I think love resides in all of the songs, even when they are overtly sexual.

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

And then, going to high school, I saw how popular girls had to behave to get the boys. I knew I couldn't fit into that. So I decided to do the opposite. I refused to wear makeup, to have a hairstyle. I refused to shave. I had hairy armpits.

I get strength from my art - all the paintings I own are powerful.

When you are raised to believe that anything having to do with sex is forbidden and taboo, then of course that's all you want to know about. That becomes your complete and utter fascination. That is the surest way to interest a child.

Nothing cheers a girl up like SHOPPING!

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.