. No one can stop me."

"Anything above 40 is a little too old for me. I just look for a girl who is funny and has nice eyes and a smile."

"I try to read all of my fan mail. A lot of them send me candy, which I'm not allowed to eat 'cause my mom says it might be poisonous."

"I don't really have an allowance. When I want to get something I just have to ask my mom."

"I usually have to be home by 10 o'clock and my mom takes my computer away at 10.30pm every night."

"Yeah, I’m a great kisser."

"I have dumped a girl over the phone - it's terrible isn't it? We got into an argument during a phone call so I basically said, I don't wanna be with you any more,' and she cried... I saw her after that and it was a bit awkward, but we're not enemies now, so that's cool...But I wouldn't recommend it, it's very mean!"

"My favorite thing is being able to travel around the world and perform for my fans. I think I’ve lost 80 percent of my hearing. I definitely have very loud fans."

"Without the Internet I would have no fans and I wouldn’t be in this business. I owe everything to the Internet and my fans."

"The girls show up wearing nothing. I can’t lie, I’m 16, I don’t hate it. I don’t have a girlfriend."

"My mom is my biggest fan. She’s been a fan since I was a baby."

"I think the obsession with my hair is funny. People copy my hair. At meet and greets, people touch my hair. I don’t have any product in it."

"I mean, girlfriends are trouble at this age."

"My first date has been sort of mythologized as ‘Bieber’s Dating Disaster.’ I took her to King’s a buffet restaurant. Yes, I wore a white shirt. Yes, I got spaghetti. No, this was not the brightest idea. But it wasn’t a big trauma, though."

"If I can do just one-tenth of the good Michael Jackson did for others, I can really make a difference in this world."

"On my Youtube page there are so many haters. They just say crazy stuff. Like, I'm not mad. I'm 16 years old and I don't have chest hair and I'm not angry about it at the moment. That will come. People are like, "Look at him he puts helium in his voice before he sings." You just have to laugh at yourself. It's funny."

"I don't think you should have sex with anyone unless you love them... I think you should just wait for the person you're...in love with."

"[when asked about abortion in cases of rape] Um. Well, I think that's really sad, but everything happens for a reason. I don't know how that would be a reason. I guess I haven't been in that position, so I wouldn't be able to judge that."

"I don't want to start singing about things like sex, drugs and swearing. I'm into love, and maybe I'll get more into making love when I'm older. But I want to be someone who is respected by everybody."

"When I was coming up, trying to get to where I am now, people were so happy for me. They were rooting for me. Now that I'm on top, everyone wants to bring me down. Everyone's trying to tug at me and take my spot... A lot of people say they hate Justin Bieber who haven't even listened to my music. They just hate the idea of me."

"there is time to play...and then there are times to work hard and get my fans an album."

"I feel like I carry myself in a more manly way. I don’t carry myself as a boy."

"i see all of u. i hear all of u. i never want to let any of you down. i love u. and..thank u."

"If you really don’t enjoy the type of music I make and that’s not you, OK. But don’t say I’m not talented. If you haven’t noticed, I wasn’t made — I was found."

"I also heard he got busted for smoking weed and he’s really sorry about it and people make mistakes and he’s never gonna do it again."

"I'll fucking beat the fuck out of you."

"After the new album, I'm actually retiring man. I'm retiring."

"I want to grow as an artist and I'm taking a step out, I want my music to mature."

"My beloved beliebers I'm officially retiring"

"I was discovered on YouTube and I think I was detrimental to my own career."

"And girl you're my one love, my one heart My one life for sure Let me tell you one time (Girl, I love, girl I love you) I'ma tell you one time"

"You know you love me I know you care Just shout whenever, And I'll be there You want my love You want my heart And we will never, ever, ever be apart"

"And I was like Baby, baby, baby ooh baby baby no like baby baby ooh thought you always be mine mine oh for you l would have doen whenever and l just can't believe we ain't together l want to play cool to u"

"Look, when you realize how fake it all is; the football, the basketball, the Lady Gaga, the Justin Bieber—you know, who gives you these carbon tax messages... They tell your kids they gotta love Justin Biebler [sic], and then Biebler [sic] says "hand in your guns", "pass the Cyber Security Act", and "the police state is good", and then your children are turned into mindless vassals—who now, they look up to some twit, instead of looking up to Thomas Jefferson, or looking up to Nikola Tesla, or looking up to Magellan; I mean, kids, Magellan is a lot COOLER than Justin Bieber! He circumnavigated with one ship the entire planet! He was killed by wild natives before they got back to Portugal! And when they got back there was only like eleven people alive of the two hundred and something crew and the entire ship was rotting down to the waterline! That's destiny! That's will! That's striving! That's being a trailblazer! An explorer! Going into space! Mathematics! Quantum mechanics! The secrets of the universe! It's all there! Life is fiery with its beauty! Its incredible detail! Tuning into it! They wanna shatter your mind, TALKING ABOUT JUSTIN BIEBER!!! IT'S PURE EVIL!!! They're taking your intellect, your soul, and giving you Michael Jordan and Bieber. Unlock your human potential! Defeat the globalists who wanna shatter your mind!—Your doorways to perception!—I wanna see you truly live! I wanna see you truly be who you are!!!"

"Justin Bieber is just the latest giant leap forward in the pussification of the American male. If he went to my school looking like this, we wouldn't have called him JB, we would've called him PB – for Punching Bag!"

"Justin Bieber posted a photo of bombed houses with the caption “praying for Israel”. When it was pointed out the picture was of Gaza, he deleted it and apparently stopped praying."

"Who the fuck is Justin Bieber?"

"[Justin is] a really great little guy... But that's his problem - he's a little guy... His fans are growing up, they're 18, 19-year-olds now... they're young women. And he still looks like that little boy!... He needs some hair, or something - I just don't think, from my gut - maybe my gut's wrong because it's not 100% - but I don't think he's going to stand the test of time... But you know what, I don't feel sorry for him, because he's made oodles and he's a fabulously nice person and he'll go on to do something else."

"He's a great guy. He's doing great out there right now."

"I remember when you visited me in my dressing room on tour and your beautiful little mamma walked in and said ‘do you know where a tanning bed is? You were 15 and you were adorable! Thank you for your music … you’re a little devil now 😈😈😈 I know because I have boys … but you’re a timeless genius and I will always dance to your music!!!"

"I actually wanted to go to medical school. I actually wanted to be a laboratory biologist. I wanted to study. And I really wanted to find a cure for cancer. My grandmother had died of cancer. And I was always very good at the sciences. And I thought I would go and try and discover the cure for cancer."

"A thing called "Cherry Cherry", was my first big national hit. It was a top five record. And international, as well. And you know, that's what broke the dam. … Boom, as soon as that record hit, I was out on the road. And I've been out on the road… since then. … I didn't realize it at first, but I did want to perform. I liked it. It was fun. You know, I went through all of the growth experiences that you go through in any field. But I did like it. And you know, I've been doing it since."

"I'm a perfectionist. I like to get it right. I like to get it good. And you know, writing songs is not -- it's not the kind of thing that you can count on every day. You never know what's going to come or if it's going to come. So you -- you know, it's an uncertain kind of a thing."

"I'm a writer who performs. And I mean, I'm basically a writer. I've been doing it since I was 16. … For me, the balance between the two, the writing -- a year, two years, whatever it takes to do an album, and then you've had enough of writing and thinking and being introspective and all of that kind of stuff, and you want to get out on the road and you want to, you know, get into the physicality of performing."

"Her eyes would make an angel smile. They'd call her Sunday. She'll take a man and drive him wild. Her name is Sunday, And one day I'm gonna make her mine. It's gonna be so fine. You wait and see, It's gonna be Just Sunday and me."

"Girl, I don't want to fight, I'm a little bit wrong, And you're a little bit right. I said, girl, you know that it's true, It's a little bit me, And it's a little bit you too."

"Kentucky woman She shines with her own kind of light. She'd look at you once And a day that's all wrong looks all right. And I love her, God knows, I love her.Kentucky woman, If she get to know you, She goin' to own you. Kentucky woman."

"Don't know that I will, But until I can find me The girl who'll stay And won't play games behind me, I'll be what I am: A solitary man, solitary man."

"Says she loves me Yes, yes she does Gonna show me tonight, yeah She got the way to move me, Cherry"

"Ah, to be so exciting Won't need bright lights No, no we won't Gonna make our own lighting She got the way to move me, Cherry"

"Don't you know Girl, you'll be a woman soon. Please, come take my hand. Girl, you'll be a woman soon. Soon you'll need a man."

"Red, red wine Go to my head. Make me forget that I Still need her so.Red, red wine, It's up to you. All I can do, I've done. But memories won't go. No, memories won't go."

"I thought love was only true in fairy tales Meant for someone else but not for me …"

"Then I saw her face Now I'm a believer Not a trace of doubt in my mind I'm in love I'm a believer I couldn't leave her if I tried."

"Shilo when I was young, I used to call your name. When no one else would come, Shilo you always came and we'd play."

"Used to slip though every girl's hand like water There never was one who could ever tie me down Straight ahead and steady as Gibraltar 'Til you brought me tumblin' to the ground You got to me You brought me to may knees"

"I'm walkin' But I'm going nowhere at all. I'm 'bout to head any place in the world But the place that I am"

"Two bit manchild I was Born for nothin' mostly Good time with sometime women. Nothin' ain't ever hold me. You can't change me none."

"It's Love, Brother Love, say Brother Love's Traveling Salvation Show. Pack up the babies and grab the old ladies. And ev'ryone goes, 'cause everyone knows Brother Love's show."

"Hands, touchin' hands, Reachin' out, touchin' me, touchin' you. Sweet Caroline. Good times never seemed so good. I've been inclined To believe they never would. But now I, look at the night And it don't seem so lonely. We fill it up with only two."

"Call the sun in the dead of the night And the sun gonna rise in the sky Touch a man who can't walk upright And that lame man, he gonna fly. And I fly, yeah, And I fly."

"Hitchin' on a twilight train Ain't nothing here that I care to take along. Maybe a song To sing when I want. No need to say please to no man For a happy tune."

""I am," I said To no one there An no one heard at all Not even the chair "I am," I cried "I am," said I And I am lost, and I can't even say why Leavin' me lonely still."

"Song sung blue, everybody knows one. Song sung blue, every garden grows one.Me and you are subject to The blues now and then. But when you take the blues And make a song, You sing 'em out again."

"You are the sun, I am the moon. You are the words, I am the tune. Play me."

"I've seen the light And I've seen the flame. And I've been this way before, And I'm sure to be this way again.For I've been refused, And I've been regained, And I've seen your eyes before, And I'm sure to see your eyes again. Once again.For I've been released, And I've been regained, And I've sung my song before, And I'm sure to sing my song again. Once again."

"Longfellow Serenade, Such were the plans I'd made. For she was a lady And I was a dreamer, With only words to trade."

"And here's to the songs we used to sing; And here's to the times we used to know. It's hard to hold them in our arms again, But hard to let them go."

"Dry your eyes and take your song out. It's a newborn afternoon. And if you can't recall the singer, You can still recall the tune.Dry your eyes and play it slowly, Like you're marching off to war. Sing it like you know he'd want it, Like we sang it once before."

"Desiree, Oh, Desiree. There I was found By the sweet passion sound Of your loving song. Time was right, the night was long.Remember Desiree, Oh, Desiree. And though somehow I knew I could only have you 'til the morning light, The night was long, the time was right."

"You don't bring me flowers. You don't sing me love songs. You hardly talk to me anymore. When you come through the door At the end of the day."

"Money talks, But it don't sing and dance. And it don't walk. And long as I can have you Here with me, I'd much rather be Forever in blue jeans."

"We've traveled halfway 'round the world To find ourselves again September morn We danced until the night became a brand new day Two lovers playing scenes from some romantic play September morning still can make me feel that way"

"Far We've been traveling far Without a home But not without a star.Free, Only want to be free. We huddle close; Hang on to a dream."

"Home, Don't it seem so far away? Oh, we're traveling light today, In the eye of the storm. In the eye of the storm.Home, To a new and a shiny place. Make our bed and we'll say our grace. Freedom's light burning warm. Freedom's light burning warm."

"Yesterday's songs Don't stay around long, Not much anymore. Yesterday's words Don't make themselves heard Like they did before."

"Turn on your heartlight; Let it shine wherever you go. Let it make a happy glow For all the world to see. Turn on your heartlight In the middle of a young boy's dream. Don't wake me up too soon. Gonna take a ride across the moon, You and me."

"I was (...) determined to look the way I wanted to look, and I wanted to cut my hair. I wanted to look different because I was used to looking different. Because of my religious background I'd always been encouraged to look different."

"I don't believe in marriage. To take these vows that were set up decades ago – it just doesn't work anymore. Most people don't think about what they're saying when they vow to cherish, love and obey. Marriage was designed to give males the advantage. (...) Unless you have to do it for tax reasons, or to get a loan or something. But basically it's a contract that I don't think should be connected with a romantic situation."

"[M]en need to be penetrated. At least once in their lifetime. Because then they would understand what it is like to receive. It’s my own theory, which I think could help take some of the aggression out of the world. It's the nature of man to give and receive – to be man and woman, all in one."

"Women are the real architects of society."

"You don't have to be smart to act — look at the outgoing president of the United States."

"I love men! I think men are the coolest, but you don't really need them to live. My mom said to me, 'You know, sweetheart, one day you should settle down and marry a rich man. I said, "Mom, I am a rich man.""

"Follow this you bitches."

"Try to be in as many relationships as you can."

"I love having boyfriends. A girl can wait for the right man to come along – but in the meantime that doesn’t mean she can’t have a wonderful time with all the wrong ones."

"Don’t buy into the idea that women aren’t strong enough to do anything they want on their own."

""WTF is MDNA?"

"You don’t pay bucks to stand and look at someone. They’ve got to deliver something...And I’ve worked my whole life to keep my strength in my body. There are 20-year-old girls who can’t do what I do."

"You know, we had such a strange relationship. The day we got our divorce, he grabbed me, bent me backwards and kissed me, and we were hysterical. I couldn’t keep angry with him for some reason. I had a lot of anger, but I couldn’t stay angry."

"I love standing on the stage and singing. The feeling you have in your body when you sing."

"A lot of the biggest entertainers are shy. I’ve always been shy. But once I’m on stage and get hold of an audience, I know I can bring the room together as one. No matter how many thousands of people, I can bring it to where they are all friends. If you have a heartbreak or a sickness, for 90 minutes I can make you forget."

"Beyoncé: "I love that in the seventies Cher and Diana Ross looked like superstars and never played it safe. When they were onstage, they gave you drama—and I love drama.""

"Christina Aguilera:"

"Debbie Harry: "[On meeting Cher in the corridor of the BBC] She just walked past me and said, 'You go, girl!' All I could say was, 'Wow.' It was like a blessing from the pope!""

"Gregg Allman, ex-husband: "I was really glad that she never asked me what I thought of her singing, because I'm sorry, but she's not a very good singer. When she talks, she has the sexiest-sounding voice, and I tried to tell her that that's the way she ought to let it out when she sings. If she sang like she talked, good God. I guess Bono must have been on her every move, because he saw the gold mine in her. Without her, he would have been nothing[.]""

"Gwen Stefani: "[Cher] proved there's nothing she cannot do. She's a role model for showing us how to be strong and true to ourselves [and] a woman who is truly the definition of the word Icon.""

"Lady Gaga: "[On the outfit Cher wears in the music video for the song "If I Could Turn Back Time"] I dress like that! That's my everyday look. Maybe just sort of subliminally when I was younger, without even realizing it, one day I knew that [Cher] was the kind of woman I would become.""

"Pink: "[On writing for Cher's Closer to the Truth album] It's such an honor. I finally feel like a songwriter. And I'm such a fan.""

"Rob Halford of Judas Priest: "She has the most beautiful voice with a unique, rich texture that sets her apart. There's only one Cher—in her voice, her image, her humanitarianism, and her philanthropy. Her incredible longevity in music, coupled with the staying power she’s demonstrated, is truly remarkable. To remain an icon with such influence and respect is no small feat. She’s an extraordinary woman. I've always wanted to sit down with her, share a cup of tea or a meal, and just talk about life. She's so sincere, sweet, and genuine in everything she does.""

"Shania Twain: "She is the most diverse artist ever. I loved watching her go through all these evolutions in her life. She's funny. She's great at everything she does.""

"Tori Amos: "Cher has been able to show people that as she ages, she’s still sexy and sensual.""

"Drew Barrymore: "She's strong and comedic and incredibly brave, but shows vulnerability. I think she's the epitome of rock & roll.""

"Meryl Streep:"

"Nicolas Cage:"

"Olympia Dukakis: "I think she's been through so much, and she’s been very aware of people controlling her, so that she's really on guard. I think that’s what working in this business taught her.""

"Peter Bogdanovich: "[Cher] doesn't like men. That's why she's named Cher: She dropped her father's name ... She can't act. She won Best Actress at Cannes because I shot her very well. And she can't sustain a scene ... So I shot a lot of close-ups of her because she's very good in close-ups. Her eyes have the sadness of the world. You get to know her, you find out it's self-pity, but still, it translates well in movies. I shot more close-ups of her than I think in any picture I ever made ... Cher doesn't like me ... because I didn't like her. She was always looking like someone was cheating her ... But finally, after about seven weeks of this, we started getting to like each other ... and then when I sued the studio, she sided with the studio, of course. That was that.""

"Sarah Paulson: "I smelt Cher. I smelt the back of Cher's head ... Because I really love Cher; I think a lot of people love her for her music which I do, but I think she's one of the great actresses, I really do. So I was in her presence and I really wanted to go up to her but I was too nervous, so instead I went to the back of her and sort of pushed my nose between her hairs, parted it, and just hung out there for the count of, 'One-one thousand, two-one thousand'. She was about to turn around so I jumped and went back.""

"Whoopi Goldberg: "Elvis. Sinatra. Cher. There have been a handful of entertainers who are instantly recognizable by just one name. She not only marches to the beat of her own drum honey, she is a one woman band. In a word—she's Cher.""

"Zendaya: "Thank you, Cher. Thank you for being an advocate, for being an ally, for painting the way for so many humans of all kinds to live in and speak their truth and to have the courage to be as daring and as open-hearted as you. Cher once said, 'You should never be inhibited by what people expect you to do.' And those are words I hope we can all learn to live by.""

"Bob Mackie:"

"Marc Jacobs: "[Working with Cher] has been a dream of mine for a very, very long time. [Growing up,] other boys were out fascinated by other things, [but] I was like, no, I'd really much rather see what Cher's wearing this week.""

"Mowing your lawn is against nature."

"When I was very young I was Judy. On good days I was Dorothy, on bad days I was the Wicked Witch. The interesting thing about it, too, is that I’ve always related to it mainly because I don’t relate much to Frank Sinatra. I appreciate Frank, but there are so many Frank Sinatra imitators, whether it’s Harry Connick Jr. or Michael Bublé—the kind of guys who [Snaps his fingers in quick succession] basically want to get laid. And there’s nobody being the flip side of that, which is the hungry, lonely, desperate, crazy-person singer [Laughs]. So I wanted to pick up that mantle and try to be a little less cool."

"Yes, I'm a homosexual and I like to shock people with glamour."

"When I first came up with the lines, I don't know what it is, but you got to do it/ I don't know where to go but you got to be there, I was at this party for The Strokes in New York. There was this prevailing sense of, 'We're not quite sure what's happening or what is cool, but we know that it's somewhere around here, in this room.' It was this vague confusion, with everybody kind of sniffing for blood. It wasn't that it was a bad party, or that I don't like The Strokes; I just think there's a lot of confusion right now in the music business. Then, later on, I realized the song was really personal. I didn't know where I was, and I didn't know I was actually lost. It wasn't about the party at all; it's about searching but not knowing what you're searching for. There's the train motif, being on this train heading for either oblivion or salvation – and just holding on for dear life. That song came down from some mountain somewhere, because it was right after I wrote it that I sort of packed it in."

