Everyone has a self-destructive nature in them. It's whether you feed it or not. You don't have to be a pop star to feel connected to destruction or self-destruction. But self-destruction is self-obsession, and self-obsession is not really possible if you're engaged in raising children. And if you have a spiritual life, you're constantly being asked to see yourself as one small fragment in the bigger picture.

When you're 25, it's a little bit easier to be daring, especially if you are a pop star, because eccentric behavior is expected from you.

The media is something that affects a lot of people, so you're constantly trying to strike a balance between respecting something and not caring about it.

And I'll remember the love that you gave me, now that I am standing on my own, I'll remember the way that you changed me, I'll remember.

I sometimes think I was born to live up to my name. How could I be anything else but what I am having been named Madonna? I would either have ended up a nun or this.

People hear the soul, black influence in my voice. I grew up listening to CKLW and all the black stations like WLBS.

I'm not going to compromise my artistic integrity.