I don't want my reputation to take me over, I just want to be judged on my songs. I want people to come and see me because they want to, not because fashion dictates it.

A song just doesn't have verse-chorus-verse. It could just be one line. There are Chinese love songs that you have to learn one melody for a three-minute thing, and nothing ever repeats. I like that.

All these people that want to make me out as part of Generation X had better watch out, or they're going to get X'd out themselves.

There are times when what you do will be mysterious to everyone... times when you have to change directions before people are ready. Just because someone does something that critics don't like or understand doesn't mean you're failing as a musician. It probably means you're growing.

There have been people who have tried to take advantage of me. They want to be linked to me just because I'm Ethel Merman.

Certain emotions just take you to the notes - being furious, heroic, sad, erotic, when rain comes.