"The song is about knowing the end result of every situation you're in, and being able to play it out in your mind and see it before it happens. It's about addiction, really, about knowing how it's all going to end up. In that sense, you're watching a movie of yourself all the time – and then you want out of that movie."

"'Evil Angel' is an interesting song. It's actually to do with a journalist who, uh... I was in France at the time and quite delicate... and this guy basically seduced me in Strasbourg... he gave me a tour of the town and it was very romantic, and we did actually make out in the middle of this town square... and then I went and did the show and I never heard from him again. And I just felt incredibly used. I think a lot of it has to do with, once you get into this business, you do have to become some kind of a machine. You do have to be heartless at times and be able to plough through certain situations. I don't want to totally become that person, but it's good that I'm thinking about it."

"Nothing eviscerates the ego like becoming a parent. For a pop star, that’s not the easiest thing. But it’s led to a complete realignment of priorities for me. Now what happens to my daughter is far more important than what happens to me. And these days it’s not even just my child who is more important than me – it’s all children."

"I’ve always been an old soul. I started drinking when I was very young. I got into opera when I was 13. I sought out older musicians. It’s as if I have always been trying to accelerate my life. It’s not that I found people my own age unstimulating. There was just something about always being the youngest kid in the room when I was growing up."

"Grief is unexplainable. My mother has now been dead for 10 years. I only put my grief for her on the shelf when about five years had gone by. I felt as if I’d passed my exams. I had grieved enough, it was time to live again. And it felt like that for the next five years. But this Christmas I got the worst whiplash. It all came back out. I’m doing better now, but it was horrific. Leonard Cohen warned me it would be hard. He told me that, despite his mother having passed away many years previously, in his late 70s she was almost more present than ever."

"I don't want to hold you and feel so helpless I don't want to smell you and lose my senses And smile in slow motion With eyes in love."

"You broke my heart, Danny boy Not your fault, Danny boy I was had at the doorstep Played, like a two to a four-set Had, like poor Job in the bible by God."

"And you will believe in love And all that it's supposed to be But just until the fish start to smell And you're struck down by a hammer."

"Cigarettes and chocolate milk These are just a couple of my cravings Everything it seems I like's a little bit stronger A little bit thicker A little bit harmful for me."

"I really do fear that I'm dying I really do fear that I'm dead I saw it in your eyes what I'm looking for I saw it in your eyes what will make me live."

"I did go from wanting to be someone now I'm drunk and wearing flip-flops on Fifth Avenue."

"Why am I always on a plane or a fast train? Oh what a world my parents gave me Always Travelin' but not in love.Still I think I'm doin' fine Wouldn't it be a lovely headline? Life is Beautiful on a New York Times."

"Putting all of my time In learning to care And a bucket of rhymes I threw up somewhere Want a locket of who Made me lose my perfunctory view Of all that is around And of all that I do."

"The mind has so many pictures Why can't I sleep with my eyes open? The mind has so many memories Can you remember what it looks like when I cry?I'm trying, trying to tell you All that I can in a sweet and velvet tongue But no words ever could sell you Sell you on me after all that I have done."

"I really need to know I may just never see you again, or might as well You took advantage of a world that loved you well I'm going to a town that has already been burnt down I'm so tired of you, America."

"Even if the sun, it is blazing Even if the snow, it is raging All the elements, we must conquer To get to the other side of town."

"These are just the rules and regulations Of the birds, and the bees The earth, and the trees, Not to mention the gods, not to mention the gods."

"Who will be at Sanssouci tonight? It's only when you're outside that you notice Only through the window you can see them Once the door is open, all will vanish."

"Guess the world needs both sun And the moon too Sad with what I have except for you."

"And I am left behind Corrupted crushed and blind All for a dream That in truth was never really mine."

"I believe in freedom Freedom's apparently all I need But who's ever been free in this world? Who has never had to bleed in this world?"

"But I don’t even think you hear me at all Under your medieval ceiling behind your biblical wall"

"One day you will come to Montauk and see your dad playing the piano And see your other dad wearing glasses Hope that you will want to stay for a while Don’t worry I know you’ll have to go"

"Somebody curse the light And take me far away from myself"

"Rufus seemed to come out of the womb completely musical. I'm convinced that when the doctor bashed him on the bum he sang a few bars of Nessun Dorma."

"Rufus might sing with that beautiful voice, and the entire world seems to melt and stop; but it's his hair, after all, that I'm jealous of."

"Rufus is one of those singular musical talents who both transcends and makes a mockery of fashion. It would not matter in which musical era he chose to materialise, but that his voice and his sensibility would be recognised as unique, timeless and without peer."

"His songs are obviously drawn from his own experience, but he's mastered the art of making them emotionally universal."

"The Greatest songwriter on the planet."

"Rufus Wainwright has as true a voice as you can hear and as sweet and acute a sensibility as you can imagine. His musicianship combined with his poetic, intelligent and humane outlook on life make for one of the great performers of our day. I adore his singing, his song-writing, everything about him…"

"He's got a phenomenal voice."

"Rufus is extraordinary, so musically gifted in many diverse fields. He is a prince in shining armour, a true star in these days of dull and boring, pissy little pop stars."

"What I see in the mirror [is] someone that's overcome a lot. I've been through a lot and I genuinely see a fighter. I don't see a championship winner, but I see a fighter and someone who is going to continue to fight no matter what is thrown their way. I have a lot of confidence now because I have said the things I believe in. I know I can hold my own on a first date with someone, in a conversation with someone. That's what I see when I look in the mirror — a strong woman."

"I’m so fluid now, and a part of the reason why I am so fluid is because I was, like, super closeted off."

"Girls can be mean"

"I lost my virginity in a rape. I called that person back a month later and tried to make it right by being in control, and all it did was just make me feel worse."

"We were hooking up but I said, ‘hey, this is not going any farther, I’m a virgin and I don’t want to lose it this way.’ And that didn’t matter to them, they did it anyways. And I internalized it and I told myself it was my fault, because I still went in the room with him, I still hooked up with him."

"The Christian, southern girl in me didn’t see it that way because sex was not normalized as a child or in the south. And, you know what, fuck it, I’m just gonna say it: my #MeToo story is me telling somebody that someone did this to me, and they never got in trouble for it. They never got taken out of the movie they were in."

"You've given me strength to find home."

"The mirror can lie it doesn't show you what's inside And it can tell you you're full of life It's amazing what you can hide just by putting on a smile."

"Somewhere we went wrong We were once so strong Our love is like a song You can't forget it at all."

"We got it all destined to fall."

"You're a train wreck, but I wouldn't love you if you changed."

"I won't change anything in my life."

"You'll change inside when you realize The world comes to life and everything's bright From beginning to end when you have a friend by your side."

"We were so in love back then now you're listening to what they say."

"I throw all of your stuff away Then I cleared you out of my head. I tear you out of my heart And ignore all your messages. I tell everyone we are through."

"You've got a face for a smile, you know A shame you waste it when you're breaking me slowly."

"I knew better than to let you break my heart The soul you'll never see again won't be showing scars You still love her I can see it in your eyes The truth is all that I can hear every time you lie."

"I can't set my hopes too high 'Cause every 'Hello' ends with a 'Goodbye'."

"Now I know who you are Yeah, I see I should have known it from the start."

"I don't fall easy often I never had a love like you before."

"Why be afraid to make an honest mistake?"

"I'm gonna love you like I've never been broken."

"You have a hollowed out heart, but it's heavy in your chest I try so hard to fight it, but it's hopeless You're hopeless."

"I can be manipulated only so many times Before even 'I love you' starts to sound like a lie."

"So young when the pain had begun Now forever afraid of being loved."

"I'm a lightweight, easy to fall easy to break."

"Got my mind on your body and your body on my mind Got a taste for the cherry, I just need to take a bite Don't tell your mother Kiss one another Die for each other We're cool for the summer"

"If happy is her I'm happy for you"

"And I'll just keep changing These colors, colors, colors, colors I'm not in the same place That I was, I was, I was, I was But if somebody tells me I'll go back to my old ways I'm gonna say, no way I'm out of the doorway I'm hearing them all say I'll go back to my old ways Not going back to my old ways (ways...)"

"R-E-S-P-E-C-T Find out what it means to me R-E-S-P-E-C-T Take care … TCB Sock it to me, Sock it to me, Sock it to me."

"Speak your name And I'll feel a thrill. You said I do, And I said I will.I tell you that I'll stay true, And give you just a little time. Wait on me baby, I want you to be all mine. I just get so blue.Since you've been gone, baby (why'd you do it? why'd you have to do it?)"

"People walkin' around everyday, Playin' games and takin' scores. Tryin' to make other people lose their minds. Well be careful you don't lose yours.Oh think (think) Think about what you're tryin' to do to me. Woo-hoo think (think) Let your mind go let yourself be free.You need me (need me) And I need you (don't cha know) Without each other There ain't nothin' we two can do."

"I want to be what he wants when he wants it, and whenever he needs it And when he's lonesome and feelin' love starved I'll be there to feed it I'm givin' him a little bit for each day He turns me right on when I hear him say(Hey baby let's get away, let's go somewhere far) (Baby can we?) Well I don't care."

"Step n' move your hips With a feelin' from side to side Sit yourself down in your car And take a ride.And while you're movin' Rock steady Rock steady baby. Let's call this song exactly what it is (What it is -what it is - what it is)"

"You walked in on the sly Scopin' for love In the crowd, I caught your eye You can't hide your stuff.You came to catch You thought I'd be naive and tame You met your match I beat you at your own game."

"In order to become Aretha Franklin you really have to be able to assess an inheritance and find yourself able to use it."

"What made her talent so great was her capacity to live what she sang. Her music was deepened by her connection to the struggles and the triumphs of the African American experience growing up in her father’s church, the community of Detroit, and her awareness of the turmoil of the South. She had a lifelong, unwavering commitment to civil rights and was one of the strongest supporters of the movement. She was our sister and our friend. Whenever I would see her, from time to time, she would always inquire about the well-being of people she met and worked with during the sixties.When she sang, she embodied what we were fighting for, and her music strengthened us. It revived us. When we would be released from jail after a non-violent protest, we might go to a late night club and let the music of Aretha Franklin fill our hearts. She was like a muse whose songs whispered the strength to continue on. Her music gave us a greater sense of determination to never give up or give in, and to keep the faith. She was a wonderful, talented human being. We mourn for Aretha Franklin. We have lost the Queen of Soul."

"Hopefully, these characters bring us closer to a sense of self: honest and honored. Icons: Toussaint Louverture to José Martí to lesser known heroes, Atahualpa and Denmark Vesey. We lace our visions with Celia Cruz and Aretha Franklin."

"Sailing is not a romantic song"

"My tattoos symbolise something to me, after all they will remain with me forever."

"I am not really a reminiscing type person. I am not nostalgic at all."

"It was a strange life, I suppose, but it was the only one I’ve ever known. What is a normal childhood anyway?"

"I had almost no education. I hardly went to school. I’d be away for weeks doing films, then I’d come back and have no idea what they were talking about. Of course the other kids loved it: ‘You may be a well-known star but you don’t know how to do algebra.’ It was a nightmare."

"I did all my real growing up in France, which I was almost not allowed to do at home. They liked my voice, they found me sexy, they didn't know anything about my childhood. In England, you’d come on to a bright cheerful song, do a bit of comedy, finish on a big ballad and wear a sparkly dress. That was about it. Suddenly I saw people like Aznavour and Piaf, songs coming from your heart, your soul, your guts, your sex, whatever, songs about everything, life and death, love and hate, wow! I realised you can use all of you when you perform."

"I was with Karen Carpenter in Vegas. We were invited to Elvis's dressing room and I had to drag her away. She was such a sweet girl but I could see what was going on. I met him a few times after that, and he flirted very heavily with me. I was supposed to do a movie with him and that was stopped right away by my husband!"

"You are like a star in my night I'm gonna make it alright Yes I am"

"There was this whole thing of ‘Jack's voice breaking’ about three or four months ago, and I think I sort of laughed at the whole thing, 'cause they sort of made out like I couldn't sing anymore, and my whole life was over, which it wasn't."

"I don't sing a song without it meaning something to me, or adding my own interpretation to them."

"I like to drink hot honey in water, I like to be very calm before going onstage, I don't talk at all before hand unless I'm doing warm-ups."

"The kid can sing better than nearly anyone I know, he’s a charming, good, well-natured likeable kid, he’s now a songwriter."

"Oppan Gangnam Style Gangnam Style Op op op op oppan Gangnam Style"

"The mindset of this dance is 'dress classy and dance cheesy'."

"I have twins. They are 4 years old. They know the word 'concert,' so they know father's job is 'concert,' and they prefer concert [over] father."

"I'm still walking down the street like, 'Why I'm here? Why I'm here?' You know, I've done this 12 years in Korea, and I'm rookie here now. I never expect I would become a K-pop star."

"I didn't speak any English when I arrived here [but] I was very good at drinking. [It was my] third day in the U.S., so I talked to the other students, 'Let's have a drink.' They said, 'How can you get the drinks? We are not allowed?' And I said, 'I can buy it in Chinatown.' So I bought it and we drank in my room and we get crazy all night long and they don't have enough tolerance for that, so they all starting throwing up. Suddenly there came four or five ambulances and they kept asking, 'Hey, why, did you do that?' My English was really horrible, so the only words I had were, 'Not me!"

"I try to dress classy and dance cheesy."

"I don’t think this dance is suitable for weddings. This is not a formal dance, this is a cheesy dance! But still, I appreciate that."

"I’m drinking. It’s my biggest hobby."

"I'm a bit jealous. Until two days ago someone told me I am the most famous Korean in the world. Now I have to relinquish. I have no regrets."

"Planning to make something big is like planning to make a Nobel Prize winner during sex. You just have to wait and see."

"I was blessed by God with a talent to express myself through the art-form called music, I eventually found love in it and had no other choice than to embrace it and ever since, I’ve come to enjoy it; I feel like I was born to do it and I really want to continue to make music. To me, it’s sort of like life because I can relate it with everything that happens around me."

"Don't judge me from my looks or the way I dress, judge me wit what I do, cuz I don't impress people!!"

"It all has to do with my feelings, my mood or state of mind. Most times my experiences, things I desire, it could be good depends on how the listener’s level of perception is structured."

"Take a little rewind back to 1999, It's not the same place don't look front, better look behind"

"Uh, cause everyday she's struggling she be hustling day and night I don't think you know how it feels when you're an orphan yeah"

"aii, see Plenty money, means plenty honey na so dem say money is the root of all evil but nowadays na di fruit of the tree weh deh bless people"

"You a naughty girl and you're so fine Liking em strings on your waist line You mi desire, you ah hotter than fire Gal I like di way you shake yuh behind"

"Dirty wind, I like the way you dey wind And the way you dey do You fit make Timaya go mad So fine girl, pull down your skirt ah"

"Anyway I be, holding this mic And I'm restless Lyrical bars, it comes quick like my first sex I'm raw, no latex I aint a slave, I'm a grown man Fvck the chains and the necklace Gat bad chicks everywhere, Casablanca Noah flow, leave you in a state like Bayelsa I poo in your mouth, you can talk that shyt Guns like a cinema, it got clips"

"Bad boys making moves like a magician always on their hustle like a tactician see the streets, me I say you be average man one blood, one nation, African"

"My Nigerian girl I love you everyday in any way no be material girl, and all the way she no dey play"

"I’m very lucky. I have terrific parents, but some kids have a really rotten time growing up and we should do all that we can to make their lives happier and more secure."

"You used to get people writing in to the Liverpool Echo saying, ‘Who is this Martian walking round town?’ I used to get battered. Going out for lunch was like running the gauntlet."

"Showbiz is a very strange thing, I’ve got a love-hate relationship with that. In Liverpool your mates say, ‘You’re there, Holly, you’re there’ but they only see the end product, not what that entails."

"We are here to stir things up. Even people that hate us have to admit that we’ve already succeeded in doing that. Love Frankie or hate it - that’s what we want - a strong reaction."

"When Frankie Goes To Hollywood were still going strong, we made a point of being as Spinal Tap as possible. Yes, we had food fights. Yes, items were thrown out of hotel windows. But one childish prank I liked at the time was when we stayed in those really posh hotels where, at night, you could put your shoes out and in the morning they’ve been cleaned. We amused ourselves by roaming the corridors at night and having a crap in each pair of shoes we found. We even made bets: whoever filled the most shoes, won."

"Often the raw ideas like ‘Relax’ and ‘Rage Hard’ - are the best. ‘Rage Hard’ just happened. There was little conscious effort."

"Coming back doing interviews is weird. It’s like an actor who takes a year off and just goes home, settles down, does some gardening, wakes up in the morning, worries about what to have for breakfast, then suddenly you’re plonked back in the middle of it all."

"I do sometimes write songs that don’t seem right for Frankie so they get filed away. But don’t worry - anything good will be used. I’m not that gifted that I can afford to throw away any good stuff."

"I got great voice training in St. Mary’s Church, Wavertree, in Liverpool, when I was a lad. Dressing up in cassocks was all part of the fun. I used to earn sixpence a week and although I don’t go to church very much any more, 'Once In Royal David’s City' is still my favourite hymn."

"[I was] a little boy with a patch over one eye, who sang and danced along the street. I had what’s called a lazy eye, so I had to wear the patch. You tend to be a prodded kind of kid when you look like that, but it makes you much stronger in the end."

"I was in Big In Japan between '77 and '78. Then I went solo, releasing a couple of singles. Then I joined the Dancing Girls who turned into the Sons Of Egypt who were then whittled down into Frankie Goes To Hollywood."

"The name Holly was given me by a girl called Yvonne Petrovitch because of the Andy Warhol connection with the transvestite Holly Woodlawn."

"Dad wasn’t there much cos he had three or four jobs. First he was away at sea, later on he worked as an insurance salesman in the day and on a building site in the evening."

"He was a skinhead and I thought, ‘Oooh! He’s weird!’ He had this blond skinhead cut with ‘Psycho’ sprayed in black on his head. I hated that. He was wild but he’s not any more. He’s been tamed by age."

"Paul and Holly would rather hang out in the Café Tabac or the Armadillo Tea Rooms where everyone sits around going 'Oh, Andy Warhol, yah', pretending it’s London. [instead of the burger joint where the interview is taking place]"

"Set me free Leave me be I dont wanna fall another moment into your gravity"

"Here I am And I stand So tall Just the way I'm supposed to be But you're on to me And all over me"

"The time that I've taken I pray is not wasted Have I already tasted My piece of one sweet love"

"I don't care For your fairytales You're so worried about the maiden Oh, you know she's only waiting on the next best thing"

"I'm going down Follow if you want I won't just hang around Like you'll show me where to go I'm already out Of foolproof ideas So don't ask me how To get started It's all uncharted"

"Ooh, how'm I gonna get over you? I'll be alright Just not tonight But someday"

"I'll be alright Once I find the other side Of someday"

"Who cares if you disagree? You are not me Who made you king of anything? So you dare Tell me who to be Who died and made you king of anything?"

