I figured I could do "It's A Man's, Man's, Man's World" because I believe it's the truth.

And as I started reaching deeper I realized that most of the blues of that day was done by men. Women just didn't have the nerve.

It's the same thing now. When I go onstage the young people scream and holler as much as the older generation.

They said that Etta James is still vulgar. I said, Oh, how dare them say I'm still vulgar. I'm vulgar because I dance in the chair. What would they want me to do? Want me to just be still or something like that? I've got to do something.

A few years ago, I thought, I'll never make it. I started to go to the doctor to help me lose weight.

My mother always wanted me to be glamorous. When I thought about that, it really fired me up, and once I lost all those pounds, I started to feel really good about myself.

What happens is, when I perform, I'm somewhere else. I go back in time and get in touch with who I really am. I forget my troubles, my worries.