There are some things you can't cover up with lipstick and powder.

Smokey Robinson writes the heartfelt songs, whereas it was my job to write the songs about weakness and failure in love.

I don't think I was ever particularly mean. I can certainly think of some idiotic exchanges I've had. I was accused of destroying pop music, like Wagner destroyed opera - a guy in Germany started ranting that at me.

I get very frustrated by this term 'genre exercise.' I mean, what exactly is that? Genre is not really relevant when you are writing a song; hopefully you are doing it to explore something, to create something, and I don't agree that any of my albums are genre exercises.

I believe that music is connected by human passions and curiosities rather than by marketing strategies.

Elvis Presley and Puccini shall return.

There are some things you can't cover up with lipstick and powder.