I decided to pursue music, so I dropped out of school and I told my parents I didn't want any money from them. I got three jobs and I just hit the ground running.

O, say does that star-spangled flag of pride yet wave? O'er the land of the free, and the home for the gay!

Well, that's your opinion, isn't it? And I'm not about to waste my time trying to change it.

So there's nothing more provocative than taking a genre that everybody who's cool hates - and then making it cool.

I was a strange, loud little kid who could sit at the piano and kill a Beethoven piece.

Every bit of me is devoted to love and art. And I aspire to try to be a teacher to my young fans who feel just like I felt when I was younger. I just felt like a freak. I guess what I'm trying to say is I'm trying to liberate them, I want to free them of their fears and make them feel that they can make their own space in the world.

And don't worry, if I get thrown in jail in Manila, Beyonce will just bail me out. Sold out night 2 in the Philippines. I love it here!