"I wanna darken in the skies Open the floodgates up I wanna change my mind I wanna be enough I want the water in my eyes I wanna cry until the end of time I wanna let the rain come down Make a brand new ground"

"Maybe nobody loved you when you were young Maybe, boy, when you cry nobody ever comes Will you try it once? Give up the machine gun"

"They may be lies But say that we'll be alright If we stay tonight"

"A tongue like yours should be burned and branded So I can see you lie to me I wish the air would color red when you breathed it Oh, so I could've seen it coming Look in my eyes when you say you love me So I can see you lie to me"

"Mean songs are still better than going postal"

"I say what I think Because it's more economic than drugs or a drink"

"I wonder what would happen if you Say what you want to say And let the words fall out Honestly, I want to see you be brave"

"You said Remember that life is Not meant to be wasted We can always be chasing the sun So fill up your lungs and just—run! We can always be chasing the sun"

"So how do you do it? With just words and just music Capture the feeling That my earth is somebody's ceiling Can I deliver in sound The weight of the ground of a cemetery in the center of Queens"

"You can have Manhattan I know it's for the best Gather up the avenues and leave them on your doorstep"

"You are all just perfect little satellites Spinning round and round this broken Earthy life"

"I've got my little black dress on And if I tell myself that nothing's wrong This doesn't have to be a sad song Not with my little black dress on."

"I would die to make you mine Bleed me dry almost every time But I don't mind, no I don't mind it I would come back 1000 times"

"Tell the world that we finally got it all right I choose you I will become yours and you will become mine I choose you."

"There's no way to make the pain play fair It doesn't disappear just because you say it isn't there"

"It can't be a mistake If I just call it change"

"I had a heart then But the queen has been overthrown"

"We'll be raising our hands Shining up to the sky Cause we've got the fire fire fire And we gonna let it burn"

"Goodness gracious I can't seem to stop Calling it off Calling it off just to keep crawling to your arms"

"You used to dealing with basic bitches, Basic shit all the time. I'm a new classic, upgrade your status From a standby to a frequent flyer."

"I'm so fancy, You already know. I'm in the fast lane, From L.A. to Tokyo. I'm so fancy, Can't you taste this gold? Remember my name, 'bout to blow."

"Walk a mile in these Louboutins, But they don't wear these shits where I'm from. I'm not hating, I'm just telling you. I'm tryna let you know what the fuck that I've been through."

"Let ya hair down and shake that shit, shake that shit, shake that shit. Sweat it out, go nuts in this bitch. Dip it, spin it, and watchin' my hips; I see you watchin' my hips."

"The only thing to contemplate there is this raw force. It's as much terror as beauty. You don't feel welcomed by the natural world – I completely felt like an interloper."

"I'm a feminist and the theme of her song is, 'When you're ready come and get it from me.' I'm sick of women being portrayed this way."

"Success doesn't change you; fame does."

"You've got to know who you are before you step into this business, because if you're trying to find it, you'll probably wind up being somebody else, that you probably don't even like."

"You can fool people. You can fool anybody any time of the day, but you can't fool yourself. At night, when you go home, you've got to be straight up with you."

"“I broke my heart for every gain, to taste the sweet I faced the pain.”"

""I finally faced the fact that it isn’t a crime not having friends. Being alone means you have fewer problems.”"

"I decided long ago never to walk in anyone's shadow; if I fail, or if I succeed at least I did as I believe."

"Nobody makes me do anything I don't want to do. It's my decision. So the biggest devil is me. I'm either my best friend or my worst enemy. And that's how I have to deal with it."

"I believe that children are our future. Teach them well and let them lead the way. Show them all the beauty they possess inside."

"It’s an increasingly rare case for a solo artist to see exponential success from back to back decades, and Whitney Houston was certainly that exception."

"When I was younger I got into fights with my brother. Now I’m older, I can’t get into any bother... now if I explode, I’m the one who’s going to die. I’m an old man."

"Elvis was always over the top. It's funny that in those days people who wanted to look like Elvis would wear leather jackets and jeans, because that's what he wore in his movies. In real life, Elvis never wore denim. He thought they were work clothes. When he had to wear them, when he was driving a truck, he would do but he always loved the way black entertainers dressed. He styled himself on them, because he wanted to be flamboyant. That's why he had that gold lamé suit! He designed his jumpsuits himself. He always said, "If you're going to be a star, you should look like one.""

"Jerry Lee Lewis, Elvis Presley, Fats Domino, Chuck Berry and Gene Vincent would be my five."

"I'm bringing booty back Go ahead and tell them skinny bitches hey"

"If I was you, I'd wanna be me too"

"I do feel that I have to use my voice for those that don’t have one. I have to do the best I can in my own work to represent my culture, represent the women of my country, of Latin America. What we stand for. What we’re made of. I feel like there is a part of me that represents a minority in the US, a minority around the world. People who struggle, people who want to succeed with drive and ambition. So, people who want to try – yeah, I do feel in a way like an ambassador, for all of those."

"It’s in an area where there’s a huge population of displaced people – refugees in their own country. It’s a very impoverished area, where kids have no access to a high-quality education programme. So we just inaugurated this school for 1,700 students. And it’s already showing the kind of transformational power that education has. It’s already having an enormous social impact on this area. Before this school, there was no paved roads, or potable water, or electricity. And now all of this has changed, because of this alliance that we have created between our foundation, the private sector, and the [national] and local governments. And you know, it was recently reported that the gangs that used to hang in this area have dissolved completely since the school was built. So that is the kind of social impact that these kind of projects have. And that is why I vehemently and passionately advocate for education and for the construction of schools that are state-of-the-art – and that are open to the community ... That is the whole philosophy that we have in our foundation.”"

"I always felt that there had to be much more [than] just... shaking it, you know, eternally. Or just making music. Or more even than the pure enjoyment of entertaining someone – being on stage, which is a tremendous rush of adrenaline. But there had to be something else to my life. And I feel that with this work that I do, that’s how my life gets fulfilled. And how I find a purpose to my own existence. And I do feel that music is the platform. It’s become the vehicle that allows me to use my voice to speak about those issues that need urgent attention. I can take the spotlight that shines on me and shift it towards those issues that are infinitely more important than my own issues."

"I always thought there were going to be things in my life that would go away, like beauty, youth, all of that stuff...But I never thought that my voice would leave me, because it’s so inherent to my nature. It was my identity. So when I couldn’t sing, that was unbearable. There were times I couldn’t even get out of bed – I was so depressed."

"You go out in search of affirmation that you’re good, that people like you. But this time it was different – I was out there because I wanted to feel the pleasure of singing."

"It depends on the artist. I think some artists are meant to stay and some will disappear. It always happens. It's natural selection of the species. But I don't think of it as a boom in Latin music. I think the world is in a different place. Social media means it's not only the radio that decides what'll be a hit. It's the people."

"I’ve always lived through my mouth. I am fixated on chocolate, the spoken word, things I’ve said and the things I should never have said."

"Playing music is something I would like to do my whole life."

"I came from a background of blues and rock based(music). I hadn’t listened to Jazz or even Classical Music until just recently. Listening to Stan Getz, you know, he is one of my favorite Saxophonists, so he’s influenced my sound and influences how I play this music. Right now."

"In 7th grade, I saw the Allman Brothers play at the Beacon Theatre. I also saw the Dave Mathews Band perform at Giant’s Stadium. Those concerts changed my life. I was inspired so much. In my heart, I knew that was the only thing I wanted to do with my life."

"It’s easy, it’s powerful."

"I think Bitcoin allows artists to be compensated for work in a more fair way."

"Believe in yourself."

"Dream big, when you’re up against it all, when you’re standing on a narrow bridge and you’re about to fall. Dream big, when you're blocked by a wall, keep on saying in your head, nothing is impossible. Dream big, and when your moment arrives, look up to the stars and thank God you're alive. Dream big, the power is inside of you. You'll be love for whoever you are and for whatever you do."

"You can't gain one thing without loosing something else. You can try to catch time, but try to catch a moment, it's better. Days pass, and months go by And the years come, and a decades gone It always feels like times are ending But they go on, and on, and on, and on."

"The sound of Mintzer’s guitar in the track “On the Road”, is haunting. However in context, the sound develops sentimental and inspiring feelings. The vocal melodies and harmonies are similar to Mintzer’s playing in their original shape/color and light floating tone. Thoughtful and poetic lyrics accent the effect, serving as a conduit for the entirety of the aforementioned musicianship."

"I love Rudy and I remember I was leaving for two months and I wept for like 12 hours on the plane because I wasn’t going to get to see him. So yes. I can relate to my self. … But it was only four years — and not that many boyfriends ago."

"I love people and people watching. I love music. I am intrigued by musicians more than I am actors. I have a bigger respect for them."

"It was bizarre and … kind of a fluke … I'm very lucky, it kind of fell into my lap, honestly. I was auditioning for a part for an American project that was filming in Australia, and a manager kind of saw my tape through that, and sort of contacted my Australian representative, and it kind of all just fell into place."

"I don't remember a thing There's fresh in my mind I've got a weakness bump on my head When a rock hits me harder, I'm dead"

"My memory helps my speech So I can think of a word and get it right I can't remember someone else Because my memory has changed"

"I never think of anything what I said Ever since I lost my memory, it's like they ran away There was an enemy that's stepped on my feet I ran away and trip me on the street"

"I think about you And you think about me I'm thinking what my name is I have amnesia I don't even know you I need my memory back"

"My dad (Fabrizio Pausini) is big fan of Elvis Presley. So the house where I grew up is called Pausiniland, ... my dad keeps all my awards, dresses I’ve worn in concerts. That’s where it’s all on display."

"I was very melancholic in the beginning. Then I was very angry. Then I fell in love again — but not stupid like in the beginning."

"My daughter gave me the chance to be more mature and live a better life after 20 years."

"I see myself in the contestants. I’m not the one to tell people, ‘You have to sing this way or that way.’ Talent is something God gave you when you were born. I don’t want to give them technical advice. I love mistakes. When talking about art, the most important thing is to not be perfect, ... I want to be a fan, and to be a fan you have to conquer my heart. I don’t want to give marketing advice."

"For some reason, everybody consider me to be Belorussian, because since I have moved from a village good three decades have already passed.Countrymen resent: are you a Belorussian indeed? And I agree as I have never considered myself to be neither Belorussian nor even more so Russian."

"I am proud to be Ukrainian."

"Over the years I felt call to motherland that sometimes I even wanted to cry because of nostalgia. You will not believe but my present flat is a real Ukrainian house. I collect embroidered towels and embroidered shirts. More and more often I recollect the words of Nina Matvienko, whom I respect a lot: "Where your navel is dug there you will always feel a call". And it is true."

"That's talent!! I'll take him to the stage. The military don't need such voice."

"I'm so happy to be a part of this ... era of wonderful nonsense."

"When I listen to this rock and roll and look at you kids, I don't think it's a whole lot different than the Charleston and the Varsity Drag."

"I know when I was a kid, I used to look at these pictures and listen to the songs of the Gay Nineties, and I used to say to my mother, 'Oh, I wish I had lived then; it was so gay and so wonderful.' [...] Now [the Jazz Age] seems very mysterious and wonderful to you, kids, and when you have kids, they'll say, 'Gee, Dad, those 50's, they were something.' [...] I really think it goes in cycles. When your kids come in and say 'Gee, Dad, I wish we had done that,' and so on and so forth, it's the same thing. I don't think it's changed a great deal."

"Pain is just a consequence of love."

"I'm very proud [to be part Italian] … Although I don't eat a lot of Italian things, because I'm vegan. … I love animals more than I love most people, not kidding. But I am a firm believer in eating a full plant-based, whole food diet that can expand your life length and make you an all-round happier person. It is tricky dining out, but I just stick to what I know – veggies, fruit and salad – then when I get home I'll have something else."

"Music is something everyone on Earth can share. Music is meant to heal us, to bring us together, to make us happy."

"“I’m tired of needing to be linked to a guy, I’m not Big Sean‘s ex, I’m not Niall‘s new possible girl. I’m Ariana Grande.”"

"“Don’t ever doubt yourselves or waste a second of your life. It’s too short, and you’re too special.”"

"I don't need a dozen roses You ain't gonna wine and dine me no. I don't need a pretty poet."

"It was my creative vision for it. I said, "I need to put a spin on this and wear it with a Jason mask or a Scream mask" or something. But I was a huge musical fan in general. This is kind of controversial to say, but I loved Avenue Q, even though it won the Tony for Best Musical over Wicked. But Wicked, of course, is my number one."

"I have never in my life felt the way I did when I found out that I got the role of Glinda in the film. I thought, Everything’s going to be okay forever now."

"Grande is my mom's last name; Butera is my father's last name. This feels like the most important, full-circle thing I've ever done, so I wanted to have them both be a part of this."

"The Waterboy, with Adam Sandler, makes me cry. When they're mean to Bobby Boucher, I cry. I don't like it. I love Bobby Boucher. He says, “Would you please still be my friend?” and I lose it. But I cry at everything."

"My sun is in dog, and my rising is in cat. Just because cats are so boundaried, and I have a little bit of boundaries too now, but I have the openness and emotional availability of a dog. So I have the emotional landscape of a dog, but with the boundaries of a cat."

"You know what, they did the Brighter Days memory erasure treatment to me, so I’m having trouble remembering the details. They’re foggy."

"You have to learn the language of my fans because ‘soon’ means 10 days or less,I’m not allowed to use that word at this moment. I’m not gonna use that word today. I’ll say that. Just keep your eyes peeled. Just keep them peeled. That’s all I’m saying."

"You can run but you cannot hide."

"Let me kiss it And make it better After tonight You will forget her"

"You say you wake up In the morning Feeling used Like a fallen angel Tired and bruised It's got you feeling So insane More dead than alive Love's got you stained On the inside"

"I was tired of the bullying. I was tired of being pushed down so that I couldn’t say my beliefs. And being fearful of losing sales. Losing fans. Losing bookings. Losing contracts and sponsorship. You know, that’s my day to day. And a lot of my friends have the same thing. And we live in Hollywood, which is supposed to be the most open viewpoint city. But the truth is there was a lot of hate and a lot of negativity and I wanted to change the storyline to love and support and unity as an American."

"I would never preach vegetarianism. It’s such a personal choice. It’s got to suit you, and be right for you: emotionally, spiritually and physically. If it’s working for you, that’s really great. … I definitely think there are some benefits. I know a lot of people that have had cancer, for example, and they’ll make a point of telling me, ‘The first thing my doctor told me to do was stop eating meat during this process.’ I think it’s interesting a doctor would suggest a vegetarian diet when you’re already sick. … I stick to a mixture of real raw, whole-food items every day. I make sure I’m eating greens every day, and nuts, and food that’s not processed. I do that every day."

"I'm not the person who looks back or looks forward. I try to live in what is now."

"That means a lot, it goes from generation to generation, and you can't wonder why, and I think it's because it's such a good energy in it, and I think the girls and boys, they want to dress like us, and they want to sing along."

"I think I was more like the black sheep, maybe, that, I was someone that you could blame on, but we were actually agreed on, that we had to stop now, because we came to a point, when it doesn't feel good anymore."

"Why should we do it? We have done so many songs, during such a long time. The fact that we had two divorces, and there was no meaning, I think, with getting together, again."

"I have been described as a very mysterious human being and that hurts a little bit, because it's not like that at all."

"I think to look in the future, to plan another one, it's not realistic right now. But I don't close any doors. I'm very open for what comes up. At the moment, we are so happy with this one. I really hope people will like it as much as we do."

"I just felt like God picked me up in his arms [and said], 'Johnnie Ray, I love you', and kissed me. I'm very humble and grateful for this elevation to the big time. But we all have to come down, and it won't leave me with a complex if I do. I know this thing might go over like a lead balloon, but I can always go back to that movie extra deal."

"I was walking down by the river. I lay down under a tree. I was broke. I felt pretty low. Then I looked up at the sky—all blue except for one little, white, fleecy cloud. The words came to me for the song—quicker than it's taking me to tell it to you. I got up—and I had new hope. That was the turning point in my life."

"It's not a handicap, because when you go to bed, I take [the hearing aid] off, and the phones ring, the maids vacuum, people knock on doors, and I don't hear any of that."

"Americans are the most over-entertained people on the face of the earth."

"I've got no talent. Still sing flat as a table. I'm a sort of human spaniel. People come to see what I'm like. I make them feel, I exhaust them, I destroy them."

"I think cooking completes you as a woman. … I woke up one morning and said, I can't do this [eating meat] to myself anymore. I didn't feel good. I was constipated all the time. … I used to live to eat. Now I eat to live."

"I go back and forth between [being a vegan and not being a vegan]. I try lots of different things. I really feel that you need to kind of listen to your body and what your body is telling you to eat. So I was a vegan for about two years. … Well, everything with being vegan and vegetarian is a really big commitment. You have to do what you feel is best and what you believe in and what your body is telling you that it needs. I really think everyone should do what’s best for them, and what’s best for me may not be best for someone else. But like I said, you just have to do what makes you feel good."

"It's so important, so comforting, to have lampposts in this world who can light the way."

"Uniqueness is what makes you the most beautiful."

"Find something you’re passionate about and you know, do something."

"Nobody should be entirely defined by one thing"

"In my view, I’ve had tons of success but, in the way the world views success and they expect Idols to do, mine has just been a longer journey to get there. And I’m grateful for it. It just makes the journey that much sweeter in the end."

"America is a country with so much opportunity. After returning from a recent trip to West Africa, I gained a new perspective on what our country’s colors mean to me. Even in our worst times, we have so much more and give so much. Everywhere I went people wanted to know how they could get to America. On my way home I realized that I now looked at our flag differently. I thought about those that fought so hard for our independence; to give us the right to pursue our dreams."

"I have to find the right part of myself and put it into that character. I feel like everyone has a full deck of cards and I just have to pull the right card for that character. The more comedic roles come easier to me though because I see myself as a silly, easy-going person."

"When I was younger and started acting, I wasn't good at sports and didn't have any other special talents. Acting was my after-school activity. I never planned on growing up and becoming an actor. I always wanted to go to school and become a veterinarian so I think when I got older and suddenly realized that it was my passion, it was just a natural moment. I never felt pushed. My family has always supported me completely and kept me grounded. I never got lost in child Hollywood actor weirdness."

"I love watching amazing actors and actresses that you can't take your eyes off of because everything they are doing -- even if it is just twiddling their thumbs or scratching their eye -- it's just interesting. That's why I love this job and that's why this industry came around. People are fascinating and we want to watch them."

"It’s not okay to actually take a life out of an individual for whatever reason and then sell those body parts. It’s sick. It’s really sick. And it’s hurtful because those lives were real and just and you’re giving them absolutely no grace in the end of their life,” she continued. “It’s, you know, they’ll have to meet their Maker one day. So as much as we all have our opinions on this matter, I think at the end of the day they’re going to have to meet God one day and they’ll have to answer for themselves on what they chose to do with their time on earth, you know?"

"Because I love all animals so much, people, I feel like they should realize they don’t have to cut into something to learn about it. … If you feel weird about dissecting something, say “no.” I would totally say, “I'm not cutting into this animal.” I would never do that… You’ll learn so much more off of the computer. If you have the other option, why not take it? You should ask your teacher for other human alternatives."

"That is something I'm very passionate about. I love animals so much. To think that any animal would be trapped — it makes me so sad. It's like living in your bedroom for your entire life and never being able to go outside. … You should always speak up. That's what I'd like to teach my fans — to be real and speak up for things you're passionate about."

"I would like to thank Jeff Wald because he makes my success possible, and I would like to thank God because She makes everything possible."

"That's a pig show. The lowest."

"We have to keep everybody happy. This is a house full of big egos."

"(The Queen of Housewife Rock) means I’ve reached a lot of people in a simplistic manner who would never go to a lecture or read an article on Women’s Lib. My basic audience is women who have had their heads turned around by the knowledge that something’s going on out there—that they can stay married and have their own identities. I’m not for the swinging singles. I have a career and marriage happening all at the same time, and that’s the example I set."

"Years back I didn't wear makeup or use a hairdresser. Then, about four years ago, I became very tired of the way men and the media were trying to present feminists - as drab, un-attractive, shrill and ugly. So I changed. Some feminists have criticized me for it, but there's a lot of compromise in this business."

