"Open Arms" has a lot of unison singing in it. And it works: Grown men will come to our gigs and cry during that one.

"Open Arms" has a lot of unison singing in it. And it works: Grown men will come to our gigs and cry during that one.

I usually tell somebody if a song’s for them. I don’t always tell them if it’s about them.

Maybe Radiohead and R.E.M. Even a group like the National - artists who have crossed over without compromising. It's a special thing.

There is temptation to place too much importance on those things that you're meant to do, and not on to little everyday happinesses. I think if you do what makes you happy on a daily basis, your days gather into years and you have a happy life. I don't want to think too far ahead. I want to make sure that I enjoy tomorrow, and the next day, and the next day. And we'll see what happens.

The British press isn't as vicious as it used to be, and these days it's sort of cool to care again. Everyone loves an everyman anthem.

I'm not David Bowie. Who are we kidding? At the end of the day, I'm the same person I've always been. I'm Don Garvey's son from up the road.