- Why be in music, why write songs, if you can't use them to explore life or an idealized vision of life? 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.
- Frank Sinatra has passed on the torch to me. But little did he know that he'd be passing it on to a gay opera queen.
- [When asked if all his older songs were getting tiresome to sing] "No, they're all fresh; fresh as daisies!"
- Everything I do, I feel is genius. Whether it is or it isn't.
- I like to make the mundane fabulous whenever I can.
- I may not lead the most dramatic life, but in my brain it's War and Peace everyday.
- 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.
- "It seems like the older I get, the more unreal the world becomes.
- There's no life without humor. It can make the wonderful moments of life truly glorious, and it can make tragic moments bearable.
- They wanted me to be, you know, whatever..a little Japanese girl with tiny little fingers who played Rachmaninoff. I could only play Mozart very slowly, so whatever, I had to leave. So I was basically thrown out of the classical world for being a renegade.
- I have a good face for what I do.
- I find so many songwriters today are missing an element ... either the production is amazing but the songs aren't, or it's the other way around.
- [on 'Out of the Game', his most commercial album to date (2012)] There hasn't been a lot of time to philosophize or construct these kinds of elaborate cathedrals that I tend to do - which is great.
- [on the production crew] They're these amazing, dedicated, dirty boys. It was very much about hanging out with the boys in the clubhouse at three in the morning, listening to R&B. It was a very heterosexual environment, which I enjoyed. And except for Mark - who I was head over heels in love with - I had to tone down my seductive side. It was really about the music.
- I very consciously allowed Mark to be the captain of the ship. I said, 'If I'm going to work with you, I want to get you. Its about what you have to offer, not about you discovering the new Rufus'. It's taken many years for me to develop that capacity to let go and be confident in someone.
- [on collaborating with producer Mark Ronson in recording 'Out of the Game'] We're both keenly aware that there are elements [to our partnership] that can benefit both camp, things we had to offer each other. I wanted a more pop approach, an upbeat palette, a certain cool factor. He wanted a depth and vocal prowess that he hadn't been around since Amy [Winehouse]. And also a variety that I alone bring in terms of musical influences.
- [on 2013 plans to compose an opera, with Daniel MacIvor, set in Roman times] Hadrian was an Emporer filled with ambition, sensitivity and intelligence and - like all big political figures - he also had a tormented and brooding dark side. Perfect opera material.
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