Applause was designed to bemuse and confuse you until it explodes into a chorus that reminds us why we love pop music.

I know people said I wasn't selling out in America, but that was entirely untrue. We sold out all over the world, and every night I looked out into the fans and those front rows that you're talking about, the tears, the honesty, the inability to not be completely overjoyed because they felt accepted.

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

Dirty pony, I can't wait to hose you down.

Never be afraid to dream.

I dropped out of NYU, moved out of my parent's house, got my own place, and survived on my own. I made music and worked my way from the bottom up.

I consider myself to have one of the greatest voices in the industry.