"The word failure is not in my vocabulary. I learn something every day. It's human to make mistakes."

"I believe that we are consciousness, consciousness is energy, and energy can never be destroyed. It can be transformed, but it can never be destroyed."

"I’d gotten involved in the Women’s Movement, and there were a lot of songs on the radio about being weak and being dainty and all those sort of things. All the women in my family, they were strong women. They worked. They lived through the Depression and a world war, and they were just strong women. I certainly didn’t see myself as being dainty."

"I’m bothered by all these talent shows because it keeps people who are professional out of work, and these poor souls that are going on there are not getting paid, and people like Rupert Murdoch are making lots of money that they shouldn’t be."

"Movie-making is not my favorite medium, because you’re on the set for 12 hours and you might only film for three minutes. It’s very much hurry up and wait. So, although I loved doing the film, it wasn’t quite what I expected."

"There’s a moment before I walk out on stage, where it’s like electricity. And then you just go out there and it’s home. The stage is home to me."

"...I don’t think of myself as a pop star. I started out as a jazz singer. And I love having the chance to just jump in and sing songs that touch me or move me."

"As a moral issue, abortion will be debated as long as humankind is able to debate. I respect all points of view as being valid to the holder. What concerns me is abortion as a legal and political issue. I am against all reproductive laws for the same reason I am against the draft. I believe that legal ownership of one’s body is the most basic civil and human right. Without it, we are all slaves to whatever government is in power at any given time."

"The number-one rule for a celebrity is keep moving."

"History will be much kinder to Richard Nixon than his contemporaries have been. Truths will come to light that will reveal him to be a more honorable man than some who have come to that office after him."

"Oh yes, I am wise But it's wisdom born of pain Yes, I've paid the price But look how much I gained If I have to, I can do anything I am strong I am invincible I am woman"

"Would you take better care of yourself Would you be kinder to yourself Would you be more forgiving of your human imperfections If you realized your best friend was yourself"

"She was an office girl ("My name is Betty") Her fav'rite group was Helen Reddy"

"I definitely knew her song, "I Am Woman." I didn't know a lot more than that. I'm so thrilled that I got to learn a whole lot more about her over this process. I now am her biggest fan and I could probably start a museum, I’ve done enough research on her. That's what's really interesting, is that not a lot of people in my generation know a lot about her life. But that being said, her song "I Am Woman," the words are on most placards at any women's march. Her story is so incredible, and to look back and honour all the amazing work she did, and what she did for women and just the music industry in general. I mean, she had four gold records in a year. She was the first Australian to win a Grammy, and people don't know that. So it feels like a really lovely thing to be able to share that."

"There's no doubt in my mind that going vegetarian has made me feel better not only physically, but also because I learned about the suffering of animals who are raised and killed for food. I feel good knowing that I'm not contributing to that."

"If you are going to take your clothes off for something, it better be a good cause."

"Don't let anyone else tell you when your time is up or what's best for you, you make that. And if you live by what other people want you to do with your life, you will be miserable, I can guarantee you that."

"I said you know what, I thought my transformation was that I needed to transform into Erika Jayne, but my true transformation took place when Erika Jayne showed me that Erika Girardi was just fine the whole time. It was just a truer, shinier version of myself. And you can be fluent in both of your personas, both your personalities. We all have them, whether you’re on a reality television show or not, whether you’re 47 years old and you’re out there singing and dancing. You’re not the same person at home as you are at work, or with other people, so there are performance personas whether you acknowledge them or not. And transformation is individual. This is my story, my experiences, doing this stuff. Maybe yours is something different, but they’re equally important."

"Blonde bombshell is always in. Don’t ever let anybody tell you it isn’t... I don’t think I’m gonna cut my hair. I’ve already shaved my head twice in my life. At 47, it’s not really an option. This is who I am."

"This week’s episode discussing Tom’s car accident is hard to watch. We both live such busy lives working that sometimes it takes accidents like this to remind us of what’s most important in life—each other. I’m thankful he's made a full recovery, and just in case you were wondering, he never stopped working."

"Well, my mother and I were discussing how my father left when I was nine months old, and then she remarried and divorced again. I feel like I had blocked out that part of my childhood. I went back with her trying to piece it all back together. I was looking at it through 46 year-old eyes and thinking it was basically ten years of bullshit."

"There are a couple of skills you take away from Housewives. You learn to be quick on your feet, stand your ground. I’ve always been kind of unapologetic, but you grow into that or into your own skin. You have a choice: you can either grow into your skin or you can back out. It will test your strength and patience - it will definitely run the gamut so you can figure out a little bit more of what you’re made of."

"I like to slip out in the middle of the night and take my Lamborghini and drive it really fast on the highway. There’s a particular one close to my house in Pasadena. I just roll down the windows, and it’s kind of like I just slip into the night."

"I've grown up disciplined all my life as a dancer, so I know how to eat and work out. Do I do it? No!"

"I’ve worked very hard for everything I’ve ever had. But it’s my journey. And I don’t regret anything."

"There are no rules anymore and if you believe that there are, then you’ll be left out."

"I was living Tom’s life. There are only so many material things you can have before it becomes boring. There are only so many dinners, so many things you can buy. I was complacent. I was in a wealthy coma and I wasn’t looking inward."

"Erika Jayne is six words: fantasy, love, escape, glitz, glamour, and fun. I think women should live out loud. I think that we should be fearless. I think we should express ourselves. I think we should have fun. And I don’t think anyone should dictate to you when your best days are, or that you are too old to express yourself. You are of worth and value in your 40s, 50s, and 60s. You don’t have to stop doing what you love simply because you’re not 25. I just think that those are old ideas that need to be broken and discarded quite honestly."

"Inside all of us is a boss. You just gotta go find her. That’s the truth. Everyone is capable. Everyone has the ability. A lot of it is timing. A lot of it is right place, right time. A lot of it is not giving up. A lot if it is push, dreams, following those [dreams] through, and tenacity. You can do it. It’s going to be hard. People are going to tell you no. But no matter what your goal is in life, there’s always a way. You just have to look for that way. Sometimes you have to make that way. Sometimes you have to go around people. Sometimes you may have to go through people. But there’s always a way to make it happen."

"I felt like I was just not being myself. I felt like I was hiding. I was hiding from me. I was hiding from sparkle and magic and fun and fearlessness and music and dance and creative magic... I just knew I had feelings. I knew I had thoughts. I knew I had things I wanted to say. Listen, I'm rebellious. Okay? I always have been. And Erika Jayne is a little bit of a rebel too."

"I’m a showman. I believe that you’re a character every time you put on clothes. Tomorrow I may be another in hoops and tight jeans and a bomber. Clothes, to me, or wardrobe express characters."

"Obviously, being on The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills brought more awareness to Erika Jayne and brought her out of the clubs and into people’s living rooms. I’m very thankful for that. I have nothing but great things to say about my experience."

"As a performer, I’ve always been very inspired by Andy Warhol and the Studio 54 era– the wardrobe, the glamour, the free-spirited underground club world."

"I don't think anyone should tap you on the shoulder and tell you that it's time to sit down and retire. Imagine if I told you, "You know what, you should really hang it up right now." As women, we need to do more to support each other. And I think it's a lot of old rules that are being broken."

"Another thing Tom and I enjoy doing is visiting our small circle of friends, so spending an afternoon in Malibu with David and Yolanda is always a nice little escape. It’s always good to bounce creative ideas off of someone as incredibly talented as David. Even after all of his success in the business, he’s still willing to listen with a fresh set of ears and gives great feedback."

"My job is to take you to a place of fantasy and help you escape your reality. Nothing makes me happier than to put on some crazy costume and dance around. It’s what I live for."

"New York City is such an awesome place with a lot of great artists doing great things at the top level. There was so much going on then and so much going on now. It was really ‘the’ place to go to hone your artistry. I became a member of a couple of girl groups early on and performed at a few clubs around there. But basically, I was doing any job I could just to stay alive. A lot of extra work. I was a starving artist."

"I've been fortunate enough to tour all over the country. I'm always going to be over the top - I'm a showgirl at heart, so that's what you can expect."

"You know, I'm kind of a tomboy. I love to fish. I like to fish. I love to stay outdoors. I'm a big sports fan and go to games. I don't care what they are. I love to gamble and go to Vegas. I like my dog."

"I've had a lot of ups and downs, and listen, to still be putting yourself out there on stage at my age, you come against a lot of stuff. But if you love what you do, no one should let the opinions of others take away their joy or take away their dreams. And that's really all it comes down to. Loving yourself, believing in yourself, putting one foot in front of the other and doing it."

"Other people's opinions are simply other people's opinions. I am who I am. I know who Erika Jayne is, and I know who Erika Girardi is. It's OK."

"All of us have been in situations where we've lost our confidence, even the greatest leaders in the world. We are at the end of the day human — I have no problem telling you, yeah [I have days when] I think, you know, What am I doing? Remember why you're doing what you're doing; talk yourself off the ledge. You know you have to become your own best counselor because really no one is going to take the time and the energy to understand your problems quite like you can."

"You do have to rise above. If you're true to yourself and you're confident with who you are and you really know where you're coming from, you'll be fine. No matter what anyone says and no matter what anyone tries to do to you."

"And you've [got to] pick and choose when you wanna be tough. If you're tough all the time or you raise your voice all the time, it's really ineffective. Something that you might say now in the heat of the moment will not serve you later ... You have to know when to put your foot down and really stand on your conviction. If you're gonna really let someone have it, you have to really have your shit together."

"I think you have to rise above, to remain true to who you are. No matter what is said about you in the media, you have to look at the big picture — and you have to have a plan for where you want your life to go. And you also can't think that everyone is going to be there to help you; it's a lonely road to success."

"Money does not make you happy. All money does is make you really look at yourself. When you're not worried about the lights being shut off, then you can get down to business looking at 'What kind of persona am I?'Money is not a cure-all. You're still human, you still get depressed, you still get scared, you still get sad ... It's really about your own self-worth. If you're going to be the best doctor, the best dancer, the best teacher, the best singer, it's really about that. That's where the confidence comes from. A lot of people who don't have a lot of money have a lot of confidence, [they] still love themselves because they feel accomplished inside."

"Money doesn't make you confident, material things don't make you confident. Your work ethic makes you confident; your achievements make you confident. It's about setting goals, and it's about whether or not you reach them. I know a lot of people with money who are not happy, who are insecure, who are basically train wrecks."

"Confidence isn't always out front and screaming, 'Look at me, look at me.'Confidence can be sitting back for a moment and letting someone else take the lead when you need to. You don't always have to be showboating."

"Here's the thing, it's the same person. It's just that some things that are appropriate on stage aren't appropriate at a dinner party, you know with a bunch of judges and lawyers. It's still saying how you feel, it's still being yourself, it's just knowing when and where. It's also knowing when to let someone else take the lead. That's exactly why Erika Jayne is so great, because when she's onstage, that's what she's supposed to do. To be over the top, to be peacocking. But it still resonates from the same place inside [me]."

"I can do it. I earned it. It's something you have to remind yourself."

"I think it's something that I had to teach myself because growing up wasn't always a barrel of laughs. I was insecure and I had a lot of self-doubts, which is why I tell myself I can do it and that I earned it. I think you kind of become your own best cheerleader. I mean, obviously, my mom and my grandmother were big cheerleaders of mine, but at the end of the day, you have to be your own cheerleader—every day. Otherwise, it's not going to work out if you don't believe in yourself. I think a lot of it, too, is looking around and saying 'Why not me?' You know, 'Why not me?' I mean, if they can do it I can do it. There's nothing that special about anyone, really."

"So, if they can do it, I can do it, too."

"Well, yeah, Erika Jayne is a mask, even though she's a great part of your personality, it's still a performance persona. When I was standing on the red circle, there was nothing there. [It’s] just a human being and telling your story and you know, I didn't know what was going to happen. I didn't know whether people would like it or not like it or you just don't know. It's something completely different."

"So TED Pasadena reached out to me in the spring of last year and asked if I'd be interested in doing a [TED] Talk. I was totally blown away because I would have never thought that would even come across my universe. I said yes, and it's the hardest thing I've ever done. I thought that talking about my own life wouldn't be that challenging but it turned out that it was. If anyone gets a chance to do [one] I highly recommend it because it's very challenging. You know, I still haven't watched mine. I still won't watch it."

"Well, fashion is a way to escape and to express your personality and to have fun. I have always liked the idea of fashion and creating personalities with fashion. Let it be over the top or understated or effortless or chic. Or, you know, Erika Jayne with 100 crystals on her face. That’s always been a theme of my life. I’ve always enjoyed costume. I think it's a great part of life, honestly. It's really self-expression."

"It's organized chaos. Everything is different. You have a sound check—a very thorough sound check—to make sure that everything is worked out so smoothly and then you're in glam, and then you have a small prayer before you hit the stage and it's it's a lot of fun. That's what it's all about. You want to come together and be thankful for having the privilege of getting to do what you love for work."

"With Facebook and Instagram, it seems like everyone has an online persona. It’s a way of perfecting how the world looks at you."

"The danger of living two lives is that they can unintentionally collide. Like when my Erika Jayne voice comes into Erika Girardi’s life."

"But surprisingly, once I started to reveal a little more of my unguarded self, people didn’t really seem to mind. I found that I could connect to them on a more human level."

"Everyone wants to meet Superman but nobody wants to meet Clark Kent."

"It’s great to be outlandish... to acknowledge that side of yourself. But it’s when you harness that true power that the true success is unleashed. I’m glad I came out of hiding to liberate this persona."

"I definitely picked up Renee's talent for saying hateful things, and I would use it against her. That's why I'm always so afraid of losing my temper on The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills. If I ever did, I would really eviscerate someone."

"On their date, my father said to Renee, "Tomorrow I'm going to come by your parents' house, pick you up, and we're going to go hunt for apartments. The three of us will live together and be a little family." It was really romantic at the drive-in, so this was all fabulous. He dropped her off at my grandparents' house. The next day, my mother waited and waited. He never came. He never called. Finally, she called her friend, Janet, who had recently married Nicolas' brother Gabriel. She asked if Janet had seen my father. "Oh honey, he's moved to California. He left this morning," Janet said."

"The day that my stepfather left was hard, though. Renee sat in a chair in the living room, wearing a pair of navy shorts and a purple polo shirt. She was sobbing into her hands. Her face was pressed into the side of the chair. I thought - and I will never forget this - I don't ever want to be like that. I love my mother, but in that moment, I saw her as weak. I knew that she could survive without a man, but she wanted a partner so badly that she let him ruin her life."

"When he left, he cleaned out their checking account and left Renee with nothing. The next month, Renee didn't have enough money to pay the mortgage, keep the lights on, pay for her car, and buy Christmas presents."

"I don't think the father figures who let me down are bad people. They were doing the best they could, and sometimes that's just not enough. It's less their fault than it is the circumstances they were in. I can't really blame them for what happened. Now I'm so far away from these issues that it doesn't hurt anymore. In those moments, it was excruciating, but you can't stay in pain too long. You have to let it wash over you and pass, or else it will drown you."

"I have to keep walking forward. I have to do the best that I can and hope that everything I've learned from these men helps me do things better than they did."

"I feel like my marriage came apart because of me, not because of anyone else. I can take responsibility. I knew I was a good mom. I thought I was adult enough to be a wife and a mother, but really I wasn't. Tommy bore the brunt of that. It was this constant pressure and it was hard for both of us to take. We broke up when my son was a little more than 18 months old. I came out of a divorced home. I did what I knew, which was to take my son and leave."

"One of my first jobs at eighteen was singing with a group called The Flirts when one of their members was on a leave of absence. They had a hit with the song "Jukebox (Don't Put Another Dime)" and there was always a three-girl lineup, but it changed a bit. I filled in to record a couple of tracks with them."

"After a year of working in the restaurant, one night I decided to slip Tom my telephone number. We were standing in front of the giant fireplace. 'Did you hear I was single?' I asked. The next day his secretary called me and said, 'Mr. Girardi would like to know if you're free to have dinner this evening.' 'Absolutely not,' I told her. 'Tell Mr. Girardi if he wants to take me out on a date, he needs to call me himself and ask me and give me enough time to prepare.' You know how men are, especially if they are successful. They expect you to drop everything right away. That's not how I work, I don't care who you are. He did call me back himself, and he asked me out on a date like a gentleman."

"Tom is 33 years older than me. It was always a bigger deal to everyone else than it was to either of us. All a couple really needs is to have the same life philosophy. If you see things the same way, then age, race, religion-none of that comes into play. When you want and enjoy the same things, it’s more important than being born during the same presidential administration."

"You have to be willing to be ridiculed, laughed at, and mocked. You have to have people not believing in you. That makes you your own biggest cheerleader."

"I'm a princess I'm a temptress I'm a pretty mess I'm a mistress"

"Wop boys rock my world I like to play with all my girls But money makes me hard and tight I love to bathe in cash and pearls"

"You make me wanna give you everything I been watchin' you Show me 'round your world Whatcha' do whatcha' do"

"How many fucks do I give? How many fucks do I give? None, Not One, Zero, Zero, Zero, Done Zero, Zero, Zero, Done Elevator, elevator gettin' me high Tryin' to hit my level but ya can't even try Diamonds & Chardonnay C U Next Tuesday"

"I'm reckless, offensive I destroy your defences My guestlist is priceless And yes, I run a tight ship Bentleys and Benzys Threw cashcard in Lenzies And dollars and senses Cha-ching It's expensive to be me Looking this good don't come for free Oh bitch what? That's just who I be It's expensive to be me"

"So is this the girl, you want me to be I surrender myself, I'll never be free One step from the edge, is all that I'll be Waiting for you Like a painkiller"

"Top back, candy paint Damn I got expensive taste Flex on 'em everyday Champagne, celebrate I get freaky, all my girls we have a kiki Rock a party like Purple boomin' Lamborghini"

"Just let life be the spark A catapult that shoots us through the dark Raise your glass, bring a toast To the one thing you treasure the most Tonight the only way we go is up up Let the music play, let's make it pop pop DJ keep the record spinning all night non stop"

"I wanna grab the microphone and shout it to the world Shout it to the world, world I'm your freaking girl Anytime you need me, you just have to say the word Have to say the word, word I'm your freaking girl"

"Erika could probably, like, run over my cousin and I still wouldn’t be mad."

"I may make an appearance on Beverly Hills this season, and you might see Erika and I interacting. We ran into each other at Christina Aguilera's birthday party where she performed. We know people in common, I know her husband, so we're good."

"My obsession for Erika Jayne is getting scary! I love a real ass woman!"

"She is human perfection."

"So, I've known Erika Jayne for about maybe over four years. She was one of the first experiences I ever had of writing songs for other people. And so then when she takes over the planet on Real Housewives, you know, she hits me up to see if I want to work again. And I'm like 'Of course.' And so we wrote the very subtle, the very family-friendly "How Many Fucks"."

"Mikey and Erika took me under their wing and taught me everything. We traveled the world together. They both opened my eyes to so much, about being a hard-working, meticulous assistant, yes, but also just all the things life can offer."

"From the moment Erika joined the show, I immediately liked her. We both had in common that we had our kids really young, and we just sort of started bonding over being young moms. I just liked her. Now that she's been on the show, it's her second season, we've gotten closer and closer and I'm really enjoying my time with her."

"From the moment I thought about doing this, I thought Erika would be good, and she was. She was terrific. It meant a lot to her. She grew up watching [soaps]. I loved the fact that she felt strongly enough about her character and her performance that she could say something [to the director]. That just tells you she's a professional. She's been doing her own thing and taking care of her own business for a long time."

"Erika is one of the most pulled-together, professional, organized, smart, and sober people I know. And she's so clearheaded and in-the-moment and I think she's like the ultimate picture of a lady."

