I've written songs for Shirley Bassey, Marianne Faithfull, and Linda Thompson. I sort of focus on these wonderful, aging divas. But maybe that's because I think I'm Christina Aguilera.

I think the minute you mention death, people run for the hills - unless it's heavy metal. People do not like death.

There's no life without humour. It can make the wonderful moments of life truly glorious, and it can make tragic moments bearable.

I believe a lot of our lives are spent asleep, and what I've been trying to do is hold on to those moments when a little spark cuts through the fog and nudges you.

Life is a game and true love is a trophy.

I've developed into quite a swan. I'm one of those people that will probably look better and better as I get older - until I drop dead of beauty.

I'm your knight in shining armor. I'm here to save you from Linkin Park.

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 am always writing; if you want to survive in this business, you need to keep working, keep creating and never stop the output.

Being uncool is being pretty much the coolest you can be.

I like to make the mundane fabulous whenever I can.

Hope is a seed that grows inside us from the moment we are born

They're different kinds of challenges depending upon what phase of life I'm in.

Brave people add up to an aristocracy. The democracy of thou-shalt-not is bound to be a collection of weak men.

No man could be equipped for the presidency if he has never been tempted by one of the seven cardinal sins.

There is nothing like the bootless solitude of those who are caged together.

The body is the one thing you can't fake; it's just got to be there.

In L.A., I like to surf. I went through a phase - I was surfing four days a week. I'm still not good at it; I still spend most of my time falling.

Cosmic love is absolutely Ruthless and Highly Indifferent: it teaches its lessons whether you like/ dislike them or not.

My first relationship to any kind of musical situation is as a listener.

When teams are truly learning, not only are they producing extraordinary results, but the individual members are growing more rapidly than could have occurred otherwise.