I am so happy that I am alive and can walk.

You know the one with the big ears? Wait a minute, he ain't my president, he might be yours, he ain't my president. You know that woman he had singing for him, singing my song - she's gonna get her a- whipped. The great Beyoncé But I can't stand Beyoncé. She has no business up there, singing up there on a big ol' president day singing my song that I've been singing forever.

I was originally like a punker, know what I mean, like the punks are today, I'd spit in a minute.

I talked to the record company about what I had in mind. They said they wanted something lush. I figured the best thing to do was let them hear what I had in mind.

My mother always wanted me to be a jazz singer, but I always wanted to be raunchy.

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

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.