"Erika is awesome. We’ve been together now 16 years. She’s a dancer and a singer and she’s had eight No.1 hits on the Billboard charts – the last one just a few weeks ago, called 'Crazy'. She’s a hoot. When I won that case against the Dodgers in connection with the fan who was left disabled, I was very happy about it. At 3 a.m., she woke me up. She said, ‘Let me tell you something pal. Anybody can win a trial... Singing a song – that’s much harder!’ And then she turned over and went back to sleep."

"(to Liam) "No, don't be sorry [for yourself]."

"I'd make Liam my slave and I would make him be my (uh) personal trainer!"

"(on Ashley Tisdale) "You don't need a prince to be a princess.""

"Join us next week... where interviewer will be eating fruit off my naked body.."

"(on "I Don't Get Down Like That" the Swedish group Play pop song) "There comes a day when you realise turning the page is the best feeling in the world, because you realise there is so much more to the book than the page you were stuck on.""

"(on "Someday My Prince Will Come" the Ashley Tisdale pop song) "Just because your prince hasn't come doesn't mean you're not a princess.""

"If people talk behind your back, it's because you're ahead of them."

"Before you judge someone else, judge yourself!"

"(if he's ever been in a 'romcom' or 'chick flick' before) "I think there’s a strength in expressing emotion. If you were a guy, you used to have to be really masculine, but now expressing emotion is accepted and respected.""

"(on his newest iPhone) "I'm scrolling and scrolling and I’m, like, 'I have to stop,' but I can’t, so I delete the app from my phone. And download it again the next day or whatever.""

"(his answer to 'do you have a twin sister?) "He’s quite influential, that Rodger. He’s done a couple of songs on the new album. He’s off fishing today.""

"And girl, you and I"

"Give me your body and let me love you like I do"

"I don't speak to him but his girlfriend is beautiful and I wish him well. We went through an experience together that was life-changing."

"I've known Zayn for a really long time, I think his voice is one of those that is really rare and I think he's really special and wonderful and it's really, really amazing to get to work together."

"Whenever I'm sad I just imagine if babies were born with moustaches.""

"Dreams are like stars; you may never touch them, but if you follow them, they will lead you to your destiny."

"The worst thing a boy can do is ignore a girl when she's loving you with all her heart."

"I used to be in a boyband, that's why I'm so fucked up."

"Here was me thinking [the United States] was supposed to be the land of the free [and] it all looks very tied up from where I'm standing."

"No. We don't really do that. We feel that objectifies women and that's not really what we're about."

"Despite the company outside, I believe in equal rights for everyone. I think God loves all. Thanks for coming to the show though."

"Some of them are funny. Some of them are ridiculous. Some of them are annoying. I don't want to be one of those people that complains about the rumours. I never like it when a celebrity goes on Twitter and says, "This isn't true!" It is what it is, I tend not to do that."

"Does anybody like dolphins? Don’t go to SeaWorld."

"People in general, not just girls, but people who are younger are obviously extremely impressionable. And I do think it’s important. There's obviously a lot of different body images that are thrown around in society in general. Some things look like they’re more acceptable and some things are made to feel like they’re unacceptable. So, I think it’s very important that it empowers people in general. I think that anytime you can make someone who potentially might not feel as great about themselves as they should, feel better about themselves, I think that’s always a positive thing."

"Who's to say that young girls who like pop music – short for popular, right? – have worse musical taste than a 30-year-old hipster guy? That's not up to you to say. Music is something that's always changing. There's no goal posts. Young girls like the Beatles. You gonna tell me they're not serious? How can you say young girls don't get it? They're our future. Our future doctors, lawyers, mothers, presidents, they kind of keep the world going. Teenage-girl fans – they don't lie. If they like you, they're there. They don't act 'too cool.' They like you, and they tell you. Which is sick."

"In writing songs about stuff like that, I like tipping a hat to the time together. You're celebrating the fact it was powerful and made you feel something, rather than 'this didn't work out, and that's bad.' And if you run into that person, maybe it's awkward, maybe you have to get drunk ... but you shared something. Meeting someone new, sharing those experiences, it's the best shit ever. So thank you."

"That doesn't feel like politics to me. Stuff like equality feels much more fundamental. I feel like everyone is equal."

"We have a choice, every single day that we wake up, of what we can put into the world, and I ask you to please choose love every single day."

"I didn’t grow up in a man’s man world. I grew up with my mum and my sister. But I definitely think in the last two years, I’ve become a lot more content with who I am. I think there’s so much masculinity in being vulnerable and allowing yourself to be feminine, and I’m very comfortable with that. Growing up you don’t even know what those things mean. You have this idea of what being masculine is and as you grow up and experience more of the world, you become more comfortable with who you are. Today it’s easier to embrace masculinity in so many different things. I definitely find – through music, writing, talking with friends and being open – that some of the times when I feel most confident is when I’m allowing myself to be vulnerable. It’s something that I definitely try and do."

"A real girl isn't perfect and a perfect girl isn't real."

"We never learn, we been here before Why are we always stuck and running from The bullets? The bullets?"

"We're not who we used to be We're not who we used to be We're just two ghosts standing in the place of you and me Trying to remember how it feels to have a heartbeat"

"She's driving me crazy, but I'm into it, but I'm into it I'm kinda into it It's getting crazy, I think I'm losing it, I think I'm losing it Oh, I think she said "I'm having your baby, it's none of your business" "I'm having your baby, it's none of your business" "I'm having your baby, it's none of your business" "I'm having your baby, it's none of your, it's none of your""

"Brooklyn saw me, empty at the news There's no water inside this swimming pool Almost over, had enough from you And I've been praying, I never did before Understand I'm talking to the walls I've been praying ever since New York"

"Quand on dit "je t'aime", on veut dire "aime-moi"."

"Je n'étais pas une femme, mais une industrie de la chanson."

"Je crois que mon rêve a toujours été de devenir quelqu'un. De réussir dans la vie, dans le spectacle, je ne savais pas exactement quoi, mais c'était ou chanter ou jouer la comédie, ou faire du cinéma ou du théâtre... c'était le spectacle."

"J'ai traversé la vie sans la regarder. Je sais ce qu'est ma vie. Mon mari, c'est le public. Les chansons, ce sont mes enfants."

"La vie m'est insupportable, pardonnez-moi."

"You're a shooting star I see A vision of ecstasy When you hold me, I'm alive We're like diamonds in the sky At first sight I felt the energy of sun rays I saw the life inside your eyes So shine bright, tonight you and I We're beautiful like diamonds in the sky Eye to eye, so alive We're beautiful like diamonds in the sky Shine bright like a diamond Shine bright like a diamond Shining bright like a diamond We're beautiful like diamonds in the sky"

"A shot in the dark A past lost in space Where do I start? The past and the chase You hunted me down Like a wolf, a predator I felt like a deer in the lights"

"You did not break me I'm still fighting for peace"

"I may cry, ruining my makeup Wash away all the things you've taken And I don't care if I don't look pretty Big girls cry when their hearts are breaking"

"I`ve been called just about everything, but I`ve always thought of myself as just a singer."

"[Glen Campbell] was a wonderful man and he was so good to me. Every time that I ever asked him to do anything, he was here for me always."

"The climate in Sweden is rather the same as in Canada. It makes me feel at home."

"I was sitting in my suite one night after the show, and I looked out at the [Las Vegas] Strip and saw the huge neon billboard with my name on it, spelled out in those giant letters they use. Then I looked across the street at Caesars Palace and saw Frank Sinatra's name, in the same giant letters. And I said to myself, 'Face it, Anne; you're in the business.'"

"I hated my life when I was going through those early days and having to deal with drunken musicians and drugged musicians. I hated it."

"I guess that singing is probably a very selfish thing. I guess it doesn't matter what you do. It's selfish in a way 'cause there's satisfaction involved and so. As a singer, you sometimes have to justify your reason for existence in a sort of a way because: what really are you doing for people, they say?"

"What you saw was what you got. There was no difference from me on stage and me sitting here talking to you."

"You know what? When someone does that for me, it makes me feel really good. It's like you're important."

"That's something that I regret – that I allowed them to browbeat me into doing an album every year. Because when I took time out to have children I got behind in my albums. One year I had to do three in a row. The same year! Just to keep up with my contract with them. What a pile of bullshit that is."

"If you have a dream, a passion and have the opportunity to make it happen, great. BUT, if you can’t get to it right away, which is quite often the case, give the job you’re doing 100 per cent and keep your eyes open. You never know what opportunity might arise … something you never thought of could become your life’s work. Success of any kind is the result of hard work … there’s no shortcut."

"If you think asking for help betrays weakness, get over it. In fact, it’s just the opposite. It’s a sign that you’re confident enough to admit that other people may know more than you know or can do things better than you can."

"[Anne Murray] embodies the Canadian popular music industry. She's been so successful within Canada and internationally. She's really identified with Canada, even one of her songs Snowbird, that's so Canada."

"I've always had a crush on Anne Murray, since I was like 9 years old. But no, [Ingenue]'s not about her."

"I like pistachio and mint chip. So I'm a green ice cream kind of guy."

"The top critics on @RottenTomatoes are OVERWHELMINGLY white and male. The newest report from @Inclusionists @USC shows a vast underrepresentation of diverse voices"

"If I weren't doing music, I wouldn't want to do anything else. I think I would always be doing music for my entire life. Unless one day, when I feel I can't write any more good songs, I will disappear. But right now, it would be too difficult for me to leave music. I got very excited whenever I write good song lyrics, I just go ..."Wha-!" I get especially excited whenever I write something good. I get so happy that I would even wake people up for it. I would shake my father like this and tell him to take a look at my lyrics, because he likes to hear my work too."

"If I could go back in time, I wouldn't change anything. To me, everything I've done for my music in the past are important lessons to learn from. I know that I didn't deserve to achieve fame in the beginning of my career, because my earlier albums were not good at all. I admit that my earlier works cannot be compared to other singers at all. Of course I would lose to them. Personally, I think that your product determines your success. Okay, I'm 35 this year, and I could be writing till I'm 50. But If I cannot write anymore good songs when I turn 40, I would probably just quit and be a hermit. I would probably be very devastated while hiding at home, but I don't want to write lousy songs. Personally, I think that an "expiration date" for an artist is determined not by others, but by the artist. Only the artist can cause his own career to end."

"You can still listen to my songs from 10 years ago but if you're comparing them to my music today, you'd think they're lousy-at least I think so. There's a good reason why they weren't popular back then. I'm not a particularly gifted singer or songwriter but I like to think I'm hardworking, and listeners can tell the progress I've made over my recent albums. I think my biggest change is my understanding towards music and my taste in it."

"Just come and listen to my songs, no need to spend money or worry."

"Doing variety shows is to make money, and the ultimate goal of making money is to return to making music."

"Recorded songs and live stages are two different things. One is responsible for the people who are willing to wear headphones for you, the responsibility is repeated listening. The other is responsible for the people who are willing to come to the performances for you, the responsibility is emotional resonance."

"It hasn't snowed in Shanghai for more than ten years Yet it suddenly snowed the moment you left."

"But you loved me so once, why act out the details Not appearing to care is my last performance."

"Like the wind Even the clouds descend when you are near."

"This structure, prevents the equally distributed sunlight from shining through."

"No one can become a puppet It's just a process of evading emotions."

"With people sinking countless times why is there still a boat travelling thousands of miles."

"Yeah, I am! It sounds so stupid – to be a nice person is the best thing in the world – but, yeah, I’m 20 and I just want to have fun. What I don’t want to do is live the rest of my life thinking, ‘I wouldn’t do that because I’m known as Prince Charming.’ The second that someone corners you into a personality, you don’t want to be that person any more."

"For me it’s hurtful. I get mad when people assume things about me because I imagine the people who don’t have the support system I have and how that must affect them."

"I got out of my record deal just so I could connect two cultures together."

"We figured out that these singers go to specific studios to record in Bollywood all the time. So if you’re a studio engineer, you see these singers on a daily basis. We reached out to the studio, pretending to have a lot of money, pretending to have a project coming in from Hollywood and saying we’d like to record with them, but we want this singer."

"There is a house built out of stone Wooden floors, walls and window sills Tables and chairs worn by all of the dust This is a place where I don't feel alone This is a place where I feel at home"

"Out in the garden where we planted the seeds There is a tree as old as me Branches were sewn by the color of green Ground had arose and passed it's knees By the cracks of the skin I climbed to the top I climbed the tree to see the world When the gusts came around to blow me down I held on as tightly as you held onto me"

"And now, it's time to leave and turn to dust"

"Because I have been exploring some social and mental phenomena related to females in recent years now I have a lot to say to girls."

"My whole family is really musical. My brother and my mom both write songs and my dad has always played the piano and ukulele. When we were little, my dad would make us mix tapes with songs by artists like the Beatles and Avril Lavigne, so we learned a lot from those. Even though I never really thought of being a singer, I’ve always loved it. I’ve been in the Los Angeles Children’s Chorus since I was about 8, which has helped my technique so much. It’s showed me all of the different types of classic music there are and how beautiful they can be. When I was 11 or 12, I started writing songs because it’s a good way to express your feelings. My brother is a really good songwriter so we’d give each other notes and write stuff together."

"Aside from singing, I'm also a dancer. I've been dancing since I was eight. Last year, one of my teachers asked if I would either write a song or have my brother write a song to choreograph a dance to. I was like, "yes, that's such a cool thing to do!" Then, my brother came to me with "Ocean Eyes", which he had originally written for his band. He told me he thought it would sound really good in my voice. He taught me the song and we sang it together along to his guitar and I loved it — it was stuck in my head for weeks. We kind of just decided that that was the song we were going to use for the dance. We put it on SoundCloud with a free download link next to it so my dance teacher could access it. We had no intentions for it, really. But basically overnight a ton of people started hearing it and sharing it. Hillydilly, a music discovery website, found it and posted it and it just got bigger and bigger. It was really surreal. Then, Danny Ruckasin, who is now my manager, reached out to my brother and was like, "dude, this is going to get huge and I think you’re going to need help along the way. I want to help you guys." We were like, "that’s swag!""

"I really wanted to be a model when I was little. I loved photography and I loved being on camera. But I was short and chubby so I couldn’t. Anyway, being an artist is way more interesting than just being a model because it’s about you and what you want to be. You’re not being treated like a clothes hanger."

"I have never done drugs, I’ve never got high, I’ve never smoked anything in my life. I don’t give a fuck, I never have. It’s just not interesting to me. I have other shit to do. … I know people around you doing that shit makes you want to, but you don’t have to … [her song "xanny" is] less "don’t do drugs"; it’s more "be safe" …. I don’t want my friends to die any more."

"Bing? Who the fuck uses Bing?"

"Yeah, I'm definitely successful. … I was thinking about that earlier today, because of this interview, I was like — back then I thought, it's was like the biggest it was ever going to be, and I thought, it was the most I was ever going to be recognized and it was the most anyone was going to know me... and it was the most money I was going to have, the most clothes I'd have, the most shoes I'd have — and what's crazy is: it wasn't. … "Success" is not how well people know you, it's how you're like "looked at". I genuinely did not think people would care. It's like I can't even stress it enough: I can't believe people care so much — about me. It's crazy to me."

"I am vegan. I've been vegan for, damn, seven years. I learned about the dairy industry and the meat industry, which I already knew about. But, you know, once you know that kind of thing and you see it, it's really hard to go back. And now, even though I have lots of friends that eat dairy and meat and I don't ever want to tell anybody what to do, I just can't go on in my life knowing what's going on in the animal world and like, not doing anything about it."

"As a woman, I think porn is a disgrace. I used to watch a lot of porn, to be honest. I started watching porn when I was like 11 … I think it really destroyed my brain and I feel incredibly devastated that I was exposed to so much porn. … I’m so angry that porn is so loved, and I’m so angry at myself for thinking that it was okay."

"I've never felt like a woman, to be honest with you. I've never felt desirable. I've never felt feminine."

"Yeah, we're all going to die soon, but we can try our best."

"I've been a joyous person, but not a happy person. I've experienced joy and laughter, but I've also been a depressed person."

"Who f–king cares? The whole world suddenly decided who I was, and I didn't get to say anything or control any of it."

"Dude, my family is so musical and we always have been, and we remain that way. I grew up thinking that every family was like that."

"We are voting for Kamala Harris and Tim Walz because they are fighting to protect our reproductive freedom, our planet and our democracy."

"As grateful as I feel, I honestly don’t feel like I need to say anything but that … no one is illegal on stolen land. And, yeah, it’s just really hard to know what to say and what to do right now. I feel really hopeful in this room, and I feel like we just need to keep fighting and speaking up and protesting. Our voices really do matter and the people matter. And f–k ICE is all I wanna say, sorry."

"Wake up and smell the coffee Is your cup half full or empty?"

"You'll never know until you try it You don't have to keep it quiet And I know it makes you nervous But I promise you, it's worth it To show 'em everything you kept inside Don't hide, don't hide Too shy to say, but I hope you stay Don't hide away Come out and play"

"When I was older I was a sailor On an open sea But now I'm underwater And my skin is paler Than it should ever be"

"I had a dream I got everything I wanted Not what you'd think And if I'm being honest It might have been a nightmare To anyone who might care"

"I had a dream I got everything I wanted But when I wake up, I see You with me And you say As long as I'm here No one can hurt you Don't wanna lie here But you can learn to If I could change the way that you see yourself You wouldn't wonder why you hear "They don't deserve you""

"I saw you there Too much to bear You were my life But life is far away from fair. Was I stupid to love you? Was I reckless to help? Was it obvious to everybody else That I'd fallen for a lie? You were never on my side Fool me once, fool me twice Are you death or paradise? Now you'll never see me cry There's just no time to die."

"I can't seem to focus And you don't seem to notice I'm not here I'm just a mirror."

"Do you understand? I've changed my plans 'Cause I, I'm in love With my future Can't wait to meet her And I, I'm in love But not with anybody else Just wanna get to know myself."

"I know supposedly I'm lonely now (lonely now) Know I'm supposed to be unhappy Without someone (someone) But aren't I someone? (Aren't I someone? Yeah)"

"I'm not your friend or anything, damn You think that you're the man I think, therefore, I am."

"I used to float, now I just fall down I used to know but I'm not sure now What I was made for What was I made for?"

"I don't know how to feel But I wanna try I don't know how to feel But someday I might Someday I might Think I forgot how to be happy Something I'm not, but something I can be Something I wait for Something I'm made for."

"Don't be cautious, don't be kind You committed, I'm your crime Push my button anytime You got your finger on the trigger, but your trigger finger's mine"

"If teardrops could be bottled There'd be swimming pools filled by models Told a tight dress is what makes you a whore If "I love you" was a promise Would you break it, if you're honest Tell the mirror what you know she's heard before I don't wanna be you anymore"

"So you're a tough guy Like-it-really-rough guy Just-can't-get-enough guy Chest-always-so-puffed guy I'm that bad type Make-your-mama-sad type Make-your-girlfriend-mad type Might-seduce-your-dad type I'm the bad guy, duh I'm the bad guy"

"I must be missing something They just keep doing nothing Too intoxicated to be scared Better off without them They're nothing but unstable Bring ashtrays to the table And that's about the only thing they share I'm in their second-hand smoke Still just drinking canned Coke I don't need a Xanny to feel better On designated drives home Only one who's not stoned Don't give me a Xanny now or ever"

"When I'm away from you I'm happier than ever Wish I could explain it better I wish it wasn't true. Give me a day or two To think of something clever To write myself a letter To tell me what to do."

"I don't relate to you I don't relate to you, no 'Cause I'd never treat me this shitty You make me hate this city. And I don't talk shit about you on the internet Never told anyone anything bad 'Cause that shit's embarrassing, you were my everything And all that you did was make me fucking sad So don't waste the time I don't have Don't try to make me feel bad."

"You ruined everything good Always said you were misunderstood Made all my moments your own Just fucking leave me alone."

"The internet's gone wild watching movie stars on trial While they're overturning Roe v. Wade. Now all of my friends are missing again 'Cause that's what happens when you fall in love You don't have the time, you leave them all behind And you tell yourself it's fine, you're just in love. And I don't get along with anyone Maybe I'm the problem."

"What if it happened to you on a different day? On a bridge, where there wasn't a rail in the way? Or a neighborhood street where the little kids play? Or the Angeles Crest in the snow or the rain? What if you weren't alone? There were kids in the car What if you were remote? No one knows where you are If you changed anything, would you not have survived? You're alive, you're alive, you're alive."

"I want you to stay 'Til I'm in the grave 'Til I rot away, dead and buried 'Til I'm in the casket you carry"

"Birds of a feather, we should stick together, I know I said I'd never think I wasn't better alone Can't change the weather, might not be forever But if it's forever, it's even better"

"And I don't know what I'm crying for I don't think I could love you more It might not be long, but baby, I I'll love you 'til the day that I die 'Til the day that I die 'Til the light leaves my eyes 'Til the day that I die"

"I knew you in another life You had that same look in your eyes I love you, don't act so surprised"

"I've been walking through a world gone blind Can't stop thinking of your diamond mind Careful creature made friends with time He left her lonely with a diamond mind And those ocean eyes"

"Imagine going to sleep as a regular 14-year-old girl and waking up the next morning with your inbox flooded with email messages inquiring about your bourgeoning music career. That's what happened to Billie Eilish who, in 2015, made a somewhat unintentional arrival onto the music scene after uploading a track called "Ocean Eyes" to SoundCloud. Written and produced by her older brother and featuring her vocals, the song was originally created for Billie's dance teacher, who wanted to choreograph a routine to original music. Within hours, the tune garnered praise from various websites and she's been on the upswing ever since."

"Billie Eilish is a cultural phenomenon. The singer and her songwriter brother, Finneas O’Connell, have created a debut body of work that transcends genres, reflecting the vast multi-artist listening habits of the music streaming generation — while at the same time tearing apart the notion of the album’s death in the age of the playlist. Oh, and she owned Coachella for fun, too."

"Eilish has a disarmingly intimate, unadorned vocal style born of a two-pronged education: a member of the soft brigade of Gen Zers who grew up posting bedroom karaoke videos on YouTube, she also learned technique in the Los Angeles Children's Chorus, where blending matters more than belting."

"Growing up, I was a sports girl. My mom is 6'4, so we always thought that the WMBA was going to be my path. But then I decided that I wanted to pursue acting. I grew up around the California Shakespeare Theater, and that's where I realized that my true love was in the performing arts."

"We make memories every day and everywhere we go, it's just shenanigans. Something always happens. I think the secret to a really great friendship is just creating fun memories whenever you're with that person. Bella is a surprise every day. That's the best part of our friendship. She's very bubbly and bright, and I'm more mellow, so we are kind of like our characters in a sense. We fit together so well because whatever I lack she has and whatever she lacks I have."

"The reason why I chose not to do the Aaliyah movie had nothing to do with the haters or people telling me that I couldn't do it, I wasn't talented enough, or I wasn't black enough. It had absolutely nothing to do with that. The main reasons were that the production value wasn't there, there were complications with the music rights, and I just felt like it wasn't being handled delicately considering the situation."

"You can go about it as cultural appreciation or cultural appropriation. You have to be very careful. Some things are really sacred and important to other cultures, so you have to be aware, politically, about those things before you just adopt them."

"I think it’s a responsibility, but like Tupac Shakur, I’m a real model. Which means: I’m not pretending to be something that I’m not, because like he said, people are going to be disappointed when they find out who you are, because it’s not going to be what you presented to the world. So just keep it real. I’m a good kid and that’s all."

"Covergirl celebrates powerful, beautiful, and strong women of different races and ethnicities. It’s inspiring. I’m thrilled to be part of the diversity and expansion of beauty."

"Some would say the mullet didn't work out. But to me, they were talking about it, so I'd say it worked out. I think we can't allow ourselves to get caught up in other people's opinions of ourselves because then we're never going to progress, we're never going to go forward. So we've got to be real. We've got to do what we want to do even if people don't like it. The greatest of the greats wouldn't be the greatest of the greats if they didn't try stuff, you know what I mean? So, no, I don't regret anything. I'm very happy with all of the choices we have made."

"My main reason for being a vegetarian is that I’m an animal lover — definitely NOT because I love vegetables. I thought it was awful, all those animals getting packed up in there waiting to be killed. I couldn’t believe that’s how I’d been getting my meat! I had this crazy dream about raining hamburgers. You know that book Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs? It was like that, with giant food falling out of the sky. And I still remember the dream so clearly."

"There is already harsh criticism of African American hair in society without the help of ignorant people who choose to judge others based on the curl of their hair. My wearing my hair in locs on an Oscar red carpet was to showcase them in a positive light, to remind people of color that our hair is good enough. To me locs are a symbol of beauty and strength, almost like a lion’s mane."

"I always hide my face when I cry. I would cover up my whole performance with my hands if I let myself. Rue has such a darkness to her, but also an innocence. I have to be super vulnerable and sad in front of people. It’s weird, but cathartic in a lot of ways."

"I was a huge fan of That's So Raven as a kid. I don’t know—maybe I was destined to be on Disney Channel. But I did love me some Disney Channel!"

"I do want to dress up. I still want to have the experience. It’ll be probably just my family over here, but I definitely want to pull a look and maybe just walk my living room carpet."

"I know this feels like a really weird time to be celebrating. But I just want to say there is hope in the young people out there - I know that our TV show doesn't always feel like a great example of that - but there is hope in our young people and I just want to say to all my peers out there doing the work in the streets, 'I see you, I admire you, I thank you."

"Swag it out I'm gonna, I'm gonna g-g-g-gonna swag it out I'm gonna I, I'm gonna g-g-g-gonna swag it out I'm gonna I, I'm gonna g-g-g-gonna swag it out I'm gonna I, I'm gonna g-g-g-gonna swag it out I'm gonna I, I'm gonna g-g-g-gonna swag it out"

"Light up the floor! Play me one more Let me hear that Click clack on the high high let the base vibrate Feel the room rock Light up the floor! Just like before Let me hear that Base-drop from the boombox, make your heart stop! Feel the room rock"

"A dream like this not something you wish for A dream like this not something you ask for When it's a gift worth taking a chance for Then this is something you dance for"

"Yeah Wanna put this song on replay I can listen to it all day I can listen to you all day Hear you all day Yeah Wanna put this song on replay We can start all over again And again Yeah Wanna put this song on re"

"Oh, when danger comes to you You know I'll stand beside ya 'Cause ain't nobody keeping it so cool I always find a way A way out of the fire But don't tell nobody Tell nobody I'm not perfect So many things Wanna tell you But I (I keep it undercover) Livin' my life on red alert Doin' my thing, gon' make it work Know I'm the realest Baby, I'm fearless But I always got your back Nobody can do it like I can I gotta find out who I am Ain't gonna worry about me It's all part of the plan"

"No one can rewrite the stars How can you say you'll be mine? Everything keeps us apart And I'm not the one you were meant to find It's not up to you It's not up to me When everyone tells us what we can be How can we rewrite the stars? Say that the world can be ours Tonight"

"Too much in my system Money MIA Mama making ends meet Working like a slave Daddy ain't at home, no Gotta be a man Do it for my homegrowns Do it for the fam Ay Just for your love, yeah, I'll Give you the world Mona Lisa's smile Hey Hell, I'll do twenty-five to life If it makes me your king A star in your eyes"

"Zendaya is more high-fashion. The hair to me on her is making her a little more boho. Like I feel like she smells like patchouli oil. Or weed."

"Zendaya has certainly faced harsh judgement for her envelope-pushing hairstyles. Remember her Grammy Awards mullet? Or her faux locs from last year's Oscars? But that hasn't stopped the young star from doing whatever she feels."

"Zendaya is exceptional at every turn. She adds heartbreaking levity to moments when her spiraling teenager feels invincible instead of fragile, and the way she carries herself, narrates each story, and generally handles the weight of leading a series are all as endearing as they are commanding."

"I've actually met her before and she was sweet to me, I've only heard nice things about her, and she's awesome."

"I sang it about soldiers, then, later, about gay men. It touches me deeply every time. I used to perform this song at Mr Henry’s and people would be totally silent. I knew it moved them."

"I didn’t try to be a soul singer, a jazz singer, a blues singer – no category…My music is my expression of what I feel and believe in a moment."

"I hope that one day we will be seen for the people we are, not for our race, gender, age or nationality."

"I know what it is to go over the same songs over and over again, and to try to make them perfect. It’s interesting and it’s hard and it’s difficult at the same time…You have to stay on top of things."

"To be moved, to be moved constantly by your own songs. You need it to be in tune with them, and I don’t mean in tune musically, but I mean in tune with the lyrics of the songs, with the words of the songs, and with the meaning. You need to be in tune with all of that, and that takes a little bit of doing."

"From what I was taught at home, I already knew what I was doing and how to act and how to dress and how to speak. I came from a safe, solid home."

"Wars, segregation, everything that the entire world is going through, emotionally, mentally and physically, it’s in a sad state right now…There’s segregation going on in the States, and segregation going on in the UK. There’s segregation going on everywhere, it’s still the same."

"I’m not a marcher, I’m a doer…I believe I was the first [African American woman] to win a Grammy in the pop arena, which was basically almost designated for white people..So it was kind of unheard of. I was probably the first person in a lot of areas."

"Performing. That gratification you get when people are enjoying themselves or you see an arm go around a shoulder or somebody grab a hand. It's nice to know that you're part of that particular moment of their lives."

"Well, Asuka is… a person with a strong sense of justice. As far as things that we have in common… hmm. I wonder. If it was up to you to decide, what qualities would we share? Personally speaking, I think one thing we have in common is integrity. We won’t compromise our beliefs. That’s my answer. In regard to my tastes, recently I’ve been playing social games. I was always a gamer, so I was able to play through all of Senran Kagura. I also enjoy mountain climbing."

"[Senran Kagura]’s an intense, fiery battle. There are also sexy elements. But speaking personally, I get to voice Asuka in each release in the series. As Homura’s best friend, we get to experience these battles as they unfold. This is a story with a lot of heart. That’s why these battles are important."

"Everything that I do is very autobiographical. I’m trying to be as much of an open book as possible and give the audience every single piece of me."

"The music industry as a whole just needs more women. There are a lot of men at the top of the ranks."

"Feminism to me is not man-hating, it’s just being like "we deserve the same opportunities". “You hear so much about all these strong important men who have changed the world, even in history and the story of mankind, somehow the fucking story starts with: ‘Well, the man did this.’"

"When the night's here, I don't do tears Baby, no chance I could dance, I could dance, I could dance Watch me dance, dance the night away My heart could be burnin', but you won't see it on my face Watch me dance, dance the night away I'll still keep the party runnin', not one hair out of place."

"It doesn’t really matter what genre [our music] fits in, if it’s fitting in an area that works for people who connect to it than that’s all that matters."

"I think all artists change their sound because they’re not satisfied in the art they’re making. We started out, very angsty, trying to get out of the hometown, and people called us a boy band, but we played pop punk music, it was written like that. As you get older, your music taste becomes more diverse and you get a bit smarter about it. You just bring in those kind of elements and you want to remain happy in what you’re making."

"Pop as it stands right now, is so broad and it’s so open to so many different types of music that I think we have the best of both worlds. We can kind of live in an alternative space and then we can just live in a pop space as well, you know? We just have never held any boundaries on what we create."

""We were actually really aware of the youthful sound that we made.It wasn’t like it was by mistake or anything, we knew the music we were trying to make and I think we’re always purposefully changing directions slightly"

"This band will become whatever we make it."

"When we started I was only 15 years old, so we obviously didn’t realise at that point what a long journey it would be for us, but it did feel like we had something special, even back then."

"The first gig we ever played was at a pub in Sydney called the Annandale Hotel to approximately 12 people. It was the best/worst gig of my life. I’ll never forget it."

"I really enjoy meeting our fans. They are incredibly passionate and talented."

"I think at the beginning we all had a joint feeling that something about [the band] was special. Call it delusional or driven but we felt like we would get there with everything we had. When we saw how devoted our fans were (and still are) it was a huge moment to see how much we meant to people."

"When you’re 16 you write about different things to when you’re 21 and have fallen out of love and been on the road for six years and have a house. You live in a different country. You have new friends."

"When you make an album, you’re always going to be looking forward to the next one. It’s a never-ending thing."

"I think having fame as a musician is different to ‘regular’ fame. It doesn’t really mean the same thing. Like, if that fame were to leave, you’d still feel the same way. You’d still feel confused about your feelings, you’d still have something to express, regardless of whether anyone listened to you or recognised you. Rather than chasing fame, you’re chasing an unknown feeling inside of you. If we stopped having this level of fame, we’d still write songs."

"I think the term “boyband” embodies youth. And when we’re not a youthful band anymore, that’s when we’ll have problems. Labels are for people who are scared of themselves, and we’re not."

"I've never felt the need to tell anyone that I'm bisexual. I don't feel like I am. I just feel like I'm attracted to who I like. I honestly feel like everyone is like that."

"What I want to do in life is make people happy. Every day I wake up and say, ‘I’m going to make people smile."

"Who the hell even asked for 5G????? Whatever you do. DO NOT GET 5G"

"Haven't I made it obvious? Haven't I made it clear? Want me to spell it out for you? F-R-I-E-N-D-S Haven't I made it obvious? Haven't I made it clear? Want me to spell it out for you? F-R-I-E-N-D-S F-R-I-E-N-D-S"

"Dancing on the hood in the middle of the woods On an old Mustang, where we sang Songs with all our childhood friends And it went like this, say Oops, I got 99 problems singing bye, bye, bye Hold up, if you wanna go and take a ride with me Better hit me, baby, one more time, uh Paint a picture for you and me On the days when we were young, uh Singing at the top of both our lungs"

"No matter what press you're doing, it's kind of a narcissistic exercise. And you start to hate the sound of your own voice and want to talk about anything besides yourself, and that's when you're talking about a movie. It's amazing how quickly the topic of me gets boring. I definitely feel like I get personal a lot more quickly, I suppose because if I were promoting a movie and somebody asked me about my first boyfriend, I would be like, 'None of your [bleeping] business.' But now it's like, I guess we're going there. And that's on me."

"I can't now say what it was that originally drew me to performing, because it's very possible that at 6 it was just that I wanted people to be looking at me and paying attention to me. Then it sort of transformed into something that was really meaningful for me. ... It became the way that I learn about myself and the way that I learn about other people."

"One day when I was twelve or thirteen, I was hanging out with some friends, and I heard T-Pain for the first time. Immediately, I was like, Oh, man, what's this? This is different from what I'm used to listening to, and I love it. By this time, I wanted something new, so I started listening to more R&B and hip-hop. From there, I started listening to Lil Wayne, Chris Brown, Drake, and all those guys. At the time, I thought country and R&B were totally different worlds, but now that I actually spend most of my life singing and writing and thinking about music, I can see they're kind of similar. Before you say I'm crazy, think about this: In country music, the singers are really soulful, and you can just hear all the emotion on their voices. They mean everything they say. And R&B is the same way. It's like every note, every word, is telling you exactly how the singers feel about what they're singing about. It's just that in country music, all that feeling is usually about a truck, and in R&B, it's more often about a girl. And for me, girls are a lot more fun to sing about than a truck. All joking aside, I feel like all music is the same, when you get down to it. It's about communicating emotion. And that's what I love about it so much. I wouldn't want to spend my life any other way."

"I guess I was always looking beyond what was right in front of me. I wanted to listen and play music that wasn't the normal Texas thing. More than that, I wanted to see the world beyond my hometown."

"There was one place I really wanted to go, more than any other: New York City. Maybe it was from watching the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade on TV for all those years, or because I knew so much amazing music and culture and food came out of there, but that was always it for me, and I just had to see it for myself someday. Finally, in the summer of 2010, my granddad took me on a trip to NYC, just me and him. We had a great time. We walked around, checking out everything, got some classic New York City hot dogs from a street vendor, and saw the Statue of Liberty. Best of all, we spent time with my mom's first cousin Mac Demy. He's a real musician with a small studio in his apartment and an album available on iTunes. I was immediately into learning everything about his musical career. It was like this whole new world opened up for me, and I wanted to find a way to join it. He even said I should write a few songs and come back and record them the next summer. The whole time I was there, I had so much energy. It was like the best place in the world, and I wanted more and more. "I love New York," I told Granddad. "I want to come back again.""

"Granddad smiled at me before he said anything. It was a smile he gave when he was worried about disappointing me. "It's going to be hard," he said. "It's expensive. You might not come back for a long, long time." I nodded and took that in. I knew my mom had always worked hard for everything we had, and that Granddad and Mema helped us out, too. And I knew soon I'd be working at something. But I was determined I'd get back there before long. And, man, when I finally did, it was even better than I could have ever dreamed. But that was the amazing thing about my family: Even when something seemed kind of far-off, and maybe impossible, they always let me know it might be hard to get there, it might take work, but I should always dare to dream. And so now that it's paying off, I feel like all of this is for them as much as it is for me. It makes everything that's happened even better."

"When I was growing up, I never thought much about living in San Antonio, or whether or not I liked it there. It was just where I lived, and I liked where I lived. It was where my family, my friends, and the music store I loved were, and that was all I needed."

"Now, the funny thing about growing up in Texas is that people who aren't from there just assume we ride horses to school and do all this weird stuff, like we're living in a rodeo every day of our lives, when of course that's not true. Or at least that's what I always thought. And then I moved to La Vernia, which is like a scene out of a country song. All you can see on the road are trucks, and everyone wears Wranglers and a can of dip in their back pocket and cowboy boots and hats- not just on special occasions, but every single day."

"I didn't take any of the social stuff at school that seriously. My main way of dealing with it was this: I was really quiet in school. I sat in the back and watched everyone and didn't say much. But for some reason, the kind of kids who care about being popular in high school are never content to let you do your own thing. As I got older, some kids still gave me a hard time about the way I dressed and the fact that I wasn't obsessed with the rodeo and country music like everyone else was. The one good thing I can say about this time is that it made me get clear on something: Either they were right or I was right. And I knew they weren't right. I knew there was a whole world out there, with all different kinds of music and people, and I knew I was going to get out of this small town someday and join it. And when I did, I was never going to look down on anyone. I was going to let everyone be who they wanted to be and not worry about it. I'd be too busy enjoying my life."

"I could tell from the comments posted on our music videos that they really liked my singing. Not long after that, I was thinking about how some musicians had nicknames for their fans, like how the really big Justin Bieber fans were called Beliebers and Katy Perry fans were called KatyCats. And then it came to me. If I ever had a lot of fans, Yeahhh they would be Mahomies- you know, like my name, Mahone, and my friends, "my homies." I didn't think I'd ever have real fans, but hey, at least there were those girls at the mall. Maybe they could be Mahomies. AC and I joked a lot about having fans. Because who actually thinks something like that is going to happen to them?"

"A few days before the talent show, I went to a pep rally at school that also included a talent show. I really wanted to sing in that talent show, too. I knew I could nail it. Then I thought about how some of the kids always teased me, and I wondered if they would make fun of me more. Maybe they would, but then I thought: Who cares? It felt amazing to realize that."

"There were some dark days in school. Some people still made fun of me for my videos. I tried to hold on to the positive feedback, but sometimes it was impossible not to let the negative stuff get to me. Maybe they're right, I thought, when I heard some dudes talking about me. Maybe I am stupid for putting myself on YouTube. But luckily, there was something inside of me that wouldn't let me believe that. People are going to give their opinions about you, I thought. Some people are going to make fun of you, no matter what. So you might as well do whatever you want and enjoy it. So that's what I did."

"I was really starting to think of myself as a singer. People who watched my videos treated me like one. They weren't just telling me they liked my singing. They were also giving me tips about what I should sing and how I should use my voice, you know, trying to help me out. It was cool. I realized something was happening. Maybe I can take this further, I thought. So I really dialed in, knowing if I kept working hard at it, and practiced and trained, that I would keep getting better and better."

"I hit play, the music started, and that's when my nerves got the worst, because it was like, There's no going back now. So I just went for it."

"So even though everything wasn't perfect for me in La Vernia, I put all my focus into the things that were going well in my life- my singing, my YouTube channel, my family, AC and my other friends. Luckily, that's the great thing about singing: It makes me forget everything else while I'm doing it."

"Everyone in my family was so amazing and supportive. Granddad and Mema let us move back in with them so Mom wouldn't have to worry about a mortgage payment or rent and our other expenses would be minimal. Their house was nice, but it was a little cramped with all of us there. Mom and I kept our clothes in big plastic bins in our bedrooms because we didn't have a lot of space. I knew what a big deal it was, what my mom and my grandparents were doing for me, and I felt so lucky to have them."

"I decided I wanted to finish high school from my room at my grandparents' house. I didn't care about going to football games. I didn't care about going to prom. I liked singing and wanted to concentrate on it more. I know that getting an education is important, and I felt that being homeschooled would give me more flexibility to concentrate on music. I knew what I wanted to do with my life. Of course, this was a big decision. My mom literally cried about it for weeks because she was so worried about whether or not I had the discipline to do all the work basically on my own, and whether she had the dedication to be my teacher. Finally, she sat me down for another one of our serious conversations. "I've been agonizing over this decision," she said. "I know it's the right thing to do." "It'll be fine, Mom," I said. "It'll be great.""

"And then I got into the car to head back to our hotel, and when the driver turned on the engine, there it was: my single "Say Somethin" coming out of the car speakers, being played on the radio, just at that exact moment. It was my first time ever hearing myself on radio, and it was almost overwhelming. This is weird, I thought. This is so cool. But this is just strange. It's like, I was living this new life every day, but it was still hard to believe it was my life."

"It might be a weird thing to say, but I don't really feel like I have a home. There's no place that feels like where I live all the time. Sometimes, I feel like my home is a hotel room. That's pretty much where I am on most days, and I literally live out of a suitcase (actually more like three or four). I live on the road. But for me, right now, that's okay. I think a huge part of feeling at home on the road has to do with the fact that I'm traveling with my team. My extended family. So, wherever I am, it feels like I've got a solid home base, even if I'm moving around on a tour bus. I really think being around good people is the secret to a quality life, especially in this industry. I am so fortunate to have this core group of family and friends to be there with me and support me. I know they keep me grounded."

"I went to a garden party to reminisce with my old friends A chance to share old memories and play our songs again When I got to the garden party they all knew my name no one recognized me I didn't look the same But it's all right now I learned my lesson well You see ya can't please everyone So ya got to please yourself People came from miles around Everyone was there Yoko brought her walrus There was magic in the air N' over in the corner much to my surprise Mr Hughes hid in Dylan's shoes wearing his disguise But it's all right now I learned my lesson well You see, ya can't please everyone So ya got to please yourself . . ."

"Ricky Nelson may not have had the country roots of the others – his mother sang in the big band led by his father, and he rose to fame on their sitcom. But his hits like “Poor Little Fool,” “Lonesome Town” and “Hello Mary Lou” fit in perfectly with the country-infused rock and pop of the [time]. In the mid-‘60s, Nelson reinvented himself as a country singer and help usher in that era."

"Whenever I meet someone, talk to someone on the phone, it’s a great feeling, knowing you’ve made their day or that they love the show and they love watching. I mean, it gives them something to do. It’s a great feeling."

"People do feel very entitled to say something negative as if that is their job, or if they have any reason, or as if they know that much. They usually don’t. So, I find it kind of funny, honestly. And, that’s how I deal with a lot of things, and that’s how I would deal with a bullying situation, is that I would try and find humor in it."

"Because of the fast pace of the industry, it’s common to fill voice actors’ schedules with as much work as possible, get them up on stage, and build up all the buzz you can. That’ll make you feel like you’re an absolutely essential individual, but in just three years all that could change. I don’t want companies to go chasing after small yet quick and easy profits, but they don’t really have any intention of developing voice actors long-term."

"Anime in the ‘90s was overflowing with ambition…Anime [today] which are trying to be similar to previous hits can never be better than the originals. Going forward, I want to be part of projects that aren’t trying to be ‘like’ something that came before."

"Rather than to make a living, hmmm. Whether I could become a voice actress or not, is was too uncertain, and I thought the possibility that I could become a voice actress was very small. I was familiar with the work of nurses from my childhood because of my family business, so I decided to become a nurse. But I happened to find a magazine Debut, and from that moment all of the things worked well and I thought perhaps I really could become a voice actress."

"Eventually, the success of our job depends on fans' support, and I want them to take a long time before they evaluate our performances. I think fans will feel our enthusiasm and I want to live up to their expectations."

"As far as I'm concerned, I don't really care much about it. Then what's the best performance? I think I should just do 120% of what I can do now and I believe that what needs to be done will come when it needs to be done. In other words, I think, " Now, eight years later, there must be a point to doing this." In the first place, the work itself is like a twisted time and space, like there is no time at all. And since we are voice actors, we only need to use our mental faculties and a little bit of our physical voice. It's not good to be too proud, but I tried not to think about the eight years."

"Maybe I’m just dense, but I didn’t even realize that a boom was happening. I might have felt like it was a boom if it was as natural as how you’d see certain products every time you stopped by the convenience store – not seeing watermelons only in the summer, but something that would always be on the shelves throughout the seasons. Discounting the anime shops, you’d rarely get to see anime songs on display in HMV or Tower Records. It felt like [anime was] being given the cold shoulder. Anime songs are too much of a niche genre which means that the CDs are in the same way, only sold in niche retailers. People who liked me were embarrassed about it, telling me that “I can’t openly admit that I like you” – with that kind of situation, I couldn’t really feel that there was a boom at all."

"It may have brought positivity in terms of the effect on the economy, but for every boom there will be a bust. However, nobody expects the bust to happen. Before it does go bust though, another boom will come along. Booms are only good when you observe them from afar. You’ll only be hurt if you get caught in its midst."

"I think we all have handicaps — physical, mental, emotional or from situations into which we are born but of which we have no control. But we have to be careful not to listen to people who tell us that we can’t do this or that. If you are stupid enough to let that really sink in, then it’s true. You won’t be able to do anything. But I was always a rebel."

"Our bodies are just biological machines that contain the little wet mechanism that responds to “me.” ... We may all be dreaming; from a philosophical standpoint ..."

"Life is short, be grateful, be kind, be happy. Forgive and forget ... Love and peace."

"With [my] music, I feel like I get to be myself, tell my own story, and take my life experiences and not put them into another story but into my own words."

"The new music I have coming, I’ve been working on. All my fans know and they are waiting so patiently or impatiently actually. Its kind of an never-ending process really. I continue to grow each and every day as a write and as a person. There’s more that I want to talk about. There’s more that I am comfortable talking about. I’m constantly being inspired by new artists and producers. I’m definitely taking my time with this."

"From 8 to about 12, I learned very quickly what rejection felt like, what going into a room full of adults expecting a lot out of you felt like. I realized that I'd be in these situations where I had to present myself as someone who, whether I was or wasn't, is confident enough to follow through with the job that I was trying to get."

"I'm very excited about the fact that this is just a very small taste of what's to come. I cannot wait to put music out. It's been a long time coming. It is absolutely going to represent a new era. I've been living with what I've been working on for years now, a couple years, which I really do feel I needed in order to get to where I'm at with the music. And though it is rather frustrating. I have the most patient fans, I don't know how but I got so lucky."

"I think finding your balance is truly about finding your happiness and being patient with yourself and being kind to yourself. It is a term that we hear a lot along with a lot of suggestions as to maybe how to find that balance, but I think you are the one, the only one, that can really define what that is for you."

"I've never left a workout or a gym session feeling anything other than great and happier. Just knowing what my body is capable of and being able to challenge myself…it does something for you mentally that not a lot of other things do."

"Gonna love myself, no, I don't need anybody else (hey) Gonna love myself, no, I don't need anybody else (I love me) Can't help myself, no, I don't need anybody else Anytime, day or nightGonna love myself, no, I don't need anybody else (hey) Gonna love myself, no, I don't need anybody else (I love me) Can't help myself, no, I don't need anybody else Anytime that I like (I love me)"

"I didn't know that I was starving till I tasted you Don't need no butterflies when you give me the whole damn zoo By the way, right away, you do things to my body I didn't know that I was starving till I tasted youBy the way, right away, you do things to my body I didn't know that I was starving till I tasted you"

"I want to get louder I got to get louder We 'bout to go up baby, up we go We 'bout to go up baby, up we goWe're blowing out speakers Our heart a little clearer We 'bout to go up baby, up we go We 'bout to go up baby, up we goFor worst or for better Gonna give it to you In capital letters"

"“Growing up in Nigeria I have known malaria forever and experienced the disease countless times, so I understand how this disease robs so many children of their ability to go to school and why malaria is a major cause of school absenteeism. I have also lost many loved ones to malaria and that’s why I’m here – because we can end one of the biggest, preventable killer diseases of all time.”"

"To achieve full perfection, you must keep working at your dream.”"

"Missing the message and losing the goal is a huge subtraction!"

"Keep working......the world is watching! Your Time will come. Prepare Yourself"

""Consistency …… you will get your results ….BELIEVE”"

"Being self-made is a mindset and belief that you can turn everything you have into something better and greater for yourself.Sometimes, all that you have is nothing, so you have to change that by having a vision for what you want for yourself and turn that vision into your reality. The perfect definition of being self-made is being able to realize that you have everything you need right in your hands, no matter how small it may seem. You have to know that you already have the power to change the world and make it a better place for yourself, your family and for the people around you"

"Criticism always come from people that haven’t even done half of what you have done while encouragement seems to always come from people that have done more than you have."

"“In defeat, we learn more about ourselves and the people around us”"

"“This journey called LIFE, learn to enjoy all your trials and victories.”Yemi Alade's quote"

"You know when you go to the location in a city you haven’t been to in a while and you look extra fly so the past comes around you, as expected, trying to sell you hopes and dreams but you’re not buying it this time because you finally know your value and you just wanna chill and be on a vibe instead… that’s basically what I was thinking writing this song. Good vibes at a nice location, surrounded by great people with good energy."

"Historically, the image of women in pop music has been so totally ornamental - sexual, but predictably so. It's hard to tell how far women's individuality has come in the past twenty years. Certainly, if you look at the pop charts as a measuring stick, you'd think it hasn't come far at all. But women do feel less like victims now than they did twenty years ago. At heart I'm a feminist, but I'm also a feminist for men. Men should be liberated from the roles that are foisted on them also."

"I understand what it is for a woman to want to protect their children and give them the best they can."

"We all fight over what the label 'feminism' means but for me it's about empowerment. It's not about being more powerful than men - it's about having equal rights with protection, support, justice. It's about very basic things. It's not a badge like a fashion item."

"I may be mad I may be blind I may be viciously unkind But I can still read what you're thinking. And I've heard it said too many times That you'd be better off Besides, why can't you see this boat is sinking?"

"And If you're trying to cut me down You know that I might bleed 'Cause if you're trying to cut me down I know that you'll succeed And if you want to hurt me There's nothing left to fear 'Cause if you want to hurt me You're doing really well my dear"

"Once upon a time you were my everything. It's clear to see that time hasn't changed a thing."

"Was solo singing on my own, now I can't find the key without you."

"Everybody wants attention, more or less. I just want a lot."

"If kindness lives in everyone Then all it takes isn’t enough."

"“I pressed forward, choosing to ignore the things I was feeling and the pressure I was under. I swept it all under the rug and pretended that it didn’t exist. When I finally pulled up that rug, I had no choice but to confront everything behind my depression. I concluded that love is very important. I also realized that I’ve been loved.”"

"[On what she thinks is most special and unique about Eurovision]: Well, it's because we don't have that many communities where everybody is accepted, regardless of your sexuality, religious background, or color. As long as you come in with love and respect for one another, you're welcome."

"Im the last martyr of this tribe The tribe that has no bread, no water The tribe that a lot of its matyrs dont have any grave"

"Take your head out from under the yoke of slavery And sing the hymn of life Break the longing you have Tell with the whole world Let go, let go, Don't miss your dreams"

"Sing until the city becomes a women's song Until this homeland, becomes a home land."

"Take off your scarf, the sun is going to set Take off your scarf, will make the air all right Take off your scarf, make the hair re… re… released"

"Performing at home is the best part of my job, and being paired with international artists of Bebe Winans’ stature and all the other global household names that I have performed with is an absolute honour."

"I also believe strongly that when I look good, I feel good, and this allows me to deliver to the best of my ability."

"Happy 1st anniversary my king!! I’m grateful for the lessons we learned so far….Thank you for loving me unconditionally and for being my biggest fan. I got you for life boo!! Your wahala is nothing I can’t handle. God made sure to equip me with everything we need to survive."

"Like anything, you just need to stay true to who you are and hope that social constructs don't get in the way of accomplishing your goals."

"I want people to know that I'm a force to be reckoned with."

"If you're a creative person, what inspires you is always changing; it's always shifting."

"I'm the kind of person who doesn't wait for opportunities to fall from the sky."

"I've learned to love my brown eyes."

"There is the devil at the door. I'm nearly going under, can't help but wonder who am I working for? No one's more enslaved now then the ones who falsely feel they are free. I've come to terms with the fact that nothing is what it seems. This life is an illusion. And everything you thought you knew isn't what it seems. Only truth will set you free. This new world has begun."

"One tip is to try and give your hair some time to relax. Don't over wash or over dry it."

"Hopefully with a woman President the double standard will slowly begin to wane."

"This industry's so full of distractions: partying, drinking, sex, money. The priority for me is just to make music that people can connect with. I want to make something fresh that people may not understand"

"I'll usually run an ice-cube over my skin to close all the pores. That's pretty much my daily routine."

"I like people who don't take themselves too seriously."

"My routine actually stays pretty simple and consistent. Every morning I use the X-Out Wash-In Treatment with warm water in the shower. I towel dry my face, apply a moisturizer-sunscreen, and go!"

"Keep your brow game on point and always pack a lip gloss."

"My hope is that no matter your mood there is [on a Joyride albom] a song on there that speaks to you."

"I think that sexism existents everywhere"

"People smile and tell me I'm the lucky one. And we've only just begun, Think I'm gonna have a son. He will be like she and me, as free as a dove, Conceived in love. Sun is gonna shine above.And even though we ain't got money, I'm so in love with you, honey. And everything will bring a chain of love. And in the morning, when I rise, You bring a tear of joy to my eyes, And tell me everything is gonna be alright."

"So help me if you can, I've got to get Back to the house at Pooh Corner by one. You'd be surprised, there's so much to be done. Count all the bees in the hive, Chase all the clouds from the sky Back to the days of Christopher Robin and Pooh."

"Your mama don't dance And your daddy don't rock and roll. Your mama don't dance And your daddy don't rock and roll. When evening rolls around And it's time to go to town, Where do you go To rock and roll?"

"I wanna sing you a love song. I wanna rock you in my arms all night long. I wanna get to know you. I wanna show you the peaceful feelin' of my home."

"Now I know my life has given me more than memories. Day by day We can see In every moment there's a reason to carry on.Sweet love's showing us a heavenly light, I've never seen such a beautiful sight. See love glowing on us every night. I know forever we'll be doing it."

"She had a place in his life, He never made her think twice. As he rises to her apology, Anybody else would surely know. He's watching her go.But what a fool believes He sees No wise man has the power To reason away. What seems to be Is always better than nothing, And nothing at all."

"You think that maybe it's over. Only if you want it to be. Are you gonna wait for a sign, your miracle? Stand up and fight.(This is it) Make no mistake where you are. (This is it) Your back's to the corner. (This is it) Don't be a fool anymore. (This is it) The waiting is over."

"So keep the fire burning tonight, See just what comes into sight. Don't take forever, Take it through the night. And believe the sun will rise with the dawn. That's all you need to go on. But for tonight, Just keep the fire burning bright."

"I'm alright, Nobody worry 'bout me. Why you got to gimme a fight? Can't you just let it be?I'm alright. Don't nobody worry 'bout me. You got to gimme a fight, Why don't you just let me be?"

"Live long enough, you're bound to find Moonshine'll make a man go blind. Never can tell what the brew will do, But there's times you wind up feelin' so fine. Some women seem to have a knack; They'll turn you on and leave you flat. Never can tell who's playin' for keeps So tell me what's holding you back I know your heart can take it."

"I'm like the rain 'Cause I like your thunder. I know we've learned to live together Here in the heartlight. Stand in the dark Oh, oh, and I'll light a candle And then we'll dance it in the moonlight Until the sunrise."

"Does anything last forever? I don't know Maybe we're near the end. (So darlin' tell me) So darlin', oh How can we go on together? Now that we've grown apart, oh no. Well, the only way to start Is heart to heart."

"Been working so hard, I'm punching my card. Eight hours, for what? Oh, tell me what I got. I've got this feeling That time's just holding me down. I'll hit the ceiling, Or else I'll tear up this town.So now I gotta cut loose, Footloose. Kick off the Sunday shoes. Please, Louise, Pull me off of my knees. Jack, get back, Come on before we crack. Lose your blues, Everybody cut footloose."

"(I'm free!) Heaven helps the man who fights his fear. Love's the only thing that keeps me here. (I'm free!) You're the reason that I'm hanging on. My heart's staying where my heart belongs. (I'm free!)"

"Revvin' up your engine, Listen to her howlin' roar. Metal under tension, Beggin' you to touch and go.Highway to the Danger Zone. Ride into the Danger Zone."

"Bodies working overtime, It's man against man. And all that ever matters is, baby, Who's ahead in the game. Funny, But it's always the same.Playing, Playing with the boys. Staying, Playing with the boys."

"If time has taught me anything You've got to learn to be the ball And I can't keep from laughing at it all Oh, I'm going nowI'm going all the way Sooner or later gotta love somebody I don't care how long it takes Like a shot to the heart I've got news for you I may not look so smart But I'm nobody's fool."

"Where are the dreams that we once had? This is the time to bring them back What were the promises Caught on the tips of our tongues? Do we forget or forgive? There's a whole other life Waiting to be lived when One day we're brave enough To talk with conviction of the heart."

"…there is no reason to doubt the sincerity of her faith. And whatever one may think of Anitta, she called the attention on a serious problem of freedom of religion or belief, which in Brazil is in fact not getting better but worse."

"Advice I would give to my younger self? I don’t know that I would really give her advice. She was a little too angry to take advice. I’d probably just get in a fight with her. I’m very thankful for it [childhood]. Of course, when I deal with things in therapy and whatnot, therapy has helped me a lot to figure my own shit out. It’s really helped me understand and not be so angry in life. I think I always felt like I didn’t necessarily have a voice, the way I grew up. It was like everyone else’s voice was on me."

"We make memories every day and everywhere we go, it's just shenanigans. Something always happens. I think the secret to a really great friendship is just creating fun memories whenever you're with that person. Bella is a surprise every day. That's the best part of our friendship. She's very bubbly and bright, and I'm more mellow, so we are kind of like our characters in a sense. We fit together so well because whatever I lack she has and whatever she lacks I have."

"Now if you cut open my heart, you will see music. If you cut open my brain, you will also find music."

"In my own inner world, my feelings for my fans, my love and passion for them ... I can only use songs to convey."

"For me, spiritual virtues of the person are more important than his professional achievements."

"My dreams are endless. But the most important.. that my people be at peace, rich in knowledge."

"I want there to be no war. We are all humans. We were all born to live a worthy life."

"Dialogue, understanding and the widespread promotion of a culture of tolerance. Acceptance of others and of living together peacefully would contribute significantly to reducing many economic, social, political and environmental problems that weigh so heavily on a large part of humanity."

"Let us unite for a world where every person is protected and open to opportunities."

"You still can’t convey through a video that feeling when the whole arena sings along to your songs. I’m a fan of my fans."

"I have a dream. I have only one dream. I'm dreaming of a world without war."

"I want to pave the way for young Kazakh people. That's my ultimate goal."

"I want to become an international singer because I want to introduce our country's culture, our songs."

"If you want to be great, you have to put in the work."

"Алемде бірлік болсын."

"I just want to say, I will answer only one very important thing. It doesn't matter which country you're from or which nation you represent-for me, all people are the same. We all live under the same sky. We just need to love each other. (Said at Fan meet, Almaty Arena : 26 May 2025)"

"Many years ago, when I began my international career as a newcomer, I've had a mission since then—to represent myself, my country, my culture, the culture of our country, and Kazakh traditions. This gives me inspiration and a reason to continue my work."

"If anyone doesn't know about Kazakh culture, please welcome to my concerts."

"My inspiration comes from my fans, from their support and love."

"I think neoclassical music is more suitable for my voice, for my vocal range. But sometimes, I love to do some experiments. Yes. At my concerts, my fans know about that. Sometimes, I’m doing rap. Sometimes, I’m doing rock. Just for fun."

"Maybe it is something like a gift from God. I am still, every day, doing vocal exercises. Still learning lessons. If you want to be better, if you want to improve yourself, of course, you need to do hard work every day. Luciano Pavarotti once said that after 50 years, a big career in front of millions of audiences, he understood how he needed to sing."

"Well, it is easy to work with him because he literally breathes music, he lives music, it nourishes him."

"We come from the ancient nomadic culture which was very famous for its oral art. There was a huge cultural institution of bardism and ?. They were improvisers in music and they were improvisers in verses. Dimash Qudaibergen is representing that part of our culture. But he is a modern superstar. He is a superstar in Asia already. He is now mastering the European or Western part of the world. Today we have him performing in the O2 Centre. He is a kind of a child prodigy. He has a fantastic unique voice. His vocal register range is from bass to soprano. He has a unique voice. His register covers both female and male octaves. He even sings in the whisper register. Which is quite unique. Therefore, I think, by seeing him, the British public would be able to judge the level of music culture in Kazakhstan. He is a bridge and link between our ancient roots, cultural roots and modernity."

"Music is peace, and I truly believe that Mr. Qudaibergen believes in that as well. I first heard him in 2018, when he was 24 years old. His beautiful, unique voice with a seven-octave range is something that only a few people on this planet possess."

"Dimash has used his voice not only to move audiences but to help ensure that people affected by crisis are seen and heard,. His music reaches across borders, and his advocacy brings attention to the realities of people who are often overlooked. By sharing their stories with compassion and purpose, he embodies the spirit of resilience and inclusion that guides IOM’s work."

"Buddy Rich named Karen as his favorite pop drummer, and Buddy famously did not give out compliments. As an egomaniac, he might have bestowed this compliment because her style and technique is very much like his: monster chops, flash, and musicality. Oh, and she sings at the same time! Because she was such an amazing singer (coupled with a healthy dose of sexism), she was muscled off her instrument of choice and into the role of singer and frontwoman for The Carpenters. The hits followed and so did her tragic demise. First and foremost, Karen was a wildly talented drummer, and sadly she was never afforded the accolades she deserved, or revered for the drumming talent that she was."

"You’d be hard pressed to find a group as original as ABBA. [...] ABBA songs are defined by the combination of their unique harmonies and feel good songwriting, but perhaps most importantly, showcase their original production and recording processes."

"I was born to become a star."

"Chapters of my life isn't good yeah I've been searching out for good yeah But good doesn't show up on me yeah Been tired searching for good baby"

"Baby we're free and young Keep dancing to this songDon't you leave early here babe Cause I know you wanna stay"

"I’ve just become someone who has a whole different level of pride for my home and where I come from."

"I grew up with a love for all types of sounds and never wanted to be tied down to one."

"I want to become the new reference and the start of something new."

"When I was small, I was convinced that I was the best dancer. I never had dance classes but I would always try out all different forms of dance, from belly dancing to krumping, and now amapiano type dancing. I’m still learning but my love for dancing runs deep."

"I wanna eventually buy my parents their dream home and make sure they don’t need to work another day in their life."

"I would tell everybody that I was going to be a pop star. My parents hoped I would grow out of it, but I never did. No matter who asked me what I wanted to be, I’d always say singer. My answer never changed."

"I’m very determined. Tyla adds of her desire for further international success. If I want something, I make sure I get it. There’s a point where things become hard and you wonder if it’s going to work. But I always knew that things were going to work out eventually."

"I always know what I want and I trust [myself]. I also love collaborating and sharing other people’s ideas because everybody has something different. You never know, because initially with ‘Been Thinking’ it was a bit further into pop than I was used to, but I warmed up to it and recorded everything and it was great. That’s happened a lot where I’ve been worried or questioning certain things, but once I’ve done it I’ve ended up liking it, so I’m open to learning."

"I love it — it’s what I wanted. I’m super-proud of myself. I know this is the time when I’m just starting, but I know that it’s also the time when I have to really work because I want to make my home proud. It’s a lot to put on your shoulders, but that’s what I want. I really want eyes on all African artists in general, because we need more attention."

"I have always been a big dreamer, but obviously my parents and family will tell me to be realistic. It’s very rare that we get these opportunities in SA. Growing up, I used to watch a lot of Michael Jackson and Rihanna concerts; I loved it and wanted to do that. We are very close as a family and they are so proud, they get excited and it’s a whole celebration."

"They didn’t want me to be disappointed if things didn’t go my way. But I was so adamant. I was going to make it happen no matter what."

"Being able to do something different and show another side of my creativity was such a proud moment for me. It pushed me out of my comfort zone and showed me that I can tell stories in more than one way."

"When you attack life at such a young age, you have ambition and you’re hoping that things will go your way until you actually get the experience that life doesn’t quite work that way."

"I think one of the things that I had to learn is that sometimes you have to be patient for some things; no matter how talented you are, you just have to be patient. And also, hard work pays off. Well, it hasn’t really fully paid off for me but I can see the rewards of working hard."

"Sometimes talent alone is not enough and I’ve had to learn that along the way. Sometimes you just have to work hard."

"This year, more than the Sanremo Festival, it's a record for the summer because everyone brought songs with choruses, which are very catchy."

"I eat less meat now, also out of respect for animals. Let's say I eat the essentials. Because, after all, we can't just eat fruit and vegetables; we need meat too, if we want to stay healthy."

"I wouldn't have even participated in Canzonissima and other similar events if I hadn't been forced by a contract. I don't sing songs destined to win."

"I was the ye ye girl with the miniskirt, at 22 I was already famous, but I wanted to change and I transformed myself into a fifty-year-old woman to sing the authors I loved, like Brel who later became my friend, or Ferré who was like a brother."

"If the Choice is to repudiate the brunt, no storm in the world can stop us. The graph varies generation and culture-wise. For Gen Z and millennial females, the school of thought lies in Women Empowerment."

"My cultural roots have played a crucial role on my comprehensive perspective, not just artistic-wise. Since we’re talking about the influence of roots on music here, I’d like to mention Sicilian melodies that are hauntingly beautiful and its folk music delivering raw emotions stemming from everyday experiences. My inclination for it is quite obvious as it is innate. Religious music in the form of hymns, chants and a capellas have built the foundation of my music sense as a child. Heritage will be apparent in my English-language recordings that are scheduled for future release."

"Be the ambassador of your art and take pride in your work. Women today are at the forefront of their craft, the trend is changing across every sector and that’s indeed so inspiring."

"Cultural descent plays a vital role in the display of every art form. Music is one such element that cannot escape this embodiment."

"My ancestors have kept our cultural and religious traditions alive over the generations."

"Operatic music is a dominant component, but there’s a broader musical spectrum in Italy. There’s so much you can learn from everybody (it shouldn’t necessarily be a celebrity musician), that I find it really difficult to name someone in particular and overshadow the rest."

"[On her mother's influence] She (Lorna Castelino) has played a pivotal role in every developmental phase that I’ve ever been through. Educational, emotional, psycho-social, and in every sense. I can keep enumerating only to add more. My father (Joseph Castelino) and she have been my pillars of support and guidance, throughout."

"Music has always been an integral part since childhood. I’d love engaging with anything belonging to that genre of art, and especially with singing."

"[On joining the Radical Party] I joined not so much out of organic membership, but in response to a plea from the Radical Party, which was struggling to survive. I did it out of gratitude. I didn't vote for them; I was a socialist. I did it so that a party that had brought divorce and abortion to Italians wouldn't die."

"[On Domenico Modugno] He got really angry when I won [the Sanremo Festival] with "Non ho l'età" in 1964. He went there to win, not to participate. When he wrote "Dio, come ti amo" (Dio, come ti amo), he thought about pairing with me ("that way I'd neutralize her"). It worked, despite the sabotage from the record companies."

"I sang with the simplicity of a sixteen-year-old girl whose mind is uncluttered by prejudices. I never had any, I'm not a conformist."

"The popularity is shocking, as was the [Sanremo] festival with its circus."

"I don’t consider it utang na loob (debt of gratitude). I don’t feel like it’s my obligation to take care of my parents now that they’re older just because they raised me and paid for my education. This is not so different from your relationship to your husband or wife. In marriage, you signed a contract and made your vows to be with each other no matter what. To me, these are just promises, and you have a choice not to keep them. However, if you decide to keep them, it’s because of love. You are shown love, and so you love back."

"I rule out Mina reappearing, because it would be a mistake and she doesn't make mistakes in this sense. Mina is a legend because we can only imagine her. We don't know what she is anymore. She is a memory, and that is her strength. If she did appear, it would be a huge success, people would kill to get a ticket. But she would lose her depth. In short, Mina must not be seen, otherwise she is not a legend. And she knows this very well. Legends either die young or disappear."

"All my life I have been a passer-by and have always sought out secondary paths. I am always fascinated by what I do not know, and those are the secondary paths. And that is my goal."

"I think the best of Renato. I think he's full of imagination. It's not true that he imitates ambiguous British singers, as they say. He's been like that for 10 years, he's always dressed in a certain crazy way, he doesn't imitate anyone. He's a hybrid, but his real strength lies in the fact that he was born in the suburbs of Rome, among real people. And he has remained a “suburbanite”, with the sincerity and humanity of those people. More than ambiguous, he is one of them. For kids, he is a fairy tale, he is Disneyland, with dreams and hopes. Even for kids, he is one of them. That's why he's successful."

"Mina is the greatest Italian singer, even though for some years now she has not cared about singing, and you can tell. I envied her greatly for her joyful success. Italy went crazy for her. Good humour exploded from this girl who moved against the whining of the time. And since she is gifted by God, she has this surprising ease: she sings with the same ease as someone doing anything else. She is still capable of evoking great emotions. It makes me angry because she makes records because it suits her, and I don't agree with that. You either do this job well or you don't do it at all. I say to myself: you have the money, so for goodness' sake make a record with Gil Evans, with a big orchestra. Enjoy yourself."

"Milan has some beautiful areas, it is beautiful in the fog, it is a bit like a woman wearing a veil."

"Interviewer: What was it like to duet with [[w:Eros Ramazzotti|Ramazzotti? Vanoni: Nothing. He doesn't give off anything. When I sang with Dalla, Gino, Jovanotti, Renato Zero, something happened to me, but with Ramazzotti I didn't feel any emotion."

"For a poet, everything becomes material."

"I am a courageous woman, not a strong one. I am very fragile and I pay for everything with tears and effort."

"Trieste is a beautiful, wonderful city; all seaside cities are beautiful, but Trieste is particularly so because it is right on the sea."

"[Before the general election on 4 March 2018] Who will I vote for? I'm voting for mma Bonino. The best foreign minister, a radical woman who has always fought for her beliefs. We owe abortion, divorce and living wills to the Radical Party. They fought for these three concrete things."

"(About Giorgio Strehler) The first year, he followed my tram in his car. Then he drove me home and it was love. Giorgio was such a genius and I was so overwhelmed by passion... My father lost his voice. I lived at the Piccolo, I slept with Giorgio. He was the man who loved me the most. [...] I left him, he made me suffer, he had vices I couldn't stand. But he introduced me to culture. He talked and I kept quiet: I just had to learn. He sensed that I could sing, he made me write songs about the underworld."

"I had become Roman at the time of Rugantino. Aldo Fabrizi taught me the slower, more indolent pace of life and acting. When we went to Milan, Garinei, Giovannini and Trovajoli would put on their fur hats and take their passports like Totò and Peppino in the film. They teased me."

"The Lirico theatre was dedicated to Gaber, the two Piccolo venues to Strehler and Grassi, the Liberty building to Fo and Rame, and the Studio to Melato; there was nothing left for me, which is why I am appealing to Mayor Beppe Sala: dedicate a flowerbed in the city centre to me."

"I am fond of very few things. I believe that every house has its own soul that must be respected. There is no point in dragging around baggage from other lives. You start over every time."

"Stendhal must have been high when he said that the landscape of Lombardy was the most beautiful in the world... This grey sky."

"Among those in the hip hop world, Marracash is the best, I think the Premio Tenco award is justified. But I listen to other things, I like Cosmo, I like Maneskin even if they need to write new songs, as I know they are doing... But I have to say one thing about Damiano. I'm not the type to be shocked, but even Mick Jagger, the most sinful of singers, didn't show his bare arse on stage. What's the point of showing your bum? It's not in good taste..."

"I don't get any satisfaction from being Ornella Vanoni, I've never been super egocentric. I have my own way of being, people thought I was unpleasant or snobbish, but the truth is that I was incredibly shy and insecure. I cured that with theatre and with Strehler, with the audience, with music."

"(About Gino Paoli) He's a cat. I don't know, I didn't see him for three days, then I went downstairs and he was sitting on the steps of the front door. His first child was mine, but then I lost him."

"While romantic love is complicated, the love you feel for your children and grandchildren is a love made of serenity."

"Was I sensual? Yes, I realised that quite early on. And yes, of course, I played on it."

"Inteviewer: You are always ironic... Vanoni: Humour alleviates fear. We need to play, because we are living in tragic times. I feel exhausted and saddened after reading the newspapers and listening to the news. It seems that human beings cannot help but wage war. This is the zeitgeist: the spirit of the times is war. Then we also have Donald Trump, so we're in a bad way..."

"Interviewer: Among the companions of her life, you mention loneliness... Vanoni: I have the letter S for Solitude tattooed on my chest. I have always felt alone. For as long as I can remember, since I was a child. A feeling of incompleteness, the certainty of having a vulnerable side and that no one can really protect you."

"Interviewer: You also joke a lot about death, calling it the Musona... Vanoni: I've already made arrangements: I've asked Paolo Fresu to play at my funeral, I'll wear a beautiful loose-fitting pleated dress, and I'll have my make-up artist do my make-up. I'll look great. I don't want to die late, I couldn't bear to stay at home doing nothing."

"Confidence is the most beautiful thing you can possess."

"I’m not gonna say I peed my pants because that sounds really graphic and maybe not sanitary, but I think it really just caught me off guard. It was very much a childhood dream come true. I still probably have not processed it if I’m being completely honest."

"I love when artists write sad songs and they have a sense of humor to them because it’s just up my alley."

"I believe in divine timing, I always have. There are moments in everyone's life where the stars align, but it wouldn't have happened if I hadn't spent years working hard—not for the things happening now, but to stay true to my own voice and be excited about what I'm creating. I had to fight off many voices, opinions, and people controlling me when I was younger, whether in music or acting, because I was a child coming into this."

"I do think that men have been a super entertaining species to watch, in positive and negative ways. I feel really adored, inspired, and loved by some of them… and really confused, attacked, and ridiculed by others. When one of my female friends announces that she’s having a son, I just rejoice for that young boy. Because I know he’s going to be raised right. Correct me if I’m wrong, I’ve only been on Earth for 26 years, but I feel like we’ve always kind of had to train them. Unfortunately, it’s a tale as old as time."

"The mother has a daughter Who gets married to the brother of the mother. And they all just tryna multiply with one another. Cause that's just the way of the world. It never ends till the end then you start again. That's just the way of the world, that's just the way of the world."

"Now he's thinkin' 'bout me every night, oh Is it that sweet? I guess so Say you can't sleep, baby, I know That's that me espressoMove it up, down, left, right, oh Switch it up like Nintendo Say you can't sleep, baby, I know That's that me espresso"

"Please, please, please don't prove I'm right And please, please, please Don't bring me to tears when I just did my makeup so nice Heartbreak is one thing, my ego's another I beg you, don't embarrass me, motherfucker, ah Please, please, please (ah)"

"Dreams come true if you fight hard enough for them."

"I think everyone has their own time. Iba talaga sa showbiz, mabilis yung takbo ng buhay - It's really different in showbiz, life moves fast. It's hard to say but I think, for me, she (Zsa Zsa) waited long enough to be happy."

"When I was a little girl, I worked tirelessly for 10 years to fill one dream, to become a Kpop idol, and I was rejected, and disappointed that my voice isn't good enough. I'm so glad to be part of a song that is helping other girls, other queens and everyone of all ages to get through their hardship to accept themselves."

"So, so proud to be Korean. Growing up, people didn't know where Korea was or what Korea was, and that's why it's so incredible to have the song 'Golden' being sung all over the world, singing the Korean lyrics word by word."

"Growing up, people made fun of me for liking K-pop, but now everyone's singing our song and all the Korean lyrics. I'm so proud. The song, this award is not about success; it's about resilience."

"I'm done hidin', now I'm shinin' Like I'm born to be We dreamin' hard, we came so far Now I believe We're goin' up, up, up, it's our moment You know together we're glowin'Gonna be, gonna be golden Oh, up, up, up with our voices 영원히 깨질 수 없는 Gonna be, gonna be golden"

"I'm a young Latina woman growing up in a primarily white area of town where I live. I've been called it all. My hate comments on YouTube tell me to go back to where I came from. I was born in Hackensack Hospital. I'll go back there."

"It's the most jarring feeling as someone who is quite literally in therapy for impostor syndrome. You're sitting at the table with the likes of these incredible actors, singers, activists, Olympians, models who have earned their due. They earned their seat at the table, and you can't help but think, 'What am I doing here?'"

"When I was in the running for María in 'West Side Story,' they kept calling to ask if I was legit. I remember thinking, 'Do you want me to bring my abuelita in?' I will. I'll bring her into the studio if you want to meet her."

"We just need to normalise our hearts' not having boundaries. I think that there's this idea that we as public figures can't have thoughts or feelings because we are like paper dolls to a majority of the public."

"Music is my first love. Ever since I was a little girl I've dreamt of one day being lucky enough to share my music with the world."

"Lyrics to me are of utmost importance and they mean so much to me — in every song that I write, the lyrics have to come from my heart and they have to be honest and true."

"I've dedicated myself to ensuring that every word that I say, everything I write, every role that I play … I know that there's one girl in some corner of the world that's going to watch or listen to that, and I want her to feel seen and inspired or in some way empowered. That has been the guiding light in every decision that I've made in this business."